Political discourse

U.S. Loses, AAA Credit Rating. Mental Health Tested Next

by Bill Brenner August 6, 2011 Fear and anxiety

For a lot of people with mental illness, world events can have a crushing effect on sanity. Especially when those events can have a direct effect on the personal finances. Mood music: For me and my OCD, it used to be that way all the time. The recent financial crises, including the latest news about the U.S. losing its AAA credit rating, would have sent me into a sharp tailspin a few years ago. I…  [Read More]

Lesson Of The Debt Debate: We’re All Selfish Bastards

by Bill Brenner August 3, 2011 Political discourse

Those of us with addictive personalities are selfish. You could say we’re the most self-centered people on the planet. It’s ALL about us. But I’m starting to realize we’re not the only ones who fail to consider the greater good. Mood music: I got to thinking about this stuff after reading the latest post in the “For Attribution” blog written by my friends Meredith Warren and Fred Van Magness. The post was about the vote…  [Read More]

Debt Ceiling Debate Would’ve Killed Me A Few Years Ago

by Bill Brenner July 28, 2011 Fear and anxiety

I’m watching the political brinkmanship over the debt with much interest. But this time I’m more detached. A few years ago, I would have been sick over it. Mood music: http://youtu.be/t43VgJ4U9_Q That’s not to say I’m not more than a little concerned. If the U.S. goes into default the depth of economic chaos for us all will be severe. The world won’t end, but a lot of jobs could, which is a bad combination when…  [Read More]

You Can Change Your Name, But You Can’t Hide Who You Are

by Bill Brenner July 26, 2011 Communication Skills

An epilogue to yesterday’s post about Lynn, Mass.: A reader reminded me yesterday of the time some Lynners tried to get the city’s name changed so the “Lynn, Lynn city of sin” insult could no longer apply. Mood music: From my friend Katherine Doot: “Thought they wanted to change the name to Ocean Park some years ago? So it was Ocean Park Ocean Park never go out after dark?!” I had forgotten about that, but…  [Read More]

I Am The Facebook Superstar. Hear Me Whine

by Bill Brenner July 23, 2011 Lighthearted

This statement, which made the rounds awhile back, is deadly accurate when it comes to how we all behave on Facebook: “Welcome to Facebook. Where love stories are perfect, shit talkers tell the truth, everyone brags they have the perfect life and claim to be in love with their partners. Where your enemies are the ones who visit your profile the most, your ex-friends and family block you, your ex-lover unfriends you. Where you post…  [Read More]

Readings From The Book Of Crap, Volume 2

by Bill Brenner June 16, 2011 Communication Skills

I’ve been observing amazing acts of stupidity in recent weeks. Mood music: When I do, my first instinct is to keep it to myself. Nobody likes a whiner, and I’m no exception. But when the poop pile gets too high and starts to stink up the room for everyone else, I need to kick open the door and vent the fumes. So please indulge me as I tell a few unnamed people how they’re making the…  [Read More]

For Veterans, A Holiday Here and There Isn’t Enough

by Bill Brenner May 30, 2011 Addiction

Funny thing about holidays where we honor veterans: Everyone puts those who have fought for our freedom on a pedestal for the day, then the next day some of us go back to treating the same people like garbage. Mood music: http://youtu.be/V-zqIS7vWbY Flashback: September, 2010: I’m walking the streets of Brooklyn on a beautiful night, and a guy comes up to me. He has a hole in his head where his left eye used to…  [Read More]

Why We Judge Each Other

by Bill Brenner May 27, 2011 Faith

This whole debate over security curmudgeons has me thinking about our tendency to judge people. We all do it. I sure as hell do. But where’s the line between fair and unfair? Mood music: [spotify:track:25RpoTWuW0SBd9XBrGzY5d] I’ve said my thing on that matter, and promised that my post yesterday would be my final word on the subject. So I’ll ask you to read those posts, which I link to above, for the background. The rest of…  [Read More]

You’ll Bitterly Disagree With Me Sometimes

by Bill Brenner May 26, 2011 Adventures in writing

A couple days ago, in the security blog I write as part of my day job, I did a post about folks in the security community who consider themselves curmudgeons. As expected, some folks passionately disagree. Mood music: I knew when I wrote it some people were going to be pissed off. That’s how it is when you write an opinion piece: You’re inevitably pissing in someone’s bowl of Wheaties. I don’t do it to…  [Read More]

What’s YOUR Insanity?

by Bill Brenner May 23, 2011 Addiction

“Paint a garbage can platinum and underneath, it’s still a garbage can.” Nikki Sixx In Chapter 3 of the AA Big Book, we’re introduced to an alcoholic named Jim. He has a successful business until he starts drinking at age 35 in an attempt to dull a nervous tick, and everything goes to hell. From pages 35-36: “In a few years he became so violent when intoxicated that he had to be committed. On leaving the…  [Read More]

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