Daily Thoughts & Issues

IN THIS ISSUE:

JANUARY 23

Days left until the next millennium 01.01.3001
 

Photo of the Week
Dugald Bremner/Tony Stone Images
Achieve Your Dreams

January 23 - Foundation Day (Sao Paulo Brazil) * Provincial Anniversary (Wellington, New Zealand) * St Vincent and the Grenadines Day (St Vincent and the Grenadines) * St Vincent (Valencia, Spain). * The U.S.S. Pueblo, a Navy intelligence ship, is seized by North Korea, which claimed it is in its waters.(1968) The crew was held for 11 months. * Carter Reinstates Selective Service Registration (1980) and pledged to use military force, if necessary, to protect the Persian Gulf from Soviet aggression. * Twentieth Amendment ratified (1933) fixing the date of the presidential inauguration at the current January 20 instead of the previous March 4. It also specified that were the president-elect to die before taking office, the vice president-elect would succeed to the presidency. In addition, it set Jan 3 as the official opening date of Congress each year. * The Twenth-Fourth Amendment is ratified (1964) that eliminated poll taxes and other taxes were eliminated as a prerequisite for voting in all federal elections.* Birthdays: Rutger Hauer, Ernie Kovacs, Edouard Manet, Stendhal, Richard Dean Anderson, Gil Gerard, Patrick Capper (Pat) Haden, Rutger.

DAILY THOUGHTS

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. - Tim. 1:7 One of the most fearful years that I can remember was my seventh-grade year. That year two bullies marked me as a victim, probably because I was underdeveloped both physically and emotionally. During the year these two bullies were after me, I was terrified to go to gym class, terrified to walk the halls, and paralyzed at the sound of the last school bell. Every opportunity they had, they hit me or mocked me; I just hated it. When I talked with my dad about the problem, he told me that I had to stand up to them. I reluctantly did it. I was terrified as I broke James’ nose and cracked a clipboard over Chuck’s head. As you may already have expected, I was beaten up that day in the worst way. But neither of them ever bothered me again. A fear is like a bully. It waits for you at every corner. It terrifies and immobilizes you. It will not go away on its own and will never leave you alone unless you confront it. In the process of facing your fear you may be hurt or injured, but freedom will be worth the pain. Remember that if you don’t face your fears, they will have power over you. The Man Within: Daily Devotions for men in recovery

Several years ago, a popular bumper sticker read, "Have you hugged your child today?" It’s still a valid question and contains good advice. So, feel free to give your child at least one hug a day for no reason at all. Dr. Buff's 365 Day Parenting Calendar

Set your course. The important thing is where you want to go from here. Achieve Your Dreams

Things to Be Happy About: Looking at everyday objects under a microscope, cats and wrapping paper, a heavy sweater. 14,000 Things to Be Happy About

Consciousness is nothing but awareness - the composite of all the things we pay attention to. - Deepak Chopra. If Life is a Game, These are the Rules

Win/Win is a frame of mind that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win/Win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial, mutually satisfying. With a Win/Win solution, all parties feel good about the decision and feel committed to the action plan. A person with a Win/Win attitude sees life as a cooperative, not a competitive, arena.  Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Pasta Pie. Your child (age 6 and up) can help you put this quick and tasty meal together. Heat over to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9" springform pan. Cook on box of fettucine; drain well. Break 4 eggs into a large bowl; stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Mix in pasta and spoon half into prepared pan. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese with 1/3 lb sliced baked ham cut into strips. Spoon cheese mixture over pasta in pan; top with remaining pasta mixture. Cover loosely with foil; bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 30 to 40 minutes more until cooked through and golden. Cut into wedges and serve with spaghetti sauce. Parents Tips & Tricks

Simplify your eating habits with a healthy and nutritious diet low in calories, fat and cholesterol. This means cutting back on meats, especially red meats. It also means eating fresh fruits and vegetables, in as close to their natural state as possible, and eliminating processed foods. Simplify Your Life

"Laughter is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles. It won't take the potholes out of the road, but it sure makes the ride smoother." - Barbara Johnson. Stock up on humorous materials (cartoons, jokes, funny sayings, humor books and videos, for example) and keep some of them at home and at work. When feeling stressed, pull one out and have a good laugh.  Stress Busters

Put several boxes of different kinds of cereal on the kitchen table. Then, get a resealable plastic container for each one with their name on it. Encourage your children to create their own personal brand and test a bowl of it. If they like it, have them mix up and batch and store it in their very own cereal container. To Do Today

If a man does his best, what else is there? - General George S. Patton. Win the Day! 

