I caved. Yeah. And not for something worthwhile.
It was for Pizza Hut Pizza left over from last night's work party. Terrible stuff... but in my hunger state, almost irresistible to me. I love salty, savory crap.
I was fine with all the Christmas cookies and candy out on the table in the mailroom. I even reorganized the stuff and neatly set out plates for the masses. I used to find that stuff magnetic--but not today.
I drank my juice and was fine until someone came in and said, "Guess what?" "There's pizza left over!"
It was only an hour later that I caved.
I won't be the end for me. I'm back on the juicing again, now hoping to detox AGAIN.
I'll bet that I feel some side effects from eating this pseudo-food as my first solid stuff for days.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Juice Fast: Day Five
I had some strange leg cramps last night where a muscle in my lower leg cramped, causing my big toe to flex in a fixed bend. It was excruciating. This, even though I am doing bananas as part of my juice fast.
I got over it with a little help from my wife. Thanks honey! She helped by pressing on the area of the most pain and massaging out the cramp.
Today I woke up with my first mild headache in five days. Odd, on water fasts I usually have this in day two. I also have a slight tummy ache, and feel a bit irritable. Also, day two phenomena in the water fast.
WARNING: overshare ahead..
What really strikes me as odd is that I am actually still pooping. Seriously? No solid food in nearly five whole days and there are still matters to be worked out in that way? I do have less flatulence, which is good. But shouldn't that all be done with by now?
Anyway, I hope that my chronic eye redness and fatigue will be fixed forever once I get through this and switch to a 95% vegetarian diet, without processed foods or non-organic produce. I've been toxic for far too long.
It'll all work itself out in good time. I'm committed and hopeful.
I got over it with a little help from my wife. Thanks honey! She helped by pressing on the area of the most pain and massaging out the cramp.
Today I woke up with my first mild headache in five days. Odd, on water fasts I usually have this in day two. I also have a slight tummy ache, and feel a bit irritable. Also, day two phenomena in the water fast.
WARNING: overshare ahead..
What really strikes me as odd is that I am actually still pooping. Seriously? No solid food in nearly five whole days and there are still matters to be worked out in that way? I do have less flatulence, which is good. But shouldn't that all be done with by now?
Anyway, I hope that my chronic eye redness and fatigue will be fixed forever once I get through this and switch to a 95% vegetarian diet, without processed foods or non-organic produce. I've been toxic for far too long.
It'll all work itself out in good time. I'm committed and hopeful.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Juice fast: day three.
I feel great. No strong cravings, headaches, etc. I'm more clear-headed than usual.
But a cheeseburger sounds delightful.
Still, what I am most learning is that I view food like a dysfunctional relationship. It's there to make me feel better, and I don't know proper boundaries with it. No more eating due to boredom or for a quick boost of "happiness". I want to be healthy and truly happy.
But a cheeseburger sounds delightful.
Still, what I am most learning is that I view food like a dysfunctional relationship. It's there to make me feel better, and I don't know proper boundaries with it. No more eating due to boredom or for a quick boost of "happiness". I want to be healthy and truly happy.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Letter to John Boehner
Hello John,
I'm flabbergasted that your party has learned little from the last election, choosing to stand on issues that the majority of voters do not support. A vast majority of taxpayers from both parties agree that we should maintain the tax cut for the middle class. These same people resoundingly agree that we should tax the rich at a higher rate.
So why all the brinksmanship? You know that you've all got the worst rating of public approval in history. Why exacerbate that by doubling-down on that which few support?
It will be the GOP who are blamed if the proverbial car goes over the cliff. You're the one playing politics with the future of the middle class.
We know that the things you claim will be affected (small businesses and jobs) are both ruses based on bad numbers, skewed to say that which they cannot. As a man with a sociology degree this is easy for me to see. Y'all ought to be ashamed of yourselves for trying to dupe the lesser minds among us with the bitter rhetoric of obfuscatory data. There is no correlation to tax cuts for the top 2% and job growth. In fact, one can see the opposite has happened during the Bush tax cut years.
