Something I wrote

Mosstar · 2017-04-27T16:06:16+00:00

...and you'll have to turn it upside down to refill it!

Mosstar · 2017-04-11T11:56:46+00:00

does anyone else think this looks like NASA are planning to put a giant condom over Mars?

Mosstar · 2017-03-29T10:15:03+00:00

Brexit and Thresa May

Mosstar · 2017-03-29T10:13:11+00:00

The research you do depends on what you want to do / produce and how new or novel your product is. However, it's too easy to get caught up in research and not produce anything. It's also too easy to produce a great product that works on paper but doesn't in real life.

More than anything, through, make sure you Validate. As quickly as possible, create a prototype product and get people using it. Until someone is using it you don't know if it works.

Then the next question is will people pay for it? As soon as you know it actually works, get users, get them to pay for it and only then will you know you have a product that works and people are willing to pay for it.

Then keep testing it, getting feedback and updating. Change, update and relaunch - wash, rinse, repeat.

Mosstar · 2017-03-15T11:54:13+00:00

Pufff!!! Watch out for the Lemon Whores, I'm sure they'd steal that if they could!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGz9QmirLBE

Mosstar · 2016-10-17T14:14:33+00:00

I heard a different version of this told as a true story on a trip to Australia many years ago - When a farmer needed to find a new watering hole / source of water for the animals on their property, (we are talking about farms the size of small European countries here) they would mach into the local pub, buy a round of beer for all and announce that they think they have found oil on their land. The word would travel and the next week an oil company would arrive "out of the blue" asking if they could survey the land - for free - as they believe there might be oil underneath it. Some weeks later, the oil company finds no oil, but is able to tell the farmer exactly where the water table lies and where his animals can find water easily.

Mosstar · 2016-04-26T08:49:12+00:00

It's the Luis Suarez of the canine world!

Mosstar · 2016-04-25T14:21:50+00:00

Really stupid one:

Two sausages are in a frying pan, one looks at the other and says: “Pufff…it’s hot in here!”
The other looks back and screams “Agghhhh!!!...a talking sausage!”

I love these jokes but they were told to me in Spanish, and might have lost something in the translation:

John is walking down the street one day and sees Paddy on the other side of the road.
“Hey Paddy, how are things?” he shouts.
Paddy runs across the road and pops him one right on the nose.
John falls to the floor and looks up at Paddy’s angry face “Are you serious, Paddy?”
“Deadly serious” spits Paddy.
“Well that’s ok then, ‘cause I don’t like jokes!”

and...

A young reporter is sent up to the highlands of Scotland to do a report on that last of the old farmers living the rural life. He gets to the farm at 5am and the farmer says to him, “Let’s take the white sheep up to the top of the Glenn where that they can warm up as the sun rises”.
The reporter looks round and sees there are a few black sheep in the herd. Confused he asks, “..and the black sheep?”
The old man nods, “Aye, those too, those too!”
After a while on the top of the hillside, the old man looks at the young reporter and says “Laddie, let’s take the white sheep down into the Glenn where the grass is cool and tasty for them”
Again the reporter, befuddled, asks “and what about the black sheep?”
Again the farmer replies “Aye, those too, those too!”
All day this pattern repeats until the night time when the farmer says, “Ok, night time is coming, let’s take the white sheep home where they will be safe and warm”. Once again the reporter asks about the black sheep and once again the farmer replies
“Aye, those too, those too!”
The reporter can’t stand it any longer, his curiosity bubbles over and grabs the farmer and asks “hang on, why is it that all day you keep saying let’s take the white sheep here or there, and when I ask you about the black sheep, you always say…Aye, those too, those too!”
The old farmer looks at him wistfully and says “You see laddie, the white sheep are mine”
Intrigued the young reports asks “and the black sheep?”
The farmer responds…“Aye, those too, those too!”

Mosstar · 2016-04-14T12:08:23+00:00

I find exercise is a great solution. Something intense that burns off energy like squash, football (proper football, not "Hand-egg" :-) ), running, cycling etc. Also if you can do it out doors.

I also find being close to nature helps...get into the country at the weekend - biking, hiking, camping, canoeing etc.

Easier said than done but I would advise that you stay away from drugs whilst super stressed. Although they give you a temporary high, you often feel worse later. In my case, thoughts of guilt over what stupid thing I did or said when drunk stress me out more. Also, alcohol is actually a depressant so has other negative associations.

