Search results for 'tag:Phobias tag:Numbers' matching tags 'Phobias' and 'Numbers'

Re: Why aren't there more Western movies like ''The Good, the Bad...

Stannum — Sun, 13 May 2007 19:23:19 GMT

Jackson6612 wrote:
Hi Stannum,

G'day Jackson

Jackson6612 wrote:
John Travolta is a good actor but not that good as Clint Eastwood. John Travolta cannot act like Clint Eastwood. Clint Eastwood's dialogue delivery is adorable.

This is highly debatable. It can be argued that Travolta has played a wide range of characters whereas Eastwood played Eastwood with very little deviation from the flint eyed avenger with one fist of steel and the other of bone.

Jackson6612 wrote:
Besides that John Travolta does not do any action by riding horse.

Now I may understand some of your point.

You may be wondering about the demise of The Western as a popular art form. You are right. The cycle has passed and now The Western has been replaced by police and crime shows which follow the plot line of The Western pretty faithfully. If you look at an old episode of The Lone Ranger you will see the template for the modern one hour cop show with the renegade cop hiding behind his mask of indifference or anger or drunkenness or broken relationships or phobias but this maverick cop always has one assistant or colleague who understands them. Think of The X Files or Medium.

Jackson6612 wrote:
Stannum, I must say something here. Your writing style is superb. And you do make me use a dictionary whenever I read your posting.

Thank you. Your questions about my answers return the compliment.

Jackson, I feel compelled to take this opportunity to clear the air a little with those in authority and I thank you for giving me this space.

I have been writing solely in English for about 47 years during which time I have widely and eclectically read anything I could get my hands on. I lived two highly intense lives as a soldier and a cop which has left me with view of the world that is less than average and more than beige.

In English only forums I try to be lucid and precise but when discussing art with intelligence such as yours I shun such strictures.

Everybody who does not understand my word patterns is invited to ignore such posts.

I try to craft a small piece of art with each response. What is the point of reciting the words of a dead white male. I have my own words and my own writing style that is comprehensible to anyone with the wit to be interested in something like me and I am not interested in communicating with those of less with than that. This is a vast forum and there are writers of varying register covering the whole gamut of range from The Queen's veddy veddy proper to a Surfer's Slang.

Jackson6612 wrote:
I could not understand the following sentences:

May I congratulate your bravery and honour in making such a statement.

Far too often my writing is passed off as gibberish simply because the reader does not grasp my intention at first blush (at first glance, the first youthful impression). Thank you for understanding that there is something in my words rather than sending me a snippy little PM to pierce my soul.

Jackson6612 wrote:
All of the CSI spawn is suffused with super cool flint eyed avengers.

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is the modern day Western. It involves specialist police and agents who investigate crime after some horrific tragedy. Cheap writers choose highly emotive subjects to add gravitas to their shallow artistic talents.

Spawn is a reference to the vast number of spin off shows that have been spawned like frogs spawning vast numbers of tadpoles and then leaving them mindlessely to their own devices. Spawn has a derrogatory air about as in, 'Satan's Spawn!'. Spawn is seldom a compliment.

The Collins dictionary;

suffuse vb (tr usually passive) to spread or flood through or over (something): the evening sky was suffused with red. [C16: from Latin suffusus overspread with]

Super cool is the epitome of style. Eastwood and Newman and McQueen embody super cool.

Flint eyed is the hard stare that makes the eyes look so hard. It is also called The Thousand Yard Stare when someone like Eastwood just stares straight through you.

Avengers are the characters who seek vengence for whatever reason. An eye for an eye sort of blokes.

Jackson6612 wrote:
David Caruso has carved a career with a squint.

David Caruso is a contemporary actor playing in CSI Miami who has a very limited acting range but is cute and his most adventurous acting foray is to squint a lot. He squints to look tough. He squints to look angry. He squints to look happy. He squints to look to look sad. He squints when he is shot. He squints when he gets a back rub. He squints when he eats a sandwitch.

Jackson6612 wrote:
Please explain to me the above sentences. Is David Caruso a squint?

Have a squiz (look) above.

Jackson6612 wrote:
Take care.

Best wishes, Jackson

Thanks mate,

Same to you.

Stannum

Think or thought

Rex — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:42:04 GMT

Muslims' sense of belonging could be eroded by European nations not tackling discrimination, a watchdog has warned.

A report by a European Union-backed anti-racism body says the number of Islamophobic incidents in the 25 member states is probably under-reported.

The report calls on governments to speed up Muslim integration - but says Muslims must also do more to counter stereotypes and fears of extremism.

At least 13 million Muslims are thought to live in European states.
In the report, the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Islamophobia (EUMC) says it has documented a wide range of anti-Muslim or Islamophobic abuse across the EU's 25 member states.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.At least 13 million Muslims are thought to live in European states.
I would rewrite the above as follows:
2.They think at least 13 million Muslims are living in European states.
What makes the difference between my sentence and the original?

IT'S FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH!!!!!

benita — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:08:48 GMT

âTouch wood, cross your fingers, and pop that lucky rabbitâs foot in your pocket â and there will be an almost five-to-one chance that you will not then be troubled today with paraskevidekatriaphobia â fear of Friday the 13th.â
(Tim Radford, The Guardian, Friday 13^th June 2003)

(result of a little googling)

paraskevidekatriaphobia (also friggatriskaidekaphobia) noun
the irrational fear of Friday the 13th
paraskevidekatriaphobic adjective, noun
paraskevidekatriaphobe noun

The term paraskevidekatriaphobia was first coined in the early nineties by Dr. Donald E Dossey, an American psychotherapist specialising in phobias and stress management, who reputedly claimed that when someone was able to pronounce the word they were cured! The term is based on the Greek words paraskevi (âFridayâ) and dekatria (âthirteenâ) with -phobia as a suffix to indicate âfearâ. A related term is triskaidekaphobia, coined in the early twentieth century to refer to fear of the number thirteen generally, but often also associated with fear of Friday the 13^th. This word forms the basis of the variant form friggatriskaidekaphobia, frigga being an ancient Scandinavian goddess associated with witchcraft and Friday as the witchesâ sabbath.

