Web site cancelled

When it rains, it pours. I had no choice but to cancel with Go Daddy for silva.redigonda.com. I do have my domain name for about the next three years, but they were kind enough to give me a refund for the rest, and because of that I would still recommend them for anything but having to ship an item out. I had been working on word press all morning and when working with that, I realized it is more or less a blog. It too did not function for me as a web site. However, for my www.redigondapsychotherapy.com site, I am quite pleased and it is very user friendly. I shall continue with go daddy for that. This is my day off, so I am now going to enjoy the rest of it. So, learn from me so you don't have to. If you want to buy a book, you may contact me personally.

New Web site for books

I mentioned in a previous blog that I found the delivery for my books on my website problematic because it is based from the U.S.A. This has not been working for me so I am arranging as I type this to you to have a different site still with Go Daddy help to change my application to word press. Because I have to do this to connect to Canada Post I will have to re-design my new web site from scratch. So if you are ever, ever building your own web-site ensure that delivery is applicable from your location. You need to do this yourself as many like to see themselves as being from the States to sell their products.

The Woman's Trap (undergrad, English paper)

THE WOMAN ‘S TRAP By Silva Redigonda THE WOMAN’S TRAP Women have been raped by men, denounced by men, loved by men and hated by men. As a mouse is trapped with a little cheese, women have been trapped for centuries and sometimes the element of surprise has been just as astonishing. But a woman is not a mouse. She is human and no better or worse than any man. A woman deserves equal value in this world where ever she may live. The ideas expressed in The Second Sex depicts a patriarchal society where women are considered second to men. This essay will demonstrate how The Second Sex reveals the struggles of being a single woman, a married women and the cost of attaining independence in a patriarchal society clearly portrayed in A Woman and Artemisia. Being a single woman in a patriarchal society exposes her to the whims of men. She may be protected by men, ignored, or trampled by men. What is important is that the choice is hardly hers. The Second Sex reports that, “Men have always held the lot of woman in their hands, and they have determined what it should be, not according to her interest, but rather with regard to their own projects, their fears, and their needs.” (De Beauvoir, pg 129). The text Artemisia demonstrates this control. The narrator guides the reader to show the contrast of a father who is often away, preferring his art to his responsibilities as a father, to the man who rapes her, to a brother who loves and cares for her. Her father“… would come back late in the evening….” (Banti, pg 10) Left alone too often, the father fails in his responsibility to protect his daughter as she becomes prey, to a man who violates her, “I closed my ears to the sound of Agostino’s voice and footsteps, but our shadows had already joined together. And so once again he did what he wanted.” (Banti, pg 21). The narrator demonstrates the father’s power to influence and encourage his daughter’s art by the merest of attention, and the impact her father’s attention has to her happiness, “As he bent over she saw the laughter lines at the corners of his eyes contract, the prelude to a smile, a sign of satisfaction….he delicately softened a rather hard charcoal line in the angel’s garment.” …(that evening) “Orazio began to speak and Artemisia was so happy that the meaning of the words escaped her.” (Banti, 32). It is Francesco, Artemisia’s brother who offers his sister the constant support and love she craves. This sister considered a child in this century but not hers, “…the harmony of the gestures with which brother and sister tidy the table and extinguish the lamp is worth as much as a handclasp, a sign of gratitude. (Banti, pg 29) A Woman is similar to Artemisia as both main characters are raped (Aleramo, pg 35). In contrast to Artemisia the narrator of A Woman describes a more promising life that begins with servants in the household (Aleramo, pg 15). The narrator describes how education provided by the father for his daughter causes the mother worry, “…she didn’t approve of the education he so ardently wanted for me. She was worried for me, fearing that I would grow up devoid of emotions, fated to live only through my intellect.” (Aleramo, pg 7) Education is permitted because the father desires it. The mother considers education to belong to a man’s domain but she has no influence in a patriarch society. It is because of that patriarchy, she considers education to belong to men alone while, “she fully intends to fit her daughter into the feminine role.”(De Beauvoir, pg 281) The narrator of A Woman relates the opportunity of employment offered by her father and the encouragement of employment vice marriage to enforce his own dissatisfaction of his marriage. “I would never be happy unless I could go on working, and that furthermore all girls should do the same as me, for marriage was a mistake – father said so.” (Aleramo, pg 29) But employment is snatched away as easily as it comes because his father has control of her destiny, “Suddenly he carried out his earlier threat and instructed me not to return to the office.” (Aleramo, pg 39) The Second Sex has clearly projected the male dominance observed in A Woman and Artemisia from rape to acceptance, the man clearly has the power to control women according to his own will. The married woman in a patriarchal society has a role that defines her husband. The male is called upon for action, his vocation is to produce, fight, create, progress, to transcend himself toward the totality of the universe and the infinity of the future: but traditional marriage does not invite woman to transcend herself with him; it confines her immanence shuts her up within the circle of herself. De Beauvoir pg 448 A Woman demonstrates how a married man transcends himself successfully while his spouse feels trapped in a marriage, by the man who raped her when she was single. A woman’s descent is witnessed, as her freedom is controlled. Being independent single, let alone married was unique for certain men, “The only thing that surprised him my independence, so accustomed was he to think of women as naturally servile and submissive. (Aleramo, pg 31) The married woman feels what her place is, “My new flannel dresses constantly reminded me that I really was a married woman, a serious person, whose place in life was irrevocably fixed.”