Mis-Named Syndromes

One of the interesting things about my job at Franklin Roosevelt's big experiment in ignoring the Enumerated Powers Clause of the Constitution is that I get to deal with people from all walks of life.  In a matter of minutes, I can be on the phone with a university bigwig with a huge salary, and then I can be helping someone who has had lifelong significant mental problems severe enough that they are considered disabled by SSA's rather strict guidelines.

The cases on the extreme are easy, but then there are the ones in the middle.  They dwell in that grayish area between mental disorder and old-fashioned bad behavior.  Of course, it is in the best interests of the medical and "social work" communities (though sadly, not society in general) to push the leaners towards mental disorder instead of bad behavior, so more and more people living in increasingly lighter shades of gray get pushed towards a finding of some sort of mental disorder.

As a case in point, a few weeks ago, I learned of a new disorder called "Oppositional Defiant Disorder."  The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fact sheet on ODD lists the symptoms as follows:

• Frequent temper tantrums
• Excessive arguing with adults
• Often questioning rules
• Active defiance and refusal to comply with adult requests and rules
• Deliberate attempts to annoy or upset people
• Blaming others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
• Often being touchy or easily annoyed by others
• Frequent anger and resentment
• Mean and hateful talking when upset
• Spiteful attitude and revenge seeking

In other words, they're kids.  Shocking.

What I found really telling was the recommended treatment.  In a list of some eight or ten treatments, the very first one listed was "Parent Management Training Programs to help parents and others manage the child’s behavior."

In other words, the most effective way to deal with your defiant, rude, and disrespectful child is to learn to be a decent parent.

 Calling this "Oppositional Defiant Disorder" is like saying a puppy has "Indoor Incontinence Disorder."  If the dog isn't housebroken, it ain't the dog's fault.  Therefore, I submit to you, gentle reader, that this syndrome has been horrifically misnamed.  Hereafter, it shall be referred to as follows:

"This Child Needs an Ass Whuppin' Disorder."

Admittedly, TCNaAWD doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as ODD, but it's far more accurate and identifies both the problem and its solution.

And that's life, from my oppositionally defiant position.

Welcome to Escher's World

Today, President Obama made the following statement to Fox News:

"I think it is important, though, to recognize if we keep on adding to the debt, even in the midst of this recovery, that at some point, people could lose confidence in the U.S. economy in a way that could actually lead to a double-dip recession." (emphasis mine)

This is like an abusive husband saying that he recognizes that if he keeps beating his wife, she might be hurt worse than she already is.

Welcome to Escher's world, where even the obvious isn't true.

Sadly, that's life, from my position.

Praise band rehearsal tonight

Tonight I have rehearsal with the praise band at our new church, GracePoint EPC.

I love playing with this band. 

This is the first time in my entire life when I've been able to play at church without fear.  I've always been cognizant that someone might be offended because they didn't like my guitar tone, or the volume, or the fact that it was an electric instead of an acoustic, or the song choice, etc.

It's such a completely different space to be in.  I can just play, without worrying, without fear of offending, and just focus on worshipping.

I'm using my regular guitar rig - Custom Shop Les Paul into a PodXT Live, powered by a Crate Powerblock, run into a 2x12 cabinet with Celestion Classic Lead 80 speakers.  The PodXT Live is a modeling amplifier, so I basically have about 50 or so virtual amplifiers, along with a ton of effects pedals, all in one box.  For distorted sounds I primarily use a Marshall Silver Jubilee model (think Sweet Child O' Mine or Knockin' on Heaven's Door).  For clean sounds I use a Fender Twin model.  I've also got several acoustic patches on tap so I can instantly switch to make my guitar sound like an acoustic.

It's nice.

Veteran's Day

For the ability to read this post, thank a teacher.

For the ability to read this post in English, thank a veteran.

Waiting for the Snow

I’ve lived in the South my entire life, and in the Deep South for half of it. As a result, every day I check the weather forecast for the next ten to fifteen days. I’m in Wisconsin now, in the month of November, and therefore, to my mind, there should be several feet of snow on the ground. I should be sledding to work instead of driving. If I spit, it should be a solid chunk of ice before it hits the ground.

Instead, it was in the mid 60s yesterday. Sigh….this just isn’t right.

So, as I dig through the forecasts, I finally find one that has what I’m looking for. Accuweather.com says that it’s supposed to snow on the 24th of November. As much as I know I’ll be sick of snow by springtime, I’m looking forward to the first snow. With the notable exceptions of our visits to Wisconsin, I haven’t really seen snow since 2001.

Now, having said all this, I’m fully aware that by February or so, I’ll be pining for the little latitudes, “where the weather suits my clothes.” I’ll have “Boat Drinks” by Jimmy Buffet in constant rotation on my mp3 player.

But for now, I’m looking forward to the snow.

I miss my friends

Despite the fact that I occasionally tear up at Extreme Home Makeover, I'm not generally given to sentimentality.

Having said that, I miss my friends.

Jonathan and Coralie, Mike and Kacie, Mitch and Jawan... I miss you guys.

The Oath never expires.

Sorry for no blog posts in the last couple weeks.  I've been working (hallelujah!).

The job is interesting, and will be very, very challenging.  My coworkers said it will take a minimum of three years just to reach basic competency.  It's interesting to talk to such a wide range of people -- from the spry 81 year old lady who called to change her direct deposit information, to the 24 year old disabled woman (and I use the term disabled quite loosely) with four children (all of whom are "disabled"), by four different fathers, calling to find out what how much money she could make before we reduced her benefits.

It's a crazy world.

This came across my radar screen recently:  elementary-school aged children literally singing a song of praise to Barack Obama.  Here's a video if you don't believe me:



Fast forward to 0:42 to see the start.

That got me to thinking... I swore an oath to the Constitution.   

" I, (state your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.'' 

That oath is still in effect.  I swore it when I joined the Army.  I swore it again when I was promoted, when I joined the National Guard, when I joined DHS, and now, working for Social Security, I swore it yet again.  I will be bound by that Oath until the day my Maker releases me from it.

All of our elected officials would do well to remember that the Oath is to the Constitution, not to them. 

And that's life, From My Position.