Sobriety and Freedom

Drug And Alcohol Rehabilitation: The Facts

2008-05-12T13:45:00.000-05:00

Drug rehab is a term that refers to psychotherapeutic and medical treatment for substance abuse, or a dependence on a harmful substance. These harmful substances include not only illegal street drugs like cocaine, heroine, or other amphetamines, but also prescription drugs and alcohol. Since the abuse of drugs and alcohol can have far-reaching consequences – social, physical, mental, legal, and financial – the main aim of drug and alcohol rehab is to break that dependency and to enable the patient to cease using the substances and to find a new drug-free way of life.
What does rehab do?
Drug and alcohol rehab tends to focus on the dual nature of substance abuse and dependency, which is both physical and psychological. Dealing with the physical dependency can result in severe withdrawal symptoms, so rehab centres help clients go through what is known as a ‘detoxification’ process to help cope with the physical withdrawal from drugs and / or alcohol.
Dealing with the psychological aspect of drug and alcohol abuse is also a major part of the rehabilitation process, and it generally focuses on helping an individual learn how to interact and react to situations and stresses on a daily basis, in a drug-free environment. Patients are encouraged to make changes to their life, which may include changing their group of friends, particularly those who are still using drugs or alcohol. In early recovery this can be an important factor in relapse prevention. Certain rehab programs take the client through a ‘twelve-step programme’, which challenges addicts and alcoholics to accept that they need help from others in order to beat their addiction, that they must make changes to their life in order to recover, and that they must lead a life which is based upon total honesty with themselves and others.
Often, rehab centres will recommend complete abstinence from legal substances, such as alcohol. Quitting the substance completely is the preferable option, even in cases where alcohol had not been a perceivable problem for the client before. This is because of the fact that most addicts, if their drug of choice is removed, will turn to another drug instead. Alcohol is a mind-altering drug, which will soon become a dependence in people who have been addicted to other drugs in the past.
What forms of rehab are there?
Other than the general treatment centres and twelve-step programmes that are available for substance abusers, a variety of alternative drug and alcohol rehab programmes have emerged over the past few decades. Programmes include residential treatment, extended care centres, sober living houses and local support groups.
Sometimes antidepressants are prescribed for rehab clients in the early stages of treatment, as a temporary measure, as they can be used as part of the detoxification process. However, This must be closely monitored to ensure the client does not develop another addiction to the prescribed substance. In most cases, however, when the client stops using drugs and alcohol, symptoms of depression will diminish and disappear over time. This is because symptoms of the addictive disorder very closely mirror those of clinical depression, with individuals suffering low moods, mood swings, irritability, restlessness, malaise, trouble sleeping and changes in appetite, as a direct result of their drug use. Many addicts are surprised and heartened to find that this is the case as they continue with their recovery.
While in most cases clients will check themselves into drug or alcohol rehab, often attendance and treatment at a rehab centre is ordered by the criminal justice system. Those who are convicted of minor drug or alcohol offences are often referred to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre instead of prison, and offenders who have a dependence upon alcohol are sometimes ordered to attend a number of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to help overcome their addiction.
While traditional rehab treatment is based on counselling, a number of studies have shown that there are many occasions where individuals who suffer from addiction have a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed along side physchological issues. Chemical imbalances can be helped through making changes to diet, other nutritional supplements, and working toward a healthy lifestyle, which helps to correct the imbalance and also releases the patient from the grip of drug or alcohol addiction.

Visit TTP Counselling for info on Drug Rehab and Alchohol Rehab

What is Alcoholism?

2008-05-05T17:49:00.003-05:00

What is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions. In common and historic usage, alcoholism refers to any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite the health problems and negative social consequences it causes. Medical definitions describe alcoholism as a disease which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. Alcoholism may also refer to a preoccupation with or compulsion to consume alcohol and an impaired ability to recognize the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

Causes of Alcoholism
The use of alcohol itself does not predict the development of alcoholism. The quantity, frequency and regularity of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism varies greatly from person to person. While the biological mechanisms underpinning alcoholism are uncertain, established risk factors include social environment, emotional health, and genetic predisposition, which are all unique to every individual.

Treating Alcoholism
Treatments for alcoholism are quite varied because there are multiple perspectives about the condition itself. Medications are sometimes prescribed to help reduce the compulsion to drink. DailyStrength members have described their experiences with Antabuse, Naltrexone, and Campral.

Most treatment programs focus on helping discontinue alcohol intake, followed up with life training and social support in order to help resist returning to alcohol use. Since alcoholism involves multiple factors which encourage drinking, they must all be addressed in order to successfully prevent a relapse. A typical treatment program consists of detoxification followed by a combination of therapy, daily participation in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and ongoing development of coping mechanisms.

Alcoholism Resources and Support
DailyStrength's alcoholism support group makes it possible for you to find help from other everyday recovering alcoholics all around the world. You can chat, send and receive hugs, keep a recovery journal, and share your story as you build the personal support network you need to strengthen your sobriety. You might also find help in DailyStrengthís other support groups like Families & Friends of Addicts, Smoking Addiction, and Depression, a condition which affects many people in recovery.

You might also find help in DailyStrengthís other support groups like Families & Friends of Addicts, Smoking Addiction, and Depression, a condition which affects many people in recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies
College Drinking Prevention, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Chicago Bears RB Benson arrested on intoxicated boating charge

2008-05-04T11:34:00.003-05:00

AUSTIN (AP) — Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson faces criminal charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest.

Authorities say Benson was operating a 30-foot boat carrying about 15 passengers on Lake Travis on Saturday when he was stopped, then failed a field sobriety test. Officials say an officer had to use pepper spray to subdue Benson.

Travis County Sheriff's Department spokesman Roger Wade says Benson was freed from jail on a $14,500 bond Sunday morning.

The 25-year-old Benson was the Bears' first-round pick in 2005 after starring at the University of Texas.

