original article
The term “official 9/11 account” refers to the account of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, as presented in June 2004 by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by President George W. Bush, and complemented by other official documents issued by US government agencies. This account includes various details, such as identities of the alleged hijackers, identities of aircraft, timelines and other data used to prove that the crime of 9/11 was perpetrated by the named individuals under the orders or the inspiration of Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders.
It can be demonstrated by two straightforward mathematical techniques that the official acccount on 9/11 is simply not true.
The first method uses boolean algebra. The other method is based on probability theory.
Boolean algebra used to invalidate the official 9/11 account
Boolean algebra deals not with numbers but with truth values. In Boolean mathematics we have only two values: True and false. One of the primary operations in boolean algebra is the operator AND. In the equation A AND B we have:
Given A = true and B = true, then A AND B = true
Given A = true and B = false, then A AND B = false
Given A = false and B = true, then A AND B = false
Given A = false and B = false, then A AND B = false
The AND relationship can be illustrated by three bulbs connected in series. The truth value for each bulb is ON or OFF. In order for bulb C to be ON, both A and B must be ON. If either A or B or both are OFF, C will not obtain electrical current and be OFF. The same would apply to a longer series of bulbs connected in series.
Applying the AND relationship to the official 9/11 account, we posit that
in order for the official account to be true, a number N of fundamental allegations must be proved as true. If any one of these fundamental allegations are false, the entire official account is false.
Thus, it is only necessary to demonstrate that a single fundamental allegation in the official account is false for the entire account to be deemed false. Fundamental allegations include the following (a non-exhaustive list), all of which are part of the official version on 9/11:
1. No plans existed prior to 9/11 to protect the Pentagon and the White House against approaching aircraft (if such plans actually existed, questions would arise why they were not implemented and who prevented their implementation).
2. The idea that the World Trade Center could be attacked from air, did not occur to any US government agency before 9/11 (if it is shown that the idea actually was discussed by US military agencies, the question would arise why it was not taken into consideration to protect these assets).
3. All persons named by the FBI as hijackers actually boarded the four aircraft which crashed on 11 Sep. 2001 (if they did not board the aircraft, the hijackings could not have taken place).
4. The planes which crashed on 11 Sep. 2001 were flight number AA11 (tail number N334AA), flight number AA77 (tail number N644AA), flight number UA93 (tail number N591UA) and flight number UA175 (tail number N612UA) (if the flight and tail number are not those listed here, the question arises whether the planes that allegedly crashed at the known locations were the same ones which departed from the listed airports).
5. Flight AA11, a Boeing 767, left from Logan Airport, Boston, and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York (some critical assumptions made in the official story rely on the identity of this flight number, the airport of departure and on the type of aircraft).
6. Flight AA77, a Boeing 757, left from Dulles Airport, Washington, D.C., and crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (some critical assumptions made in the official story rely on the identity of this flight number, the airport of departure, the type of aircraft and the claim that this aircraft crashed on the Pengaton).
7. Flight UA175, a Boeing 767, left from Logan Airport, Boston, and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York (some critical assumptions made in the official story rely on the identity of this flight number, the airport of departure and on the type of aircraft.
8. Flight UA93, a Boeing 757, left from Newark Airport and crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania (some critical assumptions made in the official story rely on the identity of this flight number, the airport of departure and on the type of aircraft).
9. The US military were not notified in time to scramble military jets and prevent the crashes of the hijacked aircraft (had they been notified in time, questions would arise why they did not scramble military jets in time and who was negligent).
10. President George W. Bush did not know that “America was under attack” before entering the primary school in Florida on the morning of 9/11 (should it transpire that President Bush actually knew what was going on in New York as he entered the school, questions would arise as to his foreknowledge of the crime).
11. The South and North towers of the World Trade Center as well as WTC no. 7 collapsed due to fire (if evidence can be produced that steel buildings cannot be made to collapse by fire, it would suggest that they were made to collapse by explosives, as actually suggested by a number of witnesses).
12. Numerous calls from hijacked passengers were made to family members and airline personnel with cell phones (if it can be shown that at the particular moment of the phone calls the planes were flying above 8,000 feet and/or at the speed of 500 miles per hour or more, it would suggest that the cellphone stories are a fabrication, because of the technical high improbability of succeeding such calls from high altitude and/or high speed).
If any one of the above allegations is found to be false, the official account must be put in doubt or rejected and the suggestion of official deception or criminal complicity must be considered as justified.
Probability theory used to invalidate the official 9/11 account
It is also possible to “disprove” the official 9/11 account by using probability theory. If it is shown that the probability of the official account is so low as to approach zero, it can be safely maintained that the official account is untrue.
The probability of a compound event to have occurred is the product of all sub-events necessary to accomplish the compound event. The underlying assumption is that the probability of each sub-event is independent of the probability of another sub-event. The following sub-events appear independent of each other. All of them have a low to extremly low probability. In order to simplify the demonstration, we arbitrarily assigned a probability of 0.1 (or 10 percent) to each of the following selected propositions which underpin the official account. Skeptics may try other combinations of probabilities, higher or lower, in order to test the methodology.
1. Four young, healthy and educated Muslims who possess large chunks of cash and like to party, can be expected to prepare for many months to sacrifice their lives in a murderous hijacking operation.
2. Four groups of Muslims can be expected to board four different aircraft in the United States on the same day without raising suspicion.
3. Young muslim men, known to have been in Afghanistan, would be expected to receive a visa to the United States in order to learn to fly.
4. Foreign Muslims who plan to hijack planes in the United States, can be expected to choose to train in US, rather than Arab, flight schools in order to prepare their hijackings.
5. A person planning a hijack operation in the US could be expected to tell an official US employee about his criminal motives, as Mohamed Atta had reportedly done in his encounter with Johnelle Bryant of the Agricultural Department in Florida.
6. Muslims who meticulously plan a hijacking operation in the United States, could be expected to "forget" a Kor’an on a bar stool on the eve of their operation and a flight manual in Arabic on the morning of their operation, in a rented car left near the airport from which they intended to hijack a plane.
7. Hijackers can be expected to fly from another town to the airport from which they intend to commit the hijacking operation merely two hours before their intended hijacking should start.
8. US military authorities can be expected to schedule, for exactly the date of the murderous events, war games and exercises including simulated plane hijackings and planes crashing on government buildings.
9. Conversations from cell phones made from passenger aircraft can be expected to function at any altitude and speed.
10. Passports of hijackers could be expected to be found on the crash sites, regardless of the lack of bodies and wreckage.
11. The US air force could be expected to bungle its attempts to intercept the hijacked planes.
12. No plans could have existed at the Pentagon to protect US government buildings against the risk of an accidental or malicious plane crash.
