Four and a half year memory loss from age 3.5 - 8. Three violent memories that do exist I have dealt with thru therapy as an adult. Psychiatrist did not see beneficial reasons to go beyond regression therapy to bring up any other memories of that time. No pictures, no report cards, no memories.

Ulcerative Colitis diagnosed at age 13.

Hashimoto Thyroiditis diagnosed at age 19.

Dysthymia diagnosed at age 23.

2nd, 3rd and 4th degree burn covering left hand as a result of a faulty Gel candle, resulting in 30 days of debridement, 6 months to heal.

Opiate addiction on OxyContin for 2.5 yrs as a result of breaking my back in a high speed, high impact, horseback riding accident.

Thank goodness you are able to package the idea to others in a much easier model to understand. ;)

Turkeeeeeeeeeeeeey! Mom's cooking and bringing the bird!
Happy Thanksgiving!

I am making a hot appetizer as well for those who are wanting a bit of a cheesy twist.
It's called Jarlsberg Cheese Dip and contains three ingredients, can be made in advance and broiled in small batches as desired. This is another crowd pleaser and a reason to chat with the chefs. :-*

My youngest Indian is making an awesome appetizer as well as the desert for this feast. He came up with an awesome twist on an old and never to be eaten by a child Brussel Sprouts. I cannot stand the Cabbage wanna be's but I tried them for my son and I wound up loving them. (L)

Teriyaki Glazed Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Greg, you are absolutely right as to why I started this thread but maybe I mislead some in my warning to Wosret. I do appreciate your contributions to this thread and for taking up what was beginning to splinter the thread.
Thank you for the peace keeping~

Last I spoke with Mars Man he had already had one surgery that left him with no sense of smell, therefore no real sense of taste, which made an already painful activity such as eating, even less of a desire to do. I believe he was going to have one more surgery but something had postponed it.
I too wish him well in both spirit and in body, where ever he is ~ Though my feeling is he is still on this earth with us~ (L)

Carrying a firearm comes with a great deal of responsibility and judgement calls that sometimes have to be made in a 'split second' and considering the use of a firearm is never an easy one. Yes, some become reckless when stress arrives in a life and death situation but others are capable of channeling that stress into a heightened awareness of what is going on and make those split second decisions and it does save lives, sometimes without firing a shot." — ArguingWAristotleTiff

Yes, but the consequences of those bad judgements outweigh the consequences of those good judgements. This is evidenced by statistics. Here in the U.K. we have considerably less gun crime, and it isn't because our private citizens or police force is armed, since it's only special units which are armed, and we have very tight gun control. — Sapientia

Whether or not those bad judgements, outweigh the consequences of the good judgements, all depend upon which side of the firearm you find yourself on. ;)

What works in the U.K. does not work everywhere, nor should you or I expect it to. Hell you can see that even as a Nation of States that have United, each State has it's very own philosophy on what will or won't find that balance between allowing people their constitutional rights to own a firearm and keeping that from being seen as a license to use a firearm recklessly.

As BitterCrank suggested the need to own, not just the right, varies WIDELY from State to State, region to region, of our nation. There is a difference between living in Chicago and never seeing a gun except a long barrel Dove hunter kind of gun and then those in uniform who arrive when trouble breaks out. To Arizona, a Western state where a lot of people enjoy the sport of shooting firearms, both hunting and on the range. I imagine BitterCrank rarely has a Javolina and her babies roaming thru his pasture of horses like I occasionally do. But regardless of the difference in locations, owning a firearm is a respected right and one that we as a State, choose to regulate according to a LOT of factors.

I am trying to make the point in this response, that although the USA is one Nation, we are really a Union of fifty individual States. Firearm control is just one of many threads that weave our individual States together as a Nation. Other stratifying threads include but are not limited to State laws on abortion, DUI levels, right to die, providing sanctuary for illegal immigrants, land control and management, enforcement of international border controls, cannabis use, ect. Each State makes and enforces their own laws as they see fit and some are in direct conflict with what the Federal Law states they must do.

I don't know how many 'special units' the U.K. has but it sounds like it is relative to the number of unarmed private citizens and your unarmed police force. Sapientia, the very idea of an "unarmed police force" is not viable option here in the USA. To have each State agree that their citizens be required to abandon their personal firearms is like trying to have a group of 'thinkers' agree 100% on a single view. It is just not possible, not wanted and each State chooses it's level of firearm control that it already has in place. Which is rarely acknowledged by those who choose to cast judgement on our gun rights, the fact that there ALREADY are laws controlling the ownership of firearms. The difference is that each State has control of it's own 'control' dial.

