School of Cooperative Individualism / Links to Other Websites

Take your Pick!!!
http://cooperativeindividualism.org/links.html

Canadian Research Committee of Taxation	Francis K. Peddle, Ph.D., Director of Research
CENTER FOR PUBLIC DIALOGUE	Established to perform research on issues of vital national importance and to educate government officials and private organizations on the solutions to these problems. The Center's emphasis is on economic, fiscal and tax policies. (Walter Rybeck, Executive Director, 10615 Brunswick Avenue, Kensington, MD 21044 -- email: waltrybeck@aol.com)
Center for the Study of Economics	Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (U.S.A.) conducts research on the effects of taxation and alternative means of raising public revenue. The Center provides this research to public officials and private groups as a public service. (Josh Vincent, President)
Citizens Dividend	A website that presents an essay arguing the case that every person on the earth has, as a basic human right, an annual income derived from the exchange value of nature. (Contact person: Jeff Smith -- email: geonomist@juno.com)
Common Ground, U.S.A.	A citizen-based member organization with chapters throughout the United States. The focus of Common Ground's activities is promote tax relief for individuals and businesses, incomes earned from the production and exchange of goods and services, and property such as homes, buildings and equipment. Common Ground publishes a quarterly newsletter, Ground Swell.
Council of Georgist Organizations	A coordinating body that assists in the planning of an annual conference on behalf of member organizations and serves as a clearinghouse for inquiries concerning the socio-political philosophy and economic analysis of the nineteenth century editor, reformer and self-taught political economist, Henry George.
Critiques of Libertarianism	A website devoted to discussion of principles and ideas espoused under the libertarian ideal.
Democratic Freedom Caucus	A ground of reform-minded individuals working within the structure of the U.S. Democratic Party to move this political party toward principle-based public policy.
Earth Magna Charta	John McConnell, founder of Earth Day, talked about his hope for the future
Earth Rights Institute	Works for global reform of laws that conflict with basic human rights to the earth, working with individuals and organizations to change systems of land tenure and taxation. The Institute's objective is to end land and natural resource monopolies and secure for each individual their birthright of equal access to the earth and its natural opportunites. Contact person: Alanna Hartzok [email: earthrts@pa.net]
Earthsharing Australia	Described by founder Bryan Kavanagh, as follows: "The principles of EarthSharing encapsulate a profound message. Land prices and taxes on wealth-creation both destroy employment and create economic instability. Both can be reduced by drawing more reveues from a levy upon land values. Under such a reformed revenue system we would eliminate 'boom and bust', and finally reconcile 'economics' to people and the plant." Email: information@earthsharing.org.au. Contact: earth@earthsharing.org.au
Foundation for Economic Freedom	Publishes books and pamphlets on the nature of liberty and the proper role of government in society.
Geolibertarian Home Page	Created by Dan Sullivan of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (U.S.A.), a website with the purpose of reconciling the philosophical and practical distinctions between ideas of freedom held by some libertarians and their failure to develop a theory of private versus societal property consistent with libertarian principles.
Georgist Education Association	Headquartered in South Perth, Australia, and has established with website for the purpose of introducing visitors to the socio-political philosophy and economic analysis of Henry George.
Georgist News	Archives the email newsletter, edited by Jeff Smith and published by the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
Henry George International Education Center	An educational program in Managua, Nicaragua, under the direction of Paul Martin. ...
HENRY GEORGE FOUNDATION OF GREAT BRITAIN	.
HENRY GEORGE FOUNDATION (Australia)	located in Melbourne, Victoria
HENRY GEORGE INSTITUTE	offers correspondence courses using materials based on the writings of Henry George. The Institute also publishes the quarterly Georgist Journal. Lindy Davies, Director
HENRY GEORGE SCHOOL, CHICAGO	offers adult classes and seminars exploring the ideas presented in the works of Henry George. The school is located at 417 S. Dearborn Street, No. 510, Chicago, IL 60605
HENRY GEORGE SCHOOL OF LOS ANGELES	offers adult classes and seminars under the name Classical Analysis. Additionally, the School has developed a group study program in economics made available to high school social studies and economics teachers. Contact person: Harry Pollard, Director. Address: Box 655, Tujunga, CA 91042
