Jayson

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Posts by Jayson

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  11

  Is America turning into a religion? Is the problem lack of intel sources?

  by reporter in

  1. social
  2. current

  america is a religion

  us leaders now see themselves as priests of a divine mission to rid the world of its demons.

  george monbiot

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  Jayson

  The Guardian in the UK yes we have the Enquirer both give nonbias truthful indepth reporting.

  Jayson <of the buy a gun to piss off a liberal class>
• 
  38

  Why does the Government *OWE* You?

  by teenyuck in

  1. social
  2. current

  with all the recent political threads, i have a question.

  what do you think/feel/believe the government or your country *owes* you as a citizen?.

  i am talking about pensions, health care and other *social services*.

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  Jayson

  But there's a mentality today that says that the government should be our mommy and daddy and take care of every aspect of our lives. And the more we embrace that philosophy, the more power we give the government in regulating our lives. In my opinion, we've already gone too far down that road.-Neonmadman

  I agree with that. Talking about "the bad guys" the government can't always protect you. Sometimes even in this you have to rely on yourself. So, you are right.
• 
  38

  Why does the Government *OWE* You?

  by teenyuck in

  1. social
  2. current

  with all the recent political threads, i have a question.

  what do you think/feel/believe the government or your country *owes* you as a citizen?.

  i am talking about pensions, health care and other *social services*.

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  Jayson

  I am talking about Pensions, health care and other *social services*. Not roads and bridges and military.

  That is "mommy" government. I believe in "Daddy" government which is kick the crap out of the bad guys and leave the rest of us alone. States don't have the same "Robin Hoodism social makeups."
• 
  74

  So, will you be voting for Bush next time?

  by czarofmischief in

  1. social
  2. current

  .

  when the election rolls around, will you be pulling the lever for w?

  i will, unless somebody comes along with the offer of free supermodels for me.. czar

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  Jayson

  You take ONE author I have quoted from ONE of THOUSANDS of posts and base conclusions upon that?-Reborn

  One author from the same thread that I submitted an author. Your author is a politcal activist for parties enemy to Rebublicans and any right wing ideology. I post a conservative authors opinion of liberal attitude and why liberals all act the way you they do. Both on the same thread. You can't stand to see right wing ideology or opinions on this little JWD forum but have no problem using this site as a pulpit to spread your liberal NOT MODERATE point of view.

  I wonder just how bitter and twisted JWD people will become if/when Bush wins reelection?

  Nevertheless, Jayson, your an asshole. Period. No way around it. I do not like you. I have never liked you.
  You and I do not see eye-to-eye, nor have we ever.-RebornRedneck blabbers:
  Oh my. A person who posts under the username Redneck has insulted me. This has utterly demolished any iota of self-esteem I once possessed. -Reborn

  <yawn>

  Reborns list of grevencies against Bush.

  economy, faith-based initiatives, waging a war based on fraudulent information, disrespect for the environment, etc.-Reborn

  economy

  US Bureau says American recession is over

  An American economic panel seen as the official arbiter of economic cycles says the US economy's recession ended in November 2001 after eight months.
  
  The National Bureau of Economic Research said it concluded that the economy hit a "trough" in business activity in November 2001.
  
  The Bureau says the trough marks the end of the recession that began in March 2001 and the beginning of an expansion.
  
  The Bureau has for months declined to call an end to the recession, saying it needed more evidence of a retrenched recovery.
  
  Although the US economy has been growing for six consecutive quarters, the Bureau says some factors, such as employment, remain weak.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/14/54199/1.ashx

  What is the best campaign stratagy to win against him? Be serious this is to win the minds of American voters not to polerize them against you. Otherwise it's a plug for him.

