almcneilcan

I'm curious to know if my brother suffers from Asperger's Syndrome. He is the "black sheep" of my family and has many issues. I know he suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), as I suffer from it and he has all the classic symptoms. But he also has serious social issues and recently, he royally inflammed over something that anyone in their right mind would never say or do. In a nushell, he interprets and reacts inappropriately in social situations. People routinely complain about his behaviour. For example, a friend of mine needed some repair work done on his house which was up for sale, meanwhile, my brother needed work so I arranged for them to meet. My friend arrives and immediately, my brother wants to tell him all about his geology project from college as the house backed onto a river. My friend had to repeatedly cut him off to get onto the topic of the repair work. He manages to explain what needs to be done when the real estate agent and some prospective buyers arrived. My friend then said to my brother, "Let's talk again soon" and turned to greet the group. Well, my brother joins in and follows everyone inside, chats up the real estate agent about his geology project from college and how it applies to the river behind the house. My friend then had to pull my brother aside and explain to him that he must leave because they are showing the house to potential buyers. Literally, he needed to push my brother out the door because my brother didn't clue in that business is being conducted and he should leave. My brother is 45 and still acts this way. Can this be Asperger's Syndrome? I'd prefer to hear from a professional if possible.

I'm canadian and wonder why Ronald Reagan was so popular with americans. I recently had a political debate with a friend that invovled Ronald Reagan and it brought this back to me again. I grew up in the 80s and we get inundated with american TV in Canada. So, I watched a lot of american news about President Reagan and how popular he was at the time. Ironically, he was reviled in Canada. What made Reagan to popular at home?

I need some help settling an argument with a friend of mine. He likes to debate politics and got on the topic of the environment and the track record of right-wing parties. My friend asserted that Ronald Reagan was credited with solving the acid rain issue in the 80s between Canada and the US (we're both canadians) I laughed and stated it was the other way around, that Reagan STONEWALLED action to reduce acid rain by insisting on more research and it wasn't until George Bush Sr. became US president that action immediately started. I've gotten my friend to backtrack to agree on when the action started, but he argues that Reagan's insistence on more research "laid the ground work for action!" I counter saying Reagan throughout his 8 years as president only agree to more research as a way to stonewall action on reducing acid rain. Any have any references to prove my counter-point?

I need some techniques for dealing with rudeness. I have trouble controlling my frustration with rudeness. Often people tell me that, yes, what certain people do is rude and annoys them but they don't get agitated and snap at them. Well, I do. A good example of rudeness that makes me snap a people is if someone makes me repeat something more than once or they keep repeating something that I have already answered. Do that 2 or 3 times and I EXPLODE!! So what is a good technique to manage this?

I'm canadian was researched on the Internet why our Thanksgiving is 6 weeks earlier than the american (it turns out our harvest is 6 weeks earlier!) Then I started to wonder why the american Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday. The canadian is always on a Monday to ensure a 3 day weekend. I read that FDR made Thanksgiving a statutory holiday and made it the 4th Thursday in November. But I haven't found out why it's Thursday and not Monday or Friday.

I'm an Ottawa Senators fan and I recently read in the news that the Toronto Raptors are flashing an image of Daniel Alfredsson on the scoreboard video display when the visiting team is free throwing. It's to get the crowd to boo. I remember when Toronto Maple Leafs fans first started booing Alfie years ago, the media asked him if he knew the reason. He shrugged his shoulders and said he wasn't sure what the exact reason is. I worked in Toronto a few years ago and asked some fans at the sports bar why they all hate him. I got a variety of answers: "He's a dick!", "Bad hair!" (Alfie had long hair at the time), "He's too good to be playing for the other team!", "The hit on Tucker!", ... But I could not get a consistent answer. I just think it's because the rivalry was getting intense and we had started booing Tucker so Toronto fans decided to boo one of ours. No better player to boo than our captain and longest serving franchise player! What do you think?

