tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83063696833480296362024-02-11T15:42:35.670-08:00Popular Google SearchesMichael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-19742332502776995612023-06-15T20:59:00.000-07:002023-06-15T20:59:01.068-07:00Eastern philosophy says there is no “self.” Science agrees<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><i>“Why are you unhappy? Because
99.9 percent of everything you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself
— and there isn’t one.”<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The brain-powered individual, which is variously called the
self, the ego, the mind, or “me,” lies at the center of Western thought. In the
worldview of the West, we herald the greatest thinkers as world-changers. There
is no more concise example of this than philosopher René Descartes’ famous
statement, “<i>Cogito, ergo sum</i>,” or, <b>“I think, therefore I
am.” </b>But who is this? Let’s take a closer look at the thinker, or the
“me,” we all take for granted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Western view: The self is a pilot<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This “I” is for most of us the first thing that pops into
our minds when we think about who we are. The “I” represents the idea of our
individual self, the one that sits between the ears and behind the eyes and is
“piloting” the body. The “pilot” is in charge, it doesn’t change very much, and
it feels to us like the thing that brings our thoughts and feelings to life. It
observes, makes decisions, and carries out actions — just like the pilot of an
airplane.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This I/ego is what we think of as our true selves, and this
individual self is the experiencer and the controller of things like thoughts,
feelings, and actions. The pilot self feels like it is running the show. It is
stable and continuous. It is also in control of our physical body; for example,
this self understands that it is “my body.” But unlike our physical body, it
does not perceive itself as changing, ending (except, perhaps for atheists, in
bodily death), or being influenced by anything other than itself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Eastern view: The self is an illusion<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now let’s turn to the East. Buddhism, Taoism, the Advaita
Vedanta school of Hinduism, and other schools of Eastern thought have quite a
different take on the self, the ego, or “me.” They say that this idea of “me”
is a fiction, although a very convincing one. Buddhism has a word for this
concept — <i>anatta</i>, which is often translated as “no self” — which is
one of the most fundamental tenets of Buddhism, if not <i>the</i> most
important.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This idea sounds radical, even nonsensical, to those who are
trained in Western traditions. It seems to contradict our everyday experience,
indeed our whole sense of being. But in Buddhism and other schools of Eastern
thought, the concept of the self is seen as the result of the thinking mind.
The thinking mind reinvents the self from moment to moment such that it in no
way resembles the stable coherent self most believe it to be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Put another way, it is the process of thinking that creates
the self, rather than there being a self having any independent existence
separate from thought. The self is more like a verb than a noun. To take it a
step further, the implication is that without thought, the self does not, in
fact, exist. In the same way that walking only exists while one is walking, the
self only exists while there are thoughts about it. As a neuropsychologist, I
can say that in my view, science is just now catching up with what Buddhist,
Taoist, and Advaita Vedanta Hinduism have been teaching for over 2,500 years.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk_jDCRmXr0B6ZS6Lu_ir1qPFjcTPtT-ITRISGwfv1ujOX6lRmOeZSmgRz6MHNCNezhZ4xErPX1L3jDz5xmuK2bOpw5jHH6IQcQKsnTgo2l_sdQne7zUMLi1FtkSItpS2STSDBziZffZUfmPbGi-kX3-khz04XRDddMBU087TImioubzH_h9-Ow/s1192/NEH_Buddha_Socrates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1192" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTk_jDCRmXr0B6ZS6Lu_ir1qPFjcTPtT-ITRISGwfv1ujOX6lRmOeZSmgRz6MHNCNezhZ4xErPX1L3jDz5xmuK2bOpw5jHH6IQcQKsnTgo2l_sdQne7zUMLi1FtkSItpS2STSDBziZffZUfmPbGi-kX3-khz04XRDddMBU087TImioubzH_h9-Ow/w400-h201/NEH_Buddha_Socrates.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>There is no “self center” in the brain<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The great success story of neuroscience has been in mapping
the brain. We can point to the language center, the face processing center, and
the center for understanding the emotions of others. Practically every function
of the mind has been mapped to the brain with one important exception: the
self. Perhaps this is because these other functions are stable and consistent,
whereas the story of the self is hopelessly inventive with far less stability
than is assumed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While various neuroscientists have made the claim that the
self resides in this or that neural location, there is no real agreement among
the scientific community about where to find it — not even whether it might be
in the left or the right side of the brain. Perhaps the reason we can’t find
the self in the brain is because <i>it isn’t there</i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 percent of everything
you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself — and there isn’t one.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Wei Wu Wei</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This may be a difficult point to grasp, chiefly because we
have mistaken the <i>process</i> of thinking as a genuine <i>thing</i> for
so long. It will take some time to see the idea of a “me” as simply an idea
rather than a fact. Your illusionary self — the voice in your head — is very
convincing. It narrates the world, determines your beliefs, replays your memories,
identifies with your physical body, manufactures your projections of what might
happen in the future, and creates your judgments about the past. It is this
sense of self that we feel from the moment we open our eyes in the morning to
the moment we close them at night. It seems all-important, so it often comes as
a shock when I tell people that based on my work as a neuropsychologist, this
“I” is simply not there—at least not in the way we <i>think</i> it
is.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The big difference between the Eastern spiritual traditions
and psychology is that the former has recognized this experientially and the
latter did so experimentally (and accidentally, for that matter). And in my
view, this means that those who study and teach psychology are still largely
unable to appreciate the implications of these findings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>An accidental discovery<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a matter of background, it is important to remember that
the brain has two mirror halves connected by a large set of fibers called the
corpus callosum. In research undertaken to try to mitigate severe epilepsy,
Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga believed that by cutting this bridge between
the two sides of the brain, seizures would be easier to control. They were
correct, and Sperry would win the Nobel Prize in 1981 for this work. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While each side of the brain is specialized to do certain
types of tasks, both sides are usually in continuous communication. When this
connection was disrupted, however, it became possible to study the job of each
side of the brain in isolation. With the sides disconnected in these epileptic
patients, scientists could test each on its own and gain insight into the
functional differences between the left and right sides of the brain. These
patients were referred to as “split-brain” patients.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To understand this research, it is also important to know
that the body is cross-wired — that is, all the input and output from the right
half of the body crosses over and is processed by the left brain, and vice
versa. This crossover is also true for vision, so that the left half of what we
see goes to the right side of the brain, and vice versa. Again, this only
became obvious in the split-brain patients. And research with these subjects
led to one of the most important discoveries about the left side of the brain —
one that has yet to be fully appreciated by modern psychology or the general
public.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In one of Gazzaniga’s experiments, researchers presented the
word “walk” to a patient’s right brain only. The patient immediately responded
to the request and stood up and started to leave the van in which the testing
was taking place. When the patient’s left brain, which is responsible for
language, was asked why he got up to walk, the interpreter came up with a
plausible but <i>completely</i> <i>incorrect</i> explanation:
“I’m going into the house to get a Coke.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In another exercise, the word “laugh” was presented to the
right brain and the patient complied. When asked why she was laughing, her left
brain responded by cracking a joke: “You guys come up and test us each month.
What a way to make a living!” Remember, the correct answer here would have
been, “I got up because you asked me to,” and “I laughed because you asked me
to,” but since the left brain didn’t have access to these requests, it made up
an answer and believed it rather than saying, “I don’t know why I just did
that.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>An untrustworthy interpreter<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gazzaniga determined that the left side of the brain creates
explanations and reasons to help make sense of what is going on around us. The
left brain acts as an “interpreter” for reality. Furthermore, Gazzaniga found
that this interpreter, as in the examples mentioned, is often completely and
totally <i>wrong</i>. This finding should have rocked the world, but most
people haven’t even heard of it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">Bottom of Form<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Think about the significance of this for a moment. The left
brain was simply making up interpretations, or stories, for events that were
happening in a way that made sense to that side of the brain, or as if it had
directed the action. Neither of these explanations was true, but that was
unimportant to the interpretive mind, which was convinced that its explanations
were the correct ones.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over the last 40 years, several additional studies have
shown that <i>the left side of the brain excels at creating an explanation
for what’s going on, even if it isn’t correct</i>, even in people with normal
brain functioning. For example, all things being equal, we prefer what is on
the right side, but almost no one is aware of this, so researchers presented
participants without previous brain injury with three almost identical items
and asked which they preferred. There was an obvious right preference, but when
asked why, they made up a totally incorrect story such as, “I just like the
color more.” Even when the researchers told them the idea of the study, the
left brain of participants couldn’t help but believe the stories it had
created.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The truth is that your left brain has been interpreting
reality for you your whole life, and if you are like most people, you have
never understood the full implications of this. This is because we mistake the
story of who we <i>think we are</i> for who we truly are. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The uncontrollable inner voice<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of us live our lives under the direction of the
interpreter, and that makes the mind our master, and we are not even aware of
this. We may become angry, offended, sexually aroused, happy, or fearful, and
we do not question the authenticity of these thoughts and experiences. While it
is clear that these experiences are happening to us, we somehow retain the idea
that we are still in charge of it all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Test this out and directly experience the interpreter rather
than assuming it is who you are. For the rest of the day, notice if an inner
voice creates theories to explain what is happening. The voice may say: “That
person looks happy,” “That person seems smart,” or, “Maybe I shouldn’t have
sent that email.” If these stories are who you are, you should be able to turn
them off. Can you? Here is another way to test this. Read the following two
numbers but do not complete the pattern by filling in the blank using your
inner voice. 3,2, _. Did your inner voice finish the pattern and say “one”? Try
it again, and really try not to finish the pattern in your head. The next time
there is an intrusive thought, consider the very fact that your being unable to
stop it proves that there is no inner self that controls it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Science supports the Eastern view<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, for the first time in history, the findings of
scientists in the West strongly support, in many cases without meaning to, one
of the most fundamental insights of the East: that the individual self is more
akin to a fictional character than a real thing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why does all of this matter? The unfortunate truth is that
each of us will experience plenty of mental pain, misery, and frustration in
our lifetimes. Mistaking the voice in our head for a thing and labeling it “me”
brings us into conflict with the neuropsychological evidence that shows there
is no such thing. This mistake — this illusory sense of self — is the
primary cause of our mental suffering. When you can’t sleep at night, is it
because you are worried about a stranger’s problems, or is it <i>your</i> problems
that keep you up? For most of us, we worry about <i>my</i> work
problems, <i>my</i> money problems, and <i>my</i> relationship
problems. What would happen if we removed the “self” from these problems? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> I am distinguishing mental suffering from physical
pain. <i>Pain</i> occurs in the body and is a physical reaction—like
when you stub your toe or break an arm. The <i>suffering</i> I speak
of occurs in the mind only and describes things such as worry, anger, anxiety,
regret, jealousy, shame, and a host of other negative mental states. I
know it’s a big claim to say that all these kinds of suffering are the result
of a fictitious sense of self. For now, the essence of this idea is captured
brilliantly by Taoist philosopher and author Wei Wu Wei when he writes,
“Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9 percent of everything you think, and of
everything you do, is for yourself — and there isn’t one.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Author: Chris Niebauer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Source: <a href="https://bigthink.com/the-well/eastern-philosophy-neuroscience-no-self/">https://bigthink.com/the-well/eastern-philosophy-neuroscience-no-self/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>About the Author: Chris Niebauer is a cognitive
neuroscientist and author known for his work in the field of consciousness and
the mind-brain relationship. He earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuropsychology
from the University of Toledo and has been teaching courses on consciousness,
perception, and cognitive neuroscience at Slippery Rock University in
Pennsylvania, United States.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Niebauer is the author of the book "The Neurotic's
Guide to Avoiding Enlightenment: How the Left-Brain Plays Unending Games of
Self-Improvement." In this book, he explores the nature of consciousness
and challenges conventional views on self-improvement and enlightenment. He
delves into the limitations of our left-brain thinking and proposes alternative
perspectives for personal growth and well-being.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>"The Neurotic's Guide to Avoiding
Enlightenment" offers a blend of scientific research, philosophy, and personal
anecdotes to present a thought-provoking exploration of human consciousness.
Niebauer encourages readers to question their assumptions and embrace a broader
understanding of the self and the nature of reality.<o:p></o:p></i></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-75887069282193325632023-06-05T20:43:00.005-07:002023-06-05T20:43:56.667-07:008 Routes of Homophobia<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Homophobia, which refers to a range of negative
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards homosexuality or individuals who
identify as LGBTQ+, has complex origins influenced by various factors. It is
important to note that the causes of homophobia are multifaceted and can vary
across individuals and cultures. Here are some key factors that have been
proposed as contributing to the origin of homophobia:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cultural
and Religious Influences: Cultural and religious beliefs have historically
played a significant role in shaping attitudes towards homosexuality. Some
religious teachings and cultural norms perceive homosexuality as immoral,
sinful, or deviant, leading to the stigmatization and discrimination of LGBTQ+
individuals. These beliefs can be deeply ingrained in societal values and passed
down through generations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Lack
of Education and Awareness: Ignorance and lack of accurate information about
sexual orientation and gender identity can contribute to the development of
homophobic attitudes. Misconceptions, stereotypes, and myths surrounding
homosexuality can perpetuate fear, prejudice, and discrimination. Education and
awareness campaigns that promote understanding and acceptance can help combat
homophobia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Upbringing
and Family Environment: The family environment and upbringing can influence the
development of attitudes, including homophobia. If individuals grow up in
families or communities that hold negative views towards homosexuality, they
may internalize these attitudes. Family values, religious beliefs, and
generational attitudes can significantly impact an individual's perspective on
homosexuality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Socialization
and Peer Influence: Homophobic attitudes can be learned and reinforced through
socialization processes. Individuals may adopt homophobic beliefs and behaviors
due to social pressures, conformity to group norms, or seeking acceptance from
their peers. Fear of being stigmatized or marginalized themselves may lead some
individuals to engage in or support homophobic behaviors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Personal
Beliefs and Experiences: Personal beliefs, values, and experiences can shape
one's attitudes towards homosexuality. Factors such as personal insecurities,
fear, lack of understanding, or limited exposure to diverse perspectives can
contribute to the development of homophobic attitudes. Conversely, positive
experiences and interactions with LGBTQ+ individuals can challenge and change
homophobic beliefs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Misinformation
and Stereotypes: Lack of accurate information about homosexuality and reliance
on stereotypes can perpetuate homophobia. Misconceptions, myths, and
stereotypes surrounding homosexuality can lead to prejudice, discrimination,
and fear. Education and exposure to accurate information can help challenge and
correct these misconceptions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Fear
and Threat Perception: Homophobia can be rooted in fear and threat perception.
Some individuals may feel threatened by or fear what they do not understand or
perceive as different. This fear may stem from a sense of unfamiliarity,
concerns about traditional gender roles and societal norms, or personal
insecurities about one's own sexual orientation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Psychological
Factors: Some researchers suggest that underlying psychological factors, such
as cognitive biases or defense mechanisms, may contribute to the development of
homophobic attitudes. These factors may include projecting one's own fears or
anxieties onto others, displacement of inner conflicts, or the need to maintain
a sense of superiority or conformity. Few psychoanalytic explanations have
emerged from the idea of homophobia as an anxiety-based phenomenon. One of such
explanations is that anxiety about the possibility of being or becoming a
homosexual may be a major factor in homophobia. For example, de Kuyper (1993)
has asserted that homophobia is the result of the remnants of homosexuality in
the heterosexual resolution of the Oedipal conflict. Whereas these notions are
vague, psychoanalytic theories usually postulate that homophobia is a result of
repressed homosexual urges or a form of latent homosexuality, the homosexual
arousal which the individual is either unaware of or dent. Psychoanalysts use
the concept of repressed or latent homosexuality to explain the emotional
malaise and irrational attitudes displayed by some individuals who feel guilty
about their erotic interests and struggle to deny and repress homosexual
impulses.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQt_LkBVP0Dh2hGYUV9ZB1nxEZT63su9dUIUBTHlYt-TECoWEEvk3w_hSLUwipQBxGmC4enmRbGxzMR_puiut86BxYWJ1ejOQ6CSPIo7SyvlSLCHjKzr7Iihsl3Beq_pmfyk6XZRgDNhPU7gnMN-yvCivQqBGXZaVF8N7r0amSE92ZYFVtOfUug/s1166/screen_shot_2017-06-20_at_105426_am.png__1500x670_ALIAS-hero_image_crop_subsampling-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="1166" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQt_LkBVP0Dh2hGYUV9ZB1nxEZT63su9dUIUBTHlYt-TECoWEEvk3w_hSLUwipQBxGmC4enmRbGxzMR_puiut86BxYWJ1ejOQ6CSPIo7SyvlSLCHjKzr7Iihsl3Beq_pmfyk6XZRgDNhPU7gnMN-yvCivQqBGXZaVF8N7r0amSE92ZYFVtOfUug/w400-h230/screen_shot_2017-06-20_at_105426_am.png__1500x670_ALIAS-hero_image_crop_subsampling-2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What is common between chauvinism, homophobia, racism,
and antisemitism?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Chauvinism, homophobia, racism, and antisemitism are all
forms of prejudice and discrimination rooted in bias against particular groups
of people. While they may differ in terms of the specific groups targeted, the
underlying mechanisms and negative impacts they have on individuals and society
share some commonalities. Here are a few common elements:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Prejudice
and Stereotyping: All of these forms of discrimination involve preconceived
notions, stereotypes, and generalizations about certain groups of people. These
biases often lead to unfair judgments, assumptions, and treatment based on
characteristics such as gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Power
and Privilege Dynamics: Chauvinism, homophobia, racism, and antisemitism all
involve systems of power and privilege. The dominant group in society, whether
it be based on gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion, holds social,
economic, and political advantages over marginalized groups. This power dynamic
reinforces and perpetuates discrimination and inequality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Stigmatization
and Dehumanization: Discrimination manifests through the stigmatization and
dehumanization of targeted groups. This can involve portraying them as
inferior, dangerous, immoral, or undesirable, which serves to justify
mistreatment, exclusion, or violence against them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Impact
on Individuals and Communities: These forms of discrimination have severe
consequences for individuals and communities. They can lead to social
exclusion, unequal access to resources and opportunities, psychological harm,
violence, and systemic disadvantages in various aspects of life, such as
education, employment, housing, and healthcare.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Intersectionality:
Discrimination based on chauvinism, homophobia, racism, or antisemitism often
intersects with other forms of oppression and discrimination. Individuals may
experience multiple forms of discrimination simultaneously, amplifying the
negative effects and creating unique challenges and barriers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Need
for Social Change: Addressing chauvinism, homophobia, racism, and antisemitism
requires a collective effort to challenge and dismantle discriminatory systems
and beliefs. It involves promoting equality, inclusivity, and social justice,
and creating spaces and policies that recognize and respect the rights and
dignity of all individuals.<o:p></o:p></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-63706713084254184052023-06-03T19:21:00.004-07:002023-06-03T19:21:34.949-07:00The Six-Day War in the Middle East<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Main Milestones<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Six-Day War was a conflict that took place between
June 5 and June 10, 1967. Here is an overview of the events leading up to and
the start of the war:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tensions
and Regional Context: Tensions had been escalating in the region for several
years prior to the war. The state of Israel had been established in 1948,
leading to ongoing disputes and conflicts with neighboring Arab countries,
including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Tensions were particularly high between
Israel and Egypt, with occasional skirmishes along the border.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sinai
Campaign and Blockade: In May 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser
ordered the removal of United Nations peacekeeping forces from the Sinai
Peninsula and imposed a blockade on the Israeli port of Eilat, effectively
closing the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping. These actions were seen as
aggressive moves by Israel and raised concerns about the potential for a
military confrontation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Military
Buildup and Perceived Threats: Israel perceived the military buildup and
hostile rhetoric from its Arab neighbors, particularly Egypt, as a threat to
its existence. Arab leaders, including Nasser, made statements calling for the
destruction of Israel, heightening fears of an imminent attack.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Israeli
Preemptive Strike: On June 5, 1967, Israel launched a preemptive strike against
Egypt, launching air attacks on Egyptian air bases, destroying a significant
portion of the Egyptian Air Force. This strike was part of Israel's strategy to
neutralize the perceived threat from Egypt and gain the upper hand in the
conflict.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Arab
Coalition Response: Following the Israeli attack on Egypt, other Arab
countries, including Jordan and Syria, joined the conflict, launching their own
military operations against Israel. Jordan shelled Israeli positions in
Jerusalem and the West Bank, while Syria attacked Israeli positions in the
Golan Heights.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Swift
Israeli Advances: Over the next six days, Israeli forces made significant
territorial gains, swiftly advancing on multiple fronts. Israeli forces
captured the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and
East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ch4L-9_Z_50KtAGgFf7KqUS8TlffQ_qLrcPyZHtgQtjTbXck6uE_BHJCyVwYzspZyY1NbBphQalATXTShFw5Z6-MMvXusC0acCKK6y_GjRiCsop5cB4RZ96rT6ZjU592vYrIpVlfGsvyCkVEMGWBKAQbWBKeaAEJU-ClZDcfr9zdHowu_8Aieg/s764/Screenshot%202023-06-03%20191759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="764" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ch4L-9_Z_50KtAGgFf7KqUS8TlffQ_qLrcPyZHtgQtjTbXck6uE_BHJCyVwYzspZyY1NbBphQalATXTShFw5Z6-MMvXusC0acCKK6y_GjRiCsop5cB4RZ96rT6ZjU592vYrIpVlfGsvyCkVEMGWBKAQbWBKeaAEJU-ClZDcfr9zdHowu_8Aieg/w400-h233/Screenshot%202023-06-03%20191759.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Armies before the War<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">During the Six-Day War, the militaries of Israel and its
Arab neighbors engaged in conflict. Here is a brief comparison of the armies
involved:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Israel:<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Size
and Conscription: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had a relatively small
standing army, estimated at around 275,000 personnel, with the majority being
conscripts. Israel had implemented mandatory military service for both men and
women.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Training
and Technology: The IDF had a well-trained and highly motivated military force,
benefitting from a combination of compulsory military service, regular
training, and combat experience from previous conflicts. Israel also had access
to advanced military technology, including aircraft, tanks, and weaponry.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Strategic
Advantage: Israel enjoyed a strategic advantage due to its intelligence
capabilities, including air superiority and effective coordination between
different branches of the military. They were able to launch a successful
preemptive strike on their adversaries, gaining the initiative in the early
stages of the war.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Coordination
and Mobility: The IDF demonstrated effective coordination and mobility during
the war, swiftly moving their forces to multiple fronts and achieving rapid
territorial gains. They implemented innovative tactics, such as the use of
armored divisions, combined arms operations, and close air support.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Arab States:<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Size
and Conscription: The Arab armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and other
participating countries had larger combined forces compared to Israel. They had
a total estimated troop strength of around 550,000 personnel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Equipment
and Technology: The Arab armies had access to Soviet military equipment,
including tanks, aircraft, and artillery. However, their equipment and
technology were generally considered to be inferior to that of Israel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Command
Structure and Coordination: The coordination and cooperation between Arab
states were limited. Each country operated under its own command structure,
leading to communication challenges and a lack of unified strategy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Strategic
Disadvantages: The Arab forces faced several strategic disadvantages, including
limited air superiority, ineffective coordination, and insufficient
intelligence. They also had dispersed forces and were caught off guard by
Israel's preemptive strike.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Terrain
and Defensive Positions: In some areas, Arab forces held advantageous defensive
positions, such as fortified positions in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan
Heights. However, these advantages were not fully utilized, and the Israeli
forces were able to overcome them.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjy5_ot2h_8i1EacBYn2Er14ThmQrD7KZGSKMO017AAt4erMwzpgPnKnQk-qkMcYaSkFwnEpBEtWBUbW9786lZczRpxN4pCmG6WBwy3ixQgHa8qmV27EB5TG6140mzjapzDd5VBrPUv5oTl632pnRAy-9XX-WtXhQHqHLqLK2RUcAG-kF2-CcWQ/s1200/Kramer-Final-Main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1200" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjy5_ot2h_8i1EacBYn2Er14ThmQrD7KZGSKMO017AAt4erMwzpgPnKnQk-qkMcYaSkFwnEpBEtWBUbW9786lZczRpxN4pCmG6WBwy3ixQgHa8qmV27EB5TG6140mzjapzDd5VBrPUv5oTl632pnRAy-9XX-WtXhQHqHLqLK2RUcAG-kF2-CcWQ/w400-h231/Kramer-Final-Main.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Military Losses<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">During the Six-Day War, there were military losses
suffered by both sides involved in the conflict. Here are some general details
about the military losses incurred:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Israel:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Casualties:
Israel suffered a total of approximately 776 military personnel killed during
the war, including both combatants and non-combatants.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Aircraft
Losses: The Israeli Air Force lost around 46 aircraft, including both combat
and support aircraft, during the conflict. However, Israel's ability to quickly
disable the Egyptian Air Force in the early stages of the war limited further
losses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tank
Losses: Israel lost around 800 tanks during the war, but many of these losses
were later replenished through captured enemy equipment or purchases from other
countries.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Egypt:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Casualties:
Egypt suffered the highest number of military casualties among the Arab states
involved. Estimates suggest that around 10,000 to 15,000 Egyptian soldiers were
killed or wounded during the conflict.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Aircraft
Losses: The Egyptian Air Force faced significant losses, with approximately 300
to 400 aircraft destroyed or captured by Israeli forces. The Israeli preemptive
strike on Egyptian air bases severely crippled Egypt's air capabilities.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Tank
and Equipment Losses: Egypt lost a significant number of tanks and other
military equipment during the war. Approximately 800 to 900 tanks were
destroyed or captured by Israeli forces.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Jordan:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Casualties:
Jordanian military casualties are estimated to be around 6,000 to 7,000
soldiers killed or wounded during the war.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Aircraft
Losses: The Royal Jordanian Air Force suffered heavy losses, with approximately
30 to 40 aircraft destroyed or captured by Israeli forces.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Territory
Losses: Jordan lost control of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to
Israeli forces during the war.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Syria:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Casualties:
Syrian military casualties are estimated to be around 2,500 to 3,500 soldiers
killed or wounded during the conflict.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Aircraft
Losses: The Syrian Air Force experienced significant losses, with approximately
60 to 100 aircraft destroyed or captured by Israeli forces.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Territory
Losses: Israel captured the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau, from Syria
during the war.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm91hmyJDjj058DNH1Vgzba5-kd5BcWmv5AcJSPTfaSyRg1_8kUgz14LisYw4TXOSlNoB2mlSzA9iYHhlPfABjPb_4McuipjhXsSVziDsC3-1osrq3drqoLk3qhyYdWneV77FedHT9yy-MG29Z7iQZUMPFs0X6q2ll-P-setXh7f831dkHrRM8g/s640/_96258150_gettyimages-51425431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm91hmyJDjj058DNH1Vgzba5-kd5BcWmv5AcJSPTfaSyRg1_8kUgz14LisYw4TXOSlNoB2mlSzA9iYHhlPfABjPb_4McuipjhXsSVziDsC3-1osrq3drqoLk3qhyYdWneV77FedHT9yy-MG29Z7iQZUMPFs0X6q2ll-P-setXh7f831dkHrRM8g/w400-h225/_96258150_gettyimages-51425431.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Political Consequences<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Six-Day War had profound political consequences that
reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. Here are some key
political outcomes:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Israeli
Territorial Expansion: Israel achieved significant territorial gains during the
war. It captured and occupied the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from
Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from
Syria. This expanded Israel's control over areas previously held by its Arab
neighbors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Status
of Jerusalem: The capture of East Jerusalem by Israel during the war had
significant political implications, particularly regarding the status of
Jerusalem as a contested city. Israel annexed East Jerusalem and declared the
city as its capital, a move that has not been recognized by some of the governments.
