American Pacific University

Re: Same

Ohgod... no... please. Believe it or not, I don't prefer it; and it sucks the life right outta' me. Seriously. The me I try to be is compassionate and patient and tolerant and avoids fighting, etc.; and those are certainly the things to which I aspire and which I profess should be the way of things for us all... in a perfect world.

But the former Gary, Indiana native who learned at a young age that if you don't step up and do what needs to be done -- and at precisely the moment when it needs to be done and not one moment later, else you die (sometimes literally) -- occasionally takes over.

But I'm never proud of that... ever. Oh, sure, I might stand up from the computer afterward and mutter to myself something about having pasted the S.O.B., blah, blah, blah; but I've never once done it -- not once -- when it didn't later trouble me a little maybe before drifting off to sleep; or make me dread checking the forum later to see what new shot to the hull had been fired my way.

The truth is, I feel that, most of the time when it goes too far like that, we just embarrass ourselves -- all of us who keep it going like that. And it's when I begin to come back to my senses and realize that that I retreat -- not because I'm being beaten or think I can't win it if left to my devices long enough but, rather, because I really do believe in the second line of latin in my signature:

• Veritas nimium altercando amittitur.
  By too much altercation, truth is lost.

I didn't put that line in my signature for anyone else's benefit. I put it there to be a reminder to me.

It's a shame I don't pay it heed more often.

That said, sometimes the shills and trolls cannot and must not be ignored; and they should be taken to task always and for however long it takes. They -- especially those who have been thrown outta' here -- want to bring this forum down to the same level as the one's to which they've been banished. If that's to be avoided, eternal vigilance and tireless scuffling may be the only option. I dunno.

It still sucks the life outta' me. And can destroy a thread by taking it so off-topic, etc., It's never a good thing; and I'm always -- and I mean always -- sorry, in the end, that I stooped so low. Always.

[sigh]

Oh, well. What can I say. It is what it is; and I ams what I ams, and that's all that I ams. (Popeye, circa 1929)

 

Note to Mr Stuffed PM Inbox (hint):
You can't be a former native of Gary, Indiana--or anywhere else.
Either you is or you ain't but you can't useta.
Janko the Mad Priest

 

Same

I understand completely. Sometimes, I wish I could jump into a time machine and start from scratch, but I'm stuck with my mant,many mistakes. All my ex's thought I was an ahole. They all can't be wrong.
Another question, I've had laptops (IBM Thinkpads), and they worked fine for what I do, Would you recommend any? Space is important and portability would be nice
And so we are on topic, APU is in a warm climate.
Clay

Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur (except in your case)

 

We're feeling a litte stupid now!

Ha! It took me a few minutes to stop laughing at myself and feeling foolish. Indeed... it's sorta' like "but yet." One can be a former resident, or a native, but would pretty much need to be dead to be a former native. Good point.

And I unstuffed the mailbox days ago... after only three email messages from the system telling me that it was full. (Usually it only takes one swat to the head with a two-by-four... but this week it took three.)

And, oh... by the way... talk about the pot calling the kettle black, Mr. Original Stuffed PM Inbox!

 

Re: Same

Geez... I certainly hope ex-wives can be... or I'm screwed.

