Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

U.S. Increases Military, Intelligence, and Economic Aid to Pakistan

What is wrong with this picture, or should I say statement? Over the last couple of years Americans have suffered job losses, home foreclosures, and still continue to suffer these losses without much consideration from those who are not affected by the ongoing recession. There has been no countries that have come to the aid of Americans who are struggling with these issues. Yet, the United States have decided to increase foreign aid to other countries, including the latest country--Pakistan. How do you justify increasing economic, military, and intelligence aid to another country when people are struggling on domestic soil? Maybe, I am not knowledgeable enought to comprehend how ludicrous this is, but I highly doubt it. It is my firm belief that one should always care for those on domestic soil before reaching out to care for others outside, this is especially true in cases where struggles are still evidently ongoing on domestic soil.
The Washington Post reported that the increase in aid after Pakistan claimed that the US does not comprehend Pakistani strategic priorities. And my response is, "what exactly are those strategic priorites?" Is it to take offense to a country not giving aid when said country is struggling to get its society back on track during a recession? Is the strategic priority to threaten lack of support and compromised friendship because aid is not given everytime there is a knock on the door requesting it? Is it to drain the American economy and further increase poverty in those already struggling with losing jobs, homes, and faith in the government, so as to undermine the country's ability to get back on track and people at least finding a job to take care of their families? Tell me, because it seems as though we, the United States of America have become eveyone's financial puppet because of globalization and other country's continued dependency on US progress. Well, it will definitely be hard to continue progressing when other countries are draining the US economy and the US is blind to the continued struggles of millions of Americans. For once, let us stop distracting Americans with the "supposedly" threats of illegal immigrants taking jobs from Americans and focus on the reality of our ongoing problems. Politics, greed, and fear have become the common threads that have resulted in the continue drainage of the US economy.
We behave like 6 year olds on the school ground, where a threat to not be friends with us result in undying favors to the perpetrator/s. Our government needs to wake up and realize that if we keep providing aid without first attending the ongoing needs of their citizens, it will be a matter of time before we as a country will be at the complete mercies of others who have been waiting for the right moment to strike and reduce us to another conquest. Now, I am not stating that the US or any country for that matter cannot provide aid to countries in need overseas. However, those aids to suit the purpose of providing humanitarian relief, not military, intelligene, and economic needs for purposes that might become a hazard to the citizens of the United States later on. Far be it from me to remind our politicians about Iran contra, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan during the earlier years before the September 11th, 2001 bombing. How much guns, and other aids did we provide before the packages came back to bite us in the rear? Obviously, enough. Do not reduce spendings and cut budget on domestic soil only to send it somewhere else. It is not a logical solution to the current state of the nation. It is definitely far more logical to fence your yard before giving the materials to your neighbors to fence theirs. My final words, "be careful the aid that is given outside of our government because there is no stronger government than the one that is created from within". D

America Needs Intellect - Exclusion is not the Answer

It is my firm belief that many employers regard individuals with disabilities with little to no respect. Amazingly, even women who bear the workforce of the world are excluded from opportunities based on just simply choosing to have a child and family life. It is imperative that we do not continue down this path if we are to progress as a society. Physical disability or a mental disorder should not exclude individuals from viable opportunities when conditions can be treated. Physical or mental illnesses do not necessarily amount to intellectual difficiency. Trust me when I say that we need all the intellect we can get in our workforce and our current recession should be proof enough that many of our big corporations and agencies are lacking of that. I hope we can move beyond the stigmatization of individuals based on simple labels and focus more on their capabilities.

Crime and Criminality in America

Have you ever thought about the amount of individuals that are in distress from their continuous state of destitution? February 18th, 2010 brought a story out of Austin, Texas, about a gentleman who decided to fly his plane into a building that house IRS offices and employees. Typically, the media and criminologists flock to such cases and declare terrorism, mental incapacity, and or deviancy on the part of the individual committing the act. However, this case does not involve the typical profile that accompanies many case files that include criminal or violent acts. Rather, this man seems to ring true to the typical blue collar, lower to middle class individual in the United States.
Crime and criminality in America are not aspects of our society that one wants to be exposed to, especially if an individual is not involved in criminal acts. However, crimes seem to get our attention as much as act of altruism, and even more at times. Individuals have learned that if they commit acts of violence, they are able to secure attention that would have othwerwise been almost impossible to secure without some acts of breaking the law. The media is not the only agent that takes notice whenever criminals acts are committed. People in general take notice and if the act is severe enough, government typically pays attention by becoming involved in the matter.
It is definitely a shame that individuals have to resort to violence to get attention to matters that affect the majority of individuals within our society. Let us hope that it does not take another major act of violence to open up our eyes to the possibility that the next person committing the act could be you or your neighbor.

