Ron> [NetworkAztlan_News] STOP the ICE RAIDS!! Organizing meeting Oct. 1st in LA!! 6:00PM!

9-30-08 @9:00 AM PST ~ Gracias Hermano Ron ~ The whole immigration issue is too hot to handle for the current Presidential candidates and none of them have a comprehensive immigration reform plan that would be fair, just and humane to all parties concerned. We should support the idea of at least a temporary amnesty, a suspension of ICE raids and re-build the Sanctuary Movement. We need to give refuge to the refugees, create and expand our own underground railroads and protect our own people by any means mandatory! The natural laws of nature, the laws of Creator God and the humane rights upheld by the basis principles of international law support the humane doctrine of immigrant rights in harmony with basic humane rights. These natural divine laws supercede national laws. We can, must and should be able to explain to the people the legitimacy of a general amnesty for undocumented workers. We need to build solid bridges, not porous walls. Our vile repressors respect no borders or boundaries why should we? We need to utilize our local churches and other safe places of refuge for those who refuse to bend to the dictaters of an unjust social order because they need and want to support the survival of their families! The U.S.A. government is a rogue failed state! We need to utilize all available resources available to us: local community education; one-on-one conversations with others; the Power of the Internet via websites, blogs, groups and videos; unite with others based upon a common humane rights agenda and not let the demons who reign in these troubled times divide us based upon top surface labels of race, tribe or political party affiliation. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Come Together and Create! Peter S. Lopez aka: Peta Humane-Liberation-Party Email: sacranative@yahoo.com Sacramento, California, Aztlan --- On Tue, 9/30/08, Ron Gochez <mexicanoatucla@aol.com> wrote: From: Ron Gochez <mexicanoatucla@aol.com> Subject: [NetworkAztlan_News] STOP the ICE RAIDS!! Organizing meeting Oct. 1st in LA!! 6:00PM! To: Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 8:23 AM The MIGRA (ICE) is incrementing their Raids in our communities! !! We have to build up the resistance so that we can eventually kick them out of our streets! The countries economy is supposedly going down the tubes but they seem to have plenty of $$$ for more ICE Raids!!! If you are SERIOUS about organizing against the Migra (ICE), join the Frente Contra las Redadas! We are currently organizing another Community Forum to invite lawyers to come out and educate our community about their rights! Come help out!! We are ALL busy people...enough with our excuses! Let's get to work! We have to organize in our communities! Meetings are open to everyone! See you at the meeting! What: General Meeting: Frente Contra las Redadas- South Central When: Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 6:00PM Where: Santee Education Complex (1921 Maple Ave. LA, CA 90011) Washington/Maple in the Library Who: Everyone who wants to organize against the Migra Raids is welcomed Why: Because the ICE/Migra continues to terrorize our communities and we need to be organized to be able to defend our communities from deportations/ family separations. Ron Gochez Social Justice Educator/Community Organizer Frente Contra las Redadas- South Central Union Del Barrio- Los Angeles State wide immig ratio n raids resul t in 1, 157 arres ts http: / / www. latim es. com/ news/ local / la- me- raids 30- 2008s ep30, 0, 63982 66. story Feder al agent s targe t those who ignor ed depor tatio n order s or retur ned to the U.S. illeg ally. More than 400 are arres ted in the Los Angel es area. By Franc isco Vara- Orta, Los Angel es Times Staff Write r Septe mber 29, 2008 Feder al immig ratio n agent s arres ted more than 1, 150 peopl e in the large st colle ctive sweep by speci alize d enfor cemen t teams in Calif ornia , autho ritie s said today . The sweep targe ted those who ignor ed depor tatio n order s or retur ned to the Unite d State s illeg ally after being depor ted, said U.S. Immig ratio n and Custo ms Enfor cemen t spoke swoma n Virgi nia Kice. The raids , which ended Satur day, produ ced 436 arres ts in the San Franc isco area, 420 in the Los Angel es area and 301 in the San Diego area. Of the 1, 157 illeg al immig rants arres ted state wide, 595 had outst andin g depor tatio n order s and 346 had prior crimi nal convi ction s, Kice said. Those arres ted come from 34 count ries. The squad s respo nsibl e for the arres ts, known as fugit ive opera tions teams , were devel oped in 2003 to focus on appre hendi ng forei gn natio nals who have ignor ed final order s of depor tatio n or have retur ned to the U.S. illeg ally after being depor ted, Kice said. The cases at the top of their list invol ve those wante d or convi cted in viole nt or drug- relat ed crime s, agenc y offic ials said. " Indiv idual s who defy immig ratio n court order s to leave the count ry need to under stand there are conse quenc es for willf ully disre gardi ng the law, " said Depar tment of Homel and Secur ity Assis tant Secre tary Julie L. Myers , who overs ees the feder al immig ratio n agenc y. Kice relea sed detai ls of two arres ts in the L.A. area. Jose Avila , a Mexic an natio nal whose crimi nal histo ry inclu des prior convi ction s for lewd acts invol ving a child and batte ry, was arres ted Sept. 15 in Santa Fe Sprin gs. The 41- year- old was turne d over to the Los Angel es Count y Sheri ff's Depar tment on an outst andin g warra nt for makin g a terro rist threa t, Kice said. After he is relea sed by local autho ritie s, Avila will be retur ned to feder al custo dy for prose cutio n on felon y charg es of reent ering the count ry after his depor tatio n last year. In North Holly wood, Ramon Cedan o, 47, a previ ously depor ted Mexic an natio nal with a prior convi ction for selli ng heroi n, was arres ted Sept. 11 at his home. Cedan o was turne d over to the Los Angel es Polic e Depar tment on an outst andin g drug warra nt. Once he's turne d back over to the immig ratio n depar tment , he will be prose cuted for reent ering the count ry after depor tatio n, a felon y charg e that carri es a maxim um sente nce of 20 years in priso n. In recen t years , the immig ratio n agenc y has heigh tened enfor cemen t at facto ries, offic es and homes . In the Los Angel es regio n and surro undin g areas , there are seven activ e fugit ive opera tions teams that have condu cted raids : four based in Los Angel es Count y, two in the Inlan d Empir e and one in Orang e Count y. Immig ratio n offic ials have said they are going to add a eight h team, which would be based in Ventu ra Count y. franc isco. varao rta@ latim es. com Find phone numbers fast with the New AOL Yellow Pages! __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar Monitor: Peter S. Lopez "Peta": sacranative@yahoo.com List owner: Guillermo Bejarano: aztlannet@yahoo.com To see and modify all of your groups, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups You can subscribe to four (4) groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkAztlan_Arte http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkAztlan_News http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkAztlan_Action http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkAztlan_Native-Views OFFICIAL WEBSITE http://www.NetworkAztlan.com Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Visit Your Group Get in Shape on Yahoo! Groups Find a buddy and lose weight. Yahoo! Groups Familyographer Zone Learn how to capture family moments. Cat Fanatics on Yahoo! Groups Find people who are crazy about cats. . __,_._,___