Chief Judge David Hall Arrested For OWI - Refused Test

2008-05-01T11:07:00.006-05:00

According to Lake Coounty Illinois Court records, Lake County Chief Judge David Hall was arrested for allegedly weaving across the center line on Illinois Highway 60 early Saturday morning. He subsequently refused to take Field Sobriety tests and Breathalyzer test.

Vernon Hills police records indicate that Hall actually told the officer that he had been drinking. The officer observed that Hall had a "very strong" oder of alcohol. Hall was then charged with DUI /
Interference
with a Police
Officer /
Improper Lane
Use / Failure to
Yield

After the arrest, Hall spent 15 hours in the emergency room for heart problems after he alleged that the arresting officer pepper sprayed him in the face while Hall was sitting in his vehicle.

Vernon Hills Police declined to answer any questions about this case when I called. After going to their website I discovered that this case is still "Under Investigation". How convenient.

Hall surrendered his driver's license and was released on a $1,000 recognizance bond pending a May 21 court date at Lake County Circuit Court in Waukegan.

Check back later for an update on this case.

Your friend,
Bionic

We Can Do It by Rev Jeremiah Wright

2008-04-30T08:29:00.005-05:00

The Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright has a message that may be "Wright". He had a message of change the other day. Change that may or may not be used as a general term. The scary thing about this message is that it has gotten so much media attention.

When "Change" is talked about by Rev Wright, his use of the word is understood by certain segments of the American people. Rev Wright's use of the word change seems to be geared toward racial hatred by many "Americans".

These "Americans" in which this message is geared toward is the black population. Inuendos and "underground railroad" messages are part of the culture of the African American peoples. It's in their music, speech, books and most importantly, schools.

It seems that Rev Wright has the ability to look you in the face and demand equality and desegregation, while at the same time doing just the opposite. His racial hatred toward White People is disturbing. An example of Wright's ability to pretend to preach equality while offending White People at the same time can be seen here:

If you see this next clip, your views on the Rev might change. If you think he is preaching equality, you are very wrong. He is preaching racial unrest. He wants change allright. But not the kind of change you may think:

Now, if you think that only White People feel this way, you are dead wrong. All Real Americans feel similarly. Wright's speech is pure hatred and geared toward racial unrest. Americans are intelligent people and can see through Wright's lies and can see his political agenda. The next clip is 10 minutes long, but the first few minutes are very important:

more later...

your friend,
Bionic

Recovery Chat Now Available

2008-04-29T08:29:00.006-05:00

You can now enter the Recovery Chat chatroom from bionicbeer.com. Just click the Title of the Post above and enter the room. No need to register, and the meetings are very helpful.

Also, if you ever heard of Joe and Charlie, I found a 10 hour CD of a 1998 Open Speaker Meeting by Joe and Charlie at eBay for only $4.99 with free shipping. I bought one myself and it is a very good deal.

Lastly, if you live in the Milwaukee area and are a Brewer Fan, then you can get free tickets today. All you have to do is show up at Miller Park and get your Prostate Checked. No Joke! It's going on right now, so hurry up.

Your friend,

Bionic

Today’s Russian Freemasons of a More Modest Order

2008-04-28T17:02:00.007-05:00

Aspiring for world supremacy? Then the Russian Freemasons are not the group to join.

“Many walk away disappointed when they don’t find buttons to operate the world behind my armchair,” Russia’s top Freemason, former presidential candidate Andrei Bogdanov, said jokingly in his office in central Moscow.

Freemasonry — whose obscure origins have been traced to sometime between the building of King Solomon’s temple in the 10th century B.C. and the 16th century A.D. — once boasted an elite following in Russia, including 18th- and 19th-century nobility, poet Alexander Pushkin, architect Vasily Bazhenov and war heroes Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov.

These days, however, it is a more modest order. Indeed, the secret fraternity does not count any billionaires or senior politicians as members, said three Freemasons and two historians.

“There are people close to the ruling circle among us, but they are in the second tier, and you will rarely see them on TV,” Bogdanov said, declining to provide any names.

Most members are middle-class intellectuals, retired military officers and small-time businessmen, said Sergei Karpachyov, a historian who has authored several books about Russian Freemasonry.

Bogdanov, the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Russia, as the order calls its governing body, is perhaps Russia’s best-known Freemason, after he ran for president on March 2, placing last with 1.3 percent of the vote. He first took the spotlight in late 2007 when his Democratic Party ran in State Duma elections, winning a miniscule 0.13 percent.

Bogdanov made no secret of his association with Freemasonry during both campaigns, although he said in the interview that his decision to participate was his own and not backed by his Grand Lodge.

“We don’t talk politics or religion,” he said of Grand Lodge meetings. “These are the two issues that may strain relations between brothers.”

Freemasonry has been viewed with suspicion for centuries, largely because of its reputation as a clandestine, male-only society that uses secret handshakes and passwords to recognize members. To be in good standing, Russian Freemasons, like their counterparts elsewhere, must belong to a “regular” lodge — one where members are all male, believe in a “supreme being” and do not engage in politics, said Georgy Dergachyov, grand master of the first lodge, Northern Star, to open in post-Soviet Russia.

Members who do not comply attend “irregular” lodges, which are not considered part of the main group.

Bogdanov’s decision to dabble in politics, however, has not affected his status. Bogdanov explained that Freemasons did not impose their views on one another and that he had run on his own, not as a Freemason.

There are an estimated 5 million Freemasons worldwide, including 2 million in the United States, but just over 500 people have joined in Russia since the first regular lodge opened in 1992, said Vladimir Nikitin, the grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Russia.

Half of all new Freemasons stop being active members within two years, Nikitin said.