The only acceptable racism left: Islamophobia by Abdul Malik Mujahid

Firas — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:44:34 GMT

"So what do you do for a living?" the activist asked me. He was an American Christian, an ordained minister and leader of an interfaith peace organization. I was attending a conference organized by his group.

"I produce Islamic videos and programs, particularly for children," I replied.

"Oh. Doesn't Hamas produce programs for children, too?" he asked.

I was stunned. This exchange occurred shortly before the Hamas victory in the recent Palestinian elections. What floored me though was that this man associated what I do for a living with a group considered terrorist by the American government. It is clear that the ugly tentacles of Islamophobia have penetrated places where Muslims have normally felt safe from it. An interfaith gathering is the last venue I'd expect these comments.

I was representing the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago as it's chair, and he knew that pretty well. It's a federation of more than 55 mosques and Islamic organizations serving 400,000 Muslims from the region.

The Danish cartoon affair - Europe's latent Islamophobia comes to life
The latest example of Islamophobia comes from Denmark and Europe, not the United States. By now, we've all seen and read about the protests against 12 deeply offensive cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

What is critical to know is that it was not some random cartoonist drawing one cartoon and an editor who decided to publish it. Rather, a neo-con newspaper chose to commission artists to draw these images that depict the Prophet as a terrorist. These cartoons were not an ignorant mistake. The intent was to insult and inflame. The concept of respect and honor among Muslims is well-known. So is the potential risk of incitement, especially after knowing what happened when the Muslim world came to know about some American soldiers disrespecting the Quran last year.

The Danish embassy in Lebanon has been torched, the country's flags burned, death threats have been issued and some protesters have been killed as a result of police firings.

But well before these dramatic images that must have made editors salivate for their sensational qualities made the news, Muslims in the Muslim world and abroad launched peaceful, lawful protests for four months against the cartoons that would have made Martin Luther King Jr. proud.

Danish Muslims wrote letters of protest. They were ignored. Eleven Muslim ambassadors in Denmark asked to meet with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. He refused to do so. A grassroots boycott of Danish products was launched in the Middle East. That got some attention, but not much until Danish businesses realized how much of their $1 billion business in the region was at stake.

The cartoons were printed in September 2005. In September, October, November, December and almost all of January, the Muslim opposition to the cartoons was characterized by peaceful demonstrations of love for the Prophet and restrained protests of how he was being denigrated.

Arrogant Response to Peaceful Protests
When newspapers in Norway, Germany and France, in their Islamophobic frenzy, decided to republish the cartoons in the name of "freedom of expression," the scale of anger and protest widened. What started off as peaceful opposition spiraled out of control.

Now, the situation was out of the hands of Muslims who had made serious attempts to resolve the issue peacefully. They had tried their utmost, but to no avail. From this point onwards, all kinds of people, including those with little knowledge of Islamic rules that forbid harm to foreign emissaries in Muslim lands, had upped the ante. The torching of embassies is wrong. So is stepping on and burning the symbols of Danish pride, their flag. It is Haram and a sin in Islam.

Unfortunately, some Iranian newspapers have commissioned the drawing of anti-Semitic cartoons in protest. This is a disgusting form of retaliation that deserves absolute condemnation. It will neither help fight Islamophobia, nor elicit any understanding about why Muslims are upset about the Danish cartoons. The conflic has hit a new low with this move.

But the world media, always in search of dramatic images of death and destruction, lapped up the anger and violence with glee. There was little coverage of the peaceful response of the Muslim community to these cartoons in the initial days after their publication. There were no calls for death, there was no fire involved or images of screaming bearded and Hijabed Muslims. Just peaceful bearded and Hijabed Muslims. Yawn. The media was bored.

When it comes to Muslims, everything goes
Would the media outlet which commissioned and printed these cartoons, as well as those which reprinted them, call for artists to develop grotesque anti-Semitic caricatures to prove that they have the freedom to do so? Of course not. The French even have laws to punish anti-Semitic "speech" and "writings."

The current cartoon affair is not about freedom of expression, it's about Islamophobia.

Islamophobia is real
Islamophobia, or the fear and hatred of all things relating to Islam and Muslims, has become an acceptable form of racism. A sympathetic Jewish lawyer who was representing a Palestinian client in Chicago pre-9/11 said something telling to me in this regard: "Muslims are the new Nâ¦ers of America. If you will not fight for yourself, no one will."

He's right. But Muslim complaints about Islamophobia continue to be dismissed. More than one fourth of all American Muslims surveyed by more than one public opinion organization stated that they have personally experienced Islamophobia or know someone who has. Over 200,000 American Muslims have been subjected to some kind of law enforcement activity since 9/11. At least 15,000 Muslims have been detained or arrested since that tragedy. Over 16,000 were either deported or are in the process of deportation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations annually issues reports about the state of Muslim civil rights in the United States. Harrowing tales of anti-Muslim discrimination on the job, at schools, stores, restaurants and on the streets fill these publications. The case of Capt. James Yee is a disturbing example of how American Muslims even in positions of authority and respect must endure Islamophobia publicly at the hands of our own government.

It is due to Islamophobia fanned by government policies and a media frenzy that a majority of Americans continue to hold negative opinions of Islam and Muslims. And a few thousand bin Laden terrorists contribute to authenticate this negative image. Forty-four percent of Americans queried in a Cornell national poll favor curtailing some liberties for Muslim Americans.

