Barb’s Blog

For those living in the snow belt, you might understand this faster or better than others. This came from the theme “Dealing with Divorce”, which might explain part of the humor behind it. “““““““““““““““““` December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window, watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we … Read entire article »

The Cult of the Narcissist By Sam Vaknin Author of “Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited” The narcissist is the guru at the centre of a cult. Like other gurus, he demands complete obedience from his flock: his spouse, his offspring, other family members, friends, and colleagues. He feels entitled to adulation and special treatment by his followers. He punishes the wayward and the straying lambs. He enforces discipline, adherence to his teachings, and common goals. The less accomplished he is in reality – the more stringent his mastery and the more pervasive the brainwashing. The – often involuntary – members of the narcissist’s mini-cult inhabit a twilight zone of his own construction. He imposes on them a shared psychosis, replete with persecutory delusions, “enemies”, mythical narratives, and apocalyptic scenarios if he is flouted. The narcissist’s control is based on ambiguity, unpredictability, fuzziness, and ambient abuse. … Read entire article »

For those of us who do not have the time to watch C-Span all day, there is no longer any excuse not to be informed on what is being voted on, and how, and by whom. Now, one can actually find out what our Congress is doing for, against, or to you, with this deep political resource from The Washington Post. Here one can see the outcome of the latest bills, how each Senators and House members vote, and you can even see which of them MISSED the most votes ( Jon Corzine, Democrat from New Jersey). It also lists those curious late night votes, you know, the ones that take place between midnight and 7 a.m. ?? Oh yes, while we are safely tucked in our beds at night, our … Read entire article »

Since my Photo-Sharing Site, Unique Exposures is very international, I began to wonder how to say Merry Christmas to someone in their native tongue. I found this list and thought to share on my blog. So here is a list of many different ways to say Merry Christmas in another language: Afrikaner [Afrikaans] “Geseënde Kersfees” Amharic “Enkwan laberhana ledat abaqqawot” OR “Melkam amat ba`al yehunellachihu” Arabic “Milad Majid” OR “Milad Saeed” … Read entire article »

If you read my blog regularly, you know already how puzzling it can be for me to read the news and see all the conflicting scientific reports on Global Warming. I stumbled upon a blog recently that seemed to sum it up with ‘proof’ showing a clothesline of dated undies. Guess that settles it. … Read entire article »

The holidays are a time of year that stress out the most sane and rational person. For those who are victims of irrational and abusive mates, the holidays and special events usually find them being victomized more than usual. For this reason, I thought it was an appropriate time to copy something I received in my email from my Yahoo Group “End Verbal Abuse” ABUSER RED FLAG WARNINGS Jealous of time or resources you give others: Gets angry if you spend ‘too much time’ with friends, family, or children. Always insists that it is ‘a bad time’ for you to talk to family/friends on the phone. Feels that resources are wasted if given to children. Gets angry if you do favors for other people or give them things. Would rather throw something away … Read entire article »

I admire modern people. They can go through their lives with what seems like an easy and electronic solution to everything. While I sit at Starbucks at the mall with packages, my bag, and my camera gear all around me, sipping on my Café Mocha, wondering if a waited important email has come through in my absense from my computer, I usually can see a modern person at the next table, neatly on a laptop or some other rediculously small gadget managing their affairs and lives with no hassle. This can replay itself at airports and many other areas. I always think, “I wouldn’t mind that option, but I wouldn’t even know how to start.” Even though I consider myself so far removed from being that “modern”, I do pay attention and … Read entire article »