The Grand Lodge oversees 28 regular lodges. The first post-Soviet lodge, Northern Star, was irregular when it opened in 1991, allowing women and atheists as members, said Dergachyov, a university professor. Dergachyov grew interested in Freemasonry in the late 1980s when he, then in his mid-30s, befriended a French Freemason in Russia. The Freemason invited him to France, where he was initiated into Freemasonry by an irregular lodge, the Grand East of France.

To set up a national lodge in any country, seven Freemasons holding the rank of master are needed, said Karpachyov, the historian.

After Dergachyov, six more Russians were initiated in France, and the seventh set up the Northern Star lodge in Moscow. A year later, it became regular. “Then as I learned more about Freemasonry, I decided that it would be better if Russian Freemasonry became regular,” Dergachyov said.

The first Freemasons on Russian soil were British. The earliest documents about Russian Freemasonry date back to 1731, when Captain John Phillips was appointed by the Grand Lodge of England as the provincial grand master of Russia and Germany, said Andrei Serkov, a historian studying Freemasonry at the Russian State Library.

Freemasonry was popular among Europe-oriented Russian nobility until 1822, when Alexander I banned it by an edict that also ordered state bureaucrats to give an oath not to get involved with Freemasons. Freemasonry continued in a semilegal manner, Serkov said.

Unlike the Roman Catholic Church and many other faiths, the Russian Orthodox Church has never openly criticized Freemasons, although it has viewed them with suspicion, Karpachyov said.

Many Freemasons fled after the Revolution and kept lodges abroad. In 1922, Leon Trotsky made a call at the Fourth Congress of Comintern for Communists around the world to abandon Freemason lodges. After that, remaining lodges in Russia were targeted by the Soviet authorities together with all other secret organizations.

Freemasons remain quite secretive today, with Dergachyov, Nikitin and Bogdanov refusing to name fellow members.

The Grand Lodge of Russia has had four grandmasters, but Derchachyov and Bogdanov are the only two who have revealed themselves to the world of profanes, as Freemasons call nonmembers.

Lodges convene once a month and have a joint assembly every year. Bogdanov was elected grand master at such an assembly in June 2007, attended by some 100 delegates. Lodge meetings usually begin with presentations dedicated to the arts or science, followed by a discussion and a social talk, which continues during the agape, an informal dinner, Freemasons said.

Nikitin said an informal rule required Freemasons to socialize with other Freemasons and that this was the only way to be promoted in rank, by demonstrating knowledge and communication skills.

The Grand Lodge follows 33 graduses, or steps, from the Scottish Masonic charter.

To become the legitimate Grand Lodge of Russia, it needed to be established by a foreign grand lodge, and this happened in 1995, when the Grand National Lodge of France established the Grand Lodge of Russia. Since then, Bogdanov said, more than 90 foreign grand lodges have recognized the Russian lodge.

Bogdanov’s presidential bid stirred public interest in Freemasonry, said Nikitin, with the number of visitors to the lodge’s web site soaring and the number of e-mails — some with requests to join — increasing to several dozen per day.

“Still, we initiate no more than 10 new members per month,” he said. Initiation is preceded by numerous interviews by Freemasons.

The lodges were officially registered with the authorities as public organizations in 1993, and after a new law on nongovernmental organizations went in effect in 2006, they were re-registered as noncommercial partnerships. Bogdanov said the re-registration went without a hitch. Many NGOs have complained of cumbersome paperwork required for re-registration, and some have had to close.

The lodges are funded by annual fees of around 2,500 rubles, paid by members, Bogdanov said.

“We have also a lodge in Moscow where all communication is in English for the convenience of visiting brothers from abroad,” he said.

In the years since its rebirth in the 1990s, Russian Freemasonry has not managed to grow into a phenomenon and probably never will, historians said. “Freemasonry has no big future in Russia. It belongs to a European culture that is still alien for most Russians,” Karpachyov said.
In the years since its rebirth in the 1990s, Russian Freemasonry has not managed to grow into a phenomenon and probably never will, historians said. “Freemasonry has no big future in Russia. It belongs to a European culture that is still alien for most Russians,” Karpachyov said.

By Nabi Abdullaev the St. Petersburg Times

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. - History

2008-04-28T11:48:00.002-05:00

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his elementary education in that city and then went to Virginia Union University. After three and a half years at Virginia Union, Pastor Wright left school and entered the United States Marine Corps. He transferred from the USMC into the United States Navy where he served as a cardiopulmonary technician.

After six years in the military, Pastor Wright transferred to Howard University where he completed his undergraduate studies and received his first Master’s Degree. His second Master’s Degree was from the University of Chicago Divinity School. His Doctorate was received from the United Theological Seminary under Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor. In addition to Pastor Wright’s four earned degrees, he has been the recipient of eight honorary doctorates.

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. became Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) on March 1, 1972. Within a matter of months he demonstrated an understanding and deep commitment to help TUCC achieve its motto and vision. The motto, "Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian", was a phrase coined by his predecessor, the Reverend Dr. Reuben Sheares, and was officially adopted by the congregation shortly after Pastor Wright began his ministry.

Since 1972, under Dr. Wright’s leadership, the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ grew from 87 members; and currently exceeds 6,000! The membership continues to grow numerically and spiritually with large numbers of members tithing, studying in bible classes and serving in over 70 ministries offered to enhance the Christian journey.

Dr. Wright has lectured at seminaries and universities across the United States and has represented TUCC and The United Church of Christ around the world. He is recognized as a leading theologian and pastor and has published four books and numerous articles.

No Such Thing as FREE BEER

2008-04-26T00:53:00.005-05:00

FREE BEER????

Even if I give you free beer right now, it will never actually be free. There are so many variables and catches to free beer that it might be hard to take in.

First: When you get free beer, then drink the free beer, you will probably wake up with a hang over. Or even worse, you might stay up all night and not go to work in the morning. How much does that cost you?

Second: What happens if you drink the free beer, get too drunk, then do something you might regret. Like pissing off your wife. Or saying something you might regret to your kids. Even worse, wake up in the neighbors lawn half naked with an empty beer can laying next to you. How much does that cost you?

