I am not a SOPHIST!

Call me a language maven, wordsmith, grammarian, etymologist, or philolog, but don't call me a sophist!

The word of the day is sophistry.

Sophistry -- n. a deceptive or fallacious argument.

Sophistry is deceiving someone by making a superficial or defective argument, which doesn't hold water. Example: telling your mother you can't clean your room because it will destroy the delicate balance of the ecosystem. 

Sophistry is not a word that you hear every day in conversation, but just turn on the TV and watch the commercials. You'll see plenty!

Super Storm Sandy one year ago!

Henceforth, it shall be called STUPID Storm Sandy.

What I know about it:
My friend in NJ died the day before the storm hit. His funeral had to be postponed 3 days because roads and cemetaries were flooded.

8 people from Midland Beach Staten Island died.
A fireman almost didn't make it out of his house, which flooded in 13 seconds. He managed to kick out his kitchen window and avoid drowning in his kitchen.
How many homes were flooded in Midland Beach?
My brother and sister-in-law lost their house. (Food, photographs, mementos, trophies,books, jewelry, clothing, furniture, utensils, cat food, dog food, people food, etc. Almost nothing could be salvaged.)
The colleges on Staten Island were closed for a week.
Kean College in NJ was closed also.
Seaview Psychiatric Hospital was closed for a week.
No gas and flooded roads caused the closures.
Electric power was lost for many in NY and NJ.
Subways in NYC were closed.
At least one marriage broke up.
Cars were turned upside down.
Insurance companies denied claims.

My brother will be on Fox News today at 10:45 am.
His name is Dr. Victor Dolan.
He joined every Recovery group and board he could, to advocate for the Staten Island victims. Today he gets to tell about the dismal outcome of the government recovery programs.

One Year Later: Stupid Storm Sandy. (tears streaming down my face)

Password Purgatory

Your password is about to expire in 2 days. Do you want to change it now?


That is how the nightmare begins. I don't want to change my password. I have to write it down and put it in my file draw and remember where I filed it. Yesterday I had the same password on all my major apps. In 2 days, I will have one different one. I'll probably keep forgetting it and have to change it again. I wish I could change it back but it doesn't let me change back to a previous password. All this security is great, but I think it only keeps me out.

I like short passwords. I often get the message, your password must be at least 8 characters long, with at least one number and one capital letter. My heart sinks when it says your password must contain at least one number, one capital letter and one special character. I generally forget the special character. So much time is wasted on changing passwords. I often have to click the forgot password link. Then go to my email, open the link they send, and  figure out a new password. I really hate it when they send me a temporary password, like URstup877id.

Why can't I choose a nice short easy to remember password?!

And why can't I use the same password for all my Apps?

I got it. My next password will be a series of bad words, the ones I say when I can't remember my #@*&%$) password!!

Playing with Fire

"If you use hypnosis, you are playing with fire!" That was the advice my client got from her minister.

When she told me this, my heart sank. I am still surprised when doctors, therapists and ministers, warn people NOT to use hypnosis. I feel so bad, that they are getting more and more discouragement, especially when they need encouragement and motivation to make changes they desperately need and want.

So here is what I say to that advice:

Yes! Using hypnosis can be compared to playing with fire. What happens when humans play with fire? or should I say "employ" fire?

Fire lights the darkness. Fire cooks our food. Fire warms the cold. Fire keeps the carnivores away at night.

Without fire, human beings would not have become civilized. They probably wouldn't have survived at all. So I am going with this metaphor:

Using hypnosis is like playing with fire, only it is not "playing" if you find an ethical educated certified hypnotist. So use it for motivation, optimism, healing, and behavior modification! Use it for developing confidence and eliminating fears. Use it! Just be careful that you use the fire with the proper supervision.