A HREF="http://www.henrygeorgesf.org">HENRY GEORGE SCHOOL OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA	headquartered at 55 New Montgomery, No.219, San Francisco, CA 94105. The School offers seminars, classes and speakers on topics related to political economy, environmental management and community revitalization. Contact person: David Geisen [email: henrygeorge@sfo.com]
HENRY GEORGE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE, NEW YORK	headquartered in New York City. The School offers a three semester program in The Principles of Political Economy as well as other courses based on the socio-political writings of Henry George. Address: 121 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016. Contact person: Cuy Hehner, Education Director
HENRY GEORGE SCHOOL AND BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA	offers a three semester program in The Pirnciples of Political Political Economy as well as other courses based on the socio-political writings of Henry George. Address: 413 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE	The Independent Institute is the non-politicized, scholarly public policy research organization that sponsors in-depth studies of major social, economic, and legal issues especially as they pertain to individual liberty, free markets and the rule of law. Address: 100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621
INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE COMMENTED ON	How independent is its research? This is what one critic has to say
INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY	Contact: J.W. Smith
INSTITUTO HENRY GEORGE	located in Managua, Nicaragua and provides courses on political economy based on the works of Henry George.
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE TAXATION OF LAND VALUES (TheIU)	a membership organization dedicated to the elimination of all taxation save the taxation of the annual rental value of land (as broadly defined to include not only locations in citie and towns but natural resource-laden lands, the broadcast spectrum, takeoff and land slots at airports and the economic value created by licenses issued by government that restrict competition).
LABOUR LAND CAMPAIGN	organized in the United Kingdom by members of the British Labour Party.
LAND-THEORY ON LINE DISCUSSION	a moderated discussion group focusing on the understanding of the role nature, its control, its use and treatment under law plays in political economy. Want to subscribe? Send an email message to the moderator with a request to "subscribe land-theory" in the body of the message ... SEND
LAND VALUE TAXATION CAMPAIGN	is centered in the United Kingdom and is designed to advance the cause of removing the burden of taxation from earned incomes, capital goods and commerce. The taxation of land values would remain as the primary source of public revenue. Contact person: Alex Godden
LAND RENT WILL SAVE THE WORLD	a website project dedicated to promoting the public collection of the rental value of land
MORTIMER J. ADLER'S Center for the Study of Great Ideas	Mortimer J. Adler, was one of the twentieth century's great socio-political philosophers. His many books look deeply into the nature of humankind and the socio-political arrangements and institutions we have created and lived under over the centuries. His bookThe Common Sense of Politics examines the nature of just relations and the Lockeian distinction between liberty and licence as behaviors that ought to be protected or restricted by law.
MOTHER JONES MAGAZINE	An alternative press
NEW ECONOMICS INSTITUTE	a leading decentralist organization, promoting the ideas of economist E. F. Schumacher and housing an important research library with books, pamphlets and materials on neighborhood revitalization, local currency experiments, micro-loan programs, community land trusts, regional self-sufficiency and grassroots environmental protecton efforts. Contact Susan Witt, Executive Director. Address: 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
PROSPER AUSTRALIA	Address: Level 1, 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne 3000
RADICAL ACADEMY -- MORTIMER J. ADLER ARCHIVES
ROBERT SCHALKENBACH FOUNDATION	The Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, headquartered in New York City, publishes books and pamphelts on political economy, including the complete works of Henry George.
SCHOOL OF ECONOMIC SCIENCE	The School of Economic Science, located at 11 Mandeville Place, London, offers courses in Practical Philosophy and Economics with Justice in London and elsewhere in the UK.
SCHOOL OF LIVING	founded by decentralist philosopher Ralph Borsodi and long-time collaborator Mildred Loomis, promotes the ideas of decentralist communities and the creation of land trusts for the preservation of open space, agricultural land use and affordable housing.
SEARCH ENGINE	Here, at last is a search engine -- established by Hanno Beck of the Banneker Center for Economic Justice -- that includes virtually all of the websites developed by Geonomists, Georgists and Geo-Libertarians around the globe.
TAX REFORM AUSTRALIA	Contact Mark Hassed [email: mhassed@lexicon.net
THOMAS PAINE FRIENDS