13. Neither the CIA nor the FBI could have any prior knowledge of the identities and whereabouts of the alleged hijackers before 9/11.
14. A law enforcement authority, such as the FBI, could be expected to show little interest in investigating mass murder.
15. A government would be expected to oppose an investigation of a terrorist attack against its own country.
16. Terrorists can be expected to commit mass murder without making any demands.
17. Five individuals with only packing knives can be expected to overwhelm fifty adults in a plane.
18. Hijackers in three different planes can be expected to successfully enter the pilot cabin without raising alarm.
19. A person who had never flown a Boeing passanger jet could be expected after a little simulator training to plunge the aircraft successfully between the first and second floor of the side of the Pentagon, even under conditions of extreme stress.
20. A crashed plane can be expected to leave any visible trace.
21. A high rise steel building can be expected to collapse on its own footprint after a raging fire.
22. Debris from a crashed plane can be expected to be found many miles from the crash site.
The compound probability of the above events is the product of the individual probabilities or 0.1**22 (0.1 in the 22 exponential). The actual figure is so small that it practically nears zero.
If one accepts the above propositions (even by increasing their probability of occurrence to 0,5), it follows that their compound probability is near zero. In fact, it suffices that a subset of the above propositions be shown to have a compound probability of near zero, to invalidate the official account on 9/11.
While both methods demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that the U.S. authorities have fabricated the official account, the question arises why they have done so, what are they covering up, who perpetrated the mass murder of 9/11 and how was it accomplished. These questions are not pursued further here. As long as the above statements of fact are not fully investigated, the U.S. administration must be considered as covering up the crime and thus as the prime suspect in this crime against humanity.
DJHJD
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Saturday that feels like Sunday
This long weekend is screwing up my sense of what day we're on.
Had breakkie with Curt and Mikey this morning, then came home to work on .. well, whatever it was. I tried to teach myself EZlister for a while, and then realized that I'm going to need a training session first.
So, I'll do the research on pricing, write the text files for each of the items, make sure all of the photographs are taken, and be ready to knock them all out when I know what I'm doing.
Tonight's the regular meeting of the Whores of Baghdad. I got Mikey's Christmas present in the mail today, so I'm going to bag it up and give it to him tonight. I have to put my own "prezzie" into my computer - tomorrow, I guess. I got us each one.
Michael wanted to come hang out for a few days, so I went and picked him up. He started off by bathing the dogs, and tomorrow, he's going to work on cleaning up the car and some other things - stuff I've been bitching about for two months, so I'm really glad about that.
Of course, he's already talking about moving in. I need a break first. He's going to church with me in the morning, he says.
Nick blah, blah, blah. Go harangue someone else. Call me when you're ready to be productive and reasonable.
We're watching "Batman Begins" - it's an awesome movie!
Had breakkie with Curt and Mikey this morning, then came home to work on .. well, whatever it was. I tried to teach myself EZlister for a while, and then realized that I'm going to need a training session first.
So, I'll do the research on pricing, write the text files for each of the items, make sure all of the photographs are taken, and be ready to knock them all out when I know what I'm doing.
Tonight's the regular meeting of the Whores of Baghdad. I got Mikey's Christmas present in the mail today, so I'm going to bag it up and give it to him tonight. I have to put my own "prezzie" into my computer - tomorrow, I guess. I got us each one.
Michael wanted to come hang out for a few days, so I went and picked him up. He started off by bathing the dogs, and tomorrow, he's going to work on cleaning up the car and some other things - stuff I've been bitching about for two months, so I'm really glad about that.
Of course, he's already talking about moving in. I need a break first. He's going to church with me in the morning, he says.
Nick blah, blah, blah. Go harangue someone else. Call me when you're ready to be productive and reasonable.
We're watching "Batman Begins" - it's an awesome movie!
Friday, November 25, 2005
The smoke clears further
Had some conversation with Carlos tonight - it seems he's in town, and that would help explain Nick's sudden desire to vacate Wednesday night and his "fuck you" attitude since then.
Ah, well - the universe is supporting me.
Watched a .. weird .. German movie about gay love in prison. Bad acting, bad filming, cute boys .. at least the dialogue was simplistic enough that I didn't need the subtitles.
Time to take the dogs outside and see if sleep will follow.
Ah, well - the universe is supporting me.
Watched a .. weird .. German movie about gay love in prison. Bad acting, bad filming, cute boys .. at least the dialogue was simplistic enough that I didn't need the subtitles.
Time to take the dogs outside and see if sleep will follow.
An open letter to Nick
So, you think that I broke my promise to you, that I'd never treat you like Carlos did. You can't believe I'm the kind of guy who would just want rid of you that fast, and not give you a chance to heal and get yourself pulled together. You're angry, because I was so unreasonable.
And, you think that I'm in love with you.
Let's just handle these with bullet points; in Indiana, this is called "how the cow ate the cabbage:"
1. You promised me you would help me with client consulting work, and with eBaying. You never lifted a hand at either, except to list ONE item on eBay. In a month of effort. I paid you, in advance, for a week of work, gave you another 1/2 work week's worth of cash to drive down here, plus gave you another nearly 1/2 work week's worth of cash once you came back. This isn't to mention food, cigarettes, gasoline, haircuts, bar tabs and airfare. You've been paid for work you won't perform and have lied about for weeks.
2. You went out looking for a job once. For two hours.
3. You don't pick up after yourself, you don't cook, you don't clean the kitchen when I cook, and you occasionally help around the house without being asked.
4. You don't seek any professional assistance for any of your drama. You only want to indulge your drama, and enroll the people around you in how badly you're being treated by the people you trusted in your life.
5. None of the friends you have in Houston are willing to let you stay with them. Even on a temporary basis. Doesn't that tell you volumes? They know you better than I did.
6. Every morning for the last week, you'd wake up, pee, and log into gay.com. Do you think I can't hear the distinctive log in sound that website makes?
7. Every day, you'd say you intended to help me by fulfilling your promises, but all you could do is make arrangements for another hook up, or to go have cocktails.
8. Every day, new and different people were calling your cell phone that I provided you - not with job offers, not with offers of a room to rent ..
9. In the last week, you spent zero nights at home. Zero. Every night was an excuse .. "I got sick," or whatever. When you leave your cock ring on the coffee table after coming in at 4:30, no manner of protestations are going to change the indelible impression of just what your life is all about.
10. Whenever I'd get frustrated with you about your behavior, your immediate response is to say that you're leaving and that you never should have come down here. So, not only should I have been more flexible in my willingness to support you while you tried to sleep your way through gay.com's three Houston rooms, I should have been HAPPY about it too.
11. You used 3619 minutes in a month on MY phone talking to people who were NOT me, and then you were upset with me that I cut your phone off without giving you transition time.
