tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051438800670223152024-03-13T03:34:47.431-07:00Vladi Wizard's MusingsThe soapbox of the webmaster of the Wizard's Lair.Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-37057468191096467132018-09-02T12:51:00.002-07:002018-09-02T12:51:57.102-07:00Mental Meanderings 5 of 12<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2nvg7" data-offset-key="528ua-0-0">
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<span data-offset-key="528ua-0-0"><span data-text="true">Vladi's Mental Meandering </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7fc9q-0-0"><span data-text="true">Part 5 of 12</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2ac4u-0-0">(Posted to my peer support group for our communications center)</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2cvua-0-0"><span data-text="true">The other day, while on one of my walks, I came to an epiphany. Now, for the longest time, I have always thought that my "anti-social behavior" was because I HATED people. It was something that I feared to say out loud, without the camouflage of humor, masking it as "oh, he's just kidding ... ha ha ha ... that Vladi... what a kidder!" But, you would be wondering, quietly and in the back of your mind, if I really WAS kidding! Well... you and me both!</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="31mfe-0-0"><span data-text="true">Such a feeling of hate towards humanity, and my fellow man (and woman), really didn't seem RIGHT to me, but how else would I explain my distrust and distance that I keep myself from people. Sure, I would be ASSOCIATED with people through school, or work, or even play (theater and dart league), but while we would often use the word "FRIEND" to define our particular relationships, colleague or peer would be actually closer to the mark of the truth. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="6bl8c-0-0"><span data-text="true">Sure, there were even a few exceptions where I would call a person my friend, those true friends that know you better than you know yourself at times, and who will call you out for any particular bullshit you may be doing, as well as going with you to have some fun doing the same bullshit (they just didn't want to be left behind!). </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3cucq-0-0"><span data-text="true">No, the thing that I suddenly realized as if little Cindy Lou had whacked me on my noggin' again with her little (AND VERY SHARP) Fairy Wand. It was not hate that filled my heart, but FEAR. Hummphh... it is FEAR that I feel towards people. I FEAR people. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="a0q1o-0-0"><span data-text="true">Well, that would explain how I could have done all those things that I have done in the past, from college to The Army, to marriage and divorce, back to college and the theater, ringing up burritos or answering the telephone at my brother's partner's answering service, to finally serving 27 years as a 911 operator until my recent retirement. Doesn't sound like the life choices of a person that HATES people. But, it sure can be partnered with being afraid of people.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4kg52-0-0"><span data-text="true">Now, I am not talking about the fear that we think about in regards to the flight/fight response to potential physical harm befalling me. Fortunately, I do not have, nor have I been saddled with such a mental paranoia. No, my paranoia, was more insidious as it disguised itself as self-preservation, and my fear was about letting people INTO my mind and heart. That is why I would always be apart, always be aloof. It wasn't because I thought myself better than you, it was because I was afraid of you finding out that I WAS AFRAID. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="231m7-0-0"><span data-text="true">I told myself, convinced myself, that this wasn't fear, but that it was just a means of protection, a wall around those painful secrets that have festered deep within me, sprouting then fertilizing the seed of PTSD that affects me today. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="bubqi-0-0"><span data-text="true">Yes, I am afraid. But, now I can face that fear, knowing now that it is not hate (okay.. throw your Yoda speech about fear leading to hate in here now :P), which is part of what I have been doing of late with you all with my various "Mental Meanderings", but letting you see what I am inside that shattered wall from my past and recent psychological breakdowns. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="b1tjo-0-0"><span data-text="true">One good thing that I do realize, is that Hate closes our minds, but fear opens our eyes! And, right now, that fear is not looking outwards at what dangers I think that you may hide, but inwards to reveal those truths that have been hidden for so long that has given me the worst, and longest lasting pain ... and that is the pain that kept me from knowing you, as I should have, all these years past. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="7bngd-0-0"><span data-text="true">Thank you from the bottom of my heart, all of you! </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="actin-0-0"><span data-text="true">I am blessed to have you in my life, truly.</span></span></div>
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Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-9745948193208987722018-08-13T07:53:00.004-07:002018-08-13T07:53:52.512-07:00Mental Meanderings - August 13, 2018<div class="_5pbx userContent _3ds9 _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_r">
Vladi's Mental Meandering<br />
<br /> 4 of 12<br />
Intimacy<br />
<br />
I was talking to my ex, Cheryl, this weekend, when I had an epiphany.
Our conversation was circling the burning bush of intimacy, which I have
always had a bit of a disagreement with her about, but until now, I
really never realized WHY.<br />
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As some of you know, my childhood was
not the best growing up, and thus I had a lot of trust issues (still to
this day, but working on it), especially on letting people get close to
me. Now, the point of contention is that to Cheryl, sex was intimacy.
And, while it very well can be, I think that there is much more to
intimacy than just skin on skin contact.<br />
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No, to me, intimacy is
transparency and vulnerability. You do not have to be face to face with
someone to be intimate with them, as we have all have had intimate
situations with those that we have dealt with over the phone. We have
had to help some very desperate people, who lay open themselves for the
help they desperately crave, often telling us things that they would not
tell their own mothers (or should save for their lawyers).<br />
<br />
Part
of this comes also from this, for example. This is an example of
one-way intimacy, where I am baring open myself with these words of
things that I feel deeply about, which are personal to me. Indeed, that
was part of the conversation where I was stating that intimacy CAN BE
2nd party (text chatting on FB or such) or 3rd party (such as this
'letter'). First person, would be, of course, face to face with the
other person that you love/trust that you are sharing your heart/soul
with. Again, that does not have to be skin to skin, just talking can be
very intimate.<br />
<br />
The best intimacy, of course, is shared intimacy.
Where both parties are open and transparent and vulnerable to the other
person., and when that is shared, that is a thing of true love, where
you absolutely trust the other person to not hurt or betray you with
those intimate moments that you just shared. Indeed, if you find that
real hurt in relationships, I will be you that often the deepest cuts
came from such betrayals of these intimacies.<br />
<br />
Yes, social media
can be seen as a bane to real and true communications. It is also
something that can be seen as a tool for those that do not have the
ability to communicate as they would like, be it because of physical
hindrances, or distance, or anonymity (the most common one online). And,
while we have seen some truly stupid and ridiculous things stated
online, we have also seen and read things that are absolutely
heartbreaking and/or inspiring that came from someone opening up
themselves and sharing something intimate to themselves (and this
doesn't have to be a lot .. can be just a second in time to them, which
takes them 3 pages to describe <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="wink emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f57/1/16/1f609.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe"> </span></span>).<br />
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I am sure that many of you will recall moments in a dark candle lit
restaurant are more intimate than the 'celebration' of that time that
takes place later in the bedroom. Much of this is the social
preoccupation with sex, which we so often mis-characterize as intimacy.
Thus, we spend all our attentions figuring out how to get into someone's
pants, instead of concentration on the true intimate moments of
learning of that persons hopes, and desires, and fears, and dreams, and
secrets. We are looking at feeling the other in a sensual sense (which
is not bad, mind you, and can be very intimate), rather in the spiritual
sense. That openness to lay open our soul to the other that we love and
trust. <br />
To me, THAT is true intimacy.<br />
<br />
Enjoy your day!</div>
Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-78610792964634474702018-07-18T08:01:00.000-07:002018-07-18T08:01:07.500-07:00Mental Meanderings for July 18thRe-Posted from my 911 Peer Support Group<br />
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Vladi's Mental Health Meanderings<br /> Part 3 of 12<br />
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You're a ROCK!!<br />
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How many times have you heard this? How many times have you said this?
We like to use it to define a person as solid, imperturbable,
unflappable, STRONG in any occasion or situation, no matter how chaotic
and terrible. This is something that administrators look for in
call-takers and dispatchers, people who keep their cool when everyone
around them is losing theirs.<br />
<br />
It's something I have heard pretty
much all my life. Calm and stoic, relaxed and humorous, the man who
laughs at the sight of conflict. Bill.... YOU'RE A ROCK!!<br />
<br />
Well, thank you ... but, that rock has many many cracks!<br />
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The problem with rocks is that they have no flexibility. There is no
adaption or adjustment. Rocks are stable, but also un-moving. And, LIFE
is not like that!<br />
<br />
In the years, I have built a very large, tall
and thick (it's the most BEAUTIFUL OF WALLS... ), to keep myself safe.
Safe from child abuse, safe from school taunts against my brother's
homosexuality, safe from the mental and psychological abuse heaped upon
me by my father. It took many many years to get that wall up and I just
kept adding to it.<br />
<br />
Keeping people away, keeping people at length,
keeping people from seeing the pain and the despair. The years only
added to my skills as an emotional mason, using snarky humor as the
mortar between the bricks, self-depreciation as a defensive mechanism to
keep others insults at bay, showing that I can insult myself better
than they can, which was a weird way of keeping inner and outer pressure
against the wall somewhat stable.<br />
<br />
This of course ruined any
relationship that I found myself in, the fear of being open and honest
with another human being. The fear of being rejected for having those
inner demons, and being laughed at and scorned for being human.
