Through ironically colourful colourblind eyes....

Gas Tips part deux

2007-11-09T10:43:00.000-05:00

In light of recent events, just want to remind everyone, as well as post some new tips:

1. Fill up your car or truck in the morning when the temperature is
still cool. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks
buried below ground; and the colder the ground, the denser the gasoline.
When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so if you're filling up in the
afternoon or in the evening, what should be
a
gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the
specific gravity and temperature of the fuel (gasoline, diesel, jet
fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products) are significant. Every
truckload that we load is temperature-compensated so that the indicated
gallonage is actually the amount pumped. A one-degree rise in
temperature is a big deal for businesses, but service stations don't
have temperature compensation at their pumps.

2. If a tanker truck is filling the station's tank at the time you want
to buy gas, do not fill up; most likely dirt and sludge in the tank is
being stirred up when gas is being delivered, and you might be
transferring that dirt from the bottom of their tank into your car's
tank.

3. Fill up when your gas tank is half-full (or half-empty), because the
more gas you have in your tank the less air
there is and gasoline
evaporates rapidly, especially when it's warm. (Gasoline storage tanks
have an internal floating 'roof' membrane to act as a barrier between
the gas and the atmosphere, thereby minimizing evaporation.)

4. If you look at the trigger you'll see that it has three delivery
settings: slow, medium and high. When you're filling up do not squeeze
the trigger of the nozzle to the high setting. You should be pumping at
the slow setting, thereby minimizing vapors created while you are
pumping. Hoses at the pump are corrugated; the corrugations act as a
return path for vapor recovery
from gas that already has been metered. If you are pumping at the
high setting, the agitated gasoline contains more vapor, which is being
sucked back into the underground tank, so you're getting less gas for
your money. Hope this will help ease your 'pain
at the pump'

JOE

2007-07-03T15:54:00.000-05:00

Have to big up a fellow schoolmate that directed this

Hilarious stuff!!

My Quotes to live by

2007-06-22T10:20:00.001-05:00

I been collecting quotes for a while now. Usually when Im going through a rough period in my life these qoutes somehow find their way to me. Ive been collecting them as I go along so as not to forget. Here I share them with you.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

"Perception matters more than reality"

"The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense"

"It is interesting that people who are supersensitive about what others do to them are often totally insensitive to what they do to others" - Joyce Meyer, Managing your Emotion

"In life, its not the destination that matters, its the journey"

"If youre not prepared to look stupid, nothing great is ever going to happen"

"Our imperfections add to our own beauty, wisdom and ability to birth the greatness of our true purpose"

“Change your thoughts and you change your world."
-- Norman Vincent Peale

"It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning."
-- Claude Bernard

"It's amazing how crippling the power of fear can be...for in hiding yourself you hide not only your weaknesses but your strentgths...talents and those things unique to you which have been placed in you to give to those in need. It should never be underestimated what the presence of "you" may have on the lives of those around you." - some random person on hi5

"Man cannot conquer new oceans until he has the courage to lose sight of the shore" - unknown

"No one falls in love by choice, it is by CHANCE.
No one stays in love by chance, it is by WORK.
And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by CHOICE"
- author unknown

"If someone wants to walk out of your life, LET THEM GO"
- T.D. Jakes

"Everything eventually falls into place. Until then laugh at the confusion, live for the moment and remember that everything happens for a reason."
- Author unknown

"Take the most difficult challenge you are facing now and turn it into the greatest opportunity to grow simply by changing how you see it.. DEAD ENDS THEN BECOME TURNING POINTS"
- Author unknown

Do the math

2007-06-18T10:06:00.000-05:00

8 hour work day

+

directing 3 hour pan practice

X

4 days a week

+

directing Wednesday section practice

+

directing Saturday section practice

+

Sunday quartet practice

+

tentative Sunday section practice

+

ad hoc missing weak sections

+

little to no notice

+

first concert

+

little experience

+

personal insecurities

+

no chance for a break, not even one night

+

continuously changing practice plans

+

month and a half

+

on call work

+

overtime work

+

stupid credit card expenses

+

automobile expenses

+

cant properly clean car (no time)

+

cant service car (limited time and funds)

+

accidentally leaving on the heater for the entire day

+

almost broke (or broker than usual)

+

time for family

+

time for SO

+

bad memory

+

no exercise (no time)

+

career future?

+

educational future?

=

almost total loss of personal freedom

+

extremely short temper

+

consistent bad moods

+

non-communicative

+

self imposed isolation

+

headaches

+

misunderstandings

+

constant fatigue

+

mental exhaustion

+

short with coworkers pan members family

+

inability to perform optimally in both jobs

+

no time to think about Unix Certification exams...when to study?

+

no time to properly think about future financial investments

+

no time to think about career future properly...if I lose my job today where would I be?

+

bruk pocket...high light bills!!

+

bruk pocket....from unserviced vehicle!!