12. You're nearly 28 years old and you have done nothing in your life but bounce from free living place to free living place. You shouldn't at all be surprised that the time at each place is cycling shorter and shorter. Behavior patterns that keep repeating bear looking at, and you can only assign blame rather than look at your own participation. I suggested to you that you go to college (and that I'd let you stay here for free while you did that) or open an eBay consignment store (which I offered to support while you got it going and set you up with your initial five customers) or buy and sell cars .. none of these things interested you. You were only interested in high drama with Carlos, going out and partying with Shelly (I wonder if Shelly knows how often she partied with you) and hooking up. And watching meaningless cable television shows. And sleeping.
13. Now, you're living in your car (so you say) and you're angry with me that you have no money, and you have no place to stay. Because I wasn't tolerant enough of your need to recover from Carlos and expected too much out of you. I will admit that, given your level of production (zero) any expectations of you was too high. I spent nearly all of November in a part-time job dealing with your Carlos drama, and it's time for me to focus on something other than supporting and caring for you.
14. Especially since you don't even want my company, my friendship or my words, I have no more interest in supporting and caring for you. There is no upside for me at all - you don't want to even talk about having dinner, preferring to hold out for a better offer (which required the use of a cock ring) you don't want to talk to me about what my life is about, or what I'm doing or thinking or feeling. You are 100% focused on yourself, and you're not willing to do anything but look cute to support yourself. So, don't be surprised when people shut off the flow of support when they find out what your intentions really are.
15. Carlos told me that I was much quicker on the uptake and in taking action to cut it off than he was. He COMPLIMENTED me on my strength in this regard. He told me not to let you question myself, and pointed out that you OBVIOUSLY have money coming from somewhere.
So, indulge yourself further. Now, you can feel like I turned on you because I couldn't handle it that you didn't return my affections.
If I was so in love with you, why is it so easy for me to turn my back on you now?
Best wishes, Nick. I don't think the universe has yet beaten on you hard enough for you to pay attention to your own behavior and role in your dramatic world.
And, you think that I'm in love with you.
Let's just handle these with bullet points; in Indiana, this is called "how the cow ate the cabbage:"
1. You promised me you would help me with client consulting work, and with eBaying. You never lifted a hand at either, except to list ONE item on eBay. In a month of effort. I paid you, in advance, for a week of work, gave you another 1/2 work week's worth of cash to drive down here, plus gave you another nearly 1/2 work week's worth of cash once you came back. This isn't to mention food, cigarettes, gasoline, haircuts, bar tabs and airfare. You've been paid for work you won't perform and have lied about for weeks.
2. You went out looking for a job once. For two hours.
3. You don't pick up after yourself, you don't cook, you don't clean the kitchen when I cook, and you occasionally help around the house without being asked.
4. You don't seek any professional assistance for any of your drama. You only want to indulge your drama, and enroll the people around you in how badly you're being treated by the people you trusted in your life.
5. None of the friends you have in Houston are willing to let you stay with them. Even on a temporary basis. Doesn't that tell you volumes? They know you better than I did.
6. Every morning for the last week, you'd wake up, pee, and log into gay.com. Do you think I can't hear the distinctive log in sound that website makes?
7. Every day, you'd say you intended to help me by fulfilling your promises, but all you could do is make arrangements for another hook up, or to go have cocktails.
8. Every day, new and different people were calling your cell phone that I provided you - not with job offers, not with offers of a room to rent ..
9. In the last week, you spent zero nights at home. Zero. Every night was an excuse .. "I got sick," or whatever. When you leave your cock ring on the coffee table after coming in at 4:30, no manner of protestations are going to change the indelible impression of just what your life is all about.
10. Whenever I'd get frustrated with you about your behavior, your immediate response is to say that you're leaving and that you never should have come down here. So, not only should I have been more flexible in my willingness to support you while you tried to sleep your way through gay.com's three Houston rooms, I should have been HAPPY about it too.
11. You used 3619 minutes in a month on MY phone talking to people who were NOT me, and then you were upset with me that I cut your phone off without giving you transition time.
12. You're nearly 28 years old and you have done nothing in your life but bounce from free living place to free living place. You shouldn't at all be surprised that the time at each place is cycling shorter and shorter. Behavior patterns that keep repeating bear looking at, and you can only assign blame rather than look at your own participation. I suggested to you that you go to college (and that I'd let you stay here for free while you did that) or open an eBay consignment store (which I offered to support while you got it going and set you up with your initial five customers) or buy and sell cars .. none of these things interested you. You were only interested in high drama with Carlos, going out and partying with Shelly (I wonder if Shelly knows how often she partied with you) and hooking up. And watching meaningless cable television shows. And sleeping.
13. Now, you're living in your car (so you say) and you're angry with me that you have no money, and you have no place to stay. Because I wasn't tolerant enough of your need to recover from Carlos and expected too much out of you. I will admit that, given your level of production (zero) any expectations of you was too high. I spent nearly all of November in a part-time job dealing with your Carlos drama, and it's time for me to focus on something other than supporting and caring for you.
14. Especially since you don't even want my company, my friendship or my words, I have no more interest in supporting and caring for you. There is no upside for me at all - you don't want to even talk about having dinner, preferring to hold out for a better offer (which required the use of a cock ring) you don't want to talk to me about what my life is about, or what I'm doing or thinking or feeling. You are 100% focused on yourself, and you're not willing to do anything but look cute to support yourself. So, don't be surprised when people shut off the flow of support when they find out what your intentions really are.
15. Carlos told me that I was much quicker on the uptake and in taking action to cut it off than he was. He COMPLIMENTED me on my strength in this regard. He told me not to let you question myself, and pointed out that you OBVIOUSLY have money coming from somewhere.
So, indulge yourself further. Now, you can feel like I turned on you because I couldn't handle it that you didn't return my affections.
If I was so in love with you, why is it so easy for me to turn my back on you now?
Best wishes, Nick. I don't think the universe has yet beaten on you hard enough for you to pay attention to your own behavior and role in your dramatic world.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Thanks for ..
Dinner at Mikey's was nice - the food was good, and unlike most Thanksgiving, it wasn't TOO much food. I came home with about a gallon of gumbo, and a spare pumpkin pie.
Do I really rip other "friends" to the bone when we're out in public? I have to pay attention to that.
They sure rode me like the nickel pony ride at the grocery.
Jarred and his girlfriend were there - which was very nice. It was the second time that I had a chance to spend any time with Jarred when he wasn't working the bar. I asked them if they'd come over for dinner in two weeks.
Watching "Trains, Planes and Automobiles." Then, I guess it will be time to hit the sack; I'm just whipped.
This weekend will be busy; getting things put back together and doing everything that didn't get done (and that I paid for) over the last three weeks.
Do I really rip other "friends" to the bone when we're out in public? I have to pay attention to that.