(Strange... I know... but .. that is ... WAS... my life) I would crave
for people to get to know me and love me, but the moment I started to
see such things, empathy and compassion and love, I would panic and push
them away, running as fast as a rock can (while collecting no moss).<br />
<br />
Now this rock has gone through some very strong earthquakes that has
shattered and broke my wall in many places. It's crumbling and I need to
direct the falling bricks in a way that doesn't hurt anyone (inc
myself), while at the same time, making sure that those bricks are not
re-positioned to repair and rebuild that wall.<br />
<br />
Walls can be
okay, in their place, but are not very good when they surround your own
emotions, keeping your soul in the dark, away from the light of the
hearts of others.<br />
<br />
Something to think about, next time you consider calling someone a ROCK (unless they are Dwayne Johnson, THE ROCK!)</div>
Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-16224453002688694142018-07-07T09:03:00.004-07:002018-07-07T09:04:23.422-07:00Mental MeanderingsPublished to my Peer Group with minor editing to protect the guilty:<br />
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VLADI'S MENTAL MEANDERINGS<br />
Episode 2 of 12<br />
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Recently, we have seen a rise in attention given to suicide by the "MSM", due to the recent celebrity suicides. And, with all the various articles, as well as Facebook memes flying about, I have come to a realization, due to the fact that I have actually been on the "other side of the phone", as it were. Now, I am not going into a whole bunch of different things (after all, I have 10 more sessions to perform for my therapist here :P), so I will only concentrate on one, very important thing, which I believe we have been doing wrong for many many years. <br />
<br />
A MILLION.<br />
<br />
Even in the best of times, we have a hard time relating to that number. We don't see it, we don't interact with it, we don't experience it. It is a concept to us, really. Sure, we understand it mathmatically, but if we suddenly had a million of .... ummmm... anything, we would have a very hard time dealing with it. (Though some would be challences to accept ... a million DOLLARS, Vladi?? Bring it on!!!)<br />
<br />
No, we will go with something a bit more esoteric and even more difficult to quantify, and that is reasons to go on living. Okay, you are in a suicidal crisis, and you have to think of all these reasons in an already chaotic mind and GO!!<br />
<br />
Sure, I am being a bit sarcastic here, but you follow my reasoning. I, prior to a year ago, really thought and acted like most of you when dealing with a person in crisis, because of the way that we have been taught and trained. However, realize that this training was designed by communication experts with imput by lawyers, and sometimes with the added benefit of imput by doctors and phsychiatrists What we DON'T usually get, however, is imput from the PATIENTS!<br />
<br />
Well, as my experience as one of those suicidal mental health patients will tell you, is that a million reasons is impossible to even start to try to comprehend. And, with the chaos and self-destructive thoughts and feelings that are going on with the person in crisis, you need to give them a POINT of stability and calm, to get that person to concentrate on the ONE thing that gives them hope and safety, until they can begin that slow process of healing. You cannot get them to that point if you have them trying to think of a million reasons of anything.<br />
<br />
No, it is far better to have the person concentrate on one thing, than to try to round up a million things.<br />
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Now, not saying that you still in the business change any policies or training methods, only that you be aware of this. Think of it as one more tool in your mental health toolbox when helping others!<br />
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Now, ENJOY YOUR SATURDAY!! <br />
<br />
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<br />Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-57535694714047602862018-06-28T13:03:00.002-07:002018-06-28T13:03:57.551-07:00June Update w repostThis is a repost of my post to my Peer Support Group here on FB (time delay 15 min):<br />
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<br />
Okay, I am going to just jump into this face first... errr... feet first! (Plus, it's now part of my therapy <span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f34/1/16/1f914.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">🤔</span></span>)<br />
<br />
As some of you know, I have been having some issues in this past year,
which started to go towards critical mass last July when I started
having memory problems. Making a long story short, and skipping ahead to
October when I retired (early) from XXXXX.<br />
<br />
Well, with my various medical issues, upon which now dealing with PTSD, depression and anxiety, and no longer ha<span class="text_exposed_show">ving the everyday pound of 911 life and all it entails, I really have hit a drastic low. </span><br />
Low enough that the first time I turned in my guns to XXXXX, and the
second time I was transported to Memorial with suicidal ideations. Mind
you, I had these thoughts EVERY DAY, but this time I actually acted upon
those thoughts and started to look for means to prep the garage for C02
termination.<br />
<br />
Right now, I am doing ... fairly okay. Certainly
better, as the meds I am now on seem to be keeping me in a nice balance,
in which I am not thinking of how many ways I can kill myself (so far, I
am up to 11).<br />
<br />
Marijuana also helps. Of course, I am not going to
DENY that I do not enjoy it's "recreational" uses as well, though it
REALLY helps with my peripheral nephropathy, which is with me EVERY
SINGLE FING DAY... and will be forever ... or until I lose my feet...
whichever comes first.<br />
<br />
One thing that you really are not
prepared for in retirement, is the absolute boredom that can occur, as
no plans were made for it in advance. And, with depression issues,
nothing really is much fun anymore. With my feet issues comes balance
issues, so I need a cane to move around with, and my confidence in using
THE BEAST to take pictures is drastically reduced, as I don't want to
drop it (still... THANKS for the great Suncomm camera strap!! <span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f4f/1/16/1f601.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">😁</span></span>)
so, photography is shelved for the foreseeable future. Still playing
bass, but no longer taking lessons, as $100/mo is really needed for
non-discretionary payments (maybe I can sneak a jam session with XXXXXXXXX <span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/f7f/1/16/1f60a.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">😊</span></span>)<br />
<br />
So, I am going to be using this as a therapy tool, but hopefully not
TOO much (2x/week what my therapist said), so I don't have to throw out
TOO much right now ... plus, I need to come to terms with all this
private stuff that I just gave out there to you all... and you all KNOW
how private a person that I really am!<br />
<br />
Thanks again for making
me a part of this group, and hopefully something I have here will
resonate with someone and help them not have to go through all the
tribulations that I am going through (and I know that others are, as
well... it's not just me). <span class="_5mfr _47e3"><img alt="" class="img" height="16" role="presentation" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/fb7/1/16/1f917.png" width="16" /></span>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-45494803778684500972018-05-21T06:54:00.002-07:002018-05-21T06:54:31.276-07:00Psychotic Break SaturdayHad another psychotic break on Saturday. Not as bad as the one before, when I turned in my guns, but was close enough that was taken into hospital.<br />
<br />
Not there too long, and now under watchful eye of my brother for a few days, until I can get back onto some anti-depressants (since I had to wean off the last one due to a bad interaction with it, thus I have been on nothing for depression since then).<br />
<br />
I have those thoughts of suicide everyday, but when I start to act upon them, that is when I knew that I had taken a drastic step that needed some intervention (preparing garage for C02 poisoning). <br />
<br />
<br />Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-60265181521709382582018-05-18T07:08:00.000-07:002018-05-18T07:08:01.911-07:00Ummm... Errr.... Couldn't think of any snappy or clever title for this posting.<br />
<br />
One yet another medication, which I believe isn't the right one for me (at least as far as the dose they have me on...??).<br />
<br />
Still having suicidal thoughts, LOTS of them, in fact, but right now they are more of an intellectual exercise, than anything else.<br />
<br />
However, I also know, from my 911 days, that making plans of suicide is a HUGE STEP towards the actual act...<br />
<br />
Which, fortunately, I still have not taken the PREPARATIONS step... or, have I?? Hmmm... considering how many different plans that I have made, some don't need much more than my car and some gas, or even a length of rope (Here's a math problem ... how much rope does it take to break the neck of a wizard? How far would I have to jump from a birch tree to assure a clean snap? Any different from an oak, or an ash tree?? -- Good thing I always HATED these math problems... )<br />
<br />
Anyway, seems that nowadays, I am plotting and planning and devising ways to off myself than to the capture and tormenting of super-heroines!!<br />
<br />
But, one good bit of news here, I actually DID MEET SOMEONE who actually READS these (Hi JW!! 👋), so that gives me encouragement to at least keep updating this blog, which implies a futuristic outlook, as opposed to doing nothing in a fatalistic viewpoint.<br />
<br />
Anyway, my mental health professional (BB) is helping me, in helping me to see things from a different viewpoint, as well, in that I am seeing how many different acts, that I went through during my early years (10 yrs old), added with the trauma of being robbed at gunpoint while walking to work, ADDED upon the 27 years on continual life/death decision making of an emergency 911 operator, has ended up really messing up this ole' wizzy's brain!! 😵Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-50979514733331357362018-04-01T07:38:00.000-07:002018-04-01T07:42:19.678-07:00Checking in Happy Easter, Everyone!<br />
<br />
April Fools!!<br />
<br />
Wait a minute.... that doesn't sound right....<br />
<br />
Happy April Easter, Fools!!!<br />
<br />
Not sure if that is any better.... 😶Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-17667785930196401642018-03-08T17:28:00.000-08:002018-03-08T17:28:31.876-08:00Onwards to NEW MEDS!! Well, I am now sufficiently weaned off the Zoloft to start something new for my PTSD/Depression/Anxiety.<br />
<br />
Started this morning and ... wheeeeee.... I am hoping that I get used to this quick!! Lovely cases of vertigo that come back again and again while I am walking around (really fun when doing the stairs! 😨).<br />
<br />
Still, it is much more of a stimulant than my last medication, at least what the pharmasist stated. And, I have no reason to doubt that based upon how I felt not long after it started into my system. Also, I am looking forwards to up to 2 weeks before I will see positive results. Swell 😶<br />
<br />
<br />Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-61865711869699630812018-02-27T06:47:00.001-08:002018-02-27T06:47:51.820-08:00Still Alive.. SortaThough I have to wonder<br />
<br />
It turned out that the medication I was taking for anxiety, starting past June, has finally run it's course, and I have started to have negative adverse reactions to it. Soooo, I am being weaned off of it. However, that means that my PTSD and depression is no longer being medically tempered and is now turning back into full blown issues, and will be worse before it gets better, as I have to be completely clean of the old psych medicine before I am given anything new.<br />
<br />
Patience is a virtue... which is VERY hard right now!! Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-79507679478205291482018-02-19T07:23:00.000-08:002018-02-19T07:25:03.909-08:00Voiced ConcernsZeta Clark, the webmistress of TWL, contacted me this morning to ask how I was doing. This is a REDACTED response to that email.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Hi Zeta</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Thanks for the email to ask. I really appreciate that. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Actually,
that blog post was during my 2nd physiological break (the 1st in August
which led to my 'semi-forced' early retirement from 911 ... PTSD &
Depression on top of my "normal" medical issues ... well, it was remain
for 3 years to get full pension and DIE ... or retire now to get partial
pension and live [which is where I am at] <bracket king="">) which
I am still dealing with now.</bracket></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Believe it may be
a med reaction to the med that I was started on in June for my Anxiety.
(Yeah, I am a bit of a mess... but what can you expect of wizards ?? )</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Anyway,
the next day after the blog post was a near drug overdose, so I had EMS
services out and the Sheriff took me to the mental health place......
