HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: vancleef@netcom.com (Henry van Cleef)
Subject: Re: motivation
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 01:36:29 GMT
Organization: Netcom--posted from Andover, Mass.
Distribution: alt.support

In article <Bt53tz.HAr@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> vgulick@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (valerie gulick) writes:
>Hi! I'm in a situation in which I know what I need to do, but
>getting motivated to do it is hard. I'm studying for my comprehensive
>exams for Oct. in Russian history. So far I have been able to get work
>done, but now I am stuck. I have to read a big section on Soviet history
>and I loathe it. I find it boring, useless ( I do medieval Russian
>history), and I have had bad experiences with Soviet history classes and
>profs. 

I know the feeling.  Sometimes I feel if I have to deal with Frederick
Winslow Taylor, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, and Henry Ford one
more time I am going to get into another field.  

Try reading some alternative stuff first.  Kazantzakis's "Russia,"
Pasternak's "Zhivagho" and "Safe Conduct" and Rilke/Pasternak/Marina
Tsvetaeva "Letters 1926" are some alternatives.  There is a story in
here somewhere---what's the story?  Take a broader view than what comes
out of classes and professors.  Try coming up with your own synthesis of
Bolshevism.  You might find something worthwhile in the effort.  

If you are doing medieval Russia, then you know something about the
great themes in Russian history, that are now re=emerging in Russia (as
well as some of the other Russian states).  Try examining some of these
in terms of what went on for seventy years.  

I think if you are going to go for a doctorate in history, you are in a
position to examine and question what everyone has been saying, not just
to parrot it.  Take it on as a challenge.  

-- 
Hank van Cleef---The Union Institute---History of Science and Technology
Unix, X11, networked systems  vancleef@netcom.com, vancleef@tmn.com
From: vgulick@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (valerie gulick)
Newsgroups: alt.support
Subject: motivation
Date: 17 Aug 92 18:10:47 GMT
Distribution: alt.support
Organization: Indiana University

Hi! I'm in a situation in which I know what I need to do, but
getting motivated to do it is hard. I'm studying for my comprehensive
exams for Oct. in Russian history. So far I have been able to get work
done, but now I am stuck. I have to read a big section on Soviet history
and I loathe it. I find it boring, useless ( I do medieval Russian
history), and I have had bad experiences with Soviet history classes and
profs. I know and use most of the studying skills that involve breaking
tasks down, goals, rewards, but I feel they aren't helping much. I need
to pass this exam to go on with my Ph.d, but my motivation is low.
Everyone I know likes this period and can't understand where I'm coming
from. I'd like some feedback from anyone who has been in a similar boat.
Thanks,
Valerie    
Newsgroups: alt.support
From: dianat@redsun.pps.rain.com (Diana Thompson)
Subject: Re: Need Divorce support
Organization: Research and Evaluation Dept. Portland Public Schools, Portland Oregon.
Distribution: fl
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 16:26:16 GMT

lenore@tct.com (Lenore Cook) writes:

>I will soon be asking my husband for a divorce.  We have been together
>seven years and married since April 1991.  I suppose I just want
>some encouragement that I won't be viewed as "damaged goods" in the
>single world. 

There is a line in a song that I like.  It says, "If we give our love
and it ends up broken, maybe we did not fail, maybe we were just
growing."  That has been a good reminder to me that having a marriage
or relationship end doesn't indicate failure.

The transition from married to single is a difficult one.  I recommend
help from a therapist, some kind of group work on ending relationships,
or something else to help you get through the first parts of the 
change.  You may be seen as "damaged goods" by some in the single
world.  If that is the case, that is their problem.  You may lose some
friends in this change -- but you will gain new ones too.  Expect
to be "crazy" for a year or so -- we all are.  Be nice to yourself -
don't expect that you will be "fine" and that you can just zip
through this as tho' it were nothing.  It's not inconsequential.

I've been married and divorced twice.  It isn't something that I am
proud of, but it is part of my life.  I've learned lots through it 
all.  Over the last six years I've learned lots about being single.
I have a large group of single friends who are very important to me.
We cry on each other's shoulders and cheer each other on.  All things
being equal, I would rather be in a stable relationship, but I
know that not having a realationship is better than having a bad one.