They sure rode me like the nickel pony ride at the grocery.
Jarred and his girlfriend were there - which was very nice. It was the second time that I had a chance to spend any time with Jarred when he wasn't working the bar. I asked them if they'd come over for dinner in two weeks.
Watching "Trains, Planes and Automobiles." Then, I guess it will be time to hit the sack; I'm just whipped.
This weekend will be busy; getting things put back together and doing everything that didn't get done (and that I paid for) over the last three weeks.
So, if the CHRONICLE is condemning it, what next?
link to full article
Smear campaign
Attacking the patriotism of those who call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is an unethical effort to prop up an increasingly unpopular policy
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
President Bush says Americans should feel comfortable expressing themselves in an open and honest debate about the continuing U.S. presence in Iraq and should not have their patriotism questioned. The debate, however, reached a low point Friday when freshman Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, took the floor and applied the term "coward" to Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa. Murtha had called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops over six months, with some units remaining in Kuwait in case they were urgently needed.
In her brief speech, Schmidt, a conservative who won a special election against an Iraq war veteran who opposed the conflict, insulted a decorated Vietnam veteran who had served 37 years in the Marine Corps and the reserve. She was rightly and roundly booed by colleagues across the aisle.
Schmidt claimed she was delivering the sentiments of state Rep. Danny Bubp, R-Ohio, colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. "He asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message," Schmidt said, "that cowards cut and run, but Marines never do."
Bubp, a supporter of the Bush administration's "stay the course" policy in Iraq, denied that he had said anything about Murtha or anyone else being a coward.
Schmidt's outrageous comments, which she quickly withdrew and later apologized for, not only violated House of Representative rules banning members from directly addressing colleagues by name, but also made her the target of an acidic skit on Saturday Night Live. Perhaps Schmidt, who had served little more than 100 days in the House, took her cue from Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney has repeatedly called critics who accuse the administration of exaggerating pre-war intelligence on weapons of mass destruction "dishonest and reprehensible ... corrupt and shameless."
The administration's campaign seeks to buoy sinking support for a bloody conflict with no defined exit. Both Bush's and Cheney's approval ratings have fallen to new lows, as well. As a public backlash built, the president and Cheney cooled their rhetoric, conceding that Murtha is a patriot and Americans have a legitimate right to dissent.
The U.S. Senate has already voted to require the administration to produce quarterly reports on progress toward shifting the burden of the fighting to Iraqi forces. Calling people cowards or labeling them as pro-terrorist will not build support for indefinite U.S. deployment in Iraq.
Rep. Murtha, a respected military affairs expert, explained on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday why he had come to make his dramatic break with current U.S. policy:
"There's no progress at all. When I went to Iraq about two months ago, I talked to the commanders. ... I can tell how discouraged they are. And this all started from the illusion it was going to be easy. ... Now is the time to start to redeploy our troops to the periphery and let the Iraqis take over."
While the administration continues to oppose a firm schedule for disengagement, Iraqi political factions meeting in Cairo reached a rare agreement. Sunni, Shiite and Kurd leaders, including candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections, signed a joint statement calling for a withdrawal of foreign troops on a specified timetable, along with a national program for rebuilding security forces. This is basically what domestic opponents of the war have advocated, only to be attacked by administration officials.
Public opinion in the United States has turned against the administration's policy of occupying Iraq until it has a stable government and capable security forces because it isn't working. The deaths of more Americans at the hands of an insurgency that can't be defeated by military might do not equate to progress. Insulting those who in good conscience call for a speedy end to U.S. military involvement is spitting into the wind of a growing national consensus.
Smear campaign
Attacking the patriotism of those who call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is an unethical effort to prop up an increasingly unpopular policy
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
President Bush says Americans should feel comfortable expressing themselves in an open and honest debate about the continuing U.S. presence in Iraq and should not have their patriotism questioned. The debate, however, reached a low point Friday when freshman Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, took the floor and applied the term "coward" to Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pa. Murtha had called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops over six months, with some units remaining in Kuwait in case they were urgently needed.
In her brief speech, Schmidt, a conservative who won a special election against an Iraq war veteran who opposed the conflict, insulted a decorated Vietnam veteran who had served 37 years in the Marine Corps and the reserve. She was rightly and roundly booed by colleagues across the aisle.
Schmidt claimed she was delivering the sentiments of state Rep. Danny Bubp, R-Ohio, colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. "He asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message," Schmidt said, "that cowards cut and run, but Marines never do."
Bubp, a supporter of the Bush administration's "stay the course" policy in Iraq, denied that he had said anything about Murtha or anyone else being a coward.
Schmidt's outrageous comments, which she quickly withdrew and later apologized for, not only violated House of Representative rules banning members from directly addressing colleagues by name, but also made her the target of an acidic skit on Saturday Night Live. Perhaps Schmidt, who had served little more than 100 days in the House, took her cue from Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney has repeatedly called critics who accuse the administration of exaggerating pre-war intelligence on weapons of mass destruction "dishonest and reprehensible ... corrupt and shameless."
The administration's campaign seeks to buoy sinking support for a bloody conflict with no defined exit. Both Bush's and Cheney's approval ratings have fallen to new lows, as well. As a public backlash built, the president and Cheney cooled their rhetoric, conceding that Murtha is a patriot and Americans have a legitimate right to dissent.
The U.S. Senate has already voted to require the administration to produce quarterly reports on progress toward shifting the burden of the fighting to Iraqi forces. Calling people cowards or labeling them as pro-terrorist will not build support for indefinite U.S. deployment in Iraq.
Rep. Murtha, a respected military affairs expert, explained on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday why he had come to make his dramatic break with current U.S. policy:
"There's no progress at all. When I went to Iraq about two months ago, I talked to the commanders. ... I can tell how discouraged they are. And this all started from the illusion it was going to be easy. ... Now is the time to start to redeploy our troops to the periphery and let the Iraqis take over."
While the administration continues to oppose a firm schedule for disengagement, Iraqi political factions meeting in Cairo reached a rare agreement. Sunni, Shiite and Kurd leaders, including candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections, signed a joint statement calling for a withdrawal of foreign troops on a specified timetable, along with a national program for rebuilding security forces. This is basically what domestic opponents of the war have advocated, only to be attacked by administration officials.
Public opinion in the United States has turned against the administration's policy of occupying Iraq until it has a stable government and capable security forces because it isn't working. The deaths of more Americans at the hands of an insurgency that can't be defeated by military might do not equate to progress. Insulting those who in good conscience call for a speedy end to U.S. military involvement is spitting into the wind of a growing national consensus.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Late Tuesday night -
Had pasta with BuhZilly tonight - that was fun. The pasta was lame, but the company made up for it.
