Dems Steal Election in theSouth----Are we in the USSR???????

i AM ASHAMED OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY====I am now a McCain Democrat! I wonder if I am turning into a Republican! Read the Soviet-style politics of Obama's Democratic party!

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/MTCN0101/309240001/1291/MTCN01

http://www.rationalreview.com/content/51887

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/NEWS0206/809160357

Election Stolen from Hillary

TRINITY OF TERROR---WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Trinity of Terror--Where art thou?
Art thou amongst the leaves?
Thou tempest, thou vagabond!
Fie! Art thou dead?
Love-thou art high!
I cannot climb thee.

I will not ask where thou liest low,
Nor gaze upon the spot;
There flowers or weeds at will may grow,
So I behold them not:
It is enough for me to prove
That what I lov'd, and long must love,
Like common earth can rot;
To me there needs no stone to tell,
'T is Nothing that I lov'd so well.

But O! O Trinity of Terror! how oft,
How oft, at school, with most believing mind,
Presageful, have I gazed upon the bars,
To watch that fluttering stranger! and as oft
With unclosed lids, already had I dreamt
Of my sweet birth-place, and the old church-tower,
Whose bells, the poor man's only music, rang
From morn to evening, all the hot Fair-day,

So sweetly, that they stirred and haunted me
With a wild pleasure, falling on mine ear
Most like articulate sounds of things to come!
O Trinity! O Terror! Fie! Fie! Fie!

Caramba!

I am Back!

I am so sorry that I have not written a post in a while. I have been extremely busy these past few weeks. I took a leave of absence from my busy work schedule in order to be a volunteer in John McCain's presenidential campaign. I cannot allow Barack Obama to become President!

YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT VOTING FOR OBAMA!



HOW SOON WE FORGET!


THE TRUTH

When I Dream, I dream of Mediocre Travis---A DEDICATION

Coal MINER'S DAUGHTER

There are many things in this world that I dislike....I do not like Barack Obama....I still plan to be a McCain Democrat this fall......McCain would be smart to select a woman to be his VP choice---anyway----I digress----

I love Loretta Lynn---I am now watching my Coal Miners Daughter DVD for the 100th time-----Sissy Spacek is perfect in her portrayal of the Queen of Country Music...I love Loretta and Sissy! I was in Nashville this summer and toured the Country Music Hall of Fame on a whim....There was a Hee Haw exhibit where they were showing old shows with the commercials.........I was not that interested in watching it----but then I heard a commercial that I had not seen since I was a child! The Loretta Lynn Crisco commercial----where she fried chicken and was at the table with her family! DO you remember it? They also showed the commercial where she used Crisco to make her flaky pie crust....It made me go out to Kentucky Fried Chicken and get a bucket of chicken===I then went to the store and bought a pecan pie! I digress

The TOT has been unusually quiet---I am debating about whether to restart the madonna brother blog----but I am so busy these days---who has time!

I have not chatted with M in some time----M is so busy with various projects!

I Confess!

I have decided to come clean. Although I am not M and though in the past I have told the truth when I stated that this was my only blog.....I did have a second blog for a few days in the recent past.

The Trinity of Terror was correct in their assertion that the WORDPRESS blog concerning Madonna's brother was written by me....I confess---I did it---I thought it would be funny, but then decided that it would be boring to pretend to be someone else....so I stopped it.

I am

Dedications

Hackers Have Infiltrated my Poll

Somehow, hackers have infiltrated my Poll on this blog....I know that there are not 500 people who hate Mediocre Travis. This may be a plot undertaken by our own Ms. Bitch to get even with her new enemy. I am saddened that the Trinity of Terror is no longer a united front. I suppose that when the poll is completed, I will have to honor my pledge to award the winner a tote bag. I will have to have a phone number and mailing address of the winner.

On a lighter note, M is in mourning these days. I read the Christopher C book and I have told M about its gory details....M is sad....M is mad.....M is taking a sabbatical from the blog.....M is really down in the dumps....Go to the M blog and let M know that you will not buy this book.....Let M know that you are supportive of M......

Telephone Lover

I have told you all before that every day of my life can be expressed by the lyrics of a Connie Francis song......I have departed from the original theme of this page for months since the feud with the infamous Trinity of Terror. I have decided to devote no more than one post per week to the sinister group from Down Under and Out West. I am not sure why people from New Zealand get so uptight! I do appreciate the fact that Alcina agrees with me about Obama---I love her artwork about Nobama!

For the past month or so, all that I have had in my life is a Telephone Lover. You see my Significant Other (SO) has been on the road 6 out of 7 days of the week. You see, my lover is in the entertainment business and is gone most of the time. I basically have a Telephone Lover. I am not sure what I should do......I am financially secure, but my work is sporadic. I may go a month or so without working and then work nonstop for 30 days in a row. We used to be really close but now I wonder.......All my dreams have faded away these days.....Some things remain the same though.....When I call my telephone lover, it is as if I am talking to a brick wall. I ask--"What are you doing at night after your work on the road" and I am told that my lover has only gone to church, or gone to a ball game, or gone to a show or gone to a club with friends......but then my friends tell me these vile stories and I do not know who to believe. When we are together, the uncomfortable silence is so loud these days. It seems that we have nothing in common except our joint ventures. It seems that I am beginning to see the picture and it is very clear what I must do.