Quentin Crisp appeared in the role of Queen Elizabeth I in the 1992 film Orlando, based on the book written by Virginia Woolf. Gay & Lesbian Calendar

Never tell your sister-in-law's age. Life's Little Instruction Calendar

Love Notes. It can be very romantic to write love notes or poetry to your spouse. Maybe you don't think you're much of a writer. But you don't have to be a great writer to put your feelings on paper and create a surprise. You can express sentiments you're too shy to say in person. Or maybe you need to apologize or ask forgiveness. You can use not writing just for special occasions or anytime you want to express your loves. Write funny, sweet or tender notes and sneak them into your spouse's purse, briefcase or lunch box or tape them to a mirror, stove top or car windshield - to be found later! You can even use cartoons. Your honey will love you for being so creative and fun. The two of you may even want to save your notes in a memory album. Love notes help develop your special connection. You can be as creative and boldly intimate as you want. Start today! I will write love notes to my sweetheart. "I had written a poem for her. I put it on think paper then stained it with coffee and burned it all around the edges so it looked like an old scroll.." - Rob Hann  Opening to Love 365 Days a Year

El gusto (GOOStoh) - taste. Living Language

TODAY'S ISSUE: COMPUTERS

It seems to me that it's as easy to teach a human being to say thank you as it is to program a computer to print it out. - Dorothy Storck.

Electronic processes ease many aspects of our lives- scales, calculators, and monitors measure and accompany our actions, whether we're buying food or paying a computerized water bill or riding in a bus or train or plane with microprocessor guidance and dispatch systems. Chips don't get bored or distracted; their efficiency can be safeguarded by other chips.

Just because a thing can be done electronically, however, isn't a good reason for human beings to stop doing it. In Modern Times, Charlie Chaplin satirized job efficiency with an eating machine that fed a worker automatically, whether he was hungry or not. If there were computer-operated devices that could feed, bathe, change, and rock our babies, would we want them? Every tired parent has moments when the answer would be "Yes" - but we know human touch is essential for babies' growth.

In family life, we may sometimes feel we get too much human contact. When we grow up and go to work as systems engineers, for example, or programmers, we might jump at the chance to teach computers to take over some human functions. Perhaps some day we will live in a world where human beings and robots have important social interactions, but we're not there yet. People still need other people. Family Feelings

Hey Man: Did you make a difference yesterday? Let us know at Contact Us. I'll strive to be as real as I can and to say what I mean, not what someone has programmed me to say. Family Feelings Want to make a difference but you don't know where to start?

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Transgender Child: A handbook for families and professionals. by Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper What do you do when your son insists on wearing a dress to school? Or when your toddler daughter's first sentence is that she's a boy? Offering an extensive understanding of gender-variant and transgender youth, this book answers these questions a more. Covering developmental, legal, medical and school issues, it is a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind guidebook for the unique challenges that thousands of families face raising children who step outside of the pink or blue box. Cleis Press, www.cleispress.com, 2008, ISBN 978-1-57344-318-0

SPECIAL URLs

 