This has further complicated efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict and led to ongoing disputes over the status of Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Palestinian
Nationalism: The war intensified Palestinian nationalist sentiment and
aspirations for self-determination. The occupation of the West Bank and Gaza
Strip by Israel sparked a renewed focus on the Palestinian cause and led to the
rise of various Palestinian political groups, such as the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), which became a central player in subsequent peace
negotiations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Khartoum
Resolution: In the aftermath of the war, Arab leaders convened in Khartoum,
Sudan, and issued the "Three No's" resolution: no peace with Israel,
no recognition of Israel, and no negotiations with Israel. This reflected the
Arab states' rejectionist stance toward Israel and hindered immediate prospects
for peace negotiations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->UN
Security Council Resolution 242: The war prompted international efforts to find
a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. UN Security Council
Resolution 242 was adopted, emphasizing the principle of "land for
peace" and calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories
occupied during the war in exchange for recognition and peace with its Arab
neighbors. The interpretation and implementation of this resolution have remained
contentious over the years.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">These political consequences had far-reaching
implications, impacting subsequent peace negotiations, regional stability, and
ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The issues stemming from the Six-Day War,
such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the status of Jerusalem, continue
to be significant challenges in the region today.<o:p></o:p></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-40383311929857774042023-05-25T23:25:00.002-07:002023-05-25T23:25:36.604-07:00How slavery nearly split California in two states?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZjT7fuyfX_9XQkyyFgCdY_vZJHPigeVDOQal39fMO5cAofy0wUgSmxt41R5UZFqrStj1jlasu247nC3bj2q__Up5Wk-gzZq0PQcYNivp3zPqhIEI8eQWhau1oduFYMLrhzUGKYR2JzS4oegsI8VyN8Bp78T6BH7Gr6RBwFKtTl9zJC6fiAehxg/s744/Screenshot%202023-05-25%20232338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="744" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZjT7fuyfX_9XQkyyFgCdY_vZJHPigeVDOQal39fMO5cAofy0wUgSmxt41R5UZFqrStj1jlasu247nC3bj2q__Up5Wk-gzZq0PQcYNivp3zPqhIEI8eQWhau1oduFYMLrhzUGKYR2JzS4oegsI8VyN8Bp78T6BH7Gr6RBwFKtTl9zJC6fiAehxg/w400-h369/Screenshot%202023-05-25%20232338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">The issue of slavery did play a significant role in the
early history of California and had the potential to split the state into two
separate entities. Here's a brief overview of the events:</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">During the mid-19th century, there was a growing divide
between the Northern and Southern regions of the United States over the issue
of slavery. The Compromise of 1850, a series of laws passed by the U.S.
Congress, aimed to address this divide. As part of the compromise, California
was admitted to the Union as a free state in 1850, meaning slavery was
prohibited.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">However, tensions remained high in California due to the
significant population of Southern sympathizers and pro-slavery individuals,
particularly in the southern part of the state. Some individuals in Southern
California felt marginalized by the dominant political power held by the more
populous Northern region.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In 1859, the California State Legislature approved a bill
known as the Pico Act, which sought to divide the state into two separate
entities—Southern California and Northern California. The proposed Southern
California would have allowed slavery, while the Northern region would remain
free. The bill was strongly supported by pro-slavery advocates in the south and
Spanish-speaking residents who thought the state’s tax and land laws were
unfair, but faced opposition from anti-slavery forces in the north.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Although the Pico Act was approved by the Legislature,
signed by the governor and passed by California voters, the Pico Act did not
come into effect, as it required approval from the U.S. Congress, which did not
grant its consent. The growing tensions over the issue of slavery ultimately
gave way to the larger national conflict, resulting in the American Civil War
in 1861. The Civil War ended with the defeat of the Confederacy and the
abolition of slavery throughout the United States.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is important to note that while the issue of slavery
played a role in California's early history and political divisions, the
potential split into two separate states based on slavery was ultimately
averted due to the actions of the U.S. Congress and the outbreak of the Civil
War.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Overall, there were at least 220 attempts to break up
California in separate states through the State history, but as of today, none
of them were successful. <o:p></o:p></i></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-7789518372552244862023-05-09T18:07:00.003-07:002023-05-09T18:07:24.346-07:00US Justice Department Disrupts Russian Cyberespionage Campaign<p> <b>What Happened?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Today, May 9, 2023, the US Justice Department has notified
that it has successfully stopped a Russian cyberespionage campaign that has
been going on for a long time. The campaign infected computer networks in many
countries, including the United States. The hackers stole sensitive information
from governments.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Who Did It?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The spying operation was linked to a unit of Russia's
Federal Security Service (FSB). The hackers stole documents from hundreds of
computer systems belonging to governments of NATO members, an unidentified
journalist for a US news organization who reported on Russia, and other select
targets of interest to the Kremlin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What Did the US Justice Department Say?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The US Justice Department said that the FSB has relied on
the Snake malware to conduct cyberespionage against the United States and its
allies for 20 years. The specific targets were not named in court papers, but
the affected networks were in more than 50 countries. US officials described
the espionage campaign as "very consequential," saying the hackers
had successfully exfiltrated sensitive documents from NATO countries.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What Did the Hackers Do?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The hackers used malicious software known as Snake to
steal data from foreign governments. They routed the stolen data through
compromised computers in the US as a way to cover their tracks. They operated
from a known FSB facility in Ryazan, Russia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Who Was Affected?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The sectors targeted by the hacking included government
organizations, defense-related organizations, and companies developing
cryptographic hardware. Countries all over the world were affected, including
in Europe, Australia, part of Asia, and North and South America.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What is the Snake?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Snake implant is considered the most sophisticated
cyber espionage tool designed and used by Center 16 of Russia’s Federal
Security Service (FSB) for long-term intelligence collection on sensitive
targets. To conduct operations using this tool, the FSB created a covert
peer-to-peer (P2P) network of numerous Snake-infected computers worldwide. Many
systems in this P2P network serve as relay nodes which route disguised
operational traffic to and from Snake implants on the FSB’s ultimate targets.
Snake’s custom communications protocols employ encryption and fragmentation for
confidentiality and are designed to hamper detection and collection efforts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What Did the US Justice Department Do?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The US Justice Department used a warrant from a federal
judge in Brooklyn to launch a high-tech operation using a specialized tool
called Perseus that caused the malware to effectively self-destruct. Federal
officials said they were confident that the FSB would not be able to
reconstitute the malware implant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7T3zmuAqARje5T_LoXB-vlLhtSmQEXVBJZcPxXzVAsd1H2LzJXUj2hy-6daYd1q7ZDLO2tJIzW3qbS2jsP3oEm0OKmHr0vYsA69xjBlBpyJ5RBTFb8BxS8aRCFuizQOQ6GOyyVFNBRK8E6ZLt1IN4ucMQi0hLiuxh1paJa8KSXVUs-gCRK5c1g/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7T3zmuAqARje5T_LoXB-vlLhtSmQEXVBJZcPxXzVAsd1H2LzJXUj2hy-6daYd1q7ZDLO2tJIzW3qbS2jsP3oEm0OKmHr0vYsA69xjBlBpyJ5RBTFb8BxS8aRCFuizQOQ6GOyyVFNBRK8E6ZLt1IN4ucMQi0hLiuxh1paJa8KSXVUs-gCRK5c1g/w400-h225/41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Sources and Additional Information: <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/us-busts-russian-cyber-operation-150254322.html">https://news.yahoo.com/us-busts-russian-cyber-operation-150254322.html</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-takes-down-20-year-old-russian-malware-network">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-takes-down-20-year-old-russian-malware-network</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/fbi-says-it-has-sabotaged-hacking-tool-created-by-elite-russian-spies-2023-05-09/">https://www.reuters.com/world/fbi-says-it-has-sabotaged-hacking-tool-created-by-elite-russian-spies-2023-05-09/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/advisories/hunting-russian-intelligence-snake-malware">https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/advisories/hunting-russian-intelligence-snake-malware</a></span></i>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-9571959288881387592023-05-07T23:34:00.001-07:002023-05-07T23:34:32.678-07:00Google Top Trending searches of 2022<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">What people are looking for online? What they care the
most? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Google Trends show you the combined picture of the
popular searching words in different categories.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZMJVHsFkbAtBXUV2oICJWrARey6lEsC3zHbS4I7HJCGognizzRLDvIbW96C6IFQG2Hv-f0I4Js2R0uoblVYxxC4z55seNa6ufT8fIaiAwG3lOP-AID_ut5jbjxJWR7Qia-dOpcMoYPJEW9-xtj-ZEqw5vf6mhXBdfWwy4cpwZz-iAJ2-2QIRGQ/s1200/21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZMJVHsFkbAtBXUV2oICJWrARey6lEsC3zHbS4I7HJCGognizzRLDvIbW96C6IFQG2Hv-f0I4Js2R0uoblVYxxC4z55seNa6ufT8fIaiAwG3lOP-AID_ut5jbjxJWR7Qia-dOpcMoYPJEW9-xtj-ZEqw5vf6mhXBdfWwy4cpwZz-iAJ2-2QIRGQ/w400-h400/21.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Searches<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Wordle<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) India vs England<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Ukraine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Queen Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Ind vs SA<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) World Cup<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) India vs West Indies<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) iPhone 14<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Jeffrey Dahmer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Indian Premier League<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>News<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Ukraine<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Queen Elizabeth passing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Election results<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Powerball numbers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Monkeypox<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Hurricane Ian<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Johnny Depp verdict<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Texas school shooting<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Will Smith Oscars<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Roe v Wade<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>People<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Johnny Depp<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Will Smith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Amber Heard<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Vladimir Putin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Chris Rock<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Novak Djokovic<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Anna Sorokin (Delvey)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Andrew Tate<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Rishi Sunak<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Simon Leviev<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Actors<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Johnny Depp<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Will Smith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Amber Heard<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Chris Rock<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Jada Pinkett Smith<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Joseph Quinn<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Evan Peters<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Andrew Garfield<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Julia Fox<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Ezra Miller<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Athletes<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Novak Djokovic<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Rafael Nadal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Serena Williams<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Manti Te'o<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Shaun White<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) <span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">羽生結弦</span> (Yuzuru Hanyu)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Brittney Griner<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Gerard Piqué<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Cain Velasquez<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Carlos Alcaraz<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Movies<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Thor: Love and Thunder<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Black Adam<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Top Gun: Maverick<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) The Batman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Encanto<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Jurassic World Dominion<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) K.G.F: Chapter 2<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Uncharted<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Morbius<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>TV Shows<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Euphoria<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) House of the Dragon<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Moon Knight<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) The Watcher<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Inventing Anna<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Dahmer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) The Boys<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) All of Us Are Dead<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Sandman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Heartstopper<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Recipes<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) <span style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif;">पनीर</span>
<span style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif;">पसंदा</span> (Paneer pasanda)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Bolo caseiro (Homemade cake)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Tuzlu kurabiye (Salt cookie)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Overnight oats<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) zimtschnecken (Cinnamon rolls)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Irmik helvası (Semolina halva)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) панкейки (Pancakes)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Baba ganoush<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Bulgur pilavı (Bulgur rice)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Pasta salad<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Songs<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Tak Ingin Usai - Keisya Levronka<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Pasoori - Ali Sethi and Shae Gill<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Glimpse of Us - Joji<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Satru 2 - Denny Caknan and Happy Asmara<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) <span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">ミックスナッツ</span> - Official Hige Dandism<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) <span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">新</span> <span style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic";">時代</span> - Ado<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) As It Was - Harry Styles<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Joko Tingkir - Farel Prayoga<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Habit - SEKAI NO OWARI<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Last Last - Burna Boy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Hum to Search: Top songs<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Pasoori - Ali Sethi<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Butter - BTS<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Chaand Baaliyan - Aditya A<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Heat Waves - Glass Animals<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Enemy - Imagine Dragons<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Believer - Imagine Dragons<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Dynamite - BTS<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Ainsi bas la vida - Indila<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Srivalli - Javed Ali<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Google Lens: Top houseplants<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Philodendron<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Devil's ivy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Bambusoideae<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Echeveria<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Dracaena<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Fern<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Jade plant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Dumb canes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Hoya<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Alocasia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Google Lens: Top plants and fungi<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Garden roses<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Mushroom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Damask rose<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Passion flowers<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Philodendron<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Devil's ivy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Hybrid tea rose<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Miniature roses<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Chrysanthemum<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) China rose<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Google Lens: Top pets<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Domestic short-haired cat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Tabby cat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Polydactyl cat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Aspin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Labrador Retriever<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Pit bull<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) European shorthair<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Hound<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Munchkin cat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Staffordshire Bull Terrier<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Google Maps: Top exhibits<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) DARK MATTER, Berlin, Germany<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Van Gogh London Exhibit: The Immersive Experience<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience - Washington DC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Illuminarium Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) House of MinaLima, London, United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition, London,
United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Van Gogh Bristol: The Immersive Experience, Bristol,
United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience - Seattle<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Little Canada, Toronto, Ontario<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Dinos Alive Los Angeles, Montebello, CA<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Google Maps: Top cultural landmarks<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Big Ben, London, United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) The Great Pyramid of Giza, Al Giza Desert, Egypt<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Royal Palace of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei City, Taiwan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei City,
Taiwan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Louvre Pyramid, Paris, France<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Palais Idéal, Hauterives, France<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Google Maps: Top scenic spots<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">1) Sky Garden, London, United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">2) Setas de Sevilla, Seville, Spain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">3) Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">4) HeHa Ocean View, Special Region of Yogyakarta,
Indonesia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">5) Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Portugal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">6) Oshino Hakkai, Oshino, Japan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">7) Belvedere del Gianicolo, Rome, Italy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">8) Petrin Tower, Prague, Czechia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">9) Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Lisbon, Portugal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">10) Wuling, Nantou County, Taiwan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Source: <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2022/GLOBAL/">https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2022/GLOBAL/</a></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="RU" style="mso-ansi-language: RU;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-44887660499969052032023-04-29T06:41:00.005-07:002023-04-29T06:41:38.324-07:00How ayahuasca ceremony may help with PTSD?<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>In recent years, the use of psychedelics in
treating PTSD has gained notice in the scientific community. Past
studies on the effectiveness of psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide
(LSD), methylene dioxin methamphetamine (MDMA), dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
and Psilocybin (mushrooms) have shown some efficacy in treating
various mental health conditions. Ayahuasca brew, which contains DMT, is a
popular alternative for those with PTSD who have tried more traditional
treatments such as therapy and medication unsuccessfully.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What is Ayahuasca?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ayahuasca is used by numerous indigenous tribes
throughout the Amazon Basin for both medical and ritualistic purposes. It has
gained some popularity among North American scientists, physicians, and
laypeople interested in its spiritual, psychological, and medicinal benefits.
