Anthony Bourdain RIP

[anon_mlxxvlbug9dpa]

You're an Estate Planner. You used to work in a kitchen?

So did I! But now I'm at Oracle.

Food service did actually help pay through my years at Indiana University.

I don't feel a special connection to him because I never knew him personally, despite the fact that we worked the same job in college.

I bet Oracle is proud to employ a simple thinking buffoon that trolls message boards with his inability to understand common sense, logic, and skeptical thinking.

SELECT poster
FROM roster
WHERE character=‘none’ AND assignment=‘buffoon’;

 

[iu_a_att]

This translates to lack of empathy. To be so consumed with your own unhappiness and to neglect how your decision impacts your kids (and broader family) is unfathomable.

Let me recommend this video by Robert Sapolsky on depression. I think it is great and tremendously informative.

 

[Noodle]

I bet Oracle is proud to employ a simple thinking buffoon that trolls message boards with his inability to understand common sense, logic, and skeptical thinking.

SELECT poster
FROM roster
WHERE character=‘none’ AND assignment=‘buffoon’;

Wrong module.

SELECT bucket
FROM janitor_closet

ie you’re assuming he’s something other than the night cleaning crew at Oracle

 

[futueteipsum]

Wrong module.

SELECT bucket
FROM janitor_closet

ie you’re assuming he’s something other than the night cleaning crew at Oracle

Can that be simplified to

SELECT barnacle
FROM bottom

 

[anon_mlxxvlbug9dpa]

Wrong module.

SELECT bucket
FROM janitor_closet

ie you’re assuming he’s something other than the night cleaning crew at Oracle

Perhaps. But my money is on help desk or network guy. I used to manage a bunch of network guys in a past life and they were all Trumpers that didn’t understand the mostly basic thing about economics or politics. They also didn’t have any desire to improve their weaknesses or contribute above and beyond their mandatory duties.

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

I have never thought about ending my life either.

I disagree about the selfishness part. Some believe they are so worthless and burdensome to their families that they honestly believe they are doing the family a favor by taking themselves out of it. Generalizations about the reasons are difficult.

I don’t disagree. Some do very likely believe they are doing the world a favor by ending their own life. They are almost certainly wrong abiut that.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

Let me recommend this video by Robert Sapolsky on depression. I think it is great and tremendously informative.

View embedded media

Looks like an interesting video. I'll finish it later. Does he get into the statistic that depression in the US seems to be part of white privilege? Fewer minorities on a percentage basis are prescribed anti-depressants than non-hispanic caucasians. The answer might lurk in the difference between Medicaid and the better insurance that whites presumably have. But on the other hand, Medicaid GP's are pretty loose with prescribing mediation for depression as compared to mental health specialists.

In any event, it seems depression is correlated with income and status.

 

[iu_a_att]

Looks like an interesting video. I'll finish it later. Does he get into the statistic that depression in the US seems to be part of white privilege? Fewer minorities on a percentage basis are prescribed anti-depressants than non-hispanic caucasians. The answer might lurk in the difference between Medicaid and the better insurance that whites presumably have. But on the other hand, Medicaid GP's are pretty loose with prescribing mediation for depression as compared to mental health specialists.

In any event, it seems depression is correlated with income and status.

He is a neuroendrocinologist...the thing that is really useful about the video is that he goes through the science of the neurobiology of depression. A very striking comment he makes is that major depression is every bit as much a medical condition as juvenile onset diabetes.

Your comments that minorities get prescriptions for anti-depressants less frequently is consistent with minorities getting lower quality medical care overall. It may also be do with a culture that attaches greater stigma to mental health issues. Sapolsky's lecture doesn't talk about the demographic stats that you are mentioning.

 

[anon_mlxxvlbug9dpa]

Looks like an interesting video. I'll finish it later. Does he get into the statistic that depression in the US seems to be part of white privilege? Fewer minorities on a percentage basis are prescribed anti-depressants than non-hispanic caucasians. The answer might lurk in the difference between Medicaid and the better insurance that whites presumably have. But on the other hand, Medicaid GP's are pretty loose with prescribing mediation for depression as compared to mental health specialists.

In any event, it seems depression is correlated with income and status.