Is the Current State of the Economy Affecting Your Relationship

The last few years have not been easy for anyone. It has especially been hard for couples who have lost just about everything except their sanity due to the downturn economy. It is imperative that whether you are single or a couple, you maintain the love and honor that was a part of your relationship prior to your current hardships. Although things are difficult at the moment, nothing lasts forever. Eventually, the ecnomy will bounce back, but your relationship will not if you fail to see your current hardships as wavering challenges. Most couples typically fight about money and it is a definite certainty that those fights do not cease during job loss, economic hardships, or other relationship challenges. However, it is my belief that if couples can agree to disagree on their finacial situations, relationship crinks can be smoothed out with much more ease and success than not. Before you fight with your significant other over job loss and financial difficulties, remember that you can replace a job easier than a dependable partner.
There are many ways that couples can approach the current economic instability. First, you have to see your current situation as another challenge in your life, and one that can potentially strengthen your connection with your partner if you can work together. Second, find a church or other positive place of gathering that both of you can attend at least once per week. Engagement in such gatherings do not cost anything, and can result in a renewed sense of looking at your daily and weekly challenges. Many people do not currently have a budget for weekly or monthly entertainment because of the changes in their economic status. Do not focus on what use to be, rather, focus on what you can do together in the now. Ruminating on your past economic status will not ease the burden of the current economic situation. Grow together as a couple with your challenges becoming a positive way to build a loving and dependable partnership. It does not hurt to cut back on what could be considered luxuries, so that your expenses for bills, etc., can be securely maintained without causing added stress to your relationship.
Third, stay focus on what you are trying to accomplish while you redo your budget to accommodate your new lifestyle. Try to stay positive by reading devotionals, daily motivational self-help books, or any instrument that will give you that extra push to start your day on a positive note.
Remember, even though money can buy things, it does not buy love. Do not convince yourself otherwise. I am not saying that one cannot be rich and happy, but I know that even rich and happy takes work. So, continue or start to compliment your partner, treat each other with love and respect, and maintain your strong bond while awaiting this tide to turn.

Psychotropic Medications are not a Necessity in All Mental Health Cases

Psychotropic drugs can help or hurt individuals for many different reasons. It has been, and continues to be common practice to administer drugs to individuals who are affected by mental health issues regardless of mildness or severity. Western culture is so consumed with fixing every "supposed" anomaly that we sometimes forget to use rationality in decision-making. Mind you, anomalies are subjective according to an individual's beliefs because what may be abnormal for one person may in fact be normal to another person. However, the "know-it-all" textbook nature of many in authority prevents rational thinking from surfacing when treating individuals who may or may not have mental health issues. For example, it is extremely common for Disabled Veterans to be inundated with prescription drugs for mental health issues. The philosophy seems to be that "if one drug does not work, then another will". Providers typically fail to address the combined effects of the many drugs being administered to their clients / patients. Negative effects typically outweigh the positive effects, and individuals usually find themselves becoming more ill than when they first entered treatment. As an individual who has had the experience of being treated by multiple providers who failed to communicate with each other about their lack of treatment plans, medication administrations, and changing health status, I would personally advise individuals with mental health issues or physical illnesses to be an active part of their treatment. Do not completely depend on your providers to be the best mode of treatment and information outlet. Actively research and evaluate your health status and changes so that you can have some idea about what works for your particular situation. During my dependence on my providers, I took many medications based on their recommendations. The result was gaining more than 50lbs in about one year, and not being able to fit in any of my clothing. My complete dependence on my providers for helping with my health concerns turned out to be a rather depressing and expensive venture. Originally, I was wearing size 2 and 4 clothing and weight was not a concern. Afterwards, I was 50lbs heavier, which resulted in exacerbation of health issues, new health issues, and no money to purchase a new wardrobe. I am still struggling to lose all the weight gained, and also to reduce and eventually eliminate the health issues that surfaced during treatment. I hope that based on this article, readers will keep in mind that active participation and independent decision-making is the best way to approach their healthcare.