For the indigenous people of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru,
and Venezuela, Ayahuasca is used for healing ailments and is viewed as a means
of connecting with one’s soul.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ayahuasca is a mixture of Chacruna leaf, Chagropanga vine,
Ayahuasca vine, and assorted admixture plants. Once ingested, it affects the
human consciousness starting approximately half an hour after consumption and
its effects last about six hours. In some cases, individuals experience
significant psychological stress, increased heart rate, and higher
diastolic blood pressure during the experience. These potential side effects
raise concerns for those being treated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Psychedelic effects<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The psychedelic effects of Ayahuasca include visual and
auditory hallucinations, the mixing of sensory modalities, and psychological
introspection that may lead to great elation, fear, or a sense of
illumination. The visual hallucinations have been reported to begin with
intense light shows swerving in and out of one’s field of view. Regardless of
whether eyes are closed or open, these visuals persist and eventually turn into
images, from gods to snakes to anything else imaginable. Though many seek
Ayahuasca to treat a variety of mental health issues, the experience is often
unique to the individual.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">When ingesting Ayahuasca brew, individuals will very
likely experience a wide variety of symptoms that include dizziness, weakness,
tremors, abnormal sensations, nausea, and altered consciousness. Intense
vomiting and occasional diarrhea, known as “the purge," is also common,
and is considered by many shamans and experienced users of Ayahuasca to be an
essential part of the experience. And many who have consumed the substance
report a kind of “spiritual awakening.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Warning!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ayahuasca can be dangerous, as it might increase the risk
of having a manic episode in people with bipolar disorder or
a family history of the disorder. And, excessive use can lead to serotonin
syndrome, especially when used in conjunction with SSRIs. A few deaths due to
the consumption of Ayahuasca have also been reported. These deaths may have
been due to unscreened pre-existing heart conditions; interactions with other
drugs, such as antidepressants, recreational drugs, caffeine, or nicotine;
or the result of improper use.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOdjp9628jbj-RozFj9gPQUUNU20aU0GR25A9wPkLcqiKSK9UHUhDFrrw0IPYn_pNnFvwkWNZ3NLIApjzT57g3Uwa2aNP2HU13bFhJtipCsTVataLUxyR-oCNETwP2sA9zTPrG6WZTgJe65JAGoZHFAhmggG7QI9RL3mgnXsOMcGPIaQAgRFfSA/s960/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOdjp9628jbj-RozFj9gPQUUNU20aU0GR25A9wPkLcqiKSK9UHUhDFrrw0IPYn_pNnFvwkWNZ3NLIApjzT57g3Uwa2aNP2HU13bFhJtipCsTVataLUxyR-oCNETwP2sA9zTPrG6WZTgJe65JAGoZHFAhmggG7QI9RL3mgnXsOMcGPIaQAgRFfSA/w400-h225/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>What Is PTSD? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Now, before the assessment of how and why Ayahuasca may
help not just with PTSD symptoms, but also the PTSD sources, let’s review what
PTSD is. PTSD, or Post-traumatic stress disorder, is a condition that develops
in some people after experiencing dreadful and frightening events – also known
as trauma. This could be a personal assault, a serious accident, a natural
disaster, or war.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">It can happen to anyone – of all nationalities and
cultures, and at any age. An estimated one in 11 people will actually be
diagnosed with PTSD during their lifetime, with women being twice as likely as
men to have PTSD. The number of undiagnosed cases would probably make that
number much higher, as many people learn coping mechanisms and repress the
symptoms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Causes of PTSD<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">What causes PTSD? It remains unclear why some people get
PTSD following events that involve threatened or actual death, or serious
injury. PTSD causes may also include:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A family history of anxiety and depression –
linked to inherited mental health risks<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Temperament – inherited features of your
personality can play a part<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Stress responses – how your brain regulates the
chemicals and hormones released into your body<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Early childhood traumas – such as abuse and
neglect<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A history of mental illness – this includes
substance abuse<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In early years of life, even minor events can
cause trauma as children are very vulnerable and sensitive, and the effects can
last lifelong if not worked upon<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Symptoms of PTSD<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">PTSD symptoms can vary in severity, last longer than a
month, and often persist for years. Symptoms may appear early on, or later,
causing immense distress and problems with functioning. Symptoms are categorized
as:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Re-experiencing – flashbacks reliving the
traumatic events time and time again with physical signs of sweating and an
increased heart rate. Frightening thoughts and bad dreams are included as they
can be triggered by words, objects, and situations<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Avoidance – these characteristics of staying
away from certain places and avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the
events can cause changes in everyday routine and habits<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Reactivity – feelings of tension, having
difficulty sleeping. and being easily startled make it difficult to focus, eat,
and sleep properly<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cognition and mood – distorted guilty feelings
alongside negative thoughts and difficulty in remembering can cause a loss of
interest in activities that should be enjoyable. This may result in alienation
and detachment from family and friends<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Patterns of behavior – all the above can be
summarized into one thing. PTSD causes the victim to develop a pattern of
behavior that persists based on a “conclusion” or “decision” made during the
traumatic event. This conclusion becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy which
causes repeated trauma for the person with PTSD.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Types of PTSD<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Types of PTSD that take years to develop are known as
delayed-onset PTSD and is diagnosed in less than 20% of cases. The symptoms are
the same as those mentioned above.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Secondary trauma can be developed if you’ve been
supporting someone who has experienced severe trauma – making the impact of the
event distressing to you<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Acute stress disorder is characterized by panic
reactions, mental confusion, severe insomnia, and being unable to manage basic
self-care<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Uncomplicated PTSD involves the persistent
re-experiencing of the traumatic event, emotional numbing, and symptoms of increased
arousal<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Comorbid PTSD is normally associated with depression,
alcohol or substance abuse, and panic and other anxiety disorders<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Complex PTSD has similar symptoms to PTSD but has
increased after-experience signs such as:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Avoidance of friendships and relationships<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Difficulty in controlling emotions<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Suicidal thoughts<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Treatments for PTSD<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Treatments for PTSD include immediate support,
medication, and psychotherapy. Depending on the PTSD diagnosis good responses
may be achieved with group and cognitive-behavioral approaches. Carefully
managed treatment will be given for psychiatric and addiction problems.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Some people may turn to religion and have great faith in
the help and support of others. And now there’s preliminary evidence that the
visionary element in the sacred brew Ayahuasca can help people with PTSD.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Ayahuasca and PTSD<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This is a new topic for scientific research, but there
are already very promising studies’ outcomes, suggesting positive therapeutic
benefits of ingesting Ayahuasca. One study found that a single dose of
Ayahuasca had rapid, sustained antidepressant effects in patients with
recurrent depression who had not responded well to medication in the
past. In another study examining a six-month evaluation of the ingestion of
Ayahuasca on psychiatric symptoms, results showed improved mental
health and a change in attitude towards emotional independence.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpPPICSvVOwa1nM4T9AiHHLwFV1fNJSm2ANKGaKOHc5iHXzUghnOS1qg9KT24SHwRR2yCLoZG3km5NyGs0fOTjgHuE_6BzuiKk13e5i8FD0BuF-P8MCJ5O-lF2NwDy54A4hD575_GrsT6PG7pkzcStbi38EvHMAGCAWn-IFX-PnFfMEaTu8WHEQ/s613/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="613" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpPPICSvVOwa1nM4T9AiHHLwFV1fNJSm2ANKGaKOHc5iHXzUghnOS1qg9KT24SHwRR2yCLoZG3km5NyGs0fOTjgHuE_6BzuiKk13e5i8FD0BuF-P8MCJ5O-lF2NwDy54A4hD575_GrsT6PG7pkzcStbi38EvHMAGCAWn-IFX-PnFfMEaTu8WHEQ/w400-h189/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>How Ayahuasca may Help?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">One way that ayahuasca ceremonies may help with PTSD is
by allowing participants to confront their fears and traumas directly. Many
people with PTSD avoid situations or triggers that remind them of their trauma.
This avoidance can be a significant barrier to recovery. Ayahuasca ceremonies
may help people face their fears and work through them in a safe and supportive
environment. The intense emotional experiences that occur during an ayahuasca
ceremony can also help participants process and release traumatic memories.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Another way that ayahuasca ceremonies may help with PTSD
is by promoting a sense of connection and meaning. Many people with PTSD feel
disconnected from others and struggle to find meaning in their lives. Ayahuasca
ceremonies often involve group settings and communal activities, such as
singing or dancing. These experiences can help participants feel connected to
others and to a greater sense of purpose. The profound experiences that occur
during an ayahuasca ceremony can also help participants gain a new perspective
on life and their place in the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ayahuasca is not a magic pill, just drinking ayahuasca
will not fix all your problems. It is a deep spiritual journey that helps you
to see yourself with greater clarity. After this experience, if you go back and
continue with the same habits and patterns, you will very likely experience the
same life issues you had prior to drinking ayahuasca.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The term entheogenic means something that induces an
experience of god within. It leads to experiences of spiritual enlightenment
and conscious-modifying journeys into different realms. When this is done with
proper support where a trained facilitator can help you to integrate the
insights to apply in your everyday life, the effects can be long lasting, if
you commit and follow through with the changes that are experienced during the
ayahuasca retreat.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ayahuasca alkaloids enhance the processes used in memory
reconsolidation and fear extinction. This fear response triggered by the memory
can be extinguished or reprogrammed with the proper techniques.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Traumatic memory plays a huge role in the development of
PTSD and how those memories get processed and dealt with are a key factor in
modern therapies. While individuals are under the influence of ayahuasca,
emotional processing is highly activated. The part of the brain area linked to
PTSD is the amygdala, and when this gets activated, traumatic memories can be
relived and addressed. During an ayahuasca journey, this is accompanied by
higher perspectives and lessons that help to integrate the experience.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Is it legal in the USA?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ayahuasca contains DMT, a Schedule I controlled substance
in the United States. This means that DMT is a highly restricted and illegal
substance, except for scientific research and some religious or spiritual
ceremonies. Some states such as Oregon, for instance, have decriminalized the
personal use of certain drugs, including psilocybin-containing mushrooms, but
Ayahuasca use remains fully illegal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">However, there are multiple religious organizations that
may legally use Ayahuasca under federal law. The most notable of these
organizations is the Church of Santo Daime, which was granted a historic exemption
from the Controlled Substances Act in 2009 after winning a case in federal
court. This exemption allows members of the church to import, distribute, and
consume Ayahuasca as part of their spiritual practices.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Therefore, while Ayahuasca may be legal in a few select
circumstances, it remains a highly restricted and illegal substance in the
United States. It is important to note that the safety of the drug is also a
concern, as improper use can lead to serious health risks. Thus, those who wish
to seek the benefits of Ayahuasca should do so under the guidance of a
qualified practitioner in a legal and safe setting.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Sources and Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/talking-about-trauma/202008/ayahuasca-and-its-potential-treat-ptsd">https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/talking-about-trauma/202008/ayahuasca-and-its-potential-treat-ptsd</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://spiritvineretreats.com/ayahuasca-blog/what-is-ptsd-can-ayahuasca-help-for-ptsd/">https://spiritvineretreats.com/ayahuasca-blog/what-is-ptsd-can-ayahuasca-help-for-ptsd/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://soltara.co/ayahuasca-therapy-is-just-the-start-for-veterans-healing-from-ptsd/">https://soltara.co/ayahuasca-therapy-is-just-the-start-for-veterans-healing-from-ptsd/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidcarpenter/2020/01/27/saved-by-psychedelics-after-traditional-methods-fail-ayahuasca-heals-a-deep-emotional-trauma/">https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidcarpenter/2020/01/27/saved-by-psychedelics-after-traditional-methods-fail-ayahuasca-heals-a-deep-emotional-trauma/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-4172869188803032562023-04-23T15:20:00.003-07:002023-04-23T15:20:37.450-07:00Why your hair turns gray as you age?<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Why does hair go grey?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Natural hair gets its color from a pigment
called <i>melanin</i>. The type and amount of <i>melanin</i> determines
each person’s hair color. <i>Melanin</i> is produced
by melanocyte cells. These cells are located in the (deepest) basal
layer of the skin, just above the hair papilla (the bottom part
of the hair follicle).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are two types of melanin. Eumelanin
is a dark pigment that is responsible for brown and black hair.
Pheomelanin is a reddish pigment that results in ginger and
strawberry blond hair types. Blond hair happens when melanocytes produce low
levels of eumelanin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Type of melanin based on hair color:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Black: lots of eumelanin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Brown: average amount of eumelanin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Blonde: little eumelanin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Red: lots of pheomelanin and small amount of
eumelanin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Melanocytes infuse melanin into the hair shaft, giving
it a distinctive color. Hair goes grey as the body ages because
there are fewer melanocytes and melanin production decreases. Air pockets
replace melanin in the hair shaft, resulting in silver-grey hair, and
grey pubic hair too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Reports have suggested that the leading cause of gray
hair is oxidative stress, a process where free radicals damage cells, including
melanocytes. Free radicals are particles that are derived from everything from
pollution to fried foods which are often absent in our diets.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic6hPSbemw-8DcXkrZGcUVMFoQ1YY_5XGWsveoGNG5zQNxB30Et-_5_PLHnEVquTzWBTtcGpnM6RLVJXAQm1CGtIi2lvpClaO6-FS9UCmd0-l_qXX2sQcXWWLbPttmavzJocXash6hL0xfrrcbdL3YkTFvs8IgADLOmdAe81Ez2rVmUyyxvCkGA/s3200/11111111111.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="3200" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic6hPSbemw-8DcXkrZGcUVMFoQ1YY_5XGWsveoGNG5zQNxB30Et-_5_PLHnEVquTzWBTtcGpnM6RLVJXAQm1CGtIi2lvpClaO6-FS9UCmd0-l_qXX2sQcXWWLbPttmavzJocXash6hL0xfrrcbdL3YkTFvs8IgADLOmdAe81Ez2rVmUyyxvCkGA/w400-h230/11111111111.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Grey hair and genetics<a name="grey-hair-and-genetics"></a><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The average age for grey hair varies greatly, and one
of the main causes of grey hair in your 20s is genetics.
The age at which a person’s hair turns grey is influenced
by the IRF4 gene, and one specific variant (rs12203592)
is a marker for premature greying.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The IFR4 gene controls that activity
of another gene called TYR, which encodes an enzyme that
is needed for melanin production. It has been suggested that the
rs12203592 variant affects the activity of melanocyte precursor cells, but
it’s currently unclear whether this hypothesis is correct.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Other causes of grey hair<a name="what-causes-grey-hair"></a><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In addition to ageing, other causes of grey
hair include genetics, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and health problems.
These factors affect how melanocytes function and can cause premature grey hair
by lowering the production of pigment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Stress and grey hair<a name="stress-and-grey-hair"></a><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There are several ways in which psychological stress
can affect the hair shaft. The most common hair-related side effect
of stress is <i>telogen effluvium</i>, which makes hair fall out
about three times faster than usual. In middle age and later, the hair may
grow back grey.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">In rare cases, hair may suddenly turn white. This
condition is known as Marie Antoinette Syndrome, whose hair
reportedly went grey overnight before her beheading.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">But does stress cause grey hair? In humans,
we don’t know. One study in mice showed that, when exposed
to stress, their fur turns grey, but whether this is true
in humans remains unknown.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Nutrient deficiencies<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Several micronutrient deficiencies have been detected
in people with premature grey hair. Low levels of group
B vitamins (folic acid, biotin, and B12), vitamin D, iron, and selenium
have been associated with grey hair in childhood and young adults.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Smoking<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Early grey hair is more likely to affect people
who smoke according to a 2013 study. It has been suggested that
smoking, like air pollution, generates reactive oxygen species (unstable oxygen
molecules) that damage the biochemical process of melanin production.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Medical Causes<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The vast majority of people with gray hair have
age-related graying. However, sometimes graying hair indicates an illness,
especially if it occurs at a particularly young age. Health problems that may
be heralded by gray hair include:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->vitamin B<sub>12 </sub>deficiency<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->neurofibromatosis (also called Von
Recklinghausen's disease): this group of inherited diseases causes tumors to
grow along nerves and abnormal development of the bones and skin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->tuberous sclerosis: an uncommon, inherited
condition that causes benign tumors in multiple organs (including the brain,
heart, kidneys, eyes, lungs, and skin).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->thyroid disease<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->vitiligo: this condition causes melanocytes (the
cells at the base of hair follicles that produce color) to be lost or destroyed
— perhaps because the immune system "misfires" and attacks the scalp
rather than an infection.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->alopecia areata: a disorder in which patches of
hair may be suddenly lost, especially the colored (non-gray) hairs. This may
lead to "overnight" graying because previously present gray or white
hairs suddenly become more obvious. When hair growth resumes, it may be white
or gray, but colored hair may eventually return.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6qZnCUad9k83JHxO1qLDctfHEPYViAEsjoG0Ha05FrOyi_PcZLFlxLe_Hs1KYrgyzeEGKYQnkqKrPHPFQyAgXZJhDF2aa1v_PqP7K8dQRuhtVK2wYwazY1X4Dh3xt1eGtA_BSRL-tVQmW5mYSMVHKVypPMemBcpZqfbequhv_fsagQSpaxrcZg/s425/22222222222222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="425" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6qZnCUad9k83JHxO1qLDctfHEPYViAEsjoG0Ha05FrOyi_PcZLFlxLe_Hs1KYrgyzeEGKYQnkqKrPHPFQyAgXZJhDF2aa1v_PqP7K8dQRuhtVK2wYwazY1X4Dh3xt1eGtA_BSRL-tVQmW5mYSMVHKVypPMemBcpZqfbequhv_fsagQSpaxrcZg/w400-h309/22222222222222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Mechanism<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A study published April 19, 2023, may have
answered why our hair turns gray as we age.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine studied
melanocyte stem cells in mice — a type of cell that’s also found in humans —
and discovered that these cells may eventually get “stuck” as one ages,
eventually losing the ability to move between growth compartments in hair
particles and produce the pigment that provides hair color.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">If this result is also applicable to humans, researchers
are hopeful it could lead to the discovery of a way to prevent hair from losing
its youthful hue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">“The newfound mechanisms raise the possibility that the
same fixed-positioning of melanocyte stem cells may exist in humans,” Qi Sun,
the study’s lead investigator, said in a press release. “If so, it
presents a potential pathway for reversing or preventing the graying of human
hair by helping jammed cells to move again between developing hair follicle
compartments.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Sources and Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05960-6">https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05960-6</a>?<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/grey-hair-causes/">https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/grey-hair-causes/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/hair-turn-gray-2017091812226">https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/hair-turn-gray-2017091812226</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gray-hair-can-return-to-its-original-color-mdash-and-stress-is-involved-of-course/">https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gray-hair-can-return-to-its-original-color-mdash-and-stress-is-involved-of-course/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-32857054922631513752023-04-16T03:24:00.003-07:002023-04-16T03:24:53.396-07:00Jack Teixeira: What we know about him?<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Court Appearance<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Jack Teixeira appeared in federal court for the first
time on Friday, April 14, 2023, in handcuffs. Authorities have charged him with
unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents and materials. If
found guilty, Teixeira faces up to 15 years behind bars. He did not enter a
plea.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gu_MArlnAIY3F_GzTBy8EK6ieNlrFzFPS8EgQZnqz6BSf5aFauZiLtBmNvY1LAGljs_sNKbmCs6pNUmDq4iNy7-dtFNTf1G2fYEM26FMIIi5Z8OOsqHw5CkB0thSlUOQ7kcYn_hxbMiMLcXhJ8dO4lVeemLPdTfYEFP4WTSOv5NAaLzYM4g7Qw/s764/11111111111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="764" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gu_MArlnAIY3F_GzTBy8EK6ieNlrFzFPS8EgQZnqz6BSf5aFauZiLtBmNvY1LAGljs_sNKbmCs6pNUmDq4iNy7-dtFNTf1G2fYEM26FMIIi5Z8OOsqHw5CkB0thSlUOQ7kcYn_hxbMiMLcXhJ8dO4lVeemLPdTfYEFP4WTSOv5NAaLzYM4g7Qw/w400-h301/11111111111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Security Breach<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Jack Teixeira allegedly first leaked the files on the
online chatroom platform Discord, which is popular among gamers. Known as
"OG", he was seen as the leader of an invitation-only chatroom called
Thug Shaker Central which he created during the height of the coronavirus
pandemic in 2020.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Washington Post reported that the group - which had
about two dozen members - swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle
chitchat". They reportedly watched films together, discussed their favorite
guns, and messaged extensively about the war in Ukraine.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Before he shared the images of the intelligence in
January, Mr Teixeira allegedly wrote up versions of the sensitive information
and shared it to the chatroom. But he reportedly began sharing photos of the
files after becoming frustrated with the lack of response. This began around
January 2023. At first, the leaks were kept inside the small chatroom, but in
early March, members began posting them on other Discord servers, including
ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Jack Teixeira Views<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The channel leader and his team shared the following
interests:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Video gaming<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Orthodox Catholicism<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Guns<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Racist and antisemitic memes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Right-wing ideology<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This information came from the group members, but also
from the video clips, and among them Jack recorded himself making antisemitic
and racist slurs before opening fire on a target.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">No surprise that Donald Trump Jr. praises Jack Teixeira
as a "hero" in interview with Catturd, and Marjorie Taylor Greene
said that the only faut of the guy is that he is white, male, Christian, and
antiwar. That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Further Investigation Steps<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Upon his return to the U.S. from Ireland Friday evening,
President Joe Biden addressed a couple of questions that have not yet been
answered. He told reporters he has asked the Defense Department "to make
sure they get to the root of why [Teixeira] had access in the first place, No.
1, and No. 2, to focus extensively on the extent to which it all occurred. And
that's going on right now." The president told reporters he didn't think
the investigation would take long: "We are getting to the bottom of it
quicker than I anticipated."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Earlier in the day, he issued a statement commending
"the rapid action taken by law enforcement to investigate and respond to
the recent dissemination of classified U.S. government documents." Mr.
Biden added, "I have directed our military and intelligence community to
take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information,
and our national security team is closely coordinating with our partners and
allies."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6C4oFaKOX1ph4bYyBd4GWXRmrQUJGOl8Bf8zL4V64rlQGeud3-XIsgP4n4pZ2pPDzzxM_DOvAUq4r65sE2UNXnuJox20tcO3nOUmK8vZ554VsZI6LiJtcn2eO1xVrA2tJXyT4yGlBS49KoJb0IkcPPKrbqlhE_5-JgbddhnQ5t0E9dCNt8IbDw/s974/2222222222.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="974" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6C4oFaKOX1ph4bYyBd4GWXRmrQUJGOl8Bf8zL4V64rlQGeud3-XIsgP4n4pZ2pPDzzxM_DOvAUq4r65sE2UNXnuJox20tcO3nOUmK8vZ554VsZI6LiJtcn2eO1xVrA2tJXyT4yGlBS49KoJb0IkcPPKrbqlhE_5-JgbddhnQ5t0E9dCNt8IbDw/w400-h264/2222222222.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Sources and Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65271348">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65271348</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1169952771/jack-teixeira-background-pentagon-document-leak">https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1169952771/jack-teixeira-background-pentagon-document-leak</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-teixeira-what-we-know-man-charged-pentagon-leaks-case/">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-teixeira-what-we-know-man-charged-pentagon-leaks-case/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/3949172-what-we-know-about-suspected-pentagon-leaker-jack-teixera/">https://thehill.com/homenews/3949172-what-we-know-about-suspected-pentagon-leaker-jack-teixera/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><a href="https://forward.com/fast-forward/543082/leaker-of-classified-documents-posted-antisemitic-content/">https://forward.com/fast-forward/543082/leaker-of-classified-documents-posted-antisemitic-content/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-51782069160086301462022-04-29T09:14:00.000-07:002022-04-29T09:14:02.904-07:00Memory, Dignity and Justice<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>April 28, 2022 is a Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes'
Remembrance Day <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>In 2022, the theme guiding the United Nations Holocaust
remembrance and education is “Memory, Dignity and Justice”. Holocaust
commemoration and education is a global imperative in the third decade of the
21st century. The writing of history and the act of remembering brings dignity
and justice to those whom the perpetrators of the Holocaust intended to
obliterate. Safeguarding the historical record, remembering the victims,
challenging the distortion of history often expressed in contemporary
antisemitism, are critical aspects of claiming justice after atrocity crimes.
