Political discourse

Monthly Awareness Causes: The Numbing Effect

by Bill Brenner May 16, 2011 Political discourse

I usually skip writing about “awareness” months because I’ve found that, whether I write about it or not, these things cause eyes to glaze over. Call me a pessimist or an idiot — I’ve been both at various times. But I can’t help feeling this way. Mood music: I think it’s great that we set aside a month here and there to drum up some extra attention for our causes, and it’s better to do it…  [Read More]

Back Story Of THE OCD DIARIES

by Bill Brenner May 14, 2011 Addiction

Since I’ve been adding new readers along the way, I always get questions about why I started this thing. I recently expanded the “about” section, and that’s a good starting point. But more of a back story is in order. Mood music: Before I started THE OCD DIARIES in December 2009 with a post about depression hitting me during the holidays, I had always toyed with the idea of doing this. The reason for wanting…  [Read More]

Facebook Dysfunction: A Family Affair

by Bill Brenner May 11, 2011 Adventures in writing

Let’s face it: We all have connections on Facebook that we constantly consider defriending because they say and do irritating things. I have no doubt there are people out there who feel that way about me. Mood music: I have no problem with people un-friending me. Not anymore, anyway. At one point, I had to admit that my obsessive-compulsive demons were latching onto the Facebook friend count, and that each loss of a connection felt…  [Read More]

Don’t Let Politics Kill Friendships

by Bill Brenner May 6, 2011 Political discourse

This is based on the heated debate that followed the death of bin Laden. But it rings especially true today, given the political animosities from the left and right. Yesterday I got into a Facebook tussle with an old friend over a political disagreement. I used the word “bullshit” and regret it now. It flies in the face of what I’ve learned about people and politics. The subject was the bin Laden death photos and…  [Read More]

Morbid Curiosity

by Bill Brenner May 5, 2011 Political discourse

My tirade against Michele Mcphee and the bin Laden death photos yesterday got me thinking. Maybe part of my rage was coming from an uncomfortable truth about myself. Mood music: <object width=”640″ height=”510″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/iVr5RtEqpc0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0″></param><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”></param><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”></param>[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVr5RtEqpc0&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]</object> I’ve always had a morbid curiosity about blood-and-guts images. I’m nothing special there. A lot of people share that trait. That’s why you see so much spam posing as pictures of a dead bin Laden. The spam…  [Read More]

An Insult To 9-11 Victims? Now That’s Stupid

by Bill Brenner May 4, 2011 Political discourse

Those who knew me 20-plus years ago will tell you I was one angry guy. I had a chip on my shoulder the size of Texas, and regularly thought about how awesome it would be to get my revenge on people who I believed wronged me at the time. Back then, I would have craved seeing a picture of Osama bin Laden with his head blown off. I didn’t die on 9-11, obviously. I didn’t…  [Read More]

Dueling Priests: A Religious Adventure

by Bill Brenner April 25, 2011 Faith

You would think everyone could get along at church. But, it turns out, people get as political and competitive as they would in the corporate setting. Here’s why these human imperfections actually strengthen my faith. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lspjLG9nHXk&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] First, a little history: In September, our beloved pastor, Father Dennis Nason, passed away, leaving a gaping hole in the church community. The parochial vicar, Father Michael Harvey, performed practically every Mass from that point until…  [Read More]

Reinforcing the Stigma Instead of Breaking It

by Bill Brenner April 20, 2011 Mental disorders

Lost in my most recent tirade against employers who discriminate against the mentally ill is a point that’s very important: People like us have a responsibility to prove we’re up to the challenges we seek. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QanVuQIXU5s&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] In my opinion, employers have no legal right to deny someone a job simply because they were diagnosed with a mental illness. They do, however, have the right to pass over a candidate who doesn’t seem…  [Read More]

The World of “Crazy Mike” (Knowing Who You Pick On)

by Bill Brenner April 20, 2011 Communication Skills

Got a lot of comments on yesterday’s post about the mentally ill guy in Haverhill people call “Crazy Mike.” Read on and you’ll know him better. Mood music: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYyK-ZvpR_M&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0] The most insight on Mike comes from Katherine Doot, an old friend of Erin’s and recent discoverer of this blog. She lives in Arizona now, but as a Haverhill native she got to know Mike pretty well. Here’s what she had to say: Mike in…  [Read More]

“Liking” The Crazy Mike of Haverhill Page is Sad and Stupid

by Bill Brenner April 19, 2011 Communication Skills

Here’s the part where I lose some of my Haverhill friends. I don’t care. In any city there’s a guy like “Crazy Mike.” The stereotype is usually a long beard, ratty clothes and the fellow is usually living on the street. He talks aloud to no one in particular and falls asleep on playground equipment. People like to laugh at him. I’m no saint. I’ve made my share of fun of people like this, and…  [Read More]

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