  I think that the one real weakness is unemployment in America. For all the talk little result is what I see. If it is worse, or not at least improving in a provable manner, I'll not vote for him. As long as there is someone else to vote for. (Remember my "voting in Iraq" thread. YIKES)

  If he wins at least there is still term limits.-Jayson 6/20/2003

  http://www.abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_904716.htm

  faith-based initiatives

  <http://www.hud.gov/offices/fbci/tkmatch.cfm>< http://www.hud.gov/offices/fbci/about.cfm>

  If "Faith Based" programs help people then I am all for them. If they abuse taxpayers money then jail abusers and end them.

  KEY DOCUMENTS President Bush's Faith-Based & Community Initiative Rallying the Armies of Compassion The key document that laid out the vision Unlevel Playing Field The much-anticipated report on barriers in our federal agencies to faith- and community-based groups - and what to do about them Executive Orders Read the 2 documents that created the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative and Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in 5 federal agencies The CARE Act Read about the bill co-sponsored by Senators Lieberman & Santorum that seeks to leverage new resources for a broad range of community and faith-based groups

  Faith-based and other grassroots groups are renewing America's communities every day. They provide publicly important services and offer invaluable help to those who need it most.

  For this reason, HUD seeks to work more closely with them to help all Americans realize the dream of a decent and affordable place to live.

  In particular we seek to engage faith-based and community-based organizations to help us:

  • Prevent and effectively treat homelessness
  • Provide affordable housing opportunities
  • Equip public housing residents to secure permanent housing and become self-sufficient
  • Prepare individuals for homeownership

  The HUD Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives does not make grants. Rather, we are helping "level the playing field" at HUD by making it easier for smaller organizations, both religious and non-religious, to participate in our programs and hel p us achieve our mission.

  waging a war based on fraudulent information

  Refer to my conservative author that Reborn hates so much to understand.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/14/50669/37.ashx

  disrespect for the environment

  http://media38.fastclick.net/w/safepop.cgi?mid=16162&sid=9665&id=101686&len=346&c=45&nfcp=1

  Why the Kyoto Protocol Is Bad News

  G. Russell Evans
  Captain, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.)
  Wednesday, June 12, 2002

  Most people know by now that the Kyoto Protocol on global warming would have the effect of restricting and penalizing U.S. industry while exempting the heavy polluters – China, India and Mexico, and Third World countries.

  But people probably don't know that it also could be an exercise in futility, because it just won't make much difference even after all the gyrations.

  Implementation of the Kyoto restrictions would be bad news for the world:

  1. According to scientific facts known today, the actual averted warming would be inconsequential.

  2. U.S. industry would be hobbled and the economy would be at risk.

  3. A struggling U.S. economy would mean fewer grants to poor countries.

  Blame America!

  U.S. rejection of this highly touted, Al Gore-sponsored Protocol has become one more reason for our allies to blame America. Indeed, Kyoto and global warming were not even on the agenda for the European environment ministers confab in Banff, Alberta, in mid-April – but nevertheless, these topics virtually dominated every session, with the Americanos cast as the bad guys.

  Our allies appear envious when our president acts to put America first – which he did by rejecting the Kyoto resolutions. The multi-nation European Union (EU) wants Europe first, understandably, but what is not understandable is their second-guessing and nitpicking of America's handling of the war on terror, after they united in bloc with the U.S. right after the Sept. 11 massacres.

  Is it possible that they secretly want the Colossus of the North to crumble and fall so the European Union can become the world's super Colossus?

  Group of Eight

  At the Canadian meeting, we see the Group of Eight environment ministers slamming the U.S. for rejecting the Kyoto Protocol and its restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions – Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Russia, plus the United Nations, of course. They called the U.S. position "political maneuvers to preserve the energy-burning American lifestyle."

  The EU environment commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, called the U.S. position to stand outside the Kyoto Protocol "a basic problem [that] makes the Protocol weaker."

  The U.S. representative at that conference was Christine Todd Whitman, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator. Unfortunately, she had very little rebuttal, according to reports. She did say that the Bush position "is not changing."