The theme encompasses these concerns.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEymbHemGPsutlV9r6IZQ2_rlF_Gs1jIxSXD0NYeKg8dTEJsGhxZjjYHJ7V8gCbWie2-Tx2xyVpjR0WLP-VZ_VB7lEMheBZ-1lqfpEbEeaF8pAAUfiu4Dgaq5bmnWPOsNY9oGwumPBcs_pbcT5B_3vdx3cQSLT8zJj5_NAwq7Y4g7Mvqnj4ELYA/s1400/66935A-1400x1005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1400" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEymbHemGPsutlV9r6IZQ2_rlF_Gs1jIxSXD0NYeKg8dTEJsGhxZjjYHJ7V8gCbWie2-Tx2xyVpjR0WLP-VZ_VB7lEMheBZ-1lqfpEbEeaF8pAAUfiu4Dgaq5bmnWPOsNY9oGwumPBcs_pbcT5B_3vdx3cQSLT8zJj5_NAwq7Y4g7Mvqnj4ELYA/w400-h288/66935A-1400x1005.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Author: Erik Elman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1939, before WWII, there were 16.6 million Jews
worldwide. Today, in 2022, there are still only 15.2 million Jews living on
this planet - like in 1922. Sergio Della Pergola calculated, that, if not for
Holocaust, the Jewish population of the world would be close to 40 million
today. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, here's your real number - it's not just 6 million. It's
their unborn children, and their children's children, mighty and fruitful
branches cut off from the trunk before they had a chance to grow, the echo of
the slaughter, coming down to us, generation after generation, empty spaces in
our collective conscience, erased genes that will never enrich our collective
potential, friends we will never have, loves we will never celebrate, voices
that will never be heard, ideas that will never be born. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">People say, "yes, but Israel". Yes, but nothing.
Israel is not "an answer" to Holocaust, American Jewish prosperity is
not an answer either. We are still a remnant, all that is left. We have our
triumphs, yes. We survive and thrive. But if you stop for a moment and
comprehend what was lost, you understand how diminished we are. How wounded.
How - beneath all this swagger and confidence - traumatized and broken. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is what genocide does - it doesn't just destroy those
it can reach. It stays with the survivors. It reminds them that they are the
unworthy ones who got lucky, stoking their grief and guilt. And once it
happens, the terrible marker goes down in history, a finger pointing out to the
Jews, saying "IT CAN BE DONE", and what could be done once, can be
done again. And everybody around us knows it. And we know that they know.<o:p></o:p></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-59418988625388525632022-04-25T15:28:00.006-07:002022-04-25T15:29:55.048-07:00Mariupol before and after<p> Before and after photos of Mariupol show devastation of
city when “Russian World” came there to “save the people” from their elected
government. Based on the latest estimates of April 11, more than 10,000
civilians have died in the Russian siege of his city, and that the death toll
could surpass 20,000, with more detailed investigation, when the city will be
liberated.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Not many words. Just pictures – before and after. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lZU_wheb8WR7A7WHNxqgjA0IXQvaVjv0p0KKxRpK2irUYedQfx8LLBLQqevWlnJjoRhEHP_G4i1bYI1-zXyK8gKKMD3Wc0kw7ZyFWgA-2DZvutparCFtstOn-rhexrHo3bIO1eR70kt4hR6Cm7AbNQ8udN6dSLsfy2GDOp8R2DJvYEcuXTEyKw/s940/61557291_403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="940" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lZU_wheb8WR7A7WHNxqgjA0IXQvaVjv0p0KKxRpK2irUYedQfx8LLBLQqevWlnJjoRhEHP_G4i1bYI1-zXyK8gKKMD3Wc0kw7ZyFWgA-2DZvutparCFtstOn-rhexrHo3bIO1eR70kt4hR6Cm7AbNQ8udN6dSLsfy2GDOp8R2DJvYEcuXTEyKw/w400-h225/61557291_403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMHMRfwyczYS5Rv2y92SgNWeqble_mKi2e0JQRnk6nAA9YkxiUYIJz-xDLCbsIMikVaJMZgNEMb817QWCM0DyhdbVINlQA2skHHVxYQV29VXsh8xFqUfPE4W70h1G6X61UypBsl8sq-Cw45lCPbYCMbsJCT-rav4DUjp8WugwQDlowzuwU5Xqpw/s971/RailwayStation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="881" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMHMRfwyczYS5Rv2y92SgNWeqble_mKi2e0JQRnk6nAA9YkxiUYIJz-xDLCbsIMikVaJMZgNEMb817QWCM0DyhdbVINlQA2skHHVxYQV29VXsh8xFqUfPE4W70h1G6X61UypBsl8sq-Cw45lCPbYCMbsJCT-rav4DUjp8WugwQDlowzuwU5Xqpw/w363-h400/RailwayStation.jpg" width="363" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZEggc9Bp6OsovKedMXoNkaCpGxDHRwa7TB1vHWf2Vol49qgYurOkOuliQmFxF9w6MyLYSpbdvY-iOsntNO2jUkPB3oBj1MhZlZZceRictW25Ny7JNsv7HTnQ91Rs-z2jdE2LKWtzZNHCUFOt6huOUKKOOZXetHfyS4_Z38YbjygCpEtXWxo2lA/s966/theatre.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="966" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZEggc9Bp6OsovKedMXoNkaCpGxDHRwa7TB1vHWf2Vol49qgYurOkOuliQmFxF9w6MyLYSpbdvY-iOsntNO2jUkPB3oBj1MhZlZZceRictW25Ny7JNsv7HTnQ91Rs-z2jdE2LKWtzZNHCUFOt6huOUKKOOZXetHfyS4_Z38YbjygCpEtXWxo2lA/w400-h266/theatre.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt1ST-SQGKg6w1b5QrvmRCR9T09N9_61O-r9UeHEWY3E5to1upsXa9o9maDFF3OjjRzBhP9pzabe0gOHEIN9rjkKnZIjFETF-bDkQTEFouSSTRQTFBKzaQkCZOVg147Zzd-1hSrhy5z-IjShwSWfMY3P9NoJUm37VwHTbqD9cDA2g5t3gobkkzg/s893/Capture1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="893" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTt1ST-SQGKg6w1b5QrvmRCR9T09N9_61O-r9UeHEWY3E5to1upsXa9o9maDFF3OjjRzBhP9pzabe0gOHEIN9rjkKnZIjFETF-bDkQTEFouSSTRQTFBKzaQkCZOVg147Zzd-1hSrhy5z-IjShwSWfMY3P9NoJUm37VwHTbqD9cDA2g5t3gobkkzg/w400-h399/Capture1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-65800421963234544392022-04-24T22:46:00.001-07:002022-04-24T22:46:06.477-07:00Love in Kyiv<p> <i>Written by
Natalka Bilotserkivets and translated by Andrew Sorokowsky</i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30_5JbmCCAubaniDqurlvkoIvDY1CjaJFxDiH6Pwo5_GY0yODrP4Q8sw3jrTQt6QOJobyUoG16HgX6Ryr-gAsNCCRIR5LdhejEzHH6SHAgNZnF8y5RzS4kxCNL1hREV6310F3TwROAsS55bF-Pkb9gi7b6NHKk7hghf2ixuAjNxsdfScrlKHjrg/s745/234768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="745" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30_5JbmCCAubaniDqurlvkoIvDY1CjaJFxDiH6Pwo5_GY0yODrP4Q8sw3jrTQt6QOJobyUoG16HgX6Ryr-gAsNCCRIR5LdhejEzHH6SHAgNZnF8y5RzS4kxCNL1hREV6310F3TwROAsS55bF-Pkb9gi7b6NHKk7hghf2ixuAjNxsdfScrlKHjrg/w400-h300/234768.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">More terrible is love in Kyiv than<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Magnificent Venetian passions. Butterflies<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Fly light and maculate into bright tapers –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Dead caterpillars’ brilliant wings aflame!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And spring has lit the chestnuts’ candles!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Cheap lipstick’s tender taste,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The daring innocence of miniskirts,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And these coiffures, that are not cut quite right –<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Yet image, memory, and signs still move us…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Tragically obvious, like the latest hit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’ll die here by a scoundrel’s knife,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Your blood will spread like rust inside a brand<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">New Audi in an alley in Tatarka.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’ll plunge here from a balcony, the sky,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Down headlong to your dirty little Paris<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Dressed in a blouse of secretarial white.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You can’t discern the weddings from the deaths…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">For love in Kyiv is more terrible than<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ideas of New Communism: specters<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Emerge in the intoxicated nights<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Out of Bald Mountain, bearing in their hands<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Red flags and pots of red geraniums.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’ll die here by a scoundrel’s knife,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">You’ll plunge here from a balcony, the sky, in<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A brand-new Audi from an alley in Tatarka<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Down headlong to your dirty little Paris<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Your blood will spread like rust<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">upon a blouse of secretarial white.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW9Ga3m_Ff5QGM-YobCWf1OLsYh71u1qhdRFW9H4fD1ShmC5MfqO0p_9GMgk3Z2XmbdwIcv5rjgBGZUuqSL7DyZyBBbLnugsebqsgVLKY_LjCoQEtNGQEdv1UauRnKpKBK-E5RgliT20h-_NP_rmr0ZZLUEpEy-kaa35j_f5Pk-RtBYkQI7wKxA/s1920/3Lk34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1920" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW9Ga3m_Ff5QGM-YobCWf1OLsYh71u1qhdRFW9H4fD1ShmC5MfqO0p_9GMgk3Z2XmbdwIcv5rjgBGZUuqSL7DyZyBBbLnugsebqsgVLKY_LjCoQEtNGQEdv1UauRnKpKBK-E5RgliT20h-_NP_rmr0ZZLUEpEy-kaa35j_f5Pk-RtBYkQI7wKxA/w400-h250/3Lk34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Natalka Bilotserkivets is an acclaimed poet, editor,
and translator. Her poems have been anthologized and translated into a dozen of
European languages.</i><o:p></o:p></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-59409269046740411562022-04-20T21:09:00.005-07:002022-04-20T21:09:59.316-07:00A Poem from Ukraine<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Author: Vasyl Stus<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Translated from Ukrainian by Artem Pulemotov</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignDdUbnKtsgqNPh8O5XNp9U81guArO-w-nxEfDulrBcIguFnI9PnkSbQTto0LNYNYoh9fJUSb6LL7-gvXuB4X1WWLwwPCfJMW7XY-KMHzhDJ_L_Yj_WYp86f7Rj1f-SPioXdh9ie98vb-pO12MLql6nmwG4EkMk_lLmINN494wfIcDH3lfgxD3w/s960/stusstatue-w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignDdUbnKtsgqNPh8O5XNp9U81guArO-w-nxEfDulrBcIguFnI9PnkSbQTto0LNYNYoh9fJUSb6LL7-gvXuB4X1WWLwwPCfJMW7XY-KMHzhDJ_L_Yj_WYp86f7Rj1f-SPioXdh9ie98vb-pO12MLql6nmwG4EkMk_lLmINN494wfIcDH3lfgxD3w/w400-h266/stusstatue-w.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So many words; they are like crippled ghosts!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They strike, like bullets, far and close by<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But always miss the essence of my life;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They come in rows.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through these deceitful words I walk and shamble.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is a fight; I’m on the battlefield,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where all my soldiers are the words I wield,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And treason’s sown by memories that scramble . . .<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Don’t end up fooled when in the good you trust,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And don’t get lost in your afflictions’ mire.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As one remembers things, one grows more tired;<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The day I tire, I will die and thus<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hide in the hues of night unseen by most,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where they don’t know happiness or wrath,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where they don’t live but chew their own death.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So many words; they are like crippled ghosts!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Vasyl Stus</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> (1938–1985) was one of the most
significant Ukrainian poets of the second half of the twentieth century. A
poet, translator, literary critic, and journalist, he was prosecuted by the
Soviet government for his views on art and politics and died in a Siberian
prison. His works have gained fame and popularity since the collapse of the
Soviet Union, particularly in the twenty-first century.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWswGSYdTgYtiE0Bu2ibLeMqfwFip2WDPXsgZgdBi8NvckZTK7GCPHMfOWSp8ytfmhdFJcMZdwv6Vj2XKvYiVZqyrcULYFh93gMEzVJUbwksKmZMtwo4rpAM0vFmLa4DjKVe2WMv1jrfofRWXObCgLMrCcIu0rnvsZ5xUAALCraMGDJwyYjU74w/s2692/images-autor_articles-stus_1_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1818" data-original-width="2692" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWswGSYdTgYtiE0Bu2ibLeMqfwFip2WDPXsgZgdBi8NvckZTK7GCPHMfOWSp8ytfmhdFJcMZdwv6Vj2XKvYiVZqyrcULYFh93gMEzVJUbwksKmZMtwo4rpAM0vFmLa4DjKVe2WMv1jrfofRWXObCgLMrCcIu0rnvsZ5xUAALCraMGDJwyYjU74w/w400-h270/images-autor_articles-stus_1_0.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Source: <a href="https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/blog/poetry/poem-ukraine-vasyl-stus">https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/blog/poetry/poem-ukraine-vasyl-stus</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-34711427918374813622022-04-18T21:17:00.005-07:002022-04-18T21:17:40.483-07:00No War<p> <i>Author: Halyna Kruk, March
17, 2022</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You’re standing with a “No War” sign as if to redeem<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the irreversible: this war can’t be stopped,<br />
like bright arterial blood from an open wound<br />
it flows till it kills,<br />
it enters our cities with the armed men,<br />
seeps into our courtyards with the reconnaissance units,<br />
like deadly mercury beads that can’t be put back,<br />
you can’t fix it, except to find and neutralize it,<br />
these civilian managers, clerks, IT-guys and students,<br />
life didn’t prepare them for street fights, but the war did,<br />
on the frontline, in a painfully familiar landscape, in a hurry<br />
at first they only recruit experienced combat fighters to the defense units,<br />
after that gamers who play Dune and Fallout,<br />
or maybe if you’ve had a short-course in Molotov cocktails from a bartender you
know,<br />
at the local club while the kids are asleep, the kids are crying, the kids are
being born<br />
into a world temporarily unfit for life<br />
Out on the playground they’re assembling Czech hedgehogs,<br />
and nuclear families are mixing deadly “drinks.”<br />
whole families, finally enjoying a conversation<br />
and a collective project—war shortens the distance<br />
from person to person, from birth to death,<br />
from what we never wished for—<br />
to what it turned out we were capable of<br />
“Mom, pick up the phone,” a woman’s been pleading for two hours in the
apartment building basement,<br />
stubborn and dense, she won’t stop believing in a miracle<br />
but her mother is out of cell phone range, in the suburbs,<br />
where the prefab collapsed like cheap Legos<br />
from the massive strikes, where just yesterday broadcast towers<br />
stopped connecting people, where the world got blown up into pre- and post-war<br />
along the uneven fold of the “no war” sign,<br />
which you’ll toss in the nearest trash,<br />
on your way home from the protest, Russian poet,<br />
war kills with the hands of the indifferent<br />
and even the hands of idle sympathizers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Translated from the Ukrainian by Amelia Glaser and Yuliya
Ilchuk.</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Source:
<a href="https://lithub.com/war-shortens-the-distance-from-person-to-person-from-birth-to-death-new-work-by-ukrainian-poet-halyna-kruk/">https://lithub.com/war-shortens-the-distance-from-person-to-person-from-birth-to-death-new-work-by-ukrainian-poet-halyna-kruk/</a></span></i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR1gV9FiC-TcjL03DDUtxq-bAEekLVijjc17rbPIXgMByAGpW-WM-mF8sqfvrIFbDQrwoRU_wzJ4XpiinFEYeJ0pm8mx0GruBXBsT-YAJGbh5AjhZPq_AScLOCe4s6LyQ1eR-rs2uHJRmadh8E7jyw4-noeUS88w0evZKkoxl3H58wRfQzgrQvw/s540/Snap5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOR1gV9FiC-TcjL03DDUtxq-bAEekLVijjc17rbPIXgMByAGpW-WM-mF8sqfvrIFbDQrwoRU_wzJ4XpiinFEYeJ0pm8mx0GruBXBsT-YAJGbh5AjhZPq_AScLOCe4s6LyQ1eR-rs2uHJRmadh8E7jyw4-noeUS88w0evZKkoxl3H58wRfQzgrQvw/w366-h400/Snap5.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-63838763031184676032022-04-17T22:33:00.001-07:002022-04-17T22:33:22.819-07:00War Crimes of the Russian Soldiers<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All parties to the
armed conflict in Ukraine are obligated to abide by international humanitarian
law, or the laws of war, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the First
Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, and customary international law.
Belligerent armed forces that have effective control of an area are subject to
the international law of occupation. International human rights law, which is
applicable at all times, also applies.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The laws of war
prohibit willful killing, rape and other sexual violence, torture, and inhumane
treatment of captured combatants and civilians in custody. Pillage and looting
are also prohibited. Anyone who orders or deliberately commits such acts, or
aids and abets them, is responsible for war crimes. Commanders of forces who
knew or had reason to know about such crimes but did not attempt to stop them
or punish those responsible are criminally liable for war crimes as a matter of
command responsibility.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB751PLxNbsyJX8JqSvXeMlj-TaJU6HgVmK72Et0wEMWXKPhqdx7YzxxQYCzvgQhdb3SU0YPF_hgHyj0e15Tm3HvMri6ngtMURGykPPxrRXcENskpF9QOytNHTZkbnkis0pDNKMQgdotU1DjgEwoXPrwCVPYZspYtI6Tck0F2MaQnt_H_3A9Xo6g/s526/278565747_10158180329767331_7313917840202458781_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="526" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB751PLxNbsyJX8JqSvXeMlj-TaJU6HgVmK72Et0wEMWXKPhqdx7YzxxQYCzvgQhdb3SU0YPF_hgHyj0e15Tm3HvMri6ngtMURGykPPxrRXcENskpF9QOytNHTZkbnkis0pDNKMQgdotU1DjgEwoXPrwCVPYZspYtI6Tck0F2MaQnt_H_3A9Xo6g/w400-h386/278565747_10158180329767331_7313917840202458781_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just few facts with no comments:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Irpin:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* 9 y.o. girl was raped by 11 (at least 11 sperm samples
were found) soldiers, then they cut the letter “Z” on her chest and ripped her
stomach open. Her parents were killed in front of her.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* Mother, father, 3 daughters 5, 8, 17 years old. Russians
settled in their house. The father was shot dead the same day. They raped the
children in front of the mother, she was raped too. Girls aged 5 and 8, died
from rape and injuries. 17 years old daughter and mother survived, but they are
in critical condition in hospital.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* Mother, father, 11 years old daughter and their shepherd.
The father was shot. The dog was cut for 4 hours in front of the child and
mother. During 1 week, the mother was raped in front of her child.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Bucha:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* Mother, father, daughter 9 years old and son 5 years old. Soldiers
from the Kadyrov brigade entered their private house. The father’s hands were
tied, he was brought to his knees and shot in front of his wife and children.
The next day, the boy's genitals were cut off, he died of bleeding. The mother
and daughter were raped for 2 weeks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* Mother, father, grandparents and 2 years old girl. They
found all dead in the house. Father with their hands tied and shot. The child
has a cut throat. Mother with torn genitals and slaughtered.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* 14 years old girl was raped by 5 Russian occupiers. She’s
pregnant now. The laughed that now she will remember quite well the Russian
World <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* 11 years old boy was raped in front of his mother. She was
tied to a chair to watch.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">* 25 girls and women aged 14 to 24 were systematically raped
in the basement. Nine of them are pregnant. Russian soldiers told them they
would rape them to the point where they wouldn't want sexual contact with any
man, to prevent them from having Ukrainian children.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEUgt996qJ0xAmP24jAazux-nM1ZfI60W8UIgWnsgURB_HLbY-BuI0F9OcqR8LAWCrU0b5uYLiu81FSYCCjySOFGzy68uh4HvlF3bzELOZi2ukn4rQN2Q1kj3wOk0QzxdNsLgI3frQZAEKZXL-HGSDN3C7FKGn8O838mEgpTbS4yMYWG9d_UuPg/s695/Snap4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="695" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEUgt996qJ0xAmP24jAazux-nM1ZfI60W8UIgWnsgURB_HLbY-BuI0F9OcqR8LAWCrU0b5uYLiu81FSYCCjySOFGzy68uh4HvlF3bzELOZi2ukn4rQN2Q1kj3wOk0QzxdNsLgI3frQZAEKZXL-HGSDN3C7FKGn8O838mEgpTbS4yMYWG9d_UuPg/w400-h399/Snap4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As individuals,
Russian soldiers are no more brutal than any other. But they operate within an
institutional culture that tacitly allows and actively encourages barbaric
behavior. Radio intercepts reveal them discussing the killing of civilians as a
deliberate tactic. Putin’s propaganda machine has dehumanized the Ukrainians,
making it much easier for his troops to brutalize them.<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sources and Additional
Information: <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/03/ukraine-apparent-war-crimes-russia-controlled-areas">https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/03/ukraine-apparent-war-crimes-russia-controlled-areas</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3264042-the-russian-army-has-a-long-history-of-brutality-ukraine-is-no-exception/">https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3264042-the-russian-army-has-a-long-history-of-brutality-ukraine-is-no-exception/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61071243">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61071243</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/17/world/europe/ukraine-war-russia-atrocities.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/17/world/europe/ukraine-war-russia-atrocities.html</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://time.com/6166681/bucha-massacre-ukraine-dispatch/">https://time.com/6166681/bucha-massacre-ukraine-dispatch/</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-50099073477698841752022-04-07T17:33:00.000-07:002022-04-07T17:33:07.724-07:00Resistance by Simon Armitage<p>Here is the laureate’s poem about the invasion of Ukraine, written in solidarity with those under fire</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Resistance</span></p><p><br /></p><p><i>Author: Simon Armitage, March 11, 2022</i></p><p><br /></p><p>It’s war again: a family</p><p> carries its family out of a pranged house</p><p> under a burning thatch.</p><p><br /></p><p>The next scene smacks</p><p> of archive newsreel: platforms and trains</p><p> (never again, never again),</p><p><br /></p><p>toddlers passed</p><p> over heads and shoulders, lifetimes stowed</p><p> in luggage racks.</p><p><br /></p><p>It’s war again: unmistakable smoke</p><p> on the near horizon mistaken</p><p> for thick fog. Fingers crossed.</p><p><br /></p><p>An old blue tractor</p><p> tows an armored tank</p><p> into no-man’s land.</p><p><br /></p><p>It’s the ceasefire hour: godspeed the columns</p><p> of winter coats and fur-lined hoods,</p><p> the high-wire walk</p><p><br /></p><p>over buckled bridges</p><p> managing cases and bags,</p><p> balancing west and east - godspeed.</p><p><br /></p><p>It’s war again: the woman in black</p><p> gives sunflower seeds to the soldier, insists</p><p> his marrow will nourish</p><p><br /></p><p>the national flower. In dreams</p><p> let bullets be birds, let cluster bombs</p><p> burst into flocks.</p><p><br /></p><p>False news is news</p><p> with the pity</p><p> edited out. It’s war again:</p><p><br /></p><p>an air-raid siren can’t fully mute</p><p> the cathedral bells -</p><p> let’s call that hope.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Source: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/11/resistance-by-simon-armitage-ukraine-poem">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/11/resistance-by-simon-armitage-ukraine-poem</a></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqOnAFw4yYDOMkGlVvFpvuZ1GO9BdZw_1zswx0c-io0erlSJJ7VzcRcq7TmJG7LUeD7HCiAjxONotEVwOoDZ-bn_9RGbGUGVqLQH6jClZLLAwvxE33tMjapz1jkNH2ldwDHAWvb8-_JGWa5rjMhuYMGcJJUXJKjF348tjud72e2Chh0ALQOt26Q/s4000/ukraine-protest-data.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2631" data-original-width="4000" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqOnAFw4yYDOMkGlVvFpvuZ1GO9BdZw_1zswx0c-io0erlSJJ7VzcRcq7TmJG7LUeD7HCiAjxONotEVwOoDZ-bn_9RGbGUGVqLQH6jClZLLAwvxE33tMjapz1jkNH2ldwDHAWvb8-_JGWa5rjMhuYMGcJJUXJKjF348tjud72e2Chh0ALQOt26Q/w400-h263/ukraine-protest-data.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><div><br /></div>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-1780859121442122672022-03-09T23:41:00.006-08:002022-03-09T23:44:20.489-08:00A poem inspired by the war in Ukraine<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin
ordered an invasion of Ukraine by Russian armed forces previously concentrated
along the border. Russian soldiers indiscriminately kill civilians to break a
spirit of the Ukrainian people, protecting their country from unprovoked
invasion. Forbidden by the international community weapon is used, like vacuum
and cassette bombs to increase the casualties. Due to the inability to capture
the major cities, the Russian government became desperate, threatening to use chemical
and tactical nuclear weapon, if the Ukrainian people will not lay their arms.