+

not too happy SO

+

miscommunication episodes with family

+

barely any time and energy to link friend whom I havent seen since prep school

+

almost no time for me

A few life quotes I need to remember:

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

“Change your thoughts and you change your world."
-- Norman Vincent Peale

"It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning."
-- Claude Bernard

"Everything eventually falls into place. Until then laugh at the confusion, live for the moment and remember that everything happens for a reason."
- Author unknown

Talk more. Smile more. Even when you dont have the will or energy to. It helps.

Need to learn to pull a good mood out of thin air. Need to work hard to make tasks seem less like work :)

They say the Lord never gives you more than you can bear....holding on for dear life to this theory

Small victory from CWC?

2007-05-24T16:57:00.000-05:00

After the first round the WI crashed and burned, we did not make as much money from the tournament as we hoped, the stands at most of the matches werent exactly full to the capacity, a high profile murder took place on our home soil and the capabilities of the local police force is being questioned by the international community.

However...

For the past two Saturday afternoons on my way to the UWI Student's Union, ive seen kids practicing Cricket. This is the first time seeing that, having passed that exact spot numerous times for the past 9 years.

Ive been living at my apt for almost 4 years now, and yesterday was the first time I saw kids set up stumps and playing cricket with a tennis ball.

....A small victory?

Sad state of affairs?

2007-05-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

For the first in a long time, im actually enjoying my job. And I strongly suspect it is primarily because it takes my mind off my other job.

You know when you jus BAD MIND??!!!!!!!!

2007-05-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/suing-the-pants-off-dry-cleaner/2007/05/03/1177788309831.html
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/210362

Excerpts from the above articles:

" A customer got so steamed when a dry cleaner lost his trousers that he sued for $65 million (U.S.). Two years later, he is still pressing his suit."

"According to court documents, the problem began in May 2005 when Pearson became a judge and brought several suits for alterations to Custom Cleaners in Washington. A pair of pants from one suit was missing when he requested it two days later.

Pearson asked the cleaners for the full price of the suit: more than $1,000.

But a week later, the owners said the pants had been found and refused to pay. Pearson said those were not his pants and decided to sue.

Manning said the cleaners have made three settlement offers to Pearson: $3,000, then $4,600, then $12,000.

But Pearson was not satisfied and expanded his calculations beyond one pair of pants."

"He reached the figure of $US67,292,000, citing Washington's consumer protection law, which provides for damages of $1500 per violation per day. Judge Pearson started multiplying: 12 violations over 1200 days, times three defendants (the Chungs and their son), as well as other claims.

These include $US15,000 to rent a car every weekend for 10 years to drive to a cleaner in another area because he no longer wanted to use his local dry cleaner. He also seeks $US500,000 in emotional damages and $US542,000 in legal fees, although he is representing himself."

Things like this make you go WTF???

Emotional damages for losing a pair of pants?? Legal fees even though he's representing himself, is that even allowed??? And all this isnt even for a large corporation, is jus 2 chiney ppl a do a likkle ting.

Bwoy when u jus bad mind....

Frustrated

2007-04-08T02:11:00.000-05:00

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.

- Bill Cosby

An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey & the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking & the boy was riding. The man & boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they both would walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey. Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy & man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal & he fell into the river and drowned. The moral of the story? If you try to please everyone, you might as well... Kiss your a$$ good-bye.

...

2007-04-08T01:19:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I hate my job. No, the other one.

Everyone has a need to be understood and appreciated.

Why the hell does anyone really want to be at the top. It lonely, unforgiving, unrewarding for the most part and everyone makes demands without regard.

A real leader is in actuality a servant. It begs the question, are you on top or at the bottom. And who the hell really wants to be at the bottom.

When employees are unhappy they turn to their boss. When the boss is unhappy who do they turn to.

So when does my training begin? It might make the job a little bit easier. Just a little bit. Maybe. Just a thought. Qualifications help. Amazing, I know, but it does. Its a hell of a lot easier than the self taught road. But until the formal training comes, understanding goes a LONG way.

It helps if people listen to what you have to say. Not just hear, but actually listen.

How can you truly appreciate where you are now if you cannot remember, reflect and appreciate the road you took to get there.

Everyone has a need to be understood and appreciated.

Sometimes I hate my job. No, the other one.

Live On Stage

2006-11-27T11:22:00.000-05:00

This past weekend saw some of this Island's biggest simmering talents showcasing their skills at Live On Stage, a concert put on by MG. I say simmering because even though none have yet achieved the fame of an Alaine or a TOISIS this does not mean that they cannot hold their own, or even outclass, said known Jamaican artists. The show featured Natalie Spence who does background vocals for the likes of Cezar, Ellan Edwards, an up and coming vocalist who has her roots in the University Singers and brings a unique performing style to the stage, MG himself, live bands Rocky V and Airplai, the Choir Boyz, and special guest artists Camar and Benjy Myaz. Dont let the "background vocals" title fool you as Natalie can more than hold her own up front and center, though I think we audience members were a bit cheated Sunday evening as her mic seemed to have been a bit low. Both Steve Madden and the star himself MG sing backup for Rocky V, however MG took to the stage solo rocking the audience with a mix of reggae and soul, starting his set with an original piece. Steve Madden surprised the audience with a big voice doing a rendition of "Bring it all home to me", and once he gets more experience on the stage will definitely be a force to reckon with. Rocky V, a fast rising band that has graced the small stage at Air J Jazz and Blues, and Airplai, one of the best bands around, showed with their performances that the live band scene in Jamaica is a thriving one. Closing the show and bringing the house down along with them were the Choir Boyz, from which this all started. All the group members had their roots in Campion College Choir, and as a past member of the choir myself, have watched them develop musically over the years. The biggest inspirations to me are Chris and MG, Chris gone full time as a musician and MG heading there. Truly amazing to see where they are now.