Now, I'm watching "Testosterone" - a movie about ungrateful men and unrequited love. In Buenos Aires. Where I guess that happens also.
After publishing my last, I had an IM from Carlos who must be receiving my blog posts by RSS. He says that he's coming Thursday morning - I hope he's bringing a trailer or whatever to cart Nick back with him.
Got back from dinner, and Nick was getting ready to go out. He apologized for being lazy. Yeah, well, words are cheap. Especially when you've spent most of the day on gay.com.
This movie is screwed up.
Now, I'm watching "Testosterone" - a movie about ungrateful men and unrequited love. In Buenos Aires. Where I guess that happens also.
After publishing my last, I had an IM from Carlos who must be receiving my blog posts by RSS. He says that he's coming Thursday morning - I hope he's bringing a trailer or whatever to cart Nick back with him.
Got back from dinner, and Nick was getting ready to go out. He apologized for being lazy. Yeah, well, words are cheap. Especially when you've spent most of the day on gay.com.
This movie is screwed up.
Matthew 6, 25-34 - the full passage
I thought that, quoted out of context, the lillies does make a point. However, taken as a whole with the entire passage, it means something quite different:
Therefore I say unto you,
take no thought for your life,
What ye shall eat,
or What ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat,
and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air:
for they sow not,
neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns;
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them
Are you not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow;
they toil not,
neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you,
That even Salomon
in all of his glory
was not arrayed like
one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat? or,
What we shall drink?, or
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
for after all these things
do the Gentiles seek:
for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things shall
be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow:
for the morrow shall take thought
of the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
However, that doesn't mean *I* have to do the care and feeding.
Therefore I say unto you,
take no thought for your life,
What ye shall eat,
or What ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat,
and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air:
for they sow not,
neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns;
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them
Are you not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow;
they toil not,
neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you,
That even Salomon
in all of his glory
was not arrayed like
one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat? or,
What we shall drink?, or
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
for after all these things
do the Gentiles seek:
for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things shall
be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow:
for the morrow shall take thought
of the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
However, that doesn't mean *I* have to do the care and feeding.
Someone didn't know
Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow;
they toil not,
neither do they spin:
Matthew 6, 25-34
(King James Version)
how they grow;
they toil not,
neither do they spin:
Matthew 6, 25-34
(King James Version)
Tuesday - sunny, mild and .. what the heck is that?
Okay, so it's gorgeous, things are a bit more settled today, and Mikey sent me porn videos this morning. He's such a good egg. Always thinking of his older, evil, bitter-er sister.
Had a productive meeting with my broker today - now, I have to have more conversations. Taking a loan application tonight, and it seems that the land deal has come back to life. That means I have to wrestle the bank down to the floor and find out where my damned underwriting approval is.
Worked with Lisa for HOURS today - on deep stuff. Urg. I have homework to do today, that's for sure.
One of the things I worked on involves having men in my life who are lillies of the field. And how that just isn't working for me anymore.
Interestingly enough, I asked Nick if he'd like to do anything tonight. He didn't answer, which is Nick code for "no, but I don't want to say it." It's not just Nick code, it's pretty much human code. So, asked if he had other plans already, and he said that he did not. Then, I asked if he was trying to keep his options open, and he said that he was.
Doesn't that mean that he's looking for someone and something better to do than spend time with me? So, I just walked the dogs without saying anything.
I came back in, fixed a drink and he asked if I had something in mind for tonight. I said, "yes, I do." He asked what that was.
So, now I rather feel like I get to bid with my offer of food or entertainment. If it's suitable and acceptable AND there is no better, higher offer then I am graced with his company. In between cell phone calls, of course.
Employing his own devices, I just didn't answer and came back in here. Fuck that - either I'm good enough to spend time with or I'm not. I'm not a fucking ATM machine.
Taking stock in this situation, I'm supporting him, giving him a place to stay, listening to four to six hours of Carlos drivel a day and picking up after him. Why did I do this again? He doesn't want to hear about what I think or am feeling, he doesn't want to spend time with me unless it's in a herd of his bar friends, and he doesn't want to be with me unless I'm feeding him and there's no higher, better offer. He doesn't want any kind of physical relationship with me, and he's unwilling to do anything that he says he'll do to help me keep my life running. Well, he'll SAY he will, and sometimes he'll pick up a tool or something, but for the most part, he's off to the next hanging out session with his other Houston friends and making excuses for why it will get done the next day.
This boy has a full time job arguing with Carlos. Too bad it doesn't pay worth shit. He needs to just move back up there to CMH and they can beat the shit out of each other on a daily basis. As long as I no longer have to pay for it.
On to other subjects.
Tonight, I have more DVD watching to do - I got two in the mail from Netflix and have the other two I bought last night. Have a client coming around 7:00 to do a real estate contract and sign loan application paperwork. Seeing Tom around 11:00 tonight. I haven't seen him since before Halloween, I think.
Tomorrow, I'm going to do the stereo work on Ruby myself, then I'm going to start working on listing all this shit on eBay myself. Clearly, that's the only way anything is getting done. I've already had to farm out the tax receipt work, and the Fabulair data mining tasks.
High on the list of the worst money I've ever spent ..
Wait, I was supposed to change the subject.
Michael (formerly known as the hooker) was SO nice to me this morning. We actually had a very nice conversation that included him being flirtatious. And, he didn't seem to have anything that he WANTED. Weird.
He has nothing to do for Thanksgiving, so I may go pick him up and carry him to Mikey's and feed him. We'll just see.
Uncle Kelly is having his Christmas party in Dallas on the 10th. How can I be there for said party and still make it back for church by 10:00 on Sunday?
I want to order a new Phaeton. Hm.
Had a productive meeting with my broker today - now, I have to have more conversations. Taking a loan application tonight, and it seems that the land deal has come back to life. That means I have to wrestle the bank down to the floor and find out where my damned underwriting approval is.
Worked with Lisa for HOURS today - on deep stuff. Urg. I have homework to do today, that's for sure.
One of the things I worked on involves having men in my life who are lillies of the field. And how that just isn't working for me anymore.
Interestingly enough, I asked Nick if he'd like to do anything tonight. He didn't answer, which is Nick code for "no, but I don't want to say it." It's not just Nick code, it's pretty much human code. So, asked if he had other plans already, and he said that he did not. Then, I asked if he was trying to keep his options open, and he said that he was.
Doesn't that mean that he's looking for someone and something better to do than spend time with me? So, I just walked the dogs without saying anything.
I came back in, fixed a drink and he asked if I had something in mind for tonight. I said, "yes, I do." He asked what that was.
So, now I rather feel like I get to bid with my offer of food or entertainment. If it's suitable and acceptable AND there is no better, higher offer then I am graced with his company. In between cell phone calls, of course.