Don't worry about being viewed as "damaged".  Worry instead about
taking care of yourself and finding a group of single friends who
know what it is like to live single and enjoy it and how to be
in relationships.  For me, I would much rather date a man who has
been married and divorced or at least been in a long term serious
relationship than one who has never been able to make that kind of
commitment.

Good luck in this transition.  

	-Diana



-- 
***********************************************************************
Diana Thompson				     dianat@redsun.pps.rain.com
Portland Public Schools				(usual disclaimer here)
*                  -----------------------------------                *
From: moy@acf3.NYU.EDU (Gloria J. Moy,N.DORM C3,(212)9983456,)
Newsgroups: alt.support
Subject: where I am today...i'm better.
Date: 19 Aug 92 17:54:00 GMT
Organization: New York University

Hi! recently I shared that I was feeling lousy and generally having a
really hard time. While, since that post, I have been put on lithium
to suppliment the other drugs that I am taking. So far, it seems to be 
working. I've been able to start functing again, ever so slowly. I do
feel better and am cautious about this, so I share this with you all.

thanks for your support.

-gloria
    
Newsgroups: alt.support,misc.jobs.misc
From: bew@brahms.udel.edu (Ben Williams)
Subject: Re: life and work
Summary: How to be a good little cog...
Keywords: bad memes
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 17:05:21 GMT


In article <1992Aug6.174731.12324@eskimo.celestial.com> kurt@eskimo.celestial.com (Kurt Cockrum) writes:
   A very good article on life and work...

Kurt, thanks for your excellant post on some of the philosophical underpinnings
of our "work ethic."  As I've stated in my e-mail message to you, I am very
interested in reading the essay you mentioned.
    I hope that Bob Black's essay, "The Abolition of Work" talks about
things we should all be talking about.  Such as the way our society makes us
all feel worthless and degraded if we aren't "working".   We are all born
guilty (is it perhaps the Christian "original sin" turned into the service
of the capitalistic mega-machine known as America).  And what ultimately does
this Work we must all do to be able to redeem ourselves accomplish:  the
destruction of the natural world, the turning of it into artifacts that allow
us to escape.  What?  The dinning noise of the mega-machine going about its
business of destroying the world.  Its seems to me that the more people who
choose (or are forced to) not work, the better are the chances of the human
race surviving (note to prospective employers - just a little joke, eh :-).
    I can't overemphasize the importance I see in this idea of our
capitalistic society's need to bring up its members as little cogs in the
"great machine".  How does it do this:  By defining you as a worthless
nothing if you are not working.  Thus we are all born and grow up with the
idea that we are inherently without value.  You think I am kidding?  Ok,
quit your job (if you are lucky enough to have one) and walk down the
street and think, I feel OK about my life, about who I am and what I am.
Just don't talk to any of your friends.  They might ask you what you have
been "doing" lately...
   Now look at the state of the world today.  Does it sometimes remind you
of one big stinking pigsty (my apologies to the little pre-bacon bits).
Well, this is what you get from a group of people who know that deep down
inside they are all ultimately worthless.  That they are basically nothing
without their little plug into the great economic dream (nightmare) of
America.
    But where can you talk about things that are so fundamentally
important?  Well, perhaps alt.conspiracy, since we don't want people in
general going and using their individual intelligences, for gods sake
(don't you love the way the Internet tries to break down thought into
little categories).  Don't let them in on the little secret, that its all a
big farce.  It wouldn't be good for the economy you know...

Ben (sorry, I tend to rant sometimes).

ps - Dear employers.  You see what happens when people are unemployed and
     have idle time to "THINK."  They start having crazy thoughts like this.
     You've got to help put a stop to this MADNESS!!!

-- 
Ben Williams
bew@brahms.udel.edu

               What we got here is a failure to communicate... 
Newsgroups: alt.support
From: crussel@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Carol A Russell)
Subject: Re: Need Divorce support
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 19:28:06 GMT

KimmyD-it's nice to hear from a man that doesn't give up so easily.  I have 
hurt my husband greatly over the last 2 years (out of a 10-year marriage), and 
he lets me know repeatedly now that I can walk any time.  Even the slightest 
argument between us brings out the statement "There's the door, babe" from him.
I've been going through tough times...can't afford a therapist...so my mid-life
crises get taken out on him.  But, he's done the same to me, also - I'm just 
not so willing to give up.