Over half of schoolchildren in the Australian city of Victoria view Muslims as terrorists, and two out of five agree that Muslims "are unclean", a survey has revealed.

Islamophobia is older than 9/11 and is based on ongoing ignorance
The fear and hatred of all things Islamic can be traced much farther back than 9/11. Edward Said's landmark book "Orientalism" outlined how European colonial masters viewed their Muslim subjects with disdain and disgust. This attitude continues to characterize the discipline today. That view of Muslims as bloodthirsty, misogynist and violent savages persists. It is furthered by Bernard Lewis, America's top Orientalist, and his neoconservative students, a number of whom are the architects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In the 1980s, funding was cut throughout the United States for programs that attempted to understand other peoples and nations. With the fall of the former Soviet Union in 1991 and the establishment of America as the world's sole superpower, a fair amount of arrogance towards the rest of the world pervaded America's dealings with other countries and continues to do so.

The barring of Yusuf Islam in 2004 and Tariq Ramadan in 2005 from the United States are examples of how we are not only closing our borders to Islam but opening them to Islamophobia. Even worse, we are closing our minds. As Diana Eck, President of the American Academy of Religion wrote in the Boston Globe on February 2, 2006 about the Ramadan case, "Denying us face-to-face access to scholars and theologians who contribute to critical reflection on the religious currents of our world is an intolerable impoverishment of the academic enterprise." The Academy is currently suing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for barring Ramadan entry into the US.

Islamophobia harms all of us
In my four interfaith interactions in the last two months, I have met a whole lot of very nice people. But I was surprised to find at almost each event I attended, one or two Islamophobic people who seemed to have a high dose of Fox News in their system. I listened to them and prayed for them instead of responding to them.

Like racism and anti-Semitism, Islamophobia hurts all of us. In America, it is eroding our civil liberties. In Europe, it is further isolating minority communities and inflaming latent xenophobia. It is perpetuating the neocon wish for a "clash of civilizations" at a time when no country in the world, Muslim or not, can afford it politically, economically or otherwise. Just ask the Danish dairy industry how Islamophobia has hurt its business.

Islamophobia is responsible for torture. Islamophobia is responsible for the grave misunderstandings that only serve to perpetuate hatred and demonization.

Perhaps we need to learn from Canada, where hate speech is banned despite the guarantee of free speech in the country's constitution.

Islamophobia is today's accepted form of racism. It will require Muslims to fight hard against it. Muslims are neither solely responsible for its creation, nor will they be able to fight it on their own. It is a collective responsibility for all bridge-builders of the world.

Let us today take a stand to end all kinds of fear and hatred of "the other."

I read this article on the following webstie: http://soundvision.com/info/racism/islamophobia.asp, and I liked to share it with you.

Re: Longest word in the english language?

seyfihoca — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 10:31:52 GMT

and to sum up:

THE LONGEST WORDS IN ENGLISH

â¢ According to the Guinness Book of World Records, 18th edition, the following word is the longest chemical word for C1289H2051N343O375S8. Methionylglutaminy...serine is a scientific name for tryptophan synthetase, which is made up of 267 amino acids. It has appeared written down a number of times and has 1,909 letters.
The full name is:
methionylglutaminylarginyltyrosylglutamylserylleucylphenylalanylalanylglutaminylleucyllysylglutamylarginy

llysylglutamylglycylalanylphenylalanylvalyl

prolylphenylalanylvalylthreonylleucylglycylaspartylprolylglycylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylserylleucyllysyl

isoleucylaspartylthreonylleucylisoleucylglutamylalanylglycylalanylaspartylalanylleucylglutamylleucylglycyl

isoleucylprolylphenylalanylserylaspartylprolylleucylalanylaspartylglycylprolylthreonylisoleucylglutaminyla

sparaginylalanylthreonylleucylarginylalanylphenylalanylalanylalanylglycylvalylthreonylprolylalanylglutamin

ylcysteinylphenylalanylglutamylmethionylleucylalanylleucylisoleucylarginylglutaminyllysylhistidylprolylthre

onylisoleucylprolylisoleucylglycylleucylleucylmethionyltyrosylalanylasparaginylleucylvalylphenylalanylasp

araginyllysylglycylisoleucylaspartylglutamylphenylalanyltyrosylalanylglutaminylcysteinylglutamyllysylvalyl

glycylvalylaspartylserylvalylleucylvalylalanylaspartylvalylprolylvalylglutaminylglutamylserylalanylprolylph

enylalanylarginylglutaminylalanylalanylleucylarginylhistidylasparaginylvalylalanylprolylisoleucylphenylala

nylisoleucylcysteinylprolylprolylaspartylalanylaspartylaspartylaspartylleucylleucylarginylglutaminylisoleu

cylalanylseryltyrosylglycylarginylglycyltyrosylthreonyltyrosylleucylleucylserylarginylalanylglycylvalylthre

onylglycylalanylglutamylasparaginylarginylalanylalanylleucylprolylleucylasparaginylhistidylleucylvalylala

nyllysylleucyllysylglutamyltyrosylasparaginylalanylalanylprolylprolylleucylglutaminylglycylphenylalanylg

lycylisoleucylserylalanylprolylaspartylglutaminylvalyllysylalanylalanylisoleucylaspartylalanylglycylalanyla

lanylglycylalanylisoleucylserylglycylserylalanylisoleucylvalyllysylisoleucylisoleucylglutamylglutaminylhisti

dylasparaginylisoleucylglutamylprolylglutamyllysylmethionylleucylalanylalanylleucyllysylvalylphenylalany