Employing his own devices, I just didn't answer and came back in here. Fuck that - either I'm good enough to spend time with or I'm not. I'm not a fucking ATM machine.
Taking stock in this situation, I'm supporting him, giving him a place to stay, listening to four to six hours of Carlos drivel a day and picking up after him. Why did I do this again? He doesn't want to hear about what I think or am feeling, he doesn't want to spend time with me unless it's in a herd of his bar friends, and he doesn't want to be with me unless I'm feeding him and there's no higher, better offer. He doesn't want any kind of physical relationship with me, and he's unwilling to do anything that he says he'll do to help me keep my life running. Well, he'll SAY he will, and sometimes he'll pick up a tool or something, but for the most part, he's off to the next hanging out session with his other Houston friends and making excuses for why it will get done the next day.
This boy has a full time job arguing with Carlos. Too bad it doesn't pay worth shit. He needs to just move back up there to CMH and they can beat the shit out of each other on a daily basis. As long as I no longer have to pay for it.
On to other subjects.
Tonight, I have more DVD watching to do - I got two in the mail from Netflix and have the other two I bought last night. Have a client coming around 7:00 to do a real estate contract and sign loan application paperwork. Seeing Tom around 11:00 tonight. I haven't seen him since before Halloween, I think.
Tomorrow, I'm going to do the stereo work on Ruby myself, then I'm going to start working on listing all this shit on eBay myself. Clearly, that's the only way anything is getting done. I've already had to farm out the tax receipt work, and the Fabulair data mining tasks.
High on the list of the worst money I've ever spent ..
Wait, I was supposed to change the subject.
Michael (formerly known as the hooker) was SO nice to me this morning. We actually had a very nice conversation that included him being flirtatious. And, he didn't seem to have anything that he WANTED. Weird.
He has nothing to do for Thanksgiving, so I may go pick him up and carry him to Mikey's and feed him. We'll just see.
Uncle Kelly is having his Christmas party in Dallas on the 10th. How can I be there for said party and still make it back for church by 10:00 on Sunday?
I want to order a new Phaeton. Hm.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Monday post #2
Well, elements of today were highly successful ... I bought three DVDs using my gift card, the balance of the gift card Nick found under my front seat (where I'd been looking for it since Hurricane Rita,) and a small amount of cash. Batman Begins, Phantom and Aviator. Very cool!
Picked up a loan today, has to close by about December 15 - I already have nearly everything necessary to make it work. That's a good thing. Helps greatly to making bills work out for December.
Worked on EFT today for a while; rooting out old mental patterns. Working with Lisa tomorrow again on it, then meetings on the west side until dinner time.
I want to look at the space for the church again. I think I'll take the camera and take pictures of it as best I can; maybe I can post them on the group's website. I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
I am so ready to move into that space for the church NOW. I want to be in there before the first Sunday in January, which for us, is the 8th. I think. I have to speak all four Sundays in January and I think it would be SO SO SO cool to have the new space.
Batman Begins is a great movie so far -
A very cool movie..
Nick won't commit to joining my friends for Thanksgiving - so, I'm not going to ask again. Mikey says that he and .. well, whoever .. are welecome at his place for dinner.
The mountain is going to have to come to Mohammed now.
I'm not loaded with words tonight .. so, I think I'm going to close this out and watch the rest of this movie.
Picked up a loan today, has to close by about December 15 - I already have nearly everything necessary to make it work. That's a good thing. Helps greatly to making bills work out for December.
Worked on EFT today for a while; rooting out old mental patterns. Working with Lisa tomorrow again on it, then meetings on the west side until dinner time.
I want to look at the space for the church again. I think I'll take the camera and take pictures of it as best I can; maybe I can post them on the group's website. I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
I am so ready to move into that space for the church NOW. I want to be in there before the first Sunday in January, which for us, is the 8th. I think. I have to speak all four Sundays in January and I think it would be SO SO SO cool to have the new space.
Batman Begins is a great movie so far -
A very cool movie..
Nick won't commit to joining my friends for Thanksgiving - so, I'm not going to ask again. Mikey says that he and .. well, whoever .. are welecome at his place for dinner.
The mountain is going to have to come to Mohammed now.
I'm not loaded with words tonight .. so, I think I'm going to close this out and watch the rest of this movie.
Terms and definitions
So, if you got a rambling email from a meth user telling you that you were a whore and a prostitute (four separate times) but told that you would now be accepted (the whore that you are) .. would you put any weight into it?
pros·ti·tute Pronunciation Key (prst-tt, -tyt) n.
1. One who solicits and accepts payment for sex acts.
2. One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose.
whore Pronunciation Key (hôr, hr) n.
1. A prostitute.
2. A person considered sexually promiscuous.
3. A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.
Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug that induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly addictive. Pure methamphetamine, a colorless crystalline solid or a paste, is sold on the streets as crystal, crystal meth, glass, shards/shardz, ice, P or Tina. It is also sold as less-pure crystalline powder called crank or speed, or in rock formation termed dope, raw or tweak. It has become one of the world's most significant illicit drugs.
Methamphetamine's chemical structure
Methamphetamine
(S)-N-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-2-amine
CAS number
537-46-2
ATC code
N06BA03
Chemical formula C10H15N
SMILES CC(CC1=CC=CC=C1)NC
Molecular weight 149.24
Melting Point 175
Bioavailability Depends upon method of administration
Metabolism hepatic
Elimination half life 4-12 hours, 8 hours on average
Excretion renal
Pregnancy category C (USA)
Legal status
Schedule II (USA)
Class B (oral) (UK)
Class A (injectable) (UK)
Schedule I (Canada)
Delivery 5mg and 10mg tablets
Indicated for:
* attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
* narcolepsy
* obesity
Recreational uses:
* euphoria
* stimulant
Other uses:
* anorectic
Contraindications:
* Must not be taken within 14 days of taking a MAOI
* glaucoma
* moderate to severe hypertension
* cardiovascular disease
Side effects:
Severe: (with chronic use)
* amphetamine psychosis
* clinical depression
* kidney damage
* liver damage
Cardiovascular:
* hypertension
Endocrinal:
* elevated body temperature
Eye:
* dilated pupils
Gastrointestinal:
* diarrhea
* nausea
* vomiting
Neurological:
* altered brain chemistry
Psychological:
* euphoria
Skin:
* rash
Miscellaneous:
* anorexia
* insomnia
* restlessness
* weight loss
Methamphetamine found on the street may be pure, or diluted with the chemicals that were used to synthesize it; in some instances, it may be diluted or cut with inert substances like inositol.
Amphetamine psychosis is a form of psychosis which can result from amphetamine or methamphetamine use. Typically it appears after large doses or chronic use, although in rare cases some people may become psychotic after relatively small doses. Other chemicals or drugs which similarly increase dopamine function (such as cocaine and L-DOPA) can produce similar psychotic states. Because of this, the term stimulant psychosis is sometimes used in preference.