~A.

http://cooperativeindividualism.org/principles.html

School of Cooperative Individualism / The Principles of Cooperative Individualism

• That, all persons share the same species-specific characteristics and have a similar need for the goods (e.g., adequate food, clothing, shelter, nurturing, medical care, education, leisure, culture and civic involvement) for a decent human existence.
  
• That, we join together in society to enhance our ability to acquire such goods and for our mutual benefit and enjoyment.
  
• That, the source of the material goods necessary for our survival is the earth, equal access to which is the birthright of all persons, as is the full enjoyment of what individuals produce therefrom.
  
• That, liberty is the basis for moral human behavior, inherent in which is the constraint that such behavior in no way infringes on the liberty of others.
  
• That, human behavior falls outside the realm of liberty and within the realm of criminal license when such behavior violates the liberty of others.
  
• That, the orderly functioning of society requires the granting to individuals of licenses that distribute privileges not enjoyed by others. To the extent such licenses come to have exchange value in the marketplace, this value is acknowledged to be societally-created. Justice requires, therefore, that society collect this value as a fund for equal distribution to all members of society and/or for societal expenditures democratically agreed upon; and
  
• That, a society is just the extent to which liberty is fully realized, equality of opportunity prevails, criminal license is appropriately penalized, the full exchange value of economic licenses is collected for distribution and/or societal use, and the wealth produced by one's individual labor (directly, or indirectly, with the assistance of capital goods) is protected as one's naturally rightful property and not subject to taxation or other forms of confiscation.

CARROLL QUIGLEY: SOME ASPECTS OF HIS LAST TWELVE YEARS - Recollections from Personal Correspondence by Carmen Brissette-Grayson

http://www.carrollquigley.net/biography/Carroll_Quigley-Some_Aspects_of_His_Last_Twelve_Years.htm

CARROLL QUIGLEY: SOME ASPECTS OF HIS LAST TWELVE YEARS Recollections from Personal Correspondence by Carmen Brissette-Grayson School of Foreign Service, 1962

   In the last 12 years of his life, from 1965 to 1977, Carroll Quigley taught, observed the American scene, and reflected on his basic values in life. He was simultaneously pessimistic and radically optimistic. Teaching was the core of Quigley's professional life and neither his craving to write nor his discouragement with student reaction of the early seventies diminished his commitment to the classroom. "I am sure that you will enjoy teaching increasingly, as I do," he had written in 1965: 

"it is the one way we can do a little good in the world. The task is so important, the challenge so great, and the possibilities for improvement and for variation as infinite that it is the most demanding and most difficult of human activities. Even a virtuoso violinist can be made to order easier than a good teacher."1 

   Six years later, in his 30th year of teaching at Georgetown, he was less hopeful. "I find teaching harder every year, as the students are less and less receptive. . . ."2 The turmoil of the Vietnam years spilled into the lecture hall and, on at least one occasion, students disrupted a class. He worried about the dilution of academic standards and feared the increasing bureaucratization of education. Such problems, he lamented, "will give you a glimmering of what teaching has become in the tail end of a civilization. . . ."3

   Despite these pessimistic readings of student responsiveness, the School of Foreign Service senior classes of 1973 and 1974 both honored him as the outstanding professor of the year. Quigley himself continued throughout this period to address a variety of audiences — bureaucrats, scientists, an Irish-American club, even a Catholic high school religion class. "A rather daring experiment in religious enlightenment," he concluded in describing that encounter with Catholic adolescents."4 "I accept. . .outside lectures (and also . . .I give courses I never gave before in my final year of teaching) because," he explained, "it makes me clarify my own thoughts about what is really important. I often say things in my lectures that I never realized before."5