That’s an awfully big leap re white privilege. Actually it’s downright ignorant. You’re conflating prescriptions with diagnosis or estimated prevalence and that’s downright insane and incompetent. You sound like the Russian government when they say they don’t have homosexuals in Russia.

Simple googling shows rates are similar although it is less understood in AA populations.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1199525/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/major-depression/depression-statistics/

 

[iu_a_att]

Very recent research on the neurobiology of depression with a particular focus very new discoveries and the relationship between stress and depression. But very technical.

 

[iu_a_att]

A recent 60 minutes episode on the continuing effective use of "shock treatment". The bottom line here is that even if you or a loved one has treatment resistant depression there are alternatives like ECT that may have dramatic positive effects.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

That’s an awfully big leap re white privilege. Actually it’s downright ignorant. You’re conflating prescriptions with diagnosis or estimated prevalence and that’s downright insane and incompetent. You sound like the Russian government when they say they don’t have homosexuals in Russia.

Simple googling shows rates are similar although it is less understood in AA populations.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1199525/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/major-depression/depression-statistics/

Well I admit to the leap. But I was being clever about white privilege, not ignorant. There is no question that whites, on a percentage basis, are taking more anti-depressants than minorities. As i mentioned, there might be other quality of care reasons for this. Moreover, I think there are legitimate questions about anti-depressants being over prescribed. Many of us want to cure our blahs with a pill. Big Pharma is happy to oblige. The aggressive marketing campaigns fit right in with that.

I am not belittling major depression. I had a partner who went through it. I've had badly injured clients who went through it. I had a very good friend/client hang himself. I learned quite a bit from various experts. It's a very serious matter.

 

[anon_mlxxvlbug9dpa]

Well I admit to the leap. But I was being clever about white privilege, not ignorant. There is no question that whites, on a percentage basis, are taking more anti-depressants than minorities. As i mentioned, there might be other quality of care reasons for this. Moreover, I think there are legitimate questions about anti-depressants being over prescribed. Many of us want to cure our blahs with a pill. Big Pharma is happy to oblige. The aggressive marketing campaigns fit right in with that.

I am not belittling major depression. I had a partner who went through it. I've had badly injured clients who went through it. I had a very good friend/client hang himself. I learned quite a bit from various experts. It's a very serious matter.

Then I retract my criticism if you were being tongue in cheek.

The negative obsession with Big Pharma, from all sides, is sad. It’s very much akin to shooting the messenger, except in this case, the messenger is spending billions of dollars to both make billions of dollars and help meet unmet patient needs.

Because of the evil Big Pharma, HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy have undetectable levels of virus in their blood. Because of the evil Big Pharma, terminal cancer patients needn’t finish their days in agony.

Yes, there have been bad actors. Yes, here have been issues. Name an industry wherein this isn’t true.

Even the most staunch of the free trade capitalists on Facebook and on the Cracker Barrel porch turn into central planning socialists when it comes to the evil Big Pharma.

The bottom line is Big Pharma doesn’t overprescribe medicines, physicians do.

 

[iu_a_att]

The bottom line is Big Pharma doesn’t overprescribe medicines, physicians do.

Moreover, given the OP is about suicide and the thread establishes what a huge problem it is I don't know that the problem for those severely depressed is overprescription of antidepressants. I think one of the videos I linked above says that of the 33K annual suicides in the US 25% were on anti-depressants. I think under-prescription of anti-depressants for those who are severely depressed is a much greater problem.

 

[wiede]

Here's the thing Goat. Every single person in this thread has contemplated ending their life at some point. The degree to how seriously we did, varies immensely.

I say if you want to end it take a Xanax and try a bit harder on Monday.

You'll usually end up realizing you're nothing but selfish....

Um, no. Never thought about killing myself.

And, depression isn’t rational. It just isn’t. I tried to view it through that lens for many years. It’s about a chemical imbalance- which is infinitely more difficult to treat. There’s no defined way to test for it- or treat it.

And Selfishness never factors into the equation, in many cases.

I’d encourage you (& others that post ignorant statements about depression) to research depression.

I hope to god you never see it up close, because it’s horrible.

I there’s one thing you remember after reading this post, it’s this- it doesn’t make sense.