lvalylglutaminylprolylmethionyllysylalanylalanylthreonylarginylserine

â¢ pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (a lung disease caused by the inhalation of
â¢ Honorificabilitudinitatibus
â¢ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
â¢ contraneoantidisestablishmentarianalistically
â¢ The technical term for "Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Dahlemense Strain" is the current official longest word:
â¢ Antidisestablishmentarianism (a movement opposed to the separation of church and state)
o -disestablishment- - the separation of Church and State (specifically in this context it is the political movement of the 1860s in Great Britain)
o disestablishment-arian - a person in support of the movement designed to bring about the above (hereafter called the 'first' movement).
o anti-disestablishment-arian - a person belonging to the movement opposed to the first movement.
o neo-anti-disestablishment-arian - a person belonging to the new version of the movement opposed to the first movement. (Appropriate because in this context the original antidisestablishment movement had become defunct).
o contra-neo-anti-disestablishment-arian - a person belonging to the movement opposed to the new version of the movement opposed to the first movement.
o contra-neo-anti-disestablishment-arian-alistically - behaving in the manner of a person belonging to the movement opposed to the new version of the movement opposed to the first movement.
o pseudo-contra-neo-anti-disestablishment-arian-alistically - false behaviour in the manner of a person belonging to the movement opposed to the new version of the movement opposed to the first movement.
o pro-pseudo-contra-neo-anti-disestablishment-arian-alistically - in favour of the false behaviour in the manner of a person belonging to the movement opposed to the new version of the movement opposed to the first movement.
â¢ Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu (85 letters) which is a hill in New Zealand.
â¢ Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the famous name of a town in Wales in the United Kingdom.
â¢ The longest station name in the UK, at 68 letters, is: Gorsafawddacha'idraigodanheddogleddollÃ´npenrhynareurdraethceredigion which was contrived to beat the Welsh Town.
â¢ The longest place name in the United States (45 letters) is Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.
â¢ The longest hyphenated name in the U.S. is Winchester-on-the-Severn, a town in Maryland.
â¢ Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - is the fear of long words (36 letters long).
â¢ Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk. Appearing on the first page, it allegedly is the symbolic thunderclap representing the fall of Adam and Eve.
â¢ "Twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun" was used in a McDonald's Restaurant advertisement.
â¢ Floccinaucinihilipilification is the act or habit of esteeming or describing something as worthless, or making something to be worthless by said means.
â¢ sesquipedalianism means "the practice of using words one and half feet long".
â¢ otorhinolaryngological (22 letters),
immunoelectrophoretically (25 letters),
psychophysicotherapeutics (25 letters),
thyroparathyroidectomized (25 letters),
pneumoencephalographically (26 letters),
radioimmunoelectrophoresis (26 letters),
psychoneuroendocrinological (27 letters)
hepaticocholangiogastrostomy (28 letters),
spectrophotofluorometrically (28 letters),
pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (30 letters).
â¢ In Voltaire's Candide, Pangloss is supposed to have given lectures on metaphysico-theologo-cosmonigology (34 letters).
â¢ Greek words, and the Latin equivalents; osteosarchaematosplanchnochondroneuromuelous (44 letters) and osseocarnisanguineoviscericartilaginonervomedullary (51 letters), which translate roughly as 'of bone, flesh, blood, organs, gristle, nerve, and marrow'.
â¢ praetertranssubstantiationalistically (37 letters), used in Mark McShane's Untimely Ripped (1963), and aequeosalinocalcalinoceraceoaluminosocupreovitriolic (52 letters), attributed to Dr Edward Strother (1675-1737).
â¢ The formal names of chemical compounds are almost unlimited in length (for example, aminoheptafluorocyclotetraphosphonitrile, 40 letters).
â¢ Pneumonoultramicroscpicsilicovolcanoconiosis
â¢ Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwe
â¢ Krungthepmahanakornamornratanakosinmahintarayutthayamahadilokphopnopparatrajathaniburiromudo

mrajaniwesmahasatharnamornphimarnavatarnsathitsakkattiyavisanukamprasit
in Thailand which is a whopping 163 characters long so long that it doesn't even fit on one line! However whilst the New Zealand place name is recognised by the Guiness Book of Record, the Thailand name is not.
â¢ fluvialgeomorphologicaldendrochronology

in turkish we have: hassasiyetsizlestiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmisiniz

which more or less means "are you from those whom we will not be able to make sensitive to ...?

Re: It's Friday the Thirteenth!!

Woodward — Fri, 13 Feb 2004 13:33:18 GMT

Did you know what Triskaidekaphobia is?
It's the phobia or fear of the number of 13.
I read an article once that a group of guys that didn't believe in superstitions organised a special meeting for Friday the 13th where they would breark mirrors, walk under ladders, open up umbrellas inside the house etc. The thing is one the way to the meeting the plane crashed and everyone died. How's that for bad luck! LOL!
(Only joking about the last part). In fact it was organised and one of the organisers did die shortly before but I don't remember how.
Did you know that in Chile the unlucky day is Tuesday the 13th! People almost never get married or sign contracts or anything on that day. It's interesting when you think about it that in our western society, Tuesday 13th passes by uneventfully, without any thought about it being unlucky so nothing out of the usual happens for the superstitious. Is that because we create our own 'bad luck'? Maybe on Friday 13th people are out looking for cases of it more so obviously they will find it.
What are my plans for today?...I looks like I'll be going to the beach for the weekend with some students. Maybe it will turn into Friday the Thirteenth part nine or ten (the movie) or whatever they are up to now. You know, all those movies start with a group of college friends hanging out somewhere.

Another interesting thought is how we never say the thirteenth of Friday is the unlucky day.
Normally the dates are given both ways depending on UK or US English. But with that date, the US version is almost always used.