   Quigley revised his lectures to the end of his teaching days even in classes which he had taught for over a decade. "I am never satisfied with my courses, so keep working on them."6 In his final weeks at Georgetown he broke off just before Thanksgiving and told his students in "The World Since 1914" class that there was little point in discussing the Third World when they knew so little about how their own society works: 

"So I told them about the USA — really very hair-raising when it is all laid out in sequence: . . . .1. cosmic hierarchy; 2. energy; 3. agriculture; 4. food; 5. health and medical services; 6. education; 7. income flows and the worship of GROWTH; 8. inflation. . .showing how we are violating every aspect of life by turning everything into a ripoff because we. . .have adopted the view that insatiable individualistic greed must run the world."7 

   He feared "that the students will come to feel that all is hopeless, so I must. . .show them how solutions can be found by holistic methods seeking diversity, de-centralization, communities. . .etc."8 Pleased with the class response, he later recalled: 

"The students were very excited and my last lecture in which I put the whole picture together was about the best lecture I ever gave. That was 10 Dec. [1975], my last full day of teaching after 41 years."9 

   Unlike his underlying faith in the efficacy of teaching, Quigley found little basis for optimism about the future of American society. A journal asked him in 1975 to write an upbeat article on the country's prospects. "I told the editor that would be difficult, but I would try. I wrote it and they refused to publish it because it was not optimistic enough. . ."10 In 1976 he wrote congratulating my husband for his decision to give up any idea of leaving state politics for the federal arena. "It is futile," Quigley concluded, "because it is all so corrupt and the honest ones are so incompetent. I should not say this, as students said it to me for years and I argued with them."11

   It was more than the institutionalization of the American political system which concerned him: "We are living in a very dangerous age in which insatiably greedy men are prepared to sacrifice anybody's health and tranquility to satisfy their own insatiable greed for money and power."12 He feared that these values had virtually destroyed the roots of the Western outlook and had made the creation of a satisfying life in contemporary America a hazardous undertaking. " I am aghast at what. . .selfishness, and the drive for power have done to our society. . . .I worry. . .as I find the world so increasingly horrible that I do not see how anything as wonderful as. . .your life can escape."13 Less than six months before he died he advised: "The best thing you can do is. . .to keep some enclaves of satisfying decent life."14 Yet pessimism about American society did not weaken a radical optimism rooted in his essential values: nature, people, and God.

   The greatest source of pleasure for Quigley, outside of his scholarly pursuits and his personal life, came from his profound love of nature. In 1968 he bought an 82-acre farm near the small town of Glengary, West Virginia: 

"in the case of the permanent residents they are the same individuals (or their offspring) that we have known for years. We are chiefly impressed with their distinctive personalities, and intelligence. . .marvelous, so steady, hard-working. . .and unafraid. . .[others] were really neurotic, afraid of everything. . ."15 

   This sounds like unremarkable country gossip until one realizes that the "permanent residents" to which he refers were several generations of bluebirds which he had been studying.

   I once made the mistake of writing to him about my war of attrition with racoons who were foraging in our trash. Quigley rushed back a reply to prevent me from making any further intrusions in the cosmic hierarchy: 

"If the racoons make your trash disposal a problem, why not cooperate with nature instead of resisting it? The big solution to our pollution problems is to increase the speed of biodegradation, and what is more natural than for animals to eat? Here I feed a fox every night if our local skunk does not get to it first (I buy chicken backs and necks for 19 cents a pound, but am afraid to give these too frequently for fear they may have injurious hormones injected into the live chickens). . .My fox never leaves a crumb or a mark on the concrete platform where he eats. . . . Last summer when he had a mate and young ones, we gave him more food and he always took the best. . .away to his family. We used to time him: it took 4 minutes before he was back for something for himself. . .We have found that wild things are so wonderful."16 

   He concluded with a revealing description of what to him was a particularly satisfying weekend — writing, observing birds, and on Saturday night: "Beethoven's birthday, we sat. . .reading near the fire, while the radio played all nine of HIS symphonies."17

