The Faces of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will be displayed June 23 - 29 in the BodyLink Gallery of the Maryland Science Center (601 Light Street, Baltimore). The exhibit was photographed by famous fashion and celebrity photographer George Lange and features striking images and stories from CFS patients and health care professionals who treat the illness. It will include free brochures for visitors who want to know more about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for CFS.

The photo exhibit is open to the public.

I know the Science Center isn't far away for some of you. Maybe you can pop in and take a look.

It probably comes as no surprise to anyone who reads (or used to read) this site that I am not doing particularly well. If I was, you'd see a lot more posts. Everything now feels like it's moving too rapidly for me to keep up. My mind races over stupid things and I'm always fighting with morning anxiety. Presumably this is due to the med I took around this time last year, but in any case, it is really annoying and hard to deal with.

On the plus side, we decided to grab a bunch of meals at a place up the road called "Make and Take", so I think I may have a somewhat easier time managing my food supply. I have enough of these that I shouldn't have to plan much other than to get one out of the freezer and pick a vegetable to steam or pan-fry or whatever I want. I can handle this far more easily than when I have to prepare all the components.

Otherwise, I'm pretty much just playing a lot of Warcraft. I'm not feeling well enough to do much else even though I really want to be doing more. It's very frustrating. Ah well, at least the weather is nice.

If anyone wants anything from my parents' house, I put price tags on everything. Get it while it's hot!

There are issues on both sides of the political divide that seem to contradict other views held by the very same people. Many of these are used as tools for the opposition to tear down that party's credibility even while no effort is made to reconcile the confusion about these seemingly contradictory beliefs. Is it not our responsibility as voters and citizens to understand as much as possible about all of the views that matter to our nation? With that in mind, I am going to try to address as many of these points of confusion as possible with the hopes that the people who hold some of these seemingly contradictory views will explain how they relate in a rational and convincing manner.

To Conservatives

1. What is the relationship between the pro-life and pro-death penalty and pro-war platforms? How do you feel the possibility of wrongful convictions impacts your beliefs on the death penalty, particularly as it pertains to the sanctity of life?
2. The inefficiency of government drives many conservative policies. When you oppose a government plan to aid a large group of disadvantaged people, how do you believe that those people should or will get the help they need? This question assumes that the people in question are universally agreed to be disadvantaged in some way.
3. What is the basis for your strong support of the 2nd amendment and how do you explain your opposition to the "assault weapons ban"? Why do you feel this terminology is inappropriate?
4. What is it that makes John McCain so loathsome to the conservative base?
5. Why is it necessary to have economic freedom while imposing limits on social freedom? What is the relationship between these core elements?

To Liberals

1. How do you relate pro-choice beliefs with opposition to the death penalty? Where specifically does truly human life begin in your estimation?
2. Why do you believe that the Evangelical movement within the Republican party is harmful to our nation? What specifically have Evangelicals done already that lead you to believe that such influence should be opposed?
3. What leads you to generally support government controls on big businesses? What about businesses makes them less trustworthy than governments? What is the relationship between implementing controls on businesses and helping lower class citizens who are often employed by those businesses given that such controls presumably increase the costs of doing business?
4. What is it that makes Joe Lieberman so unappealing?
5. Why is it necessary to have social freedom while imposing limits on economic freedom? What is the relationship between these core elements?

To Conservatives and Liberals

1. Why is economic liberalism a core conservative value? Why is economic conservatism a core liberal value?
2. How do you reconcile the strength of governments to reach the largest groups of people with the strength of charities and individuals to more efficiently impact the lives of smaller groups of people? Do you believe that this premise holds true in the first place?
3. Why do you feel that the ACLU is a good or bad organization? Do you believe the opposition's views are valid or invalid? What about those views lead you to dismiss them to some degree?
4. What is it about the various core beliefs of modern conservatism or liberalism that make them all so critical to see at the same time in our leadership? For instance, why must a pro-war conservative candidate also support lower taxes, or why must a liberal candidate who supports stricter gun control also be pro-choice to be viable?
5. Faced with sub-optimal choices of candidates, what issue takes precedence for you in the voting booth?