Third: On your way to collecting your free beer you might pick up some buddies so they can also enjoy some free beer. Then, on your way back home you all decide you can't wait to drink the free beer, so yall start drinking in the car. 15 miles down the road you each had at least 3 free beers, because after all, it's free and you want to drink it quick so you can hurry back for more. Then the lights and sirens in your rear view mirror startle you because you just swerved while reaching back for another free beer. DUI or OWI for sure. Even worse. You wake up in the ditch and your friends are strewn about, inside and outside of the car. Are they dead? Injured? How much does that cost you?

Lastly: There is no such thing as free beer. Even if it's free.

Drink Safely.

Don't Drink and Drive.

Wear Your Seat Belt.

And always pay for your beer. This way you think about what I just said. Who wants free beer anyway.

Blogger Buzz: Concerning the Historie and Nature of Blogs of Note

2008-04-24T14:21:00.000-05:00

Blogger Buzz: Concerning the Historie and Nature of Blogs of Note

Field Sobriety Tests Difficult to Pass

2008-04-24T12:48:00.003-05:00

Talk About Tough Drunk Driving Tests !!!

This video clearly shows how hard it is to pass a drunk driving field sobriety test. Great video for all of you to see. I highly reccommend it.

Enjoy

healthy living tips by Dr.Vina: Fighting alcoholism

2008-04-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

healthy living tips by Dr.Vina: Fighting alcoholism

What Is Alcoholism?

2008-04-23T08:23:00.003-05:00

The term "alcoholism" refers to a disease known as alcohol dependence syndrome, the most severe stage of a group of drinking problems which begins with binge drinking and alcohol abuse.

Alcohol problems occur at different levels of severity, from mild and annoying to life-threatening. Although alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is the most severe stage, less severe drinking problems can also be dangerous.

Officially, binge drinking means having five or more drinks in one session for men and four or more for women. Another definition for binge drinking is simply drinking to get drunk. It is the most common drinking problem for young people, under age 21.

Binge drinking turns into alcohol abuse when someone's drinking begins to cause problems and the drinking continues anyway. Alcohol abuse is when someone continues to drink in spite of continued social, interpersonal or legal difficulties. Alcohol abuse can result in missing time at school or work, neglecting child or household responsibilities or trouble with the law.

Alcohol abuse becomes alcohol dependence when drinkers begin to experience a craving for alcohol, a loss of control of their drinking, withdrawal symptoms when they are not drinking and an increased tolerance to alcohol so that they have to drink more to achieve the same effect. Alcohol dependence is a chronic and often progressive disease that includes a strong need to drink despite repeated problems.

Alcoholism tends to run in families and a vast amount of scientific research indicates that genetics play a role in developing alcohol problems. But research also shows that a person's environment and peer influences also impact the risk of becoming alcohol dependent.
Although a massive amount of scientific research indicates heredity plays some role in developing alcoholism, having a family history of alcoholism does not doom a person into becoming an alcoholic. The genetic tendencies can be overcome.

The All Seeing Eye - Revolution is at Hand

2008-04-22T22:04:00.003-05:00

If you live in the United States of America, then from the time you become conscious of money, the Great Seal becomes a part of your psyche – whether you realize it or not. Moreover, since U.S. dollars are, in effect, standard international currency, this Great Seal infiltrates the minds of men the world over – both free and bond.

The centerpiece of this mandala is the All-Seeing Eye – an important symbol within freemasonry and rosicrucian traditions for hundreds of years. So it is not surprising to find pride among occultists who understand the significance of this emblem: “Our beautiful seal is an expression of Freemasonry, an expression of occult ideas.” (Wyckoff, H. S. The Great American Seal. The Mystic Light, the Rosicrucian Magazine, p.56) 1

The first attempts at including the All-Seeing Eye on the seal were not successful. The first die of the Great Seal was cut from brass in 1782. In 1825, 1841, 1877, 1885, and 1902, new dies were cut, but each time the reverse went uncut and unused . . . the Illuminati's plan for the New World Order had not been advanced far enough, yet, to be announced.

The New World Order is an expression that has been used by illuminized Freemasonry since the days of Weishaupt to signify the coming world government. “It is necessary to establish a universal regime over the whole world”, Weishaupt had said. (Writings of the Illuminati, 1780)

During the first part of the 20th century and up to the time the reverse of the seal was first used, a series of victories over the sovereignty of the United States had already been won. Illuminist agents committed to the one-world interests of the Rothschild-Warburg-Rockefeller cartel had accomplished some important stepping stones to this New World Order: Federal Reserve System (1913); League of Nations (1920); Royal Institute of International Affairs, and Council on Foreign Relations (1920-21); and the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The consolidation of power was complete and the reverse side of the seal, which remained largely unknown to the American people for more than 150 years, could now be placed.

Proof of an Illuminati Conspiracy

2008-04-18T11:03:00.000-05:00

Proofs of an Illuminati Conspiracy!

As a former occultist and a researcher of history and current events for the past twenty-seven years, I can assure you that there is an Illuminati conspiracy of elitists who have one scheme in common. From its very inception on May 1st, 1776, the Illuminati directors have worked to bring forth a one-world government under the direct rule of their god Lucifer from whom they derived their name. Lucifer, who became Satan according to Isaiah, chapter 14, sought to be like the Most High. He was thrust out of heaven, and since then he has sought to be the god of this world. The name Lucifer means the bringer of light or son of the morning. The word Illuminati means holders of the light. In 1776, the Rothschild bankers retained Dr. Adam Weishaupt, a son of a Jewish rabbi who converted to Roman Catholicism, to devise a secret conspiratorial society and blueprint to gain control of the entire world for Lucifer. Powerful men were to be seduced to join it, and it was to hide within the Masonic Lodges of the Grand Orient. Wars and revolutions were to be used, as well as treaties, to reshape the world and bring forth a new world order. If you have ever wondered why we have had two world wars and another one is forthcoming, you have your answer. Some powerful and hidden people wanted those wars to happen, and they had the power to foment them. Manipulation of economies has been the chief device on the control panel of this operation.