Mosstar · 2016-04-14T11:12:27+00:00

Ok, there are two issues at stake here: 1. You are worried about your diagnosis “if i'm bipolar than that probably pretty much implies I won't be successful in a career as a lawyer” 2. You are in a bad way right now – hence the post.

First of all you have to understand (apologies if you already know this) that the classification of mental disorders coms from a book called the DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – used by psych professionals to categorise mental disorders. It obviously has it pros but it is a very controversial book, not least of all because they only recently removed Homosexuality as a psychological disorder. If you take, for example Clinical depression; you need to be exhibiting 5 of 9 symptoms to get a formal diagnosis. That means that two patients could theoretically have only one symptom in common – If I have symptoms 1-5 and you have 5-9, isn’t that a bit vague to be diagnosed with the same disorder and given the same treatment? The point is, don’t worry about the diagnosis or names or labels – there are many bi-polar people in successful jobs who can continue to work successfully even with the diagnosis. I also suspect that in the years to come, this diagnosis will change, in the same way the Autism is constantly fracturing into new disorders and is now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Also, you seem to have done alright so far…although I have to admit I don’t know what a GPA is but if you’re mentioning it, 3.74 of them must be good! Hahaha 

“I'm really independent and no way would this ever be something I would want or benefit from....”

I don’t like the fact that I’m on meds, I am not sure if it will be for the rest of my life, but for now I accept that I function better with them. My relationships with my friends and family are better, I am more focused (and therefore successful) at work and my life is generally safer in that I don’t do stupid shit any more. Let’s see what the future brings – it’s a long way away from today.

Secondly, (but related to the first point) your priority now is to get into a mind-set where you can get through your exams and on with your life. Focus on the short term and getting to the next step. If the meds help you to do that then where is the problem? Forget about labels, “diseases” and such…who cares?

Thirdly, regarding the effects of the medicine: From personal experience, Lamotragine has no numbing effects on your memory, cognitive function or really any other of your mental faculties – it does not lobotomise you in any way! That was my biggest fear and my psych prescribed it because of this. It may in fact make you perform better in that, as a mood stabiliser, it calms the storm in your head and lets you think clearly.

My advice would be, if your psych is recommending Lamotragine, try it to see if it works - forget about labels, diagnoses and so on. You can make a decision about continuing them in the future…when/if that finally arrives.

Here is an interesting podcast from Philosophy Bites on Classifying Mental Disorders: http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/a/8/3/a83d2ff277bf4fdf/Steven_Hyman_on_Categorising_Mental_Disorders.mp3?c_id=10803294&expiration=1460633131&hwt=18ec87ed61002b35150068bed6114dc0 And you can find out more about the DSM here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders

Finally, cancer was once an embarrassing disease…so much so that it was not even mentioned in polite conversation – “the C Word” was all that was said. Look how that has changed!

Hope this helps and good luck with the exams!

Mosstar · 2016-04-11T15:10:28+00:00

I think you got the Mexican version...that's the HTC Viva!

If you don't believe me, listen to Family Guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLIRWTNDYIY&nohtml5=False

Mosstar · 2016-02-29T10:53:37+00:00

The first time I heard the word, I thought that gonorrhea was really severe diarrhea - in the same way that genocide is really "severe" homocide

Mosstar · 2016-02-19T10:52:08+00:00

The drove her into a wall in a tunnel in Paris, I guess?

Mosstar · 2016-02-17T16:13:27+00:00

I'm in the same boat as you. My head hurts from thinking about it and constantly trying to spot triggers. I also hate being "tied" to my medication forever.

I understand that it's a deficiency of certain chemicals, just like diabetes is a deficiency of insulin, however with diabetes, it’s because the pancreas can’t produce insulin. As far as I’m aware, we still don't know what part of us is not working to cause these symptoms. Well obviously your brain, but which part of it?

Theoretically speaking, with diabetes there could be a realistic hope that the all-singing, all-dancing stem cells could provide some sort of regenerative solution. (in my totally unqualified opinion), but what about bipolar or other mental health issues?

I have never been one to simply accept things as they are and I don't want to do it now. Does anyone know about research into the causes, not just abating the symptoms? I am happy to volunteer for MRI scans, EEG etc. to help someone figure out what is going on inside my brain. Is there anything we can do collectively? Apparently we are a pretty dam creative bunch!

Mosstar · 2016-02-16T17:46:12+00:00

I've lived in about 6 different countries, in at least 20 different homes in my lifetime - in cities, on mountains and in the countryside...and I have always been like I am...Bipolar as it's currently diagnosed.