Cranberry sauce? You betcha! This is a recipe I stole from Mom (who stole it from Martha Stewart) after many Happy Thanksgivings! Mom has a few tips about hosting: alcohol, food and gambling a fun party does make! 8-)

Drunken Cranberries
1 1/2 cups simple sugar syrup
2 sticks cinnamon
Zest from 1 large orange
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups white rum

In a large saucepan, combine simple syrup, cinnamon, and orange zest. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; add cranberries. Cook until cranberries just begin to pop and skins begin to split, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
2. Strain liquid into a large container. Discard cinnamon and orange zest; add cranberries to liquid, along with rum. If cranberries are not fully submerged in liquid, add equal parts simple syrup and rum until they are completely covered. Let cool completely.
3. Cover, and transfer to refrigerator until chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 3 weeks.

Consume responsibly! ;)

Thank you for your suggestions @Cavacava! I went with your Cranberry dipping sauce suggestion and added some roasted Chipotle peppers and wwwwwwwwwoooooooooo that's got some kick! :D They never did make it out of the pan! The bacon was candied and phenomenal! 8-)

I'm not sure why you haven't addressed any of my comments, by the way. — Sapientia

I am sorry, Sapientia. Please don't take it personally, as it is not intended that way. I will try to answer you now. Which post did you want me to start with? The first one or the last one?

People did occasionally get murdered in the parks--maybe 1, 2 or 3 per decade. One morning (1:30 a.m {+/-) I was sitting on my perch on a rail fence waiting for guys to saunter by. A young guy joined me on the rail. We chatted a bit, and among other things he told me he had a gun on him. I wasn't happy about it, but there was nothing much I could do or say at that point that would decrease any risk to life or limb. Eventually he moved on, and there were no murders there that night. — Bitter Crank

It is interesting to read your feelings about someone sharing something so personal in that he was carrying a firearm and knowing that exact feeling from having gone through it myself. I think our reactions were very common and I think that is how most people do respond.

I was mugged on a downtown street by a knife wielding drugged out zombie around 11:30 p.m — Bitter Crank

Supposing that early morning in the park I had a gun handy and pulled it out, telling the guy to go back the way he came. Having done that, I would know that this now angry person might be waiting for me when I decided to leave the park (only one way out) and stepped onto the sidewalk under bright street lights. Bang bang, maybe. Dead crank. — Bitter Crank

You are quite right in that you might very well have died that night because of one fatal mistake, the one that gives credence to the popular idea that if you have a firearm, it is more likely to be used against you than it will to save you.

The fatal mistake is that you NEVER pull a firearm as a use of intimidation. Period. The ONLY time you EVER pull/display a firearm is if you fully intend on using it because your life or the life of another is in imamate danger.

I wonder about how 'polite' society is possible today, we seem to be moving too fast to allow it. — Cavacava

That is a very thought provoking statement. I think in some ways the political correctness that was ushered into society to show respect, encouraging politeness, has in a way allowed for people to feel offended by anything that goes against their own thoughts.
Aristotle taught us that it is a mark of an educated mind to entertain the ideas of others without taking them as our own. But it is almost as though the political correctness that was initially meant to include everyone respectively, has now become a convenient caveat to be personally offended, sometimes without notice to the offender.

All people are reckless under stress. Stress happens. Therefore people carrying guns are dangerous to me. Guns need to be banned and then those who keep them will be criminals we can put in jail before they kill somebody. — Landru Guide Us

While it is true that stress effects everyone, not everyone becomes "reckless" just because they are an armed citizen. I am not suggesting that everyone is capable of such judgement calls nor am I suggesting that innocent bystanders cannot be at risk but there is a risk ratio to consider.
How many innocent lives do you think one armed attacker could take, in a public place such as a supermarket, if 40 out of 100 private citizens are armed?

Carrying a firearm comes with a great deal of responsibility and judgement calls that sometimes have to be made in a 'split second' and considering the use of a firearm is never an easy one. Yes, some become reckless when stress arrives in a life and death situation but others are capable of channeling that stress into a heightened awareness of what is going on and make those split second decisions and it does save lives, sometimes without firing a shot.

A while back our US Representative for Arizona, Mrs.Gabby Giffords, was speaking at a local supermarket in her state where it is legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, when these events played out.
Reading this account illustrates the responsibility that actually has to be applied. "Pray you never have to use it, but be prepared to use it if you have to."