When the Illuminati was formed, Dr. Weishaupt and four other men conspired together in a cave near Ingolstadt in Bavaria. Weishaupt later wrote of this and stated that they were visited by a force called the controlling unknown. Most historians admit that there was an Illuminati, but they say it is long gone. The Masonic Lodge, Skull and Bones, and numerous other secret societies have conspired together with Hollywood, television producers, and talk show radio personnel to make a big joke of it all. Why do they protest so much? They continue to infer that only an idiot and a nut would believe there is a conspiracy. The evidence, however, remains to this very day.

According to a recent article by Trudy Rubin, who has attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for the past eleven years, the most recent of those forums was different than all previous ones. The United States had always been the star of the show and the great world and economic power. This time it was different; the once mighty America with its once powerful currency, faded into the background. She reported that the forum is now searching for a global leader. (1)

On the 13th day of February 2008, the San Diego Union-Tribune featured a story regarding the U.S. Federal Government's recent campaign to destroy all conspiracy myths about the secret symbology contained in the seals on the reverse side of the U.S. one dollar bill. The exhibition to "debunk the conspiracy" was opened by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She was announced as the 66th and current Custodian of the Seal. (2)

Other strange things are going on presently as we see an acceleration of final one-world projects. On February 14th, also known as Lupercalia, the "day of the wolf", and as St. Valentine's Day, a special meeting was held in the Palladium Theater in Rome. The subject of the meeting was the construction of a new building in Rome to be called United Religion. It is to be a place where all the religions of the world can meet. The two men who would preside over these meetings are the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Pope, according to speaker Walter Veltroni. (3)

On March 4th and 5th, meetings were held in Rome with five representatives each from the Roman Catholic and Moslem religions. This was in preparation for a meeting with Pope Benedict later this year. Benedict has been trying to appease the Moslem world, and he even visited Turkey's Blue Mosque, where he prayed toward Mecca with its Imam. (4)

As we watch the worldwide empire of the Beast rising and the nations being realigned so the earth can receive her satanic king, we also see the noose tightening around the neck of freedom and privacy. On the 13th day of February, 2008, the Lockheed Martin Corporation was given a one billion dollar contract by the FBI to develop high-tech biometric equipment. This includes high-tech fingerprint scans, iris scans, and surveillance equipment. (5) I am made to wonder where the FBI is going to come up with one billion dollars in the light of the fact that they can't even pay their telephone bills. According to an Associated Press report earlier this year, over half of the FBI's 990 telephone bills were unpaid, and the unpaid bills were so late that the phone companies disconnected their phone lines and wiretaps. (6)

Another thing that is now happening involves the collectivism of society. People are being discouraged from living in rural areas to the extent that over fifty percent of the world's population will be living in cities by the end of 2008. This is a first in all recorded history. (7) People are much easier to watch and control in concentrated areas. That is the very logic used when concentration camps were and are constructed by oppressive governments. High technology has made personal privacy a thing of the past. The new surveillance camera, known as the T5000 uses electromagnetic rays known as Terahertz or T-rays, and it can see through clothing from sixty feet away. This camera was developed by ThruVision, Inc. and is expected to be used by governments everywhere. (8) We must remember that Satan is a control freak and will not stop short of total oppression. We also know that America has become a nation of incarceration. The United States now locks up one of every one hundred adults. Nearly two and one-third million people are now behind bars in America. (9)

In California, home schooling is under attack. On March 7th, 2008, an appeals court ruling contrary to home schooling parents left 166,000 children in a state of potential truancy. The state of California is now reviewing the home school situation for revision. (10) There is a powerful spirit of oppression that is rising in the United States, and even the Republican Presidential candidate John McCain made a startling admission. On March 7th, 2008, McCain said the following on NBC4.com.: "In case you haven't noticed, we in Washington aren't functioning as we should be. It's getting harder and harder to do the Lord's work in the City of Satan." McCain said this while speaking to a crowd in Atlanta, Georgia. (11)

The masterminds of the great conspiracy of illuminism are continually at work, because they know that time is running out. In Revelation 12:12 we read about Satan's reaction to the shortness of time as follows: "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitors of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

We know that one of the signs of the end is the rising of the Kings of the East, according to the 16th chapter of Revelation. On February 28th, 2008, Red China opened an ultra-modern air terminal, which is now the largest covered structure in the history of the world. The building itself is two miles long, and it covers 245 acres of land. The airport with this mammoth building is in Beijing and is shaped like a giant dragon! (12)

In the Middle East, the Israeli Air Force has transformed its Nevatim base into a new wonder of the military world. It now has the longest landing strip in the entire Middle East with a paved runway 2.5 miles long. The new air base and military terminal was built at a cost of $658 million dollars, and much of the base, including hangars, is underground. (13) Truly, the Bible teaches that World War III will begin and end in the Middle East, and this region remains a massive powder keg waiting to go off. More strife recently erupted in the State of Israel when German Chancellor Angela Merkel was invited to speak to the Israeli governing body known as the Knesset. Many were outraged when they heard her give the entire speech in her native German language. Major protests followed. (14)

On January 1st, 2008, another major event took place which received almost no publicity. The GCC Common Market became a reality. The six-member Gulf Corporation Council combined into one economy with a strength of $715 billion dollars. These GCC countries are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. (15) As the United States becomes weaker and weaker, others areas of the world are flexing economic and military muscles such as never before. One example of this is the city of Dubai, which in 1990 had only a few moderately sized buildings and was unimpressive. By 2003, only thirteen years later, Dubai was a sprawling megalopolis with massive skyscrapers. The area also features the World of Islands, which is made of 300 artificially created islands in the shape of the world with all its continents. Dubai also features the Hydropolis, which is the world's first underwater hotel. The greatest landmark, however, will be finished this year. It is an amazing tower that will be the tallest tower in the world. It will reach 800 meters, or 2,624 feet high, which is nearly one-half mile into the air. This is about twice the height of the erstwhile World Trade Center in New York City. (16) It is like a modern day city of Babylon with a Tower of Babel, whose top seems to reach to heaven. Where has the wealth of the United States gone? It is scattered among the nations of Islam. To whom is the United States hopelessly indebted? It's indebted to the Red Chinese and the Kings of the East!