(Aleramo, pg 45) Control turns violent. The wife is suspected of adultery, without proof, “And once again I found myself on the floor. I felt him kicking me, twice, three times.” (Aleramo, pg 86). The Second Sex explains male violence, “In masculine hands logic is often a form of violence, a sly kind of tyranny…”(De Beauvoir, pg 463) Aleramo reports living a prison, “he was still jealous of me: I could move round the house in the mornings because our maid was there, but I wasn’t allowed into any room that looked on to the street. (Aleramo, pg 94). The only support this woman has is her doctor, “I felt that no one had ever been as close to me as was this gentle, depressed young man.”(Aleramo, pg82)” I was grateful for his visits. When he was there he at least brought a subdued echo of that world I thought I had finished with. (Aleramo, pg 97) A Woman clearly depicts the change a woman undergoes from being single, and responsible to her father, to being married and responsible to her husband. Her own identity is never hers. When I agreed to marry a man who had oppressed and assaulted me when I was young and unprotected, I had believed that I was obeying nature, that my destiny as a woman was forcing me to acknowledge an inability to go through life on my own. But I had not wanted this destiny to more powerful than me, and had hoped that if I accepted it as a full human being, I could make it my own. Aleramo, pg 79 Artemisia in contrast provides an alternative perspective to marriage, ““how lovely it is to belong to someone, to lose one’s identity, to become different, unrecognizable. How lovely is it?”” (Banti, pg 73) This young woman finds herself living in a bedroom shared with her husband, in the home of his family. Her exposure to the entire household is eavesdropping through a crack of her bedroom door (Banti, pg 68). Yet, the young wife feels secure in her position as she sleeps with her husband, “she contemplated this gift, this surprise, this creature that slept at her side, totally relaxed … her counterpart, her contemporary and her equal…”(Banti, pg 72). Both texts display the married heroines as being controlled and restricted to where they may wander, in their homes. A woman can live restricted for only so long before retaliating or becoming completely subdued. A test of courage in a patriarchal society is tested when a woman demands and seeks independence. The Second Sex reveals that, “Only independent work of her own can assure woman’s genuine independence.” (De Beauvoir, pg 475) In Artemisia this is proven true, “…her brother offers her a lovely apartment in Ripetta with an anteroom and salon which a Frenchman is willing to let her have in return for ten large canvases a year. “Six at the most,” she retorts...”(Banti, pg 475). Artemisia has the courage to leave the dominance of her husband’s home to live in her own apartment. She may do this because she is an Artist and therefore has a position to obtain income. This pays for her freedom. “Antonio seemed to have decided to follow her, to live with her, to obey her in short.”(Banti, pg 79) Such a step takes courage not only for a woman but for her husband as well. But a man cannot be comfortable in a position second to his wife, no matter how much he loves her in a patriarchal society. After an argument which completes her power, he leaves her, “She does not say to herself, “”He’ll be back.””She has the premonition that she has been abandoned…her mild fainting fit that was not ministered to by he whose duty it was.”(Banti, pgs 84-85) Aleramo develops a progressive independence. After writing, “a short article and send{ing} it to a paper in Rome. They published it.”(Aleramo, pg 115). She is subsequently offered a small salary to write (Aleramo, pg 119). But it is after an inheritance is provided from her uncle that independence is guaranteed. “I was to have 25,000 lire….It meant that I would acquire some financial independence. It wasn’t a large amount, but it would support my child, even if I had to work to support myself.” (Aleramo Pg 205) Both women in the texts battle a patriarchal system in their struggle for independence. In Artemisia, a man living in his wife’s house and being exposed to a woman’s independent spirit is too much for him. In a A Woman the ultimate sacrifice is the loss of son in exchange for her freedom, “All right, I could go; but not the child, he would stay.” (Aleramo, pg 212) The Second Sex has literally depicted how women are second to men in Artemisia and A Woman. Fathers control their daughters and husbands control their wives. When circumstances change for the women because of an income of their own, equality is demanded and the system is tested. There is the loss of a child for one woman because ultimately the husband has control over his child. Another loses her husband because a woman cannot be in control. Her fury cannot be understood. The struggle continues because traps are laid throughout the countries, some more evident than others. At times a woman is astonished when she finds herself in one, more often than not, she is not surprised at all. The Second Sex continues to explain. Now, what peculiarly signalizes the situation of woman is that she – a free and autonomous being like all human creatures – nevertheless finds herself living in a world where men compel her to assume the status of the Other. De Beauvoir Banti cries out what marriage is to a woman, “

Italian Festival at Casa Loma was awesome!