Ive been going to a number of live shows for the past few weeks now, from the regular live performances at Village Cafe and Xcape to Tessane Chin and Robert Dubwise. It is not a common thing nowadays to go to a live show and you get more than your money's worth, and that is exactly what happened this weekend. Apart from a few visible hitches the quality of the musicians themselves were top notch. And the only motivation for these individuals to keep growing and to keep reaching higher and higher for excellence, is a genuine love for their craft.

This show for me was further proof that Jamaica is rife with talent.

P.S mi VEX sey Airplai never perform on Sunday..VEX!! I been hearing so much about this band and somehow keep missing their shows :(

Training a farign

2006-10-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

The last two weeks saw Digicel sending me and 2 of my coworkers to Wakefield Massachusetts for training. Mind you, the platform we're getting the training on has been in operation since February, but we receive the training late in true Digicel fashion. We were to join 5 others from across the Caribbean (St Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, Aruba and Curacao).

We arrived on the Sunday, training for the following weekdays from 9 am - 4:30 pm. Of course, once you are abroad shopping is a must, esp for those who dont travel regular. The hotel shuttle service was nice enough to take us to a mall and pick us up after for the first 3 evenings after training (the lone female in the group nice up the driver), but shuttle cant do it all the time. Taxi hella expensive, at least $20 to go anywhere. It worked out cheaper if we rented cars, so by Friday we got two cars for the 8 of us. Thats where the interesting times began.

Of all in the group there were only 3 of us that could drive in the US (myself included), however only two were in any way familiar with the roads. The main navigator that got us anywhere we went didnt have his licence but has been in Boston before. Trust me, google map was our bestest friend on this trip. But even then we still managed to get lost almost every single time we went on the road. Including the day we were leaving...

7 am flight. The car rental place doesnt open until 5:15 am. They will shuttle you to the airport after checking the car. Ok, so the plan is to go to the airport, check in, then leave to return the car, and get shuttled back to the airport and fly out on our merry way. We got directions to the airport. simple enough. Leave out 4:30. Get to Boston by about 4:50. Found the way to the airport. Whats this...3 or 4 different places to park..none fitting the description of what we want to do...uhh..err..ok turn there...terminal? which terminal are we? 5 am..no this is the wrong place, turn here...5:15, getting a bit late but no worries...ok lets try get back to where we started...but how do we do that..damn took a wrong turn...ok lets go to the car rental place as we saw a rigth turn that wouldve taken us to where a bunch of different car rental companies were bunched together...only our company isnt one of them. Great. 5:30..times a ticking..back to the airport, try find an information booth...too early none not open...found 2 security guards and asked for directions...back to car, follow directions, realize security guards dont know nuttin...end up back at the same place with all the car rental places...5:45..we drive into one of the car rental places and catch the driver of a shuttle about to leave for directions...dude's english is poor, ha it keeps getting better...but eventaully he leads us on the right track...car rental place is waaaay far from airport and other rental places..got to car rental at bout 6:05, got to airport at 6:15, eventually got to the gate at 6:50 for a 7 am flight.

Talk about cutting it close.

But we made it home ok. And after getting partially used to the cold up there home now feels hotter than it was in the summer. Who knew 2 weeks could make such a difference.

All in all a good trip.

For those who missed her...

2006-09-27T13:18:00.000-05:00

Clare's Back

Let them GO

2006-08-30T09:28:00.000-05:00

My thought for the day. Thought I would share with you all.

"Let Them Go"

By T. D. Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you.

And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you, let them walk.
I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you,
coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean, hang up the phone.

When people can walk away from you, let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody who left.

The Bible said that they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for
us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you.
And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay.

Let them go.

It doesn't mean that they are a bad person; it just means that their part in the story is over.
And you've got to know when peoples' part in your story is over
so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead.

You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift. I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it.
Stop begging people to stay.

Let them go!

Psycho-analysis of Sesame Street

2006-08-16T08:46:00.000-05:00

You think you know, but you have no idea....

Taken from http://www.psychology.sbc.edu/bellan.htm

The children’s television program Sesame Street has been a staple of households worldwide for nearly thirty years. It was originally conceived as a way to bring educational programming to disadvantaged households, by making it apart of regular public broadcast television. The creators made a lovable cast of muppet characters they believed children would relate to, and learn from. Over time these characters have evolved to better fit these goals, but also have characteristics that are often overlooked. When examined from a psychological perspective, the characters of Sesame Street have many disturbing and serious disorders.