I think I am going to take a trup to New York. I need to get away from this house......I think I am going to suprise my telephone lover with a visit! Shock and awe will ensue....If anything wrong is going on, I will discover it when I arrive. I think I may go to a Yankees game while I am there and take in a show or two. I want to go to my favorite pub there as well.

I think I will have to buy an extra ticket for my bird Sonny since I cannot bear for him to stay here alone......His cage will take up a seat so I suppose that is the price one must pay when one loves his pet bird.

I have had the worst luck today......This morning, I could not find my keys and I lost a credit card----so I had to cancel it! or I had to get one of my employees to cancel it! I ran into an old friend from college. I talked to Shirley Mae for some time about my Telephone Lover while we were eating sushi at a local bar. She told me that it did not seem like there was ever a time where we were happy or peaceful in ourrelationship. Shirley Mae told me that at this point that I had to really stop worrying about my mate and really dig deep and decide what is best for me and my bird......

Words to live by----My flight is in a hour orso...I will let you know in a few days hw things turn out!

Random Clips

In observance of the 4th of July



---------------------------------------------------

Dedications

Dedicated to Travis from MS BITCH



Dedicated to Ms Bitch from TRAVIS



Dedicated to ALCINA (Keep up the fight against Obama!)


ALCINA

Random Act of Kindness

Surprise someone this week, with a gift, something you know they would love. You do not need to have a reason to give someone a present. The best gifts are the ones we never expected. Enjoy!

Suggestions for some of my fans

Mediocre Travis---Send Ms Bitch a love letter expressing your love to him---You know you are hot for him----Tell him how you feel---I suggest sending some flowers

MS Bitch---Your gift will be to be nice to Andy on the Madonna blog for one week

Alcina---You should leave a book on a table in McDonalds in a poor part of town.

M---You should give Guy some tonight---He deserves it.

A rod---Go back to your wife

A New Poll

In order to have a venue to vent my hatred of Barack Obama, I wanted to add his name to my poll. However, I had to delete the old poll in order to add his name! It seems that Mediocre Travis was not the winner of the last poll....I am not sure how I will send a tote bag to George W Bush, so I guess I will keep it myself! Plastic is tragic!

A new poll is now there---It will be hard to pick one person that you hate the most--I know!

Have you gone to the Madonna blog today?

I have not heard from the Trinity of Terror in some time....I wonder what evil they are up to. M told me that they posted something about my pet bird Sonny. I want to set the record straight by letting you know that Sunny is fine....He is downstairs as we speak sleeping..He is so sweet.....He told me NIGHT NIGHT when I put him to bed......He has not pooped on me for some time...He poops in the sink. He is so smart!

After love! After love! After love! After love!
Millions of people
Ligtht's
Believe
Strong Enough
Cher you rock my world
She is a woman of beaty
She live's her into the music
She rock's worlds
She makes people believe
She gave her life to fame
She gave it to public
Worlds have been lost in her
Wherever she may go
She will never sleep alone
Living people
Living heart's
Cher, i cannot tell you my story
Your music is still strong though you are a thousand miles away

CHER! ! ! ! The music is NO good without you! ! !

I see each life we lived pass before us
Ascending lifted sequences of Light
Up to the Stage Manager
Lifting our lives to the rhapsody of His Presence.

Do you not see
The cup of Wine you gave me
Rises out of its grave to follow Him?

As I kiss you
Water burns into Sunlight.
Knuckles contract and expand
Tomorrow ovens open
Their black mouths for us
But tonight we are married, pulse on pulse,
We quiver out of the blood Of His Arteries
We shiver out of the blood of His Wine.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

She's Back!

If you have noticed, M has returned to blogging! The Queen needed an outlet to relieve some stress due to A-rod, Guy, and all the rumors floating around about her divorce. M needs you to leave comments of encouragment. We need her to be on top of her game for the new tour!

My period of mourning is now over.....I have come to accept the Hillary will not be our next president here in America. It looks like I will be a McCain Democrat, though I am not happy with any of the candidates at this point.

Mourning

Since it seems that Hillary will not be our next president, I have been in mourning these past few weeks. I am resigned to becoming a McCain Democrat this fall since I will not vote for Oprah for president.

Asi es la vida!

I will continue to blog, but sources close to M have told me that the Madonna blog will cease to exist in a few weeks. It seems that M is burned out of blogging. I am not sure if there is anything that fans can do to change the mind of M. If and when the blog ceases to exist, I may feel safe enough to finally reveal the true identity of M....and for the millionth time, I am not M. I do not write the Madonna blog.

Dedication TIME AGAIN

Eggplant Parmesan

My lover took me out to eat tonight---That was so sweet----and I ate a dish that I have never eaten before---Eggplant Parmesan---It was so good!

NGREDIENTS

* 3 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
* 6 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
* 1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
* 1/2 teaspoon dried basil


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
3. In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.








It made me think---what is an eggplant?