Re: Can you correct the essay, tommorrow need

rockydc76 — Sun, 25 Jan 2004 11:59:04 GMT

****************CONTINUE****************

Deputy Rocky: (More and more desperate) : Come on! What's taking so long? Answer!

(The Information Operator picks up the phone)

Information Operator: This is the Information. What city please?

Deputy Rocky: Graves City.

Information Operator: Yes sir?

Deputy Rocky: This is Deputy Rocky with The Graves City Sheriff's Department. We are conducting an investigation into The Murders.

Information Operator: Yes sir. I've heard about the crimes. How can I assist you?

Deputy Rocky: I need you to guide me through to a non-published number. It's extremely urgent.

Information Operator: Certainly sir. What is the name of the party you wish to reach?

Deputy Rocky: Russell. The address is 123 Hong Kong Street.

Information Operator: Just a minute. I will try to connect you.

Deputy Rocky: Thank you.

(Busy Signal of the phone.)

Deputy Rocky: (Desperate): Oh No!

(Busy Signal out)

Information Operator: I am sorry sir but that line seems to be busy at the moment. Do you wish me to keep trying and call you back if I get through?

Deputy Rocky: Yes. Thank you.

Information Operator: Your welcome, sir.

Deputy Rocky: (After hanging up phone) : What's a night! (Phone rings) Maybe this is Sir Russell now. (Picks up the phone) : Sheriff's Office Deputy Rocky speaking.

The Game Addict: Hello. I called you earlier this evening about my tenant who was burning trash in my backyard.

Deputy Rocky: (A little irritated) Yes. I remember. What can I for you?

The Game Addict: Well I did as you suggested. I didn't wait for him to burn anything else, mind you. I simply could not stand by and let something else happen. I was not going to wait and get myself shooted like that stupid hostage almost did in "Counter Strike". I might not have been so lucky you know.

Deputy Rocky: (Muttering to himself) Lol!

The Game Addict: I beg your pardon?

Deputy Rocky: (To the woman) I was wondering if the matter had been resolved?

The Game Addict: Far from it! That's why I'm calling you! I didn't get anything out of this man! He refused to answer any of my questions. I've never seen anyone acted so strange in my life! (After a short pause) : Well?

Deputy Rocky: Then?

The Game Addict: (Sarcastically) : Aren't you going to bring him in for questioning? That information what you said you would do!

Deputy Rocky: For what?

The Game Addict: For the Murder of course!

Deputy Rocky: (Exasperated) : I'm afraid I couldn't do that. Why don't you do me a favour by laying off the television for a while, and find yourself a couple of long silly romance novels. (More Angry) : Good night madam!

(Slams down the phone)

Deputy Rocky: The Murder isn't the only one who's crazy! (Phone rings) : If that's her again I swear to God I will... (Picks up the phone): Sheriff's Office. Deputy Rocky speaking.

Information Operator: This is the Information Operator. I have got the party you wish to speak with.

Deputy Rocky: (Relieved, deep breathe followed by) : Thank you very much. Sir Russell?

Russell: Is that you Deputy Rocky?

Deputy Rocky: Right. Why are you holding up?

Russell: Alright I guess. I was having some trouble with my phone. Everything is made so cheaply nowadays. It seems like every other item I buy is defective. Fortunately I had another phone in storage. (A pause) : Is there anything specific you would like me to do?

Deputy Rocky: Nothing, stay on the phone with me, and remain calm. Sheriff and a couple of deputies are on their way. They should be there shortly.

Russell: Unless they got stuck in a ditch do to the storm.

Deputy Rocky: What storm?

Russell: It has been raining pretty heavy around my place for the last twenty minutes.

Deputy Rocky: (Trying to reassure him) They should arrive in time.

Russell: But there is no guarantee, is there?

Deputy Rocky:: Don't lose hope sir.

Russell: What if he is deceiving you Deputy?

Deputy Rocky: Who?

Russell: (Frightened) The Murder. What if he's deceiving everyone? He is gotten away with four murders already. What makes you think he won't succeed in killing me?

Deputy Rocky: Because Sheriff Christopher and the others will be there on time to trap him. Don't panic. Just stay on the phone with me and remain calm.

Russell: Thank you.

Deputy Rocky: For what?

Russell: For talking to me, and helping me through this.

Deputy Rocky: Not at all. It's my job. We all want to see that this fool gets caught.

Russell: Tell me Rocky, do you ever think about getting out of the police force?

Deputy Rocky: Every day. Which police doesn't think of it? If we all acted on it however, there would not be anybody around to protect the public. Do you have a career?

Russell: Well it's a hobby actually. My husband passed away a couple of years ago, and I'm living off of his pension. There wasn't any need to go back to work, so I stay at home and dabble in a little bit of writing from time to time.

Deputy Rocky: What do you write?

Russell: Mostly, mysteries. But I really have not gotten on my nerve to send anything in for publication. The market's so full of that particular kind of fiction, it is almost impossible to break into.

Deputy Rocky: You never know until you try.

Russell: (Gasps) : Oh, my God!

Deputy Rocky: (Alarmed) : What is it?

Russell: (Frightened) : The lights are going to go out. They are flickering something awful do to this storm. I hate the dark. Since I was a little boy I've always had that ridiculous fear. (Gives a nervous laugh) Silly isn't it?

Deputy Rocky: Not really. Most of us have some kind of phobia.

Russell: (Screaming) : Oh no! They gone! (He sobs like a frightened child)

Deputy Rocky: It is alright. Just stay on the line with me and...

Russell: (Screaming, even louder) : There is someone standing outside of my living room window! (Terrified) : Oh no! He is trying to get inside!

Deputy Rocky: Russell? Russell?

Russell: (Scared out of his wits) : What?!