Big Bird

Big Bird is known as "The Friendliest Fowl on Sesame Street," and is described by the creators of the show as a very curious six-year old creature, who makes friends easily, and shares his nest with Radar, his teddy bear (The Children’s Television Network Interactive Site). Big Bird sees his world through rose colored glasses and likes to be a part of everything and everyone’s lives.

Big Bird has the most serious and, as leader of Sesame Street, the disorder that has actually come to be a part of the rest of the cast, crew and guests. Schizophrenia, of the undifferentiated type, is a disturbance that lasts for at least six months and includes at least one month of active-phase symptoms (DSM-IV, 273). In the case of Big Bird, his delusions and hallucinations have lasted for twenty-nine television seasons.

The essential features of Schizophrenia are a mixture of characteristic signs and symptoms (both positive and negative). A diagnosis must include two or more of the following:

1. Delusions (A large part of Big Bird’s affliction)
2. Hallucinations (The other manifestation for Big Bird)
3. Disorganized speech
4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
5. Negative symptoms

These signs, or symptoms, are associated with marked social or occupational dysfunction. For Big Bird the disruption in his social behavior has decreased over time with the gradual acceptance of his main hallucination by the populace of Sesame Street. The disturbance is not accounted for by other disorders, and it is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition (DSM-IV, 274-285). (It is assumed by this researcher that Big Bird and the rest of the Sesame Street cast have not been partaking in illicit and hallucinatory drug use for the last twenty-nine years).

As defined in the DSM-IV, delusions are erroneous beliefs that usually involve a misinterpretation of perceptions or experiences (DSM-IV, 275). The original delusions of Big Bird centered on the idea that he/she (the gender issue will be discussed later; Big Bird will subsequently be referred to as he) thought he was being ridiculed by others for speaking to his hallucination. Hallucinations may occur in any of the five senses, but auditory hallucinations are the most common form for schizophrenia (DSM-IV, 276). For Big Bird, the hallucination has taken on characteristics of all five senses. Snuffaluphagus, thought by some to be the less dangerous imaginary friend type, is actually a schizophrenic hallucination. He did not exist outside of Big Bird’s brain for the majority of his time on Sesame Street.

Schizophrenia involves dysfunction in one or more major areas of functioning such as inter-personal relationships. Big Bird responded in this dysfunctional way when his hallucination became his best friend, and also when he could not relate to others because they insisted that they could not see Snuffaluphagus. Development may also be impaired through schizophrenia, which may explain why Big Bird has never progressed beyond his six-year-old mentality.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of Big Bird’s power over Sesame Street is that he has made Snuffaluphagus real to others. Shared Psychotic Disorder (Folie a Deux) involves the transference of a delusion (in this case a large brown creature) from one, who already has a psychotic disorder (the primary case), to others who are involved in a close relationship with the delusional person (DSM-IV, 305). Usually the primary case in Shared Psychotic Disorder is dominant in the relationship and gradually imposes the delusional system on the more passive and initially healthy second person(s). Big Bird is the undisputed ringleader of the "Street", and thus, has convinced the rest of the cast that Snuffaluphagus does indeed exist. They can now see, hear, and interact with this character that was originally only a part of Big Bird’s imagination (The Children’s Television Network Interactive Site).

Big Bird, as alluded to earlier, also has gender issues and possibly Gender Identity Disorder. There are two components that must be meet in order for a diagnosis of gender identity disorder to be made. First, there must be "evidence of a strong and persistent cross-gender identification, which is the desire to be, or the insistence that one is, of the other sex." Secondly, there must be evidence of "persistent discomfort about one’s assigned sex role or a sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex" (DSM-IV, 532-533). The main problem in diagnosing Big Bird with gender identity disorder is that his/her original gender is undetermined. The Children’s Television Workshop has begun referring to Big Bird as a he for simplicity, but the original conception of the character was not gendered. Big Bird performs many acts stereotypical of both genders, which makes a reliable diagnosis impossible. If he is indeed a he, he performs female behaviors such as sitting on a nest. The conclusion here that Big Bird has some gender issues, mostly that he/she does not clearly identify with either gender, and therefore may be better described as "nonconformity to stereotypical sex role behavior" (DSM-IV, 536). The DSM-IV also points out that in schizophrenia there may be delusions of belonging to the opposite sex (DSM-IV, 537). Big Bird’s gender issues possibly stem from the schizophrenia that is controlling and altering his life.

Overall, Big Bird has the most serious and dangerous disorders of the Sesame Street characters largely because his disorders have come to effect so many others around him.

Snuffaluphagus

Beyond being a shared hallucination, Big Bird’s imaginary friend "Snuffy" has problems of his own. This figment of Big Bird’s creation is at first glance, severely depressed, but through careful examination, Snuffy’s diagnosis is more accurately Dysthymic Disorder. He is often quoted saying "Oh, dear" in a very slow and deliberate way, and his greatest dislike is listed as: "When nobody believes I exist" (The Children’s Television Network Interactive Site).