 

[iu_a_att]

From Business Insider today

John Mann, a psychiatrist who studies the causes of depression and suicide at Columbia University, said several factors have likely contributed to America's rising suicide rate, including stress from the 2008 financial crisis and the current opioid epidemic. But they don't tell the whole story.

"We have a serious, national problem in terms of adequate recognition of psychiatric illnesses and their treatment. That is the single most effective suicide-prevention method in Western nations," he told Business Insider. "We're missing most of these cases. That's really the bottom line."

The larger majority of suicide victims who have a psychiatric illness — nearly 3 in 4 Americans— are not receiving treatment at the time of their deaths.​

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

And Selfishness never factors into the equation, in many cases.

I reject the idea that there isn't cognitive understanding in many cases.

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

From Business Insider today

John Mann, a psychiatrist who studies the causes of depression and suicide at Columbia University, said several factors have likely contributed to America's rising suicide rate, including stress from the 2008 financial crisis and the current opioid epidemic. But they don't tell the whole story.

"We have a serious, national problem in terms of adequate recognition of psychiatric illnesses and their treatment. That is the single most effective suicide-prevention method in Western nations," he told Business Insider. "We're missing most of these cases. That's really the bottom line."

The larger majority of suicide victims who have a psychiatric illness — nearly 3 in 4 Americans— are not receiving treatment at the time of their deaths.​

You would find this interesting

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

 

[iu_a_att]

You would find this interesting

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

Thanks...looks very detailed and captures the complexity of the phenomena.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

What would lead a man, who spent 46 of his 68 years on this earth in a wheelchair, with complete paraplegia and partial quadriplegia, to say:

I leave this life with no regrets. It was a wonderful life — full and complete with the great loves and great endeavors that make it worth living. I am sad to leave, but I leave with the knowledge that I lived the life that I intended.
​

We have talked a lot about depression and suicide in this thread. It's an increasing problem. All of us who have close or first hand experience with it know what a terrible condition it is. Yet I don't believe that depression is inevitable--even given the worst of reasons for its onset. I think that is Krauthammer's message to us.

Of course I don't know what the difference makers are, if I did, I suppose I'd lecture about it and make millions. That's not happening. But I think I have some ideas worth exploring.

Elsewhere in this thread, I said I think an important depression antidote is that we have to like ourselves. I think that is where a satisfying life begins. Krauthammer had that. At times that is difficult--very difficult. It is especially difficult when we believe our crummy situation is the result of bad choices or other life decisions, instead of a single freak accident. Nobody knows our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and dark places like we do. Residing there becomes a negative feedback loop. The more we isolate ourselves in these dark reaches of our mind, the more we are isolated and trapped in those places. We change physically and mentally. The chemistry that operates our minds changes and deprives us of the ability to escape.

Human beings have a physical immune system. That needs to be stimulated and even helped with vaccines to ward of invaders. Sometimes the physical immune system won't suffice. I think our mind also has an immune system. That also needs to be developed. Part of the development is that we must know we are not passive bystanders in our lives. We are active participants. No matter how terrible the external forces are on us, the antidote starts within us. Krauthammer is an active participant.

Enter Jordan Peterson. As I said in the Jordan Peterson thread, I didn't know anything about him until I downloaded his 12 Rules, read it, and then read what posters here said about him. He has different ideas, but his ideas in the 12 Rules are not as looney as some of his other stuff. My take away from the 12 rules is similar to what I have thought since are started thinking about this stuff. Nothing externally can overcome what is inside each of us. Peterson writes that we should never compare ourselves to others, or even to what we imagine a better life to be. Instead we compare ourselves to what we were yesterday. Each day can be a betterment.

Another read along these lines is Unbroken. (the book, not the movie). Zamperini's POW experience almost broke and destroyed his post war life. He found relief in religion. But it needn't be that. The point is he found relief within himself and his belief system. He had what Krauthammer has.

Full stop.

 

[iu_a_att]

I reject the idea that there isn't cognitive understanding in many cases.

There is good evidence that for those not too severely depressed that cognitive therapies can be effective. But I am not sure what you mean about "cognitive understandings".

 

[wiede]

I reject the idea that there isn't cognitive understanding in many cases.

Those aren’t the same concepts.