I experience "fits of anger" sometimes and would like a good relaxation technique to control the outbursts. A lot of my anger revolves around dealing with difficult people where I feel slighted or badly treated. I find it hard not to think about it and it gets me very angry every time. I'm unemployed these days and have too much time on my hands. I get into thinking to much and end up having fits. Any good techniques to control this?

I'm not a history major but I have been reading up on WWII on the Internet lately. I was shocked to discover that the Soviets (Russians) suffered monumental casaulties in the war, many times more than any other nation involved. Soviets lost 24 million lives (military + civilian) while the next highest was Germany at 9 million. Now the Soviets only fought on 2 fronts while Germany fought on many more. So the numbers are truly shocking. In my limited research I found 3 reasons. First, the Soviet Red Army was poorly equipped compared the Germans at the start of the war. Next, Stalin had "purged" the Red Army of 75% of it's senior commanders in the few years leading up to the start of the war, thus, there was inexperienced leadership at all levels and the army was being defeated easily in the early part of the war. Finally, it was largely a ground war which has the highest casaulty rates of all types of combat. Still, the stark contract in casaulties between the Soviets and Germans is shocking. I was wondering if anyone can add more to the explanation for why the Soviets lost so many lives.

I'm a huge fan of Elton John's album _Tumbleweed Connection_ It's really a progressive rock album based on a Country & Western theme. I want to write a blog on it but I'm having trouble finding a good site to get info on it. Also, was it Elton John or Bernie Taupin who had the idea for the Country & Western theme for the album? IIRC, EJ had a fascination for the old american west and wanted to write a C&W album about it.

I'm actually asking this question a second time as I want more opinions, especially from those who treat people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD.) As it has been explained to me by 2 psychologists once, personality disorders revolve around rigid inflexible attitudes. After reading up one some, I began to see there is usually a key, central attitude from which the symptoms and other attitudes follow. For instance, with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the central attitude is "I am superior, better than everyone around me", so consequently, they demand others to regard them this way, they believe they are entitled to preferential treatment, they get intensely jealous of others who achieve ahead of them ... With Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) the central attitude, "I need others to do everything for me", consequently they manipulate others to them do thigns for them, cannot get motivated to do work, ... Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) I'm have some trouble understanding. As best I can tell, the central attitude is "I do not know who I am and where I fit in" consequently, they have wicked mood swings, are unable to maintain relationships, engage in impulsive behaviours ... Anyone help me on this?

I'm asking this question on behalf of a friend of mine. Since the introduction of MP3 music format, my friend has already lost his music CD store and is now at risk of losing his music CD distribution business. After visiting the accountant today, he's anticipating a significant loss for the past business year. He then groaned that the music industry is projected further declines in CD sales for this year. He's already laid off higher earning staff and invested in some computers to improve efficiency. However, he doesn't believe he can turn the corner financially. After much discussion, I recommended that he "think outside the box" and get into distributing something else. So far, my best suggestion are MP3 players. Anyone have any ideas for new commodities he can distribute?

I once asked a psychologist about personality disorders and he explained they revolve around a rigid, inflexible attitude. After reading up on several personality disorders, I began to understand his point. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is about an attitude of "self-importance" or "grandiosity". Dependent Personality DIsorder is about "I can't do it myself" or "getting others to do it for me". OCPD is about "by the rule book and no other way!" But I can't figure out Borderline Personality Disorder. There seems to be no one central attitude. It seems like a bunch of attitudes rolled into one and the "self-harming" symptom I find confusing, can't understand why they do that. Is there a mentla health professional on here who can explain in a nutshell what a BPDer's central attitude is? Is it "I don't understand who I am and where I fit in?"

I'm really asking this question out loud because I know there is no answer for it.