Well, my brain is about tapped out at the moment. I hope a number of you will chime in with answers as well as more questions that I have not considered that you have yet to resolve Keep in mind that these questions are mostly designed to attack the problem from the side of the opposition. If you believe the questions are not accurate, that's fine, but try to explain why if you can.

Oh, and I will be dressing up as a guy that needs a haircut, who may or may not carry around a water bottle.

I had expressed interest in rehashing the first recipe we ever tried, which has already been discussed on this blog. It was great. We got the same fish from the same place, and with all the vegetables at their prime at this time of year, we really couldn't miss. Best meal ever... well, at least when combined with the fabulous ice cream cones from the Daily Scoop up the road from here. They make good ice cream to be sure, but their cones are the best I've ever had. Super fresh and with optional dark chocolate dip that doesn't reduce the crunch at all. That's some serious coneage™.

I also finished the final installment in the Harry Potter series today, which was the first novel I've been able to read in about two years. What a great book. I really feel like the last four books added so much more substance than the first three, and HP 7 added so many great lessons and inventive angles on life and death that I was not just satisfied, but touched on a meaningful level.

All in all, a great day despite my seriously poor health of late. I may pay tomorrow, but that's alright too.

I'm supposed to do a website for a small business shortly as well. I don't know if I can manage that or not what with all I've been up to lately. Final exams, medical tests, moving... it's all rather tiring on a variety of levels. All in all, I'm not sure where I'm headed next, but it's nice to be able to ponder the future in a new living space, that's for sure.

I can't shake the feeling that this is all just wrong. I don't entirely know why. Maybe some of it has to do with my previous negative experiences with trying to finish school, but regardless, I just don't feel right taking classes anymore. I'm still gonna force my way through until I better option presents itself I suppose. This is all very weird coming from me, a guy who always got straight A's and had no problem with school even when pretty exhausted. I'll just have to keep praying about it.

I believe the only thing being built right now is a parking lot, or parking lot extension, but it's better than the nothing we've had for the past 12 years.

Gnoella and Sprockette from World of Warcraft are advancing well, and both are now level 62. I will try to get some pictures up here soon.

Lately I've been doing a whole lot of nothing, as I have felt sick (like mono-sick or something) for quite a while. I am hoping it is starting to fade, but I really am not sure. I got my blood tested the day before yesterday, but I have no idea what will show up there.

In "nothing" news, Sprockette and Gnoella are pushing past the level 50 barrier of late. We have some cool gear and are saving up for primo riding chickens at level 60. It is a ways off yet, but it sure is fun. Since mom is away, I have been trying to play both of our characters in a few situations to try to keep her up to speed.

That said, I would still rather do something useful, but I just don't feel like I have it in me at all. I was gonna take a class, but I decided to wait until mid-March based on my health of late combined with the lack of info from the school regarding what courses I need. Hopefully that will work out.

I'm about to head off to Christmas Eve church. Merry Christmas everyone! That goes double for my CFS friends around the world who I can't contact via email right now. I hope you guys are reading.

My computer is basically my life here. It's a good thing we have a backup, but it isn't the same at all.

Oh, and mom and I got back into World of Warcraft a week or so ago, and joined a guild called The Holy Gnoman Empire. Good stuff.

Thanksgiving was nice as usual, in no small part because of Jim and Susanne's effort in organizing and cooking for the rest of us. I brought my friend Ann-Marie along this year since she didn't have another place to be, so it was doubly nice. Unfortunately, no snack turkeys were created this year due to lack of participants, but we will regroup next year, or possibly in a few weeks if someone can think of a snack craft project related to Christmas that we could use at the carol sing.