Acknowledgements

01. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 31, 2008, by Trudy Rubin, Davos, Switzerland.
02. San Diego Union Tribune, Feb. 13, 2008, AP, Washington, D.C.
03. AGI News, Feb. 14, 2008, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.
04. Reuters News Service, Mar. 3, 2008, by Philip Pullella, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.
05. The Exponent Telegram, Feb. 13, 2008, by Colleen Wright, Clarksburg, WV.
06. Associated Press, Jan. 11, 2008, by Lara Jakes Jordan, Washington, D.C.
07. Reuters News Service, Feb. 26, 2008, by Louis Charbonneau, United Nations, New York, NY.
08. Reuters News Service, Mar. 9, 2008, by Luke Baker, London, England, UK.
09. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 29, 2008, AP, Milwaukee, WI.
10. San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 7, 2008, by Bob Egelko & Jill Tucker, San Francisco, CA.
11. MSNBC News, Mar. 8th, 2008, Washington, D.C.
12. AFP News, Feb. 28, 2008, Beijing, China.
13. Arutz Sheva News, Feb. 19, 2008, Negev, Israel.
14. Associated Press, Mar. 12, 2008, by Amy Teibel, Tel Aviv, Israel.
15. Arab News, Jan. 16, 2008, Abdul Ghafour, Jeddah.

Reproduced with permission from Last Trumpet Ministries

16. Actual Photographs, Dubai.

Freemasonry, Knights Templar and the Illuminati

2008-04-17T12:28:00.000-05:00

I consider myself a true Patriot. A Citizen of these United States that wants to preserve our freedoms and obey the Constitution. I mean it. But something just isn't right with our Country these days.

We are losing our civil liberties more and more everyday. From the enactment of the Patriot Act, lesser known government activities as the lack of a law that requires working citizens to pay Income Tax, to the master that controls our government like a puppet. Watch the following video to see for yourself:

My Eyes Opened Yesterday

2008-04-17T12:23:00.000-05:00

It has come time to blog about the second part of the title of this website. Freedom. Please watch the video below:

Whose Fault Is It Anyway?

2008-04-15T14:25:00.000-05:00

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There are times when everything feels like it's your fault. Times in the day that drag and you feel you are somehow responsible. Even times when you think that everyone around you is out to get you or talking about you.

For the alcoholic, these feelings are the norm. Being paranoid will destroy you, as Ozzy (Black Sabbath) says. We as alcoholics need to get this type of thinking out of our minds. I feel that if we know we are thinking this way then we can consciously avoid it.

Take care for now.

Bionic

Alcoholism-Depression Gene ID'd

2008-04-07T17:53:00.000-05:00

(AP) Scientists say they've identified a gene that appears to be linked to both alcoholism and depression, a finding that may one day help identify those at higher risk for the diseases and guide new treatments.

Previous studies of twins and adopted siblings have suggested there likely are genes in common underlying alcoholism and depression, and that the two disorders seem to run in families. But the lead researcher of the new study says this is the first report of a specific gene that seems to increase risk for both disorders.

"Clinicians have observed a connection between these two disorders for years, so we are excited to have found what could be a molecular underpinning for that association," said Alison Goate, the Washington University School of Medicine researcher who led the study.

Follow-up research might help reveal the underlying biology that makes some people susceptible to alcoholism, others to depression, some to both diseases, and others to neither. Goate says a variation or alteration of the CHRM2 gene influences those four separate conditions.

The study is published in the September issue of the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

"What you want is to see someone obtain the same results in an independent study," said Goate, a psychiatric geneticist.

Goate said the researchers will know in a few weeks whether they can replicate the finding from another group of people they're studying.

Peter McGuffin, a psychiatric geneticist at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College in London, said that if Goate's finding holds and is replicated by others, it will provide another potential target for developing new drugs to treat depression and alcoholism.

McGuffin, who said he is working "feverishly" on the genetics of depression, said it is the first time this particular gene has been implicated. He said probably multiple genes are involved in these two disorders.

Goate's team analyzed DNA from 2,310 people from 262 families in which at least three members were alcoholic. Some individuals in these families were also depressed alcoholics. Both groups had similar distinguishing characteristics in their DNA in a region on chromosome 7. Participants with both maladies were most likely to have the genetic similarity.

Within that region of the chromosome, researchers isolated the CHRM2 gene, which is involved in attention, learning, memory and cognition. Goate's team found the gene was strongly associated with both alcoholism and depression. The association was strongest in those with both disorders, suggesting it's a susceptibility gene that puts people at risk for developing both diseases.

©MMIV The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Addiction Is a 'Brain Disease'

2008-04-07T17:51:00.000-05:00

Addiction Is a 'Brain Disease'
NIDA News Release

Scientific advances have offered remarkable insights into how the human brain works and how it molds behaviors that affect drug addiction, say the directors of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health, in a newly published article.