People that completely bottom out when they’re severely depressed clearly understand what suicide means. It doesn’t phase them. If it did, we wouldn’t have the rising suicide rate that we have now.

Have you ever been around someone that’s severely depressed? I hope not. I have. And it’s f’n terrible.

Again, you’re approaching it like the person that’s depressed is acting as a rational actor.

I’ll say it again. Depression isn’t rational. Start from that point.

 

[wiede]

There is good evidence that for those not too severely depressed that cognitive therapies can be effective. But I am not sure what you mean about "cognitive understandings".

CBT looks promising for a variety of things. Including managing chronic pain and treating some people that are depressed.

 

[IDontWannaLargeFarva]

Perhaps. But my money is on help desk or network guy. I used to manage a bunch of network guys in a past life and they were all Trumpers that didn’t understand the mostly basic thing about economics or politics. They also didn’t have any desire to improve their weaknesses or contribute above and beyond their mandatory duties.

You managed Trumpers in a past life? Was your past life 2 years ago? Because that's about how long Trump has been on the political scene.

Why do you always call me a Trumper? I've told you several times I didn't vote for the guy. You like to lump people in, and if you held such disdain for the people you managed, you were probably not a very effective manager.

 

[anon_mlxxvlbug9dpa]

You managed Trumpers in a past life? Was your past life 2 years ago? Because that's about how long Trump has been on the political scene.

Why do you always call me a Trumper? I've told you several times I didn't vote for the guy. You like to lump people in, and if you held such disdain for the people you managed, you were probably not a very effective manager.

They are guaranteed Trumpers. It was five years ago and they are Fox News acolytes. Do you doubt they’re Trumpers?

I wasn’t an effective manager for them. They were hopeless. Everyone knew it. I took a stab. I failed. I can admit it. Everyone will fail. They’re hopeless. Are you?

 

[IDontWannaLargeFarva]

They are guaranteed Trumpers. It was five years ago and they are Fox News acolytes. Do you doubt they’re Trumpers?

I wasn’t an effective manager for them. They were hopeless. Everyone knew it. I took a stab. I failed. I can admit it. Everyone will fail. They’re hopeless. Are you?

Maybe you failed because you have a hard time being civil with those who differ from you politically.

 

[iu_a_att]

What would lead a man, who spent 46 of his 68 years on this earth in a wheelchair, with complete paraplegia and partial quadriplegia, to say:

I leave this life with no regrets. It was a wonderful life — full and complete with the great loves and great endeavors that make it worth living. I am sad to leave, but I leave with the knowledge that I lived the life that I intended.
​

We have talked a lot about depression and suicide in this thread. It's an increasing problem. All of us who have close or first hand experience with it know what a terrible condition it is. Yet I don't believe that depression is inevitable--even given the worst of reasons for its onset. I think that is Krauthammer's message to us.

Watch the whole Sapolsky video. Nobody says that depression is "inevitable" more than any other disease or condition is inevitable. Physical disability, obviously, doesn't inevitably lead to depression. Neither does some traumatic event. There is no reason to think that Krauthammer was or is depressed any more than the fellow who was in a prison camp was or is depressed. There is no reason to think that someone who went through combat will necessarily have PTSD. The fact that one person goes through combat without getting PTSD does not mean that everyone should be able to go through it without PTSD.

Sapolsky describes a genetic-environmental interaction. Here is a study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3077049/

Gene–environment interaction studies have received increasing attention, particularly for MDD, given the robust correlation between stressful life events and risk of developing depressive symptoms [17, 29]. In a population-based study, Caspi and colleagues [21] noted that individuals with one or more copies of the short allele of the 5HTT promoter variants were at increased risk of depression depending on the occurrence of adverse life events. This article describes a plausible gene–environment interaction that may help explain the conflicting results for the 5HTT promoter variant noted above. Positive and negative replication studies have demonstrated the complexity of detecting these effects. Similar gene–environment interactions have been demonstrated for variants in the HTR2A gene and childhood maternal nurturance and depressive symptoms in adulthood [30]. Future genetic studies of depression will need to pay close attention to these gene–environment interactions.​

Elsewhere in this thread, I said I think an important depression antidote is that we have to like ourselves.