More than 2 million people fled from the country.</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTuaiH_HLskwGJ23ti0_y2NrL0cW3NT4XQ8Nfj-RafwJtmgEPwlq_HFbtBdHJHh_S50G2OunsBxy43P2eWX5_GEPbfdLsPz1THcRrkF9dRkqBd2v4qznaBBhT7M8dgDc-qYtmBn7Y6C3xyWRaU9AShQypYhFyopp1Yq8Mgsclh6wiZuro5fOJYoQ=s825" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="825" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTuaiH_HLskwGJ23ti0_y2NrL0cW3NT4XQ8Nfj-RafwJtmgEPwlq_HFbtBdHJHh_S50G2OunsBxy43P2eWX5_GEPbfdLsPz1THcRrkF9dRkqBd2v4qznaBBhT7M8dgDc-qYtmBn7Y6C3xyWRaU9AShQypYhFyopp1Yq8Mgsclh6wiZuro5fOJYoQ=w400-h224" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fcff01;">A
poem inspired by the war in Ukraine</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Daniel
Pekker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p style="background-color: #fff2cc;"> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
watch a snail, shell curled up like a sleeping child<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">wander
the vast green of a leaf<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">little
bites spot the waxy terrain, the world a feast<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
place your index finger before the snail<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">not a
demand, an invitation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
the snail sluggishly climbs aboard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
slime trail tickles as the frontier is crossed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
there’s a war going on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
watch the clouds and she watches too<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">she
is close enough that you smell lavender<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">all
the stronger when the breeze picks up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">both
chilly and unwilling to move<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">she
points out an anteater wearing a hat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
you feel her fingers gently nudge yours <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">all
the warmer between shivers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
there's a war going on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
sit on the floor, your back leaning on the front door<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it’s
late and you only hear the muffled highway<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
didn’t even take your shoes off yet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
silence hums like a branch under the weight of its fruit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">there’s
nobody to watch, nothing to attend to<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">just
the day seeping through your fingertips into the carpet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
there’s a war going on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
brush your teeth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
there’s a war going on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her
laugh breaks your scowl<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
there’s a war going on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
spot green mold on your toast<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
there’s a war going on<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
set the snail down on another leaf and wonder how it’ll get home<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
then remember that snails carry their homes with them<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
the snail will be okay wherever it ends up<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">and
there’s a war going on</span><o:p style="background-color: white;"></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>March 2022</i></span></p>Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-48764112187170296812019-02-16T20:57:00.000-08:002019-02-16T20:57:04.554-08:0020 Recommendations on how to protect yourself from mobile phone SIM Card swap fraud<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What exactly is a
“SIM-Swap” scam? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Here is one definition: “SIM Swap fraud (also known as
Port-Out scam or SIM splitting) is a type of account takeover fraud that generally
targets a weakness in two-factor authentication & two-step verification,
where the second factor or step is an SMS or a call placed to a mobile
telephone. The fraud exploits a mobile phone operator’s ability to seamlessly
port a telephone number to a new SIM destination. This feature is normally used
where a customer has lost or had their phone stolen.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This type of fraud is not new. It has been with us for
three years, but volume levels have been low. It appears that the specifics of
this con game have been shared with the global community of organized crime,
judging from the recent preponderance of articles in various jurisdictions
about this type of crime. Victims, if they have the courage to report the
crime, and 85% elect not to, based on present estimates, have witnessed their
financial accounts, whether banking, trading, or crypto, suddenly drop to zero.
Law enforcement officials now report a 60% increase from prior complaint
levels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFm0K3GNkTSmaD6xKzFJx_PGT4cTHVcI8ehy9u1WmuFTreCSlES7EuGbfTZz8tsVZ1ms-hLlwR_FgFEHaIetY6m-9NZnHQNijFnp8_z3jXtndb69rD491eCvGtnjLnq_U7-GTXhusPA/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFm0K3GNkTSmaD6xKzFJx_PGT4cTHVcI8ehy9u1WmuFTreCSlES7EuGbfTZz8tsVZ1ms-hLlwR_FgFEHaIetY6m-9NZnHQNijFnp8_z3jXtndb69rD491eCvGtnjLnq_U7-GTXhusPA/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How does this type
of fraud work?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This process goes in several steps. The worst part of
this fraud is that you may be targeted long before the actual crime takes
place.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A fraudster obtains your bank account details
and registers your mobile phone number through phishing or malware. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->He approaches your mobile service provider with
your fake identity proof and, claiming loss of handset or SIM damage, seeks a
duplicate SIM card.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A SIM
swap typically happens using the following methods: Using identity theft to
convince a MNO shop assistant that they are dealing with the account holder; or
by stealing passwords from employees at the mobile operators or mobile dealers.
Bill pay cellular users’ SIM cards can be cloned through a helpdesk by
answering personal verification questions such as a home address or work
number. The situation is more complex for pre-paid customers where the personal
verification questions focus on the latest recharges or last numbers called. By
using a fake ID document and other fake documents a person can also do a SIM
swap at a mobile dealer. If a fraudster gains access (through a stolen
password) to a support agent’s account, or that of a mobile dealer assistant,
the SIM swap process becomes easy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The SIM swap is typically performed late at
night to avoid detection by the victim. Some fraudsters are also encouraging
the victim to switch off their cell phone by harassing them with multiple
calls. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->After the phone is switched off, they do the SIM
swap without fear of detection. Some mobile operators send an SMS notification
that a SIM swap has been requested. To avoid the SIM swap being stopped, the
fraudsters either use the above method or call the victim masquerading as a
mobile operator employee to tell them the SMS was sent by mistake and should be
ignored.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Following verification, the original SIM is deactivated
and a new one is issued to the fraudster.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->He then initiates financial transactions from
your bank account, details of which he had earlier stolen, and receives payment
confirmation requests on the duplicate SIM. Since the original SIM has been deactivated,
the real customer remains unaware of the fraudulent transactions being made on
their account.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x8w77qElzEXmXElmHYjS3vnviQh28iorLv0oujpHfcL3IqfkBfx7G2DriUPU3iUXUuvTbI_JpfQPeZp09tq1dJyq-hSI9ylzdt0eYI3on2kCGL3otlrJapIAK5XpGw2xPdXWvP-RWg/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="500" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x8w77qElzEXmXElmHYjS3vnviQh28iorLv0oujpHfcL3IqfkBfx7G2DriUPU3iUXUuvTbI_JpfQPeZp09tq1dJyq-hSI9ylzdt0eYI3on2kCGL3otlrJapIAK5XpGw2xPdXWvP-RWg/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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As one security professional noted: “A high proportion of
banking customers now have mobile phone numbers linked with their accounts, and
so this attack is becoming common in some regions where this attack was not
previously so common. Unlike mobile malware, SIM fraud attacks are usually
aimed at profitable victims that have been specifically targeted through
successful social engineering.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Andrew Blaich, a security researcher at Lookout, recently
explained in an interview that, “Unlike mobile malware, SIM fraud attacks are
usually aimed at profitable victims that have been specifically targeted
through social engineering. It’s a way attackers are attempting to gain access
to their target’s cell phone communications. There are many public cases of
attackers social engineering their way through a cellular company’s
representative to get a SIM card issued for an account the attacker doesn’t own
or have access to. It appears to be easy to do as all you need is a willing and
susceptible representative at any cellular phone store.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr. Blaich then added: “Once they’ve gained unfettered
access to a victim’s phone number, criminals target bank accounts. Many banks
will send you a code to log into an account or reset a password to a mobile
phone via SMS, which means an attacker committing SIM fraud can request and
receive the code and access your bank. Next, SIM fraudsters mask money
withdrawals using a parallel system. They create a second bank account under
the victim’s name (banks where the victim is already a customer have fewer
security checks).”<o:p></o:p></div>
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There have also been a rash of articles detailing how
employees of local phone stores have facilitated the scams taking place.
Organized crime has used this tactic in many instances around the globe to
coerce staff at the low end of the payscale to pass along critical information.
All manners of threats of physical harm are used to force compliance with the
criminal endeavor.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can you protect
from SIM-Swap scams?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Due to the nature of this scam, it would be extremely
difficult to detect it before it happened. What does happen, once the SIM is
swapped, is that your phone literally dies — No messages or calls in or out. If
your financial account holders have the capability, request alerts in the form
of emails, if and when transfers or major withdrawals take place. Alerts to
your phone will not work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some banks and phone companies are already attacking the
issue from a number of other perspectives, too: “There are multiple
organizational and technical ways to combat SIM fraud — from introducing user
alerting and additional checks for SIM reissuing to sharing knowledge of SIM
swap activity between banks and phone companies. Banks can also consider
looking for behavioral changes through behavioral analysis technology that can
indicate a compromised device. It is possible to check whether your SIM card number
and your international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) are the same. If there
is a discrepancy, your bank could contact you by email or landline to check.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d5ddJPcMvbJtCpCWncEZ5h9cnI7KzrcRb_mf9AWCdnOKLMytOc3_hOytDu-pPCpMWQWDtsfsjdyMoescYLaBD2M4ga28qd-NlXazI9PNuIjNgKHNEJnWeGtIWl-0qvXal_ruk_Tr2g/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="591" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7d5ddJPcMvbJtCpCWncEZ5h9cnI7KzrcRb_mf9AWCdnOKLMytOc3_hOytDu-pPCpMWQWDtsfsjdyMoescYLaBD2M4ga28qd-NlXazI9PNuIjNgKHNEJnWeGtIWl-0qvXal_ruk_Tr2g/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What to do in the
event you become a victim of a SIM swap scam?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If you suspect you are the victim of a SIM swap scam,
immediately call your mobile network operator for assistance. Be sure to call
the right department. They may also have a form on their website for dealing
with cases of fraud, which you can fill in, and they will assist you in an
investigation of the matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Also make sure to call the appropriate department at your
bank, and suspend all activity on your bank account, essentially locking it, so
that nobody is even able to log in to your online banking profile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you are able to, you may consider accessing your
online banking account, and changing your password, as well as changing your
associated email address and mobile phone number, so the notifications and
confirmation SMSes would arrive at a new number and email address. So even if
the criminals succeed with the SIM swap operation, the number they have is no
longer linked to your bank account. But I would more readily recommend that you
just suspend activity on your account, especially in a panic situation or if
you are unsure on how to go about doing all of that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If money ends up getting taken out of your account, then
you need to open a case with the police for theft, preferably within 48 hours
of the fraudulent transfer or withdrawal of funds having taken place. During
this process you may receive documentation from your bank’s claims department,
which will aid in the investigation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You might get your money back, and you might not. The
banks claim that recourse depends on the circumstances of each case. In fact,
some flat out refuse to reimburse a client, often claiming that it was the
client’s fault – that they did something in order to help facilitate the theft.
If you are fighting an uphill battle, it may be a good idea to get legal advice
on the matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes0P6eFyvV-EofTlQ5F93jq9Rd9FI70K3yPTD_dic88Z2X64VwvtTgAyDopMCr6AEmKm6_LWaLRQ9NyAWJd-v2ZJktjrvefgQRPRLF0mzcAPk0t_iJOXhQ32-uhXIPJQffuLBiYG6zg/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes0P6eFyvV-EofTlQ5F93jq9Rd9FI70K3yPTD_dic88Z2X64VwvtTgAyDopMCr6AEmKm6_LWaLRQ9NyAWJd-v2ZJktjrvefgQRPRLF0mzcAPk0t_iJOXhQ32-uhXIPJQffuLBiYG6zg/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some
recommendations<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Make sure to become familiar with existing scams
by reading appropriate blogs, forums, or articles in the newspaper, so when you
see that email or SMS arrive in your inbox, you know it’s bogus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The first warning signal can be your mobile
network. If your phone is out of network continuously for a few hours, it’s an
alert, and you should complain to the mobile network operator immediately.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Always make sure you have suitable anti-virus
software installed and that your firewall is switched on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t ever reply to suspicious emails. Your bank
would never ask you to enter any confidential information in to an email.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t ever click through on links that may lead
you to phishing websites – websites engineered to appear and operate like the
official website. They may download a virus on to your PC, just by visiting
them, which could serve as another means of obtaining your banking account
password(s).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Use your common sense. If you receive an email
claiming to be from your bank, ask yourself if this is the same email address
associated with your online banking account.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t use publicly visible email addresses for
banking. Use a secure, private email address that nobody but you and your bank
knows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Always visit the official website of you bank by
typing in the address. Bookmarking the website isn't safe because there are
forms of malware that could tamper with bookmarks so that they redirect you to
phishing websites.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Only ever try to log in to your online banking
profile via the official website. There are ways to make sure that it’s the
official website – not only by looking at the URL, but by checking the security
certificate, which usually appears in the form of a padlock in your browser.
You could even look up the website on a database, which would confirm whether
the website is safe or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Never disclose your Internet banking password or
personal identification number (PIN) to anyone. Even your bank will never ask
for this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Check your banking statements regularly for
strange or unusual activity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Change your online banking passwords frequently.
I would suggest at least once every 3 months. And make sure it’s a strong
password too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t answer calls or reply to SMSes from
numbers you are not familiar with.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The 20 digits SIM number on the back of your SIM
card is top secret, and never share it with anyone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Even though it may be tempting to put your phone
on silent or switch it off when multiple calls come through, it may not be the
best idea, as this is exactly what the criminal may want you to do so that you
don’t notice anything strange going on with your phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Take note of the number the call or SMS came
from. You can then look up this number on Google, or even contact your mobile
network operator and check with them for more information if you receive a
suspicious call or SMS.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Consider joining a bank that gives you better
security when it comes to banking, especially with online and cellphone
banking. Some banks are known for not being secure with the features they
provide. The same could be said for some cellular networks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If the bank only offers 2-step verification
security that relies on using a mobile phone to access your account, then check
whether or not you can set a backup number, or an email address where you can
at least receive notifications at.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Major carriers in the U.S. offer security that
can help protect against SIM card swapping. Use it to secure your account:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->AT&T
has “extra security,” a feature that requires you provide a passcode for any
online or phone interactions with an AT&T customer representative. You can
turn it on by logging into AT&T’s web dashboard or the myAT&T app.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sprint
asks customers to set a PIN and security questions when they establish service.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->T-Mobile
lets subscribers create a “care password,” which it’ll require when they
contact T-Mobile customer service by phone. You can set one up by visiting a
T-Mobile store or by calling customer care.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Verizon
allows customers to set an account PIN, which they can do by editing their
profile in their online account, calling customer service, or visiting a
Verizon store.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt1XikNQOTn_DB-uwjmjIyxndaKNWYzPa5WToIVhHsz19QkBxzK7N4Wh22qmZ5GpHsyWsxcoQm23fCti1FTyvRDCBYmEqfwkt4OyY7d3bmY5J1Cg5A4CZCH-BRT6zdyrdvs1BGjItoA/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="630" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYt1XikNQOTn_DB-uwjmjIyxndaKNWYzPa5WToIVhHsz19QkBxzK7N4Wh22qmZ5GpHsyWsxcoQm23fCti1FTyvRDCBYmEqfwkt4OyY7d3bmY5J1Cg5A4CZCH-BRT6zdyrdvs1BGjItoA/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sources and
Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.forexfraud.com/news/beware-of-sim-swap-fraud-the-hottest-new-scam-sweeping-the-planet">https://www.forexfraud.com/news/beware-of-sim-swap-fraud-the-hottest-new-scam-sweeping-the-planet</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://toughnickel.com/scams-fraud/sim-swap-fraud">https://toughnickel.com/scams-fraud/sim-swap-fraud</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/what-is-a-sim-swap-fraud-what-are-the-safety-tips/articleshow/67377708.cms">https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/what-is-a-sim-swap-fraud-what-are-the-safety-tips/articleshow/67377708.cms</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/__novadocuments/86670?v=635672843150">https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/__novadocuments/86670?v=635672843150</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/sim-swap-fraud-explained/">https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/sim-swap-fraud-explained/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br />Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-23496091907821445762019-01-28T22:10:00.002-08:002019-01-28T22:10:52.958-08:00Japan, Luxembourg, or Emirates: Which Passport is the Best? <br />
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For some people, a passport is a portal to the world. For
others, it is a barrier to the travel freedom they seek. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Henley Passport
Index<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Henley Passport Index (HPI) is a global ranking of
countries according to the travel freedom for their citizens. It started in
2006 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI) and was modified
and renamed in January 2018. The site provides a ranking of the 199 passports
of the world according to the number of countries their holders can travel to
visa-free. The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes
its visa-free 'score'. In collaboration with the International Air Transport
Association (IATA), and based on official data from their global database.