Long story short, it seems like I am having a reaction to the Anxiety
Drug, so now I am weaning off of that.</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Okay... so that is the HEALTH issue.</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>For the Vladi Wizard issue .... </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>I
am retiring the wizard. Or, at least I am going to TRY. With retirement
from work came quite a few MAJOR changes, not one of the least being me
moving back out to the house I grew up in and the house that I will
inherit upon my mothers demise (she's 88... but way healthier than I
am). Actually, this is the birthplace of "vladi", my superheroine loving
alter-ego (tho he wasn't named at the time), who in 1972 discovered
bondage and superheroines and kryptonite and Supergirl all in one fell
gut-punch nut-kick to the hormones (at 11 though?!?!?) was 'born'. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>I'm
rambling I know... one of the good things about retirement AND living
in the state of Washington... MARIJUANA!! And, I just took my morning
'dose' to keep me from further puking (pretty much a morning routine),
so I am a bit on that first day buzz high <img alt="Emoji" class="ydp7b827abcyahoo-emoji-wrapper" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" height="16" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f609.png" style="padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Emoji" width="16" /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Anyway,
I am needing to do a number of things differently to get back into a
physical and mental equilibrium which means that the time I have spent
doing Vladi things is now to be time spent doing xxxxxxx (only dept
collectors and Nigerian Princes call me xxxxxx <img alt="Emoji" class="ydpa699a3b3yahoo-emoji-wrapper" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" height="16" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f60f.png" style="padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Emoji" width="16" />
). So, one of the first steps is to significantly reduce my wizardly
footprint on the community via my internet access/presence. And, though I
have been doing the same with my PORN presence in my computers of late,
as well (but this has been a more slow and systematic process), doing
DA and the Yahoo Groups was a COLD TURKEY pull off. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Of
course, I am NOT going to attempt to affect TWL in any way or manner
which the request of removing any of my material from there. Vladi still
has an important place in the SHIP/SHID community and I am really proud
of that and of the people that WE have positively impacted over these
MANY FRIQUINE' YEARS!!! (In internet years, much like dog years, we
would be like 256 years or such)>. Yes, I can understand how closing
out the DA page could be seen as impacting others, that page was only a
gallery of appreciation more than a gallery of my own personal material.
</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>That is something that I need to start doing
as a photographer (nature and landscapes and journalistic type ... no
erotica! [dammit <img alt="Emoji" class="ydp866a9633yahoo-emoji-wrapper" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" height="16" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f643.png" style="padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Emoji" width="16" />]).
I need to start living outside in the wide open country I find myself
in, no longer in my small in city home of 30 years prior (so a bit of
that traumatic shift of city life to country), which is also meaning
more time away from the computer. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>But,
finally, in the end, I feel that it is the RIGHT thing to do for xxxxxxxxxx... to (try to) put MY needs, both physical and psychological,
before VLADI's needs, which was ... mmmmmm.... I am not really sure WHAT
at this time ... I am sure that I will be touching upon this when Vladi
is brought up with my psychologist for the very first time (already in
my journal as to actions taking ... so sure SHE will ask about it when
she sees it [xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]).</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>I
am going to shoot my return to Scarlet, Dangerguy and Captain Zammo
also here, as I am sure that they have been wondering about my fate, as
well. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>I am not sure how long the blog will
last, or how long the vladi_wizard@yahoo.com email will remain active
and viable (or even if I am going to close either/both). If I close the
email, I will let you know my personal email prior to. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Zeta
... THANK you so very much for all that you have done to, not only
maintain TWL, but to take the site to new levels that I had ever thought
possible. I feel absolutely confident in the ability of TWL to not only
last, but to thrive in the years ahead under your care. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Triply Thank you for taking the time to write and ask! You are the only person that has .. so far. <img alt="Emoji" class="ydp951326a3yahoo-emoji-wrapper" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" height="16" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f914.png" style="padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Emoji" width="16" /></b></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div>
<b>That is just as appreciated! </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Vladi the Wizard </b></div>
<div>
<b>errrr... xxxxxxxxxx </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>ahhh...xxxxxxx</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>yes xxxxxxx! <img alt="Emoji" class="ydp1718cf99yahoo-emoji-wrapper" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" height="16" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f644.png" style="padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Emoji" width="16" /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>ps
... along with my digital 'porn' that I am deleting (some) and zip
archiving (most) [I came to the realization that I am a HOARDER ... a
Porn Hoarder! <img alt="Emoji" class="ydpbed23402yahoo-emoji-wrapper" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" height="16" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f62f.png" style="padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;" title="Emoji" width="16" />],
I have quite a bit of 'hardware' in the nature of DVDS and books and
comics and graphic novels that I DO NOT want to destroy (though, easier
to do with the DVD/CDs), but I also do not want them to just go to
Goodwill or such. I want them to go to THE COMMUNITY ... either to you
to handle as a distributor through TWL in manner of prizes and such, or
among my friends ... such as you all... who have a desire and manner of
delivery for such goods. </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>ps2 ... I am going to copy this (redacted) to my blog, as well. </b></div>
Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-86952661091665268842018-02-07T18:07:00.001-08:002018-02-07T18:07:50.795-08:00Wait.. Wha..?? It's only WEDNESDAY???!?What a week so far!!<br />
<br />
Monday, sitting on my bed, with my Ruger 40 in my hand, contemplating if it is better to go for the temple shot or through the mouth shot.<br />
<br />
Decided that this was NOT a good idea and contacted my local Sheriff and have them come and pick up my 2 handguns.<br />
<br />
1 chief of police, 1 sheriff sergeant and 3 deputies, 3 firemen and 2 paramedics later ....<br />
<br />
They thanked me for being considerate and calling them. I thought I would be okay, and convinced them to leave me alone as I would be seeing my mental health doctor the next day, in 24 hours in fact.<br />
<br />
Alrighty then! Thank you citizen and have a good day!<br />
<br />
So, this really is a carry over of my earlier psychotic break which lead to my early retirement from 911 last October. Well, seems like the medication that they gave me, I have been only using half the normal dosage so, as the MHP counselor said, the drug lost is therapeutic value.<br />
<br />
Why yes... yes it did.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the next morning, I am considering all the different ways to actually overdose myself with what I actually had on hand. I then texted a friend who I worked with at 911 (actually one of the crisis counselors there as well), and let her know what I was doing. Minutes later I get a call, and she is yapping away ...<br />
<br />
Wait a minute! I have played THIS game!! You are keeping me talking until the cops show up!!<br />
<br />
Yup, I called it, and the POLICE CHIEF shows up at my door AGAIN!<br />
<br />
Yes... I KNOW I now have to go in ....<br />
<br />
Anyway, long story short, I am okay and had the medication upped to the "normal" dose. Hopefully that will take care of that, but I will be seeing both the people that the Sheriff took me to (more a crisis mental health facility) as well as my normal mental health psychologist (head of the department of my health care facility), so I think I will be in good hands coming up.<br />
<br />
Thankfully I am ... WAS.. a trained professional, with schooling in mental health issues, and was able to recognize that I was suffering from a chemical imbalance and that until I got it handled, I was "in crisis" and needed immediate help.<br />
<br />
I wonder how many others, however, don't recognize such things and just think that death is the answer ...<br />
<br />
Yes, many times they do warn us on those commercials about how drugs can make one have suicidal thoughts. Absolutely true. Not normally, but when an imbalance occurred, sure did do it to me!<br />
<br />
So, if any of YOU have ever had such thoughts ... PLEASE get help!! You are NOT crazy or coo-coo or whatever word you want to use... such things are (97.54% type) of a physical nature, usually a chemical imbalance, which can be fixed.. usually quickly and easily. But only if you do NOT take that dramatic terminal solution to a transitory problem.Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-42182589279701292402018-01-30T07:20:00.002-08:002018-01-30T07:22:04.403-08:00When did the FBI become the ENEMY?They want you to think that we live in the world of "Enemy of the State", but instead of some mysterious shadowy organization that is behind the evil, the GOP wants you to think that it is instead the FBI that is that subversive shadowy government that aims to do away with the same American ideals that they protect.<br />
<br />
Ingenious! Engineous, I telles ya!!<br />
<br />
I remember growing up with being taught for respect for authority, and there was NO higher lawful authority in the land then the FBI. Hell, in some circles, J Edgar was (maybe still is) worshiped as a god (in the same pantheon with Ronald Reagan and John Wayne, no doubt). Movies and shows and television was filled with square jawed G-men whose only vice was that they were TOO patriotic! This is the mold that many of the right's governmental hero, Jack Bauer, was formed from. These are the men that will do ANYTHING to protect the country!<br />
<br />
Except... break the law.<br />
<br />
That is the difference between the FBI of reality and the FBI of the GOPs fantasies. Like the crazy aunt who is a malicious gossip, who expects everyone else to be one as well, and will absolutely refuse to believe otherwise, the Republicans and their propaganda arm, Faux Entertainment, is now messaging you to believe that it is not the Russian colluding treason council of the present administration, but those lawmen who are investigating their crimes, as being the true criminals!<br />
(Whew!! Sorry about that sentence overrun!! lol)<br />
<br />
No, the corrupt do not get to tell the investigators that it is they that are corrupt. Criminals do not get to play "I am rubber, you are glue". If we do not allow our children to engage in such games as we strive to teach them how to be responsible adults when they grow up, so why should we allow our politicians to do the same? Are we really going to say that we are too dense and stupid as to not recognize what this is that Trump and the GOP are trying to do?<br />
<br />
I wish I could say that there are NOT people who ARE that dense and stoopid as to believe anything that Faux Entertainment tells them (and thus the GOP... though, sometimes it does seem to appear to be the tail wagging the dog from time to time).<br />
<br />
As my hero, Dr. Rachel Maddow would say, don't listen to what they say ... watch what they do!<br />
<br />
Amen, sister!<br />
<br />
#KilltheRepublicanParty<br />
<br />Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-44865171085814607222018-01-29T09:55:00.001-08:002018-01-29T09:55:04.913-08:00Spring CleaningI went and removed past posts here that had to do with Lair updates. These posts were VERY old, and besides, you can find the old updates posted at TWL. I want this blog to, while it will touch upon superheroine stuff, is primarily a political soapbox.Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-14674692917446237272018-01-29T06:58:00.002-08:002018-01-29T09:57:43.980-08:00Death is the best health care... <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/most-americans-cant-afford-to-pay-for-even-a-minor-emergency_us_5a68e67ae4b0022830090e5b?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009" target="_blank">at least according to the GOP. </a><br />
<br />
<br />
Sadly, this really is nothing new. I am sure that most of you reading this know of someone who either, or had a relative that did, became homeless because of health care costs. The Affordable Health Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, strove to do away with that calamity, as well as place assurances to patients of their own rights and guarantees of service.<br />
<br />
The Republicans (The DEATH PARTY) wanted nothing of THAT! So, they got their propaganda arm over at Faux Entertainment (I refuse to call it "news") to push that OBAMACARE was bad and evil and scary... just like that evil black man who is occupying the White House, and millions of Americans (unfortunately) ate it up! Even today, people will bemoan how they are losing their wonderful ACA protections to Obamacare, or that they love the provisions that the ACA provided them (no refusal of service, pre-arriving conditions will be covered, etc) but would still despise "Obamacare".<br />
<br />