Amphetamine psychosis can include delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder. This is thought to be largely due to the increase in dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain caused by amphetamine-like drugs, although other factors such as chronic sleep deprivation may also play a part. The link between amphetamine and psychosis is one of the major sources of evidence for the dopamine hypothesis of psychosis.
Delusions, paranoia, fears about persecution, hyperactivity and panic are also reported as the most common features.
Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant that affects the brain by acting on the mechanisms responsible for regulating a class of neurotransmitters known as the biogenic amines or monoamine neurotransmitters. This broad class of neurotransmitters is generally responsible for regulating heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, appetite, attention, mood and responses associated with alertness or alarm conditions. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, it is generally believed that methamphetamine causes the monoamine transporter to reverse it's direction of flow. This releases monamines from the vesicles to the cytoplasm and from the cytoplasm to the synapse and blocks the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, causing them to remain in the synaptic cleft longer. As in most neurotransmitter chemistry, the effected neuron decreases it's production of the neurotransmitters being blocked from re-uptake, leading to the tolerance and withdrawal effects. In medicine it is used as an appetite suppressant in treating obesity, treating anesthetic overdose and narcolepsy.
The acute effects of the drug closely resemble the physiological and psychological effects of the fight-or-flight response including increased heart rate and blood pressure, vasoconstriction (constriction of the arterial walls), pupil dilation, bronchodilation, and hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar). The person who ingests meth will experience an increased focus and mental alertness, and the elimination of the subjective effects of fatigue, as well as a decrease in appetite. Many of these effects are broadly interpreted as euphoria or a sense of well-being, intelligence and power.
The 17th edition of The Merck Manual (1999) describes the effects of heavy methamphetamine use in these terms:
Continued high doses of methamphetamine produce anxiety reactions during which the person is fearful, tremulous, and concerned about his physical well-being; an amphetamine psychosis in which the person misinterprets others' actions, hallucinates, and becomes unrealistically suspicious; an exhaustion syndrome, involving intense fatigue and need for sleep, after the stimulation phase; and a prolonged depression, during which suicide is possible (p. 1593 - ch. 195).
The acute effects decline as the brain chemistry starts to adapt to the chemical conditions and as the body metabolizes the chemical, leading to a rapid loss of the initial effect and a significant rebound effect as the previously-saturated synaptic cleft becomes depleted of the same neurotransmitters that had previously been elevated. Many users then compensate by administering more of the drug to maintain their current state of euphoria and alertness. This process can be repeated many times, often leading to the user remaining awake for days, after which secondary sleep deprivation effects manifest in the user. Classic sleep deprivation effects include irritability, blurred vision, memory lapses, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, nausea, and (in extreme cases) death. After prolonged use, the meth user will begin to become irritable, most likely due to lack of sleep.
Adverse effects
* Compulsive fascination with useless repetitive tasks (see Punding)
* Severe psychological addiction
* Depression
* Amphetamine psychosis
* Erectile dysfunction (see "crystal dick")
* Long-term cognitive impairment due to neurotoxicity
* Tooth decay ("meth mouth")
* Damage to immune system
* Persistent anhedonia with chronic use
* Death
pros·ti·tute Pronunciation Key (prst-tt, -tyt) n.
1. One who solicits and accepts payment for sex acts.
2. One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose.
whore Pronunciation Key (hôr, hr) n.
1. A prostitute.
2. A person considered sexually promiscuous.
3. A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.
Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug that induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly addictive. Pure methamphetamine, a colorless crystalline solid or a paste, is sold on the streets as crystal, crystal meth, glass, shards/shardz, ice, P or Tina. It is also sold as less-pure crystalline powder called crank or speed, or in rock formation termed dope, raw or tweak. It has become one of the world's most significant illicit drugs.
Methamphetamine's chemical structure
Methamphetamine
(S)-N-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-2-amine
CAS number
537-46-2
ATC code
N06BA03
Chemical formula C10H15N
SMILES CC(CC1=CC=CC=C1)NC
Molecular weight 149.24
Melting Point 175
Bioavailability Depends upon method of administration
Metabolism hepatic
Elimination half life 4-12 hours, 8 hours on average
Excretion renal
Pregnancy category C (USA)
Legal status
Schedule II (USA)
Class B (oral) (UK)
Class A (injectable) (UK)
Schedule I (Canada)
Delivery 5mg and 10mg tablets
Indicated for:
* attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
* narcolepsy
* obesity
Recreational uses:
* euphoria
* stimulant
Other uses:
* anorectic
Contraindications:
* Must not be taken within 14 days of taking a MAOI
* glaucoma
* moderate to severe hypertension
* cardiovascular disease
Side effects:
Severe: (with chronic use)
* amphetamine psychosis
* clinical depression
* kidney damage
* liver damage
Cardiovascular:
* hypertension
Endocrinal:
* elevated body temperature
Eye:
* dilated pupils
Gastrointestinal:
* diarrhea
* nausea
* vomiting
Neurological:
* altered brain chemistry
Psychological:
* euphoria
Skin:
* rash
Miscellaneous:
* anorexia
* insomnia
* restlessness
* weight loss
Methamphetamine found on the street may be pure, or diluted with the chemicals that were used to synthesize it; in some instances, it may be diluted or cut with inert substances like inositol.
Amphetamine psychosis is a form of psychosis which can result from amphetamine or methamphetamine use. Typically it appears after large doses or chronic use, although in rare cases some people may become psychotic after relatively small doses. Other chemicals or drugs which similarly increase dopamine function (such as cocaine and L-DOPA) can produce similar psychotic states. Because of this, the term stimulant psychosis is sometimes used in preference.
Amphetamine psychosis can include delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder. This is thought to be largely due to the increase in dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain caused by amphetamine-like drugs, although other factors such as chronic sleep deprivation may also play a part. The link between amphetamine and psychosis is one of the major sources of evidence for the dopamine hypothesis of psychosis.
Delusions, paranoia, fears about persecution, hyperactivity and panic are also reported as the most common features.
Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant that affects the brain by acting on the mechanisms responsible for regulating a class of neurotransmitters known as the biogenic amines or monoamine neurotransmitters. This broad class of neurotransmitters is generally responsible for regulating heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, appetite, attention, mood and responses associated with alertness or alarm conditions. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, it is generally believed that methamphetamine causes the monoamine transporter to reverse it's direction of flow. This releases monamines from the vesicles to the cytoplasm and from the cytoplasm to the synapse and blocks the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, causing them to remain in the synaptic cleft longer. As in most neurotransmitter chemistry, the effected neuron decreases it's production of the neurotransmitters being blocked from re-uptake, leading to the tolerance and withdrawal effects. In medicine it is used as an appetite suppressant in treating obesity, treating anesthetic overdose and narcolepsy.