Statewide immigration raids result in 1,157 arrests: LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-raids30-2008sep30,0,5627062.story Statewide immigration raids result in 1,157 arrests Federal agents target those who ignored deportation orders or returned to the U.S. illegally. More than 400 are arrested in the Los Angeles area. By Francisco Vara-Orta, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Email: francisco.varaorta@latimes.com September 30, 2008 Federal immigration agents arrested more than 1,150 people in the largest collective sweep by specialized enforcement teams in California, authorities said today. The sweep targeted those who ignored deportation orders or returned to the United States illegally after being deported, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice. The raids, which ended Saturday, produced 436 arrests in the San Francisco area, 420 in the Los Angeles area and 301 in the San Diego area. Of the 1,157 illegal immigrants arrested statewide, 595 had outstanding deportation orders and 346 had prior criminal convictions, Kice said. Those arrested come from 34 countries. The squads responsible for the arrests, known as fugitive operations teams, were developed in 2003 to focus on apprehending foreign nationals who have ignored final orders of deportation or have returned to the U.S. illegally, Kice said. The most prominent cases involve those wanted or convicted in violent or drug crimes, agency officials said. "Individuals who defy immigration court orders to leave the country need to understand there are consequences for willfully disregarding the law," said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers, who oversees the federal immigration agency. One L.A.-area case involved Jose Avila, 41, a Mexican national whose criminal history includes convictions for lewd acts involving a child and for battery. He was arrested Sept. 15 in Santa Fe Springs. After he is released by local authorities, Avila will be returned to federal custody for prosecution on felony charges of reentering the country after his deportation last year. ++++ Comment: Clearly we need to revitalize a new Sanctuary Movement for innocent people who are targets of ICE. After a background check for criminal offenders to ascertain who has committed real crimes against the humane rights of others, including murder, rape or other violent acts, those who are surviving and working inside the United States should be given a temporary amnesty until this whole 'immigration issue' is resolved. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Come Together and Create! Peter S. Lopez aka: Peta Humane-Liberation-Party Email: sacranative@yahoo.com Sacramento, California, Aztlan