Again, the GOP has shown their skill at marketing. Is it any surprise that they would be "lead" by the king of all marketers... the man whose ego is larger than the gold letters that 'adorn' many a tall building. A man who campaigned on allowing those ACA protections to stay, but as soon as in office has done little more than try to tear down ANYTHING with Barack Obama's name on it, regardless of the consequences, even to the destruction of the government (though, do remember that such is a goal of Steve Bannon and that branch of the GOP. Why do you think that they are not filling in all those vacant job positions in the government? Not because of any confirmations (most do not need them) or of any push back against the candidates... but that there have been NO candidates for those positions. The Trump administration is intentionally leaving such positions vacant, so that the government doesn't die a traumatic death from without, but slowly from a death of entropy from within.<br />
<br />
With my job, I had fairly good medical coverage. Granted, every contract negotiation there was a push to have us pay more in premiums for fewer benefits, but that is to be expected. After retirement, on my partial pension, I could not afford to pay $700+/mos for COBRA, which would only last for 18 months, anyway. Fortunately, I make SO LITTLE, that I am able to get onto the state network where I live and have found 0/0/0 coverage (!! wow !! Thank you OBAMA!!)<br />
<br />
So, I KNOW that there are parts of Obamacare that are still functional, though the GOP is trying their best to destroy it ... and replace it with that crap that is now known as Trumpcare (of which he wants his name removed because even he recognizes it is a POS piece of legislation).<br />
<br />
But, what of those that are unemployed, or living paycheck to paycheck with no or little health care, what happens to them if they are involved in an accident or have some other major medical situation. How long can you last on the largess of friends or family (who are in pretty much the same situation of preying for smooth sailing on the waters of health) before you are overwhelmed by the bills? Even those with coverage still have to pay percentages of medical costs, and oft times these are enough to cause economic emergencies that have destroyed marriages and families.<br />
<br />
Yet the Republican Party, the party of morality and responsibility, is more concerned about the unborn than that actual born. They are for birth, but once that happens... well, you are on your own! Good luck! But, say ... your child would do great in the armed forces!<br />
<br />
#KillTheRepublicanParty<br />
#RebuildACA<br />
<br />Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-6232980133277757252018-01-28T07:17:00.000-08:002018-04-11T07:11:58.747-07:00Welcome Back Mister KotterWow, it has been a LONG time since I did anything here.<br />
<br />
So, after retiring from being the webmaster at The Wizard's Lair, I still continued on with my IRL, which has, as some of you have already discovered, drastically changed of late, as I have just retired from my 911 emergency telecommunicator career after 27 years. I would of liked to made it to 30 years to collect my full pension, but it came down to live on partial pension or die and have not a penny from a complete pension.<br />
<br />
The choice was ... not as painfully obvious as I would have liked! 😶<br />
<br />
One huge reason why I have not posted here of late is that I actually approved of the past Obama administration (unlike all the political angst that I professed here under the Bush administration), and have had no reason to vent out my socio-political frustrations. But now ... NOW... 🍄 (I couldn't find a mushroom cloud on this.... )<br />
<br />
Yes, I am an American. Sometimes that is not always readily apparent to people here on the internet, where we are all pretty much anonymous at best, and complete fabrications at worst. In any case, my country really had no bearing on what I did here on the internet as Vladi the Wizard, with the Wizard's Lair, and with my thoughts and feelings for this community as a whole. Indeed, I am more a citizen of the superheroines-in-distress (SHID) community than I am of my own actual neighborhood.<br />
<br />
Anyway, now I have TONS of free time on my hands and I am looking for things to do, especially socially and politically. One thing I know that I can do, is "impart my wisdom" (or better yet 'wizdom'), and for that, Blogger is a much better platform than DeviantArt (especially of late with all the issues that we have been having there with DA TOS "violations"), especially (again) in regards to political issues, which I feel have no real place there on an art platform.<br />
<br />
I really had no intention of starting this blog post, but here I am ....<br />
<br />
So, a few things to be aware of before we get too far, so that you can leave this post, and this whole blog if you so care to, and not have me waste any more of your time.<br />
<br />
I HATE Donald John Trump! He is the WORSE thing that has ever happened to this PLANET since he was elected to the presidency of the United States by the obsolete and completely unnecessary Electoral College. This administration is inept at best, and treasonous at worse (and I usually put the top of the administration in this camp). They are destroying our Constitution and our international standing (except with Russia ... our sponsors). And, while I am a wizard, I still respect and live under science and it's principles. Facts is the truth. There are no "alternate facts". That is just another term for a LIE. And, Trump is a LIAR, pathologically so (especially if he says "believe me")! He is a supreme narcissist whose only concern is HIMSELF. He has been known to toss his own family members under the proverbial bus to try to make himself look better, and people want to say that he has the COUNTRY'S best interest at heart?<br />
<br />
Simply put, no.<br />
<br />
Thus, we come to why we are here again. My goal is to assist in DESTROYING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Completely and utterly, and sending them to the trash heap of history. The Republicans, since the time of Reagan have slowly and continually coalesced their ideological platforms further and further to the right, so that today, even the most right-wing of the Republicans in 1980 would be accused of being a centrist-liberal by the party today. Indeed, it is commonly said that Saint Ronnie would not even be nominated to ANY Republican office if he was to run today. The party has grown to be more about giving to the 1% as much power as they could, to the growing despair of the rest of the people, increasing the economical differences between those that have and have not exponentially. Just look at their single achievement since Trump became president, the tax "reform" bill. Yes, that is putting it lightly. 1.5 trillion dollar pay out to the 1%ers and their corporations.<br />
<br />
How the Republican party ever fooled the American public to believe that they were the fiscally responsible party is simply amazing. To convince huge swaths of the American electorate to vote AGAINST their own self interests time and time and time again, shows how great the Republican political machine is. The right has always been very good at coming together on message, something that the liberals never have been able to do effectively. But, when you look at the numbers, Democratic administrations have always ... ALWAYS ... been economically better for the nation. But, as long as we have a network that is a dedicated propaganda arm of the Republican party, that has been spreading lies and promoting divisive conspiracies, the nation will only continue to slog down the gutter of moral-less politics that have less to do with ethics and more to do with theft of national interests to financially enrich a few, such as the Trumps, the Kushners, and the many CEOs who have just seen their own portfolios skyrocket (even after the great years that the stock market had under the Obama administration).<br />
<br />
The 2018 mid-term elections are coming up soon. I would like to convince all Americans to vote, first off. People sitting on their butts during election day are truly those that gave the election to Trump in 2016. No, we need EVERYONE to vote! My second request, would be that no candidate with a (R) behind their name is elected.... EVER!! Be it dog catcher or mayor or state congressman or senator... only (D) or (I) get the post! Even if the best candidate IS a Republican .. do not VOTE for them, until they change their party affiliation (I would also bet, that if you ask a person to say what they are actually for in policies, they will be much more Democrat than Republican. A prime example of that is how many people were AGAINST Obamacare, but absolutely LOOOOVED the Affordable Health Care Act! Again, power of label messaging).<br />
<br />
The Republican party needs to die. Not a slow eventual puttering out, but an immediate excising of this cancer from the country with the scalpels of millions morally and ethically outraged citizens who have had enough of the Oligarchival government that we have been suffering under, and to a government that is FOR THE PEOPLE.<br />
<br />
It will be a hard battle. It will take several elections over the country on local, state, and national levels before we will see this happen. But, we can make a sizeable impact! Even today with a number of elections during the Trump administration, the Republican party has been getting a very loud wake up call with the successes of a number of Democrat candidates, who under any other presidential administration, would of only been a local footnote in the regional paper. But, with the evil... let me say that again... But, with the EVIL of the Trump administration finally being recognized for what it is, people are starting to vote their conscience again. <br />
<br />
#KillTheRepublicanParty<br />
<br />
<br />Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-63377625992255322042011-06-16T16:37:00.000-07:002011-06-16T16:55:12.739-07:00Retiring from The Wizard's Lair<div>Recently I had a catastrophic computer crash. I lost everything from my music files to my emails. Of course, this also meant that I lost my image editing programs, my html editing program, as well as my FTP program. Everything that I used to run The Wizard's Lair.<br /><br />Now, while it would be fairly simple to just get a new computer (which I am doing) and to reload it all with the needed programs and to start all over, I have finally decided, after a long and convoluted thought process, not to do that. I am retiring from web mastering.<br /><br />There are a number of reasons of this decision, and I felt that it would be fair to share with you what they are, so that you do not feel that I am "just quitting".<br /><br />I have known that I would not be doing this forever. Indeed, I have been planning on this as being my last year at the helm of The Lair, being that I am now 50 years old. Now, I know that 50 years is still quite young in the scheme of things, and that I could easily continue to run the Lair. However, that goes into the second part in that my mother is still alive, and while still in pretty good health, is up there in years and I will be moving out to the country there to where Mom lives to help with keeping an eye on her while helping with the house and such. And, in that regards, it's kinda hard to run an adult website with your 80 year old mother looking over your shoulder (though, considering my Mom, she would be very supportive of anything that I did!).<br /><br />There are other things that I am wanting to do with my life, but as long as I have this obligation to the community in running this website, I am not taking the time to fully explore those opportunities while having this responsibility.<br /><br />I am not planning on closing down The Wizard's Lair. I am going to pass it along to the fine and capable hands of Scarlet Witch. Of course, knowing what I know, that such a job is no easy endeavor, and in that I truly needed her help to run The Lair, I would not hold it against her to find someone else to fill my shoes and to assist her in maintaining the website.<br /><br />I have wanted to hold off on this retirement until I had finished up with a number of story/art projects that contributors have been sending in. But, as I think back, we did not have many periods where something was not happening artistically, so to depend upon that would probably mean I would die doing this. And, while I can think of worse things, I do not want to die doing this.<br /><br />Another reason, is that while this is a fairly straight forwards and simple job, it is still stressful in a manner of speaking. Stress in trying to keep up with doing this week in and week out on a regular and consistent manner. I would think that most of you would agree that we have been pretty darn consistent with our updates, and often more so then many sites that take monies for what we provide for free. That said, I have never wanted any money for this, even when I was offered to convert The Lair to a pay site (back in the day when I was with abductor.com and they went from free to subscription). I have always thought that (and still do) there was a lack of quality websites, based upon the rather specific nature of our desires, for fans of the superheroine in distress genre. What was out there, when I was just starting, was Mike's Supergirl.net webpage, and maybe Sooperhero's website, and that was it. Mike gave me a shot with putting out my own crappy 'art' to share with the fans of the genre, and that was the spark that led to the formation of The Wizard's Lair (which went from Supergirl.net to abductor.com to superheroinecentral.com).<br /><br />It's been a good run, I have to say. We have won a number of awards over the years, especially in the last several years when we came in the top 3 in the Best Free Bondage website category, which is not too shabby, considering that The Lair is a superheroine based website. But, all good things must end, as the old cliche' goes. However, this is, again, not a closing of the website, just my leaving of it. I think that I have done pretty well with it, from the simple design that is fast loading, to the number of different departments for people to enjoy, to the contests, to the large number of talented 'Henchmen' (and women) that we have provided a space to show off their diverse abilities. And, though we did have a period after the 2257 legislation rules passed which affected all of the adult entertainment industry where I had to remove a large amount of material from the website, we have only grown since the website's inception.