Building on these foundations, scientists can now investigate issues that were previously inaccessible, such as how environmental factors and genes affect how the brain responds to drugs of abuse to drive the process of addiction. The report, by NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow, and NIAAA Director Dr. Ting-Kai Li, is published in the December 2004 issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

"Drug addiction is a brain disease," says Dr. Volkow. "Although initial drug use might be voluntary, once addiction develops this control is markedly disrupted. Imaging studies have shown specific abnormalities in the brains of some, but not all, addicted individuals. While scientific advancements in the understanding of addiction have occurred at unprecedented speed in recent years, unanswered questions remain that highlight the need for further research to better define the neurobiological processes involved in addiction."

Recent studies have increased our knowledge of how drugs affect gene expression and brain circuitry, and how these factors affect human behavior. They have shed new light on the relationship between drug abuse and mental illness, and the roles played by heredity, age, and other factors in increased vulnerability to addiction. New knowledge from future research, say Dr. Volkow and Dr. Li, will guide new strategies and change the way clinicians approach the prevention and treatment of addiction.

More Addiction Research Needed
Topics of future investigations will include:

Studies that further explain the brain's circuitry involved in making addicted individuals more responsive to biochemical changes caused by drugs of abuse;

Explorations that look more deeply into the genetic and environmental factors associated with addiction, as well as the relationship between addiction and co-occurring mental illness;

Developing tailored preventive interventions that take socioeconomic, cultural, age, and gender characteristics into consideration;

Investigating new and existing medications that show potential as therapeutic options; and

Pairing cognitive-behavioral strategies with medications to treat the brain changes brought about by chronic drug exposure.
"These new methodologies will provide us with a greater understanding of drug addiction," the scientists say. "But, to effectively treat and prevent drug addiction, we need to remove the condition's social stigma and enhance the involvement of the medical community. We also need to boost the contributions of the pharmaceutical industry in developing new medications and encourage the participation of insurers."

Medication & Therapy for Alcohol Recovery

2008-04-07T17:46:00.000-05:00

By Lloyd Vacovsky, Director, Assisted Recovery Centers
of America, Inc.

The millennium has signaled the dawn of a new era in the treatment of alcohol and substance dependence in the United States. New treatment protocols, which include pharmacotherapy, are attracting increased attention from the Alcohol and Substance Dependence Treatment Community. At the forefront of this movement is The Pennsylvania Model of Recovery, which is so named in that its protocols are based on the research and work of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Treatment Research Center in Philadelphia. This is a medical model, which offers a full range of empirically tested treatment options to individuals dependent upon alcohol and other drugs. The Pennsylvania Model differs dramatically from the Minnesota Model or 12 Step format in that it wholeheartedly embraces Pharmacotherapy as a cornerstone of treatment, along with individual and group psychosocial support.

The Pennsylvania Model can be compared to a three-legged stool. The three legs are the biological, psychological and social components of recovery. All three components are essential. Take away one of the legs, and the stool becomes ineffective. The Pennsylvania Model seeks to address each of these components of addiction, for individuals seeking recovery.

The biological component includes not only the physical addiction to the alcohol or drug, as manifested for example by the presence of "the Shakes", but also the intense cravings that persist long after the physical discomfort have dissipated. Most people can deal with the physical discomfort. It is the emotional issues caused by imbalances in the brain chemistry that precipitate most relapses. Relapses are common, indeed expected. This despite the dire consequences that many individuals face by their continued drinking. Social and non-drinkers do not understand what drives an alcohol dependent individual to drink alcohol, without regard to consequences. A simple explanation is that it can be said that an alcohol dependent person does not drink to feel "good" but rather drinks in order to not feel "bad". The use of safe, effective, approved medications addresses the biological component of the recovery process.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is utilized for the psychological issues which must also be addressed. Recovery is at best an extremely difficult path. Being burdened by such issues as clinical depression makes it all but impossible to achieve abstinence. The use of alcohol is clearly the most common form of self-medication utilized by individuals suffering from psychological trauma. Simply stopping the alcohol consumption for example, in most situations, will not eliminate depression or any other psychological symptom. Using depression as an example, many individuals simply do not understand that they are suffering from depression. Depression for them, over the years, becomes the "norm". They have forgotten the difference between feeling good and feeling bad. For most alcohol dependent individuals, feeling "bad" is the "norm" and alcohol is their only known form of relief.

Equally important are the social issues faced by individuals in recovery. Learning how to adjust to sobriety is often more difficult than making the decision to stop. Dealing sober with family, friends and employers can be so intimidating to individuals in recovery that many relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals over the years become extremely skillful in manipulating situations and lying in order to insure a supply of alcohol. The "news" that one has made a commitment to stop drinking is most often met with justifiable skepticism. The individual has probably given the news about stopping the drinking so often that listeners react much as those who heard the warning from "the boy crying wolf". Support from concerned family and friends is essential to recovery, yet the bridge has been burned so badly, that such support is no longer offered.

Alcohol dependent individuals often experience intense isolation and loneliness, even when surrounded by family and friends. Often they do not realize or are in denial as to the impact that their drinking has on the people around them. As with most addicted individuals, alcoholics tend to rely on their own ability to control their addiction. The end result is usually another failed attempt to achieve sobriety. Most individuals seeking help do so only after disastrous events have compelled them to do so. For recovery to become possible, numerous issues as discussed must be addressed. In the end, it is critical for the individual to realize that the help of others is a vital component of recovery.

On December 30, 1994, the United States Food & Drug Administration approved for use in the treatment of alcohol dependence, the opioid antagonist Naltrexone HCI. The approval of naltrexone marked a turning point in the history of treatment for alcohol dependence. Naltrexone is at the forefront of emerging pharmacotherapy protocols utilized by the Pennsylvania Model. Since the approval of naltrexone in 1994, additional medications have been added to the arsenal in the battle against alcohol dependence. These medications include Ondansetron, Campral and Topamax.

Within a few minutes of ingestion, Naltrexone will dramatically reduce or suppress the intense craving to consume alcohol. The medication is extremely safe, has very minor or no side effects, is not addicting either physically or emotionally, can be discontinued at anytime without adverse effects and is generally administered for six months or less.