Anyhow, I respect your resiliency.

carol
From: veklerov@spindle.ee.lbl.gov (eugene veklerov)
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: Re: Pierogy - my new found low-fat food find
Date: 12 Aug 1992 18:05:19 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley
Reply-To: veklerov@spindle.ee.lbl.gov (eugene veklerov)
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.112.82

In article <LGOLD.92Aug11135723@callahans.Cadence.COM> lgold@callahans.Cadence.COM (Lynn Gold) writes:
>
>Yes, I've heard of them.  I grew up on them.  I've heard them
>described as many things, but never "healthy" or "low fat."
>(My grandmother would be doubled-over laughing at the thought of
>pierogies as "healthy" and "low fat!")
>
>Traditionally, pierogies are boiled/simmered until the pasta shell
>cooks, and then put into a dish with melted butter.  They are then
>served with sour cream on the side.
>
>Of course, you can cut out lots of the fat by using diet margarine and
>low-cal sour cream (or omitting the sour cream altogether).
>
>In any case, where did you find them, and do you know whether they're
>available on the west coast?  The only ones I've seen are Mrs. T's,
>which pale in comparison to Mom's (or mine).
>
>--Lynn

Here is some linguistic information.  The word 'pirog' means a pie
in Russian.  'Pirogy' is its plural form in Russian.  Hence 'pirogies'
is the doubly pluralized form.

A dish more familiar in this country is 'pirozhkies', which again is
the doubly pluralized form of the Russian word 'pirozhok', which in turn
means a little pirog or a little pie.  The deli sections in some
supermarkets, especially in S.F., carry pirozhkies.

As Lynn correctly pointed out, both pirozhkies and pirogies are
traditionally very greasy.  Which does not mean that their American
cousins have to be that way too.  Sort of like Chinese food in this
country does not have to resemble that in the old country.

Both pirogies and pirozhkies may be stuffed with anything: meat,
mushrooms, rice, cabbage, you name it.

Bon appetite,
		     Eugene Veklerov
		     veklerov@lbl.gov
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
From: anita@ut-emx.uucp (Anita Cochran)
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: Self image
Date: 18 Aug 92 23:21:18 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

I am wondering if others have the same "problem" which I have.  I am
currently 45-50 pounds overweight.  That is pretty significant.  I have
been here before and cannot seem to get on track to lose weight
this time.  If I look in the mirror, I know how overweight I am (and
my estimate of how much I need to lose is based on previous underwater
weighings).  However, being honest, I realize that (if I could draw) if I
were to draw a picture of myself, it would be of someone only a little 
overweight.  That is, my mental image and my true image are not the same.
This actually really bothers me.  Especially as I am making no progress
to get started losing weight.  I keep worrying that my mental image is
letting me accept my weight more than I should.

I should add that I really do not wish to accept my weight.  I have never
liked exercise but lately have really gotten into a program of weight
machines and bicycling which works for me.  Yesterday in the gym I was
clearly the most overweight and most out-of-shape-looking person.  But watching
others work out I knew that in reality I was in much better shape than
many of the others -- lifting heavier weights and going farther on aerobic
stuff.  That does help me mentally but I hate looking so fat.  I know
how to lose weight since I lost 45 pounds starting 5.5 years ago (took
about 2 years) and only regained the last 20 from October to December 1991
when my life was under extreme stress from a very ill father.  But now
I find I eat properly for 6 or 7 days of the week and go out of control
for 1 or 2 days.  Mostly the loss of control is in social settings.
I used to be able to be in those same social settings and "behave" but
now I feel deprived if I stay in control.

So I am faced with the reality of being fat and the unreality of a mental
image which doesn't quite square with that.  I am also faced with a
conscious understanding that I go out of control and an unconscious need
to do so.  All in all, I am currently in the best aerobic shape
I have been in since 20 (I am 38) but also the heaviest I have been since
20.  I don't know if my mental image is hurting me but nothing seems to
get me started in the right direction.
-- 
Anita Cochran   arpa:  anita@astro.as.utexas.edu  
                       anita@binkley.as.utexas.edu  
                snail: Astronomy Dept., The Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712
                at&t:  (512) 471-1471
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
From: kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad)
Subject: Diet soft drinks
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Distribution: usa
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:28:37 CDT
Summary: Which taste the best?