   Thus, discouragement about the course of American life existed simultaneously with happiness derived from those aspects of life he knew to be lasting: "I am fed up with. . .everything but God and nature. . .and human beings (whom I love and pity, as I always did)."18

   His loyalty was to a religious-intellectual outlook: "I feel glad I am a Christian," he wrote, "glad I am . . .without allegiance to any bloc, party, or groups, except to our Judeo-Christian tradition (modified by science and common sense)."19 Over the years he usually closed such letters with what could serve as a characteristic valedictory: "God keep you all. . .and help you to grow."20 

 

REFERENCES—from personal correspondence between Carroll Quigley and Carmen Grayson, 1965-1976.

1. April 1, 1965. On Quigley's writing and the evolution of this manuscript, see the Foreword by Harry Hogan to "Weapons Systems: A History".
2. October 6, 1971.
3. Ibid.
4. January 5, 1972.
5. April 13, 1975.
6. January 2, 1975.
7. January 2, 1976; December 4, 1975.
8. December 4, 197 5.
9. January 2, 1976.
10. October 8, 1975.
11. June 28, 1976.
12. May 4, 1976.
13. November 29, 1973; May 20, 1974.
14. November 8, 1973.
15. May 24, 1975.
16. January 10, 1973; December 17, 1972.
17. December 17, 1972.
18. November 8, 1973.
19. November 29, 1973.
20. November 7, 1974.

 

Scan of original

~A.

Books written by Professor Carroll Quigley of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service

Do look......
http://www.carrollquigley.net/books.htm


~A.

Replay: Carroll Quigley - Tragedy and Hope. For our times.....

http://ia600200.us.archive.org/17/items/TragedyAndHope_501/CarrollQuigley-TragedyAndHope.pdf


~A.

Tragedy and Hope

http://archive.org/stream/TragedyAndHope_501/CarrollQuigley-TragedyAndHope#page/n0/mode/1up


~A.

Check it out...

Cancer: the Forbidden Cures - Full Documentary from Jason Greenwood on Vimeo.

http://datingasociopath.com/2013/05/01/coping-with-pain-after-sociopath-discard/

Coping with pain after sociopath discard

Being in a relationship with a sociopath, can be a whirlwind of emotions. You can be told one thing, yet actions never match the words. There are different types, some are more openly narcissistic and abusive, others, are more charismatic.

The regular pattern of a narcissist is

• Idealise
• Devalue
• Discard

Whilst all sociopaths are narcissists, not all narcissists are sociopaths.

The sociopath, is a compulsive pathological liar. Because of this, you do not always witness the devalue stage to your face. The more charismatic that the sociopath is, the less likely you will witness the devalue stage. Remember that the sociopath finds being honest, and telling the truth, more difficult to say, than the lie.

This means that you can see the relationship move swiftly, from idealise – discard, and not witness the devalue stage. The devaluing stage is happening, but not to your face. It will be happening behind your back. The narcissist would openly devalue you, put you down, belittle you and will undermine you. A charismatic sociopath struggles with the truth. For the charismatic sociopath, telling the truth is more painful than telling the lie, or keeping up pretence. Due to this, it is common, that you will not witness the relationship coming to an end, as you would in an ordinary relationship. It is often sudden and without warning.

Another way for a sociopath to end the relationship, might be to behave really unreasonable. To refuse to talk to you, pick a fight, or be overly controlling. This is deliberate behaviour is designed to infuriate you, so that you find him intolerable, and end the relationship yourself.

Often, there is no warning at all. The sociopath will disappear from your life, suddenly and without warning.

However the relationship comes to an end, it is often shocking. You are left with your senses reeling, and feeling absolutely confused about what has just happened. Sometimes you can be with the sociopath one day, and he is telling you how much he loves you, and wants to spend the rest of his life with you. The next day, he is gone. Or the next day, for no reason at all there will be a huge argument, and you are left wondering how did that happen, and ultimately, blame yourself.