  Global Warming Minuscule

  Why didn't our EPA director have with her some top-notch expert, like Dr. Sallie Baliunas, astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics? Dr. Baliunas could have stunned these ministers with charts and data to prove a minuscule 0.06 degree Celsius temperature decrease over the next half-century with full implementation of the Kyoto requirements.

  Instead, Mrs. Whitman took it on the chin – when she could have met every put-down with overwhelming evidence that Kyoto is no bargain.

  Dr. Baliunas has many impressive credentials and honors, including chair of the Science Advisory Board of the George C. Marshall Institute.

  Her assets, research and computer expertise make her an outstanding and respected authority in her field. In her computer simulations of climate, she uses data from various sources, including the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

  Cut 25 Percent

  To meet Kyoto standards of carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2012, the U.S. would have to cut its energy use by about 25 percent, with the subsequent cost to the economy of almost $400 billion per year.

  Increasing the number of nuclear plants and reducing the number of coal-burning plants could help meet the Kyoto standards, but no nuclear plants have been built in the U.S. in over 20 years, owing mainly to political influence.

  As for windmills and solar power, the amount of energy would be relatively minute and its production intermittent. For example, to replace a 1,000-megawatt coal plant with a windmill farm would require 400 square miles of isolated land on which to place 2,000 windmills – all depending on a steady, stiff breeze.

  The Facts

  Dr. Baliunas reports the following facts about global warming, based on the best scientific research available today:

  • The content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing as we use more coal, oil and natural gas.

  • These greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation and thereby retain energy on Earth that would otherwise escape into space.

  • Surface temperatures warm as the result of the small amount of energy arising from doubling the atmosphere's content of carbon dioxide.

  • The main greenhouse effect, however, is a natural phenomenon caused by clouds and water vapor.

  • Finally, the Earth's average increase in temperature would be only 1 degree Celsius for a doubling of the atmosphere's carbon dioxide content – a meager warming for such a profound increase in greenhouse gases and well within the range of natural variability.

  Conclusions

  Dr. Baliunas' conclusions debunk the Kyoto Protocol and the fears and accusations of Europe's environment ministers, as follows:

  • No global catastrophic warming is upon us – any warming will be minuscule.

  • Human health and lifestyle have improved with the use of fossil fuels, and the resulting economy also has brought environmental improvements beneficial to health.

  • Carbon dioxide from fossil fuels is needed by plants.

  • Manmade global warming is relatively minor and slow to develop, thereby allowing time for better defining its effects and for developing cost-effective responses, if needed.

  Kyoto Not Justified

  The rapid cuts in carbon dioxide mandated by the Kyoto Protocol are not justified, according to the best available scientific research, conscientiously reported by Dr. Baliunas.

  If EPA chief Whitman had been armed with the Baliunas report, she would not have needed to make the concessions she did, namely, that the U.S. would cut greenhouse gases by 18 percent by the year 2017. Perhaps such reaction is good diplomacy, but why pussyfoot?

  Protesters at the Canadian meeting, dressed as endangered owls, and the environment ministers need to do their homework on global warming.

  Meanwhile, we can thank President Bush for doing his homework and taking a timely and determined stand against these drastic demands of the internationals.

  Benjamin Disraeli, Britain's prime minister (1868, l874-l880), said: "Nations have no friends, only interests."

  Capt. Evans is a columnist and the author of five books, including "Death Knell of the Panama Canal," a study of the Chinese takeover of the canal. Click here to read his short biography.

  Ect...

  Yada yada yada,,, vote for whoever you want to.
• 
  23

  U.S. Admits it Faked Hussein Brothers' Deaths

  by George W Bush in

  1. social
  2. humour

  (2003-07-25) -- the white house announced today that the u.s. does not really have the dead bodies of uday and qusay hussein, and the two are still on the loose somewhere in iraq.. .

  "we showed those fake pictures yesterday in hopes of re-establishing some credibility with the iraqis," said an unnamed senior white house official.

  "we just thought we had to do something after we lied about saddam's weapons of mass destruction.

