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Thursday, August 14, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
We can do better: Misconceptions about suicide (from SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
By Jack Brummet, Mental Health Ed.
I was very sad to hear about the death of Robin Williams, most likely by his own hand.
Most people who commit suicide don't want to die—"they just want to stop hurting." Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. It's hard, but don 't be afraid to speak up if you despair. And please speak up if someone you know or love is hurting.
FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.
FALSE: People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.
FALSE: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true — bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
I was very sad to hear about the death of Robin Williams, most likely by his own hand.
Most people who commit suicide don't want to die—"they just want to stop hurting." Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life. It's hard, but don 't be afraid to speak up if you despair. And please speak up if someone you know or love is hurting.
Common Misconceptions about Suicide
FALSE: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Do not ignore suicide threats. Statements like "you'll be sorry when I'm dead," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
FALSE: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
FALSE: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.
FALSE: People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.
FALSE: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true — bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
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A Priest calls Jesus's miracles "BS"
By Jack Brummet, Religions Ed.
I met a priest in Spokane this weekend, who surprised me. He was the warmest, and undoubtedly the funniest priest I've ever met (I'm not RC. so I haven't met that many). He radiated his love of and concern for his parishioners.
He got to talking about Jesus's miracles, calling at least two of them (changing water into wine and walking on water on the Sea of Galilee ) "bullshit," alluding that they were just parlor tricks (he didn't use that phrase, just "BS") to get people's attention. I go to thinking about what else would qualify--Lazarus, the fishes and loaves, etc.
As unconventional as he was, he drew it back in the end by saying the only trick that counted was getting up on that cross; the rest was just razzle dazzle. Wow.
I met a priest in Spokane this weekend, who surprised me. He was the warmest, and undoubtedly the funniest priest I've ever met (I'm not RC. so I haven't met that many). He radiated his love of and concern for his parishioners.
He got to talking about Jesus's miracles, calling at least two of them (changing water into wine and walking on water on the Sea of Galilee ) "bullshit," alluding that they were just parlor tricks (he didn't use that phrase, just "BS") to get people's attention. I go to thinking about what else would qualify--Lazarus, the fishes and loaves, etc.
As unconventional as he was, he drew it back in the end by saying the only trick that counted was getting up on that cross; the rest was just razzle dazzle. Wow.
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Monday, August 11, 2014
Drawings: Faces #897 - Three scratchboards
By Jack Brummet
[india ink scratchboard/scanned & digitally reversed scratchboard]
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Sunday, August 10, 2014
Saturday, August 09, 2014
Friday, August 08, 2014
Grant Wood's American Gothic
By Jack Brummet, Art Ed.
Grant Wood. used his dentist and sister as the models for "American Gothic," circa 1930.
Grant Wood. used his dentist and sister as the models for "American Gothic," circa 1930.
The painting:
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Thursday, August 07, 2014
My New Dick — Sarah Palin channels a President
[ATIT reheated, from five years ago]
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Illustrations by Jack Brummet, All This Is That Arts and Letters Editor
On July 3, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced that she would not run for re-election in the 2010 Alaska election and would resign by the end of the month. Palin stated that since August 2008, she and the state had been expending an "insane" amount of time and money ($2.5 million) responding to "opposition research", 150 Freedom of Information Act requests and 15 "frivolous" legal ethics complaints filed by "political operatives" against her.
As I watched Palin's strangely jangled and jittery "resignation speech" last week, I was reminded of another speech--Richard Nixon's famous "last press conference" after losing the 1962 Governor's race in California (to Jerry Brown's dad no less). Not unlike Sarah Palin, the press rode Dick pretty hard, put him away wet, and eventually he came a little unglued. The night of his gubernatorial trouncing, he listened to his bitter staffers, and finally snapped. He went out to give his concession speech. It was a rambling sixteen minute affair tinged with bitterness toward the press and his critics. Sound familiar?