FYI: ALASKA Women Reject Palin Rally Photos

9-29-08 @8:20 AM ~ Gracias Sister Chris ~ I appreciate the Email and the photos! Definitely this will be an historic Presidential election and will set the pace for the next several years and beyond. I believe that no matter who anyone supports that the ideal is to GET OUT THE VOTE! Without an active aware citizenry there can be no real democracy!

I myself am a Registered Democrat and support Obama for President! McCain is one of the dinosaurs and Palin is a pretty face who should never be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. We should be careful not to let one's gender divide us along gender lines. America already has enough divisions!

We should cast our vote for the best qualified candidate who will respond to the basic survival needs and urgent critical issues of these troubled times.

Feel free to join the Humane-Rights-Agenda Yahoo Group via the Link below. It is an unmoderated group and has served as a strong advocate online group for basic humane rights for all peoples BEFORE 911.

The banner of HUMANE RIGHTS is our common denominator, despite political party affiliation or politic leanings. We need to get far beyond superficial distinctions of left vs. right, Democrat vs. Republican and think in terms of what is best for the majority of the people!

We still must build a true democracy inside the United States and that mandates the active awareness and participation of its peoples! The Bush Regime has wrecked havoc upon our humane rights, has instilled an emotional paranoid fear among people and has resulted in millions and millions of foreigners hating America! An active participatory democracy must response to the basic needs and issues of all of the earth's peoples!

Educate to Liberate!

Peter S. Lopez

Email: peter.lopez51@yahoo.com

Sacramento, California, U.S.A.

;

----- Original Message ----
From: "Casaparkpchris@aol.com" <Casaparkpchris@aol.com>
To: lorraine-brooks@sbcglobal.net; hollis.rebecca@yahoo.com; HOLT.JEANIE@GMAIL.COM; Unyaqui@aol.com; peter.lopez51@yahoo.com; lopez49@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 6:58:45 AM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: ALASKA Rally Photos

---

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--- On Sun, 9/21/08, Susandenbo@aol.com <Susandenbo@aol.com> wrote: From: Susandenbo@aol.com <Susandenbo@aol.com> Subject: Fwd: Fw: ALASKA Rally Photos To: jkelly10@charter.net Cc: althomas7028@aol.com, daythirtyone@yahoo.com, AKPEN@aol.com, aklarose@prodigy.net Date: Sunday, September 21, 2008, 2:03 PM The Alaskan rally I was telling you about:). Sue From: ploulier@msn.com Sent: 9/20/2008 10:38:26 A.M. Pacific Standard Time Subj: Fw: ALASKA Rally Photos I thought these rally photos (scroll below the text) were too good not to share.. Alaskans are not stupid. [The] Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage . Home made signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men. I had no idea what to expect. The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee. It's probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets.One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally "a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots," and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course, received some nasty, harassing and threatening messages.. I felt a bit apprehensive. I'd been disappointed before by the turnout at other rallies. Basically,in Anchorage , if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it's a success. So, I thought to myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren't sent by Eddie Burke, we'll be doing good. A real statement will have been made. I confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by hundreds of menacing "socialist baby-killing maggot" haters. It's a good thing I wasn't tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody's trunk. When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep! I could hardly find a place to park. I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs. Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators).This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned.The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn't honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute.This just doesn't happen here. Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn't be heard.Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high. So, if you've been doing the math… Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin's rally that got all the national media coverage! So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the pictures around to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans.The citizens of Alaska , who know her best, have things to say. A bunch of pictures of that rally: . . .