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  Jayson

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Letter from Niger
  
  Recieved: Sunday, July 13, 2003 11:00 PM
  
  Dear Mister Gaorge Bush:
  
  Please keep this in the strictest confidense. You do not know me, but my name is XXXXXX XXXXX, and I am the grandson of XXXXXX P. XXXXX, in charge of the nuclear programme of the African country of Niger.
  
  For severale years, my grandfather had been secretly selling radoactiv materiels to the little known country of Iraqe. He was given the sum of twenty million dollars by Saddem Hussan, of Iraqe, for this materiels. When my grandfather was discovered, two years ago, he was shot by the government. The money from those sales however remained hidden to all.
  
  Before he was caoght, my grandfather shared with me his secret, and gave me instructions on how to move the moneys out of the country. In order to do this, I need the help of a trustworthy American friend and this is why I am seeking to write to you today.
  
  In order to recieve the moneys I must pay a fee bribe of twenty thousand American dollars. I do not have this moneys. If you can send to me these moneys, I will split my grandfathers moneys with you.
  
  Please tell nobody of this message, for I fear I will be in grave danger if it is known. I am relying on you, George Bush, to keep my secret. Respond to me and I will tell you how to send the moneys to me.
  
  Your frend,
  XXXXXX XXXXX
  
  (Name withheld for security purposes)
• 
  74

  So, will you be voting for Bush next time?

  by czarofmischief in

  1. social
  2. current

  .

  when the election rolls around, will you be pulling the lever for w?

  i will, unless somebody comes along with the offer of free supermodels for me.. czar

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  Jayson

  
  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/14/50669/742426/post.ashx#742426
  
  Reborn put up an article by Scott McPherson on the WMD thread above.
  
  http://www.fff.org/aboutUs/bios/sxm.asp
  
  About Scott, he is a Libertarian activist. Not exactly a "fair and balanced" source.

  In early 1998, he was elected secretary of the Reform Party of Oklahoma, but resigned from that position after becoming involved with the Libertarian Party in October of that year. He served as Media Coordinator for the Oklahoma Libertarian Party until spring of 2000.

  Scott became passionately interested in expressing libertarian ideas early in 1999, and has been writing on the topic ever since.

  http://www.fff.org/issues/listsxm.asp
  
  
  Reborn's author is an advocate of the Libertarian movement and was the secretary of the Reform Party of Oklahoma? He He served as Media Coordinator for the Oklahoma Libertarian Party until spring of 2000? Above here are all of his Bush & other essays. "I will let you decide if he has an agenda when he writes or not."
  
  
  

  Reborn says

  Your one to talk when you post a never ending array of propaganda as fed through the eyes of a right-wing extremist as seen in your embedded articles on page 37 of the WOMD thread, found here:http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/14/50669/37.ashx

  Hypocrite.
  
  Don't speak to me or address me unless you have something useful to say. You can claim now that you have been spoken to that your above comment was in jest, but I perceived it as a backhanded slight.

  Have a nice day.
  
  
  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/14/55694/816523/post.ashx#816523

  Reborn thinks he is being cool but in truth he is what he calls others. He posts Libertarian articles and calls it truth and his right to an opinion. But when I post conservative articles on the same thread he call it "a never ending array of propaganda as fed through the eyes of a right-wing extremist." About articles posted on the same thread mind you. Reborn says that this is all proof of a moderate. I don't see it or him as that.

  Oh the connection here is his comment on this thread is a continuation of insults as opinions from the other above posted threads. I stayed off this one until he did the dig.
• 
  5

  Are you in mental misery

  by Jayson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-info/hlthpro/selfestm/pos-thnk.html

  positive thinking vs. mental misery:.

  empower yourself

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  Jayson

  http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-info/hlthpro/selfestm/pos-thnk.html

  I will always try to place a link to something like that. Simon has made it pretty clear that anything without a link for copyright laws can be deleted. This link was on the orginal post. :)
  