That is like saying that the antidote to depression is to not be depressed. As Sapolsky notes, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) is symptomatic of major depression. In that state one doesn't like anything including oneself. It is an unimaginably horrible thing to experience.

I think that is where a satisfying life begins. Krauthammer had that. At times that is difficult--very difficult. It is especially difficult when we believe our crummy situation is the result of bad choices or other life decisions, instead of a single freak accident. Nobody knows our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and dark places like we do. Residing there becomes a negative feedback loop. The more we isolate ourselves in these dark reaches of our mind, the more we are isolated and trapped in those places. We change physically and mentally. The chemistry that operates our minds changes and deprives us of the ability to escape.

Human beings have a physical immune system. That needs to be stimulated and even helped with vaccines to ward of invaders. Sometimes the physical immune system won't suffice. I think our mind also has an immune system. That also needs to be developed. Part of the development is that we must know we are not passive bystanders in our lives. We are active participants. No matter how terrible the external forces are on us, the antidote starts within us. Krauthammer is an active participant.

Enter Jordan Peterson. As I said in the Jordan Peterson thread, I didn't know anything about him until I downloaded his 12 Rules, read it, and then read what posters here said about him. He has different ideas, but his ideas in the 12 Rules are not as looney as some of his other stuff. My take away from the 12 rules is similar to what I have thought since are started thinking about this stuff. Nothing externally can overcome what is inside each of us. Peterson writes that we should never compare ourselves to others, or even to what we imagine a better life to be. Instead we compare ourselves to what we were yesterday. Each day can be a betterment.

Another read along these lines is Unbroken. (the book, not the movie). Zamperini's POW experience almost broke and destroyed his post war life. He found relief in religion. But it needn't be that. The point is he found relief within himself and his belief system. He had what Krauthammer has.

Full stop.

As mentioned above, cognitive therapies can help some people. But too many people subscribe to the philosophy that dealing with major depressive disorder is about some exercise of the will. 75% of suicides aren't receiving treatment in the form of anti-depressants. Had they received actual treatment instead of lectures to buck up and feel better perhaps many of them would now be feeling better with good consequences for their family, friends and co-workers.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

Watch the whole Sapolsky video. Nobody says that depression is "inevitable" more than any other disease or condition is inevitable. Physical disability, obviously, doesn't inevitably lead to depression. Neither does some traumatic event. There is no reason to think that Krauthammer was or is depressed any more than the fellow who was in a prison camp was or is depressed. There is no reason to think that someone who went through combat will necessarily have PTSD. The fact that one person goes through combat without getting PTSD does not mean that everyone should be able to go through it without PTSD.

Sapolsky describes a genetic-environmental interaction. Here is a study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3077049/

Gene–environment interaction studies have received increasing attention, particularly for MDD, given the robust correlation between stressful life events and risk of developing depressive symptoms [17, 29]. In a population-based study, Caspi and colleagues [21] noted that individuals with one or more copies of the short allele of the 5HTT promoter variants were at increased risk of depression depending on the occurrence of adverse life events. This article describes a plausible gene–environment interaction that may help explain the conflicting results for the 5HTT promoter variant noted above. Positive and negative replication studies have demonstrated the complexity of detecting these effects. Similar gene–environment interactions have been demonstrated for variants in the HTR2A gene and childhood maternal nurturance and depressive symptoms in adulthood [30]. Future genetic studies of depression will need to pay close attention to these gene–environment interactions.​

That is like saying that the antidote to depression is to not be depressed. As Sapolsky notes, anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) is symptomatic of major depression. In that state one doesn't like anything including oneself. It is an unimaginably horrible thing to experience.
As mentioned above, cognitive therapies can help some people. But too many people subscribe to the philosophy that dealing with major depressive disorder is about some exercise of the will. 75% of suicides aren't receiving treatment in the form of anti-depressants. Had they received actual treatment instead of lectures to buck up and feel better perhaps many of them would now be feeling better with good consequences for their family, friends and co-workers.

“Antidote” is the wrong word. I should have said “vaccine”. Once an individual is in the throws of depression, things change.