The essential feature of Dysthymic Disorder is a chronically depressed mood that occurs for most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years. During the period of depression, at least two of the following criteria must be present:

1. Poor appetite or overeating (look at the size of Snuffy!)
2. Insomnia or hypersomnia (In the beginning Snuffy had a form of narcolepsy and would fall asleep as soon as someone other than Big Bird would appear)
3. Low energy or fatigue (Snuffy is a slow mover and often complains about being tired)
4. Low self-esteem (Her self esteem has improved over the years, but still becomes concerned when others claim that she is not real)
5. Poor concentration or trouble making decisions (Not a characteristic for Snuffy)
6. Feelings of hopelessness (This was a past characteristic, but has been phased out over the years, could be considered a recovery or remission)

(DSM-IV, 349)

The associated feature of dysthymic disorder are similar to those of a major depressive episode, but those with dysthymic disorder can still carry on their everyday activities, and their symptoms are often thought of as "the way I have always been" or just "part of their personality." In Snuffy’s case, Big Bird seems to be at blame for Snuffy’s problems, since he created him.

Over the years, Snuffaluphagus has exhibited narcoleptic behavior as a manifestation of being Big Bird’s hallucinations. Originally, whenever another cast member would approach Big Bird and Snuffaluphagus, he would simply fall asleep. This conveniently explained his absence to others, but frustrated Big Bird. If another cast member claimed that they could not see Big Bird’s enormous friend, he would ask Snuffaluphagus to say something. Unfortunately, he would be so asleep that Big Bird could never get him to wake up and prove that he was real. As Snuffaluphagus slowly became apart of the other character’s belief system, his narcolepsy receded, and he no longer falls suddenly asleep in public.

Oscar the Grouch

Oscar is known for being disagreeable, and for loving rainy days and arguing. He dislikes everything, and lives by the philosophy "Leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone" (The Children’s Television Network Interactive Site).

The DSM-IV defines the essential feature of Oppositional Defiant Disorder as " a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least six months" (DSM-IV, 91). Oscar the Grouch displays this sort of behavior toward authority figures, the experts and guest stars of Sesame Street, and his fellow cast-mates. Over the show’s twenty-nine years, his anger and outbursts have been tempered considerably, but The Grouch is still a grouch. The DSM-IV also outlines further characteristics of Oppositional Defiant Disorder as having at least four of the following behaviors with regular and frequent occurrence:

(1) Losing temper (the essence of Oscar),

(2) Arguing with adults (he argues with everyone),

(3) Actively defying or refusing to comply with the requests or rules of adults (Oscar generally complies with request, but only after receiving what he considers a "good reason"),

(4) Deliberately doing things that will annoy other people (The original Oscar pulled many practical jokes and still likes to push the other characters’ buttons),

(5) Blaming others for his or her own mistakes or misbehaviors (This criteria is not typical of Oscar, who is usually very willing to take credit for his misdeeds),

(6) Being touchy or easily annoyed by others (Again, an Oscar-esque description)

(7) Being angry or resentful,

Or (8) being spiteful or resentful (Like criteria 3 and 5, this is not typical of Oscar the Grouch)

(DSM-IV, 91-94 & The Children’s Television Network Interactive Site)

Further, these behaviors must occur more frequently than is typical for others of comparable age and developmental level, and must lead to significant impairment in social (Oscar’s downfall), academic, or occupational function.

A diagnosis of Operational Defiant Disorder is not made if these behaviors occur exclusively during the course of a Psychotic or Mood Disorder, or if the individual meets the criteria for Conduct Disorder or Antisocial Personality Disorder (DSM-IV 91). Fortunately Oscar does not meet the criteria for any of these disorders. Although the layman use of the term "Antisocial" has been used to describe Oscar, he does not meet correct use of the diagnostic.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is associated with low self-esteem, mood liability, low frustration tolerance, swearing, and the precocious use of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs. ADHD, Learning Disorders, and Communication Disorders also tend to be associated co-morbidities. In a significant proportion of cases, the disorder is a precursor to the more severe Conduct Disorder (DSM-IV, 92).

In conjunction with operational defiant disorder, schizoid personality disorder involves a pervasive pattern of detachment in social relationships and a restricted range of emotions in interpersonal settings (DSM-IV, 638). For Oscar, he exhibits one emotion, that of grouchiness, the majority of the time.

Individuals with schizoid personality disorder do not seem to desire intimacy, are indifferent to most social situations, have few if any close relationships, and do not appear to find satisfaction from family or social groups. Most people (or Muppets) with this disorder, like Oscar, are socially isolated, may be termed "loners," and almost always choose to live in isolation (hence the can: DSM-IV, 638 & The Sesame Street Interactive Network).

Those with schizoid personality disorder often seem indifferent to the approval or criticism of others, and do not appear to be bothered by what others think of them. This may result from the fact that they are oblivious to such criticism, and they often have trouble reading cues from others (DSM-IV, 639). Oscar somewhat differs from the classic definition of schizoid personality disorder, in that those with the disorder are often described as having particular difficulty expressing anger. Oscar's grouchiness is a form of anger, but is not, per say, pure anger.

Oscar also has a rather severe case of Agoraphobia, and has not left his house (can) for an extended period of time in 29 years. He has at times, attempted to deal with this phobia, by taking short excursions, but it is clear that he is more comfortable and prefers to be in the can at all times. Additionally Oscar has some of the characteristics of social phobia, most specifically hypersensitivity to criticism, negative evaluation, irritableness, and lack of a social support network (DSM-IV, 413).