MENSTUFF COLUMNS BY AUTHOR

  • The Advice Diva - The Advice Diva - relationship and sexuality issues discussed - www.menstuff.org/columns/advicediva/archive.html
  • Peter Alsop - Song of the Month - www.menstuff.org/columns/alsop/archive.html
  • Reid Baer - A Man Overboard - Interview of the Month - www.menstuff.org/columns/overboard/archive.html
  • Reid Baer - Poetry - poetry read on YouTube - www.menstuff.org/columns/baer/archive.html
  • Molly Barrow - Shrink About This - www.menstuff.org/columns/barrow/archive.html
  • Peter Baylies - At Home Dads - on at-home-dad issues that impact fathers who stay at home to raise their kids - www.menstuff.org/columns/baylies/archive.html
  • Tom Blake - Middle-Age Relationships - from an expert on dating after 50. www.menstuff.org/columns/blake/archive.html
  • Mark Brandenburg - Great Fathers - on fathering issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/greatfathers/archive.html
  • Ted Braude - BoysWork - a columnist in the The Detroit Free Press "Body and Mind" section www.menstuff.org/columns/braude/archive.html
  • Armin Brott - A Father's Guide - hosts "Positive Parenting" on radio www.menstuff.org/columns/brott/archive.html
  • Dan Bulf - Get Real - weekly pod cast on men's issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/bulf/archive.html
  • Ken Byers - Transition - on men's life transitions - www.menstuff.org/columns/byers/archive.html
  • Sandra L. Caron - Sex Talk - college students get answers to their questions - www.menstuff.org/columns/sextalk/archive.html
  • Neil Chethik - Relationships - www.menstuff.org/columns/chethik/archive.html
  • Otto & Susie Collins - Susie and Otto - relationship issues discussed - www.menstuff.org/columns/susie&otto/archive.html
  • David Copeland - How to Succeed with Women - www.menstuff.org/columns/howtosucceed/archive.html
  • Forrest Craver - Spirituality & Social Change - www.menstuff.org/columns/craver/archive.html
  • Layne & Paul Cutright - Powerful Partnerships - relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/cutright/archive.html
  • Ron DesMarais - Cavemen in the Kitchen - great recipes for men - www.menstuff.org/columns/desmarais/archive.html
  • Jed Diamond - Irritable Male Syndrome - www.menstuff.org/columns/diamond/archive.html
  • Doc Love - Women Don't Lie, Man Don't Listen - answers to relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/doclov/archive.html
  • Barry Durdant-Hollamby - Creating Change - creating change in your life - www.menstuff.org/columns/durdant/archive.html
  • Irv Engel - The Real Deal - www.menstuff.org/columns/engel/archive.html
  • Nancy Fagan - Expert Dating Advice - with Nancy Fagan - www.menstuf.org/columns/fagan/archive.html
  • Warren Farrell - Men's Issues: Facts and Perspectives www.menstuff.org/columns/farrell/archive.html
  • Leonard Felder - Wake Up or Break Up - www.menstuff.org/columns/felder/archive.html
  • Marty Friedman - Strong Men, Strong Marriage - www.menstuff.org/columns/friedman/archive.html
  • Kim Garretson - Mansgland - using humor to encourage prostate exams - www.menstuff.org/columns/mansgland/archive.html
  • Lion Goodman - How to get Women to Love You - www.menstuff.org/columns/goodman/archive.html
  • Liz Halliday - In a Man's World - www.menstuff.org/columns/halliday/archive.html
  • Rick Hanson - Just One Thing - www.menstuff.org/columns/hanson/archive.html
  • Tim Hartnett - Daddyman Speaks - being a father www.menstuff.org/columns/daddyman/archive.html
  • John Hershey - Blood, Phlegm & Bile: Parenting with Humor - He writes a syndicated biweekly humor column about parenting and family life. www.menstuff.org/columns/hershey/archive.html
  • Gary Hoeber - Psychotherapy as Soul Work, www.menstuff.org/columns/hoeber/archive.html
  • Patrick Houser - Fathers Make a World of Difference, www.menstuff.org/columns/houser/archive.html
  • Paul Joannides - The Guide to Getting It On - on sex - www.menstuff.org/columns/getiton/archive.html
  • Jack Kahn - NOMAS Boston - www.menstuff.org/columns/kahn/archive.html
  • Patrick Kennedy - Seniors - www.menstuff.org/columns/kennedy/archive.html
  • Joe Kort - Gaydar - to increase understanding between gay and het men - www.menstuff.org/columns/kort/archive.html