Response to Fellow Blogger Comment on, "Why We Remain in Relationships that Seem to Drain Us Dry"

In response to your comment, I feel like this is deja vu. Relationships are always works in progress, and so is the fear of betrayal, abandonment, and every wrongs you attempt to avoid in this life. You definitely seem to possess qualities that I typically search for in my relationships. Essentially, I felt like I was the one who needed that extra bit of emotional support, but at the same time felt such support was irrelevant. I typically felt as though I needed to pay back individuals for their efforts with me in order to avoid owing them, which resulted in my extremely minute social network even as we speak. Basically, whenever I enter a relationship, I commence planning my exit strategy but will never leave the person worse than I found them. Pretty screwed up, huh? I have definitely been in relationships where due to my own dysfunctionality, I treated my partner with little regards at times. In most cases that I can recall, it was not necessarily a fact that I intended any hurt. However, I never felt as though I had much support growing up, and I never learned to expect any. So, whenever individuals commence showing support, I become scared because most of those who did in my life, needed something in return. I now know that I do what I do for fear of abandonment, but nevertheless, those behaviors are not the easiest to treat without some serious "mojo" - psychiatric or otherwise. Irrespective of my sordid behaviors, I eventually learned how to apologize and acknowledge my inappropriate behaviors in order to seek forgiveness and be at peace with the universe. I am not saying I am completely at peace - obtaining contentment can be a struggle. Amazingly, I still do not know whether I love or obsess when it is time for a relationship to be dissolved. Actually, as dysfunctional as it may sound, I believe it to be the latter. I have always known how to show compassion, but love is so much different from that. I have now learned how to apologize when I am wrong, granted of course that I am treated humanely. I do care about having relationships with individuals with your qualities---I call them the caregivers because they help to protect one as much as possible from the world. This is in a very respected manner of course. It is easy to love a wounded animal, which explains why I am more taken to individuals in hurt than those who are happy. After all, our past can majorly shape our future without much deviation from our upbringing. Eventually we come to realize that we all are provided a miracle through someone who is patient enough to lick our wounds and assists us in healing from injuries received in this life. We are not going to be able to heal every wounded heart, or be ourselves healed by one particular individual. Our lives are such that it takes a little bit of every experiences encountered to jump start and make better, the hurt inflicted by others and ourselves. Patience is a gift of luxury that many do not possess, and for those who possess this quality, their marks are left upon the world in an overwhelmingly positive manner. We help and are helped by every encounters and experiences in this life even though we may not be able to recognize those benefits at first. Negative experiences cause us to close our eves to the positive outcomes that result from those experiences. I guess that is why we stick around when it makes no sense to anyone else. It always makes perfect sense to us.

Relationships

It is quite amazing that many individuals who are in a relationship continue to be attached to individuals that they do not love. Why do you think this is so? Is it because people are afraid of change or they are just comfortable being miserable? Whatever the case might be (love, lust, economic or financial hardship, or other), we all engage in this type of behavior at some point in our lives for one reason or another. Sound off, or consider this while you continue to surf.

Chris Brown's Alleged Attack on Rihanna

I do not typically pay much attention to much outside of my interests in my current field of study. However, it was just difficult to see Rihanna’s face and not make a statement. Rihanna, I hope this is the last time you permit any male to lift his hand or voice to you. You deserve so much more. Women go through a lot in this life already, and domestic abuse / battering should not be among our continued struggles. Chris Brown, you should be ashamed of yourself. Learn about perpetrator accountability and get some psychiatric help. The fact that you busted up this poor girl’s face demonstrates that you have obviously had and continue to have a history of abuse. There are no justifications for what you have done. You are a batterer and you need to serve jail time for what you did. Also, using some excuse about abuse in your family is more of a public relation’s “pity card” that is quite obvious to educated individuals like myself. I hope your career pays the price for your abuse. I have not had the most picture perfect life; and, I am certainly sure that the rest of the world also has some sad story. However, we cannot all just go around busting up people’s faces and beating the crap out of them. I remember completing a class on domestic abuse and perpetrator accountability, and the thing I take away from the classes is that people who abuse others always try to place blame on the victim or another individual—never themselves. This denial only compound such criminal wrongs and costs society. It is about time our society starts taking criminal battery on women more seriously. Do not just wait until there is a corpse to justify enough evidence for going forward. Criminal threat or no criminal threat, Mr. Brown’s behavior was criminal and is an act against what we as a society is trying to accomplish—civility. You know, during my sophomore year at Portland State University, I was told by a student that he was going to “fucking cut my throat and then fuck me after I am dead”. I was so freaked that I was unable to sleep, eat, or do much except look over my shoulders for this guy, who lived in the same dorm as I did by the way. I reported the incidence to the Portland Police Department and called each time I saw this guy and nothing happened. Of course, I was and still am horrified each time I am reminded of the situation—especially because I am a disabled veteran who suffers from PTSD. In sum, I guess what I am trying to say is that no one should have to be abused either physically or psychologically without recourse. Lack of recourse from violence contributes to helplessness and a life of fear. No one should live in fear. Mr. Brown, if your money and lawyers buy your freedom, you should be a man and insists on prison time for yourself and societal retribution for your victims (Rihanna included).