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL846768920080910?sp=true

Scientists send first beam round particle-smasher

Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:42am EDT

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Atom-smasher and the 'God Particle'
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By Robert Evans

GENEVA (Reuters) - International scientists working at an underground complex started up a huge particle-smashing machine on Wednesday aiming to recreate the conditions of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Experts say it is the largest scientific experiment in human history and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the biggest and most complex machine ever made.

The test by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), conducted inside the tightly-sealed chamber buried under the Swiss-French border, could unlock many secrets of modern physics and answer questions about the universe and its origins.

The 10 billion Swiss franc ($9 billion) machine's debut came as a blip on a screen in the control room, with a particle beam the size of a human hair appearing in the 27-km (17-mile) circular tunnel.

"We've got a beam on the LHC," project leader Lyn Evans told his colleagues, who burst into applause at the news.

The several hundred physicists and technicians huddled in the control room celebrated loudly again when a particle beam made a full clockwise trajectory of the accelerator, successfully completing the machine's first major task.

"It is going fantastically well," said Verena Kain, a senior engineer in charge of the control room.

Scientists will later on Wednesday send another beam around the chamber counter-clockwise to ensure the path is clear.

Once this is established, particle beams can be sent in both directions simultaneously to create high-energy collisions at close to the speed of light.

HEAT AND ENERGY

Physicists around the world will be watching for whether those collisions recreate on a miniature scale the heat and energy of the Big Bang, a concept of the origin of the universe that dominates scientific thinking.

The organization has had to work hard to deny suggestions by some critics that the experiment could create tiny black holes of intense gravity that could suck in the whole planet.

Such fears, fanned by doomsday writers, have spurred huge interest in particle physics before the machine's start-up. The organization has insisted such concerns are unfounded.

Once the particle-smashing experiment gets to full speed, data measuring the location of particles to a few millionths of a meter, and the passage of time to billionths of a second, will show how the particles come together, fly apart, or dissolve.

It is in these conditions that scientists hope to find fairly quickly a theoretical particle known as the Higgs Boson, named after Scottish scientist Peter Higgs who first proposed it in 1964, as the answer to the mystery of how matter gains mass.

Without mass, the stars and planets in the universe could never have taken shape in the eons after the Big Bang, and life could never have begun -- on Earth or, if it exists as many cosmologists believe, on other worlds either.

The Big Bang is thought to have occurred 15 billion years ago when an unimaginably dense and hot object the size of a small coin exploded in a void, spewing out matter that expanded rapidly to create stars, planets and eventually life on Earth.

© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved

Come Together and Create!
Peter S. Lopez aka: Peta
Email: sacranative@yahoo.com
Sacramento, California, Aztlan

Fw: ADDA September 08 eNews!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Come Together and Create! Peter S. Lopez aka: Peta Email: sacranative@yahoo.com Sacramento, California, Aztlan

----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Attention Deficit Disorder Association <adda@add.org>
To: sacranative@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 7:31:03 AM
Subject: ADDA September 08 eNews!