<br /><br />But, while we have been getting awards, I have felt of late that I, personally, have not been getting the rewards that I would of liked for the work that I put into the website. I understand that there is a degree of separation that goes on with the internet, in that we want to go in to our favorite sites, grab what we want, and then to leave to our next favorite site, and such things do not often lend to writing missives to our favorite writers or artists. However, such messages are 100 times more common in happening then emails sent to those that run or maintain the websites that these favorite artists/writers are featured at. It is all too easy to forget about those in the background, just as it is easy to forget about those special effect artists, key grips, make up artists, hair stylists, etc etc etc that help our favorite actors do what they do on your favorite television shows or movies. Thus, lately I have been feeling less appreciated for the time that I spend month after month, which makes it harder to call this a labor of love, and more a matter of responsibility (which kind of takes the fun out of doing things after a while).<br /><br />People have said that I should do what I feel is best, and do those things that are best for me, and to do those things that I feel are fun to do. Running this website is no longer fun for me (though it is, and always has been great fun to receive material from artists, and to be the first in line to see great new things). So, it is time to hang up my pointy wizard's hat and step back from the editor and let someone else take over the helm of TWL.<br /><br />I do want to give my most sincere apologies to those contributors that have sent me material lately, and have not been able to see it up at the website. I would encourage those who sent me material to contact Scarlet Witch to discuss with her the options of the future. I also want to sincely apologize to Scarlet Witch for dumping this all into her lap. But, knowing her dedication to the website and the genre, I am confident that TWL will continue on into the near future in her most talented and capable hands.<br /><br />I am sure that I can go on and on and on with individual thanks and apologies, but at this time, I will end with this. I am not disappearing from the face of the Earth. I still love the genre, and hope to be a (fairly appreciated) member of the community for some years to come, just not in my past occupation as the webmaster of TWL.<br /><br />Thanks for all you have given me. I hope that I have, in my small way, given back to you over the years, something that made you all appreciate the talents of the artists and writers of TWL that we have depended upon for our superheroine entertainment.<br /> </div>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-66998404012703896132010-05-30T09:28:00.001-07:002010-05-30T09:28:44.133-07:00Thank you for the Support!<strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">May 30, 2010</strong><p><strong><span style="color:#00ffff;">THANK YOU EVERYONE</span></strong> for your support in the <strong><a href="http://www.bondageawards.com/default.asp">2010 Bondage Awards!!</a></strong> I would like to thank all of you on behalf of Scarlet Witch and all of our contributors and henchmen (and women), writers and artists, for your continued support. Honestly with the new voting format that was in place for this year, I was thinking we would be lucky to place in the top 10, considering that The Wizard's Lair is primarily a fansite of the superheroine in distress genre, and not a bondage web site, per se (though, there is ALOT of bondage to be found here!!). I am very gratified, and humbled, by everyone's support. Thank you, again!</p><p>Alright, now on to the good stuff!! </p><p>Two more pages of material by <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Syncro_29.htm">Syncro</a></strong> ... as well as new material by <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Tommyboy_20.htm">Tommy Boy</a></strong>, and the <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Antileaf_11.htm">AntiLeaf</a></strong>. </p><p>Lastly, a nice 'thank you' above to all of you from <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Scarlet/Scarlet_Main2.htm">Scarlet Witch!</a></strong> </p>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-80559296133796023822009-12-12T07:17:00.000-08:002009-12-12T07:18:56.109-08:00Birthday & Holiday Greetings from The Lair<strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">December 12, 2008</span></strong><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>December 18</strong> will mark the <strong><span style="color:#ffff00;">12th year</span></strong> that the Wizard's Lair has been on the web (since 1997). So, will take this moment to thank all my contributors, all the visitors of this site, all the fans of this genre, and especially my most able and extremely talented assistant <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Scarlet/Scarlet_Main2.htm">Scarlet Witch</a></strong>, without whom this page would not exist! (Literally, since there is no way would do all this by myself).</p><p>The first <a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Fame_01.htm">Fame/Favorites</a> page has some new birthday wishes to the Lair, as well as a Christmas greeting.</p><p>New material by <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Antileaf_08.htm">The AntiLeaf</a> ... <a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Pman_21.htm">Piston Thorn</a> ...</strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/ThirdThane_66.htm">The Third Thane</a></strong>.</p><p>Larie & Aemi have funished off their <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Serials/Aemi-Larie_WW-Metro_06.htm">Wonder Woman: Metro City</a></strong> serial.</p><p>Speaking of <strong>A-Emi</strong>, he has sent in five (5!!) new pages of material <a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/A-Emi_35.htm">starting here</a>.</p><p><strong>Syncro</strong> has sent in two more pages of my abusing Wonder Woman <a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Syncro_09.htm">starting here</a> (with 2 special 'guests' to join her at the end).</p><p>My buddy <strong>Spade</strong> has sent me a little mini-story to <a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Spade_06.htm">celebrate the Lair's birthday with Supergirl</a>! Guest starring Batgirl and Scarlet Witch!</p><p>Finally, everyone welcome new contributor <strong><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Fantome_01.htm">Fantome</a></strong>, who is sharring with us all his adventures in Hayao (Second Life).</p><p>(Also, this will be my last update of the year, since will be spending the Christmas weekend with family. So, if contributors could hold off sending in new material until next year, I would be immensely grateful! :) )</p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#00ffff;"><p align="center"><strong>Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to all!!!</strong></p></span>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-25640508217142516372009-08-04T03:59:00.000-07:002009-08-04T04:04:13.639-07:00Darwin Awards(Think these are for 2008, since still have a bit of 2009 to go. Anyway, sent to me via one of those office round-robin spamathons, but thought you would enjoy it as well.<br /><br /><o:smarttagtype style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </style><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:"Brush Script MT"; panose-1:3 6 8 2 4 4 6 7 3 4;} @font-face {font-family:inherit;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle18 {mso-style-type:personal; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} span.EmailStyle19 {mso-style-type:personal; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} span.EmailStyle21 {mso-style-type:personal-reply; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><div class="Section1"> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <div> <div> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit;" valign="top"> <blockquote style="border-style: none none none solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color rgb(16, 16, 255); border-width: medium medium medium 1.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4pt; margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 3.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:inherit;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:inherit;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <div> <div> <table style="width: 100%;" class="MsoNormalTable" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 1.5pt; width: 100%;" width="100%"> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p></div> <div> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"> <div style="margin-left: 3.75pt;"> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p></div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:Brush Script MT;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:'Brush Script MT';" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b><i><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >The <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Darwin</st1:city></st1:place> 's are out!!!!</span></span></i></b></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:Brush Script MT;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:'Brush Script MT';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div> <div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:Brush Script MT;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:'Brush Script MT';" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:Brush Script MT;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:'Brush Script MT';" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 1.5pt; width: 100%;" width="100%"> <div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div> <div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div> <div> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="top"> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:Brush Script MT;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 64, 0);font-family:'Brush Script MT';" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >Yes, it's that magical time of year again when the Darwin Awards are bestowed, honoring the least evolved among us.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >Here is the glorious winner:<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >1. When his 38 caliber revolver failed to fire at his intended victim during a hold-up in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Long Beach</st1:city> , <st1:state st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place> would-be robber James Elliot did something that can only inspire wonder. He peered down the barrel and tried the trigger again. This time it worked.</span></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >And now, the honorable mentions:<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >2. The chef at a hotel in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Switzerland</st1:country-region></st1:place> lost a finger in a meat cutting machine and after a little shopping around, submitted a claim to his insurance company. The company expecting negligence sent out one of its men to have a look for himself. He tried the machine and he also lost a finger. The chef's claim was approved.<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br />3. A man who shoveled snow for an hour to clear a space for his car during a blizzard in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:place> returned with his vehicle to find a woman had taken the space. Understandably, he shot her.<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >4. After stopping for drinks at an illegal bar, a Zimbabwean bus driver found that the 20 mental patients he was supposed to be transporting from <st1:city st="on">Harare</st1:city> to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Bulawayo</st1:city></st1:place> had escaped. Not wanting to admit his incompetence, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered everyone waiting there a free ride. He then delivered the passengers to the mental hospital, telling the staff that the patients were very excitable and prone to bizarre fantasies. The deception wasn't discovered for 3 days.<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >5. An American teenager was in the hospital recovering from serious head wounds received from an oncoming train. When asked how he received the injuries, the lad told police that he was simply trying to see how close he could get his head to a moving train before he was hit.<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >6. A man walked into a Louisiana Circle-K, put a $20 bill on the counter, and asked for change. When the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled a gun and asked for all the cash in the register, which the clerk promptly provided. The man took the cash from the clerk and fled, leaving the $20 bill on the counter. The total amount of cash he got from the drawer... $15. [If someone points a gun at you and gives you money, is a crime committed?]<br /><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >7. Seems an <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Arkansas</st1:state></st1:place> guy wanted some beer pretty badly.. He decided that he'd just throw a cinder block through a liquor store window, grab some booze, and run. So he lifted the cinder block and heaved it over his head at the window. The cinder block bounced back and hit the would-be thief on the head, knocking him unconscious. The liquor store window was made of Plexiglas. The whole event was caught on videotape.<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >8. As a female shopper exited a <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place> convenience store, a man grabbed her purse and ran. The clerk called 911 immediately, and the woman was able to give them a detailed description of the snatcher. Within minutes, the police apprehended the snatcher. They put him in the car and drove back to the store. The thief was then taken out of the car and told to stand there for a positive ID. To which he replied, "Yes, officer, that's her. That's the lady I stole the purse from."