Roger is an older man, perhaps 65 years old, who had been wounded in the first U.S. Iraq war.  He had been shot in the head in a gun battle and had traumatic brain injury, and he was considered a heroic figure for getting his soldiers out of a really bad… Read full post »

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, has signed a bill creating a state day of recognition for the gay politician Harvey Milk.… Read full post »

Lack of healthcare for the poorer segments of our population--whether intentional or otherwise--is class warfare.  Lack of comprehensive healthcare in children and adults dramatically limits the potential to improve one's condition, and as we are learning, this lack of proper treatment affects g… Read full post »

 My computer crashed, and I'll be away from Open Salon while it's being repaired.  Fortunately, it's still under warranty.  This will be the second time we've returned it for repairs in a single year.  I'm using a retiree for the time being, with insufficient RAM and the speed of… Read full post »

Insomnia can be devastating.  The MJ story line is now that he begged for the medication, giving a glimpse into the increasingly irrational thinking of chronic sufferers by self-medication and lack of adequate REM sleep.  It amazes me how people expect rational behavior from the irrational.… Read full post »

This is about the dead United States of America, once a celebrity in her own right.  The Farrah and MJ deaths are cover stories.  It's certainly within the conceivable that Silver Tongue posse either had then killed in tandem or waited for the inevitable by which to sneak in a little… Read full post »

I lost my job because I'm an open lesbian, the victim of an ultra-conservative, closeted gay parole agent.  I have consulted attorneys on this issue and hope to pursue this issue further by legal action, although my mother has voiced her concern.  We are not litigious people, she claims.&nb… Read full post »

The Meet in the Middle march began yesterday, May 30, 2009 at 6:30 AM, where a small group of marchers and organizers met in Selma, California.  The primary organizer, Robin McGehee, had held meetings every Monday for a month to put this thing together, maxing out credit ca… Read full post »

Meet in the Middle makes the Rachel Maddow Show tonight.

 I can't figure out how to imbed, so here's a link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#30951439

 It's about 1:30 into the clip. Read full post »

I left this comment elsewhere but thought I should repost for the Open Call:

 This is exactly what was expected, I'm sorry to say. There will be protests in every city tonight, called Day of Decision:

Day of Decision: We Must Act
DAY OF DECISION ACTIONS TODAY!!
Find Your Day… Read full post »

Reposted from a comment I left elsewhere on Open Salon:

 All of this smug and self-important banter will work against our efforts to be heard. The last thing we should be doing is raising others' defenses in this manner. Demeaning people is not effective or useful. If we can stick… Read full post »

Last month I was fired from my job.  The parole agent was a closeted gay man who didn't like that I was out.  I've been out for so long that I don't know how to get back in.  Nor do I want to.

 I had been called out on a number… Read full post »

This article is offered as back up documentation for my previous post (http://www.open.salon.com/blog/leslieca/2009/05/16/my_posts_about_aa) in which I say forcing people to admit they have no control over their behavior is completely counterproductive.

 In early 1965, Martin E. P. Seligman and… Read full post »

This article is offered as back up documentation for my previous post (http://www.open.salon.com/blog/leslieca/2009/05/16/my_posts_about_aa) in which I say forcing people to admit they have no control over their behavior is completely counterproductive.

 Locus of control is a term in psychology… Read full post »

This article is offered as back up documentation for my previous post (http://www.open.salon.com/blog/leslieca/2009/05/16/my_posts_about_aa) in which I say forcing people to admit they have no control over their behavior is completely counterproductive.

The Role of Self-Efficacy

Virtually all… Read full post »

So earlier this week I posted a piece about "powerlessness" here at OS.  Powerlessness is an AA concept which I think is counterproductive.  I believe that people can learn to make wise choices, to acknowledge that their behaviors are volitional.  It seems to me that teaching people th… Read full post »