What is the effect of sociopath discard?

The lack of closure at the end of the relationship with the sociopath can be particularly damaging. It can delay healing, and it can leave you feeling, that the relationship is not quite over. You might feel:

• Confused
• Bewildered
• Lost
• Desperate for answers
• A longing and neediness to understand
• Wanting back the honeymoon stage
• Unsure if the relationship is actually over or not?
• Self-blame
• Manipulated, conned and deceived

More than likely the biggest feeling will be one of confusion.   You might be unsure if the relationship is actually over, because it has happened so suddenly and there was no build up, no warning, no time to prepare. It can feel shocking.

The one thing that you will likely feel is desperate for is answers. Sadly, the one person that can give you those answers is usually the person that you were in the relationship with.  However, being involved with a sociopath, this is not likely to happen. It shouldn't happen, because the sociopath is the last person that you should seek for answers.

It is normal to want answers. Answers give understanding, and help with closure. Without this, you can feel lost and unsure of what is happening.

In a healthy, normal relationship, the following things happen prior to breakup

• Negative or limited communication
• Emotional distance
• Lack of physical warmth
• Time apart
• Feeling negative towards your partner, and unable to see positive things about them
• Thoughts about the relationship coming to an end
• Feeling unhappy

Normal and healthy relationships can and do come to an end. However, normally, some of the relationship breakup is experienced whilst still in the relationship.

With a sociopath, the above warning signs are often not present. With a sociopath, you may have had suspicions that things are going wrong,  but the sociopath will lie, manipulate, and deceive. If you raise questions about your suspicions, you will be told that you are crazy, and that it is not really like that at all.

You might question your mind whilst in the relationship with the sociopath, but the sociopath is good at continuing to deceive you. Not wanting to be hurt, or to have another relationship breakdown, you accept the explanations.

This is why it is particularly difficult and painful, when you experience discard from the sociopath. You are left feeling confused.

Why does the sociopath discard in this way?

There are many reasons why the sociopath will suddenly discard his partner. Always, the reasons have little to do with you. It has everything to do with him and his needs and wishes.

The sociopath wears a mask. But he will only wear that mask for as long as he is getting what he wants. The sociopath is not emotionally connected, to you or anybody else. Whilst the sociopath might show connection, this would only be a disguise, to to serve his own needs.

When the sociopath realises that he can have better supply elsewhere, Or if he feels that supply with you is coming to an end he will leave you without warning. The sociopath would have sourced a new victim for supply, but this would have been done behind your back and without your knowledge.

To do so, it is likely that the sociopath, needed to play victim, to the new source. Often they would have made complaints about you, to gain sympathy and win support. Again, this will be something that you have absolutely no knowledge of, until later.

The sociopath works hard to ensure that his pathway for escape is clear.

You might think, well, if he doesn't want to be with me anymore, why can't he give me closure, why can't he call me? Why can't he meet with me?

The reason is simple, and it is four things

• The sociopath is selfish, and only thinks of his own needs
• He might want to come back for further source of supply at a later date
• To prevent exposure
• To stay in control

How do you get over this?

You might wonder how do you get over this? How can you get over this if you have no answers? You also might wonder if the sociopath is going to come back, and you could have a longing for the honeymoon period again. You might be left feeling bewildered and confused.

• Remember NOBODY stays confused forever
• Remember that the sociopath is a liar, you couldn't get the truth when you were IN the relationship – you therefore won't get the truth when it has ended
• No contact is the way for YOU to regain control
• Block email, phone, text, social networking sites, and take back control of you, and your life
• Yes YOU can choose to move on from this!
• Read as much as you can. Find out as much information as you can. The more you learn and understand, the quicker you will become set free
• Take back your energy, and start loving YOU
• Every day do something which makes you happy
• Stay with the present
• Think positive (you are what you think)
• Realise that this is NOT your fault, there is nothing that you did wrong (no matter what he says)
• Don't waste time wondering what he is doing
• Make contact with others who have been through the same thing
• Make yourself some new life goals
• Be gentle on yourself
• The most important rule of all is to NOT expect closure or answers from the sociopath
• Remember – the sociopath is the liar, and if he gets back in touch, it is only because he wants to use you for further supply – you deserve better
• Also remember that this is not just you, there are millions of us who have been through the same thing.
• Most important of all, is to forgive yourself, and start loving you again! 