September 2008 Official Newsletter of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association Not an ADDA member? Has your membership expired? Join ADDA Today! In This Issue President's Message Send Us Your Treatment Providers Fuzzy Agreements AD/HD is a Real Plus AD/HD Awareness Week: Sept. 14-20 Is It You, Me or ADD?: A Book Review Attention ADDA Members! Quick Links Visit ADDA online! Newsletter Archive Your Ad Here! Don't miss out on your opportunity to advertise in ADDA's NEW Bi-monthly eNewsletter and reach up to 17,000 subscribers! Pay for four issues in advance, and receive a 10% discount! Contact: adda@add.org Advertisement Are You Ready To Make a Difference? Become an ADD Coach. Find out more! Register for a free teleclass here. Registering now for Fall 2008 Day and Evening Programs! Looking for AD/HD Professionals? Find professionals who can help you manage the very real challenges that come with AD/HD. Visit the ADDA Web site today to search professionals. Click here. Looking for Local Support? Find Adult AD/HD support groups in your area! Visit the ADDA Web site today to search local groups. Click here! Read more about AD/HD Awareness Week in this issue of The ADDA e-News! President's Message Dear ADDA Community, Wow, I can't believe it's been less than 60 days since Linda Anderson passed on the baton of the ADDA presidency. It has definitely been a busy couple of months, beginning with preparation for the ADDA national conference and then having the opportunity to connect with old and new friends during those four special days in Minneapolis. And there was no time to rest when we returned. Working closely with the ADDA board and staff, we've been busy strengthening our committees and committee structure, recruiting new volunteers, transforming the ADDA Web site into an Internet community, and preparing for AD/HD Awareness Week (September 14 - 20). Of course, I've also been adjusting to this new role as well! I did, however, take some time over the last couple of weeks to follow the Olympics and witness Michael Phelps' journey to gold. I couldn't have been more thrilled to see him win those record-breaking eight gold medals. I would have been proud of his accomplishments anyway, simply as an American citizen, but as an adult with AD/HD, and the mother of two young men who also live with AD/HD, I couldn't be prouder if he were my own child! He and his mother are wonderful examples of the incredible success adults with AD/HD can achieve when, as children, they are supported and encouraged to develop their strengths rather than concentrating on their challenges. That's certainly my goal for my own children. But, as someone who didn't receive an AD/HD diagnosis until adulthood, I didn't get that kind of support as I was growing up. Not receiving it as a child certainly didn't mean I was doomed for failure as an adult, although it certainly made achieving a modicum of success more difficult! Whether you've been fortunate enough to have gotten support and encouragement since childhood or you're just discovering how to negotiate the challenges of living with AD/HD, ADDA exists for all of us. By providing resources, support and opportunities for networking and connecting with others (both real time and virtual), ADDA helps each of us reach for and grab onto the success every adult with AD/HD can achieve. It's no accident our logo is someone reaching for the stars... and touching one! But to be perfectly honest, ADDA is in a very tenuous position right now. Many of our constituents struggle in the workplace and are unemployed or underemployed far too often, while some of us struggle with managing our finances even when we are working. The resulting membership dues income is not sufficient to support the needs of so many adults (and professionals) who rely on ADDA's services. In fact, dues make up less than 10 percent of the total ADDA income. In addition, obtaining funding from traditional philanthropic sources typically available to advocacy organizations like ADDA presents its own set of challenges. As a 'hidden' disorder, AD/HD invites suspicion and skepticism, and there are far too many people who don't believe the disorder even exists, especially in adults. And frankly, unlike other patient advocacy groups who primarily focus on children's issues or more 'serious' disorders, as adults we simply don't have the "awwww" factor that pulls on heartstrings and entices individuals to give, despite the serious impairments and challenges that can result from adult AD/HD. And without a major sports or entertainment figure to publically support AD/HD, we lose out on dollars and credibility. Sadly, most celebrities are not willing to publically acknowledge their AD/HD. (Bless you, Michael Phelps!) As a result of these and other factors, ADDA is really struggling financially; we're challenged to keep expenses down, while identifying the consistent sources of income needed for ADDA to continue operating. Most non-profit patient advocacy organizations like ADDA get the majority of their income from membership and individual member and associate donations. As I've been struggling with what services we may have to cut and how to bring in additional dollars, it occurred to me we've never asked you, our members, constituents and friends, to help support us in those same ways. Although many of you would like to help but simply cannot afford it, there are an equal number who are incredibly successful and who I know would be happy to help ensure ADDA can contribute to the success of others. I'm trying to learn to ask for help when I need it--something difficult for a lot of adults with AD/HD like me. As a good friend keeps reminding me, how can we expect to receive what we need if we don't ask for it? So, I'm asking you: Become a member of ADDA or renew your current membership. Convert your membership to "professional" if you work in an AD/HD-related field. The difference in dues is minimal compared to the additional benefits you receive. Make ADDA your charity of choice, and encourage friends, family and colleagues to do the same. Make a recurring donation online or by snail mail (15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite, C, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054). Whatever you can do will help ensure we can continue to support adults with AD/HD. Your contribution will allow us to continue raising awareness about AD/HD and help us to reduce the stigma and shame associated with the disorder. And by the way, I have absolutely no doubt ADDA will emerge from our current situation stronger than ever. I'm confident we'll continue to help adults with AD/HD 'go for the gold' and reach for the stars by providing the resources, support and networking needed to succeed. After all, I've met many of our members and friends and the professionals who work with them. I have seen the passion and appreciation you have for ADDA and know if you can help, you will now that we've asked. There's a Michael Phelps inside of each of us, and it's our mission at ADDA to help that gold medal winner emerge. Together we can make it happen! Evelyn Polk Green ADDA President Send Us Your Treatment Providers! As you know, it can be a real challenge to find a professional who really understands AD/HD in adults. You can benefit ADDA and all the other AD/HD adults out there by encouraging your providers to become professional members of ADDA. In addition to supporting a good cause, you also help your providers through the exposure that they receive from our professional directory. Professional members receive a free listing in our professional directory, which very quickly pays for itself through the new clients it generates. Our Web site gets 60,000 visitors per month and that number will only go up over the coming months. Many of those individuals visit the Web site specifically to locate a treatment professional. So, if you know a professional who does a good job, have them sign up here. Fuzzy Agreements By Dan Pryor Several months into my first job assignment after graduation, my supervisor dropped by my office and asked me to think about a situation in the IT department. A week later he called me into his office demanding to know why I hadn't dealt with the IT problem. Shaken and confused, I considered my options. Unable to create a clever response, I did the only thing I could--I told the truth. "I've spent my time doing exactly what you told me to do, I thought about the situation." His eyes bulged, and his bald head turned beet red as he prepared to clean my clock. Taking a deep breath, he had a "moment." It suddenly occurred to him that I had in fact followed his instructions. I had, indeed, thought about the situation. His flushed face regained its normal color, and a foolish grin replaced his vicious grimace. The source of our misunderstanding was a "fuzzy agreement." In other words, our agreement was general, unspecific, had no specific follow-up time. It was rife with opportunities for misunderstanding. We both made assumptions regarding what the other was anticipating. Do any of these statements sound familiar? "I'll get back to you." "I will look into it." "We should get together sometime." All of these are classic fuzzy agreements. They are big trouble for those of us who struggle with achieving and maintaining focus, especially if the task is uninteresting. But success in the organizational world rewards action and getting things done. Fuzzy agreements provide too many opportunities to dodge important tasks and not get things done. So, what's the focus deficient AD/HD individual to do? To oversimplify, don't make or agree to fuzzy agreements. When a boss, a colleague or a client says, "Get back to me," don't blindly agree! Instead, ask for clarity. "What exactly are you expecting, what does 'get back to you' mean?" "Exactly when do you needs this?" "Just to make sure we understand each other, what are you expecting by when?" Incidentally, fuzzy agreements don't work with family members, friends, love interests or neighbors. To refuse to make fuzzy agreements is to go against the stream of normal agreements and delegating. But in terms of succeeding in corporate America, it puts you way upstream from most of your colleagues. Think about it. You Can Learn a Lot from Your AD/HD Child--If You Pay Attention! By Nancy L. Farrow Being the proud mother of a child with AD/HD has given me certain insights. You and I both know that dealing with AD/HD is not an easy task. Perhaps some of the things I have learned by experience may help you. All the professionals in the world can offer advice, but I think it's a good idea to learn from someone who has walked in your shoes. Children are the real experts. We can learn a lot by watching them. Want to really know your children? Try observing them without making them aware of it. They can show us what is going on inside of them when we pay attention. When you can't figure out what is bothering your child, try taking them for a car ride. You will be surprised at how they will open up because they are more relaxed and not under so much pressure. Playing a little game with them is also helpful. You may learn why they are upset, angry or out of sorts. Your child may not understand how to express what they are feeling because AD/HD kids tend to be over-emotional. It is hard for them to control their emotions let alone express them. You may have to look for other clues such as body language, what they don't say, eating habits or sleeping habits. Each child is an expert on what is going on inside of them. Spend more time listening than talking, and when you do talk, make sure it is with them, not at them. Your AD/HD child really needs you to listen! More often than not