Henley & Partners has analyzed the visa regulations of all the countries
and territories in the world since 2006.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In 2019, Japan’s passport is ranked the strongest in the
world for the second year running, allowing visa-free access to 190 countries
to an estimated 17.5 million outbound Japanese travelers last year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Asian countries dominate the index’s top spots, with
Singapore and South Korea ranked second, with access to 189 destinations
visa-free or visa-on-arrival. China has also jumped 16 places in the past two
years, from 85th in 2017 to 69th in 2019.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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European countries still fare well, with Germany and
France ranked third, with 188; and Denmark, Finland, Italy and Sweden fourth,
with 187.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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US, sharing its score of 185 with Austria, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, and UK, ranked sixths.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The past decade has seen a marked decline in many African
countries’ rankings, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Gambia and South Africa,
which have all dropped at least 18 places since 2009. Afghanistan and Iraq hold
joint-last place for the third year in a row, with a current
visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 30.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite a rising isolationist sentiment in some regions,
global mobility is improving, with an increase in visa-free access and mutually
beneficial agreements overall. Historical data from the index shows that in
2006, an average passport holder could travel to 58 destinations without
needing a visa; by the end of 2018 this number had almost doubled to 107.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“The general spread of open-door policies has the
potential to contribute billions to the global economy, as well as create
significant employment opportunities around the world,” said Christian H Kälin,
chairman of Henley & Partners and index founder. “South Korea and the
United Arab Emirates’ recent ascent in the rankings are further examples of
what happens when countries take a proactive foreign affairs approach, an
attitude which significantly benefits their citizens as well as the
international community.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Passport Index<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The competitive data monitoring agency Passport Index
will give you completely different story and password ranking trend.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Passport Index is an interactive online tool that
provides users with insights on passports with the ability to compare and rank
the world’s passports. Ranking is based on freedom of movement and visa-free
travel open to holders. Methodology for its ranking is based on freedom of
movement and visa-free travel open to holders.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Surprisingly, here is United Arab Emirates capture the
highest ranking – power rank 1. USA passport is ranked 3, and Japanese passport
is only ranked 4. May be that is because in 2017, The Passport Index was
assigned to monitor the development of the newly launched UAE Passport Force
Initiative, with the aim to position the Emirati passport on the list of the
five most powerful passports in the world by 2021. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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As you see, the target achieved ahead of the schedule.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPlSn0selXlXHycl-vesYKogdptNo1aDtJ-ApOzto-P5a5gNBHCL9tqWfwtiVlf3g-nZtMWPdEett70YNCGJN9yQl2Iv_-4b9bzHShRQPczTBrzSdhURc_c9OSQzCy_EAxE8d3lSI4A/s1600/12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="971" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPlSn0selXlXHycl-vesYKogdptNo1aDtJ-ApOzto-P5a5gNBHCL9tqWfwtiVlf3g-nZtMWPdEett70YNCGJN9yQl2Iv_-4b9bzHShRQPczTBrzSdhURc_c9OSQzCy_EAxE8d3lSI4A/s400/12.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nomad Passport
Index<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Nomad Passport Index ranks 199 citizenships on five
factors, more than any other passport index.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is designed to show the best citizenships in the world
to hold on the basis of visa-free travel, international taxation, perception,
dual citizenship, and personal freedom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It also paints a different picture of the best passports
in the World to hold, and neither Japan, USA, or UAE can be seen among top
countries. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK45kulEW7Bhug6URvcPFPsZtLXaTbQ0rLhl3K-rqSpwrbAa7NBqRIkK_amoqn606xW9fWU_ZwqskDrIbRVIOvEfixLSz4gl7hXOFCyavF0wtJGMAeSnDK5Kr2XRT2syqbPk6-EVo6uA/s1600/13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="829" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK45kulEW7Bhug6URvcPFPsZtLXaTbQ0rLhl3K-rqSpwrbAa7NBqRIkK_amoqn606xW9fWU_ZwqskDrIbRVIOvEfixLSz4gl7hXOFCyavF0wtJGMAeSnDK5Kr2XRT2syqbPk6-EVo6uA/s400/13.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sources and
Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.henleypassportindex.com/">https://www.henleypassportindex.com/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/jan/14/uk-passport-drops-to-sixth-in-global-power-index">https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/jan/14/uk-passport-drops-to-sixth-in-global-power-index</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php">https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passport_Index">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passport_Index</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/nomadcapitalist/nomad_passport_index_2018_.pdf">https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/nomadcapitalist/nomad_passport_index_2018_.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br />Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-71312636916038180222018-08-01T00:02:00.000-07:002018-08-01T00:04:58.756-07:00What to do if you got threatened by Sextortion?<br />
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Today, I have learnt a new English Word – Sextortion. Not
that the issue was not seem before in the Internet Universe (the term has been
introduced about 70 years ago), but just today coincidentally, several of my real
and virtual friends reported their exposure to the new kind of scam.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is
Sextortion?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Based on Wikipedia, Sextortion is a form of sexual
exploitation that employs non-physical forms of coercion to extort sexual
favors from the victim. Sextortion refers to the broad category of sexual
exploitation in which abuse of power is the means of coercion, as well as to
the category of sexual exploitation in which threatened release of sexual
images or information is the means of coercion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sextortion also refers to a form of blackmail in which
sexual information or images are used to extort sexual favors from the victim. Social
media and text messages are often the source of the sexual material and the
threatened means of sharing it with others. An example of this type of
sextortion is where people are extorted with a nude image of themselves they
shared on the Internet through sexting. They are later coerced into performing
sexual acts with the person doing the extorting or are coerced into posing or
performing sexually on camera, thus producing hardcore pornography.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Difference…<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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… yes, there is a difference between the classical
scheme, and the one used to all as a scam. The scammers do not need any sexual
favors. They need money, plain and simple.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And online scammers have been even more innovating of
late. In the last month, one group of ne’er-do-wells has sent out spam emails
telling recipients they’ve been caught watching porn through their webcam, and
if they don’t pay, all their dirty laundry will be aired in public. That’s not
new. But putting a novel twist on that scam, the crooks are sending through
passwords they claim to have stolen as proof they have been spying on the
victim. So far, more than 150 people have coughed up $250,000 in Bitcoin for
fear of their private Web browsing habits being exposed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-8zNeK7f1EDa9fjLuYiQsSoaEcrxox1Bv0Fd2h9dgL1TxBLO89UnR74ggCmje7awbaemktiqbNFT5g-onsIb4r1T2krnYwDtzg2mT-SNQT9U6DfrWKFoBjuIpiXLdmSg7Ku2fXhMwA/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-8zNeK7f1EDa9fjLuYiQsSoaEcrxox1Bv0Fd2h9dgL1TxBLO89UnR74ggCmje7awbaemktiqbNFT5g-onsIb4r1T2krnYwDtzg2mT-SNQT9U6DfrWKFoBjuIpiXLdmSg7Ku2fXhMwA/s400/22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Examples <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 1<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am aware one of your passphrase: password. Lets get
directly to point. Not a single person has compensated me to investigate about
you. You do not know me and you are probably wondering why you're getting this
e mail?actually, I actually installed a software on the adult vids (sex sites)
site and you know what, you visited this web site to have fun (you know what I
mean). When you were viewing videos, your internet browser initiated working as
a Remote control Desktop that has a key logger which provided me access to your
display screen and also web cam. Right after that, my software program
collected your complete contacts from your Messenger, FB, and email . After
that I created a double-screen video. 1st part shows the video you were viewing
(you've got a good taste haha . . .), and 2nd part shows the view of your
webcam, and its u. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You do have only 2 alternatives. We are going to
understand these types of choices in aspects:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1st solution is to disregard this message. In this case,
I am going to send your actual video clip to just about all of your contacts
and thus you can easily imagine about the disgrace you feel. Not to mention
should you be in a relationship, just how it will eventually affect?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Number two choice will be to pay me $3000. We will think
of it as a donation. As a consequence, I most certainly will without delay
eliminate your videotape. You will keep going on your daily life like this never
happened and you will not hear back again from me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You'll make the payment through Bitcoin (if you do not
know this, search for "how to buy bitcoin" in Google).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 2<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hi, victim. I write you because I put а malware on the web
page with porn which you have visited. My virus grabbed all your personal info and
turned on your сamеrа which сaрtured the рroсеss of your onаnism. Just after
that the soft saved your соntaсt list. I will delete the compromising video and
info if you pay me 999 USD in bitcoin. This is address for рaymеnt:
1K2jNTLdbHEwaALQWKMeGoKLWD67Cb6q8B.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I give you 30 hours after you ореn my message for making
the transaction. As soon as you read the mеssаgе, I'll see it right away. It is
not necessary to tell me that you have sent money to me. This address is
соnneсtеd to you, my system will delete everything automatically after transfer
соnfirmаtiоn. If you nееd 48 h just reply on this letter with +. You can visit the
police station but nobody can help you. If you try to deceive me, I'll see it right
away! I don’t live in your соuntry. So, they саn not track my lосаtiоn even for
9 months. Goodbye. Don’t forget аbоut the shame and to ignore, Your life can be
ruined.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 3<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "cambria math" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Cambria Math";">𝕨</span>hat's up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you were more vigilant while playing with yourself, I
wouldn't worry you. I don't think that playing with yourself is very bad, but
when all colleagues, relatives and friends get video record of it- it is
obviously for u.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I adjusted virus on a porn web-site which you have
visited. When the victim press on a play button, device begins recording the
screen and all cameras on your device starts working.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Moreover, my program makes a dedicated desktop supplied
with key logger function from your device , so I could get all contacts from ya
e-mail, messengers and other social networks. I've chosen this e-mail cuz It's
your working address, so u should read it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ì think that 730 usd is pretty enough for this little
false. I made a split screen vid (records from screen (u have interesting tastes)
and camera ooooooh... it’s awful)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So its your choice, if u want me to erase this compromising
evidence use my Bitcoin wallet address-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>1JEjgJzaWAYYXsyVvU2kTTgvR9ENCAGJ35 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You have one day after opening my message, I put the
special tracking pixel in it, so when you will open it I will know. If ya want
me to share proofs with ya, reply on this message and I will send my creation
to five contacts that I've got from ur contacts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
P.S... You can try to complain to cops, but I don't think
that they can solve ur problem, the investigation will last for several months-
I'm from Estonia - so I dgf LOL<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Example 4<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know, password, is your pass word. You may not know me
and you're most likely wondering why you are getting this e mail, correct?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In fact, I placed a malware on the adult vids (porn
material) web-site and you know what, you visited this website to have fun (you
know what I mean). While you were watching video clips, your internet browser
initiated operating as a RDP (Remote Desktop) that has a keylogger which
provided me access to your screen and also webcam. Immediately after that, my
software program gathered your entire contacts from your Messenger, social
networks, as well as email.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What did I do?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I made a double-screen video. 1st part shows the video
you were watching (you have a good taste lmao), and 2nd part shows the
recording of your webcam.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
exactly what should you do?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, I believe, $2900 is a fair price for our little
secret. You'll make the payment by Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search
"how to buy bitcoin" in Google).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BTC Address: 1MQNUSnquwPM9eQgs7KtjDcQZBfaW7iVge<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Note:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You have one day in order to make the payment. (I have a
specific pixel in this email message, and at this moment I know that you have
read through this email message). If I do not get the BitCoins, I will
definitely send out your video recording to all of your contacts including
family members, coworkers, etc. However, if I do get paid, I'll destroy the
video immediately. If you want to have evidence, reply with "Yes!"
and I will certainly send out your video to your 14 contacts. This is the
non-negotiable offer, so please don't waste my personal time and yours by responding
to this email message.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbOPk93gPmbqR0E7f06TiCwYrxxKqZXnjVYbMTbd32U42mJBRa7NT5_7x-0J1oy_pYWeuXjI09vdroM79ZYc2PSAJVFhyKBoHXYmn5GkY2Ha0SJJckBy44nNEUD7GVyD30fgDP6Iy1Q/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="644" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbOPk93gPmbqR0E7f06TiCwYrxxKqZXnjVYbMTbd32U42mJBRa7NT5_7x-0J1oy_pYWeuXjI09vdroM79ZYc2PSAJVFhyKBoHXYmn5GkY2Ha0SJJckBy44nNEUD7GVyD30fgDP6Iy1Q/s400/23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You got one? What
to do?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For most people, who got such letter, it is not fun. At
least one my virtual friend got into serious medical condition due to the
stressful situation, even thou he does not masturbate in front of his computer,
and does not even have camera on his desktop. The mere idea of somebody getting
your password and violating your virtual privacy might be painful to unbearable.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first rule – do not panic. Most likely, they only
have your old password, that’s it. They use the fear of the recipients to
extort money, and if even one out of 10 victims will pay they already justify
their time and efforts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The second rule - do not pay the ransom. As said, this
email still doesn't mean you've been hacked. The scammers in this case likely
matched up a database of emails and stolen passwords and sent this scam out to
potentially millions of people, hoping that enough of them would be worried
enough and pay out that the scam would become profitable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The third rule – do not respond to the email. With this
type of scam, the perpetrator relies on the likelihood that a small number of
people will respond out of a batch of potentially millions. Fundamentally this
isn't that much different from the old Nigerian prince scam, just with a
different hook. By default, they expect most people will not even open the
email, let alone read it. But once they get a response—and a conversation is
initiated—they will likely move into a more advanced stage of the scam. It’s
better to not respond at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prevention,
prevention, prevention!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
According to the FBI, here are some things you can do to
avoid becoming a victim:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
* Never send compromising images of yourself to anyone,
no matter who they are — or who they say they are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
* Don’t open attachments from people you don’t know, and
in general be wary of opening attachments even from those you do know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
* Turn off [and/or cover] any web cameras when you are
not using them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
* Make sure to enable two-factor authentication whenever
that is an option on your online accounts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
* If get affected, stop using the password, that the
scammer used in the phishing email, immediately, and consider employing a
password manager to keep your passwords strong and unique. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sources and
Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextortion">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextortion</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2018/07/31/sextortion-scam-with-hacked-passwords-scores-250000-dollars-for-cybercriminals">https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2018/07/31/sextortion-scam-with-hacked-passwords-scores-250000-dollars-for-cybercriminals</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/07/sextortion-scam-uses-recipients-hacked-passwords/">https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/07/sextortion-scam-uses-recipients-hacked-passwords/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/07/sextortion-scam-what-do-if-you-get-latest-phishing-spam-demanding-bitcoin">https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/07/sextortion-scam-what-do-if-you-get-latest-phishing-spam-demanding-bitcoin</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-48379290839830834512018-02-20T22:43:00.001-08:002018-02-20T22:43:13.824-08:00Medical Cannabis – Safe Chronic Pain Management for Senior Citizens<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Latest Research<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Medical cannabis therapy can significantly reduce chronic
pain in patients age 65 and older without adverse effects, according to
researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and the Cannabis
Clinical Research Institute at Soroka University Medical Center.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The new study, published in The European Journal of
Internal Medicine, found cannabis therapy is safe and efficacious for elderly
patients who are seeking to address cancer symptoms, Parkinson's disease,
post-traumatic stress disorder, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, multiple
sclerosis, and other medical issues.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"While older patients represent a large and growing
population of medical cannabis users, few studies have addressed how it affects
this particular group, which also suffers from dementia, frequent falls,
mobility problems, and hearing and visual impairments," says Prof. Victor
Novack, M.D., a professor of medicine in the BGU Faculty of Health Sciences
(FOHS), and head of the Soroka Cannabis Clinical Research Institute. Novack is
also the BGU Gussie Krupp Chair in Internal Medicine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
"After monitoring patients 65 and older for six
months, we found medical cannabis treatment significantly relieves pain and
improves quality of life for seniors with minimal side effects reported."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This older population represents a growing segment of
medical cannabis users, ranging from approximately seven percent to more than
33 percent, depending on the country. Recent U.S. polls indicate Americans over
65 represent 14 percent of the total population and use more than 30 percent of
all prescription drugs, including highly addictive painkillers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BGU researchers surveyed 2,736 patients 65 years and
older who received medical cannabis through "Tikun Olam," the largest
Israeli medical cannabis supplier. More than 60 percent were prescribed medical
cannabis due to the pain, particularly pain associated with cancer. After six
months of treatment, more than 93 percent of 901 respondents reported their
pain dropped from a median of eight to four on a 10-point scale. Close to 60
percent of patients who originally reported "bad" or "very
bad" quality of life upgraded to "good" or "very good"
after six months. More than 70 percent of patients surveyed reported moderate
to significant improvement in their condition.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The most commonly reported adverse effects were dizziness
(9.7 percent) and dry mouth (7.1 percent). After six months, more than 18
percent of patients surveyed had stopped using opioid analgesics or had reduced
their dosage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALuq7ly_jNzIxZWtpzb8Uw631QwGR47q7xtJBjwbpJNK-9_gIcQIUVl7fnVHamLKYmj7R905z_AO-oCIcwlt6iIJmT8tyS9BnnoYBgiC3QRxvOYDOsG574t2LFCVneC5D-SbMReKxOw/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALuq7ly_jNzIxZWtpzb8Uw631QwGR47q7xtJBjwbpJNK-9_gIcQIUVl7fnVHamLKYmj7R905z_AO-oCIcwlt6iIJmT8tyS9BnnoYBgiC3QRxvOYDOsG574t2LFCVneC5D-SbMReKxOw/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What Senior
Citizens Should Know about Medical Cannabis<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For decades, marijuana was portrayed in the media merely
as an illegal drug used to get people high, and the people who use marijuana as
no more than drug addicts and hippies seeking a desperate measure to detach
from reality. Senior citizens grew up during a time when marijuana was illegal
in the United States and in most countries around the Globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accordingly, the golden generation may
perhaps be the most misinformed about marijuana, yet, ironically, might also be
the age demographic that benefits the most from this natural plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are 10 things senior citizens should
know about medical marijuana. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1. Marijuana is
SAFER than many commonly prescribed medications<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most seniors take prescription drugs on a daily basis.
The “side effects” of marijuana are insignificant in comparison to the side
effects of many prescription drugs, and not a single person has ever died from
a marijuana overdose. An ongoing 30-year study found that a person weighing 140
pounds would have to consume over 4 pounds of marijuana in one sitting to reach
toxic levels, and that still would not be a fatal dosage. The powerful
anti-oxidant effects of marijuana can provide relief for many disorders
including liver inflammation from Hepatitis C, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome,
and many other serious medical conditions that all involve inflammation and
oxidative damage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">2. Marijuana is not
physically addictive<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Many seniors fear that if they start using marijuana they
will become addicted. People can use marijuana daily and then stop “cold
turkey”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discontinuing the use of
marijuana has much the same response as quitting the consumption of coffee.
Many people who seek welcome and effective respite from chronic pain, anxiety,
and stress use marijuana as a daily medicine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">3. Marijuana can
reduce and possibly replace many prescription medications<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A major complaint of seniors regarding their daily
medications is that the first pill often causes side effects that the second
one is supposed to “fix.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"Marijuana's healing properties target various conditions such as
inflamed joints, high blood pressure, chronic pain, digestive disorders,
constipation, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, cognitive awareness, and more
Marijuana has the potential for accentuating the effect of many commonly
prescribed drugs (blog.norml.org)." For example, opiate based painkillers
are typically enhanced when marijuana is used concurrently, often resulting in
a reduction of pharmaceutical medicines.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">4. There are many
different types, or “strains” of marijuana<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Growing this plant is not terribly different from
gardeners attempting to create the perfect rose or tomato plant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each plant has its own personality and
effects. There are strains that are very helpful for chronic pain relief and
strains Some strains can make one feel very focused and energized, while others
can be relaxing and help with a good night’s sleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">5. There are
marijuana strains without “the high”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“If I could get the medical benefit from the plant
without the high, I’d consider it.” said many of the seniors we’ve spoken
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harvest cultivators have developed
and are currently producing potent CBD genetic strains that have minimal
psychoactive effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CBD, or
cannabidiol, is tremendous for inflammation, eases pain, stimulates bone
growth, suppresses muscular spasms, reduces anxiety, and increases mental
focus. Harvest currently carries liquid extracts that have no “high” at all.
These have proven extremely successful for persons suffering from arthritis
pain, nausea, and muscle spasms.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">6. There are ways
to use marijuana other than smoking it<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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One common misconception among aging adults is that they
have to smoke marijuana to gain the medicinal benefits. Vendors provide
products in different shapes, like liquid extracts, infused honey, candies,
baked goods, and other products to choose from. Marijuana can be added to just
about any regular recipe in the form of marijuana infused butters or oils. This
opens up so many options for your medicine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">7.
Marijuana-infused ointments can be very effective in alleviating arthritis and
neuropathy pain<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Locally made, medicated creams are very popular for sore
joints and muscles and back pain. They are very effective, smell nice and give
a you no “high” so you can feel comfortable using the products throughout the
day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">8. Marijuana does
not lower your IQ or cause brain damage<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another common misconception aging adults have with
marijuana is that can lower intelligence or cause brain damage. There is no
documentation that shows that marijuana reduces or “kills brain cells.” Studies
with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients indicate that marijuana gradually
encourages new neural pathways, allowing those with impaired brain function to
potentially halt further degeneration and even encourage brain function.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">9. Marijuana can
help increase your appetite<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the most dangerous health risks among senior
citizens is the loss of appetite, leading to weight loss. Marijuana has been
extremely successful in alleviating nausea and as an appetite stimulant. That
being said, A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology finds
an intriguing connection between marijuana use and body weight, showing that
rates of obesity are lower by roughly a third in people who smoke marijuana at
least three times a week, compared with those who don’t use marijuana at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">10. The stigma
around medical marijuana use is fading<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Seniors are the fastest growing population of new medical
marijuana users. Marijuana becomes more and more acceptable in different age
groups and clusters of population, given that more and more States legalize
weed for medical and even recreational purposes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cannabis Types<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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While there are over 100 different cannabinoids that can
occur in cannabis, the two most well-known and studied compounds in the
cannabis plant happen to also be the two that occur in the largest volume:
delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC, and cannabidiol,
known as CBD. Like all other cannabinoids, these two must be heated to convert
the cannabinoid acid to the active cannabinoid. THC is the primary psychoactive
component of cannabis which gives the effect of what recreational users call
the “high.” CBD is considered to be non-psychoactive and when used in
conjunction with THC helps dampen the psychoactivity and other side effects
some people consider undesirable. Both cannabinoids have an impressive list of
ways they support the human body.<o:p></o:p></div>
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THC is a strong anti-inflammatory and pain killer and has
been shown to reduce the amyloid plaques in the brain that cause Alzhiemer’s.
In pre-clinical trials THC has been proven to reduce levels of vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in glioma (brain cancer) cells. This is
important because a reduction in VEGF means that brain cancer tumors are unable
to grow the new blood vessels they need to sustain themselves, grow and spread.
This discovery offers great promise for the treatment of brain cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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THC is also a bronchodilator, anti-spasmodic, muscle
relaxant, a powerful neuroprotectant and antioxidant. In fact, it has 20 times
the anti-inflammatory power of aspirin and twice that of hydrocortisone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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CBD is the second most common cannabinoid in cannabis and
the most common in hemp plants. CBD can generally represent 0.1-12 percent of
the cannabinoid content of the plant. CBD rich cannabis (4% or more) provides
potent therapeutic benefits without the euphoria or lethargy of many high THC
varieties. CBD and THC are believed to have a synergistic effect meaning that
when they are both present at therapeutic levels, they are more effective
together than they are alone. While THC is widely known for its psychoactive
properties, CBD may be best known for its ability to counterbalance anxiety,
tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), hunger and sedation caused by THC and its
ability to control sever forms of epilepsy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
CBD was once considered a minor cannabinoid under the
shadow of THC. What we know now is that CBD is as beneficial and versatile a
cannabinoid as THC in addressing many hard to manage conditions such as
diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, antibiotic-resistant
infections, alcoholism, PSTD and neurological disorders. CBD has very strong
anxiolytic (reduces anxiousness), anti-convulsant, anti-emetic (reduces
nausea), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant (stronger than vitamins C & E),
anti-depressant and anti-psychotic properties. One of the most exciting aspects
of CBD is its combined strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and
neuro-protective properties which yields great promise for the treatment of
Alzhiemer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and all neurodegenerative-related diseases.
CBD also helps regulate blood pressure and is cytotoxic to breast cancer and
certain other types of cancer cells while protecting healthy cells.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What Symptoms of
Chronic Pain Can Marijuana Treat?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Medical marijuana/cannabis and chronic pain conditions
are closely related regarding alleviating symptoms you may have been suffering
from for a protracted time. Medical pot may offer you substantial relief if you
suffer from any of the following:<o:p></o:p></div>
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General non-specific chronic pain — for example, cancer
pain or chronic neuropathic pain<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Low back pain<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Osteoarthritis<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rheumatoid arthritis<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->TMJ disorder<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Headaches<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Fibromyalgia<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Irritable bowel syndrome<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Chronic fatigue syndrome<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Neck pain<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->HIV/AIDS-related pain<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Multiple Sclerosis<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Central nervous system issues<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Accident and injury-related pain<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Sciatica<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What Are the Best
Strains of Marijuana to Use?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Whether you use edible forms of medical cannabis for
chronic pain, roll it into a joint or use a vaporizer, there are many different
strains of the plant that can substantially reduce discomfort. Perhaps you feel
better when you smoke the drug, whereas someone else may find that taking low-dose
edibles works for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course, the chemical composition of the strain you
choose as well as your method of ingestion may affect your painkilling outcome.