I've been caught in an employment & medical situation for too long and my family decided to cut me off (rudely too!) My line of work, high tech engineering, collapsed in 2001 and got laid off mid-2003. Meanwhile, I have a medical condition that requires special accommodation at work. After a while my money ran out and I was forced to move in with my parents. At first everyone was understanding. Then as the months ran into years, their patience ran out. By mid-2006, my step-father dropped an ultimatum, I was to be out by the end of the year. I finally went against my doctor's advice and went off my medication so that I can at least eliminate the need for accommodation at work (medication caused to much oversleeping.) I also chose to start my own business as no one hires middle-agers in new careers (most of my high tech collegues also have done the same as they discovered this problem too with employers not willing to hire them.) I'm out on my own and I'm struggling. I need financing to really build my business as I'm hand-to-mouth so far and have pulled favours from friends and associates to stay solvent. Meanwhile, my parents and medical doctor brother refuse to help me financially.

What bothers me is that they make me feel like it's all my fault! Layoffs continue in high tech. I have no one else to turn to for financial assistance. I'm tired of them making me out to be a "deadbeat"! It's because they got tired of my situation and decided to cut me off as the solution. I want to tell them how bad they make me feel and that I don't deserve to be treated like this!

-- Liam

I started up my own in-home computer servicing business a year and half ago. I delivered fliers in the neighbourhood and discovered the response rate was a lot lower than I expected (2% to 3% instead received only 0.25%) I talked to other owners and they said advertising doens't work very well for independent businesses. Once I get inside the door, I do very well and get lots of repeat business. But generating new customers is hard. Any suggestions?

I was taught in calculus that 0/0 does not exist. A coworker told me that "0/0 has many values". My calculus textbook called 0/0 "indeterminate" As I understand it, when you evaluate a limit and get 0/0, it means that your method didn't work and you need to go back and use a different one. 0/0 does not exist, therefore, is not a valid result. Please explain as I am unsure what 0/0 really means.

I recently moved into a basement apartment in a house that's about 40 years old. I started experiencing heaving weasing and coughing. It felt like I had bronchitis. I even coughed up phlegm at times. I called a friend who is a home inspector and after some questions he figured it out. I have moderate allergies and the home uses ground water on a sump-pump. He explained that there is a natural mold comes from groundwater that some persons are allergic to. He advised I get special furnace filters that remove allergens. So I bought the special allergen removing filters (expensive!) and inserted them. But it's an oder furnace and there is no tight seal around where you insert the filters. It struck me that the air might not be forced through the filters. How exactly do these filter work and do they do a good job removing allergens, especially these expensive special filters for allergy sufferers. TIA

I know there are some professional psychologists here or persons with psychology degrees, so please help me. I just moved into a place owned by this person. Exactly one week into it, he's kicking me out! He was super-friendly and happy right up to that point. He then went from Dr. Jeckyll to Mr Hyde! He blew up at me, cited 3 reasons and told me I had one week to get out! What tips me off that it's a personality disorder is that all 3 reasons he cited were incorrect. A professional psychologist once explained to me that that is often a symptom of a personality disorder. These types will embellish, twist facts, lie, ... to try to justify their position. It's all part of a rigid attitude which is the basis of personality disorders. Can a professional or someone with a degree in psychology please describe how persons with BPD act? I've read up on the diagnostic criteria and symptoms but some examples and explanations would help. I'm feeling a lot of shock over this.

Help! I'm trying to start up a business and all I need is a $10k business credit card. But I have a bad credit rating and so far lenders insist I must have a strong co-signer. But I can't get anyone to do this for me (long story) Any suggestions?

I'm starting up a business proving in-home computer servicing. I want to use "Unaddressed Admail", i.e. flyers, delivered through Canada Post. It's not cheap but not outrageously expensive (10.8 cents per home unit ) The sales agent at Canada Post says the response varies depending on the type of business (naturally) She gave some examples that ranged from 1% to 7%. The best match as a driveway snowplowing business which got 4%. Can anyone tell me there experience?

I'm starting up a self-employed business. I have a sound business plan which has been reviewed by 4 persons in the field. My startup expenses are to be $2,500 and monthly expenses $4,000. The bank advised me to simply get a business credit card instead of a loan (they don't do business loans under $100k anyway.) But my credit score is terrible so they said I need a "strong" co-signer. But I don't know anyone who can do this for me! Any ideas on where I can find someone or go?