I received an email the other day that sent my emotions on a complete roller coaster.  One minute I'm choking back a sob and the very next minute I'm raging with all the venomous hate a man can hold.  I'm not a man to carry hate in my heart about most things.  But to hurt or kill the defenseless goes against everything I believe as a human.  The email was about child abuse and some of the pictures were so graphic that I was choking back the tears when I saw them.  My wife Liz works in the mental health field and is able to see firsthand of how children here in this supposed "civilized" country are being destroyed little by little, on a daily basis.  Knowing some of my childhood and past she said later that she regretted sending them to me.  But seeing those pictures just showed me that I was lucky being raised like I was compared to the horrendous results of these pictures.  Due to the graphic nature I couldn't post them here to drive home my point and remind all of us of what's going on in households all across our country.  The fact that this is still going on only makes me rage even louder.  We often get lost in our daily lives and forget the horrors that some of our children have to endure.  Mommy doesn't like your crying for so long, so you end up beaten and thrown in a closet.  Or Daddy had a crappy day at work and you know as you look out the window as he pulls into the drive, that you're the one that will pay.   To my young brothers and sisters here who have young ones now.  Please remember, abuse isn't just the slaps, punches, kicks and stitches that some of us have endured and survived.  Know this, the words that leave your mouth can inflict as much damage as a punch to the head.  There were many nights that I would've preferred my old man to hit me in the mouth than to have him say the things he did.  Being told time and again that you're lazy, good for nothing, never amount to anything, a f#+k up, and so on stays with a person alot longer than any slap or kick.  After a while a child will begin to believe that and will eventually live down to your low expectations.  By the time I left home, my self worth was non-existent.  I did what's very common, drinking to excess and alot of drug use.  Mind you, I'm not going to sit here and try to lay my past addictions on my raising.  The drinks and drugs are all on me.  It was only later that I realized that I was slowly killing myself and proving the old man right.  I still carry some of the wounds from all those years ago.  But they've slowly fallen by the side of the road, one by one.  I even carried the guilt of being a 6 year old and wishing my father dead.  One side of your 6 year old brain is thinking this, while the other side of your brain carries the guilt of knowing that wishing something like that is wrong.  It's been over 15 years since I've spoken or seen my mother or dad.  I sometimes wonder what their life is like now.  But I know that I can never go back.  The poison is still there for me.  The words may not leave his mouth anymore, but I can't take the chance.  I don't want sympathy for what I've written here.  My life compared to alot of other kids out there was a cool summer breeze.  I was able to come out of it and be the type of man that knows that the only way I could hurt a child is if I squeeze them too hard when hugging them and telling them that they are loved. Here is a poem sent to me, I don't know who wrote it, but God bless them.  My name is Sarah.  I am but three, my eyes are swollen, I cannot see.  I must be stupid, I must be bad, what else could make my daddy so mad?  I wish I were better, I wish I weren't ugly.  Then maybe my mommy would still want to hug me.  I can't speak at all, I can't do a wrong, or else I'm locked up all the day long.  When I'm awake I'm all alone, the house is dark and my folks aren't home.  When my mommy does come home I'll try to be nice and maybe I'll get just one whipping tonight.  Don't make a sound!  I just heard a car, my daddy is back from Charlies bar.  I hear him curse, my name he calls, I press myself against the wall.  I try and hide from his evil eyes, I'm so afraid now I'm starting to cry.  He finds me weeping and he shouts ugly words, he says it's my fault he suffers at work.  He slaps me and hits me and yells at me more, I finally get free and I run for the door.  He's already locked it and I start to bawl, he takes me and throws me against the hard wall.  I fall to the floor with my bones nearly broken, and my daddy continues with more bad words spoken.  "I'm sorry!" I scream but it's now much too late, his face has been twisted into unimaginable hate.  The hurt and the pain again and again, oh please God! Have mercy!  Oh please let it end!  He finally stops and heads for the door, while I lay there motionless sprawled on the floor.  My name is Sarah, and I am but three.  Tonight my daddy murdered me. There are thousands of children like Sarah that endure this torture everyday.  PLEASE, if you see or suspect a child being abused, report it.  It won't stop unless we as a human race demand that it stop.  Thank you and God bless.   

Q: Doctor, I've heard  that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this  true? A: Heart  only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on  exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not  make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car  by driving faster. Want live longer? Take  nap. Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more  fruits and vegetables? A: You must grasp  logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn.  What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than  efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need  grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass  (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100%  recommended daily allowance of vegetable  products. Q: Should I reduce my alcohol  intake? A: No, not at all. Wine made from  fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water  out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer  also made out of grain.. Bottoms  up! Q:  How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?A: If  you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you  have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc. Q:  What are some of the advantages of participating in a  regular exercise program? A: Cannot think of  single one, sorry.. My philosophy: No  Pain.....Good! Q: Aren't fried foods bad for  you?A: YOU NOT  LISTENING!!! ..... Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting  more vegetables be bad for you? Q: Will sit-ups  help prevent me from getting a little soft around the  middle? A: Definitely not! When you exercise  muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want  bigger stomach. Q: Is chocolate bad for  me? A: You crazy? HELLO! Cocoa beans!  Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food  around! Q: Is swimming good for your  figure? A: If swimming good for figure, explain  whales to me. Q: Is getting in-shape important  for my lifestyle? A: Hey! 'Round' is  shape!  Well, I  hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had  about food and  diets. AND..... For  those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word  on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth  after all those conflicting nutritional  studies: 1.  The Japanese eat very little fatAnd  suffer fewer heart attacks than  Americans. 2.  The Mexicans eat a lot of fatAnd suffer  fewer heart attacks than  Americans. 3.  The Chinese drink very little red  wineAnd suffer fewer heart attacks than  Americans. 4.  The Italians drink a lot of red wineAnd  suffer fewer heart attacks than  Americans. 5.  The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages  and fatsAnd suffer fewer heart attacks than  Americans. CONCLUSION Eat and drink what you  like. Speaking English is apparently what kills  you