we are negative. This is passed on to the child. Help them put their problems into perspective and build their self-esteem on a regular basis. Make suggestions, keeping in mind that they most likely won't take your advice. If they do, they may not tell you. Until they are able to work out problems for themselves, be as supportive and positive as you can be. Never say "I told you so" or "I told you not to handle it that way!" Sometimes experience is the best teacher. Believe it or not, you are an expert. You spend time with your child and know them better than anyone else. You can trust your intuition and instincts. One of the best resources your child has is you! Never underestimate your value. Plan simple, fun activities. They do not have to be complicated or cost a lot of money. Your AD/HD child needs to learn how to relax. In other words, help your child wind down, handle their stress and enjoy themselves. Let's face it, your child has a lot of nervous energy. It is a good idea to help your child have fun! As your child grows older, he or she will want to be more independent. They will want your involvement less and less. Take advantage of the time you have to participate in their activities and hobbies while they are still young. You will learn how to better communicate with one another. Spend some time one on one. Seeing the world through your child's eyes is a wonderful thing! It is time well spent, and they will know how important they are to you. Find out about your child's interests. Perhaps you can even purchase a book on the subject of interest. Remember: it is not the activity itself that is important. It is the precious time you spend together! It is quite natural to feel down and inadequate at times when parenting an AD/HD child. It is a tough job handling AD/HD! Seeking professional help for yourself and your child is a sign of strength, not weakness. You have received a precious gift. Accept AD/HD and learn to live with it. Take it one day at a time and, some days, one hour at a time. Yes, we do get angry and frustrated--at our child, ourselves and the world in general. The trick is to control the anger. Don't let the anger control you. You need to distance yourself from your child. Go to another room. Cry into your pillow or hit it until you let it all out. Then go back to your child. You will be calmer and better able to handle the problem at hand. And lower that voice! It doesn't hurt to let your child know how you are feeling. If you are angry, say so! You can say, "I am really angry with you right now. I would appreciate it if you would try to think before you speak. I know this is difficult to do sometimes. I believe this is what you were trying to say, is this correct?" And parents, when you just don't know what to do or say, back off! It is always a good idea for you to stop and think before you speak! If your child has been angry with you for a long time, here is what to do: Say, "I know you have been angry with me. You have a right to feel that way, however, now I think it is time to move on and get off it. We all need to learn as we go. You may always express your feelings to me, but I ask that you do so with respect. When you are angry, calm yourself down and then come talk with me." AD/HD can be a real plus when it is diagnosed and treated properly, and the challenges it presents are addressed. AD/HD children are often highly intelligent, perceptive, sensitive and creative. When it seems they are not paying attention, they may actually be paying very close attention, but not focused in the area you prefer. When a child (or adult) with AD/HD finds something intriguing, they can pay attention longer and better than anyone else! It may well have been this kind of hyper-focusing that made Thomas Edison, who its been reported exhibited many of the characteristics of AD/HD, one of the greatest inventors in history! It is important to remember you have a normal (if not extraordinary) child who just happens to have AD/HD. If you think of it in any other way, you may be doing your child a great disservice. Respect and love them. A good analogy, I think, is a person who happens to have a broken leg. They wear a cast for a time. They will not be able to perform certain tasks as well as their peers. But are they abnormal? Of course not! Neither is your AD/HD child. Just as the physical cast will eventually come off, so will the AD/HD childs' emotional cast as they mature. Be proud of your child. Our limits will be tested, but we have so much to gain in the process. This can be an opportunity and truly a great gift! I am thoroughly convinced we learn far more from them than they learn from us. When the scales are balanced between their emotions and their intellect, they will be the ones who really make a difference in our world. Many of the most influential people in history, such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Abraham Lincoln, John F Kennedy and Albert Einstein, are reported to have displayed classic AD/HD symptoms. Perhaps they were so successful because they had supportive parents who helped them learn manage their emotions and other challenges associated with AD/HD. We also need to pick up on the feelings of the rest of the family. All too often they are neglected because we are focusing so much of our time and energy on the AD/HD child. The other children and even your mate may not be getting enough individual attention. First you need to recognize it, and then do something about it. Spend some one-on-one time with each of them, doing something they enjoy. This will go a long way to remedy the situation. A brief, reassuring hug as well as an apology will let them know you are aware of the neglect and are trying to do something about it. Life with AD/HD will always be a learning experience. In a crisis situation (and we do have them) it is good to remember, "This