<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >9. The <st1:city st="on">Ann Arbor</st1:city> News crime column reported that a man walked into a Burger King in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Ypsilanti</st1:city> , <st1:state st="on">Michigan</st1:state></st1:place> at 5 A.M., flashed a gun, and demanded cash. The clerk turned him down because he said he couldn't open the cash register without a food order. When the man ordered onion rings, the clerk said they weren't available for breakfast. The man, frustrated, walked away. [*A 5-STAR STUPIDITY AWARD WINNER]<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >10. When a man attempted to siphon gasoline from a motor home parked on a <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Seattle</st1:city></st1:place> street, he got much more than he bargained for. Police arrived at the scene to find a very sick man curled up next to a motor home near spilled sewage. A police spokesman said that the man admitted to trying to steal gasoline, but he plugged his siphon hose into the motor home's sewage tank by mistake. The owner of the vehicle declined to press charges saying that it was the best laugh he'd ever had.</span></span><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >In the interest of bettering mankind, please share these with friends and family....unless of course one of these individuals by chance is a distant relative or long lost friend. In that case, be glad they are distant and hope they remain lost.</span></span><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" ><br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:'Comic Sans MS';" >*** Remember.... They walk among us!!!***</span></span><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:inherit;font-size:130%;" ><span style=";font-family:inherit;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></div></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" > <o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; width: 100%;" width="100%"> <table style="width: 100%;" class="MsoNormalTable" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in; width: 100%;" width="100%"> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><br /></td> <td style="padding: 0in;" valign="bottom"> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p></div></div>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-23820165685933895522009-07-15T16:19:00.000-07:002009-07-15T16:21:50.323-07:00A fun little article I came across<a href="http://www.bamkapow.com/post.phtml?pk=602"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Top Ten Skimpiest Superheroine Costumes!</span></a><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.bamkapow.com/index.phtml">BamKapow! </a>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-73460491359725417142009-07-06T18:29:00.001-07:002009-07-06T18:32:40.843-07:00Another 'Gift' for Blog FollowersAnother bit of wizardly mischief from Second Life.<br /><br />Supergirl showed me a dungeon, and I, of course, just had to put it to use!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.superheroinecentral.com/%7Ewizard/Wiz-SLblog02.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Linkage Here!</span></a>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-54838569930907439482009-06-29T18:21:00.000-07:002009-06-29T18:23:54.394-07:00Jack's Mirror<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cjJeRyT-sLI/Sklo037BJAI/AAAAAAAAAGw/BtV1ms9V_IQ/s1600-h/jackbauer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cjJeRyT-sLI/Sklo037BJAI/AAAAAAAAAGw/BtV1ms9V_IQ/s400/jackbauer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352924889680520194" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I am not one that watches much episodic television, especially on network television. I don</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">’</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">t watch Lost, or any of those competition</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">“</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">reality</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">”</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> shows, or mystery or</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">suspense</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> fictional shows, such as 24. However, there are quite a few people that are big fans of 24, especially people in the upper echelons of the government, who see this fictional</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">show as a great way to promote and prove national policies</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">, especially during the previous administration.</span></span></p> <p><span></span><span></span></p> <p><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">What I am speaking of is the hard on that the right has for torture. Back when I was in college, and majoring in the liberal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ar</span></span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">ts (ah ha!), I learned that the entertainment industry (movies, plays,</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">TV</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">, etc) are primarily a reflection of society. We look into the little silver boob tube and see ourselves, though through the</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">lens of the writer/director, to let us see things as they want to show us.</span></span><span></span><span> </span></p> <p><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">However, with the current on-goings about our policies on</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">“</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">enhanced interrogation</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">”</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> techniques, (which are, let</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">’</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">s face it, torture) many people who are trying to support these practices are pointing to the practices shown within this fictional entertainment television show.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Supporters of torture, are saying that if it works for Jack Bauer, then it will work for us. They push the</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">“</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">ticking time bomb</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">”</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> scenario, where we have to do whatever is necessary, no matter what, to get the information from a terrorist to find and disarm a bomb within a short period of time. </span></span></p> <p><span></span><span></span></p> <p><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Never mind</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> that the professional interrogators with the FBI, CIA, police agencies, and the military have stated</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">innumerable</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> times, over many many years, that such practices never work. Indeed, it has never been proved that any torture method, used at any time in recordable history, has ever ever worked (to get accurate and</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">truthful and reliable intelligence). Sure, the subject has</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">‘</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">broken</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">’</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> and has given information to his interrogators, but such information is always suspect, and most always worthless, because the person will say anything to stop the torture.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Sure, the words may be exactly what the torturers want to hear, but that does not make the information given any more viable or valuable.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Thus, the practices of the Bush-Cheney administration, in order to support a non-provable idea, was escalated to include to</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rture</span> when interrogating</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">“</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">terrorist suspects</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">”</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> to prove justifications for a unjustified war.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">24 was often used (and is still used) as a reason of</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">“</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">proof</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">”</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> that torture works to get valid and accurate and timely information. </span></span></p> <p><span></span><span></span></p> <p><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Thus, a country that stood on a moral high ground in denouncing torture, and wars of aggression, has lost it</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">’</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">s world standing with the war in Iraq, and the torture that we practice in a manner to try to defend that war, to show that we want to war in Iraq to punish Saddam Hussein for his role in 9/11.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Of course, no valid and confirmed connection has ever been made.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Even with torturing</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Zubaydah</span> 83 times in 2002, and</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Khalid <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sheikh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mohammed</span> 183</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">times</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> in 2003 (and that is also reported as in one month for each, not in one year),</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">no valid information was obtained by either subject (if it was, they would of stopped at 27 or 54 or 2!). Where does it say that it is alright for us, as a nation, to give up our moral standing, our national pride, our honor, to digress to this level in barbarism and civic sadism? Too often I have seen us, as a nation, point to other nations under dictatorships and tyrants and condemn such acts by those governments. Now, we are trying to say that we care still be</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">tter</span> then they are, just because we are the United States of America??</span></span></p> <p><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Torture is wrong! It is illegal! It is against our laws, and</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">against</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> the laws of the Geneva Convention. It is condemned by most every</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">‘</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">civilized</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">’</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> government. We look at the Human Rights Commission to look towards other third world countries for violations, not to our own! But, just as important as all this, is that, it does not work! Time and time and time again, good and valid and accurate information is</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">gathered by law enforcement and investigatory professionals by establishing a relationship with the suspect, and with using respect and guile and established questioning techniques to garner the information desired. It works! And,</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">we are not seen as</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">torturing</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> barbarians by the rest of the world. We are able to use that information in a court of law to convict the subjects, instead of having to release the subject because the information that convicted him was gained illegally.</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> We claim to be a nation that wants</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">justice served, but we are not showing that we are willing to show such justice to our</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">“</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">enemies</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">”</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> (which is turning out to be an ever growing number who are becoming our enemy to protest these practices of torture).</span></span></p> <p><span></span><span></span></p> <p><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">No longer is our entertainment industry a mirror of ourselves. Now, we are framing our</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">governmental</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> policies, our national identity, on a television show. You are for us or against us, white or brown,</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Jack</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Bauer or the people to be tortured.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">By this same logic, we should be able to have talking chimps as secret agents, to send into countries to spy on terrorist training camps from the trees. Or, send in the crack investigative team of reporters of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Da</span></span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ily</span> Planet</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">, Clark Kent and Lois Lane, to look into these allegations!</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I am sure that many of you can come up with much better entertainment references then these, on better ways to investigate the</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">(supposed, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">illusionary</span>, and non-proved)</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">link</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">s between Al</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Qaeda</span></span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> and Saddam Hussein.</span></span><span></span><span> </span></p> <span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I am only really talking about one issue in this whole</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">mess that my country finds itself in. There are lots of issues that I can speak more about, but for the time being it is this that seems to be the cause-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">du</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">jour</span> (sic).