It is clear neither that Naltrexone, nor any of the other effective medications, in themselves are a cure for alcohol dependence. They are not magic nor are they the silver bullet that will destroy this disease known as alcoholism. They are however, extremely valuable tools, that when properly utilized, will enable motivated individuals to embark upon a successful path to recovery.

The primary difficulty with medications such as Naltrexone is that they only addresse specific issues of a very complicated disease. Naltrexone will effectively suppress the cravings, however it does not address any of the remaining issues for example clinical depression and or social problems which in themselves can cause relapse. It does however create a window of opportunity in which an alcohol dependent individual can address the countless issues of maintaining sobriety, without the overwhelming desire to drink alcohol. Even with the use of naltrexone, the path to recovery is at best difficult.

Alcohol can be compared to a sandbox. Consuming alcohol enables individuals to stick their head in the sand and avoid issues and problems. The problems, the pain, do not go away. They simply lurk in the background, waiting for the individual to attempt to get their head out of the sand. Relapse occurs when the individual is not able to deal with the intense cravings, coupled with their inability to face the almost countless lurking demons that exist in everyday living. Medications effectively take away the sandbox, forcing the individual to address the numerous issues that occur during the recovery process.

Individuals that have "a Life" but cannot get past the cravings in their efforts to abstain from alcohol find Naltrexone "a wonder drug". Generally, within an hour, the monkey that has been on their back for years, jumps off, and does not return if the medication is taken for the recommended period of time. It is rare however for an individual that is alcohol dependent not to have numerous and severe issues which effect recovery. Individuals with more intense issues are far more likely to slip or relapse.

Again, it must remember that the Naltrexone only addresses the cravings. Years of drinking are not washed away by the taking of a pill. Perhaps the most difficult part of recovery is learning how to be happy. Just as the bottom line of a business is profit, the bottom line of recovery is happiness and contentment. The individual must further recognize that happiness and contentment are not always available to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That we have good days and bad days, and that the sandbox is not the answer for the bad days.

Minnesota Model protocols expect failure, over and over, until the individual has bottomed out. Then, out of desperation, the individual is expected to rebuild a life that the bottle took years to destroy. A Pennsylvania Model program does not expect the individual to fail. This does not mean that failures do not occur. The lure of the sandbox and all the lurking demons often overwhelm the individual. However, by properly addressing the Biological, Psychological and Social issues, the sandbox can be filled with concrete, never again to be used in desperation.

For information on the Pennsylvania Model of Recovery, contact the author at Assisted Recovery Centers of Arizona, 1000 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85014. (602) 264-7897, Web site located at www.assistedrecovery.com. E-mail at lloydv@primenet.com. For information on Naltrexone, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at (800) 729-6686 and request Naltrexone and Alcoholism Treatment, Treatment Improvement Protocol #28, inventory #BKD268. Also you can contact the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Treatment Research Center in Philadelphia at their web site located at www.recovery2000.com

'Alcohol worse for female brains'

2008-04-07T17:39:00.000-05:00

Women are far more vulnerable to alcohol-induced brain damage than men, scans have shown.

CT pictures of the brains of more than 150 volunteers revealed how women come to more harm and quicker than men when they drink heavily.

Scientists have suspected for some time that men might be more resilient to booze than women. The German research gives visible evidence of this.

The University of Heidelberg team published their findings in Alcoholism.

In the study, around half of the volunteers were alcoholics. All of the volunteers had brain scans at the start and end of the six week study.

Those who were alcoholic were helped to "dry out" during the six weeks.

When the researchers analysed the brain scan results they found obvious evidence of brain damage among the heavy drinkers.

The drinkers had smaller brains, due to loss or atrophy, than the controls.

Brain loss

Women who were heavy drinkers lost the same amount of brain volume as the drinking men, but over a much shorter period of alcohol dependence.

Lead author Professor Karl Mann said although men generally drink more alcohol, women probably develop alcohol dependence and adverse consequences more readily.

Other alcohol-related disorders, such as heart problems, depression and liver disease, also occurred earlier in women than men, he said.

"Women typically start drinking later in life, consume less...and one could reason that women are less affected by alcohol.

"But there is evidence for a faster progress of the events leading to dependence among female alcoholics and an earlier onset of adverse consequences of alcoholism.

"This suggests that women may be more vulnerable to chronic alcohol consumption."

For these reasons, he said it was even more important to spot and treat alcohol abuse early in women.

A spokesman from the Institute of Alcohol Studies said: "This study supports previous findings that women experience many alcohol-related harms before men at the same level of drinking.

"These results are particularly concerning given the rising alcohol consumption in UK women, and the increased risk of alcohol dependence that goes with it.

"This worryingly suggests that alcohol-related damage experienced by women in the UK is set to increase rapidly in the coming years."

Alcohol Free Christmas

2007-12-25T10:09:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope everyone has had a great X-Mas. I managed to stay sober through the Holidays. That's a pretty big accomplishment. It was so nice to share the holidays with my children. It has been years since I was able to do that.

My kids and I had a great time. My girlfriend even came to X-mas eve with us. It felt like a REAL Christmas since I was sober. Usually I end up getting blasted before the presents are even open. This year I "handed" the presents out to everyone. It felt really nice. I like being sober.

Work is going well. I like my job, but the drive is too long. An hour and 10 min each way. And when traffic picks up in Milwaukee, it can take even longer. I bought a new Pontiac Vibe because I needed better gas mileage. The money I save in gas makes the car payment and I get a new car out of it. Pretty nice ride.

By the way, would Britney Spears, Tara Reid, and Paris Hilton please stop spamming me. I know you keep coming to my site looking for bionic beer, thinking that it is a new type of drink. But I am sorry to tell you, I am just blogging about my sobriety. You guys should try it out. I am willing to hang out with you if you want, but on my terms.

Merry Christmas,

Bionic