Individuals with these disorders are more likely to develop major depressive disorder, which often co-occurs with schizotypal, paranoid, and avoidant personality disorders (DSM-IV, 639). Oscar the Grouch meets some, but not enough, of the criteria for each of these disorders. It seems unlikely that after twenty-nine years of stability within his disorders that he would now begin to develop new ones. It is probable that Oscar will keep his current "issues," continue to express them, but not develop any new ones.

The Count

The Count manifests the most obvious affliction of all the Sesame Street characters. This caped creature will count anything at any time, which sometimes tries the patients of others. He dislikes calculators and the concept of zeros, and according to his creators, "tries to maintain the perfect balance between obsession and sanity" (The Children’s Television Network Interactive Cite).

The essential feature of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (not to be confused with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder) are recurrent obsessions or compulsions that are severe enough to be time consuming, cause marked distress or significant impairment. At some point, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive (DSM-IV, 417). The Count seems to realize this each time he begins counting, his maniacal laugher is an admission, but also a dismissal of these feelings.

Obsessions are "persistent ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress" (DSM-IV, 418). The Count’s specific obsession has not been revealed. We do not know if he counts to rid things of contamination (a common obsession), or that he doubts his own ability and therefore must continue to count everything, or if there is some other self-created reason. An individual attempts to ignore or suppress these obsessions with some sort of compulsory ritual; for The Count it is by counting everything he encounters.

Compulsions are "repetitive behaviors or mental act (counting is considered a mental act), the goal of which is to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress (DSM-IV, 419). The obsession or compulsions must be time consuming, or interfere with the individual’s normal routine. Because the counting behavior has come do define his routine, it is hard to determine if it actually interferes, or if the behavior is The Count’s routine. One deviation from the classic definition of obsessive compulsive disorder that The Count has is that he seems to get true pleasure out of the activity.

Bert

Bert, more famously of the duo Bert and Ernie, is very serious when it comes to some things, especially keeping control and order in his life. He dislikes being asked what he considers to be silly questions, and hates being bugged or having practical jokes played on him (The Children’s Television Network Interactive Site).

Bert displays the essential features of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. This disorder is marked by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfection, mental and interpersonal control, and neatness, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency (DSM-IV, 669). Bert is a compulsive cleaner and organizer, is dominant in his relationship with Ernie, and has very set patterns of behavior. He becomes agitated when his (and Ernie's) bedroom or bathroom's usual order is disturbed, and often becomes upset until Ernie cleans it up (The Sesame Street Interactive Network).

Individuals with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder attempt to maintain a sense of control through painstaking attention to rules, trivial details, procedures, lists, schedules, or form to the extent that the major point of the activity is lost (DSM-IV, 669). In Bert's case it is usually the fun that is lost, at least according to Ernie. He is oblivious to the fact that other people tend to become annoyed at the delays and inconveniences that result from this behavior.

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder individuals may also be excessively conscientious, scrupulous, and inflexible about matters of morality, ethics, or values. They may force themselves and others (possibly Ernie) to follow rigid moral principles defined by the society, and to meet very strict standards of performance (DSM-IV, 670). This criterion, if met by Bert, would bring about Ego-like tendencies in the Freudian sense, and could also discount the much-repeated theory about an intimate relationship between Bert and Ernie.

Cookie

Cookie Monster quite obviously has an appetite for everything in sight. He prefers to be eating at all times, and his creators list his hobbies/obsession as "eating lunch, eating dinner, eating snacks, eating telephones, eating Ws, eating umbrellas, and of course, eating cookies (The Sesame Street Interactive Network).

The essential features of binge eating are recurrent episodes associated with subjective and behavioral indicators of impaired control over, and significant distress about, the binge eating and the absence of the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives and other medications, fasting, and excessive exercising) that are characteristic of Bulimia Nervosa (DSM-IV, 729). Indicators include impaired control include eating very rapidly, eating until feeling uncomfortable full, and eating large amounts of food while not hungry. It is quite clear that Cookie is not eating for the purpose of nutrition. His habits, including eating foods and non-foods with no nutritional value (Telephones, umbrella, etc.), demonstrate his inability to control the binge impulses.

The diagnosis of binge eating is contingent on whether further evidence about Cookie’s disorder is learned. Thus far there is not evidence of purging or methods to remove the food from his system after he binges. However, no Sesame Street character has ever been shown using or even mentioning a bathroom, so this lack of evidence may not be telling the entire story.

These beloved characters of Sesame Street are not the fun loving teaching aids that the public is lead to believe they are. These Muppets obviously have some severe and far-reaching disorders that have changed the chemistry of the show and its cast. This trend suggests that other characters will also be found to have disorders, based on the seriousness of the disorders explored. The influence these main characters of an educational children’s program may be having on children must also be examined in future research. Sesame Street and its characters are a staple of households worldwide, but its influence may be greater than previously thought. The proper diagnosis of the characters is essential to further understanding of the phenomenon, and will lend itself to the examination of other children’s programming.