Last Sunday I was at Casa Loma right at 10:00 and the parking was already full. Initially I did not believe that and thought that the policeman was just pulling my leg. (The Casa Loma area is the initial site for my third book. I love that Castle and recommend it for tourists coming to Toronto.) I was directed to park at George Brown College (I didn't even know they had a parking area). A shuttle bus was to transport people from the parking area to the castle. That would be my only complaint of the day. There were no signs or direction and so I walked to the castle and back (I really need to walk more anyway). There are working on the castle again and so a portion of the building is wrapped up, protection from the elements while the crew work on it, I suppose. Once in, I provided my free pass and they provided me with a green wrap for my wrist. Italians love food, and so, since I am perfectly half of an Italian, I love food too. No half about that part. Initially I thought there would be nothing without meat in it (I cannot eat animals or birds or anything that has had a life). I was mistaken. There was food galore and expresso and so I began with a cappucino. I wasted no time treating myself to all the samples. I even learned how to make some new stuff for me. I saw Italian men wearing police uniforms and I took a great picture of an older man wearing huge feathers all over his head in a helmet type something or other. I took a close up of him. I toured the castle, since it has been a few years and stopped to watch a movie. There were tables with all sorts of Italian displays and soon the two bags I was provided with were full. I kept looking for the people who had invited me, but I was ok on my own because I really enjoy my own company. The grounds were beautiful and as I stood there looking over my city, I was enchanted by the CN tower which I think is our landmark and surprisingly I could see the lake. Somehow, I had never noticed the lake from there before and wondered why. A man approached me and gave me a high end ice cream. I know about never taking candy from a stranger, but no one ever said anything about ice cream. I stopped taking pictures while eating my ice cream. After checking out the entire premises, having my full of food and treats, I walked over to a tent with chandeliers. I took pictures of the see through tent and enormous chandeliers. There were more politicians in this room than I had seen in I don't know how many years. Our Mayor was there, our Premier was not but she had a rep there. There were a few counsellors sprinkled here and there and everyone spoke. One of the politicians from Vaughan (just North of the city) said that 40% of the population there is Italian origin. He thanked the two people for clapping and the woman beside me, huffed and puffed and said we are in Toronto (in other words, who cares about Vaughan. After all we are the centre of the universe). There was a famous Italian singer/actor who sang us some songs. I had never heard of her, but I certainly did recognize the background video with her singing with Pit bull and another with Micheal Bolton. He was also saying something nice in another video about Italians. Then there was ET Canada also saying something nice about Italians. He was of Italian origin. It was great fun and I spoke to everyone because that is what Italians do (am I stereo typing? Is that ok if I was born in Italy?) Anyhow, after dancing a bit with "Arianna's" music. I hope I got her name right, because if she could get me to dance to music I never heard of in a room full of whoever, she is really good. She worked the crowd and I was amazed at how she did that. Is that what separates the famous from the rest of us? They know how to engage, how to motivate a crowd? Wow they could all be politicians. Is that how Arnold S. did it? And the rest of them? After her performance, people began to leave and a politician was asking us not to, so I sat a bit longer until he stopped asking us to stop leaving and then I left. I re-entered my castle and this time the garden room (I call it that). It is a sun room where I can see myself being served high tea surrounded by roses. To dream.......... The place was full of wine. I picked up one glass and while the server was providing small sips in each big glass for people, one man poured a good amount in my big glass. I couldn't leave the area because one man was in position to stop me, so I had to leave my glass with wine on the table. I made one more effort to find some people I knew and then filling full of food, drink, ice cream and entertainment, I went to find the shuttle bus. The event made me think of my roots and how important my dad has always been to me. There was an Italian business and professional organization at the event, which would cost me 200. annually to belong to. It would be good for networking and I fulfill most of their requirements. I have to think about it. How Italian am I? Being at the event reminded me of my childhood where my parents would take me to the Italian events. My mom used to say that the Swiss people mingled with everyone and that is why they had nothing compared to the Italian people. In my pracise it is very important to consider the whole person and that includes the cultural background as well. The more extreme the differences can be for those deciding to come to Canada from their homeland, the more conflict the children may face. That is one possibility. In my second book, I speak about the Italian culture and it is not always favourable when I compare Canada to Italy. So, if I join the Italian Professional something or other, will I be considered a problem child if I cannot emerse myself into a culture which I identify with, understand but am perhaps too Canadian? After all, I love Canada. It is my country. The singer made one comment that I thought was very interesting. She said that she loves coming to Canada because the Italians here are more Italian than in Italy. She also mentioned learning a dialect and saying that dialects are languages. I had heard that before, but dialects cannot be understood by all. I think of a dialect as a dialect. I cannot speak the dialect my father spoke when he wanted to. He just did that among his own people. However, I understood it. With my mom and myself, he just spoke Italian formally I suppose with English thrown in to make it sound Canadian. For instance throw in a o at the end of car in English, and it is given an Italian flair. It means nothing in Italian. When I was at York University there was a stir about a girl of Italian origin who had written a book about the Italians living in Woodbridge. Apparently the Italians were not too happy. I never read the book and don't even know what it is called, but that is how she thought it and well why do we always have to love it all? When I was writing my second book, two people representing two cultures asked me why? Why? Because it is about me, from my perspective during that time. There are cultures where women are subservient to men. There are cultures where because of choices people are killed. There are countries where freedoms are unheard of. One of the wonderful things I love about my city is that there are representatives from everywhere and we work well together and play well together. If I go somewhere and everyone is the same, I can find that rather boring which reminds me very much of the "Stepford wives". What I love about my city is the different music, the different food, the differences which makes us all the same in some form or another. What do you think? Oh by the way, those beautiful pictures I took, they all disappeared when I accidently deleted them from my camera as I was marvelling at the photos, even one I thought of using as a cover for my third book. Ouch, that hurt!