too, shall pass." You will eventually get to the other side. Do you think it is too tough, and you can't make it? You need to know you will, so hang in there! Parenting is never easy, and with an AD/HD child, it is twice the challenge. The point is, you will not be going through any particular situation forever. Nancy L. Farrow is a Christian wife, mother and free-lance writer from Pennsylvania. ADDA, CHADD and ADDitude Magazine Join Forces for AD/HD Awareness Week: September 14-20 "FIRST YEARS TO GOLDEN YEARS: AD/HD AND LIFE'S RELATIONSHIPS" While most think of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) as a condition only affecting children and primarily impacting school and learning, individuals and professionals active with ADDA know AD/HD can persist throughout a person's lifetime and can affect every aspect of one's efforts to build and sustain relationships. In recognition of AD/HD Awareness Week (September 14- 20) ADDA, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and ADDitude Magazine have joined forces to raise the public's understanding of the impact AD/HD can have on personal relationships throughout an individual's lifetime. This year's theme--"From First Years to Golden Years: AD/HD and Life's Relationships"--focuses on the key times where AD/HD poses relationship challenges. Using the theme as a springboard, we've also provided resources and recommendations for addressing those relationship challenges. Areas addressed through this year's awareness campaign include childhood, college, workplace interactions, romantic relationships and adulthood. "There is so much the public does not understand about AD/HD that the stigma, myths and misinformation surrounding this disorder are rampant," stressed Linda Anderson, ADDA's Immediate Past President. "Education via awareness-building is the key to providing understanding and hope." In addition to providing information and resources for addressing the relationship challenges that can occur from childhood through adulthood for people with AD/HD, ADDA's Web site also includes a poster in support of this year's theme. Samples can be downloaded from the ADDA Web site. Stay tuned for more details, and let us know about your AD/HD Awareness Week plans! Is it You, Me or Adult ADD?: A Book Review by Gina Pera Review by Linda Anderson, MA, MCC, SCAC I have the pleasure of reviewing a book written by one of our very own contributing writers, Gina Pera, in this issue of the ADDA E-News. This is not just another book on ADD (AD/HD). It is a really great book about ADD in relationships. Gina writes for the other person--the one without ADD--who lives with someone who has ADD. However, this book is also for people who have ADD. There is so much meat, so much truth, so much aliveness and consideration in this sharing of the real-world, day-to-day stories of ADD in families and relationships. With tears in my eyes, I found myself reading the book one Sunday morning, thinking of people whose lives could be helped and supported by reading this book. Pera's sheer brilliance and attentiveness to detail combines with an absolutely beautiful clear and entertaining writing style as she shares information and stories illustrating the inside-out story. Add to this wonderful writing style (graphs, tools, strategies), and this book becomes an incredible value. When I got to the chapter on "Biological Denial," I was shouting out loud to the universe, "Yes! YES!" In this chapter she explores the distinction between denial and having low-insight or an inability to self-observe. The well-worn and sometimes pejorative psychological term "denial" is used to describe the repression of observations and perceptions in order to avoid unwanted thoughts and memories from emerging. Is this, however, the right term to apply to some folks who just don't seem to get it? She refers to the research of clinical psychologist, Xavier Amador, professor at Columbia University and former director of research at the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. The work of Amador and his colleagues has helped to explain certain conditions like bipolar disorder, substance use disorder and AD/HD, which affect the frontal lobes, may be accompanied by anosognosia--a clinical term for the inability to see any problem or to accurately see ones symptoms. Conditions affecting the frontal lobe can inhibit accurate self-observation. Yes, your ADD partner, child or boss, might not really see him or herself clearly. Pera doesn't leave us hanging somewhere between denial and impaired self-observation. She goes on to explore how to begin a conversation with someone who is, perhaps, clearly not seeing things or not seeing things as clearly as you might hope. She writes with absolute respect and understanding about having ADD. Trust me, if you live with someone who has ADD, or if you have ADD, you will find this book a supportive insightful read. I know it will be infinitely helpful for friends and associates of mine who live and work with individuals and families who have Asperger's Disorder, as well. Attention ADDA Members! Want to be featured in an upcoming issue of ADDA eNews? Share your favorite AD/HD story with other ADDA members! We are looking for stories on empowerment, coping with AD/HD, funny AD/HD moments or anything else you would like to share with the ADDA community. Contact ADDA's Staff Editor, Erik Caplan at ecaplan@ahint.com to share your story or for more details. Conference Session Tapes Available! Click the banner for information! Disclaimer ADDA does not endorse any specific treatment, treatment professional, program or service, including those advertised in this newsletter or mentioned within its editorial content. The opinions of the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect ADDA's position or policy.

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