We went from a surplus, and a booming economy to a near-depression, while the very rich were taking record profits in some sectors, others were sitting on massive cash reserves, there was record compensation for CEOs and other top shareholders, and came out with the largest economic disparity in our nation's recorded history.
Is that what you want? Do you serve only the 2%? Or do you serve all 100% by creating a tax climate and code which scales taxes based on income in durable, sustainable ways? The rich CAN afford to pay more and STILL make money. They can live with less. The rest of us have been forced to.
I've worked in the private tech sector, for non-profits, for city, and now for state in the public sector. No matter where I go there is one thing I know for sure. Greed must be regulated, and profit corrupts good motives.
So when you talk about Medicaid and Medicare, why don't you get honest with yourselves and us. The problem is not the cost of those programs. It's the cost that those programs have to pay to the profiteers in health care.
That's a relatively new phenomenon. I worked in the tech sector during the NASDAQ crash. We saw capitalists pull their money and bully their way into health care. Now 12 years later, a break-even proposition has become solidly entrenched near the top 30 profitability mark. That's unacceptable. Profit is what is harming patients all around this nation, and sinking local, state, and federal budgets.
Show some character and source the problem. With integrity you can return the party of my youth back to what it once was. Stand up to the tea party idiots. Give me back my GOP, or get out.
Sincerely,
Christian E. Vettrus
I'm flabbergasted that your party has learned little from the last election, choosing to stand on issues that the majority of voters do not support. A vast majority of taxpayers from both parties agree that we should maintain the tax cut for the middle class. These same people resoundingly agree that we should tax the rich at a higher rate.
So why all the brinksmanship? You know that you've all got the worst rating of public approval in history. Why exacerbate that by doubling-down on that which few support?
It will be the GOP who are blamed if the proverbial car goes over the cliff. You're the one playing politics with the future of the middle class.
We know that the things you claim will be affected (small businesses and jobs) are both ruses based on bad numbers, skewed to say that which they cannot. As a man with a sociology degree this is easy for me to see. Y'all ought to be ashamed of yourselves for trying to dupe the lesser minds among us with the bitter rhetoric of obfuscatory data. There is no correlation to tax cuts for the top 2% and job growth. In fact, one can see the opposite has happened during the Bush tax cut years.
We went from a surplus, and a booming economy to a near-depression, while the very rich were taking record profits in some sectors, others were sitting on massive cash reserves, there was record compensation for CEOs and other top shareholders, and came out with the largest economic disparity in our nation's recorded history.
Is that what you want? Do you serve only the 2%? Or do you serve all 100% by creating a tax climate and code which scales taxes based on income in durable, sustainable ways? The rich CAN afford to pay more and STILL make money. They can live with less. The rest of us have been forced to.
I've worked in the private tech sector, for non-profits, for city, and now for state in the public sector. No matter where I go there is one thing I know for sure. Greed must be regulated, and profit corrupts good motives.
So when you talk about Medicaid and Medicare, why don't you get honest with yourselves and us. The problem is not the cost of those programs. It's the cost that those programs have to pay to the profiteers in health care.
That's a relatively new phenomenon. I worked in the tech sector during the NASDAQ crash. We saw capitalists pull their money and bully their way into health care. Now 12 years later, a break-even proposition has become solidly entrenched near the top 30 profitability mark. That's unacceptable. Profit is what is harming patients all around this nation, and sinking local, state, and federal budgets.
Show some character and source the problem. With integrity you can return the party of my youth back to what it once was. Stand up to the tea party idiots. Give me back my GOP, or get out.
Sincerely,
Christian E. Vettrus
Monday, August 6, 2012
Sikh Thinking
With the tragedy yesterday in Oak Creek, and the world response, I have been hearing conjecture and rhetoric as to the 'why' we all seek in times of tragedy. I understand the desire to feel safe again, to compartmentalize an incident like this, and to seek a return to normalcy. But I believe that we must choose a different response.