 

[sglowrider]

What would lead a man, who spent 46 of his 68 years on this earth in a wheelchair, with complete paraplegia and partial quadriplegia, to say:

I leave this life with no regrets. It was a wonderful life — full and complete with the great loves and great endeavors that make it worth living. I am sad to leave, but I leave with the knowledge that I lived the life that I intended.
​

We have talked a lot about depression and suicide in this thread. It's an increasing problem. All of us who have close or first hand experience with it know what a terrible condition it is. Yet I don't believe that depression is inevitable--even given the worst of reasons for its onset. I think that is Krauthammer's message to us.

Of course I don't know what the difference makers are, if I did, I suppose I'd lecture about it and make millions. That's not happening. But I think I have some ideas worth exploring.

Elsewhere in this thread, I said I think an important depression antidote is that we have to like ourselves. I think that is where a satisfying life begins. Krauthammer had that. At times that is difficult--very difficult. It is especially difficult when we believe our crummy situation is the result of bad choices or other life decisions, instead of a single freak accident. Nobody knows our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and dark places like we do. Residing there becomes a negative feedback loop. The more we isolate ourselves in these dark reaches of our mind, the more we are isolated and trapped in those places. We change physically and mentally. The chemistry that operates our minds changes and deprives us of the ability to escape.

Human beings have a physical immune system. That needs to be stimulated and even helped with vaccines to ward of invaders. Sometimes the physical immune system won't suffice. I think our mind also has an immune system. That also needs to be developed. Part of the development is that we must know we are not passive bystanders in our lives. We are active participants. No matter how terrible the external forces are on us, the antidote starts within us. Krauthammer is an active participant.

Enter Jordan Peterson. As I said in the Jordan Peterson thread, I didn't know anything about him until I downloaded his 12 Rules, read it, and then read what posters here said about him. He has different ideas, but his ideas in the 12 Rules are not as looney as some of his other stuff. My take away from the 12 rules is similar to what I have thought since are started thinking about this stuff. Nothing externally can overcome what is inside each of us. Peterson writes that we should never compare ourselves to others, or even to what we imagine a better life to be. Instead we compare ourselves to what we were yesterday. Each day can be a betterment.

Another read along these lines is Unbroken. (the book, not the movie). Zamperini's POW experience almost broke and destroyed his post war life. He found relief in religion. But it needn't be that. The point is he found relief within himself and his belief system. He had what Krauthammer has.

Full stop.

There are depressions caused by chemical imbalances too. Not just what you prescribed even if its a noble approach.
You have post-natal depressions -- they obviously have nothing to do with what you have prescribed above and especially after a joyous event. And I know a couple of women who suffered from them like after the birth of their 2nd child.

Unfortunately, the human mind is a complex organ that its not so easy to pigeon-hole as you have mentioned above.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

There are depressions caused by chemical imbalances too. Not just what you prescribed even if its a noble approach.
You have post-natal depressions -- they obviously have nothing to do with what you have prescribed above and especially after a joyous event. And I know a couple of women who suffered from them like after the birth of their 2nd child.

Unfortunately, the human mind is a complex organ that its not so easy to pigeon-hole as you have mentioned above.

O course. Post partum is particularly troubling. As I said above, generalizations are difficult.

 

[iu_a_att]

“Antidote” is the wrong word. I should have said “vaccine”. Once an individual is in the throws of depression, things change.

could be. Having a major depressive episode makes it easier to have another. First ones may be induced by events but later ones less so. According to sapolsky

 

[TheOriginalHappyGoat]

CNN doing a Parts Unknown marathon tonight, for those interested. Currently showing him in Hanoi with Obama.

 

[sglowrider]

O course. Post partum is particularly troubling. As I said above, generalizations are difficult.

I think people are making the mistake of not understanding the difference between being depressed and being clinically depressed. Thus the fortune cookie responses.

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

Those aren’t the same concepts.

People that completely bottom out when they’re severely depressed clearly understand what suicide means. It doesn’t phase them. If it did, we wouldn’t have the rising suicide rate that we have now.

Have you ever been around someone that’s severely depressed? I hope not. I have. And it’s f’n terrible.

Again, you’re approaching it like the person that’s depressed is acting as a rational actor.

I’ll say it again. Depression isn’t rational. Start from that point.

Unfortunately the wife was diagnosed with PPD and had it for several years. She stayed on it through our second, which has been going better with medication.