  If this turns out to be a Scientologist ideolgy let me know. To be clear I believe that Scientolgist are evil (as a whole) I believe all cults are. Evil meaning socially harmful. I am careful around anyone who claims to be a scientologist (all of 2 in my life) because of the "fair game" they play. For those who do not know it is "theocratic warfare" with live ammo. I have been stalked by them in my past. When I read dianetics in the 10th grade they had a number to call. I loved sociology in High School. (I major in it now) and knowing that it's a cult I brought it to my teacher. He had me call the number and keep a log of all that happens. So I did and stupidly gave my real number and address. Then to be even more stupid when I took off to LA with a friend while in high school I saw a kind of "open house" type thing for scientolgy and again when going in left my real name and number in the guest registery. They sent me letters and stuff for over 10 years. It was like they were stalking me. After reading some books "Kingdom of the Cults" for one and seeing a documentary on them I can say that they scare me. These guys even took on the IRS. I would never have anything to do with them willfully.

  Irreligous means that I do not let the ideology of "Man as God" rule my life. I bow to no person who calls themselves "Elder" or wears a robe. I do not kiss any ring of any pope. Do I believe in God? "Yes, If he exists."
• 
  74

  So, will you be voting for Bush next time?

  by czarofmischief in

  1. social
  2. current

  .

  when the election rolls around, will you be pulling the lever for w?

  i will, unless somebody comes along with the offer of free supermodels for me.. czar

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  Jayson

  I'd vote for him twice just to hear liberals whine again.-DR

  
  Thankfully just like everyone else you only get one vote.of the just loves to see liberals going down on themselves when they don't get their way class

  Just because you are against many of the policies which George W. Bush incorporates then you are a bleeding heart liberal? Your generalizing and this is inappropriate.

  Then again, whomever actually believes that your vote counts? I discussed this topic months ago and outlined facts to support my statements so I will merely repost links to those threads instead of taking up bandwidth reiterating the relevant points. Anyone truly interested can read for themselves.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/43347/605304/post.ashx#605304

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/43347/1.ashx

  Nonwithstanding issues brought up regarding disrespect for the environment, a shitty economy, implementation of "faith-based" initiatives despite the clear and concise speech in the Constitution outlining seperation of church and state, allowing his personal belief in Jeezus Khrist to guide him when making decisions banning potentially radical research such as stem-cells, and a war waged under false pretenses with bad intelligence presented as fact to incite support for a war where WMD are not found and US troops are killed...

  I'd say plenty of issues and not just Anti-Bush rhetoric. Then again, Dakota only resurfaces on this website he claims to hate when it involves a political thread so he can spam right-wing rhetoric. I wonder why that is?

  (waiting to be flamed by him anytime now)
  
  Either you last post regarding the candidates was a joke or you are ill-informed and receiving your information from a skewed right-wing perspective.
  I am not necessarily saying I support any of the above, but for you to post nonsense claiming that this is what legitimate Democrats are offering as candidates who will actually make it past primaries demonstrates the foolishness of the website you got your information from. Then again, your post has Rush Limbaugh at the bottom as a potential write-in candidate. Your post speaks for itself.

  Redneck-My what an appropriate username. Anyhow...DakotaRed made it clear in other threads that he holds contempt for this website. When welcomed back by other posters he made it clear that he has not returned, yet he finds it in his heart to post on every single political thread with a right-wing perspective insulting others and accusing them of being liberals or antiBush etc.If you actually took the time to look back through threads and read my comments, you would know I am a moderate, and do not support liberals anymore than I do conservatives. I merely point out hypocrisy when I see it.Perhaps if you knew the facts, your comments would have merit. As it stands currently, they do not.

