WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

 

 

 

TIME (2008) JUNE 16,

THOMPSON, 39-42

 

 

The military is ragged in Iraq.  There are too few soldiers and they are on long rotations. Many are on their 3rd or 4th stint. To be a teacher means among other things is to be smart. To be a soldier means to be brave. Not all teachers are smart nor are all soldiers brave. What they are is human.

 

It many different ways the role strain of doing something you do not feel comfortable doing day after day after day causes post traumatic stress. In either profession it is not honorable to be depressed. Soldiers as of the latest 2004 findings are being placed on anti-depressants and tranquilizers to go back in the field.

 

Iraq is an asymmetrical war. That means that a bullet can kill you that come from any direction at any time. That means the little girl with a desire for a candy bar has a bomb on her and she and you as a soldier are going to be blown up.

 

Symmetrical wars are more structured and in the hemisphere of comparisons easier to conduct. When you are behind the battle line, the chances of getting hurt are dramatically reduced. You can relax.

 

In an asymmetrical war, the enemy is ever present. To complicate matters, you may kill someone who has nothing to do with the war and is an innocent. Who do you trust?

 

Soldiers in Iraq average about 5 or 6 fateful hours of sleep. The mental health of the soldiers as a group increases with each deployment. In the first round, 12% ask for meds. By the second, it is 19% and the third 27%. All of this excludes what may happen when the soldiers come back home. Those with the highest combat experience roughly 27% require medication and therapy.

 

War is hell. Hell means depression and suffering. The medications appear to help.

 

WHO WILL RULE THE NEW INTERNET?

QUITTNER/ 47-50

 

The contenders at the moment are GOOGLE, APPLE, and AND FACEBOOK. However in 5 years (a year in the Internet technology business) is like 5 or more years for the rest of us, who knows? The winner will probably have big money behind them, easy accesses, addictive features, interactive, problem solving, and a host of other things that don’t cost immediately or are free.

 

 

THE WEEK (2008) JUNE 13, P. 4

 

 

A new book is out explaining why mom or dad got a nose job or something else that is cosmetic. Written by a plastic surgeon, MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMY is target for 4 to 7 years olds. The patient with the new changes is not to say that she is trying to be more attractive, but also different. It is out this month.

 

BIONIC PEOPLE

 

We are getting closer and closer to making technical appendages that will help us or give us a new leg, hand or whatever. We can now put new faces on people. Yet, there may be problems. It is costly and who owns the technical equipment if the patient can’t pay. Is it good for anyone else?

 

ABORTION

 

Even the most ardent pro-choicer has trouble with this. Abortion can be used to downsize the number of girls that are born. This happened in China. On the other hand, if abortion laws are thoroughly enforced and it becomes unlawful, shouldn’t the mother of the unborn being charged with murder one? I am glad that I don’t have an answer. Many other people do. Listen to them.

 

YOU GET FIRED

T.M. Shine/ 40-41

It is quick. There are rumors floating that the company is downsizing. You get hit. This becomes the best of times and the worst. You may get some unemployment insurance. There were dreams that you had about going on a trip here or there. Actually, if the kids have left, you could always stock shelves. What ever it is, most are not ready for it and the boss doesn’t want you talking to your other colleagues. It is out the door. They will rifle through your things and then send them to your home. This air America and that’s life.

 

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT (2008) June 16

 

Stress in moderate doses can be good for you. Yes exercise and meditation can reduce it naturally, so can bio-feedback. However, stress also allows you to get things done. Yes, prayer helps too.