The media is wrong. Sarah is making the smart move. Jimmy Carter came out of nowhere (well, Georgia) with no base and far less name recognition. And he got to the big seat, trouncing a sitting President. Palin needs major rehab to her damaged political image--the damage caused by media and liberals, and most importantly, her self-inflicted wounds.
Soon to be Ex-Governor Palin will have to go to war with the Republican Establishment. She can easily best the Band of Clowns left to defend the blown husk of the G.O.P.
Compare Nixon's speech -- Listen to the audio of Nixon's infamous speech via the History Channel -- to the Palin resignation speech:
Dick Nixon was elected President of the United States of America exactly six years after his "last press conference."
[Ed's note] Paul Constant wrote in The Stranger on July 29 2014 that "She's a political figure who has spent every last dime of political capital that she earned through her half-term as governor of Alaska and as a failed vice presidential candidate. Politically, she's washed up. She has no power. Nobody who works in Washington, DC, owes her favors. Her fan base has shrunk to a few hundred thousand unfettered loons, meaning she doesn't even have the ability to promote change through petition or boycott anymore...."
By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs EditorIllustrations by Jack Brummet, All This Is That Arts and Letters Editor
On July 3, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced that she would not run for re-election in the 2010 Alaska election and would resign by the end of the month. Palin stated that since August 2008, she and the state had been expending an "insane" amount of time and money ($2.5 million) responding to "opposition research", 150 Freedom of Information Act requests and 15 "frivolous" legal ethics complaints filed by "political operatives" against her.
As I watched Palin's strangely jangled and jittery "resignation speech" last week, I was reminded of another speech--Richard Nixon's famous "last press conference" after losing the 1962 Governor's race in California (to Jerry Brown's dad no less). Not unlike Sarah Palin, the press rode Dick pretty hard, put him away wet, and eventually he came a little unglued. The night of his gubernatorial trouncing, he listened to his bitter staffers, and finally snapped. He went out to give his concession speech. It was a rambling sixteen minute affair tinged with bitterness toward the press and his critics. Sound familiar?
"I leave you gentleman now and you will write it. You will interpret it. That's your right. But as I leave you I want you to know — just think how much you're going to be missing. You won't have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference. . ."Dick Nixon had been called a user car salesman, red baiter, Ike's lapdog and all the rest. Sarah Palin, after the rogering she received from the press in the election, and following the final, staggering blow of last week's savage Vanity Fair article, and the unending lawsuits and investigations, decided to throw in the towel. On this chapter. Palin resigned as Governor and, like Nixon, did not talk about the future. But keep your eyes peeled. She is running, and resigning from office will only enable her to run stronger, faster, and harder. Like it or not, Sarah Palin has a base. And all it takes to become President is building on that base. Remaining as governor would not help build that base; staying in office will only lead to further diminution of her reputation. Now she needs to do her homework, start campaigning for other politicians, mend fences, collect I.O.U.s, travel, give speeches, and begin nipping at Mitt Romney's bootheels.
The media is wrong. Sarah is making the smart move. Jimmy Carter came out of nowhere (well, Georgia) with no base and far less name recognition. And he got to the big seat, trouncing a sitting President. Palin needs major rehab to her damaged political image--the damage caused by media and liberals, and most importantly, her self-inflicted wounds.
Soon to be Ex-Governor Palin will have to go to war with the Republican Establishment. She can easily best the Band of Clowns left to defend the blown husk of the G.O.P.
Compare Nixon's speech -- Listen to the audio of Nixon's infamous speech via the History Channel -- to the Palin resignation speech:
Dick Nixon was elected President of the United States of America exactly six years after his "last press conference."
[Ed's note] Paul Constant wrote in The Stranger on July 29 2014 that "She's a political figure who has spent every last dime of political capital that she earned through her half-term as governor of Alaska and as a failed vice presidential candidate. Politically, she's washed up. She has no power. Nobody who works in Washington, DC, owes her favors. Her fan base has shrunk to a few hundred thousand unfettered loons, meaning she doesn't even have the ability to promote change through petition or boycott anymore...."
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