~ Two years later, still "jailed" for my indiscretion in having this relationship at all, I struggle daily with alienation. Weeks, months go by without communicating with Anyone. I'm still accused of bad behavior and weakness, fueled by being publicly diagnosed bipolar. Self hatred combined with fleeting moments of feeing free of the source of my craziness...  In, out, up, down, good, bad, ugly, beautiful, sad, happy, suicidal, angelic, ...what else would you call it?  A rotten cycle that has eaten my life from the core and all the edges inward. If this helps you to understand me, great. This is not feeling sorry for myself. This is being detached from life by my own personal distrust, fueled by distrust and impatience from those I've clung to, to get back. It just screams to let go, leave, fuck them all, You included. I see everything as a trap, because everything I've tried seems to backfire. Greed, jealousy, indifference, self-absorption ... Nothing I do is good enough to keep my place at the table. I'm getting damnedgood at cleaning up and doing dishes.  Next come Depends.  Blah, blah, blah. Next....

~A.

Morning exercise...

Smart Dresser White | SmartDeco | Fab.com

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Smart Dresser White

This ultra-lightweight, 100% recyclable, 100% customizable Smart Dresser folds together in mere minutes without tools. Made of super-durable corrugated cardboard with a snap-on waterproof shield for the top surface, the stand will look great in your office, living room, or beside your bed. If you're feeling particularly sprightly and creative, you can paint, tag, or otherwise style this SmartDeco design. Plus, the Smart Dresser can be easily configured into a set of drawers, or a set of shelves. The choice is yours. This cardboard's already been seriously upgraded!

We guarantee that Fab is authorized to sell this product and that every brand we sell is authentic.

~A.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/vaccinations-travel_n_3639650.html

What You Need To Know About Vaccinations And Medication Before Traveling Abroad

Before traveling abroad, many people have questions about how to protect themselves from foreign bacterial or viral illnesses. The threat of infection can be scary for travelers, but supplied with all the right information, they can vastly improve their odds at staying safe.

The first step a traveler should take is to consult his or her primary care doctor or a travel medicine specialist to find out what area-specific vaccines and/or medications are appropriate, because many destinations require very specific preparations. Visit the Centers for Disease Control's Travel page, which breaks the information down by country and provides up-to-date health notices.

HuffPost Travel turned to Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases physician at the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Gary W. Brunette, chief of the Travelers' Health Branch of the CDC, to answer our most burning questions about immunization before travel.

What are the most common vaccinations given to people before traveling abroad?

"When people come to a travel clinic, one of the most important things to do is review their immunization history and make sure they have gotten all of their age-appropriate routine immunizations," Tosh says via email. These include an adult booster for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, shingles, and measles, mumps and rubella. He also encourages an annual influenza vaccination. In addition, "ensuring that travelers are protected against hepatitis A and typhoid is important for travel to most developing nations," he says.

"Hep A and hep B are now both part of the routine childhood vaccines, but they've only been that for a few years, so people in their teens and up normally don't have it," Brunette adds in a phone interview. "We recommend it for people who haven't had it."

What are some of the most area-specific, unusual vaccinations you've recommended?

"Some countries have a requirement for the Yellow fever vaccine -– typically in India, some countries in South America, and Africa," Brunette says. "Japanese encephalitis is prevalent in Southeast Asia, and I recommend it for people who are in a rural area for an extended period of time." Both diseases are mosquito-borne.

"People traveling to the Indian subcontinent need to have an adult booster for polio," Tosh adds. "And depending on the type of travel and activities someone may be doing, hepatitis B or rabies vaccinations may be considered."

