Greetings From The Undergirl!: One Step Forward… Two Steps Back

A week’s worth of stuff…

Medicinal Recommendation:

Being sick is no fun, so if this helps someone, I’m glad. Olive leaf extract is pretty incredible for eliminating the common cold. It is an anti-fungal herbal medication, it comes in capsule form and you can get it at most GNC’s. I have been taking it for five years, always when I start to get a cold, and I feel the results immediately. Things like Vitamin C and Echinacea are always recommended by people, but Echinacea doesn’t work fast and Vitamin C is preventative, so you have to be taking it in supplements for a period of time before any symptoms begin for it to really shine. Olive leaf extract works right away. I take two in the morning, two in the afternoon and two at night. It’s pretty incredible, so if you try it, please let me know what you think. I have yet to meet anyone that does not sing its praises.

“Unbelievables”:

I was surprised to find protesters on Sunset Boulevard on Sunday. Doug and I were on our way to our favorite lasagna place and we passed a gaggle of people at the corner of Crescent and Sunset, next to The Beverly Hills Hotel, holding signs and yelling. I made Doug circle back ’round so I could try to get some video of them with my Canon Powershot, but the light at the corner would not turn red, so it is a blur of footage. They held signs that read, “God caused the quake”, “Israel is doomed”, “God hates Lady Gaga” and “God hates fags”. They booed at me as I hung out the window trying to get something worth using, and then I responded by flipping them off. (I can’t help it. It’s my go-to response when I’m pissed and in a moving vehicle.) I am certain there is a medical condition for this kind of craziness, though there is no particular name for it, yet. I do think it is only fair, though, to make the distinction between people like that and people like Martin Luther King, Jr., Shelley Lubben, etc… religious people who believe(d) in spreading positive messages to people, because we don’t want to mix up the people who attempt to do some good with the people who only want to cause harm. I needed a term to use and “unbelievables” came to mind because you have the “believers”, the “non-believers”, and… those other guys. Unbelievably dumb people. I don’t know what book they read, but I doubt any version of the Bible says to go out of your way to scream and spread hate. I mean, if you actually go out of your way to uphold a certain level of moral conduct you can get away with even a surface piousness that surface people can believe, but there isn’t even a gauze layer of veneer to these people’s prejudice. And yet, I suppose, we are suppose to believe they are saying something? Anything? Truly unbelievable.

The Haitian Diaspora:

I wish I could find the interview with Tom Brokaw, but he expressed that the Haitians should seek help from the surrounding territories before making an overseas trek to The States just to possibly get turned away. There was quite a mix of responses from callers on the subject. He did point out that, while it sounded a bit cold, governments are calculating even in their kindnesses, so for the safety of everyone involved, sticking it out and rebuilding their homes without straying too far is probably the better long term goal. If I could find the sound bite I’d quote him verbatim, but that was pretty much the gist of it.

YouTube Weirdness:

No matter how I try to justify posting every comment that comes through on my YouTube page, I cannot post the negative comments unless the commenter seems semi-intelligent. I got one last night from a woman ranting about the plight of women who have families and try to make a living and a home, and then “men pay those whores to stick their dicks in their asses…” Ugh. Yes, men pay women to stick their penises in their bums. And you pay people who screw you over. We’re all getting screwed somewhow, but hopefully, “those whores” are enjoying it. Get over yourself and quit trolling YouTube pages for a reason to say “whore”, “dick” and “ass”. Go tend to your children, pervert!

Learning Lesson:

It has been a hard lesson, but this is a big one. I have learned that  it does not pay to help someone unless they ask for your help. I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten into trouble by jumping in to help someone without being asked. I used to get angry about it, too, thinking that it is the noble thing to do, and “how ungrateful can people be!” But, the truth is, you could actually be causing more harm than good by assuming a person, or persons, does not know what they’re doing. If that person really wants your help, they’ll know they need it and they will ask for it. Now, there are always situations that are exceptional, but they’re pretty obvious. A drug intervention, someone’s drowning, choking, etc… But in not-so-obvious situations with strangers, coworkers and loved ones, it’s best to just mind your own business. Sad, but true.

Quote of the Day:

“Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’ But conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right?’ And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.” And, “When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. … (Happy belated birthday to a great man!)

– Julie Meadows