V...

"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V."

V for Vendetta

I thought this was a very creative quote.

Video Games

I enjoy playing video games. I occasionally go to Frankie's Fun Park, an arcade. I own about a dozen computer games and an Xbox (not the 360) with probably 5 games. I like to play video games. I very rarely play them because I do not have the time nor the passion.

All of that said, now I have a question. Why are some people so caught up in playing video games? I'm not talking about kids. I'm talking about 50 year old, adult men.

I am working again (figure that out). I am stationed at the same station as an individual I mentioned in a previous post. This individual is 50 years old, married, and plays video games. I don't mean just play. I mean he goes online with 4 or 5 other 50 year old men, and play video games. This man has a $500 car, but a $1000+ gaming laptop, complete with a microphone headset.

I did not bring supper to work tonight, so I asked if we could go out and get something. My partner was not very happy about that, because that meant that he had to quit his game.

We got back with my supper and he started playing again. He got on his headset and told one of the other players that he was "supposed" to be able to play all night since he was at the slow station. I'm sorry, but you are "supposed" to work. Video games are for kids. They are not for adults. But wait...you must not be an adult...

Guns...

Why do people carry the largest handgun that they can get? One thing I've noticed is that it seems like everyone wants a .45ACP. Why is that? The bullets are extremly expensive, usually the handgun is big so it is hard to conceal, and the kick is usually quite hard. Also, the gun is usually quite expensive.

Why not just buy a .9mm? The nine is commonly used as a back-up weapon for law enforcement officers. It is smaller and easier to conceal. Most important, the bullets are cheaper, and if you get hollow-points, is quite leathal. (Of course, it's also lethal without hollow points.) The most important thing is that the bullets are cheaper. That means that you can buy a lot of bullets and do a lot of practicing. I would rather have a lot of practice with a nine than spend a lot of money on a .45.

ADHD does not exist...

ADHD (also includes ADD, ODD, and any other DD) does not exist. Now, I know I am going to get some flack with that. If anyone want's to post a comment, feel free to do so and I will post it on my blog.

Why do I believe there is no such things as ADHD? On what am I basing my opinion? As a requirement for my Bachelor's Degree I was required to take Abnormal Psych. My professor, Dr. Greg Mazak, was well qualified to teach the course. Also, he taught from a conservative, Biblical standpoint. Secondly, I have done a little bit of research on ADHD.

From http://web4health.info/en/answers/adhd-diagn-dsm.htm, I have obtained the following information. (My comments are in parentesis and italics).

To meet the diagnostic criteria according to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and statistical Manual of psychiatric disorders) a couple of aspects have to be considered to meet a diagnosis of adhd:

A. Six (or more) of either 1) Inattention, or 2) Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Symptoms must have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

1) Inattention

Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in homework, work, or other activities (How many people actually enjoy homework, work, or other activities such as that? Face it, if it is something we do not like, we usually do not pay attention very well to it.)
Often has difficulties sustaining attention in tasks or play activities (If this is the case, how come those "diagnosed" with ADHD can sit and play video games for 8 hours straight?)
Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly (Let me see...this happens to me all the time.)
Often does not follow through instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions) (Please refer to my first comment above.)
Often has difficulties organizing tasks and activities (Called poor planning. It takes time to learn how to organize and plan correctly. If one does not practice then they will have difficulties.)
Often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental efforts (Called lazy. I'm guilty of this myself sometimes. We, as humans, try to avoid difficult tasks and complete easy tasks.)
Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books) (Ummm...called childhood...)
Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli (It is not all that hard to be distract-- how about them cowboys??)
Is often forgetful in daily activities (Ummm..called childhood...)

2) Hyperactivity/Impulsivity

Hyperactivity
Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat (It's called boredom.)
Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected (Lack of discipline in the Public School system today.)
Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness) (Lack of discipline)
Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly (Ok, since when have kids been quiet?? Remember, be afraid of the quiet child.)
Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor" (That feels like me right now.)
Often talks excessively (Ever heard of a chatterbox??)

Impulsivity

Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed (Called not thinking things through. Isn't everybody guilty of that?)
Often has difficulty awaiting turn (Called selfishness. )
Often interrupt or intrudes on others (e.g. butts into conversations or games) (Called selfishness)

B) Some symptoms causing impairment were present before age 7. (Called lack of discipline)

C) Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school and at home). (Well, yeah! If someone misbehaves, he misbehaves everywhere. If someone has a hard time with one thing, he will have a hard time with it everywhere.)