Long prized for its deeply purple, glossy beauty as well as its unique taste and texture, eggplants are now available in markets throughout the year, but they are at their very best from August through October when they are in season.

Eggplants belong to the nightshade family of vegetables, which also includes tomatoes, sweet peppers and potatoes. They grow in a manner much like tomatoes, hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height. While the different varieties do range slightly in taste and texture, one can generally describe the eggplant as having a pleasantly bitter taste and spongy texture.

The ancient ancestors of eggplant grew wild in India and were first cultivated in China in the 5th century B.C. Eggplant was introduced to Africa before the Middle Ages and then into Italy, the country with which it has long been associated, in the 14th century. It subsequently spread throughout Europe and the Middle East and, centuries later, was brought to the Western Hemisphere by European explorers. Today, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant.

Although it has a long and rich history, eggplant did not always hold the revered place in food culture that it does today, especially in European cuisines. As a result of the overly bitter taste of the early varieties, it seems that people also felt that it had a bitter disposition—eggplant held the undeserved and inauspicious reputation of being able to cause insanity, leprosy and cancer.

For centuries after its introduction into Europe, eggplant was used more as a decorative garden plant than as a food. Not until new varieties were developed in the 18th century, did eggplant lose its bitter taste and bitter reputation, and take its now esteemed place in the cuisines of many European countries, including Italy, Greece, Turkey and France.

Mala Femmena

What evil lurks in the hearts of men? I KNOW!!!

There are some evil women (or women wannabes) in the world....We all know this! It is nice to know that there are few true ladies in the world like Hillary Clinton, Alcina, Madonna, Cher, and Dame Judy Dench.

The Woman Whose Name I Will Not Utter has stuck again.....Last night, I was playing my Connie Francis 5=CD collection on my stereo and I fell asleep.....All of a sudden, I hear this banging on my chamber door! Banging---Who was banging at my front door?

I wemt the door half-asleep and half-dressed---and there were these two cops! What did they want? It seems the whore who lives next door called the police and reported me for a noise violation! The slut! Connie brings joy to the world---and this ass-hole called the police on me....Vengeance is mine!

After I had sex with one of the officers, I calmed down and decided that I should ask myself----Self---What would Ms Bitch do? That made me laugh---so I asked myself another question---Self---What would Britney do? Well---Starbucks and McDonalds was closed----so I asked myself---Self---what would Madonna do?

Since I am too cheap to sue the asshole---I decided to turn to you all---What should I do?

Come to Your Senses

My ex finally came to his senses and realized that sharing me with my blog was better than not having me at all.....so we are back together!

I have not posted in a few days due to my busy work schedule and my hours at home have been filled with other things.......M told me that the Madonna web site may be closing soon. M feels that the negativity of some readers have it impossible for M to focus on its creative content. It is a shame....I feel that all of you should go to http://madonnablog.wordpress.com/
and beg M to continue posting! M needs to hear from you fans....Encourage M to continue to fight the forces of evil and post all the latest tidbits about the Queen.

Sad news to report......My bird has the squirts. I made the mistake of feeding my bird a strawberry.....and the bird has been pooping like crazy! I have taught him to poo-poo in the sink and in the toilet---He squawks and/or bites my ear when he need to do his business....I took him 12 times tonight before I put him to bed!

I also think that it is time for the TOT to come to their senses as well! When will they realize that this is the only blog that I write!? When will they realize that I do not have multiple personalities??? When will they realize that I am not M and M is not me!?

But i digress----A little bird told me that Candy Boy on the M blog is none other than Mediocre Travis! I found it so hard to believe, but it makes so much sense. I also learned that a certain member of the TOT is about to have some surgery. I will keep you in my prayers......I might even send you a tote bag! Just post your address in the comment section of my blog and I will send you a get-well tote bag!

One of my many readers emailed me this inspirational poem that I would like to share with all of you:

They call the wind Mariah
It speaks of turbulence
And speaks of dyin’

Mariah is singing here, today
The wind chimes are a clangin’
The leaves, they are a flyin’

Inside the house
You hear her woeful sound
Mariah, Mariahhhh

It bangs the trees against the house
Speaking of her mightiness
Mariah, Mariaaahhhhhh

And when she’s finally said her piece
She fondly bids to us “Adieu”
Until the next time I visit you

Adieu, Adieuuuu
Mariah, Mariah
Mariahhhhh. Adieu

------------------------------------

We should share this poem with all MOORIAH SCAREY fans so that they will encourage the diva impersonator to say "Adieu" to the music world.

TTTT

To tell the truth, I am telling the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bitter Truth

I am touched by the dedications that have been posted by thousands of my readers. I have decided to come clean and tell you why I have been so blue----so down in the dumps---so depressed.






Sometimes in life, we must make choices......we have to lay down the law and make decisions that are hard.....sometimes the answers cannot be found in Kaballah---sometimes you must find the answers within yourself.

I was told that I had to choice between my lover and my blog.....to be exact---I was told "It's either me or the blog."

I told my lover----I LOVE YOU HONEY, BUT I LURVEEEEEE MY BLOG. I don't have to justify my blog to anyone---You are not the boss of me----I can go on and on and on......No one is going to stop me now!