  Reborn it must make you feel so smart to insult those who posts anything that is contrary to your Bush hate reteric. Yes! You hate the man and everything that he stands for. I get it! The whole freaking board gets it! No matter who runs against him you will vote for them, clear as mud reborn. You, and many others are so full of hate whoever it is against Bush you are with them. I might be voting against him too. But, I will wait and see if, or who, there is that are viable alternatives officially running first. Thus far nobody of value is officially running imo. The Democrats are a bunch of clusterfreaks who's whole bandwagon is if you are against Bush vote for us and, um, send us your money. Christ, or "Jeezus Khrist" (as you make sure to insult all Christians) with your little "bandwidth" comment you are so full of vengence for anyone contrary to your point of view you still have to attack me; Even if I stay off the thread and don't comment you are sure to get a dig. I'm sick of your insults Reborn. You want a flame war? Why... Why can't you give your points without insulting everyone. Even people who do not comment on the thread? Grow the fuck up man.
• 
  5

  Are you in mental misery

  by Jayson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-info/hlthpro/selfestm/pos-thnk.html

  positive thinking vs. mental misery:.

  empower yourself

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Jayson

  No.

  I am irreligous.
• 
  5

  Are you in mental misery

  by Jayson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-info/hlthpro/selfestm/pos-thnk.html

  positive thinking vs. mental misery:.

  empower yourself

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Jayson

  http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/health-info/hlthpro/selfestm/pos-thnk.html

  Positive Thinking vs. Mental Misery:
  Empower Yourself

  .

  MENTAL MISERIES: TRUE OR FALSE TEST

  Answer the following statements by circling true or false.

  1. I believe others cause my feelings.	T	F
  2. I'm always telling myself I "should" do this or that.	T	F
  3. I constantly criticize myself.	T	F
  4. I think I must do everything perfectly or not at all.	T	F
  5. I'm always apologizing for one thing or another.	T	F
  6. I feel like I'm carrying the world on my shoulders.	T	F
  7. I'm really hard on myself when I make mistakes.	T	F
  8. I bend over backwards to please others.	T	F
  9. I "scare" myself into action by imagining horrible things that will happen if I don't do something.	T	F
  10. I tend to look on the negative side of things. My glass of water is always half empty instead of half full.	T	F
  11. It's hard for me to forgive and forget. If someone hurts me, I tend to cling to that feeling.	T	F
  12. I often feel helpless. There are so many things in life I can't do.	T	F

  MENTAL MISERIES: MAKING THE GRADE

  Give yourself one point for each "true" answer on the test. # = ______

  # Points Results 1-3: You generally feel good about yourself. Keep up your positive way of thinking. 4-6: The mental miseries may be gaining on you. Take time to renew your positive traits. 7+: Challenge yourself to change your way of thinking. 

  Read the following information to take a closer look at some of the attitudes behind each of 12 the misery makers. Turn around sour thinking! Seek out the resources and information suggested to enhance positive thinking and achieve greater self-understanding and awareness.

  Misery Maker #1: Do you believe others cause your feelings? Do others "make" you feel guilty about things?

  Turnaround Mentality: You create your own feelings and make your own decisions. People and events do not cause feelings, but they can trigger your mental habits. You may wish to empower yourself with more information about relationships and communication skills.

  Misery Maker #2: Are you so conscientious in your self-improvement efforts that you never miss a chance to remind yourself what you should or should not do? "I should have studied more." "I shouldn't have eaten so much."

  Turnaround Mentality: "Shoulds" don't get the job done. They're just a way of punishing yourself after the fact. Guilt and shame don't produce much action; mostly, they drain your energy and discourage you. More information about realistically achieving peak performance may help you.

  Misery Maker #3: Are you a relentless critic, always finding fault with the way you look and feel or the way others act toward you? Do you nag yourself and others, especially those you care about?

  Turnaround Mentality: Replace criticism with encouragement. Encourage yourself and your friends rather than criticizing them. Give a compliment or a pat on the back. Visualize the positive and achieve what you want. Read more about improving self-esteem.

  Misery Maker #4: Do you believe that you must do everything perfectly or not at all? Do you sacrifice fun in your life to achieve every goal?

  Turnaround Mentality: Perfection is a high goal to aim for; don't insist on starting there or even arriving there. Do your best and then accept it. You can enhance your life performance and have fun, too. Seek out help to deal with your perfectionist tendencies.