The CDC includes a special mention of the Hajj Pilgrimage on its site: "Because of the intensely crowded conditions of the Hajj and high carrier rates of Neisseria meningitidis among pilgrims, outbreaks of meningococcal disease have historically been a problem during Hajj. In the aftermath of outbreaks in 2000 and 2001 that affected 1,300 and 1,109 people, respectively, the Saudi Ministry of Health began requiring all pilgrims and local at-risk populations to receive the meningococcal vaccine -- Hajj visas cannot be issued without proof of vaccination."

How far in advance should people get vaccinated before traveling?

Tosh recommends seeking advice from a travel clinic at least a month prior to travel to ensure that vaccinations and other medications -- like malaria pills -- have enough time to be effective.

Brunette advises people to see their doctors as soon as they make plans to travel, "around the time you buy your tickets -- six to eight weeks before you travel, because some medications need to be started early and some vaccines are a series of vaccines." Tetanus, Hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever, polio and the meningococcal vaccine are all single-dose vaccines, but Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies vaccines require multiple doses, according to the CDC's Last Minute-Travelers page, which has more specific information on these vaccines.

If you depart in less than four weeks, "you should still see your doctor or travel clinic," the CDC's website states. "You might still benefit from shots or medications," and your doctor will advise you of the risk involved in taking the trip.

What medications do you recommend people take with them while traveling abroad?

Tosh advises people take "sufficient supplies of their routine medications" in their carry-on luggage. In addition, "for travel to many developing countries, having loperamide [Imodium, to treat diarrhea] as well as plenty of sunscreen and mosquito repellant is necessary," he says. Mosquitoes tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, so it's important to use repellent, cover up as much as you can (while still being comfortable), and use mosquito nets when necessary.

The CDC recommends bringing an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor -- like Cipro -- for self-treatment of moderate to severe diarrhea.

Certain destinations require additional medication. "Say you wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or go to Cuzco in Peru," Brunette adds. "You'd need to bring high-altitude medication like Diamox."

Some countries do not let visitors bring certain medicines into the country -- like narcotic-based pain medication -- so you may want to check with the U.S. embassy in the country you're visiting to make sure that your medication will be allowed in. A listing of embassies and consulates is available on the Department of State's website.

What is your most important advice in terms of caution when eating and drinking abroad?

"Making sure people eat and drink safe food and water is of paramount importance," Tosh says. "The most common cause of illness after travel is Traveler's Diarrhea, which is preventable by eating foods that are either served steaming hot or things that you can peel open yourself." And even if the food on a street cart meets all of this criteria, it's better to avoid it, he adds.

Tosh emphasizes that travelers should ensure the water they consume is either boiled or bottled. If it's bottled, it's much better to drink carbonated water than still water because sometimes people refill water bottles, he says. If the cap hisses, then you know it was bottled at a bottling plant.

"People can also become unknowingly exposed to local waters through consumption of things like ice cubes or salads that have been washed in tap water," he adds. Bottom line: absolutely no raw fruits or vegetables.

What are risk factors people usually don't think about before traveling abroad?

"I think it is general safety," Tosh says. "Often people will travel to unfamiliar places with unfamiliar customs where they do not speak the language." He suggests consulting the State Department for an up-to-date country-specific list of recommendations for travelers.

Brunette emphasizes road safety and water safety to all travelers: "The biggest killer of Americans overseas isn't disease -- it's road accidents and then following that is accidental drowning. For example, you put yourself at risk if you're in Thailand and you rent a motorbike and don't put on a helmet, or you get in a taxi and don't put on your seatbelt. Be extra cautious -- a lot of people shouldn't be traveling at night. If you get into a motor vehicle accident in some countries, they don't have ambulance services like in the U.S."

Any more advice?

Tosh warns expatriates not to get too comfortable when visiting their native countries, and says they shouldn't drink local water or eat potentially unsafe foods. "The immunity they had through exposure while they lived in their home country wanes shortly after leaving the country," he says. Expatriates are just as susceptible to infection as anyone else traveling there, he adds, but are usually much less careful because they don't feel like they need to be.

~A.