Funds being thin seems to be a trend of a lot folks lately, including me so know that you are not alone in this pinch.

This reply has been posted on The Philosophy Forum Facebook page. Congratulations and Thank you for your contribution~ 8-)

Why have you stopped taking care of any of them? :s

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio

Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe

Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I" and "The Catcher in the Rye"

Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it...

Thank you kindly, jamalrob.

Gotcha! Thank you for information. Also is the (L) option no longer available to show you like a post?

Thank you for the Uber fast response! 8-)

What does flagged mean?

I am far too worried about my two Dad's to even have time to think of myself. I have my step Dad here in Arizona HAVING to wait for an arbitrary date on the calendar for Medicare to cover his need for a three lead pacemaker put in to replace the one lead pacemaker he has. Agreed it takes time for the body to grow the stent into place but not 90 days. The reason he has to wait 90 days, as opposed to 60 days is because of Medicare's coverage and I can tell you that they are playing a game, knowing that there is a % of people that will not live to see that 90 days and a pacemaker placement of over 250k. I 'get it" but it's bullshit and all I can do is pray and spend all the time I can with him now because we are not sure he is going to make it to January. We had a garage sale two weeks ago at my parents house and I spent two days with them and saw him maybe 4 hours each day. He is gasping for breath but the Doctor is aware and still he has to wait. My Mom being a Trauma, Cardiac ICU nurse, as well as Hospice knows too much.

Now in Chicago where my bio Dad lives, was taken to the ER on Saturday because he couldn't move out of bed, which he is in 75% of the time, 100% loss of bladder control, Parkinson's, Manic Depressive at 73 yrs old. After being admitted for Pneumonia he was treated and has now been moved to an Care facility where over the next 2 weeks they will assess if he is in need of a full time home care nurse.

When I talked to him last night he told me had just had breakfast and he was waiting for the procedures to begin. When I pressed further, he could not come up with what procedures and I am panicking. I called his current wife and spoke with her and what she says and what I know to be true, such as coherency, are not matching. He was fine a week ago when I spoke with him at length. I thought Parkinson's was a body tremor issue, not a dementia issue. My Dad's wife said that word "dementia" for the first time associated with Parkinson's.

It matters for all the reasons it would impact anyone's family member but my Dad here in AZ has Parkinson's as well.

My Great Grandmother had early onset Alzheimer's as did my Grand Mother. My Mom (knock on wood) is going to outlive me, I swear because at 72 her brain is as sharp as a Nurses ever could be. So I thought 'dementia' was gone, at least for now in my life. I feel the world around me crumbling and am going to go read Parkinson's and see. :s

Welcome Question! :)

Do you feel like your State is your friend, or is it an interest-pursuing machine which might callously disregard your interests? — Bitter Crank

I do believe that my state of Arizona operates in my best interest when it comes to showing it's opinion to the Nation as a whole.
However, within my state it is a constant struggle to get our state representatives to 'get the message' and uphold the rights, that we as a state, have voted into law. First it was the push for medical cannabis being legalized in our state that was my mission. Now that we have achieved that law on a state level, we need to hold our ground when it comes to the battle between the Feds and the States rights.
Then my efforts were putting into getting the homeless Veterans into safe housing and am a Patient Advocate for Veterans, as well as Seniors. Yes, I am a Rottweiler on a very short leash~ 8-) Just let me know whose rights are not being respected and in front of them I will stand.
After that came the Occupy Phoenix movement and we protested the clear abuse of the state laws by those in office. It didn't change anything in Phoenix but it changed something within me. As we, the protesters were restricted to the sidewalk, there was a first line of clearly armed people on the street, standing shoulder to shoulder, they were my Veterans. Directly behind the Veterans, was a line of Phoenix Police officers in riot gear. I asked the Veteran why he was facing us with firearms when the Police were clearly present and his words shook me to the core then and they are rattling me just by typing them now.
He said "I am here to protect you" I looked at him quizickly and asked "From whom?" and he motioned to the men and women in black behind him. I asked if he meant the police? He said "Absolutely."
I asked him if I could give him a hug, to thank him for all he did for us as a soldier and for placing himself between me and the state, he said yes, so I hugged him tightly and Thanked him. His position confirmed for me, everything that those around me have been saying for years.
Finally, this past year the State trampled on a neighbors personal rights to a degree that went nationwide. Entering her home with a video photographer, WITHOUT a Warrant and sabotaging this woman's life repeatedly, without mercy. The saddest part of this experience was that she was a Phoenix Police officer for 30+ years, she was one of their own. She is sick, she needed an intervention but in trying to deal with a mentally ill person and the law, I saw the inside of the system, the political implications, the need and ugly hunger to grab that feather, to put in the controllers hat. It is sickening to think about how many other peoples lives are destroyed the way they have hers.