  Misery Maker #5: Do you assume you are to blame whenever someone is upset? Do you often ask yourself, "What did I do wrong?" If your roommate or significant other is in a bad mood, do you feel responsible for it?

  Turnaround Mentality: The person who is upset "owns" the problem. Stop apologizing and accepting blame. Everyone has the right to have angry feelings, but you don't have to feel guilty. Recognize that interpersonal conflicts can be healthy, leading to constructive change and deeper understanding. Strive for emotional wellness with yourself and your relationships.

  Misery Maker #6: Do you "steal" responsibility from others? Do you feel responsible for the happiness of another person? Do you take on other people's responsibilities, then get angry when they don't appreciate all you've done for them?

  Turnaround Mentality: Stealing responsibility from others only cheats them out of a growing experience. Learning to deal with the consequences of one's behavior is part of being an adult. Seek greater self-responsibility and self-determination. Make some lists to clarify your own needs and wants. Remember, the world has many shoulders to carry it.

  Misery Maker #7: Do you call yourself stupid if you make a mistake? Do you call yourself a failure if you slip off your diet or skip a test review session? If your mistakes are pointed out to you, do you feel as if you are under attack and become defensive?

  Turnaround Mentality: You're only human, so treat yourself with kindness, not abuse. Allow yourself to make mistakes and then forgive yourself. Move ahead with a positive attitude; take time to laugh at yourself. Explore the healing power of laughter.

  Misery Maker #8: Are you a compulsive people pleaser? Maybe you need the frequent approval of others and forget to give yourself approval. Do you make sacrifices and then get mad at yourself?

  Turnaround Mentality: Give yourself permission to decide you're doing the best you can. Don't wait to hear it from someone else. Tell yourself you're doing a good job, and ask for encouragement when you need it. Do something extra nice for a very important person -- you!

  Misery Maker #9: Do you motivate yourself with fear? Fear and scare tactics may get your attention, but they won't last long as far as motivation is concerned. You may end up feeling anxious and unhappy.

  Turnaround Mentality: Motivate yourself with choice, not fear. Visualize success and make decisions that fit with that image of success. For instance, picture yourself succeeding at a task and think of the satisfaction and good feelings you'll have when you meet your goals. Learn more about effective self-assertion.

  Misery Maker #10: Do you interpret events and comments in a negative light? If your friend says "Your hair is looking good today," do you ask yourself "What was what was wrong with it yesterday?"

  Turnaround Mentality: You do have a choice, so choose a positive interpretation. Accept a compliment! Look at temporary setbacks as opportunities for growth. The positive appraisal will help you maintain your energy and give you an improved outlook. Encourage positive selftalk from those inner voices.

  Misery Maker #11: Do you hang on to painful memories? Do you dwell on bad feelings to justify your bad mood? If someone doesn't say they are sorry, do you stay mad at that person?

  Turnaround Mentality: The only part of the past that affects you is your present interpretation of it. Only you are in charge of that. Try to reinterpret these past events in a positive way. Forgiving is helpful and, at times, is necessary to move forward. Don't forget to forgive yourself, too.

  Misery Maker #12: Do you coach yourself into believing you can't do certain things or deal with change?

  Do you frequently hear yourself saying or thinking "I can't"? If you say this often enough, you will soon believe it. It will become a self- fulfilling prophecy and you will feel more powerless and out of control. Turnaround Mentality: Believe in yourself and realize that you are a capable person. Give yourself positive, encouraging statements. If your goal requires a response or approval from others, you revert to feeling helpless and feel out of control. Work at feeling good about yourself and become more self-reliant. Seek help when you need it.

  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE All of these messages reinforce the fact that you are responsible for yourself. Your happiness (or your misery) depends upon what you tell yourself, how you treat yourself, and how you interpret your world. It's an inside job. So, take the challenge! And, take advantage of the following resources for your benefit.