I am saddened that I had to lose someone over this blog, but it was a decision that I can live with....I hope my readers appreciate the sacrifices that I have made---It was done all for you!

I am still down in the dumps about being forced into choosing between two things that I care about----but I am a better person because of this---and though I will be sad for a few days---If I ran away, I'd never have the strength to go very far! How would they hear the beating of my heart? I have a tale to tell!!!!!!!

I'm Better!

I'm bLUe

Drownin My Sorrows

I'm a bit down today====This song tells what I am going through----I was about to quit blogging but a friend sent me words of encouragement......M told me to not let one person get me down, no matter how much I thought I cared about the person.....life will go on....My posts may be somber for the next few weeks as I get over this.....I wonder what Madonna would do in my situation? What would Cher do? What would the TOT do?

Thank You

Your barking up the WRONG TREE

FOR THE LAST TIME.....FOR THE VERY LAST TIME....I WILL GO OVER THIS TOPIC!!!!

I AM NOT MENTAL MADGE............THIS IS THE ONLY BLOG THAT I WRITE!

Mental Health HOTLINE 1-800-SUICIDE

Feeling Suicidal?
How to Help Yourself

What would drive someone to actually try and kill themselves? For years, our guest, Melanie, was told she was worthless, lazy, crazy, and would never amount to anything. She and other callers share their stories of suicide attempts and how they feel about surviving. Dr. Kumar provides insight into psychological aspects of suicide. Here are some ways to help yourself if you're feeling suicidal:

1. Tell your therapist, a friend, a family member, or someone else who can help.

2. Distance yourself from any means of suicide. If you are thinking of taking an overdose, give your medicines to someone who can give them to you one day at a time. Remove any dangerous objects or weapons from your home.

3. Avoid alcohol and other drugs of abuse.

4. Avoid doing things you're likely to fail at or find difficult until you're feeling better. Know what your present limits are and don't try to go beyond them until you feel better. Set realistic goals for yourself and work at them slowly, one step at a time.

5. Make a written schedule for yourself every day and stick to it no matter what. Set priorities for the things that need to be done first. Cross things out on your schedule as you finish them. A written schedule gives you a sense of predictability and control. Crossing out tasks as you complete them gives a feeling of accomplishment.

6. In your daily schedule don't forget to schedule at least two 30-minute periods for activities which in the past have given you some pleasure such as: listening to music, playing a musical instrument, meditating doing relaxation exercises, doing needlework, reading a book or magazine, taking a warm bath, sewing, writing, shopping, playing games, watching your favorite DVD or video, gardening, playing with your pet, participating in a hobby, taking a drive or a walk.

7. Take care of your physical health. Eat a well-balanced diet. Don't skip meals. Get as much sleep as you need, and go out for one or two 30-minute walks each day.

8. Make sure you spend at least 30-minutes a day in the sun. Bright light is good for everyone with depression, not just people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

9. You may not feel very social but make yourself talk to other people. Whether you talk about your feelings or about any other topic, reducing your social isolation is likely to be helpful.



Remember that while it may feel as if it will never end, depression is not a permanent condition.

The National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or for a crisis center in your area, go here.

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE
(1-800-784-2433)
LifeLine: 1-800-273-8255
Depression Hotline: 630-482-9696

* Depression Screening: Since untreated depression is a major contributor to suicide, free depression screening is offered year round to anyone. Children from age 6 and above can be screened. This has often been the first step in the process. Many clients have told SPS that being able to walk through the door, have the screening done, and get help, has been the first step in a successful journey out of depression.

* Depression Hotline: Our empathic paraprofessionals are trained to counsel callers with any personal problems, such as anxiety, alcohol, family, school, and sexuality, and are prepared to work with the lonely, the depressed, and the suicidal.

* Information and Referral: Operators provide information about the availability of social services of a health or mental health nature in Kane County, Illinois.

* 1-800-SUICIDE Emergency Service: Operators are trained to help people through such emergencies as attempted suicide, drug overdose, and psychotic episodes.

* My Buddy: Volunteer operators call or visit shut-ins daily or on specific pre-arranged days to check on their well-being. Buddy Calls are provided free of charge on either a temporary or long-term basis.

* Who are SPS Hotline Operators? Our hotline volunteer paraprofessionals are concerned community members from every social, economic, and educational background. Volunteer paraprofessionals are taught about emergency procedures, telephone counseling techniques and methods of providing social service information. Lectures cover topics such as basic psychology, suicide, psychotherapeutic techniques, drugs, alcohol, rape, incest, domestic violence, and adolescent and family problems. During the training, volunteers are given an opportunity to practice being an operator through role-playing exercises, as well as on-the-line training. Credit is offered through approved colleges. Training is available throughout the year to accommodate each person's schedule and lifestyle.

MAUDE vs. Dorothy!

Just Say Julie

It seems that some Madonna fans have just now discovered the Julie Brown parody of Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour. When I was in college, Julie had a show on MTV called "Just Say Julie." It did not last a long time, but it was so funny! I recall one show when she threw cookie dough at a Jane Child video! Another show, she gave out shows---and opened the envelope and started to say Paula Abdul---and then she cut herself off and screamed NO WINNER--there is NO WINNER in this category!