</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Right now that subject is torture. The same practices that have been done to our soldiers in Korea and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Viet</span> Nam, which we have condemned (rightly) others for, we are now guilty of doing to others ourselves. We try to put reasons to such practices to validate them, or call the practices different names to lessen their meaning and impact. We try to say that we are trying to prevent crimes and save <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">liv</span></span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">es by torturing everyone we suspect may be able to give answers to fill in the blanks in order to bring about the right answers to questions that we are desperately trying to</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">fix the answers to, no matter how many times it will take us (dare I give the definition of insanity here?). The</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">government</span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">says that we are torturing for justice. I say that we are</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">torturing</span></span><span></span><span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"> for revenge.</span></span><span></span><span> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">We are torturing for Jack.<br /><br />(Originally posted May 1st, 2009 on Yahoo 360)<br /><br /></span></span>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-76292825444709137472009-06-29T18:19:00.001-07:002009-06-29T18:21:04.727-07:00Lair Takes the Silver<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cjJeRyT-sLI/SkloNfJ9QUI/AAAAAAAAAGo/uqvLi-RtAq0/s1600-h/silver.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 333px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cjJeRyT-sLI/SkloNfJ9QUI/AAAAAAAAAGo/uqvLi-RtAq0/s400/silver.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352924213017395522" border="0" /></a><br />Wow.<br /><br /> <div> </div> <div>And, double wow!<br /><br /> </div> <div> </div> <div>Last year was, what I thought, a fluke when The Wizard's Lair took the silver in the Bondage Awards 'Best Free Bondage Website'. But, this year, with the number of people that had been nominated, I thought I would be lucky if we broke the Top Ten. And, truth be known, I was increasingly skeptical of even making that threshold.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Indeed, I was so skeptical of our chances, that I really did not advertise the contest as I did last year. And, reading from those running the contest that there were more people nominated, and more people voting this year, and that The Wizard's Lair was at the bottom of a very long list, I thought that our chances were slim and none.</div> <div> </div> <div>Imagine my surprise when I was sent a number of congratulatory emails about not just placing, but taking the silver again. Well, I was even skeptical then, so went to the website to look for myself. Oh my goodness.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Had a couple emails from my "Henchmen" contributors who also passed along congratulations to the job that I did to win that award. There, I have issue. This award is not to me, or The Wizard, or to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vladi</span> Wizard, but to "The Wizard's Lair". To everyone that has been associated with the website, and who has contributed to it this last year. It is the artists who have shared their 'takes' on the Challenge, written stories for the Library, sent in serials, or shared their material with us all via the Henchman galleries. Scarlet Witch is the greatest of these all, in regards to how much contribution is made, and how much I depend on her with helping me out with the website. Her talent in story-telling, as well as her (very under-appreciated) talent with Poser (who I consider is in the top 3 within the genre in regards to skill) would serve her well on her own website. But, that she helps me out at the Lair is something that I am very VERY appreciative of.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I know that not everyone likes what I do, or how I handle things at times. I can be quite the jackass, and often times, that is the best someone can say about me. I have had a number of pretty public disputes within the community about the material of The Lair. But, through it all, I have tried to be supportive of my contributors first and foremost, and then to the community to which the website was formed. My own self, needs and ego, come in last in regards to what is done with the website. I pay money out (for contest monies, computers and Internet usage, etc) while getting nothing back in return (with the exception of the free web space and bandwidth usage by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DanO</span> at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SHC</span>).<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I have seen artists leave the site, to go to other places where they feel that they would be better appreciated, and other artists who have retired from the genre, while others who have just 'vanished' without any further word. I have come to realize that The Lair is a depository of talent, a place to show off art (be it written or drawn or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">manipped</span>). I have people that have followed the site since it's inception with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Supergirl</span>.net, through the closure of that website so that I moved to Abductor.net, and then from leaving that server when they went pay (since I promised that my website would always be free) to being hosted here at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">SHC</span>. </div> <div> </div> <div>And, I have spoken with new visitors, as well as people new to the genre/community who were unfamiliar with the website (and to those that have been with the community for a while and had no idea of the Lair's existence). Basically, I have a very good understanding as to the importance, and insignificance of the website. A place where people come when they are looking for reassurance that they are not alone in this fascination and outlook and desire for which we cater for and to. This is one of the first websites of it's type, and I have been around to see the community grow from relative obscurity to one that is very profitable for a number of websites that cater not just to images, but videos as well as costuming. The unusual has turned from being a kink for a few freaks, to a (mostly) accepted sexual outlet for people looking for something different and unique and adventurous. I have watched a few websites grow to many, most of those by fans of the genre who had the same love of the community which whom they shared their talents.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>But, with time, these folks have moved along to other things. With little recognition, and even less (if any) financial reimbursements, most of these websites either disappeared, or went into permanent hiatus (on those free servers). But, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">superheroine</span> in distress genre is not alone in it's financial growth. Porn (to use the term broadly and loosely) is one of the largest (if not the largest) and most profitable Internet business field. Companies are jumping on the web from Russia to Rhodesia, from United States to Down Under. Politicians are standing on soapboxes to condemn the "smut", and then trying to control it through legislation (think "protect the children" with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">COPA</span> and 2257) to trying now to tax the Internet (with some but limited successes). Indeed, that is what is happening more and more with a wider range of people who see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Internet</span> as a way to profit from lots of genres, not just from our community, regardless if they follow and/or appreciate the genre on it's own merits or not (as opposed to a way to make money off of it).<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Through all of this, we have plodded along. Not much has changed with The Lair. The layout and format is relatively unchanged in years. Only change has been the artists who have come and gone, and the addition of material with which we have grown with.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Why have we come in second place again, we may ask. I know that I sure have asked that question! I think it is because of the variety of material that we have. And, while the award is a bondage award, and The Lair is not a bondage web site, per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">se</span>, it still has as much, if not more, bondage within the hundreds of web pages then many of the websites that are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">paysites</span> exclusively for bondage. You get amazing value for the buck! Also, we update on a very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">consistent</span> and regular basis. And not just with a story or two every couple of weeks, but with amounts of material that some sites would boast about for posting in a year, let alone a month! </div> <div> </div> <div>Then finally, there is you. The fans of the genre. The lovers of those gals in spandex who often find themselves in very awkward, humiliating, and distressful situations (and thus, in bondage). The people to whom the website is made for, and dedicated to. You are the ones that have made The Wizard's Lair the place to go for quality free material. You are the ones that give me an average of 1,000,000 hits a year to see what is new with the Henchmen, the Challenges, the Library. You are the ones that have made the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">website</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">success</span> that it has been for a number of years now, the ones who have voted us as the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">nd</span> Best Free Bondage Website for the second year in a row.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>It is to all of you, that this award is dedicated to.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Thank you.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Vladi</span> the Wizard</div>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2105143880067022315.post-78319448971176038682009-06-22T19:00:00.000-07:002009-06-22T19:05:06.599-07:00Political Leanings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cjJeRyT-sLI/SkA3l0z61VI/AAAAAAAAAGg/6GNpVDLG-qM/s1600-h/elephant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cjJeRyT-sLI/SkA3l0z61VI/AAAAAAAAAGg/6GNpVDLG-qM/s400/elephant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350337480287245650" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Been a while since my last blog, and for that I apologize. I think I was too caught up in the political circus, as well as with the 'normality' of my everyday life to take the time needed to blab and blog. Thus....<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>It probably is not a great surprise to many of you that read what I write that I am a fairly liberal person. But, I am really not as far left as many will think. I like to think that I am a "left of center" moderate progressive, in that I have many 'Republican' views to balance out my 'Democrat' views. Indeed, as reading a number of blogs and op-eds of late, I am wondering why I am not an out and out Republican, because I lean towards most, if not all, of their core values (and not talking of the far-right fundamentalist 'Christian' talking points) of the standard GOP platform.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Let me be more specific and take on the top (?) six points: Smaller Government, Lower Taxes, Less Regulation, Individual Liberty, Rule of Law, and Civic Virtue.</div> <div> </div> <div>Let me start with 'Civic Virtue', because that is the one I understand the least. If one is to say that this has to do with volunteerism, and "compassionate conservatism", then I can go along with that. That means the compassion that Christ talked about in the New Testament of the Bible: Feed and clothe the poor. Do unto others as you would have do unto you. This is a platform that the right often talked about, but that the left usually actually lived and did. Point towards the Democrats for taking this plank from the Republican party and walking the walk, instead of just talking the talk.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Smaller Government. This does not mean NO government. Government is not a dirty word, nor are they always completely unnecessary and/or unneeded. The larger a populace, the more there is need for people who are specially trained in beaurocracy in making sure that things run as smoothly as possible. Who is going to maintain the infrastructure of streets and sewers and other utilities? Public schools and librarys? Public parks and pools? Are we saying that we want no government, and thus either tossing these things to the wayside, or having private companies run them? So, your parks run by Citibank your pools maintained by Alcoa, your schools run by GM? Which leads into ...<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Lower Taxes. Of course, this doesn't mean that there should be no taxes, as much as we would like that. Monies for these public works and schools and infrastructures have to come from someplace, no? From property taxes to sales taxes to tolls at bridges, we all pay fees to the government to pay for those things that we all take for granted as "free". Where I am we have faced a number of years where our emergency services have been severely cut and with the cutting of the taxes from license tab fees in Washington State, many services that people have expected are no longer in place. We no longer have the number of officers that we once had, and thus people have longer to wait for help. Many times minutes are added to fire response times because paid companies are now volunteer companies, which mean no longer do fire fighters live at stations, but have to drive there from their homes, thus adding time to the response time. Makes a big difference when someone is having a heart attack, or your house is on fire. But, you saved a couple hundred dollars on your tabs! But we forget that this money went someplace to pay for something. When that money is taken away, those services are taken away as well.