Bill Brenner

Thankful Friday

by Bill Brenner November 25, 2011 Faith

I have much to be thankful for this morning after Thanksgiving. A list: Mood music: –Erin’s Uncle David, for letting me take his vintage car for a spin around the block. —Erin, Sean and Duncan, simply for being who they are. –My sister Stacey, husband Sean and niece and nephew Lilly and Chase, for inviting us into their home for an excellent Thanksgiving dinner. –My brother Brian, for cooking. –My kid sister Shira, for her…  [Read More]

Here’s To The Forgiving Souls

by Bill Brenner November 22, 2011 Communication Skills

A friend of mine was taken aback yesterday when I used a text she sent me in a post. I thought it would be OK because I was keeping her identity a secret. But in hindsight, I should have asked first. That’s the challenge with a blog like this. I need to take things right to the danger line to make points I feel need making. But sometimes I step over that line. I’ve worked…  [Read More]

Schoolyard Gossip And The Damage Done

by Bill Brenner November 21, 2011 Children's issues

I’ve made a lot of wonderful friends among the parents in my children’s school community. But like every community, there are people who blow things out of proportion. Mood music: I guess you could lump me into that class of parent. I needle people, especially when I like them, and I can be like a bull in a china shop at school events. I’ve also engaged in gossip with some of the parents. It’s easy…  [Read More]

A Lesson From Gabby Giffords

by Bill Brenner November 18, 2011 Coping tools

I recently watched Diane Sawyer’s interview with Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. To say I was moved would be an understatement. Hers is the story of a spirited fight back from near death. If you ever get the feeling you can’t do something or overcome big challenges, you should watch this. It will show you that nothing is too big to overcome. http://youtu.be/VOZgta88L5A

Should I Be Upset About This Report Card?

by Bill Brenner November 18, 2011 Children's issues

I’ve gotten word that a reader and dear friend was upset over last week’s post, “Reading Between The Lines Of A Bad Report Card.” She shouldn’t be. Mood music: She said that she would never have sent such a bad report card to her adult child. I think she was also upset at the suggestion that my parents weren’t paying adequate attention to me back then. I don’t mind, though. In fact, I’m happy to…  [Read More]

We Can’t Allow The US Stop Online Piracy Act To Become Law

by Bill Brenner November 17, 2011 Political discourse

I don’t like using this blog to make political stands. But one look at the legislative swill known as the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House and I knew I had to speak up. Mood music: I laid out the security risks in my Salted Hash security blog on CSOonline.com. But this is about a lot more than Internet security. Mashable posted an infographic that describes the…  [Read More]

To The Guy Killing Himself With Food

by Bill Brenner November 16, 2011 Addiction

There’s a guy I used to work with who was always a pleasure to be around. I loved his humor and work ethic, and, thanks to Facebook, I get to stay in touch with him. But I’m worried by what I see right now. Mood music: [spotify:track:7Foti4A082iVkY8Az1hvlX] By now this guy has probably figured out that this will be about him. He need not worry. I’m not going to name him or the place where…  [Read More]

Death Of A Second Sibling

by Bill Brenner November 15, 2011 Coping tools

Fifteen years ago I lost the friend who had become my older brother and rudder. A vicious cycle of depression destroyed his body, but it failed to kill his soul. Mood music: For a lot of my more religious friends, that has to sound odd, if not foul. We’ve been taught that suicide is a mortal sin, the kind that sends the soul straight to hell. I used to believe that. Now I think that…  [Read More]

Give Veterans More Than Lip Service

by Bill Brenner November 11, 2011 Coping tools

People on Facebook and Twitter are honoring U.S. veterans with words of gratitude and awe. All well and good, but not nearly enough for the countless vets who suffer in silence. Mood music: [spotify:track:0dOg1ySSI7NkpAe89Zo0b9] In so many ways, we continue to treat our veterans like shit. We let so many of them live on the streets, without proper shelter or medication for the mental illnesses they caught from watching comrades get ripped apart by shrapnel…  [Read More]

Reading Between The Lines Of A Bad Report Card

by Bill Brenner November 10, 2011 Crohn's Disease

My mother found my fourth-grade report card the other day and mailed it to me. On the surface it shows a chronic C student who doesn’t give a damn about anything. But when I read between the lines I can see exactly where my 10-year-old head was at. If you look at it on the surface, you see a straight-C student who occasionally sinks to a D in social studies and math. On the back…  [Read More]

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