World Cup moments

2006-07-14T09:52:00.000-05:00

How Brazil lost to France

Zidane's head buck:

Conspiracy Theory?

2006-07-04T15:36:00.000-05:00

World Cup final history:

1958 - Brazil(win) vs. Sweden - South American team wins
1962 - Brazil(win) vs. Czech - South American team wins
1966 - England(wins) vs. Germany - European team wins
1970 - Brazil(wins) vs. Italy - South American team wins
1974 - Germany(wins) vs. Netherlands - European team wins
1978 - Argentina(wins) vs. Netherlands - South American team wins
1982 - Italy(wins) vs. Germany - European team wins
1986 - Argentina(wins) vs. Germany - South American team wins
1990 - Germany(wins) vs. Argentina - European team wins
1994 - Brazil(wins) vs. Italy - South American team wins
1998 - France(wins) vs. Brazil - European team wins
2002 - Brazil(wins) vs. Germany - South American team wins
2006 - Germany/Italy vs. France/Portugal - European team wins

Things that make you go hmmmm.....

Relay For Life

2006-06-16T18:57:00.000-05:00

Last week Sat the Jamaica Cancer Society put on their annual event, "Relay For Life". To know what this event is about go here, here and here. I wont bother to repeat, I will just relate my experience.

Most of my fellow band members/bloggers enjoyed the all night lyming the most. Now dont get me wrong, the lyming was great. There were several tents from several participating groups around the field, and something different was going on in almost every tent. So there was lots of energy in the place, it was hard to not be in a lively mood. Good people, good food, good exercise, good cause, good vibes = great lyme. For me, the part I enjoyed the most was the live music. They had different live bands on stage for most of the night. There is just something about live music that gets to me, I dont know what...maybe its the high I get from the electric guitars and horns/orchestra hit pumping powerfully through the speakers, so much so til I feel the vibrations through me...I dunno, but get to me it did, and distracted me from doing laps and lyming and anything else. I love watching live bands on stage, doing their thing, listening to their versions of current songs (since most dont do much original music when performing). The only band whose name I caught was Pace, they were the band that performed after us I think. The lead singer needed some voice training I think, but man could she work the stage. Very attractive with lots of sex appeal, and she knew it and used it. There were one or two jazz bands, they were pretty good for the most part, but there was this one elderly white guy who played some cool jazz on keyboard that made me want to find a lonely spot on the grass, sit down and just listen. Idleness mixed with good vibes and a bit of inspiration led me to attempt to arrange a tune on spot, but dammit kept getting distracted by the live music. Kept trying to play along with any familiar song I knew instead of focusing on arranging. Bwoy ADD I tell you. Couldnt help myself. At some point there was some drumming going on by the JPS camp, but was torn between that and listening to live jazz on stage. I didnt know what to do! Tessanne Chin, Tami Chin's sister, had my hopes way up that she would do a set. I spotted her in the crowd watching a band perform on stage. She only did one song. To a track at that, no live music. I did vex! But the girl can sing, she got better vocals than her sis.

All in all I had fun. Great time. Next time I want live music all throughout the night!

Sleep – a concept?

2006-05-28T23:43:00.000-05:00

This has been one of those weekends for work….went out Fri night, came in after 3, woke up around 9. Went out Sat night, came in something to 5 am. Realized there was a problem, started working on the problem at around 5. Didn’t stop until after noon. I mustve gotten something like an hour and a half of sleep. Tried to sleep at 2, phone woke me up after 20 minutes. Couldn’t go back to sleep. Have another hour or so of work at midnight tonight.

2 weeks ago at the Mobay band lyme, worked the Fri morning from 12 am to about 6 am, was up by around 10. Didn’t go to sleep til the Sat morning, after the sun rise, even then it mustve been 45 or so minutes. The next night I got my required 6 hours.

Doctors recommend 8 hours of sleep. I don’t need so much, I need around 6 most of the time. Yet I know ppl who go off 3 – 4 hours of sleep every night, others that regularly bleach and have very little side effects. And I know others for whom 10 hours of sleep isn’t enough.

My sleep habits are a little weird. Ive been told I have insomnia but not the typical type. I don’t have problems going to sleep, I have problems staying asleep. No matter how tired I may be, the later I go to sleep, the earlier I will wake up. And more times than not I will not be able to go back to sleep.

Ive had some serious all-work-no-sleep episodes. 11 pm – 8 am doing upgrades. 2:30 am – 1 pm working on some problem. While sick I might add. 9 pm – 7 am, again problem related, to wake up by 10 to go in to work. And in all these cases I get home dog tired and still sleep less than my required 6 hours.

I listen to some of my friends who talk about unable to party two nights in a row, cause they ‘mash up’ afterwards. I guess this is where the ‘Digicel experience’ has somewhat trained me for this sort of thing. The thing is, even though I don’t suffer physically from extended periods without sleep, there’s psychological after-effects. I become antisocial (more than normal anyway), short tempered, kind of grumpy, and lazy to think about anything too tough.