  • David Kundtz - David Kundtz - presents seminars, workshops, retreats, and conference presentations in the areas of men's emotional health, stress management, and spirituality. www.menstuff.org/columns/kundtz/archive.html
  • Bruce Linton - Dr. Dad - on fathering - www.menstuff.org/columns/drdad/archive.html
  • Ron Louis - How to Succeed with Women - www.menstuff.org/columns/howtosucceed/archive.html
  • Wendy McElroy - Wendy McElroy on Feminism, www.menstuff.org/columns/mcelroy/archive.html
  • Robert N. Minor - Minor Details - on GBT sexuality - www.menstuff.org/columns/minordetails/archive.html
  • Robert L. Moore - Man & Mythology - www.menstuff.org/columns/moore/archive.html
  • Dennis W. Neder - Being a Man - general questions about men's lives - www.menstuff.org/columns/neder/archive.html
  • Marty Nemko - Worklife - general questions about men and work - www.menstuff.org/columns/nemko/archive.html
  • Eli Newberger - Eli Newberger - general information on men's lives - www.menstuff.org/columns/newberger/archive.html
  • Linda Nielsen - Embracing the Father - working with the father/daughter relationship. www.menstuff.org/columns/nielsen/archive.html
  • Kathy Noll - Bullies and Youth Violence - working with schools, teachers and parents to end school violence - www.menstuff.org/columns/noll/archive.html
  • Mark Phillips - Stay-at-Home-Dads - helping men maintain that which makes us men, instead of becoming hairy Mom-substitutes - www.menstuff.org/columns/phillips/archive.html
  • Carey Roberts - Socialism & Feminism - is a social commentator on political correctness. www.menstuff.org/columns/roberts/archive.html
  • Perry Rose - Dating, Relationship, Sex
  • Glenn Sacks - His Side - on fathering - www.menstuff.org/columns/sacks/archive.html
  • Trudy Schuett - Domestic Violence - serving the under-represented www.menstuff.org/columns/schuett/archive.html
  • Carl J. Schutt - Circumcision - social commentator on circumcision - www.menstuff.org/columns/schutt/archive.html
  • Hugo Schwyzer - A Pro-feminist's Response - www.menstuff.org/columns/schwyzer/archive.html
  • Michael Shaffran - Men's Issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/shaffran/archive.html
  • Judith Sherven - Judith & Jim - discussion and answers regarding relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/judith&jim/archive.html
  • Judith Sherven - The New Intimacy - www.menstuff.org/columns/newintimacy/archive.html
  • George Simons - Bellicose Veins - is a US specialist in intercultural and gender communication who hangs out in Mandelieu - la Napoule, France, as well as in Santa Cruz, CA. www.menstuff.org/columns/simons/archive.html
  • Andy Smith - Hard Hat Brotherhood - www.menstuff.org/columns/hardhat/archive.html
  • David B. Smith - Fighting Father Dave - www.menstuff.org/columns/smith/archive.html
  • Jim Sniechowski - Judith & Jim - discussion and answers regarding relationship issues - www.menstuff.org/columns/judith&jim/archive.html
  • Jim Sniechowski - The New Intimacy - www.menstuff.org/columns/newintimacy/archive.html
  • Reena Sommer - Custody - is an internationally recognized relationship and divorce consultant. www.menstuff.org/columns/sommer/archive.html
  • R. Don Steele - Don Steele - relationship questions answered -
    www.menstuff.org/columns/steele/archive.html
  • David Steinberg - Comes Naturally - on sexuality - www.menstuff.org/columns/steinberg/archive.html
  • Mary Lou St Lucas - A Mother's Love - www.menstuf.org/columns/stlucas/archive.html
  • Surprise - Surprise Author - From a new columnist every month - www.menstuff.org/columns/surprise/archive.html
  • Steven Svoboda - Fatherhood, Activism and the Law www.menstuff.org/columns/svoboda/archive.html
  • Michael Taylor - A New Conversation with Men - www.menstuff.org/columns/taylor/archive.html
  • Bruce Van Horn - Yoga for Men - issues around the health benefits of yoga for men - www.menstuff.org/yoga/archive.html
  • Michael Webb - Secrets of Blissful Relationships - on relationship - www.menstuff.org/columns/bliss/archive.html
  • Stuart Wilde - Spirituality - www.menstuff.org/columns/wilde/archive.html
  • Dr.Williams - Sex Health - on sexual health - Dr. Williams, www.menstuff.org/columns/sexhealth/archive.html
  • KC Wilson - On Gender Politics is a social commentator and author. www.menstuff.org/columns/wilson/archive.html