Keep in mind that it’s likely you might need to take a trial and error approach
before you hit on the right strain and dosage for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Generally speaking, less is more when it comes to
treating this type of pain. Many people find that indica strains that are
higher in THC — the primary psychoactive substance that gives you a “high” —
content than hybrid or sativa strains work well for them. These also work most
effectively in doses that are low to moderate and can potentially make your
pain worsen in higher doses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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No matter how you plan to ingest medical cannabis, there
are various strains that can help reduce your discomfort. These include:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ACDC<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Although it can be difficult to find, it contains high
levels of the cannabinoids CBD and THC. Advocates of this strain indicate that
the benefits are numerous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Afghan Kush<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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A potent general pain reliever, Afghan Kush comprises of
almost 100 percent indica. Its effects are felt mostly physically, and this is
why it works so well regarding pain relief. Afghan Kush contains
anti-inflammatory and painkilling terpenes, as well as a high level of
pain-dispelling THC.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This strain contains caryophyllene, which is known to
work against cancer. Therefore, if your chronic pain is cancer-related, this
could offer you relief. Other useful strains high in caryophyllene include
Super Sour Diesel, Maui Waui and Hash Plant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blue Dream<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Blue Dream is a hybrid sativa that was first grown in
California. It provides not only relaxation throughout the entire body, but
many users also find it to be invigorating. This strain produces a mellow
euphoria that produces a calming effect and also has an aroma similar to
berries. Since it doesn’t result in the sedative effects of other strains, Blue
Dream is well-suited for daytime use.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Granddaddy Purple<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another Californian type, Granddaddy Purple has been in
existence for approximately 15 years. This strain can be potent, so don’t use
it if you plan to go out during the day or the evening. Patients use Granddaddy
Purple to relieve symptoms from pain, muscle spasms, stress, insomnia and more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Girl Scout Cookies<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is another hybrid with a sweet aroma that’s very
easy to spot, thanks to its orange hairs and purple leaves. This strain is
well-known for producing a feeling of relaxation throughout the body and is
popular among people who suffer from not only severe pain but also nausea and
loss of appetite. The Girl Scout Cookies strain is best taken in small doses
until you’re certain of how much you can handle at one time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jack Herer<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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A well-known strain for easing nerve pain, Jack Herer,
named after the author and activist, is high in sativa. Filled with natural
painkillers, Jack Herer contains pinene that has anti-tumor properties.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">White Widow<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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A half-and-half cross between a pure indica and a pure
sativa, this is a well-balanced strain that makes you feel uplifted while
tackling your pain. White Widow also contains Linalool, an anti-inflammatory
and pain reliever that’s also found in lavender.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Always speak to your doctor about which medical marijuana
strain is anticipated to work best for your type of chronic pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Side Effects of
Medical Cannabis<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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It’s imperative that you start off with the lowest dose
possible when you’re beginning to take medical pot. You’ll soon find out via a
trial and error process what works best for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you do have any side effects of ingesting medical
marijuana, they won’t last long and may include:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Drowsiness<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Dizziness<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Dry mouth<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Short-term memory loss<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Euphoria<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Thirst<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Increased appetite<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Insomnia<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Red eyes<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Anxiety or uneasiness<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Giddiness<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Medical marijuana affects everyone differently, but
overall the marijuana side effects are more manageable and milder than those
that come with traditional medicines like opioids.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VyDmPEAr8jF2Yva5jXkX1J78FQl_Z1VGWCzJU3ydefEJExJlo3slO6M2edXkYuWcI52Y_9WjolxYZ3L-Z3JVoFdl5b9_lk4qLV5cDXizRFlP5gW_zyFskmRDWF9VWD1P7PAznL2_Sg/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VyDmPEAr8jF2Yva5jXkX1J78FQl_Z1VGWCzJU3ydefEJExJlo3slO6M2edXkYuWcI52Y_9WjolxYZ3L-Z3JVoFdl5b9_lk4qLV5cDXizRFlP5gW_zyFskmRDWF9VWD1P7PAznL2_Sg/s400/15.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sources and
Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180213111508.htm">https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180213111508.htm</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://seniordirectory.com/articles/info/10-things-seniors-should-know-about-medical-marijuana">https://seniordirectory.com/articles/info/10-things-seniors-should-know-about-medical-marijuana</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/conditions/chronic-pain/">https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/conditions/chronic-pain/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://mychronicrelief.com/cannabis-101-thc-cbd/">https://mychronicrelief.com/cannabis-101-thc-cbd/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-51575222820055267022017-08-19T00:40:00.000-07:002017-08-19T00:40:01.528-07:00How to Break Free from Your Jealousy?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jealousy is a killer. Relationships end because of
jealous conflicts and people kill other people because they are jealous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Imagine this. You are at a party and someone is friendly
and you smile. Your partner thinks that you are betraying her. Or your partner
tells you a funny story about a former lover and you feel threatened. You feel
the anger and the anxiety rising inside you and you don’t know what to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Susan could identify with this. She would glare at her
partner, trying to send him a “message” that she was really annoyed and hurt.
She hoped he would get the message. At times, she would withdraw into pouting,
hoping to punish him for showing an interest in someone else. But it didn’t
work. He just felt confused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At other times Susan would ask him if she still found her
attractive. Was he getting bored with her? Was she his type? At first, he would
reassure her, but then—with repeated demands for her for more reassurance—he
began to wonder why she felt so insecure. Maybe she wasn’t the right one for
him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And when things got more difficult for Susan, she would
yell at him, “Why don’t you go home with her? It’s obvious you want to!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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These kinds of jealous conflicts can end a relationship.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But, if you are jealous, does this mean that there is
something terribly wrong with you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Let's look at what is going on when you are jealous and
how you can handle it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jealousy is angry agitated worry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When we are jealous we worry that our partner might find
someone else more appealing and we fear that he or she will reject us. Since we
feel threatened that our partner might find someone more attractive, we may
activate jealousy as a way to cope with this threat. We may believe that our
jealousy may keep us from being surprised, help us defend our rights, and force
our partner to give up interests elsewhere. Similar to worry, jealousy may be a
“strategy” that we use so that we can figure out what is going wrong or learn
what our partner “really feels.” We may also think that our jealousy can
motivate us to give up on the relationship—so that we don’t get hurt any more.
If you are feeling jealous, it’s important to ask yourself what you hope to
gain by your jealousy. We view jealousy as a coping strategy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Similar to other forms of worry, jealousy leads us to
focus only on the negative. We interpret our partner’s behavior as reflecting a
loss of interest in us or a growing interest in someone else: “He finds her
attractive” or “He is yawning because I am boring.” Like other forms of worry,
jealousy leads us to take things personally and to mind-read negative emotions
in other people: “She’s getting dressed up to attract other guys.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jealousy can be an adaptive emotion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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People have different reasons—in different cultures—for
being jealous. But jealousy is a universal emotion. Evolutionary psychologist
David Buss in The Dangerous Passion makes a good case that jealousy has evolved
as a mechanism to defend our interests. After all, our ancestors who drove off
competitors were more likely to have their genes survive. Indeed, intruding
males (whether among lions or humans) have been known to kill off the infants
or children of the displaced male. Jealousy was a way in which vital interests
could be defended.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We believe that it is important to normalize jealousy as
an emotion. Telling people that “You must be neurotic if you are jealous” or
“You must have low self-esteem” will not work. In fact, jealousy—in some
cases—may reflect high self-esteem: “I won’t allow myself to be treated this
way.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqf77iXHoJdB1I3F32kp3SwlJ_wsMle0iVhoDZ8SXed_OKqMINI99VDCN9mU_oKNveJYqlhBxD0wAPxecahpqvtEz7keTk64F50FxBhcyeWzqKnsJXzHzL7cJnR-Q5vXWQ7vY48gwmMw/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1200" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqf77iXHoJdB1I3F32kp3SwlJ_wsMle0iVhoDZ8SXed_OKqMINI99VDCN9mU_oKNveJYqlhBxD0wAPxecahpqvtEz7keTk64F50FxBhcyeWzqKnsJXzHzL7cJnR-Q5vXWQ7vY48gwmMw/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Jealousy may
reflect your higher values<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Psychologists—especially psychoanalysts—have looked at
jealousy as a sign of deep-seated insecurities and personality defects. We view
jealousy as a much more complicated emotion. In fact, jealousy may actually
reflect your higher values of commitment, monogamy, love, honesty, and
sincerity. You may feel jealous because you want a monogamous relationship and
you fear that you will lose what is valuable to you. We find it helpful to
validate these values in our patients who are jealous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some people may say, “You don’t own the other person.” Of
course, this is true—and any loving relationship with mutuality is based on
freedom. But it is also based on choices that two free people make. If your
partner freely chooses to go off with someone else, then you may rest assured
that you have good reasons to feel jealous. We don’t own each other, but we may
make affirmations about our commitment to each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But if your higher values are based on honesty,
commitment and monogamy, your jealousy may jeopardize the relationship. You are
in a bind. You don’t want to give up on your higher values—but you don’t want
to feel overwhelmed by your jealousy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jealous feelings
are different from jealous behaviors<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Just as there is a difference between feeling angry and
acting in a hostile way, there is a difference between feeling jealous and
acting on your jealousy. It’s important to realize that your relationship is
more likely to be jeopardized by your jealous behavior—such as continual
accusations, reassurance-seeking, pouting, and acting-out. Stop and say to
yourself, “I know that I am feeling jealous, but I don’t have to act on it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Notice that it is a feeling inside you. But you have a
choice of whether you act on it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What choice will be in your interest?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Accept and observe
your jealous thoughts and feelings<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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When you notice that you are feeling jealous, take a
moment, breathe slowly, and observe your thoughts and feelings. Recognize that
jealous thoughts are not the same thing as a REALITY. You may think that your
partner is interested in someone else, but that doesn’t mean that he really is.
Thinking and reality are different.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You don’t have to obey your jealous feelings and
thoughts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Notice that your feeling of anger and anxiety may
increase while you stand back and observe these experiences. Accept that you
can have an emotion—and allow it to be. You don’t have to “get rid of the
feeling.” We have found that mindfully standing back and observing that a
feeling is there can often lead to the feeling weakening on its own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Stop comparing
yourself to others<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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As said, some (not all) jealousy may be driven by low
self-esteem. "How could they love me? I don't understand how someone like
them could be attracted to someone like me!" We none of us are supposed to
understand exactly why someone loves us. Does the Mona Lisa painting know why
it is so valuable? Of course, you may be able to appreciate attractive
qualities in yourself, but consider this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are better looking, richer, funnier, smarter,
younger people around than just about all of us, but these are qualities of a
'product'. If he or she loves you, it will be because of an extra, indefinable
quality you have that they couldn't even explain - some deep part of your
humanity they connected to which transcends looks, youth, wealth, and so forth.
Some of the most loved people in history have been well down the list when it
comes to looks or wealth. Stop trying to 'work out' why they can possibly like
you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHE7lG3orOWwj_IwmAol5Iaezzr5m8XN9oL5sIvUQbuFqzRJJ6qHdZZr9dagO85rGGuisUF5usv2xnQayKEikaq4hcIQCWyfR5-7svhFurgg-Vcyjx93zGNqa674Swg37BG8eFZMifw/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHE7lG3orOWwj_IwmAol5Iaezzr5m8XN9oL5sIvUQbuFqzRJJ6qHdZZr9dagO85rGGuisUF5usv2xnQayKEikaq4hcIQCWyfR5-7svhFurgg-Vcyjx93zGNqa674Swg37BG8eFZMifw/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Recognize that
uncertainty is part of every relationship<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Like many worries, jealousy seeks certainty. “I want to
know for sure that he isn’t interested in her.” Or, “I want to know for sure
that we won’t break up.” Ironically, some people will even precipitate a crisis
in order to get the certainty. “I’ll break off with her before she breaks off
with me!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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But uncertainty is part of life and we have to learn how
to accept it. Uncertainty is one of those limitations that we can’t really do
anything about. You can never know for sure that your partner won’t reject you.
But if you accuse, demand and punish, you might create a self-fulfilling
prophecy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Stop confusing make-believe with reality<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Jealousy, like many psychological problems (from
hypochondria to paranoia), is driven by the destructive use of the imagination.
The imagination is great...if you use it for your own benefit, not if it messes
with your mind. Stephen King has a stellar career from making stuff up and
writing about it. But he <i>distances himself</i> (thankfully for
him!) from stuff he creates in his head. He doesn't believe everything he
writes is real just because he imagined it. Right now, I can imagine an alien
invasion headed right towards Earth. I can vividly 'see' the pesky aliens about
to land the mother ship in my local park, but I don't <i>believe</i> it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Stop trusting your imagination so much. Think about it:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Your partner is home later than you thought they
were going to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->You start to imagine them having an intimate drink
with that handsome guy you saw working in her office or that luscious sister of
his new gym partner you happened to see one time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->You become angry, upset, frightened - without
having any evidence that what you imagined is real.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->They come home and you react 'weirdly' by being
very cold or you have an outburst of anger toward them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->They become defensive and angry back in turn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Examine your
assumptions about relationships<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Your jealousy may be fueled by unrealistic ideas about
relationships. These may include beliefs that past relationships (that your
partner had) are a threat to your relationship. Or you may believe that “My
partner should never be attracted to anyone else.” You may also believe that
your emotions (of jealousy and anxiety) are a “sign” that there is a problem.
We call this “emotional reasoning”—and it is often a very bad way to make
decisions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Or you may have problematic beliefs about how to feel
more secure. For example, you may believe that you can force your partner to
love you—or force him or her to lose interest in someone else. You may believe
that withdrawing and pouting will send a message to your partner—and lead him
to try to get closer to you. But withdrawing may lead your partner to lose
interest.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes your assumptions about relationships are
affected by your childhood experiences or past intimate relationships. If your
parents had a difficult divorce because your father left your mother for
someone else, you may be more prone to believe that his may happen to you. Or
you may have been betrayed in a recent relationship and you now think that your
current relationship will be a replay of this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You may also believe that you have little to offer—who
would want to be with you? If your jealousy is based on this belief, then you
might examine the evidence for and against this idea. For example, one woman
thought she had little to offer. But when I asked her what she would want in an
ideal partner—intelligence, warmth, emotional closeness, creativity, fun, lots
of interests—she realized that she was describing herself! If she were so
undesirable, then why would she see herself as an ideal partner?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Listen to your
partner<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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If your partner tells you she will be late for dinner
because of work, try to trust her. This is easier said than done, but give it
some time. In the beginning, you won’t trust your partner and you’ll feel
restless. But after a while you’ll see that by trusting your partner the
jealousy slowly fades away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What happens if you don’t trust your partner? You’ll
probably check your partner’s whereabouts and you’ll only be satisfied when you
have proof… for a while. Because every time your partner is somewhere else, you
need to feed the jealous wolf inside you. If you can’t feed the jealous wolf,
it becomes hungrier and more upset (your jealousy becomes worse). By checking
if your partner spoke the truth you are actually feeding the wolf (and so you
keep the wolf alive). So basically, dealing with jealousy means that you stop
checking your partner’s whereabouts, and start to believe your partner. Another
tip: write down or think of all the possible reasons your partner may have to
be late, or to act ‘mysterious’. Write down your jealous making thoughts the
last. Then rate them: how likely is this reason (in percentage). Make sure you
start with the first one you wrote down and make sure they all add up to 100%.
Now, check the results.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Use effective
relationship skills<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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You don’t have to rely on jealousy and jealous behavior
to make your relationship more secure. You can use more effective behavior.
This includes becoming more rewarding to each other—“catch your partner doing
something positive.” Praise each other, plan positive experiences with each
other, and try to refrain from criticism, sarcasm, labeling, and contempt.
Learn how to share responsibility in solving problems—use “mutual problem
solving skills.” Set up “pleasure days” with each other by developing a “menu”
of positive and pleasurable behaviors you want from each other. For example,
you can say, “Let’s set up a day this week that will be your pleasure day and a
day that will be my pleasure day.” Make a list of pleasant and simple behaviors
you want from each other: “I’d like a foot-rub, talk with me about my work,
let’s cook a meal together, let’s go for a walk in the park.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-P0iFJ07n86XAX2zvozpI_qwEkrQRrKmsFLUd8jXQgr9riWh1vKbCX3RhB3g9maUhwBoHCnWTZJA_p4f8WLSbI9rvNoEJ5PldPYDXLf_4MwCGsT9yHfyV0XMq8O3fLQJFgKMMeUcbA/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-P0iFJ07n86XAX2zvozpI_qwEkrQRrKmsFLUd8jXQgr9riWh1vKbCX3RhB3g9maUhwBoHCnWTZJA_p4f8WLSbI9rvNoEJ5PldPYDXLf_4MwCGsT9yHfyV0XMq8O3fLQJFgKMMeUcbA/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Stop limiting your
partner<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Jealous people love to limit their partner as much as
possible. You might not want to admit it, but it is true. Dealing with jealousy
like this is the easiest way. It makes you feel good to know that your partner
is not in touch with A or B any more. But does it make you trust your partner
more? No, not at all. Why? Exposure. I will use an example to illustrate this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first time you did something exciting (bungee jump,
driving a car, or having sex) it was amazing and you were high in adrenaline.
Just thinking of this experience made you feel excited again. However, after
doing a lot of bungee jumps, driving the car a lot or having a lot of sex with
the same person, it becomes less exciting. What does this have to do with
jealousy? Well, imagine that your partner chatting to your rival is like a
first bungee jump, it’s very scary and you will feel a lot of adrenaline. But
the more your partner talks to your rival, the more normal it becomes. Normal
things do not make you upset or anything.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But pay attention: you will constantly find something new
in your partner’s behavior to be jealous of (she touched his arm, she kissed
him too close to the mouth when saying goodbye, she smiles too often <— but
this is your imagination). Give your partner the chance to show that they can
be trusted. Not limiting your partner is scary in the beginning, but a very
effective way of dealing with jealousy on the long run.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Look at the Big
Picture<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We can get so wrapped up with what we have that it's hard
to maintain a realistic perspective on things sometimes. If there is something
that's stopping you from being satisfied with the way things are, try to find
the root of the issue. Talk it out or take some time for yourself to reflect on
what steps need to be taken to make these changes. Address potentially
invisible issues or dissatisfactions before they become real problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Per the relationship experts Susie and Otto Collins in an
article on World of Psychology, it's important to stop stalking and start
talking when jealousy hits. If you have a gut-wrenching feeling that your
partner is cozying up a little too closely with someone else, vocalize rather
than accuse. There may be something missing or just something that's needed to
be talked about for a while that you couldn't even see because you were too
busy focusing on your suspicions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Sources and
Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/anxiety-files/200805/jealousy-is-killer-how-break-free-your-jealousy">https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/anxiety-files/200805/jealousy-is-killer-how-break-free-your-jealousy</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><a href="http://www.uncommonhelp.me/articles/overcoming-jealousy-in-relationships/">http://www.uncommonhelp.me/articles/overcoming-jealousy-in-relationships/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><a href="https://www.barendspsychology.com/dealing-with-jealousy/">https://www.barendspsychology.com/dealing-with-jealousy/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><a href="https://www.bustle.com/articles/105995-how-to-deal-with-jealousy-in-7-healthy-ways">https://www.bustle.com/articles/105995-how-to-deal-with-jealousy-in-7-healthy-ways</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><a href="https://studybuddhism.com/en/buddhism-in-daily-life/how-to/how-to-deal-with-jealousy-in-relationships">https://studybuddhism.com/en/buddhism-in-daily-life/how-to/how-to-deal-with-jealousy-in-relationships</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-29628158676859298852017-03-13T22:46:00.000-07:002017-03-13T22:46:19.647-07:00How Much Czar Alexander II Assassination affected Future of Russia?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Russia – a huge country somewhere far away, a country with
almost no history of real democracy, a country, which is currently responsible,
directly or indirectly, for many negative political processes in the modern
World, a country, which decided to revise the established borders and order by
capturing territories of the neighboring countries – Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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But why the country with huge territory and enormous
natural resources has not turned to the prosperous establishment, but merely managed
to supply oil, gas, gold, and educated human resources to the World, remaining
almost permanently on the list of the “outlaws”, together with N. Korea,
Venezuela, and Iran. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But maybe, just maybe, the reason, at least partially, the
reason of the unfortunate past can be attributed to this day in the history, the
event that happened exactly 136 years ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This day, March 13, 1881 (March 1 – Old Style), Czar
Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, was killed in the streets of St.
Petersburg by a bomb, thrown by a member of the revolutionary “People’s Will”
group. The People’s Will, organized in 1879, employed terrorism and assassination
in their attempt to overthrow Russia’s czarist autocracy. They murdered
officials and made several attempts on the czar’s life before finally
assassinating him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As czar, Alexander did much to liberalize and modernize
Russia, including the abolishment of serfdom in 1861. However, when his
authority was challenged, he turned more repressive, and he vehemently opposed
movements for political reform. Ironically, on the very day he was killed, he
signed a proclamation–the so-called Loris-Melikov constitution–that would have
created two legislative commissions made up of indirectly elected
representatives, offering the substantial step towards democratic constitution.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Alexander II Reforms<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Alexander
II’s ‘great reforms’ stand out as among the most significant events in
nineteenth century Russian history. Alexander became known as the ‘Csar
Liberator’ because he abolished serfdom in 1861. Yet 20 years later he was
assassinated by terrorists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Why did
Alexander decide to introduce a program of reforms, and why did these reforms
fail to satisfy the Russian people? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
reforms were a direct response to Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War and were
intended to liberate Russian society from some of its most archaic practices,
improve the economic and military efficiency of the war and preserve the
existing socio-political structure by a process of modification. The
essentially conservative nature of Alexander’s reforms is betrayed by the
continuity in policy from the reign of his predecessor Nicholas I (1825-1855).