</div> <div> </div> <div>I have often heard about "tax and spend liberals" but it seems that since 1980 I have been seeing more and more "tax cut and spend"(ing) by our government, with larger and larger deficiets, with the exception of the country under the Clinton years. There we ended up with a budget surplus under a "fiscally irresponsible" Democratic government, which was then squandered by a "fiscally responsible" Republican government, under GW Bush. Again, it was the Democrats that took the fiscal responsibility of budget control where you spend less then you make away from the Republicans. Republicans who wanted more and more tax breaks given to large companies and those in the upper class. Democrats wanted to balance out the tax burden, by increasing capital gain taxes on these companies and to tax those in the upper tax brackets more, to give financial relief to the middle class, recognizing after 20 years that 'trickle-down' Reagonomics does not work. But, still government has grown, and buracracy has bloated, regardless of many political promises of less. Again, this just made me take one or two more steps to the left from where I was originally.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Less Regulation. We are seeing what that has led to, especially in the financial and housing markets. Regulation is not always a bad thing. Yes, there are instances of over the top and ridiculous regulation (90% of OSHA, imo), but that doesn't mean that we should just let companies do whatever they want. You like clean air? You like clean drinking water? That comes from regulation. Sure, I think there needs to be a common sense approach taken to such things, and that we do need to find the line between what is best for the financial health of the companies and the well being of the public at large. There can be a middle ground where both benefit. I hope.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>One ground where I see this more often is in the gun ownership issue. I have no problem with gun ownership by citizens. I own a number of handguns myself. I have no problem with filling out paperwork and waiting for my handgun. I am never in such a rush where I HAVE TO have my gun RIGHT NOW! (Unless I am getting robbed, or shot at, but we are talking about regular purchases here, not pulling the weapon from a holster or gun safe). With anything that is dangerous, be it a gun or a motor vehicle, there are regulations that we often have to follow. If I have to take a drivers safety class in order to get my vehicle drivers license, I see no reason why I should not also have to take a safety course for handling my weapons. If I have to register and license my Charger, I see no reason why I should not have to do the same with my Kimber. Adversely, I am not going to be driving a Nascar racecar or a pro-fuel dragster on the city streets, nor am I needing to be taking a fully automatic AK-47 or SKS type deer hunting. Sure, they would be fun to drive and fire, but there are places that are dedicated for such activities where the safety of everyone involved (watchers and participants) are taken into account, and the proper fees and licenses are paid. Thus, I am not saying that such things should be "illegal", but there would be lots of hoops to jump through and will not be cheap to own and operate them.</div> <div> </div> <div>Individual Liberty. I am all for this, to a point. I think that as long as what I do doesn't affect anyone else adversely, then I have that right to do what I would like. However, too often we have those that think that we have the right to do whatever we like in the "pursuit of happiness". Well, what about other people's happiness? If my pursuit interferes with their pursuit, which pursuit wins out? If my pursuit of 1000 watt AC/DC headbanging joy interfers with someone's realm of peace and quiet, who wins? If I am 5 miles from my nearest neighbor, there is probably no issue there. But, if I in the next door apartment, there will be probably lots of issues, as well as lots of calls to the (over worked and under staffed - see above) police department for disturbance of the peace. What about my rights to worship as I like? Will I have a mob of fundamentalist christians beating at my door if I am a muslim, calling me a terrorist or such? We too often forget that these liberties are liberties for all, not just those we agree with, but to those that we disagree with as well. Thus, I have the right to run a website dedicated to a genre that many people would find disturbing, and many would want it to be closed down because it is seen as mysogistic and disrespectful and/or harmful to women. Freedom of speech is seen as a inalieable right of the American public by most, and many will fight and die to make sure that such remains such... as long as they agree with the particular speech.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>This is one where I have heard the most dissent with and against others, it seems. The Right complaining about what the Left says about them, and the Left complaining what the Right says about them. Then there is those that think that they can say whatever they want, because they have such "freedom of speech", even if what they say isn't true, and they know that it isn't true. We have seen too much of this in the last several years, and I hope that people will investigate such things more for their own edification and education then just depend on a far left or a far right blogger or "news" source for their "facts". You cannot get a good world view from one or two 6 second sound bites. Too often I have heard people saying that they will vote for this person because of one issue, or not vote for someone else because of that issue, as if there are only one or two issues that affect our lives. We do not live in a black and white world, as much as many people would like us to. We cannot go back to the "good ole days" of 1956, where mom was always in the kitchen, and dad came home every day at 5:30pm in his suit and tie after a day at the office. This is not a white collar society where we can keep our doors unlocked and the keys left in the ignition. Mom now needs to work to help pay the bills, and Dad may stay up till 11:30 at night at the blue collar factory job, neither one seeing each other more then 3 hours a week, coming and going. And certainly not watching Junior, who is now going into those other houses, and taking off with those cars where the keys were left in the ignition, because there was no one home to teach him right from wrong, or to discipline him when he did something wrong (much easier to pass the blame to someone else, anyway).<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Needless to say, there really were no "good old days". I am sure that there would be quite a few people that will have a thing to say about civil rights during that time. Just because the times were good for one class of people, doesn't mean that the times were so hot for other folks. This is as true in the 1980s as the 1880s as the 1280s as the 800s, I am sure.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I think that this particular area is a "push" between the Democrat and the Republican platforms. I have seen the book banning from the Right balanced out by the overly cautious PC ineptitudes from the Left. The Lair has been affected more by the 2257 laws which was brought about from the need to "protect the children" by any and every means possible, including those means that are over the top and unnecessary if we were to all just have a modicum of common sense and personal responsility and less regulation and government.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Finally, Rule of Law. In a sense, I just complained about that in the paragraph above. The 2257 is the law that I do have to follow if I were to use images that protray sexual activity between 'real' people. As the regulations are a pain in the ass, I have decided not to go through all the hoops and loops in order to post such material. Now, that is not me dismissing or disrespecting the law, but respecting it enough that instead of disobeying the rules set forth in the 2257, I instead choose to place myself outside of it's parameters by excluding such material.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Too often we hear of others that if they do not agree with they law, that they choose to ignore the law, and thus break it when they perform that activity which is stated, or in a manner which is against the law. Nowadays, there are so many rules and laws, that it is often very hard not to break a rule/law, even accidentally. Indeed there are many "blue laws" on many a law book that have been in place for decades, if not centuries, that are now just ignored by the law enforcement agencies, because the judicial agencies are much too busy with "real" crimes to do what is needed with the legislative agencies to remove those laws from the books. Though, sometimes such laws are taken advantage from time to time when a person is wanted to be arrested by the local police agency, but there is no 'current' crime on which to pursue the subject with.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Anywho, I think this subject is less about rules and regulations, as it is about responsibility of the law and respect of rules. I have been of a mind that we, as a sociality, are becoming more of a social animal, where the whole of society is seen as responsible for the acts of an individual, rather then the individual being responsible for himself and his own acts, as well as for the well being of the society. When someone spills coffee on their laps, no longer do we say that it is our dexterity at fault, but the fault of the server of the coffee, the maker of the coffee cup, and the facility where the coffee was served. We are a society that wants to be paid for the mistakes that we make, rather then to learn from them so that we do not make them again. We are raised in the atmosphere that we can do whatever we want and like, because we have every "right" to be happy. There are no losers in the races we run, only 2nd or 3rd or last "winners". We grow up believing that if the homework is too tough, that we will have our parents do it for us, but even if they don't, that is okay, because we won't flunk anyway. There are only guidelines that we may have to sometimes listen to, but we do not have to follow any sorts of rules or laws while growing up, because that is too restrictive. And, if we do something wrong, the worst thing that may happen to us, is that we are put into "time out" for a few minutes.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>There is no longer any "rule of law" as much as there is a "recommendation of advice". Then, when we grow up and join the "real world", we expect the same thing as we received in school or at home. We as a society should really not be surprised when we are faced with people with little or no respect for others, or themselves. When we are forced to clean up behind these new social members who no longer know how to clean up after themselves, let alone clean up after others. I grew up in the "Me me me" generations, and now we are in a world of "We better straighten up and fix this f***ing mess"!<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>The "rule of law" starts at home and is then transferred to the schools. They are what we grow up with, which molds us and then guides us into the future. We are finding out that our futures are very hazardous now, both financially and morally, because of the decisions that we made in the 60s and 70s, which have now given root to a generation who is wondering how they got where they are, and what is it that they can do about those children that are now social misfits, or worse. Our prisons are full to the brim, and we are looking at younger and younger criminals to put into them.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Why? Because there is no longer the "rule of law" to guide them. On this, I lean more to the Right, because much of this I see as more about the PC "everyone is a winner" type of attitude then anything else.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Well, hope this wasn't too much a mish-mash. I know that there is certainly more I can say on each of these subjects, as I am one that thinks things out, and many times actually changes my viewpoints depending on the information that I am given. Unlike a certain "Decider", I see nothing wrong with admitting when I am wrong, or to change my mind based upon new information. It is said that we, generally, become more conservative as time goes on and we get older. That is not something that I will disagree with, but one must realize how much of this conservative base is set upon a foundation that was built in the 50s 60s and 70s, before there was the day of the internet with the constant flow of ever changing information. The conservative base of today was formed upon the platform of the newspapers where information was at least 12-18 hours old, if not older, and Walter Cronkite was the most trusted man in the country, when television news was just that, without the current political colorizing. Of course, then we had the whole of a story, and our populace was better read and better educated, because they did not form any opinion just on a few soundbites that were played over and over and over again, until a statement of fact is formed from it, regardless of truth or context. </div> <div> </div> <div>But, I like to think of myself as an older dog that can learn new tricks. That before ignored politics, and is now listening more to what is being said, from a number of different sources. And, though I see myself as primarily a Democrat, I do know that politics is politics and there are times when the truth isn't always known, and sometimes even ignored for political purposes by all parties.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Now, I know I can certainly go on and on and on about all this, because reams of books have been written by many folks on each subject, and I am certainly not going to challenge any of them intellectually on any of these matters. But, this is the way that I feel at this time. And I am thankful that I live in a place that allows me to put out such opinions, without (too much) fear of ending up in some gulag!<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Happy Thanksgiving !<br /><br />(Originally posted November 26, 2008 on Yahoo 360)<br /><br /></div></div>Vladi Wizardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11557849765726411275noreply@blogger.com0