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byronius
byronius's Journal
byronius's Journal
January 8, 2017
Kindred spirits, except Corey's almost harmless.
Superstar Corey Feldman to headline inauguration?
Kindred spirits, except Corey's almost harmless.
January 7, 2017
So, we're about to enter Bizarro World War Two.
In which the combined forces of the United States and Russia turn on the last bastions of liberal democracy, Germany and Japan.
Holy Kurt Vonnegut.
January 7, 2017
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we´ve got
Set them free at the break of dawn
Till one by one they were gone
Back at base, sparks in the software
Flash the message?? somethings out there??
Floating in the summer sky
Ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, its red alert
There´s something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
And focusing it on the sky
The ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine decisions treat
Ninety nine ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call the troops out in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The President is on the line
As ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine knights of the air
Ride super high-tech jet fighters
Everyone's a super hero
Everyone's a Captain Kirk
With orders to identify
To clarify and classify
Scrambling the summer sky
Ninety nine red balloons go by
As ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine dreams I have had
In every one a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standing pretty
In this dust that was a city
If could find a souvenir
Just the prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
99 Luftballoons.
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we´ve got
Set them free at the break of dawn
Till one by one they were gone
Back at base, sparks in the software
Flash the message?? somethings out there??
Floating in the summer sky
Ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, its red alert
There´s something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
And focusing it on the sky
The ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine decisions treat
Ninety nine ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call the troops out in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The President is on the line
As ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine knights of the air
Ride super high-tech jet fighters
Everyone's a super hero
Everyone's a Captain Kirk
With orders to identify
To clarify and classify
Scrambling the summer sky
Ninety nine red balloons go by
As ninety nine red balloons go by
Ninety nine dreams I have had
In every one a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standing pretty
In this dust that was a city
If could find a souvenir
Just the prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
January 6, 2017
Coping with chaos in the White House.
My psychotherapist aunt sent me this link. I've read a few of these diagnoses of NPD, all similar; this gives good advice on coping with the symptoms.
Medium
A few days ago, I wrote a post for my Facebook friends about my personal experience with narcissistic personality disorder and how I view the president elect as a result. Unexpectedly, the post traveled widely, and it became clear that many people are struggling with how to understand and deal with this kind of behavior in a position of power. Although several writers, including a few professionals, have publicly offered their thoughts on a diagnosis, I am not a professional and this is not a diagnosis. My post is not intended to persuade anyone or provide a comprehensive description of NPD. I am speaking purely from decades of dealing with NPD and sharing strategies that were helpful for me in coping and predicting behavior. The text below is adapted from my original Facebook post.
I want to talk a little about narcissistic personality disorder. Ive unfortunately had a great deal of experience with it, and Im feeling badly for those of you who are trying to grapple with it for the first time because of our president-elect, who almost certainly suffers from it or a similar disorder. If I am correct, it has some very particular implications for the office. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Its not curable and its barely treatable. He is who he is. There is no getting better, or learning, or adapting. Hes not going to rise to the occasion for more than maybe a couple hours. So just put that out of your mind.
2) He will say whatever feels most comfortable or good to him at any given time. He will lie a lot, and say totally different things to different people. Stop being surprised by this. While its important to pretend good faith and remind him of promises, as Bernie Sanders and others are doing, thats for his supporters, so *they* can see the inconsistency as it comes. He wont care. So if youre trying to reconcile or analyze his words, dont. Its 100% not worth your time. Only pay attention to and address his actions.
3) You can influence him by making him feel good. There are already people like Bannon who appear ready to use him for their own ends. The GOP is excited to try. Watch them, not him. President Obama, in his wisdom, may be treating him well in hopes of influencing him and averting the worst. If he gets enough accolades for better behavior, he might continue to try it. But dont count on it.
4) Entitlement is a key aspect of the disorder. As we are already seeing, he will likely not observe traditional boundaries of the office. He has already stated that rules dont apply to him. This particular attribute has huge implications for the presidency and it will be important for everyone who can to hold him to the same standards as previous presidents.
5) We should expect that he only cares about himself and those he views as extensions of himself, like his children. (People with NPD often cant understand others as fully human or distinct.) He desires accumulation of wealth and power because it fills a hole. (Melania is probably an acquired item, not an extension.) He will have no qualms *at all* about stealing everything he can from the country, and hell be happy to help others do so, if they make him feel good. He wont view it as stealing but rather as something hes entitled to do. This is likely the only thing he will intentionally accomplish.
6) Its very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD. While often intelligent, charismatic and charming, they do not reliably observe social conventions or demonstrate basic human empathy. Its very common for non-disordered people to lower their own expectations and try to normalize the behavior. DO NOT DO THIS AND DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA, TO DO THIS. If you start to feel foggy or unclear about this, step away until you recalibrate.
7) People with NPD often recruit helpers, referred to in the literature as enablers when they allow or cover for bad behavior and flying monkeys when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist. Although its easiest to prey on malicious people, good and vulnerable people can be unwittingly recruited. It will be important to support good people around him if and when they attempt to stay clear or break away.
8) People with NPD often foster competition for sport in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings and recriminations. He will probably behave worst toward those closest to him, but that doesnt mean (obviously) that his actions wont have consequences for the rest of us. He will punish enemies. He may start out, as he has with the NYT, with a confusing combination of punishing/rewarding, which is a classic abuse tactic for control. If you see your media cooperating or facilitating this behavior for rewards, call them on it.
9) Gaslighting where someone tries to convince you that the reality youve experienced isnt true is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight. Many of our politicians and media figures already gaslight, so it will be hard to distinguish his amplified version from what has already been normalized. Learn the signs and find ways to stay focused on what you know to be true. Note: it is typically not helpful to argue with people who are attempting to gaslight. You will only confuse yourself. Just walk away.
10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Unfortunately we cant and shouldnt ignore the president, but dont circulate his tweets or laugh at him you are enabling him and getting his word out. (Ive done this, of course, we all have just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: do you sort of enjoy his clowning? do you enjoy the outrage? is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.
January 6, 2017
For anyone who hasn't seen it, the new Netflix series Sense8 is brilliant.
Best writing, best ensemble cast, great story. My daughter talked me into it, and I'm glad she did.
Beautiful. Deep heart. Brave. Wise.
Love it. Gets better and better.
January 1, 2017
Let The Sun Shine In.
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Member since: Wed Feb 23, 2005, 03:32 PMNumber of posts: 7,393