We should ingest the pain and chew on it, reflecting, assessing, and repenting where we can as individuals. That's painful, and it's not the reaction I see from most people.
Some folks shed tears of empathy. Some get angry and assign blame. Others theorize about external factors. Still others dismiss these incidents as the result of a crazy individual. But tears are no defense, anger begets more violence, blame is often misapplied, and external factors are often little more than overly simplistic ways for us to practice bystander syndrome.
I also cannot accept that most of the folks who do this are crazy. That's a coping mechanism that non-offenders use to protect themselves against the fear that anyone could do the same. Even those who have an insanity defense may not be insane. I mean, look at the Jared Loughner case for an example. He's now being declared competent to plead guilty.
They're humans who made a choice to act upon the hatred and prejudice we all must remain vigilant against within our own hearts. The answer as to why this happens is both simple and profound. We are all capable of extreme violence and sin. Any one of us could be that shooter. To create a fantasy about an evil 'other' does not quell the cognitive dissonance we feel when something like this happens.
That said, it does us all good to do a fearless and searching moral inventory in times like this. What is it within me that hates, presupposes, fears? What can I do to root that out? What is the antidote for my own inadequacy? Is there good that I have failed to do?
I've found that in violent conflicts that both sides consider the other side evil. But when an objective observer interacts with people on both sides (like I did in Northern Ireland) it becomes clear that neither side is evil, and even the people who perpetrate the violence are not evil. They've done evil things, but they weren't insane when they did them. Rather, it only took other environmental circumstances and a mentality of fear and hatred to bridge the gap from civility to brutality.
So let us not kid ourselves, blame gun control lobbyists, isolate the shooter, or cower in fear of an external threat. The shooter exists in our own hearts, and no legislation can root out the evil within us. We must do so with God's help. Lord help us all.
We should ingest the pain and chew on it, reflecting, assessing, and repenting where we can as individuals. That's painful, and it's not the reaction I see from most people.
Some folks shed tears of empathy. Some get angry and assign blame. Others theorize about external factors. Still others dismiss these incidents as the result of a crazy individual. But tears are no defense, anger begets more violence, blame is often misapplied, and external factors are often little more than overly simplistic ways for us to practice bystander syndrome.
I also cannot accept that most of the folks who do this are crazy. That's a coping mechanism that non-offenders use to protect themselves against the fear that anyone could do the same. Even those who have an insanity defense may not be insane. I mean, look at the Jared Loughner case for an example. He's now being declared competent to plead guilty.
They're humans who made a choice to act upon the hatred and prejudice we all must remain vigilant against within our own hearts. The answer as to why this happens is both simple and profound. We are all capable of extreme violence and sin. Any one of us could be that shooter. To create a fantasy about an evil 'other' does not quell the cognitive dissonance we feel when something like this happens.
That said, it does us all good to do a fearless and searching moral inventory in times like this. What is it within me that hates, presupposes, fears? What can I do to root that out? What is the antidote for my own inadequacy? Is there good that I have failed to do?
I've found that in violent conflicts that both sides consider the other side evil. But when an objective observer interacts with people on both sides (like I did in Northern Ireland) it becomes clear that neither side is evil, and even the people who perpetrate the violence are not evil. They've done evil things, but they weren't insane when they did them. Rather, it only took other environmental circumstances and a mentality of fear and hatred to bridge the gap from civility to brutality.
So let us not kid ourselves, blame gun control lobbyists, isolate the shooter, or cower in fear of an external threat. The shooter exists in our own hearts, and no legislation can root out the evil within us. We must do so with God's help. Lord help us all.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Cousins, but not COUSINS
Midwesterners know that there are three sub sandwich chains which are spread throughout the upper Midwest. Jimmy John's, which has become nationally known, Milio's (formerly Big Mike's and based in Madison, WI), and Erbert & Gerbert's (based in Eau Claire, WI). Since I have enjoyed all three (E&G is my fave) and found them somewhat similar, I was curious to know if there was a relationship between them.