First an object lesson from the world of desktops: The best desktop machine, in my opinion, is not one made by Dell or Compaq or HP or IBM or Gateway, etc.; but, rather, one built from off-the-shelf (but nevertheless high-quality, name-brand) components, assembled into a no-name, Taiwanese- or Korean-made metal cabinet. The brand-name systems tend to use motherboards with integrated audio, video, modem, etc., which tend never to be "high end;" and which must have said sub-systems manually disabled -- often with jumpers, if it can be done at all -- in order to use an external audio card, video card, modem, etc., in one of the slots. And that's only if you're lucky. More often than not -- as both IBM and Compaq (and not that Compaq and HP are merged, HP, too) have been known to do -- really weird combinations are made... like, for example, a combination modem/audio card in IBM machines with a special piece of hardware built-in which controls the special function keys across the top of the enhanced keyboard... and all propriatary, of course. I hate that. Good luck if any one of those functions breaks. You end-up having to replace a much more expensive, proprietary, tri-function device; or if you try to replace the broken function with an off-the-shelf component (which can't be done at all with the piece of electronics that controls the special keyboard function keys), you often can't disable the broken function so that the off-the-shelf replacement can occupy the IRQ or RAM stack hook. It can be a nightmare. Hence my reason for believing that the only way to go, ever, is to buy a good, brand-name motherboard that's only a motherboard; then a good video card that's only a video card; and then.... you can guess the rest; then assemble it all into a metal cabinet and fire it up. At least when you do that, if any individual part breaks (i.e., the audio card, or the video card, etc.), you just replace it, and only it, and you're back on the road.

None of the above is true or possible with notebooks. To achieve their miniaturization, individual manufacturers had to innovate. Each, therefore, has gone down its own road, making virtually every component in a notebook manufacturer-specific and proprietary. Building one from scratch with good-quality, off-the-shelf components -- as can be done with a desktop -- is not an option. (Well... it can be if you know where to buy some of the components that I know how, and where, to buy... but, generally, it's not an option for most people.)

This means that you must choose your notebook manufacturer very carefully, and make sure it has a good warranty and highly utilitarian and speedy service... and that's 'cause, sure as as a mill shill lies, somethin' on that notebook's gonna' break before you're done with it! Mark my word.

So, right out of the gate, these no-name notebooks that you sometimes see advertised for $499 to maybe $799 (or whatever) are out. Just get 'em outta' your head. They're not an option. Period.

That leaves the big boys: Toshiba, SONY, IBM, Compaq, HP, and, yes, even Dell (but not really Gateway, in my opinion... but that's just me).

Several years ago I recommened Toshiba exclusively... and solely because their warranty service was remarkable. If something broke, you called an 800-number and gave 'em your serial number, etc. and told 'em what was wrong. They created a case number and then switched you to one of two national service centers (depending on where you were in the country). The service center would simply ask you where they could send the FedEx guy to pick it up -- that day, even, if it wasn't too late. The FedEx guy even brought the right kind of packaging with him... and it was overnighted to the service center. They, in turn, would turn it around either that day or, worst case, the next... and would then ship it back overnight. Grand total of days without your machine: Two or maybe three days, tops... and all of it FREE! It was a sight to behold.

Since then, however, the other "big" boys have figured-out that they need to offer phenomenal service, too... so most of them do.

Dell's on-site service (at no extra charge) comes immediately to mind... except, let me tell you, the dirty little secret about that is that maybe six or eight times out of 10 their on-site service guy doesn't have the right part with him and it's gotta' be FedExed overnight or by second-day air... so you still end-up without your machine for two or three days. And about one or maybe, statisitcally, not quite two times out of 10, the Dell on-site service guy doesn't know what the hell he's doin'. That said, Dell's service -- at least nowadays -- is pretty darned good. As are their notebooks.

Toshiba has some very slick machines out right now... with powerful multimedia features as well as straight-up business features. Well worth the look. And there can occasionally be found great bargains if you're willing to take a machine that just got discontinued. You can find alot of that on the web.

Occasionally IBM innovates something extraordinary. They once had a notebook with an expandable keyboard; and another that converted from a traditional notebook to a tablet PC with one fancy twist and fold. It was slick! Such products are attractive to reformed gadget hounds like me... but resist them I must... as must you, too. They're overpriced, and are gone from the market before the lithium ion battery in your brand new one has even had a chance to wear down for the very first time. Forget about 'em! (Lust... sure. But forget about 'em.)

SONY VAIO used to suck... and I mean SUCK. But no more. And they're good at makin' 'em really small, if that trips your trigger (and it does mine). Their multimedia stuff is nice and has cool gadgetry. Their staight-up business machines are nice, but not extraordinary. And they're all pricey... and seem to fade from the market fast.