Deputy Rocky: (Extremely Nervous) : Do you have a gun?

Russell: (Sobbing) : Yes, why?

Deputy Rocky: (Shouting at her) Go to get it! Get the gun and point it at the creep! Shoot him if you have to!

Russell: (Absolutely petrified) I can't move! I'm too frightened...

(The line goes)

Deputy Rocky: ( Frantic ) : Russell? (Clicks the receiver) Hello? Hello?

(Put the phone back on hook)

Deputy Rocky: My god! He is going to get her! (After a slight pause) : Oh, where are the sheriff and the other deputies?! (Exasperated) : Aren't they there by now?!

(Rocky clicks the Police Radio)

Deputy Rocky: This is Deputy Rocky to Sheriff Christopher. Can you read me Sheriff? Sheriff Christopher can you read me sir?

Deputy Rocky: (Completely frantic) : Sheriff Christopher! Oh, why won't he answer me? Sheriff Christopher? (A pause) : It's no use. He is not in his car.

(Rocky shuts off the radio. The clock strike at 9:45 with the ringing of clock bell) A quarter to nine. It's over! It's just over...

(Phone rings)

Deputy Rocky: It's him again. The Murder...

(Phone lifted)

Deputy Rocky: (Trying to speak calmly) : Sheriff's Office.

Russell: (Calm) : Deputy Rocky?

Deputy Rocky: (Relieved) : Russell! Thanks God! Are you alright?

Russell: Yes. I'm fine.

Deputy Rocky: Have Sheriff Christopher and the others arrived yet?

Russell: Yes, they're here, but...

Deputy Rocky: (Anxious) : But what?

Russell: They're dead.

Deputy Rocky: (Stunned) : Dead?

Russell: Yes, and so is Sir Russell. He has been dead for several hours from now.

Deputy Rocky: I don't understand...

Russell: Of course you don't! How could you? It is so full of twists and turns isn't it? Just like the "Diablo". And you know... (His voice changes to the voice of the The Game Addict) I just love computer game. I don't want they leave me in the dark.

Deputy Rocky: (Stunned beyond belief): You are the Murder?!

The Murder: (Her voice changes to the voice of the Murder with the wicked giggles) Yes! It was me who called you in the guise of Sir Russell. I killed him as he was taking the trash out to his backyard earlier this evening.

Deputy Rocky: I still don't understand... I was on the phone with Sir Russell when The Murder called. I just don't unders...

The Murder: (Cutting in. Quite pleased with himself) That was the best part of the deception. (Giggles) Give up? Of course you do! You see, Russell had a cellular phone in her house as well as the main line. It made the game much more interesting. Don't you think?, Deputy. I kept my promise (Giggles again) for ten o'clock.

Deputy Rocky arrived at Russell's appartment. He find a note on Russell's dead body,
"Deputy. Shall we try again on the another block?"

Story of a mother

sur — Fri, 01 Aug 2003 10:26:04 GMT

This story will give an insight into the struggle and all the possible odds one has to face, especially in the developing country, where somtimes struggle assumes the form of determination.