As it turns out, 'Jimmy John' Liautaud, who opened the first Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop near Eastern Illinois University in 1983, soon thereafter he helped his cousins 'Big Mike' Liautaud a.a.k.a. 'Milio' (which explains the former Big Mike's and current Milio's name choices) and Kevin Schippers (no similar correlation to either Erbert or Gerbert) set up similar shops with under different names, respectively. He had initially thought that they would be franchisees of Jimmy Johns, but they each decided to set up their own chains.
"They've been very successful with my sandwiches, 'Jimmy John' Liataud said. The cousins have mended hard feelings, but admitted that he was upset when the two entrepreneurs began competing against his chain. "At this point I expected them to be franchisees of mine, paying me," he said.
What I find humorous in all of this cousin sub shop history is that there is a Milwaukee sub shop which has also created a footprint in the Midwest but is unrelated to these three. It's name is rather ironic: Cousins Subs.
As it turns out, 'Jimmy John' Liautaud, who opened the first Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop near Eastern Illinois University in 1983, soon thereafter he helped his cousins 'Big Mike' Liautaud a.a.k.a. 'Milio' (which explains the former Big Mike's and current Milio's name choices) and Kevin Schippers (no similar correlation to either Erbert or Gerbert) set up similar shops with under different names, respectively. He had initially thought that they would be franchisees of Jimmy Johns, but they each decided to set up their own chains.
"They've been very successful with my sandwiches, 'Jimmy John' Liataud said. The cousins have mended hard feelings, but admitted that he was upset when the two entrepreneurs began competing against his chain. "At this point I expected them to be franchisees of mine, paying me," he said.
What I find humorous in all of this cousin sub shop history is that there is a Milwaukee sub shop which has also created a footprint in the Midwest but is unrelated to these three. It's name is rather ironic: Cousins Subs.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
SBC&T NO MORE! A RANT!
Ahhh, catharsis. After 13 years, I am finally cancelling my *AT&T service. It's been a customer-provider relationship I have dreamed about terminating, and today is a day of liberation. I've never been treated as poorly by a company, yet I stayed in an abusive relationship, hoping they'd get it right.
*formerly SBC. The real reason why AT&T went from the pinnacle of the telco companies, the standard-bearer for quality, to a cesspool of Texas-style predatory capitalism that cared nothing for customers or the long-established telecom divestment laws. (Which 'W' eliminated)
I have rather strong opinions about this because I used to be a contractor/vendor for them, among the broad spectrum of providers. AT&T pre-merger was a class act, the company which Ameritech/SBC modeled themselves after (poorly, like a person who learned a word but doesn't understand the concepts behind it). I used to be an expert on the Telcordia standards (a SME) which AT&T developed, and also a SME for SBC and the 600 page document they tried to pattern after it. Fail.
When SBC bought AT&T's name, and forced their staff out in early retirement, and soon thereafter began divesting telecom assets and closing capacity (all the while bragging about their temporarily having the largest network--Cingular plus AT&T Wireless--in the nation) down, they pulled a massive bait and switch on their customers and I am not proud that the equipment I built for them enabled them to do so.
Many factors led me to stay with them, price, and two long bouts of unemployment plus fear of change were a few. Plus, I tried to get TDS Metrocom when we moved into our house in 2001, had an appointment, and was surprised when they called and said that they don't serve the 'hood (in so many words). So now I have options, and we're finally gainfully employed in such a way that I can close this ugly chapter. I've been overbilled for the last 15 months on our combined bill, and 16 different calls or visits to stores and toll-free numbers could not straighten it out.
Now, it just doesn't matter. I'm shaking the dust off of my snazzy Keen size 12s and saying the loudest 'buh-bye' that Uptown Crossing has ever heard.