D) There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning. (If someone doesn't pay attention in school then it will hurt them acdemically. If someone does not do his job, than his occupational functioning will suffer.)

E) Occurrence is not exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia or other Psychotic Disorder

Greenville Technical College (GTC)

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been at a station where the internet is very tempermental. Also, for some reason, I can access my blog, but not my friend's, and I cannot access my administrator site to blog.

Well, I started at Greenville Tech last night. I am really going to enjoy my classes this semester. I cannot wait for the year to be over, though. Also, I'm not that impressed with the school. I went to the bookstore to look at my books. First of all, I never buy books at the bookstore, I go on half.com. Well, anyway, I went to GTC bookstore and looked at all of my books. Usually, the student is given a list of books he needs for class. Not at GTC. We have to walk around the bookstore until we see the class we need, and then pick up the books. So, after searching the store for an hour, I finally have all of the ISBN numbers so I can order my books. Guess what, the ISBN numbers weren't all correct. That's right, my A&P books were 1) all sold out, and 2) had the incorrect ISBN numbers.

Anyway, I have the title, author, and and edition, so I order my books online. I then go to orientation for 4 of my classes and find out that GTC has the wrong books for two of my classes. So, after already ordering the books online and receiving them, I have to go to the bookstore and buy the correct books there.

I am happy with the Paramedic program at GTC. I am just not happy with how the school conducts business.

Pet Peeves 2nd edition...

1. People who have their blinker on for miles before turning.

2. People who have their wrong blinker on.

3. People who drive 35mph in a 55mph zone because they're looking for their turn-off. (Am I sensing something about blinkers today?)

4. People who put on makeup in their car, while driving.

5. People who pick their noses in their car. (It's not one-way glass folks...)

6. People who pick their noses in the hospital (even doctors and nurses).

7. People who hide their dirty plate with spaghetti sauce in the dishwasher with the clean dishes.

8. People who fart in the grocery aisle and then try to outrun it (DAD!!)

9. Wrong numbers when the people ask me who I am without telling me who they are.

10. Wrong numbers that call me and wake me up, then hang up. (I can do that at 3am too, and I have a private number...)

11. People who call their rats dogs.

12. People who call their pets their kids.

13. People who complain because their job interferes with their video games.

Still working...

Well, I'm still working. I don't think I've stopped yet. I have one of those partners tonight who said, "I'm ticked." When he was found out he was working with me. "Oh, it's nothing against you! It's just that I will have to do all of the ALS calls!."

Yeah, you are paid to work buddy!!! Also, I'm not exactly thrilled with working with you either. I know that you try to get by with as little work as possible! And, to top it off, you get paid more than I do.

That's fine, I don't care, I will do all of your skills for you. I will start all of the IV's, I will everyone on the monitor, all you have to do is sit there and take notes. Oh yeah, I'm the one working for 24-hours, you're not.

Work...

I am trying to actually post something, but my only internet access is at work. Unfortunately, I have been at some very busy stations the past couple of nights. Last night I was in Berea (Westside) and tonight I am in the city itself. We have already done 13 calls and we still have another 3 hours on our 12 hour shift!! Why can't people go home and go to sleep after 10pm?? If there was no one driving right now, there wouldn't be any traffic accidents. If no one was at the bars, no one would be getting shot right now. We wouldn't have drunks being arrested by police and complaining of chest pain (really, I think it's incarceritis). At times like this I wish there was a curfew. If I'm ever elected dictator for life I think I would instill a curfew.

Well, tomorrow night I am at a slow station. Hopefully I will be able to get to rest and update my blog with pictures from my trip up Mt. Washington.

Weddings

The real reason why I came up to NH was to attend two weddings and not go camping, go on the Mt. Washington, or visit family (sorry Aunt Roseann).

The first wedding I attended was Saturday, July 22. One of my highschool classmates, Lynn, married some guy she met at school, named Mark. I never ran in the same circles as Mark, but if Lynn likes him, I guess he's ok. :-)

The second wedding was Friday, July 28. My good friends Justin and Becka decided to get hitched.
I've already been invited to dinner to sample Becka's cuisine. However, I think I'm going to let her practice on Justin a little bit first. Poor Justin...although, he did survive as a bachelor...hmmm...he is pretty thin, though...