BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

by Thomas J. Schumacher, Psy.D., R-CSW Most all of you have had to contend with control freaks. These are those people who insist on having their way in all interactions with you. They wish to set the agenda and decide what it is you will do and when you will do it. You know who they are – they have a driving need to run the show and call the shots. Lurking within the fabric of the conversation is the clear threat that if you do not accede to their needs and demands, they will be unhappy. Certainly, it’s natural to want to be in control of your life. But when you have to be in control of the people around you as well, when you literally can’t rest until you get your way … you have a personality disorder. While it’s not a diagnostic category found in the DSM IV (the therapist’s bible for diagnostic purposes) an exaggerated emphasis on control is part of a cluster of behaviors that can be labeled as compulsive generally characterized by perfectionism, orderliness, workaholic tendencies, ...

Just DISGUSTING! What is it with guys who can't keep their pants on and everyone around them who wants to cash in? What a depraved society we are living in - far too much reality television! The husband of Sen. John Ensign's former mistress made "exorbitant demands for cash and other financial benefits" through an attorney, an aide to the Nevada Republican said Friday. In a statement, Ensign spokesman Tory Mazzola said the demands from an attorney for Doug Hampton were made within the past month. "The demands were referred to Senator Ensign's legal counsel, who is handling the matter going forward," the statement said. Mazzola did not name the attorney nor immediately respond to requests for additional details. Hampton's lawyer, Daniel Albregts, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The FBI in Las Vegas and Las Vegas police said Friday they were not investigating the matter. Unconfirmed reports that Doug Hampton was pressuring En...

What a country! And Barfy thinks we can TALK to these neaderthals? New Afghanistan law allows men to demand sex from wife every 4 days by Helen Kennedy A new Afghan law saying Shiite men can demand sex from their wives every four days and keep them indoors indefinitely is causing an uproar. Hillary Clinton's State Department is trying to force a repeal of a law more restrictive than even the old Taliban regime. "We're very concerned about these reports with regard to the legislation," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood. The passage of what some call "legalized rape" means American women have died fighting in Afghanistan to give men there the right to subjugate women. Clinton and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met privately Tuesday at The Hague, but Wood could not say if she pressed him to reverse the law he just signed. "She may have. I don't know," Wood said. "President Karzai is certainly well-aware of our views with regard to t...

Cross posted in support of HARRY's PLACE Last Friday, in the wake of a closely argued debate about whether Mohammed Sawalha, the President of the British Muslim Initiative, had used the phrase “Evil Jew” or “Jewish Lobby” in a speech, Harry’s Place received a letter . The letter is from Dean and Dean, a firm of solicitors who are acting for Mr Sawalha. Mr Sawalha has demanded that we take down certain articles from Harry’s Place, and publish an apology “in the attached wording”. The solicitors have failed to attach the apology that Mr Sawalha insists we publish. That omission matters little, as we have no intention of apologising to him at all, nor of taking down any article. We have responded to Mr Sawalha’s solicitors, through Mishcon de Reya, who are acting for us. Mr Sawalha claims that we have “chosen a malevolent interpretation of a meaningless word”. In fact, we did no more than translate a phrase which appeared in an Al Jazeera report of Mr Sawalha’s speech. When Al Jazeer...

According to witnesses, a loud black man approached a crowd of some 4,000 strangers in downtown Chicago Tuesday and made repeated demands for change. "The time for change is now," said the black guy, yelling at everyone within earshot for 20 straight minutes, practically begging America for change. "The need for change is stronger and more urgent than ever before. And only you—the people standing here today, and indeed all the people of this great nation—only you can deliver this change." It is estimated that, to date, the black man has asked every single person in the United States for change. "I've already seen this guy four times today," Chicago-area ad salesman Blake Gordon said. "Every time, it's the same exact spiel. 'I need change.' 'I want change.' Why's he so eager for all this change? What's he going to do with it, anyway?" After his initial requests for change, the black man rambled nonstop on a variety ...