Hi,

Does anyone here have suggestions on which typical, store bought diet beverages
taste "the best"?  I realize that expecting a diet soda to taste like the
real thing is unrealistic, but I have found that there is still a range in
just how good or bad the diet drinks taste.  For instance, I think that
Diet Rite tastes _much_ better than Diet R.C... rather strange considering
that they're made by the same company.  Diet R.C. seemed to have this bad
tasting "bite" (similar to after taste) to it.

So, what do you people drink?

I've tried to get myself to drink mineral water, but... ug!  First I have a
hard time shelling out 40 cents for what's really just... WATER... and then
the seltzer taste is really strong, which I don't like.  If only "rasberry
mineral water" actually TASTED something like mineral water... :-)  But 
maybe I've just been trying the wrong brands.

And one specific question: Does Canfield's diet chocolate something-or-other
taste very good?  I've always thought that a diet chocolate SODA was just so
whacked out, I've been afraid to try. :-)

Thanks...

					---Joel Kolstad
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
From: tlh8c@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Thomas Lee Horton)
Subject: Re: Diet soft drinks
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 22:09:25 GMT

In article <16hd83INNkf1@agate.berkeley.edu> John Werner <werner@soe.berkeley.edu> writes:
>
>
>In article <1992Aug13.232838.29345@doug.cae.wisc.edu> Joel Kolstad,
>kolstad@cae.wisc.edu writes:
>>Does anyone here have suggestions on which typical, store bought
>diet beverages
>>taste "the best"?
>
>If you're a Coke fan, try caffeine-free Diet Coke.  It tastes (to me
>anyway) more like real Coke than regular Diet Coke does.  I think it
>might be a bit less over-sweetened.
>
I agree.  I'm a Diet Pepsi (Uh-Huh) fan and I prefer caffeine free
far and away to the regular variety.


Tom
From: fssrk1@acad3.alaska.edu
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: It hurts to be fat.
Date: 15 Aug 92 00:29:59 GMT
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks

Im sucks so bad to be fat,  I am fat.  I have a few friends and I can't 
got to the movies because I, honestly, can't fit into the seats.  Clothing
forget about it, I but what fits.   To think that love is possible for me
is foolish, I have learned that love is for the beautiful and not the 
ugly.  Sometimes I hear a song and I imagine that the girl that the 
male singer is talking about is a long lost love of mine.  I really like
Prince Purple Rain, I wish I could tell a girl that I would never leave
her if I only could have her, Also she can't mind being on the bottom.
From: jswitzer@afit.af.mil (Chip Switzer)
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: Re: Packing Lunches
Date: 15 Aug 92 14:20:15 GMT
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology

shedevil@leland.Stanford.EDU (Anne P. Mitchell, JD) writes:

>I've recently started working full-time, and packing lunches has always
>seemed a boring and time-consuming job to me, but pack I must.

>Any and all hints as to how to make brown-bagging it more pleasant,
>while keeping it low-fat, greatly appreciated!

The approach I take is to pack lots of stuff.  I have a tuna sandwhich 
with low fat dressing (lots of protein...) or a Cambpell's low fat cup
of noodles for a main course.  And then load up on snacks for eating all
day long.  A piece of fruit, a granola bar (120 cals, 3 gms fat),
pretzels, and one of my favorites, non-fat Fig Newtons.  I usully try
to have a bottle of V-8 too (save the bottle and refil it from the
can...).  I am looking for other low-fat snacks to get some variety.

I pack it all in my small cooler and make sure I have a cup of milk with
it every day too (even 1% milk is still a nutritional bargain in my
book).  And I always have a small jug of water so I won't need to go to
the vending machines to get a coke (and whatever else while I'm there)
when I get thirsty. 

And on a side note, many nutritionists recommend drinking a bunch of 
water each day, whether you're thirsty or not.  Has this worked for
anybody?