with love to all

sur

Story of a mother

âHello Maâam,â I was surprised to see a young gentleman in his late 20s greeting me. I had never seen the caller, but still I responded his greeting with a smile, but my eyes were on my son, who was making fuss over his food.
He introduced himself, â I am Dr. Narayan, from school of Naval Medicine.â For me he also was one of the doctors from one of those polyclinics so I gave a nod without registering any other details in my mind.
I was preoccupied with my son, who was testing my patience, the more I was coaxing him to eat his food, the more he was irritating me. Not knowing what to do at that moment, I gave up, and started looking for my husband. I was wondering where he could be, how I will search for him in this crowd, at least he or my mother anybody around, so I can go and leave the table and wash my fingers.
It was one of our relativesâ wedding. Normally I donât take my son out for the functions because of his fussy attitude towards food, and being âa slow learnerâ he had a problem communicating with people, but sometimes one has to compromise also.
âMay I help you maâam?â I heard Dr. Narayan asking me, sensing my plight. More then willing I accepted his help and requested him to look after my son for a few minutes till I leave the table and wash my fingers.
I was surprised to see Ani, my son, engrossed with Dr. Narayan and making some small talk, a boy, who would not like to talk to any unknown person, is laughing at some joke!
âMaâam, at what age did your son have the surgery?â - a question that struck me hard, but seeing that sympathetic look in his eyes, and genuine concern in his voice as if mesmerized, my stern, stiff attitude melted and words started flowing.
â At the age of 7 months, he underwent retinoblastoma surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. Due to that his physical as well as mental growth suffered, we put him on growth hormone treatment for three years, and being a slow learner he is going in a special school, there they have to learn special syllabus.â
âWhy donât you give him HBOT treatment?â He said. âA what treatment?â I asked. I was alarmed, cautiously I told the gentleman, âyou see, I have to talk to my husband and my childâs doctor also; if they permit, then I can think of the treatment you have suggested.â
Hearing this he gave me his phone number and address and said I can call him any time to get further information about the treatment, and if I have a computer then I can surf the net and get the details. He warned me âyour doctors may not know about itâ. At this comment I didnât know how to react, so I thanked him and bid him good-bye.
On the way back I told my husband. He said ask Aniâs doctor, if he knows and if he feels it is useful for him, then give him the treatment. When I contacted Aniâs pediatric, his first question was âwhat is it?â and âhey think twice before you get into itâ. I was wondering whom to ask.
I thought might as well ask Dr. Narayan. Tell him to explain what it is and how one gives this treatment. I called on him and a typical âman-in-uniformâ response came. With polite conversation came a suggestion, why not to go to their center and see by my self, not only that âhave a word with our seniors, and surely all your doubts will be cleared; after that, if you feel confident, your son can be treated.â
Armed with all the medical papers and possible questions, I went to the HBOT center with my neighborâs son, an intern in a government hospital. Thus started my introduction to one more therapy.
They took me to the âchamberâ, where a person âbreathesâ 100% pure oxygen! ! !
You must be wondering - we all breathe Oxygen, but there is a difference in our breathing and this breathing. Like we use only 2 to 3 % of our brain, our lungs only breathe 21% oxygen in the air. Hence oxygen getting into our body is not 100%.
It was a cylindrical chamber. Inside 6 people can sit and breathe 100% pure oxygen with masks, or - if child is very small â through a hood. Once patients are made comfortable inside, with trained attendant keeping a watchful eye on all the patients, the chamber is sealed.
Gradually, the air pressure is increased. Patients start breathing pure oxygen at the one and half or two atmospheric level. Which means, our body comes under the pressure which is one and half time or twice more then our normal atmosphere level. Oxygen breathed at this level turns into medicine/drug and helps wounds to heal. After about an hour or one and half hours, the patient comes out of the chamber, all sweating, thirsty and little tired, but with lots of life giving oxygen!
I was wondering how this will help my son, and worried too. With great difficulty we have brought him to this level where he manages his own affairs, plays tabla, does his homework, but with problems in simple mathematical calculations, and being a âfussy eaterâ, he loves to drink his food rather than chew it.
Doctors around assured me: âMaâam, assume your child is at a 50% level, donât worry he will not go down to 40 or 35%; but we can assure you he will surely go to 65 to 70 % level of function, but donât expect improvement to 100% normalcy.â
I was more than willing to take a chance, if my son could go to 70% level and start eating solids, start doing âsimple mathematics, start understanding abstract concepts â like what is today, what is tomorrow.â
Thus began a new treatment for my son and a new quest for me to find out more about the treatment: Who can use it, how does it work, where is it available, etc.
Let me tell you one thing - I am not a doctor, I am a mother of a âspecial childâ who needs attention all the time, who has to be taught to do certain things, and this article is just to inform people at large and parents of âspecial need childrenâ in particular: Please donât feel shy in accepting that you have a special child. Once you accept this, then it becomes easy for you to access the doctors to help your child. Think along this line too: âAfter you are gone, how will your child manage?â A little improvement goes long way for these children.
With this treatment, a child who could not hold a cup may be able to hold a pen; a once autistic child may become more sociable and recognize people. A word of caution too: this is not the only possible treatment, but given in combination with other therapies, HBOT enhances the effect of other medicine.
As Dr. Arun Mukherjee of âUdanâ says:
âHBOT is like watering the parched earth of the brain. Watering alone does not give you a good crop to harvest.
You also need:
1.Good seed (intensive standard therapy with OT/PT/Special Education/Speech Therapy)
2.Good fertilizer to enhance cellular activity (Ayurvedic neuro-restorative drugs that enhance metabolism of the regenerating / recovering brain cells)
3.Good sunshine (Acupuncture to specific points that would stimulate the recovering brain areas to faster recovery)
4.Timely pruning (Botox nerve Block where intractable muscle spasm shows risk of causing permanent joint deformity)
Now let us see what the mechanism is which helps to heal the wounded tissue and briefly review the history of this therapy, and where in India this treatment is available.

âHYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENTâ: âHyperâ means âgreaterâ and âBaricâ means âpressureâ, which means, HBO is a mode of therapy in which the patient breathes 100% pure oxygen at pressure greater than normal atmospheric (sea level) pressure.