Plus

  • Health Tips - on general health - www.menstuff.org/columns/healthtips/archive.html
  • Independent Means - resources for raising financially fit kids - www.menstuff.org/columns/independentmeans/archive.html
  • Numbers - www.menstuff.org/columns/numbers/archive.html
  • Questions - www.menstuff.org/columns/q&a/archive.html
  • Surprise - from a new columnist every month - www.menstuff.org/columns/surprise/archive.html
  • Words Can Heal - helping children grow up healthy - www.menstuff.org/columns/wordscanheal/archive.html
  • Wuzup?! - National or international events happening this month - www.menstuff.org/columns/whassup/archive.html

AWARENESS EVENTS THIS MONTH

January is: Birth Defects Prevention, Cervical Health Awareness, National Voluteer Blood Donor; Bald Eagle Watch; Celebration of Life; Fat Free Living; International Get Over It; International Life Balance; It's Okay to Be Different; Love Yourself; March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention; National Be On-Purpose; National Book; National Clean Up Your Computer; National Environmental Policy Act; National Eye Care; National Glaucoma Awareness; National High-Tech; National Personal Self-Defense Awareness; National Poverty in America Awareness; National Reaching Your Potential; National Yours, Mine and Ours; Senior-Spirit; Sew for the Cure Month.

12/26-1/1: Kwanzaa. 12/31-1/6: Celebration of Life; Diet Resolution; National Lose Weight/Feel Great; New Year's Resolution; Silent Record Week; 1/5-13: Wilderness Wildlife Week of Nature. 1/6-12: Someday We'll Laugh About This Week.1/7-11: National Graves' Disease Awareness Week. 1/7-13: Universal Letter-Writing Week. 1/10-17: International Thank You Days. 1/13-19: Fire the Boss, International Printing, Let Men Be Our Heroes, Special Education Week. 1/14-18: Manwatchers Week. 1/20-26: Healthy Weight, National Creative Frugality, National Nurse Anesthetists, Solo-Preneuring Week. 1/21-25: Direct Deposit Week. 1/22-28: No Name Calling Week 1/21-25: *National Consumer Protection Week. 1/31-2/3: Mid-Winter/Candlemas/Groundhog's Day. 1/1: Attention to Dreams and Desires; Get a Life; Saint Basil's; Z Day. 1/2: Happy New Year for Cats; National Thrift with Flair Day. 1/6: International Respect-full Living Day; National Smith Day. Jan 7: United Kingdom Solid Gold Hat Day. Orthodox Christian Christmas. 1/8: National Bubble; Clean-Off-Your-Desk; Joygerm: Saint Gudula's Feast; Show & Tell at Work Day. 1/12 - National Handwriting Day. 1/15 - Humanitarian, Moliere, National Thank God It's Monday Day. 1/16 - Psychiatric Technicians Day. 1/18: Get to Know Your Customer Day. 1/19: International Sing-out Day. 1/20: Penguin Awareness Day. 1/21: National Hugging, World Religion Day. 1/22: World Religions Day, Celebration of Life Day. 1/23: Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day. 1/24: Just Do It Day - Make the Connection, National Compliment Day. 1/25: A Room of One's Own Day. 1/26: Fun at Work Day, Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement; Spouse's Day. 1/29: Freethinker's, National Puzzle Day. 1/30: Inane Answering Machine Day.

* Means a Presidential Proclamation has been made.

National Missing Children's Day
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Men are so competitive that we even "out-die" women in all 15 of the major causes of death in the U.S. Most of these deaths are preventable with a positive change in life-style, eating habits, and/or general health care. Let's not strive so hard to hold on to this record. See what you can change now to live a healthier life.
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