Father-in-Law Recent Passing from Cancer

Yesterday, November 12th, 2008, my father-in-law succumbed to his battle with cancer at the very young age of 52. He was an extraordinarily wonderful man who honored his community here in Brazil with his charity and philanthropy. He worked for the betterment of his community and is definitely missed by his many families and friends both here and abroad. Though he passed yesterday, his funeral took place the same day for a number of reasons--the main one being not to prolong our family's suffering. He was in excruciating pain until the end. My husband and I relocated to Brazil on October 28th, 2008 instead of our planned date of November 25th, 2008. This was an extremely fortunate move since we got to spend exactly two weeks with him. He was unable to recognize anyone and mostly slept due to being heavily sedated for pain--not that the pain medications helped. Yesterday was the first time I have been in extremely close proximity of a burial and the body of an individual who have passed. It was also the first time in my life that I actually touched and kissed someone who has died. You see, my husband's father was not only his father but also mine within the brief period that I had known him. I met my father-in-law in person for the first time in July 2008, and I am proud to say he treated me much better in those 4 months than my mother's choice did in my 30 years on this earth. No blame to my mother of course--I am pretty sure that the label did not come with a warning of eject while you have a chance. I am really hurt by his passing though because there are so many people who are undeserving of their lives. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "who am I to make such a judgment?" Well, first of all, I believe I like many others have been living on borrowed time--this is especially so whenever you are the product of an unplanned or unwanted birth. Anyways, I am sort of venting I guess. I am especially disappointed with the medical field because as a health practitioner and researcher, I believe the health-care industry continues to utilize chemotherapy and other forms of cancer treatment with no benefits to clients due to the large financial benefits to the health-care industry. In essence, they make profits from selling false hope to the sick. My father-in-law suffered excruciatingly and at the time of his death, the chemotherapy took a wonderful 52 year husband (married for 27 years), father of 3, adoptive father of many, father-in-law, friend, and philanthropist, leaving us with an image of a 90-100 year old who could not move at all.
Eu amo pai e sinto a sua falta.

For the Fascist who believes that Blacks or Muslims do not belong in the White House

I am pretty sure that the world would be a much happier place if you were not a part of it. You are obviously a fascist and as such nothing you say or write should be taken seriously as the evident lack of education overrule your ability to think in an unbiased manner. You hate Muslims, contradict yourself by stating "who cares if Barack is Black", then go on to say a Black individual is not needed in the White House. Therefore, you would evidently prefer the country to go to hell in a hand basket with your basket case thinking, instead of someone of a different ethnicity than white being elected. Obviously, you lack the necessary intellect to partake in even the simplest of blogs requesting your opinion. I am ashamed to represent America with the hatred that continues to be fostered so overtly by the ill-educated and supposedly educated fools. I am an American citizen who was born in a different country, served in the United States' Armed Forces, and I am just hoping for positive changes on a global scale and socioeconomic level. Who cares whether Barack Obama or John McCain sits in the white house? Not me. However, I do not want the eruption of a WWIII commencing with Iran or any other nation that we cannot in fact win since the troops are already spent. Not that the economic situation is better. Most Americans use to live paycheck to paycheck--now they are just barely living. I also do not want Barack Obama to promise change and succumb to the influence of the elitists on Capitol Hill. So, in the end, who do I vote for? This is my first opportunity to vote and after carefully researching and analyzing the candidates, I have to go with the lesser risk--Barack Obama. Why? Well, even if he becomes a puppet to the baboons on Capitol Hill, what other president has not? That is a road to be crossed at a later date should such occurrence become evident. I did not make or support a pluralistic form of government masquerading as a democracy where one man, one vote is said to count but is not necessarily so. However, after careful consideration and my reluctance to succumb to the ignorant displays that I have had the opportunity to be unfortunately exposed to over the course of bickering and name-callings among candidates, I decided that I owe my conscience and the American people my vote. This decision I decided on November 3rd, 2008, whether it actually counts or not (more than likely it does not but oh well). It is so amazing how shallow many Americans are and the poison just spreads globally with the globalization of the media and the world's dependence on their little television boxes for the "truth". You hate your own countrymen yet seek support to clean up other countries abroad. Read Matthew 7 verse 7, and reflect on your life to see what you have accomplished thus far with all your hate and self-loathing. Life is worth more than hating someone because of color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or any other unnecessary identification that have surfaced through racism and discriminatory practices over the centuries. Working together is the only way to resolve our differences.