The Madonna parody aired on Showtime here in the US back in the early 90s. I have the entire show on VHS somewhere---I saw online that you can now buy it on DVD! It is funny......There are some YOUTUBE clips of it online. I have to agree with some TOT members that it is probably the best parody of Madonna....VAGUE--PARTY IN MY PANTS! Priceless!






















NOW___Remember that MTV used to also have DOWNTOWN JULIE BROWN as well!

FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY

Malaguena

El amor me llevo hacia ti
Como tu suave matador
La constancia de tu querer
La alegria bajo el bisel

Malagueña de ojos negros
Malagueña de mis sueños
Me estoy muriendo de pena
Por tu, solo tu querer

Malagueña de bonita
Te quiero besar

Malagueña de ojos negros
Malagueña de mis sueños
Me estoy muriendo de pena
Por tu, solo tu querer

Malagueña









This is the Babelfish translation---hahaha

The love I take towards smooth you Like the your killing certainty of your wanting alegria under the bevel Malagueña of black eyes Malagueña of my dreams I am dying of pain By your, single one your to want Malagueña of pretty I want to You to kiss Malagueña of black eyes Malagueña of my dreams I am dying of pain By your, single one your to want Malagueña











Originally the sixth movement of the Suite Andalucia by Ernesto Lecuona, who also provided it with Spanish lyrics, the song Malagueña has since become a popular, jazz, marching band, and drum corps standard and has been provided with lyrics in several languages.

A German language version, sung by Caterina Valente, with Werner Müller's Orchestra, was popular in the United States (not making the Billboard chart, but charting on Cash Box, peaking at position #42) in February 1955. English lyrics have been written by Marion Banks. A later charting version was recorded by Connie Francis in 1960, and charted at #42 on Billboard as the flip side of her #1 pop smash "My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own." Bill Holman's arrangement for the Stan Kenton Orchestra which appeared on the 1961 album Adventures in Jazz turned Malagueña from a flamenco genre piece into a fiery big band showpiece[1].

Over the years, “Malagueña” has been performed numerous times by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Marching Band, and as such, has become one of the songs most identified with the group [2]. The University of Minnesota hockey pep band also plays the song after each home win by their men's hockey team. The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps also often feature the song, and won their second DCI World Championship with a program including the work. Other corps to perform the piece include the Boston Crusaders, The Cadets, and the Hawthorne Caballeros as well as the Hanover (PA) Lancers. One of the most notable performances of this piece in recent years has been as part of the Broadway musical Blast!, a fusion of Corps style musical arrangements and field (stage) movements with traditional theatric elements.

Rock versions have included an instrumental version by Bill Haley & His Comets recorded live in Sweden in 1968 (it was a staple of their live shows in the 1960s and 1970s, usually performed by guitarist Nick Nastos). An instrumental version by Ritchie Valens was released years after his death. A surf instrumental version of Malagueña has been performed by the Trashmen and the Bambi Molesters, as well as in part of an arrangement of Misirlou by Dick Dale and others. The genealogy of this arrangement is not known. Other instrumental versions were provided by Brian Setzer in his album "ignition" and by Dave Salyer in his Album "Red Hot Guitar"

Denial and the TOT

The TOT are in denial! They cannot accept the truth---the fact---that I am not the author of the Madonna blog. I am not M---I am not Madonna! They are in denial about this fact. TO help them recover from their disorder, here is information about denial and suggested treatments. I hope that you will soon learn to accept the reality that you have been mistaken for all of these many months! Truly, each of them are the "Queen of Denial!"










Denial
Definition

Denial is the refusal to acknowledge the existence or severity of unpleasant external realities or internal thoughts and feelings.

Theory of denial

In psychology, denial is a concept originating with the psychodynamic theories of Sigmund Freud. According to Freud, three mental dynamics, or motivating forces, influence human behavior: the id, ego, and superego. The id consists of basic survival instincts and what Freud believed to be the two dominant human drives: sex and aggression. If the id were the only influence on behavior, humans would exclusively seek to increase pleasure, decrease pain, and achieve immediate gratification of desires. The ego consists of logical and rational thinking. It enables humans to analyze the realistic risks and benefits of a situation, to tolerate some pain for future profit, and to consider alternatives to the impulse-driven behavior of the id. The superego consists of moralistic standards and forms the basis of the conscience. Although the superego is essential to a sense of right and wrong, it can also include extreme, unrealistic ideas about what one should and should not do.

These three forces all have different goals (id, pleasure; ego, reality; superego, morality) and continually strive for dominance, resulting in internal conflict. This conflict produces anxiety. The ego, which functions as a mediator between the two extremes of the id and the superego, attempts to reduce this anxiety by using defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are indirect ways of dealing or coping with anxiety, such as explaining problems away or blaming others for problems. Denial is one of many defense mechanisms. It entails ignoring or refusing to believe an unpleasant reality. Defense mechanisms protect one's psychological wellbeing in traumatic situations, or in any situation that produces anxiety or conflict. However, they do not resolve the anxiety-producing situation and, if overused, can lead to psychological disorders. Although Freud's model of the id, ego, and superego is not emphasized by most psychologists today, defense mechanisms are still regarded as potentially maladaptive behavioral patterns that may lead to psychological disorders.