Yet this conservatism, far from guaranteeing the safety of the aristocracy,
jeopardised the stability of Russia because it left a 50-year legacy of social
and political dissatisfaction to Alexander’s successors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Emancipation:
The Fundamental Reform<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The need
for reform was evident well before the reign of Alexander II. The Decembrist
Revolt of 1825 occurred just as Nicholas I acceded to the throne. Although it
was unsuccessful, the uprising demonstrated that the autocracy could not
continue to ignore demands for reform indefinitely. The condition of the
peasantry was perhaps the most prominent weakness in Russian society. The
Pugachev Revolt (1773-75) had served as a reminder of the threat that a
dissatisfied peasantry could represent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Nicholas
I introduced a series of minor reforms which improved the conditions of state
and crown peasants and which were intended to serve as a model to the dvoriane
(nobility) as to how they should treat their private serfs. Most landowners,
however, took little notice of these measures and continue to extract feudal
dues and labour services from their serfs without regard for their welfare. It
is clear that Nicholas I abhorred serfdom: in 1842 he declared to the Council
of State: ‘There can be no doubt that serfdom in its present situation in our
country is an evil… [It] cannot last forever … The only answer is thus to
prepare the way for a gradual transition to a different order…’ However, the
conservatism of the autocracy was such that it would not compel the dvoriane by
abolishing serfdom unilaterally. It took the shock of Russia’s disastrous
performance in the Crimean War, the concomitant death of Nicholas I and the
accession of Alexander II to alter the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Alexander
II had served on the committees of inquiry into serfdom and he was acutely
aware of the weakness of the Russian state. Defeat by Britain and France now
demonstrated that Russia was lagging behind her European counterparts. In the
autumn of 1856 Yuriy Samarin, a prominent Slavophile, articulated the concerns
of political society when he wrote that 'We were defeated not by the external
forces of the Western alliance but by our own internal weakness.' Criticisms of
serfdom were echoing from many quarters. General Dimitry Milutin, later
Minister for War (1861-1881), advised the new Tsar that reform of the Russian
army was impossible while serfdom continued to exist. Only by reforming the
very foundations of Russian society could effective military capacity be
restored and great power status recovered Serfdom was also condemned as
economically inefficient. K. D. Kavelin, a liberal university professor, wrote
a critique of serfdom in 1856 in which he observed that 'In the economic
sphere, serfdom brings the whole state into an abnormal situation and gives
rise to artificial phenomena in the national economy which have an unhealthy
influence on the whole state 'organism of the state’. It was argued that
serfdom impeded the emergence of a modern capitalist economy because the
existence of an inelastic labour force and the absence of a money economy
retarded industrial development It was further argued that serfdom was an
inefficient and unproductive form of agriculture because, essentially, it was
forced labour, and so the serfs had no incentive to do any more than subsist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Despite
these powerful arguments in favor of abolishing serfdom, it was still
difficult for Alexander II to overcome the inertia of the dvoriane on the issue
The Csar had to conjure up the specter of widespread peasant revolt in order to
persuade his reticent nobles that there was no alternative to Emancipation. In
a speech to the Tver nobility, he declared that 'It is better to abolish
serfdom from above than to wait for the time when it begins to abolish itself
from below.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Other Reforms<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In response to the overwhelming defeat (1856) suffered by
Russia in the Crimean War and to attempt to keep pace with military advances in
other European countries, Alexander II appointed Dmitry Milyutin to carry out
significant reforms in the Russian armed forces. The changes included universal
military conscription, introduced for all social classes on 1 January 1874.
Prior to this new regulation, as of 1861, conscription was compulsorily
enforced only for the peasantry. Conscription had, prior to this reform, been
25 years for serfs that were drafted by their landowners, which was widely
considered to be a life sentence. Other military reforms included extending the
reserve forces and the military district system, which split the Russian states
into 15 military districts, a system still in use over a hundred years later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The building of strategic railways and an emphasis on the
military education of the officer corps comprised further reforms. Corporal
punishment in the military and branding of soldiers as punishment were banned.
The bulk of important military reforms were enacted because of the poor showing
in the Crimean War.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A new judicial administration (1864), based on the French
model, introduced security of tenure. A new penal code and a greatly simplified
system of civil and criminal procedure also came into operation. Reorganization
of the judiciary, to include trial in open court, with judges appointed for
life, a jury system and the creation of justices of the peace to deal with
minor offences at local level.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Alexander's bureaucracy instituted an elaborate scheme of
local self-government (zemstvo) for the rural districts (1864) and the large
towns (1870), with elective assemblies possessing a restricted right of
taxation, and a new rural and municipal police under the direction of the
Minister of the Interior.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">The
Impact of Alexander II's Reforms<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Significant
though the reforms of Alexander II were, they failed to create popular support
for the Tsarist regime. In 1862, Alexander granted Poland limited autonomy, but
the Poles were traditionally hostile to the Russian Empire and in 1863 they
rebelled. The Polish Revolt was countered with repression, the orthodox policy
of Tsarist autocracy. In 1866, Karakazov, a former student of the University of
Kazan, fired a pistol shot at the Tsar. This unsuccessful attempt on
Alexander's life resulted in the replacement of Golovnin, the Minister of
Education, by the conservative Dimitry Tolstoy, who acted to restrict access to
university education. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Russian
intellectuals interpreted Alexander's reforms as an attempt to perpetuate the
existing political system. Historical opinion has for the most part agreed with
this assessment. Florinsky, for example, has suggested that the reforms were
nothing more than ‘halfhearted concessions on the part of those who (with some
exceptions) hated to see the disappearance of the old order and tried to save
as much of it as circumstances would allow’. The response of the Russian
intelligentsia was the Populist 'going to the people' in 1874. When this
failed, propaganda gave way to terrorism, which culminated in the assassination
of Alexander II in 1881. Although it did not achieve its objective of igniting
a revolution in Russia, Populism was nevertheless significant. It made a start
in developing the political consciousness of the people and its terrorist
actions inspired later insurrectionists. The Social Revolutionaries,
descendants of Populism, were the most important insurgent group at the turn of
the century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">No
Constitution for Russia<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Alexander II's death caused a great setback for the
reform movement. One of his last acts was the approval of Mikhail
Loris-Melikov's constitutional reforms. Though the reforms were conservative in
practice, their significance lay in the value Alexander II attributed to them:
"I have given my approval, but I do not hide from myself the fact that it
is the first step towards a constitution." In a matter of 48 hours,
Alexander II planned to release these plans to the Russian people. Instead,
following his succession Alexander III under the advice of Konstantin
Pobedonostsev chose to abandon these reforms and went on to pursue a policy of
greater autocratic power.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The assassination triggered major suppression of civil
liberties in Russia, and police brutality burst back in full force after
experiencing some restraint under the reign of Alexander II, whose death was
witnessed first-hand by his son, Alexander III, and his grandson, Nicholas II,
both future emperors who vowed not to have the same fate befall them. Both used
the Okhrana to arrest protestors and uproot suspected rebel groups, creating
further suppression of personal freedom for the Russian people. A series of
anti-Jewish pogroms and anti-Semitic legislation, the May Laws, were yet
another result.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, the csar's assassination also inspired
anarchists to advocate "'propaganda by deed'—the use of a spectacular act
of violence to incite revolution."<o:p></o:p></div>
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The downfall of the Romanovs came in 1917 under Nicholas
II, largely due to the incompetence of the tsar, a reactionary but weak leader,
who not only alienated the lower classes, but also the nobility, who were
critical of the influence of the Tsarina and Grigori Rasputin on government
affairs. There is no doubt that Nicholas faced a number of great difficulties
when he came to the throne, but his lack of leadership and political authority
exacerbated these differences, and despite measures which may have temporarily
appeased radicals (such as the October Manifesto of 1905), Nicholas II’s
mishandling of domestic politics largely contributed to the downfall of the
Romanov monarchy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The legacy of Alexander II is mixed - despite
emancipating the serfs, he laid upon them a great burden in the form of
redemption dues. Alexander II’s death did result in a reactionary government
under Alexander III, but this reactionism, and the problems it later caused for
Nicholas II, may not be sufficient enough to explain the reasons for the
downfall of the Romanovs in 1917.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<i>Sources and Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/czar-alexander-ii-assassinated">http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/czar-alexander-ii-assassinated</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.pburgsd.net/">http://www.pburgsd.net</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_II_of_Russia">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_II_of_Russia</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><a href="http://a-window-to-the-east.tumblr.com/post/39414988176/the-assassination-and-legacy-of-alexander-ii">http://a-window-to-the-east.tumblr.com/post/39414988176/the-assassination-and-legacy-of-alexander-ii</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-19349334907370163632016-12-19T12:02:00.000-08:002016-12-19T12:25:38.654-08:00Whitman, Emerson Artistic Reading and… Female Orgasm: Hysterical Literature<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
project, we will present in this post, is quite controversial. While it is quite
innocent from the official guidelines – there is no nudity or an adult
language, it still reveals the most intimate moment in the women’s life – her orgasm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
standard plot of each video episode is this: Women enter into a room, sit down
at a table, and read an excerpt from a book of their choosing. As time
progresses, the pace of their reading begins to change, as does their breathing
and body positioning. Under the table, outside of the subject's control, an
unseen assistant distracts them with a vibrator. The subjects stop reading when
they're too distracted or fatigued to continue, at which point they restate
their name, and what they've just read. The pieces vary in length based on the
response time of the subjects.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
viewers have the opportunity to see the women faces, postures, gestures, and
voice expressions in progression from the initial stimulation to the catharsis
and to the post-orgasmic relaxation. And that is amazing transformation, you
can see in the human body. That is a great secret every woman keeps – of how much
she can be radiant, shining, and beautiful after the orgasm.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfzC5Y-iWUkrV7LKyer8INPv1mKSrOWRcpsfc6PsauTdUXl9AO8wMN5YGZ3RSbftCBKt3EGUss_iY2SjhhNqqdYJajZ-EnI_t93Z4J3N9wrkWZnp-QrzkuxrIWM0RZZISniH0ZRYCWA/s1600/hysterical-literature-clayton-cubitt-vf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfzC5Y-iWUkrV7LKyer8INPv1mKSrOWRcpsfc6PsauTdUXl9AO8wMN5YGZ3RSbftCBKt3EGUss_iY2SjhhNqqdYJajZ-EnI_t93Z4J3N9wrkWZnp-QrzkuxrIWM0RZZISniH0ZRYCWA/s400/hysterical-literature-clayton-cubitt-vf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In
the videos below, a series of women sit at a desk and read a book of their
choosing aloud. As their reading session continues, you may notice a quickness
of breath, some fumbling over easily legible words, light panting, shivering,
giggling and moaning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Clayton
Cubitt, has titled his video artistic presentation as “Hysterical Literature”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I
sat the readers at a table,” Cubitt admitted, “and I showed what society wants
to see on top of the table, and I hid the sex under the table. I wanted to see
what people would react to more: what they could see, or what they imagined.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Bibliothecaphilia”
addresses the quiet, mystical allure of the library — a space of escape, of
solitude, of transcendence. With the rise of eBooks and library apps, these
strange sacred spaces sometimes teeter on becoming obsolete. The group show
features artists who unpack our appetites for libraries in all their physical
and mythical glory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While
Cubitt’s video series certainly touches on the love of libraries, it
simultaneously explores themes of feminism, sexuality, hysteria and
authenticity. The moving portraits, shot in stark black-and-white, are part
fine art, part viral click-bait, part literary ode, part pornography.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I’m
quite fascinated with the concepts of control and release when it comes to
portraiture, especially in this modern of era of social networking profile
self-portraits and Instagram, when everyone has a well-practiced notion of
personal branding,“ Cubitt explained. “What’s left for the portraitist to
capture? One can shock the sitter out of that plastic smile. I’m attempting to
lead them back to something real.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BbJZCZ6HD1Hrm5rOk0pI_WYMYSs57NhYVXsis1gGxKBsgLR7sqKkAMhZx4WrdB0zDMR-FbuZBYw_6H4Yro8gisH5zEmoLYwU-h2F126ryOatXEeNjzFdLERDboSAc0tQUwVCrRO85w/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BbJZCZ6HD1Hrm5rOk0pI_WYMYSs57NhYVXsis1gGxKBsgLR7sqKkAMhZx4WrdB0zDMR-FbuZBYw_6H4Yro8gisH5zEmoLYwU-h2F126ryOatXEeNjzFdLERDboSAc0tQUwVCrRO85w/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Despite
the obvious erotic appeal of Cubitt’s project, the importance extends beyond
just sex. For many of the female participants, the session presented an
opportunity for women to proudly express their sexualities and retain their
power — a man is never pictured on screen. “This is my revolutionary act of
selfishness,” wrote one participant of her experience, “my virtual picket
sign... my one-woman rally... my rebel yell... my sedentary march... a call for
dialogue and understanding.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other
participants commented on the biased and frustrating response to the piece,
which unapologetically displayed the taboo image of female pleasure. “But
despite being a project I’m deeply proud of, it has been challenging to deal
with the intense scrutiny by the art world for my participation in this work, while
my male counterpart rarely dealt with any,” said photographer and artist Marne
Lucas, who appears in session nine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Videos (all 12 episodes)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLVna2B64pQwolR2Y09aqHuIEwWh0RVuLq" width="560"></iframe><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Where did the idea for Hysterical
Literature come from? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The
project is an extension and refinement of earlier Cubitt’s video works that
explored the concept of distraction and fatigue in the poses of portrait
sitters. Today, everyone has a well-practiced pose for "selfies" and
social media, and he was interested in how he might make a portrait that makes
it impossible for the sitter to maintain this pose. So he did a video series
called "Long Portraits" which filmed subjects just sitting making eye
contact with the lens for five minutes or longer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“But
this series, as much as I liked it, and as popular it became, was in many ways
too anonymous for me. What did it really say about the sitter? It was
interesting, but it was mute. And it was conceptual ground already traveled by
Andy Warhol's "Screen Tests." I had also created an earlier video
piece called "Hitachi Magic Interview" where I interviewed a woman
while she was being distracted by a vibrator. It was also interesting, but it felt
too close to an interrogation, and I wanted to remove myself from the process
as much as possible. So I asked, what if the women could in some way have a
conversation with themselves, through the reading of a passage from their
favorite book? This would allow self-expression, without the pressure to pose
or sound a certain way in a formal portrait or an interview. It would also
remove me from the on-screen experience, make for a fascinating battle between
the mind and the body, and create a conceptual contrast by blending two areas
that society tends to want to view through different lenses: art, and sex. So I
put the art on the table and the sex under the table. That's how Hysterical
Literature was born”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>What are you trying to say with
Hysterical Literature?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Cubbit:
“The series examines the battle between the mind and the body. It also explores
the cultural contrast between art and sex, particularly how people react to the
mixture of the two, and the battle over female sexuality and society's concepts
of shame”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> Why
is it called "Hysterical Literature?"<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Cubbit:
“The title references the ancient concept of "female hysteria,"
especially the Victorian-era medical treatments meant to "cure" it.
At the time it was a catch-all diagnosis for almost any "disruptive"
behavior in women, and a variety of treatments were used to cure it, from
isolation, to hydrotherapy, to early electric vibrators. The past's confusion
and shame attached to female behavior, especially female pleasure, was
something I wanted to explore in a modern context, so referencing it was
natural. That the word could also mean "funny" was lagniappe, since
the videos are quite funny, and many of the subjects laugh at some point in
their reading”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie85ts_tGhhvFlyrwEUkliNsgny_aGdnfdUYAQfEadOIE8Mco9BEwOBOTY1OPLCmd81TgkBd0l1i-JfIVW4j1Y-src4A_G_XtoybjYDmuwF0kF7GiDj1sxLYPm4qqB4V9bwj5miEQquw/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie85ts_tGhhvFlyrwEUkliNsgny_aGdnfdUYAQfEadOIE8Mco9BEwOBOTY1OPLCmd81TgkBd0l1i-JfIVW4j1Y-src4A_G_XtoybjYDmuwF0kF7GiDj1sxLYPm4qqB4V9bwj5miEQquw/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Sources and Additional Information:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/15/clayton-cubitt_n_6472188.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/15/clayton-cubitt_n_6472188.html</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/07/hysterical-literature-clayton-cubitt-orgasm-while-reading">http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/07/hysterical-literature-clayton-cubitt-orgasm-while-reading</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://hystericalliterature.com/">http://hystericalliterature.com/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.stanforddaily.com/2015/10/18/me-kk-under-the-table/">http://www.stanforddaily.com/2015/10/18/me-kk-under-the-table/</a><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8306369683348029636.post-81809891621518861702016-12-01T22:56:00.002-08:002016-12-01T22:56:36.133-08:00Top 20 most bizarre Google searches in 2016<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We live in an age where if we're unsure of a fact, we can
just Google it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And it appears many people ask the search engine some
strange questions and rely on it to provide guidance in the event of an
existential crisis, asking 'when will I die?' and 'why are we here?'<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Thousands of people ask Google if they are pregnant,
whether pigs sweat and where to hide a dead body, every month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43IET-FwgSM8WH5EpxiHtubR0CSe5iLOkUSq6TFV54QiAi7Ndqdmr4LzBclQcTr_1v0R_CvbWHnLnqofJ2A6M1A7wvGshECy9TmM5hnzXh211LImRFrUmgVP_eQjKy40p9XfREIDvgg/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43IET-FwgSM8WH5EpxiHtubR0CSe5iLOkUSq6TFV54QiAi7Ndqdmr4LzBclQcTr_1v0R_CvbWHnLnqofJ2A6M1A7wvGshECy9TmM5hnzXh211LImRFrUmgVP_eQjKy40p9XfREIDvgg/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The most popular question on the pictorial chart, created
by marketing agency Digitaloft is: 'Am I pregnant?'<o:p></o:p></div>
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A staggering 90,500 women ask the search engine this
question every month, presumably hoping it can provide an answer in lieu of a
pregnancy test.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second and third most popular questions on the list
are: 'How do I get home?' and 'are aliens real?'<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the first question may seem downright daft, a box
pops up allowing users in input their postcode or zipcode, to help them with
their journey, but unfortunately the search engine is not able to beat Nasa in
its quest to find alien life, which it hopes to do before 2025. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1jBO0hW_p3DbtERUyAPisySYOkmi26-_LMjX8EjYPeuF9F-EwPMq1eT27e7uknqgIRx5dql4It7EVrKhW6bMpZWqvsHrKF2Ly083me-RVGIozusMNyc7Xbr-HXyVYoOQvYjMN1Gw2A/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1jBO0hW_p3DbtERUyAPisySYOkmi26-_LMjX8EjYPeuF9F-EwPMq1eT27e7uknqgIRx5dql4It7EVrKhW6bMpZWqvsHrKF2Ly083me-RVGIozusMNyc7Xbr-HXyVYoOQvYjMN1Gw2A/s640/12.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaAVvNKiStpDRQmoKRoXDOlIdqwMvvpTuKLZ7oce73s9hpnAPswYNd8FI2fZjo4jDYBFduHnQXJTidsnWNXASQBNNU0hzEcBJJXPDc7YOkJe7-JLrFKDVSWTZCLlS1MMxdm82fVftCw/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaAVvNKiStpDRQmoKRoXDOlIdqwMvvpTuKLZ7oce73s9hpnAPswYNd8FI2fZjo4jDYBFduHnQXJTidsnWNXASQBNNU0hzEcBJJXPDc7YOkJe7-JLrFKDVSWTZCLlS1MMxdm82fVftCw/s640/13.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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Of course many people use Google as a digital doctor,
searching for answers to embarrassing ailments. So it's no surprise users ask
it bizarre questions about their body.<o:p></o:p></div>
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According to the chart, 49,500 people a month ask whether
passing wind burns calories, but unfortunately the myth this bodily function
burns 67 calories is false.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some 22,200 are curious as to why men have nipples, while
a more troubled 4,400 people a month Google 'why does my bellybutton smell?'<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp8DSm773ohhly4FjYyKd7FCNdjGX-DsYIIxEYn9exzme4eFH_H8sofmw5G6ZRFA83E7BbTc_deKurT-8ZBhV6Z_RohOpvjNh_yxjgVoC_ShVdqB1PVQhwEUJdpSAEBGQS1FrUkfXjg/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp8DSm773ohhly4FjYyKd7FCNdjGX-DsYIIxEYn9exzme4eFH_H8sofmw5G6ZRFA83E7BbTc_deKurT-8ZBhV6Z_RohOpvjNh_yxjgVoC_ShVdqB1PVQhwEUJdpSAEBGQS1FrUkfXjg/s640/14.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSCRH465Qlzb7GMg5IXkKwLMy619ldjN9QNr9yWdANveaM62WKX17MUxoSYcTA3sq9eG_Uh1VEL6OZAFKNdQiacPHJP6cHtHDG2el_VYSS9lLjFFte6rBUrk2OQWUQeLn01zfKzEp8w/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSCRH465Qlzb7GMg5IXkKwLMy619ldjN9QNr9yWdANveaM62WKX17MUxoSYcTA3sq9eG_Uh1VEL6OZAFKNdQiacPHJP6cHtHDG2el_VYSS9lLjFFte6rBUrk2OQWUQeLn01zfKzEp8w/s640/15.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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Worryingly, 3,600 people a month ask whether men have
periods, with another 2,900 querying whether men can become pregnant,
displaying a rather poor grasp of biology.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A whopping 49,500 people ask the search engine 'when will
I die' every month and it seems users are just as clueless when it comes to
animals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some 18,100 people ask Google whether penguins have knees
every month, 8,100 want to know if pigs sweat and 2,900 are curious whether
worms have eyes – they don't.<o:p></o:p></div>
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An insecure 2,900 people every month ask the search
engine 'does my dog love me?' every month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other popular but worrying questions people ask Google
every month, include ' how do I hide the dead body? – with 480 queries and
'what happens if I drink blood?' with 880 queries a month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some 800 people a month ask Google 'can I marry my
cousin?' according to the infographic, meaning 10,560 people a year might be
considering popping the question to a relative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Others are in search of answers to life's mysteries, with
8,100 people asking Google 'why are we here?' every month and the same number
asking if the tooth fairy is real.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A clueless 880 people ask where dinosaurs live every
month and a further 5,400 whether the Earth is flat – just a couple of thousand
years after Aristotle provided evidence for a spherical Earth in 330BC. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcH29rk267xwNVWwmjBwIuB9tVcmhe_FtxORnjDmGMv-hgcgOiB0xcXTN4hpnbT1jSJ23EOQbT-08Rz5aw81hldPXRNtdqF8yQ7CTgcTA8fngdp7JHMEYjqkAqjTXQD_Gy80jj-diOA/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcH29rk267xwNVWwmjBwIuB9tVcmhe_FtxORnjDmGMv-hgcgOiB0xcXTN4hpnbT1jSJ23EOQbT-08Rz5aw81hldPXRNtdqF8yQ7CTgcTA8fngdp7JHMEYjqkAqjTXQD_Gy80jj-diOA/s640/16.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>
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<i>Source: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3710476/From-men-pregnant-does-farting-burn-calories-20-bizarre-Google-searches-revealed.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3710476/From-men-pregnant-does-farting-burn-calories-20-bizarre-Google-searches-revealed.html</a></i></div>
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Michael Pekkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00719697048984156330noreply@blogger.com1