My client used hypnosis to reduce fear and anxiety. She is now able to take showers and leave her house, 2 things she was afraid to do for the past 4 years. She still has fears, but they no longer control her life the way they used to. Her confidence has soared, too. She decided to go ahead with hypnosis, even after she received this caveat from her minister. She decided to use prayer to protect her from any danger.

BTW, there is very low risk of negative side effects from using hypnosis. The hypnotee can always reject a suggestion from the hypnotist; he cannot be made to do something he considers immoral or unethical. The hypnotee is always in control.

30 Ways to Quell Hot Flashes (and other menopause symptoms)

I am working on publishing a report, entitled 101 ways to Quell Hot Flashes (etc.)

I have already published 15.

16. Natural remedies: black cohosh tea or capsules. No side effects or interactions with drugs are known, but placebo is just as effective (or better).

17. Natural remedies: evening primrose oil taken in capsules. Placebo is just as effective.

18. Placebo. See 16 and 17. The researchers keep getting better results from the placebo than some of the herbs they tested.

19. phytoestrogens, from soy or garbanzo beans.

20. Hormones

21. HUmor

22. Sex is good for sleep problems

23. Yoga seems to help sex problems

24. Physical exercise also helps for sleep concerns.

25. Placebo seems to be very effective for many symptoms.

26. There are mattresses that are advertised as having climate control!

27. Cool bath.

28. Cold Shower.

29. Travel to a colder clime

30. Celebrate womanhood!

Self Hypnosis Class

Do you want to learn an easy technique to become more optimistic and appreciative? This is something you can do every day for just a few minutes. Self-hypnosis is quick, easy, portable and inexpensive. This will be a 3 hour class with a group hypnosis experience.

Self-hypnosis Class
August 15 and 25 at 7PM
Heaven & Earth Spiritual Center
1316 Alt. 19
Palm Harbor, FL

Self-hypnosis is a safe, effective way to modify behavior:

Quit Smoking
Curb your Appetite
Enlarge your Breasts
Cool Hot Flashes
Awaken Refreshed
Sleep Easy
Reduce Stress
Relieve Pain
Eliminate Fears
Develop Unshakable Confidence

Call 727-946-1531 for more information.

15 Ways to Quench Hot Flashes

A Hot Flash is more than just intense heat. It can be very uncomfortable, and result in a cold sweat. Many menopausal women  experience them several times a day and even at night! These hot flashes at night are usually referred to as Night Sweats. But there is hope for women who suffer from them. And the men, too.

1. jump in the pool, lake or ocean!

2. pour ice water over your head.

3. cool yourself with a few deep breaths and a yawn.

4. herbs, like black cohosh.

5. cool drink of ice water.

6. hot tea. I've heard it said that this can cool you on a hot day. If this works for you, then try it on the hot flash.

7. watermelon.

8. dress in layers, and peel a few off.

9. take off some clothes. Remember to bring an extra tee-shirt with you.

10. use a hand-held or battery-operated fan.

11. stand under a ceiling fan.

12. self-hypnosis combined with NLP anchoring

13. fire the anchor. oops, sorry, thats the way NLPers say it!

14. Avoid caffeine, expecially coffee and soda.

15. 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar in the morning and evening.

I have personally tried these remedies. I find the vinegar trick is wonderful, because it eliminates night sweats. During the day I use self-hypnosis combined with NLP anchoring. The wonderful thing about this is that once you install the NLP anchor in your mind and body (using hypnosis), the response gets stronger each time you use it. That means it gets QUICKER, too, as you remember to use it when you first sense the hot flash coming on. I usually get a weird tingling or swirling cold sensation on the back of my knees and calves when the hot flash is starting. That's when I fire the anchor and beat it before it gets intense.

Please try these remedies and let me know the results in the comments below. If you need more information, or want to see a demonstration of the NLP anchoring, come to HOT Flash Hypnosis at Heaven and Earth Spiritual Center, 1316 Alt. 19, Palm Harbor, FL on Sat. June 8 at 2:00 pm.

Thanks!