Examples of denial

Death is a common occasion for denial. When someone learns of the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, at first he or she may not be able to accept the reality of this loss. The initial denial protects that person from the emotional shock and intense grief that often accompanies news of death. Chronic or terminal illnesses also encourage denial. People with such illnesses may think, "It's not so bad; I'll get over it," and refuse to make any lifestyle changes.

Denial can also apply to internal thoughts and feelings. For instance, some children are taught that anger is wrong in any situation. As adults, if these individuals experience feelings of anger, they are likely to deny their feelings to others. Cultural standards and expectations can encourage denial of subjective experience. Men who belong to cultures with extreme notions of masculinity may view fear as a sign of weakness and deny internal feelings of fear. The Chinese culture is thought to discourage the acknowledgment of mental illness, resulting in individuals denying their psychological symptoms and often developing physical symptoms instead.

Certain personality disorders tend to be characterized by denial more than others. For example, those with narcissistic personality disorder deny information that suggests they are not perfect. Antisocial behavior is characterized by denial of the harm done to others (such as with sexual offenders or substance abusers).

Denial can also be exhibited on a large scale— among groups, cultures, or even nations. Lucy Bregman gives an example of national denial of imminent mortality in the 1950s: school children participated in drills in which they hid under desks in preparation for atomic attacks. Another example of large-scale denial is the recent assertion by some that the World War II Holocaust never occurred.

Treatment of denial

Denial is treated differently in different types of therapy. In psychoanalytic therapy, denial is regarded as an obstacle to progress that must eventually be confronted and interpreted. Timing is important, however. Psychoanalytic therapists wait until clients appear emotionally ready or have some degree of insight into their problems before confronting them. In the humanistic and existential therapies, denial is considered the framework by which clients understand their world. Not directly confronting denial, therapists assist clients in exploring their world view and considering alternative ways of being. In cognitive-behavioral therapies, denial is not regarded as an important phenomenon. Rather, denial would suggest that an individual has not learned the appropriate behaviors to cope with a stressful situation. Therapists assist individuals in examining their current thoughts and behaviors and devising strategic ways to make changes.

Traditional treatment programs for substance abuse and other addictions view denial as a central theme. Such programs teach that in order to overcome addiction, one must admit to being an alcoholic or addict. Those who are unable to accept such labels are informed they are in denial. Even when the labels are accepted, individuals are still considered to be in denial if they do not acknowledge the severity of their addictions. From this perspective, progress cannot be made until individuals recognize the extent of their denial and work toward acceptance. However, there is much controversy in the field of addictions regarding the role of denial and how it should be addressed. Traditional programs stress direct confrontation. Other professionals do not insist on the acceptance of labels. They believe that denial should be worked through more subtly, empathically focusing on the personal reasons surrounding denial and seeking to strengthen the desire to change. This subtle form of addressing denial is known as motivational enhancement therapy, and can be used with other types of disorders as well.

How many different ways can I Speak the TRUTH?

Je ne suis pas l'auteur du blog de Madonna !

Ich bin nicht der Autor des Madonna blog!

Я не буду автором blog Madonna!

Non sono l'autore del blog di Madonna!

¡No soy el autor del blog de Madonna!

私はMadonna のblog の著者でない!

Eu não sou o autor do blog de Madonna!

No Dedications Today

Another Ode to a Tote Bag

Ode to tote bags

I love a good canvas tote bag. They’re useful in so many different, wonderful ways…

* Groceries! They’re much more eco-friendly than building up a large collection of paper/plastic. You can also fit a lot more in them and they won’t bust open at the bottom.

* Going to the LIBRARY! You can fit lots of books in them.

* For a day around town. You can fit books in there, an Ipod, my Mediocre Travis photo album, a granola bar, a bottled water, etc.

* Picnics! They make a nice alternative to a picnic basket. You can fit all sorts of things in a tote bag.

* Camping. You can fit groceries, plates, etc in them.

* Overnight trips. Just going away for the evening? Stuff you belongings in a nice canvas tote.

* An alternative to a gym bag.

TOTE BAGS! Yes, tote bags. I recommend them to all.

Ode to a Tote Bag

Many Starts, Mini Finishes

There once was a quilter named Min,
Whatever she'd see, she'd begin.
A large quilt, a small quilt,
A doll quilt, a wall quilt.
"I'll finish these later," said Min.

"Now what shall I start on today?
I guess it will be applique.
Some birds in a group,
I'll frame with a hoop.
Today, though, I'll put them away.

I think I will make a new vest,
In silk, or cotton would be best --
Trapunto I'll do,
Then Sunbonnet Sue!
But now I will give them a rest.

A tote bag I've wanted to sew,
And then I'll try quilt-as-you-go.
A radiant Star
For next year's bazaar --
Just when they'll be done, I don't know.

For Christmas I've got projects galore --
A tree skirt, a wreath for the door.
I'll make a soft box,
And red quilted socks,
And what's not completed, I'll store."