Chip Switzer
jswitzer@afit.af.mil
From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: Re: Last 10 lbs / Losing Control
Date: 17 Aug 92 18:14:53 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <16089@pitt.UUCP> geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
>>So, what did you say to this guy, Gordon?  I hope you were standing
>>up for our honor. :-) :-)
>>
>Actually, I wasn't going to say anything (I think you've seen
>*my* office, Steve), until he kept shooting his mouth off about
>how the office correlated with a lack of concern about one's
>personal appearance, etc., at which point I pulled out a picture
>of me at 295 lbs (not my maximum) and showed it to him.  That
>shut him up and he became very obsequious about how it must have
>required so much will power, etc.  
>

HOORAY, GORDON.  

By the way, my boyfriend -- whom I find extremely attractive -- has 
love handles.  He's also in great shape -- works out every day, eats
right, etc.  No weight problem there.  Just happy little love
handles.  

For what it's worth.

 
-- 
Lauren Crawford  //  crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu
"Happy campers you are, happy campers you have been, and as far as I'm
concerned, happy campers you will always be."
                  --J. Danforth Quayle in American Samoa
From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: Re: Self image
Date: 19 Aug 92 18:39:11 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <77970@ut-emx.uucp> anita@ut-emx.uucp (Anita Cochran) writes:
>I am wondering if others have the same "problem" which I have.  I am
>currently 45-50 pounds overweight.  That is pretty significant.  I have
>been here before and cannot seem to get on track to lose weight
>this time.

(stuff deleted)

>All in all, I am currently in the best aerobic shape
>I have been in since 20 (I am 38) but also the heaviest I have been since
>20.  I don't know if my mental image is hurting me but nothing seems to
>get me started in the right direction.

Boy, can I relate to you, Anita!  I'm really surprised when I see pictures
of myself, because I'm much bigger than I see myself as.  I hear that's
typical, but yuck!  Also, I've recently been in great aerobic shape
(I'd say I'm in average shape at the moment, walk about 40 minutes a day
is all I do) but still quite overweight.  I've lost it in the past (twice)
but here I am again, and although I feel motivated to lose the weight
I truly don't know the best way of going about it.  Diets just seem to
cause deprivation feelings, which eventually lead to binging.  Dealing
with all the emotional stuff (which I feel like I've done _lots_ of,
proabably have lots more to do) doesn't seem to be cutting it, either.

Last summer I threw away the scales (well, put them in the closet) and
stopped weighing myself.  I resolved never to go on another "diet."
I was scared initially but found that my weight didn't fluctuate,
at least in terms of how my clothes fit.  Then in January, a series
of stresses entered my life (looking for work, eventually finding
work, starting a new job, and embarking on my first serious relationship
with a member of the opposite sex), and since then I've gained weight.
I don't know how much, but my clothes are tight.  And I truly don't
know what to do.

So ... I realize none of this is probably helpful, Anita, except in
the sense that I know somewhat how you feel.  


-- 
Lauren Crawford  //  crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu
"Happy campers you are, happy campers you have been, and as far as I'm
concerned, happy campers you will always be."
                  --J. Danforth Quayle in American Samoa
From: brooksp@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Peter Brooks)
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 19:57:42 GMT
Subject: Re: Diet soft drinks
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet

I have no strong preferance, though Coke is usually on sale, so I'll
get a 12 of the caffein-free diet coke.  I also like the A&W
root beer and the diet cream soda.  (IMHO, A&W has the best root-
beer, regardless of sweetening.)  When I can find it, I like
Vernor's diet ginger ale (I grew up in Detroit; your milage may
vary).  

I don't think I can remember the flavor of Coke Classic any more.  I
think I'll keep it that way.

Pete Brooks
From: rfelix@netcom.com (Robbie Felix)
Newsgroups: alt.support.diet
Subject: Fat-free potatoe salad
Date: 17 Aug 92 00:09:52 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Note the Dan Quayle spelling! :-)

8 medium size potatoes (cooked)
1 bunch scallions or 1/2 c. chopped red onion
3-4 stalks celery (chopped)
1 red pepper (can be raw *or* roasted first!) 
1-2 grated carrots

1 cup non-fat yogurt
2 Tblspn spicy mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything together. Let sit for a few hours.

Eat.

Best wishes

rf