Right now id love nothing more than to go to bed and get some sleep. Im tired. And the earlier I get to sleep, the longer I’ll sleep. But work is at 12…I hope it doesn’t go on too long tonight, as the later I go to sleep, the earlier I’ll wake up.

Subaru Legacy GT

2006-05-28T19:18:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, of late they have been catching my eye.

Im now becoming tired of fixing something on my car every other month. It gets real old after a while.

So im shopping around for a new car. But im picky. Id like a car I intend to keep for a while. That means its got to be a newer car, not much older than say 5 years. Id prefer a 4 door, tired of the 2 door thing now. Id really like a stick shift. Not as likely to be stolen (most tief tend not to go for stick shift cars), and more fun to drive. Also more control over how much gas you use. Must be quick, cannot deal with a car that doesnt respond as i press the gas.

Dont want a honda, dont particular like driving them, and too much of a target for thieves. Expensive too. I love Toyota, cause that was the car I drove most often soon after I got my licence. But kinda limited in terms of the attributes im looking for. The only Toyota I found that I like is the Carina GT.

But the more I see the Legacy on the road the more I like it. Hmm...

Ppl ask "why not go for Impreza?" Maintenance cost. More than Id like to shell out.

4 door sedan, turbocharged 2.5L engine, stick shift, not a common car so not attractive to thieves. Now the only part is can I afford it??

Matrix Beginnings

2006-05-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

Interesting article about the truth behind the creation of the Terminator and Matrix movies.

http://www.manhunt.com/news/stories/1106092472.html

No number 'second' roun 'ere

2006-05-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

We administrators of the blog circle (as shown by the links on the right) have had numerous discussions on this "Number dos" syndrome. Why does no one say this number? Why do Jamaican men take offence to being labelled as number what-comes-after-1, regardless of the context? Whats the difference between the numeral 1+1 and any other number?

One day in 1994 Terror Fabulous released a song, the first few lines of which went like so:

"Some man a play number 2
nuff man a oil and vaseline up fi tru
but i and i nuh inna none a dat , it wont do
cause anytime mi si di likkle bad pinky loo,mi haffi sing seh"

So there you have it. According to the song, playing number 3-1 means doing some activity that homosexual males do. Hence the reaction from our males in society. Mystery solved!

Matisyahu

2006-04-13T07:36:00.000-05:00

As much as I hate it when an outsider takes something traditionally Jamaican and does it better than us, I have to give props to this Jewish artist for his reggae tune "King Without A Crown". In my opinion, musical-wise this song is a work of art. He has managed to take traditional reggae, throw in some dancehall AND some rock (rock guitar solo) and mix it all together into one easy-listening, head-bopping tune. Granted, you cant understand a word he says due to his heavy jewish accent, but still a nice song to listen to.

I cant talk about Matisyahu in this manner without mentioning another reggae artist, German-born Tilmann Otto a.k.a Gentleman. He has even managed to learn and include our Jamaican patois competently. His song "Intoxication" is probably my favourite of the many on the drop leaf.

Our local artists better watch themselves, we've got int'l competition for our local product.

Random quote

2006-04-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

While doing some random idle browsing through hi5, I happened upon this is written in someone's journal. It appealed to me so much I borrowed it and am sharing it with you all:

"It's amazing how crippling the power of fear can be...for in hiding yourself you hide not only your weaknesses but your strentgths...talents and those things unique to you which have been placed in you to give to those in need. It should never be underestimated what the presence of "you" may have on the lives of those around you."

Blogs

2006-04-06T15:48:00.000-05:00

Blogging has really come a long way. So long, in fact, that ordinary people are now being recognized for their blogs. Baghdad Burning is a blog from an Iraqi citizen that was started round about the time of the war, and gives an account of Iraqi life from an ordinary citizen's point of view. Her blog has been nominated for the Samuel Johnson prize - a prestigious British award for non-fiction. Imagine that, youre going about your normal day, blogging as you normally would for no other reason than for the sake of blogging, and youre up for an award. Jamaica's own Jamaica Girl's and Mad Bull's blogs both got favourable reviews as well in SkyWriting, Air Jamaica's inflight magazine.

Its a good thing to see people out there being recognized for their writings, and who write not for money, nor for fame, but for simply keeping it real.

Oh My God! They killed Kenny!

2006-04-02T02:15:00.000-05:00

Who knew that South Park could be one of the most educational tv shows out there? Yeah, thats right, I said it! I put South Park and educational together in one sentence. And what??

On the real though, even though South Park is crass and crosses the line many times, the show does tend to focus on current issues and will, for 1 minute or 2, get serious and explain some particular issue happening in the real world. For example, an episode I saw recently explained stem cell research and the whole controversy around it. Previous to that I hadnt nary a clue as to what stem cell research was about. Its an interesting concept though. All cells in our body, before they become heart cells, liver cells, etc., are just simply cells, what we call stem cells. These stem cells, if positioned around any damaged organ, can become cells for that organ and hence that organ will have 'new growth'. The problem is the source of these stem cells....from aborted fetuses. You see the moral dilemma now.

Yeah, so who needs BBC or CNN? South Park!!