*formerly SBC. The real reason why AT&T went from the pinnacle of the telco companies, the standard-bearer for quality, to a cesspool of Texas-style predatory capitalism that cared nothing for customers or the long-established telecom divestment laws. (Which 'W' eliminated)
I have rather strong opinions about this because I used to be a contractor/vendor for them, among the broad spectrum of providers. AT&T pre-merger was a class act, the company which Ameritech/SBC modeled themselves after (poorly, like a person who learned a word but doesn't understand the concepts behind it). I used to be an expert on the Telcordia standards (a SME) which AT&T developed, and also a SME for SBC and the 600 page document they tried to pattern after it. Fail.
When SBC bought AT&T's name, and forced their staff out in early retirement, and soon thereafter began divesting telecom assets and closing capacity (all the while bragging about their temporarily having the largest network--Cingular plus AT&T Wireless--in the nation) down, they pulled a massive bait and switch on their customers and I am not proud that the equipment I built for them enabled them to do so.
Many factors led me to stay with them, price, and two long bouts of unemployment plus fear of change were a few. Plus, I tried to get TDS Metrocom when we moved into our house in 2001, had an appointment, and was surprised when they called and said that they don't serve the 'hood (in so many words). So now I have options, and we're finally gainfully employed in such a way that I can close this ugly chapter. I've been overbilled for the last 15 months on our combined bill, and 16 different calls or visits to stores and toll-free numbers could not straighten it out.
Now, it just doesn't matter. I'm shaking the dust off of my snazzy Keen size 12s and saying the loudest 'buh-bye' that Uptown Crossing has ever heard.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Apathy Slam
As Anthony, one of the three people in this doc said, in the 'hood if you're just ordinary you'll end up dead or in jail. You have to excel just to survive, and you have to do it with much fewer resources and infinitely more obstacles than someone does who doesn't come from poverty or a lower social class.
OK, now a bit of poetry slam from me (dusts off skaldic origins):
THIS is what I am trying to get through to the haters and the 'personal responsibility' proselytizers out there who find time to pigeonhole the poor and stigmatize the lower class because of their lack of success. YOU had the chance to be ordinary and survive. You had the ACCESS to exponentially more resources at your disposal. You had a SAFETY NET where these kids have none.
So for EVERY FEEL-GOOD RAGS TO RICHES STORY which helps us to feel more justified by our collective bystander syndrome there are the rest who remain in rags or end up in body bags. Every single soul who transcends the 'HOOD in a tear-jerking biopic tends for the 'haves' to cauterize our own inaction. We of the privileged few, 99% or not, who did NOT live in poverty or with the stigma or race, social class, or zip code, have NO IDEA what difficulties lie in the way of success for those we call 'other'.
So it's time to do a collective cranial-rectal extraction, to understand their poignant dissatisfaction, and create an equal and parallel reaction to the grief and the grandiosity of the problem of poverty. We can no longer stigmatize the victims with the condescension of our perspective. In this case life isn't merely about the size of where we put OUR EYES. No, we must find theirs.
http://www.youtube.com/
OK, now a bit of poetry slam from me (dusts off skaldic origins):
THIS is what I am trying to get through to the haters and the 'personal responsibility' proselytizers out there who find time to pigeonhole the poor and stigmatize the lower class because of their lack of success. YOU had the chance to be ordinary and survive. You had the ACCESS to exponentially more resources at your disposal. You had a SAFETY NET where these kids have none.
So for EVERY FEEL-GOOD RAGS TO RICHES STORY which helps us to feel more justified by our collective bystander syndrome there are the rest who remain in rags or end up in body bags. Every single soul who transcends the 'HOOD in a tear-jerking biopic tends for the 'haves' to cauterize our own inaction. We of the privileged few, 99% or not, who did NOT live in poverty or with the stigma or race, social class, or zip code, have NO IDEA what difficulties lie in the way of success for those we call 'other'.
So it's time to do a collective cranial-rectal extraction, to understand their poignant dissatisfaction, and create an equal and parallel reaction to the grief and the grandiosity of the problem of poverty. We can no longer stigmatize the victims with the condescension of our perspective. In this case life isn't merely about the size of where we put OUR EYES. No, we must find theirs.
http://www.youtube.com/
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