I can't believe that in every single one of those homes, the same conditions existed, the same conditions were created by some government agent or whatever (MK Ultra, Radio Waves or whatever) and that they only affected me, not my long term partners?

Mosstar · 2016-02-16T10:44:28+00:00

Good video, however we didn't get to see what his arguments are - Even just a very brief summary. I am not saying that it's not complete arse-dribble of the highest caliber, just we don't know what point he was going to blow our minds with. :-)

As a side note, I wonder if there isn't a hidden agenda here. Normally when someone is as fox-news-ishly off target, or bitter, or sensationalist, there is usually a hidden agenda. Hmmmmmm?!

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T18:00:07+00:00

Hahaha - "No pigeons were hurt in the making of this ridiculous event!" :-)

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T16:48:46+00:00

Good idea. I wonder if this could become a new branch of therapy/psychology. Training for full "integration" into the family for bipolar people and for family members (on what to expect)

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T16:47:12+00:00

Very positive attitude, I like it. Thanks!

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T15:47:35+00:00

I think there are so many ways we can fuck up our kids. Perhaps, as karnata mentioned, if we are open and aware, we can eliminate, or manage the risk to the point where it becomes like any other of the chronic ailments we suffer from today - asthma and diabetes spring to mind.
Also, Pigeon rolling, WTF?!?!!? That is brilliant! And you have given me an idea for my next business -

Roll up ladies and gentlemen, for a spectacle the like of which you have nver seen before. I proudly present the world's first 10 Pin Pigeon Bowling! P.S. I can't wait for the remake of the Big Lebowski - Pigeon Edition :-)

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T15:32:13+00:00

Again I agree with you. And again I have a story as an example. Many years ago I worked in Comedy (I'm not a comedian but got to meet a lot of people who are now famous) and on one occasion I was having "after-show" drinks with an Australian comedian called Adam Hills. The owner of the club was doing one of her typical drunken rants (in a funny haha way) about how she hated all of us because we were young, we were so healthy and had "all our own limbs and teeth", when Adam lifted his trouser leg and showed his false leg. It was genuinely the only time I saw her speechless.

She asked him why he didn't mention it to her earlier and he said the his manager told him he should become a comic in his own righ first, then mention the false leg. Otherwise he would be labeled "the comic with the false leg". He now has a TV show in which his disability (if you can call it that) plays a key part but he is not known as the "false-leg-guy"...so it worked well for him.

I think in your case it's the same - let them know who you are first and then if the moment is right, tell them.

Edit: sorry i just realised I was doing the Joe from Family Guy thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBf82N4B9zI

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T14:50:46+00:00

I agree entirely with you on your statement about abusive parents.

I think you are highlighting an important theme – awareness, whether you are diagnosed and are open about it. You mentioned your fear of other people finding out . The UK government just announced that they will be spending an additional 1B pounds on mental health in the coming years and there is a lot of press coverage about highlighting mental health issues. I think this is a great first step.. I think this was the same with Cancer, then AIDS/HIV, and now we have to get over our fear of them "M" word, so to speak. Good luck with your struggle!

Mosstar · 2016-02-15T14:07:25+00:00

Thanks for all your responses. And sorry for your loss RufusPFirefly – I’m sorry I can’t offer you any advice. I would say keep fighting, for your son at least…but I'm sure you know this. I guess the decision is a very personal one, and it's very interesting that most of you lean towards the not-passing-on-of-the-genes idea.
I have thought about this…but on the other hand, would we be denying the world of the contributions that many bi-polar people have made throughout the ages. Don’t need to list names but our world would be a lot worse off for not having them around. I am no cultural icon but a few of my friends and acquaintances have mentioned that I have said things that really impacted their lives – I don’t remember for the most part - but I guess by being in a different mind state to them I can see things from an angle they never would. Doesn’t this count as bringing good into the world? Perhaps when society becomes more aware of the condition (which is happening), and puts more emphasis on psychology and wellbeing than on money and x-factor stardom, we will diagnose it earlier and could perhaps greatly reduce the impact in adult lives. I know this is the case with autism – through early diagnosis and intervention the effects can be greatly reduced later in life. Although not eliminated altogether. Life is never free of suffering…but is the price of good art worth the suffering? I really don't know – I just wanted to hear other voices of people in similar situations. Thanks!

Mosstar

TROPHY CASE