The acute effects of the drug closely resemble the physiological and psychological effects of the fight-or-flight response including increased heart rate and blood pressure, vasoconstriction (constriction of the arterial walls), pupil dilation, bronchodilation, and hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar). The person who ingests meth will experience an increased focus and mental alertness, and the elimination of the subjective effects of fatigue, as well as a decrease in appetite. Many of these effects are broadly interpreted as euphoria or a sense of well-being, intelligence and power.
The 17th edition of The Merck Manual (1999) describes the effects of heavy methamphetamine use in these terms:
Continued high doses of methamphetamine produce anxiety reactions during which the person is fearful, tremulous, and concerned about his physical well-being; an amphetamine psychosis in which the person misinterprets others' actions, hallucinates, and becomes unrealistically suspicious; an exhaustion syndrome, involving intense fatigue and need for sleep, after the stimulation phase; and a prolonged depression, during which suicide is possible (p. 1593 - ch. 195).
The acute effects decline as the brain chemistry starts to adapt to the chemical conditions and as the body metabolizes the chemical, leading to a rapid loss of the initial effect and a significant rebound effect as the previously-saturated synaptic cleft becomes depleted of the same neurotransmitters that had previously been elevated. Many users then compensate by administering more of the drug to maintain their current state of euphoria and alertness. This process can be repeated many times, often leading to the user remaining awake for days, after which secondary sleep deprivation effects manifest in the user. Classic sleep deprivation effects include irritability, blurred vision, memory lapses, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, nausea, and (in extreme cases) death. After prolonged use, the meth user will begin to become irritable, most likely due to lack of sleep.
Adverse effects
* Compulsive fascination with useless repetitive tasks (see Punding)
* Severe psychological addiction
* Depression
* Amphetamine psychosis
* Erectile dysfunction (see "crystal dick")
* Long-term cognitive impairment due to neurotoxicity
* Tooth decay ("meth mouth")
* Damage to immune system
* Persistent anhedonia with chronic use
* Death
Monday, Monday ver. 651.01
Almost noon, and I have a day's worth of work to get done. I've spent most of the morning dealing with gay drama, and getting the mail sent out. Blarg.
I need to get myself centered to make these phone calls; fortunately, Nick has run off with Ruby to work on the stereo (line noise filters, attaching a cable for an MP3 player, working on the dash squeaking, cleaning her up) so that I have some quiet time to do that. Then, it's time to hit the phones. I've got appointments all day tomorrow, so today is it.
Okay - time to do the work. More later.
I need to get myself centered to make these phone calls; fortunately, Nick has run off with Ruby to work on the stereo (line noise filters, attaching a cable for an MP3 player, working on the dash squeaking, cleaning her up) so that I have some quiet time to do that. Then, it's time to hit the phones. I've got appointments all day tomorrow, so today is it.
Okay - time to do the work. More later.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Sunday evening
Well, today's been a good day indeed. Church this morning was great. We had Rev. Al Reed come speak, and he was just AWESOME. After church was over and we'd thrown everyone OUT, Rosita, Lisa and I walked the shopping center to check out other space we could lease for our group - and found the PERFECT spot just up the way. It's gorgeous, it's just the right size, it's vacant - it would only require that we dust and do some window cleaning before moving our things inside. It's big enough that it would work for us for the expected future. Everything about it just sings that it's the exact place for us to be.
Drove home, did some fiddling around. Nick came home from visiting a friend, and we hung out a little while. He spent some time listing stuff on eBay, and my dog walker stopped by - she has a bunch of stuff SHE wants him to list on eBay - it's like he has the makings for an eBay consignment store of his own here already.
He and I are starting to get along really great - the initial mis-steps seem to be working out. He is a sweetheart, and I really do like having him here. He's good company and he's so FUNNY. And fun. I wish I had more space for him to have his own room and his own "area," we'll see what develops over the next 90 days.
Ruby is in need of some work on her front suspension right away - I think I have a broken tie rod. Blarg. I need to spend more money on it? I'm concerned about the engine and transmission, too. The engine isn't running as smoothly as I'd like or remember. She also needs a full on detail - again.
This week is going to be spent getting organized for December. I have more books to sell tomorrow. Have tax files to organize for 2005. Have to close out the three busted loan files. Need to talk to my sponsoring mortgage broker. Need to bake four pumpkin pies.
Mikey is cooking on Thursday; Curt, Nick and I will be heading over there for Cajun red beans and rice. A nice change from the usual. Hopefully, next weekend, Larry and Kent will be coming down from Dallas.
Michael (formerly known as the hooker) was very disturbed with me last night - he wanted to hang out, and since I didn't hear from him all day I just made other plans. He got with me around 45 minutes before he said he wanted to get together - and was then unhappy. Well - whatever, Mary Francis.
Okay, Christmas is just getting to be TOO intrusive. TOO intrusive.
Had a dream about Michael (the other one - formerly known as "the Married Man" last night.) It was quite some dream. Wow. I hope to be able to talk to him tomorrow.
Drove home, did some fiddling around. Nick came home from visiting a friend, and we hung out a little while. He spent some time listing stuff on eBay, and my dog walker stopped by - she has a bunch of stuff SHE wants him to list on eBay - it's like he has the makings for an eBay consignment store of his own here already.
He and I are starting to get along really great - the initial mis-steps seem to be working out. He is a sweetheart, and I really do like having him here. He's good company and he's so FUNNY. And fun. I wish I had more space for him to have his own room and his own "area," we'll see what develops over the next 90 days.
Ruby is in need of some work on her front suspension right away - I think I have a broken tie rod. Blarg. I need to spend more money on it? I'm concerned about the engine and transmission, too. The engine isn't running as smoothly as I'd like or remember. She also needs a full on detail - again.
This week is going to be spent getting organized for December. I have more books to sell tomorrow. Have tax files to organize for 2005. Have to close out the three busted loan files. Need to talk to my sponsoring mortgage broker. Need to bake four pumpkin pies.
Mikey is cooking on Thursday; Curt, Nick and I will be heading over there for Cajun red beans and rice. A nice change from the usual. Hopefully, next weekend, Larry and Kent will be coming down from Dallas.
Michael (formerly known as the hooker) was very disturbed with me last night - he wanted to hang out, and since I didn't hear from him all day I just made other plans. He got with me around 45 minutes before he said he wanted to get together - and was then unhappy. Well - whatever, Mary Francis.
Okay, Christmas is just getting to be TOO intrusive. TOO intrusive.
Had a dream about Michael (the other one - formerly known as "the Married Man" last night.) It was quite some dream. Wow. I hope to be able to talk to him tomorrow.
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