Social Service and Its Rewards: The Solutions to Complacency

There are many things that we complain about in our lives. Whether we focus on the lack of socioeconomic advantages, lack of proper education and enough experiences to compete for a job, or we just complain because we can, we most certainly never consider the fortunate circumstances that permit us the luxury of complaining. One such fortunate circumstance is the blessing of being alive and being able to help the less fortunate and more destitute individuals in our midst. However, we are so caught up in focusing on the negatives of the talents we possess, that we are unable to see the positive light that emanate from them. Why? We have essentially forgotten the struggles of our parents and ancestors, the struggles of our neighbors both domestically and internationally, and the fact that we now have the opportunity to appreciate more than most individuals possess in this life. For example, it is not a hidden fact that many of us owe some type of debt and are living on a paycheck-to-paycheck type of system. Thus, the reasoning for, and among the justifications given for the continuous complaints and lack of humanity to others we perceive as threats to overcoming our distresses and dilemmas. Some of us owe student loans and are struggling to pay our rents, mortgages, car payments, credit card bills, electricity bills, telephone bills, and too many other bills to list here. Others become dismayed because just when they thought one bill was resolved, another bill arrives in the mail. Well, I say that challenges in our lives serve purposes even though we might be blinded by our prejudices and unreasonableness in focusing on the purposes they serve. Whenever you sit down and commence feeling sorry for yourself and the amount of bills you have to pay, try to think about your decisions, privileges, and the rights afforded to you by this wonderfully inhumane world. We choose whether we want to use phones, televisions, and other material items that we so crave to give our lives meaning. Our neighbors do not have many choices except for hunger and pain. I presume that the choices of hunger and pain are not ones that are easily adapted to especially when food, clothing, and shelter are so accessible to so many who are able to assist by engaging in social services and volunteerism. There are places in Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, and many other third world countries where women, men, and children would give anything to have food, clothing, and shelter. Our system seems to be geared towards the incarcerated and those who can afford to pay for health premiums…usually individuals who are at a certain income bracket way beyond the $30,000 per year job. We have access to so much, with compassion for none. We are selfish, ungrateful, and egoistic to the extent that we will only assist the destitute once or twice per year (Thanksgiving and Christmas) and then boasts of our goodwill to our neighbors. What about the rest of the year, and the rest of our neighbors? I am yet to encounter an individual who only eats, sleeps, and become sick twice per year throughout his or her lifetime. I may not be able to solve all the world’s problems but I hope that you can join me in changing one dysfunction at a time. Let us not be hypocritical and speak of the obvious derelict in performance of our government and leaders, while we display the same pompous and underhanded behaviors we speak of. Change begins with one person and complaining never resulted in any issues being resolved in a venerable manner. Help someone else and help yourself. Continue paying those debts while reducing your need for happiness in material items by reducing and eliminating unnecessary spending. Do not complain without taking action or else you only succeed in whining, and that is just not proper or admirable. Change your outlook on life by making informed decisions and being accountable for your own actions. While you’re doing so, go volunteer at a soup kitchen for homeless individuals and visit www.volunteermatch.org to locate some volunteer work to occupy times when you become too complacent and pompous. There are always individuals who are suffering much more than we are.