I was far from understanding about the situation and still don't "get it". But, she feels better and that's what matters. However, there is a leap between depression and suicide that I am unable to grasp.

There isn't a need to respond or try and explain. I don't think any academic or clinical research is going to be able to bridge that gap unless I experience it myself.

 

[sglowrider]

CNN doing a Parts Unknown marathon tonight, for those interested. Currently showing him in Hanoi with Obama.

Its because of his old drug habits, mental challenges was why it made him good at what he did -- a non-judgemental, empathic fellow cook. An ear and mouthpiece for the misunderstood, different or foreign.
His American diner food does scare me though.

Coincidentally, I am watching a drama series called Marseille. Crap but it highlights how beautiful Marseille is.

 

[anon_mlxxvlbug9dpa]

Maybe you failed because you have a hard time being civil with those who differ from you politically.

Not at all. I didn’t fail in my job. In fact, I was a complete success in achieving our project goals. But I failed to develop these guys into resources that could do more than the bare minimum. They weren’t interested.

 

[TheOriginalHappyGoat]

Not at all. I didn’t fail in my job. In fact, I was a complete success in achieving our project goals. But I failed to develop these guys into resources that could do more than the bare minimum. They weren’t interested.

Some people won't be managed. Nothing you can do.

 

[TheOriginalHappyGoat]

Finishing up one more Bourdain episode before bed, and he's in Charleston, and he's with some local chef drinking true Stitzel-Weller bourbon. Real bourbon drinkers here will understand the truth in the statement this local chef made: "This was the end of good bourbon." There are a lot of good distillers out there, but no one will ever capture the original S-W. Pappy Family Reserve comes close, but close doesn't cut it when it comes to whiskey.

I was lucky enough to have enjoyed some of S-W's last batch (closed in 1991), when it was bottled as Jefferson Presidential Select 17-year. I'm not even a huge bourbon fan (I prefer rye or Scotch), but I've never had a better spirit in my life*. If any of you booze snobs are lucky enough to get your hands on some (if it's bottled as Jefferson, only go for 17 through 21 - anything after that is cut with other spirits, and it's not the same), and you can afford to drop an ungodly amount of cash on a bottle of whiskey, do it. It's worth it. A really special product that we'll probably never see the likes of again.

* Possible exception: Glenfiddich 21.

 

[hoosboot]

A recent 60 minutes episode on the continuing effective use of "shock treatment". The bottom line here is that even if you or a loved one has treatment resistant depression there are alternatives like ECT that may have dramatic positive effects.

Lots of good discussion on depression here. I'm a big opponent of ECT though. I had thought it had been scaled back dramatically as a treatment. We understand precious little about the brain and the way it works, so we cavalierly treat it sometimes and hope that the impact is positive. ECT has the hallmarks of that sort of treatment to me.

 

[JamieDimonsBalls]

Finishing up one more Bourdain episode before bed, and he's in Charleston, and he's with some local chef drinking true Stitzel-Weller bourbon. Real bourbon drinkers here will understand the truth in the statement this local chef made: "This was the end of good bourbon." There are a lot of good distillers out there, but no one will ever capture the original S-W. Pappy Family Reserve comes close, but close doesn't cut it when it comes to whiskey.

I was lucky enough to have enjoyed some of S-W's last batch (closed in 1991), when it was bottled as Jefferson Presidential Select 17-year. I'm not even a huge bourbon fan (I prefer rye or Scotch), but I've never had a better spirit in my life*. If any of you booze snobs are lucky enough to get your hands on some (if it's bottled as Jefferson, only go for 17 through 21 - anything after that is cut with other spirits, and it's not the same), and you can afford to drop an ungodly amount of cash on a bottle of whiskey, do it. It's worth it. A really special product that we'll probably never see the likes of again.

* Possible exception: Glenfiddich 21.

Still haven't gotten my hands on any legit pappy van Winkle, but hopefully soon. Why did you stop at 21 for Glenfiddich?

I've had 30 yr and it was noticeably smoother and more smokey than the 18. I can only imagine the 40 or 50 yr.

I'm not a huge southern whisky (prefer single malt or even blended) fan but enjoy basil haydens for some reason.