"Is anything finished?" asked Son.
Her answer could only be, "None."
So, Min made a vow:
She would not allow
More new projects -- well, maybe just one.

Zeno????

Zeno’s Paradox of the Tortoise and Achilles

Zeno of Elea (circa 450 b.c.) is credited with creating several famous paradoxes, but by far the best known is the paradox of the Tortoise and Achilles. (Achilles was the great Greek hero of Homer's The Illiad.) It has inspired many writers and thinkers through the ages, notably Lewis Carroll and Douglas Hofstadter, who also wrote dialogues involving the Tortoise and Achilles.
The original goes something like this:

The Tortoise challenged Achilles to a race, claiming that he would win as long as Achilles gave him a small head start. Achilles laughed at this, for of course he was a mighty warrior and swift of foot, whereas the Tortoise was heavy and slow.
“How big a head start do you need?” he asked the Tortoise with a smile.
“Ten meters,” the latter replied.
Achilles laughed louder than ever. “You will surely lose, my friend, in that case,” he told the Tortoise, “but let us race, if you wish it.”
“On the contrary,” said the Tortoise, “I will win, and I can prove it to you by a simple argument.”
“Go on then,” Achilles replied, with less confidence than he felt before. He knew he was the superior athlete, but he also knew the Tortoise had the sharper wits, and he had lost many a bewildering argument with him before this.
“Suppose,” began the Tortoise, “that you give me a 10-meter head start. Would you say that you could cover that 10 meters between us very quickly?”
“Very quickly,” Achilles affirmed.
“And in that time, how far should I have gone, do you think?”
“Perhaps a meter – no more,” said Achilles after a moment's thought.
“Very well,” replied the Tortoise, “so now there is a meter between us. And you would catch up that distance very quickly?”
“Very quickly indeed!”
“And yet, in that time I shall have gone a little way farther, so that now you must catch that distance up, yes?”

“Ye-es,” said Achilles slowly.
“And while you are doing so, I shall have gone a little way farther, so that you must then catch up the new distance,” the Tortoise continued smoothly.
Achilles said nothing.
“And so you see, in each moment you must be catching up the distance between us, and yet I – at the same time – will be adding a new distance, however small, for you to catch up again.”
“Indeed, it must be so,” said Achilles wearily.
“And so you can never catch up,” the Tortoise concluded sympathetically.
“You are right, as always,” said Achilles sadly – and conceded the race.

Zeno's Paradox may be rephrased as follows. Suppose I wish to cross the room. First, of course, I must cover half the distance. Then, I must cover half the remaining distance. Then, I must cover half the remaining distance. Then I must cover half the remaining distance . . . and so on forever. The consequence is that I can never get to the other side of the room.
What this actually does is to make all motion impossible, for before I can cover half the distance I must cover half of half the distance, and before I can do that I must cover half of half of half of the distance, and so on, so that in reality I can never move any distance at all, because doing so involves moving an infinite number of small intermediate distances first.
Now, since motion obviously is possible, the question arises, what is wrong with Zeno? What is the "flaw in the logic?" If you are giving the matter your full attention, it should begin to make you squirm a bit, for on its face the logic of the situation seems unassailable. You shouldn't be able to cross the room, and the Tortoise should win the race! Yet we know better. Hmm.
Rather than tackle Zeno head-on, let us pause to notice something remarkable. Suppose we take Zeno's Paradox at face value for the moment, and agree with him that before I can walk a mile I must first walk a half-mile. And before I can walk the remaining half-mile I must first cover half of it, that is, a quarter-mile, and then an eighth-mile, and then a sixteenth-mile, and then a thirty-secondth-mile, and so on. Well, suppose I could cover all these infinite number of small distances, how far should I have walked? One mile! In other words,


At first this may seem impossible: adding up an infinite number of positive distances should give an infinite distance for the sum. But it doesn't – in this case it gives a finite sum; indeed, all these distances add up to 1! A little reflection will reveal that this isn't so strange after all: if I can divide up a finite distance into an infinite number of small distances, then adding all those distances together should just give me back the finite distance I started with. (An infinite sum such as the one above is known in mathematics as an infinite series, and when such a sum adds up to a finite number we say that the series is summable.)
Now the resolution to Zeno's Paradox is easy. Obviously, it will take me some fixed time to cross half the distance to the other side of the room, say 2 seconds. How long will it take to cross half the remaining distance? Half as long – only 1 second. Covering half of the remaining distance (an eighth of the total) will take only half a second. And so one. And once I have covered all the infinitely many sub-distances and added up all the time it took to traverse them? Only 4 seconds, and here I am, on the other side of the room after all.
And poor old Achilles would have won his race.

Address for TRAVIS

I suppose I do owe MT a tote bag......Travis, post your mailing address and phone number on my blog and I will send you a tote bag.

I will be waiting for your information soon!

Negativity

Who are you? What do you stand for? What do you believe in? What engages your passion? What brings tears of gratitude and joy to your eyes? Do you know, or have you lost yourself? I’ve decided that it is my calling to help people rediscover themselves.

The first step on the road to rediscovery involves spending time with you, which is why I liken the process to dating yourself. When you began dating your last partner or the person you share your life with, didn’t you move heaven and earth to make time for them?

