December 2011

A H5N1 Case Study In Fear

December 30, 2011 Coping tools

Sometimes my work writings crash head-on into this blog. Last week I wrote a post in CSO’s SaltedHash blog about how I thought scientists were reckless to mutate the H5N1 strain of bird flu. While there’s the obvious security component, part of my feelings on the subject go back to my years living with fear [...]

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It’s The Stinkin’ Truth, Kids

December 30, 2011 Children's issues

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The Sister Who Saved Her Family

December 28, 2011 Family

My youngest sister, Shira Beth Brenner, was born 26 years ago today, sending rays of sunshine into a house that was in darkness. Mood music:  BlackbirdThe BeatlesDinner Party Guitar Moods Vol 2 You might think it’s hyperbole for me to say she saved the family. We were surviving after all. But we were surviving badly, [...]

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Strep Will Trigger OCD, And The Beatles White Album Will Make You Kill

December 27, 2011 Mental disorders

An interesting news clip caught my eye this morning about how strep infections can trigger OCD. Thanks to my friend Traci Foust for sharing. Now for my skepticism. Mood music: As a clinical OCD case, I always have an eye out for articles on how OCD works and what the triggers are. I’m several years [...]

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‘No Man Is A Failure Who Has Friends’

December 26, 2011 Depression

Part of the holiday tradition around here is a viewing of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The ending used to make me sad, because it seemed to sum up what was missing in my life. For a long time, I didn’t feel like I had any friends. It was nobody’s fault. I had crawled so far [...]

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Regarding Mike Dahn And The BSides Controversy

December 23, 2011 Communication skills for the crazy

This is really an issue for my security blog, but this week’s blow-up over alleged mismanagement of Security B-Sides connects with me on a personal level best expressed here. Mood music: A couple days ago, a Security Errata article appeared detailing financial mismanagement of the Security B-Sides events. It singled out Mike Dahn, one of [...]

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Readings From The Book Of Crap: Christmas Edition

December 22, 2011 Communication skills for the crazy

I’m coming around to the idea that Christmas isn’t the problem. It’s that this time of year amplifies human stupidity as much as it does human goodness. To a brain starving for more daylight, the stupidity will dwarf the goodness every time. So please indulge me while I point out a few things… Mood music: [...]

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Taking The Different Kids Out With The Trash

December 21, 2011 Children's issues

Wherein the author laments the inability of educational institutions to embrace the different children. Mood music: As a problem kid in grades K-12, I’m all too aware of how good kids can get lost in an education system designed for only the so-called normal kids. I used to think this was just a Revere Public [...]

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You’re Missing The Point

December 20, 2011 Depression

Based on some of the reader feedback I’ve received lately, it’s a safe bet that some people miss the point of this blog. Mood music: When they read about the tougher things I’ve been through, they walk away with the notion that this is about stewing over childhood pain and obsessing over the challenges of [...]

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Merry Christmas, Mr. And Mrs. @gattaca

December 19, 2011 Courage

My friend Dave Lewis and his wife Diana have had a brutal year, with her fight against cancer and all. But she has made huge progress since her summer diagnosis. Mood music: Many of you know Dave (@gattaca on Twitter) as founder of the Liquidmatrix Security Digest. He is also senior security analyst at AMD [...]

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