It has long been known that healing cannot take place without appropriate oxygen levels in the tissues, where most illnesses and injuries occur and often linger. In many cases, such as in circulatory problems and strokes, adequate oxygen cannot reach the damaged area, and the bodyâs natural healing process does not function properly. HBOT can provide this extra oxygen naturally with virtually no side effects.
Hyperbaric works by dissolving much higher levels of oxygen than normal breathing does into body fluids, especially blood plasma. Usually, 95% of the bodyâs oxygen needs are transported by red blood cells, but this can be greatly reduced by injury or disease. When patient is placed in a chamber in which pure oxygen is delivered at one and half time greater than normal earthâs surface pressure, the amount of oxygen dissolved in other body fluids that reaches the brain is about six times that of normal respiration.
Several beneficial mechanisms are associated with intermittent exposure to the HBO treatment. In combination with other medical and surgical procedures this treatment enhances the healing process.
The method and its technology was originally developed by the military for diving operations, decompression sickness and air embolism.
First documented use of Hyperbaric Therapy actually precedes the discovery of Oxygen. Oxygen was discovered in 1775 by Joseph Prestly, whereas British physician Henshaw used compressed air for medical purposes in 1662. The chamber was called â Domiciliumâ, with pressure provided by a pair of large bellows.
There was no further development in the field of hyperbaric oxygen for another two centuries.
In 1837 Pravaz made the largest chamber. The first hyperbaric chamber in North America came in 1860 at Oshava, Canada. Cunningham built a chamber in Kansas city in 1920 to treat neurological diseases, but due to mechanical failure all his patients died.A mobile chamber was developed by Fontane in 1877 for surgery.
If the history of the treatment dates back to 1662, then after these many centuries why it is not used so extensively and why are very few doctors getting involved in setting up of the chambers? These are natural questions, which will come to anybodyâs mind after reading the usage of it. Before we find out the answer to the questions let us see which all indications can be treated with the HBOT.
A I R O R G A S E M B O L I S M: This occurs when air bubbles enter arteries, veins and/or capillaries. This results in reduced blood flow and poor oxygen delivery to the areas supplied by the affected circulation. If not fatal, this air embolism can result in severe, long-standing and irreversible physical and emotional disabilities. Paralytic limbs, impaired vision, brain, heart, lung and other organ damage, leading to severe disabilities, requiring maximum medical care.
Hyperbaric oxygen has been shown to reduce the size of bubbles and drives the remaining gas into physical solution, while the high oxygen pressure washes out inert gas from the bubble. When bubbles are resolved, blood flow resumes. Poorly oxygenated tissues then receive higher levels of oxygen delivery. Once the blood flow resumes with more oxygen, swollen tissues will start healing and local swelling also will subside.
Thus HBOT treatment is the primary treatment for Air embolism. Apart from this other indications are: Carbon Monoxide poisoning, Gas Gangrene, Crush Injury, Decompression Sickness, Arterial Gas Embolism, Enhancement of Healing in Selected Problem Wounds -(this includes diabetic feet / compromised amputation sites / non healing traumatic wounds and vascular insufficiency ulcer, all these indications share the common problem of tissue hypoxia - that is low tissue oxygen level - usually related to impaired circulation), Exceptional Blood Loss (anemia), Intracranial Abscess, Soft Tissue Infections, Refractory Osteomyelitis, Skin Grafts, Thermal Burns, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Migraine, Cerebral Edema, Coma, etc.
Oxygen, when breathed under increased atmospheric pressure, is a potent drug. But this can produce noticeable toxic effects if administered indiscriminately, and it may be a problem in the presence of certain indications, such as: Untreated Tension Pneumothorax, Cold and Cough, Emphysema, A symptomatic Pulmonary Lesions, Thoracic or Ear Surgery, Uncontrolled High Fever, Claustrophobia, etc.
After seeing the indications where HBOT can be used and contra indications where HBOT should not be used, let us examine why doctors rarely recommend the therapy, and why usually doctors themselves are not aware of this treatment, how it works and how it may help their patients.
First of all, doctors are rarely taught about hyperbaric oxygen therapy in medical colleges and therefore most donât know about it. Sometimes this therapy does get mentioned in the syllabus, but it stops at that level. Since it is expensive to provide hyperbaric chamber facilities, medico students donât have access to the treatment know how. So it is obvious - what a physician doesnât know he will not prescribe, and thus the most useful treatment remains unnoticed, unused.
How many chambers are being used around the world? Armed forces, especially the Navy, is using HBOT chambers - both monoplace, that is single person, and multi-place, where 4 to 6 or more patients can be treated at one time. Approximate figures show China and Russia have the most HBOT chambers â around 3000 each, which includes navy as well as civilian population chambers. South Korea has 4.9 chambers per one million population, whereas Russia has only 3.6. In the United States there are around 500 chambers and every year this number is increasing by about 30 chambers, both monoplace or multiplace. Australia and Germany have only multiplace chambers, whereas Japan prefers monoplace units. In USA, about 10,000 patients per day are treated with HBOT, and insurance coverage is provided for 13 indications. However, China and Russia are allowing insurance coverage for 40 to 70 indications.
Now - where does India stand with this therapy? Well, India has total of 16 chambers, out of which 9 chambers are with Indian Navy. Mumbai has three operational chambers - one with Kasturba Hospital, which is monoplace, another with Mumbai Port Trust Hospital that too is monoplace and one multiplace with INHS Aswini Hospital of Indian Navy.Apart from this New Delhi has one in Apollo Hospital and one in Banglore City. Considering the population of India, this figure is highly inadequate.
You must be wondering how my child has benefited and progressed, and how we managed to cope with this treatment.
After 30 sessions - one hour each for 30 days - we have noticed changes in Ani. He has started eating solids, he has become more expressive in his feelings - likes dislikes are clearly conveyed. Simple mathematical calculations, which were very difficult for him, are coming along easier, but he is yet to get hold of the abstract concepts like âtoday and tomorrowâ, which is a bit complex for him. But I am confident after more rounds of the treatment he will be able to understand that too.
Well, for the parents of normal children these things may not make any sense. However, those who understand the traumatic situation of dealing with âspecial needs childrenâ will realize: the gift of a small progress in your child is nothing short of a miracle. For a Cerebral Palsy or otherwise brain-injured child, if this child can manage to hold a glass of water by himself, this is a great achievement for the child and a relief for the parents. When an autistic child, normally a loner, improves and becomes little more socially active, then the parents will be more relaxed.
Dr. Paul Harch, one of the well known authorities on HBOT has treated a number of children with various ailments, and states, âthe results of the treatment is so encouraging that it is going to change the entire landscape of traumatic brain injury treatment, HBOT has change my career and life.â
Let me tell you we are not so fortunate that every city has these chambers and we can treat our children there. If in the advanced countries, parents of these children they have come forward to establish these facilities, then why not in India?
It was the courtesy extended by the School of Naval Medicine to treat the patients from outside armed forces, but they have their own charter to follow, where priorities are clearly defined. Surely, with their guidance and support, parents groups can establish such centers in the various cities of India.
To get more information please use any search engine (like Yahoo or Google) on the net and type in the word âhbotâ or âhyperbaricâ and you will be surprised to see the data available. Make sure you find a reputable website, because you may find some site which talks about âhow to stop the aging processâ. Look for sites that talk about HBOT for Cerebral Palsy and Brain Injury, Autism,Coma and Stroke.
If even one parent of a âspecial needs childâ accepts the reality and becomes actively involved in this treatment for their child, I will feel that my job is done. My E-mail Id is âsur52@yahoo.comâ.
Thank you.
Ref: any search engine on the internet (Yahoo search engine has almost 19,500 web sites listed).*www.hbot4u.com.
*www.hyperbarics.org.*http://www.netnet.net/mums/index.htm