When you were with them, didn’t you go out of your way to get to know them? What if you were to take a similar approach to rediscovering yourself?

I have decided to share some “baby steps” you can take to get reacquainted with yourself. I will write several posts on the topic in the coming weeks. I know that all of you will participate



Your first task is to answer these questions:

1. What were your favorite high school courses? College courses? Why?
2. What activities do you enjoy and why?
3. If you could do anything, what would it be, and why would you choose it?
4. If you could study any subject(s) what would it/they be and why?
5. When you walk into a bookstore or library, what books attract you most and why?
6. Would you rather work with people, things, ideas, information/data, or some combination of two or more?
7. What types of people do you enjoy working or socializing with and why?
   

I will give all of you a real treat---Here are my answers to the questions!

1. Music Classes because I have a beautiful singing voice and I love to sing.
2. I love everything artistic (music, art, drama) so that I can express myself and not repress myself!
3. I would require world peace to be the mantra of all mankind because if we all loved one another, everything would be fine.
4. I would like to know more about philosophy and Kaballah.
5. I usually am drawn to mystery novels and magazines.
6. I like to work with people, information, and ideas because we all have information and ideas to share. I am a person who needs People because People are the luckiest people in the world.
   
7. I enjoy socializing with fun, beautiful people who are not vain as a certain member of the Trinity of Terror.

Dedicated to Andy, Whitney Houston, and the TOT

You will have to guess what song is dedicated to what person!

What song is more dreadful????????

YOU MUST go to TINA's website---You will hear her rendition of Gimme More.....It is dreadful.....http://www.myspace.com/tinaecmusic





This You Tube video clip....Words cannot describe how you will feel when you listen and watch this video!

Andy

The TOT has an unnatural disdain for Andy over on the Madonna blog. I do not understand it! I like Andy....and I have discovered that one of the following photos is actually a picture of ANDY!!!!

Pascal's Wager

"God is or He is not...Let us weigh the gain and the loss in choosing...'God is.' If you gain, you gain all, if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, unhesitatingly, that He is."

Pascal's Wager

Introduction
Are you a betting person? Would you bet on God or against God? Would you bet that God exists or doesn't? Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) did exactly that, he bet or made a wager on God.

Background
Blaise Pascal was an accomplished French mathematician, scientist, philosopher, and religious writer. His achievements and inventions include: (1) A published essay on conic sections that helped develop differential calculus, (2) at age 18, built the world's first computer. The computer language PASCAL is named in his honor, (3) investigated the problem of the vacuum and then invented the syringe, barometer, and hydraulic press, (4) developed the world's first public transportation system, (5) developed probability theory with Fermat, and (6) authored a religious polemic considered the first great masterpiece of French prose.

The Pensees
Pascal's last and unfinished written work is the Pensees. The Pensees is made up of approximately 1000 fragments largely dealing with philosophic/religious topics. It is clear that this writing is a defense of the Christian religion. The French word pensee means "to think." The title of Pascal's work is translated into English as "Thoughts."

The Wager
What is Pascal's Wager anyway? Pascal's Wager is usually referred to as an argument which requires the one bet on God's existence. Pascal puts it this way in words:

"Let us examine this point and declare: 'Either God exists, or He does not.' To view shall we incline? Reason cannot decide for us one way or the other: we are separated by an infinite gulf. At the extremity of this infinite distance a game is in progress, where either heads or tails may turn up. What will you wager? According to reason you cannot bet either way; according to reason you can defend neither proposition �. 'Both are wrong. The right thing is not to wager at all.' Yes, but a bet must be laid. There is no option: you have joined the game."

Of course, Pascal's Wager is actually a mathematical proof that shows it is wiser to believe in God. Mathematically speaking, Pascal's Wager goes as follows:
Suppose there is a nonzero number e (perhaps extremely small) that is the probability of there being a God. If there is no God, and you believe in God anyway, then, although you will be deluded, and although you may suffer the ridicule of atheists (for nothing), your loss will not be enormous. Let us say that it will not exceed 1 "felz" of happiness. Hence the mathematical expectation of believing in God is at least:

e x 2/e - (1 - e) x 1 = 1 + e

On the other hand, if there is not God and you do not believe in God, you may gain a little but not more than, say, 1 "felz" of happiness. However, if there is a God and you do not choose to believe in Him, then you will not get anything good out of your not believing in Him. The mathematical expectation of not believing in God is thus less than:

(1 - e) x 1 + e x 0 = 1 - e

Since 1+e > 1-e, and since, other things being equal, a wise person will act in such a way as to maximize the expectation of their happiness, it follows that, other things being equal, a wise person will choose to believe in God.

Conclusion
Pascal's Wager is an argument appealing to the mind. If it succeeds then it does so by setting the individual on a path that will make it possible for him/her to recognize God's grace when it is offered.

Who's Sorry Now?

Gloria Estefan has been working on a film about Connie Francis. Gloria is planning to portray Connie and there is talk of Danny De Vito will be Connie’s Dad, Olympia Dukakis as her mom. Screenplay is fairly completed, filming is reported to begin soon though this has been mentioned for past couple years.