HP and Compaq are making pretty much the same 'ol stuff. That said, some of that same ol' stuff is relatively high-quality for not alot of money. Well worth the look.

I am tempted to say "forget Gateway," but they've been feeling alot of pressure from Dell's notebook line; and Gateways is much, much better now. As Gateway approached Christmas season 2004, it really got serious about its notebook products. That said, forget Gateway.

That leaves Dell. I hate Dell. I have always hated Dell. And I will always hate Dell. That said, don't hesitate to buy a Dell. Once a mere off-the-shelf assembler that didn't do anything more than you could do yourself, Dell, today, is a force with which to be reckoned. It's easily one of the "big boys" now, and worthy of serious consideration (I'm talking about notebooks, now... not desktops).

Though I didn't mention it among the "big boys," Panasonic makes a notebook line that, if you're gonna' be rough-and-tumble with the machine, you would be well advised to consider. Panasonic makes notebooks used in cop cars and military vehicles. Like an old Okidata dot matrix printer, you can drop-kick one of those Panasonic notebooks from its rugged line across a football field and it will still work. But expect to pay for it.

I dunno if that helped or not... but it's all I can think of to say about it right now... unless you wanted specific model recommendations, in which case I'd need to ask a bunch of questions (which I'm willing to do, by the way) and, if so, just say so and I will... right here, in front of God and everybody.

And so as to stay there: I'm sure someone at APU uses laptops (or, more accurately, "notebooks"), right?

I've decided that economy of words is an unreachable goal in my life. I accept and have learned to live with it... like a case of herpes (which I don't have, by the way... but sometimes it's got a similar feel to it).


Okay... so... now I get to ask a question... since I now know that you're smarter than the average bear about hypnosis...

What do we think about HMI's DETC-accredited, nine-volume, 108-hour, $3,564 D/L course? I mean, if one wants -- no, let's say, "insists on" -- a hypnosis program with some kind of USDE/CHEA-approved accreditation (albeit only for a certificate and/or diploma program), and one didn't want it to be part of some larger RA psychology degree or something like that, what other choice would one have; and, moreover, could it possibly be good, as a practical matter? The DETC accreditation is nothing to sneeze at, yet many unaccredited, but seemingly legit, programs sure take alot of potshots at it. What do you think?

Here's an interesting article, by the way -- written from the perspective of a professional hypnotherapists organization which only allows members that are also licensed mental health or medical professionals -- which talks about the "Hopeless Battle" between truly "clinical" versus "lay" hypnotherapy. Thought you might like it.

 

APU

Thank you for the information, again.
As to the hypnosis course, I would want something accredited. But the only way to learn hypnosis is to practice it. When I was a member of several hypnosis organizations, I was able to purchase insurance to cover malpractice if I were to cause harm to a client. Obviously, the insurance companies were not concerned. The fees were extremely low.
I am sure there are unscrupulous lay hypnotists around, but there are far more psychologists and psychiatrists sued than any lay hypnotists. That is why the insurance was so cheap in comparison. I treated no one so I didn't purchase it.
I don't know of any that diagnosed illnesses. That was a no-no according to my training. We were told to direct questionable clients to professional MH folks. It usually doesn't require a professional degree to realize someone is a brick short.
I think it is a turf battle. We could also charge insurance companies for services. Things may have changed over the years and I have not kept up. I don't know how talking to someone can be regulated. And as I said in prior posts, there are clinics for the obese and smokers which are run by AIH graduates. I know of no suits against any of these clinics.
And I'm sure the pro-MH professionals would capitalize on the publicity, if there were some. Within certain boundaries, lay hypnotists are just as good as any shrink. Just cheaper. And that is where the problem lies.
Just my opinion. Which coupled with a few bucks will by a cup of something similar to coffee, but with several names preceding it.
Clay
P.S. We are both screwed