Damn...no sugar coating that truth! ;)

Personally I am glad you are coming to the States. :) I will hold your travels safely within my wings~ O:)

You have already met my friend. 8-)

How did you know NicK is from South Dakota?? :-$

Are you suggesting that pointing fingers of responsibility at one another does not thwart the attacks of barbarians? ;)
How do you rationalize with people who advertise the desire for fresh American blood?

I just wanted to say that I invited a friend from Istanbul, Turkey and she is a sweetheart living in a very unsteady part of the world. If she does sign up, know that she can surely hold her own but I have asked her to share about what is happening, not so much as Philosophy as a discipline.
I always find it best to handle friends with both hands~ (L)

I think that to have an expectation of defeating ISIS is to set an unobtainable goal. The ISIS reach is into the homes and phones of people around the world. If the enemy lay within each country, how do you defeat them?
There is a romance, slick and cool factor that is attracting these kids to find purpose within the ranks of ISIS. It is very similar to the gang codes of inner cities or out here in the West with the Hell's Angels and the Dirty Dozen where the initiation often involves taking out another from the rival gang.

It does not work on thyself. 8-)

@ArguingWAristotleTiff I want in on this.... :D

@shmik
I am curious as well but I will be walking two steps behind you, you know, in case you need to be caught when you fall over after being struck by whatever we are walking into. :D

Now you shifted the context Tiff.

There is a difference between qualified security being armed and non-qualified audience members being armed.

The main point is, you simply do not attend a concert and expect an attack by terrorists out of the blue. This sort of attack can happen anywhere at any time, so is the solution to have everyone out of fear armed with firearms in the event that something might happen? To live as such is to gives into the desire to create a life of fear allowing the terrorists to win. — Mayor of Simpleton

I didn't want to have to shift the context and I will tell you why I did. It is a point of clarification to make sure that those who do not live in a right to carry a concealed weapon state, understand that even though it is YOUR right to legally carry a firearm, carrying a firearm onto private property (Concert Venues/Movie Theaters/Starbucks/Bars) or into a Federal/State government building (Airports/Military Installations/Court Houses/Police Stations/Motor Vehicle Departments,ect) is still strictly forbidden.
In an effort to balance the forbidding of attendees from legally being able to protect themselves, if someone decides to hold a Muhammad cartoon drawing contest in Texas, they are implored (not mandated) to provide protection equal to the implied risk. It does not give the desire to create a life of fear, quite the opposite happens, it allows a sense of security that is yours to uphold, if you chose to do so.

I do see your skepticism, Tiff. You believe that your government is out to exploit you or something, I guess that's why you want Americans to own guns.

I have another good one about hard-wired national qualities. My ex Prime minister once said that the Greeks have anti-racist DNA. — Πετροκότσυφας

I am thrilled that you can see my skepticism because it took a lot of years, a lot of layers to peel back and a LOT of heavy lifting by international friends like Benkei and Tobias to get to the point I am yet I recognize I have a long way to go.

I am not sure if this is widespread knowledge or not but I have followed this link daily news feed and you don't need to be a member of Facebook to read the atrocities that DO happen and are STILL happening to immigrants to Australia, at detention centers such as Nauru and Manus Island.

This would do nothing whatsoever to deter terrorism. — Mayor of Simpleton

I respectfully disagree. The golden time of intervention of such a hostage taking is immediate and with force. I think of what would happen at a concert venue here in the USA, even where firearms are forbidden, those who are security at the venue would be armed and able to respond. In that massive of a crisis, the first to react would be the ones with the best window of opportunity to neutralize the threat. It is a of a lot hell faster than assembling a task force to figure out a way in. Grant you, the USA does the same in assembling task forces where hostages are involved but venues are required to provide security equal to the implied threat.

If anything, this would give cause to violent overreactions; thus increasing the chances of people being shot for really no reason other than fear of something that may be terrorism that is not. — Mayor of Simpleton

I will not deny that what you say is a risk but not enough to discourage a citizen to take personal responsibility for their safety and those around them.

If I come across as skeptical it is because I am. The loyalty that has been ingrained into Americans is hard wired. To suggest or accept anything that does not follow, can rock the foundation that the 'loyalty' is built on.
Even though you cannot see movement, on my skepticism of my own government, I assure you I have.