Doors Open was fun

I wish I had brought my camera. My cell phone just didn't cut it and now I am having problems uploading, but it shall be on my to do list. It started with a tour of a doggy place. They have a training area, a grooming area etc..."Nice view, isn't it? The dogs love it." I looked out at the parking lot with an adjacent building and a few cars. "What view?" I asked. She explained that it was much better than where she came from. It is a beautiful place to train animals but I am afraid that my pets have already trained me and there is no arguement where they are concerned. Next was a tour of a police station. They turned a school into a police station and I wanted to see how they accomplished that. It was totally renovated or mostly so I guess you can turn anything into something you want. Now I just have to keep telling my house that. I got a nice tour of the cells and saw the white board I wanted for my third book chart. I wondered how I could sneak that out of the building but when I saw the jail cell, I changed my mind. They don't have a mattress or pillow or blanket so I have decided to be good for the rest of my life. I did love that building and will keep it in mind as a setting for the "INternet Murders" (which I have had to put on hold because there is never enough time in a day. I am enjoying the outdoors as much as possible and need to re-think my schedule. Self care is a priority. Next was a tour of a miniature train and setting from the 1950's. I love it. At one point I heard the conductor yell out not to touch anything. It looks like a little boy had found his playground and the parents agreed and thought it was ok for the boy to play with the train and old Ontario all put together in scale. The conductor approached the parents in fury and the parents were very calm and non-challant. I have to love my city. I was going to head back to the centre of town when I noticed I was close to the Woodbine Race Track. I have never been there and wondered why not? I had no idea where it was really and I didn't have a map except for the doors open schedule I had found in the Police Station. If I knew how far it was would I have taken my elderly car? Probably not, but I did get there after asking instructions at a garage sale, stopping at an industrial site and stopping at Tim Horton's. There it was further down the road. I always thought Woodbine was in the East part of downtown. It was and then there were two and then there was one. This I learned from the tour. I fell in love as soon as I looked into those big brown eyes. Our gaze stood fast and we were both mesmorized. At least I was. Do you know that movie Secreatet or something like that about a horse who races and the owner is a woman. Well, the son of that beautiful race horse is who I fell in love with. Us love birds had our picture taken together and if I ever get around to it, I will download it somehow from my cheapie phone. There were two tours of the Woodbine, one with a mini bus and walk and the interior with a walking tour. I spent about 3 hours at least there touring around and I would recommend this tour for anyone next year. This was the first year event for open doors. Personally I do not believe in using animals for any sport. The tour guide said that the horses love to race and when I tried to ask my new love who is now retired if that was true, he just looked lovingly at me and did not say a word. It was a long day. It was a beautiful day and it was another day of fun while learning about my city. Eventually, I will post this beauty (not me, the horse) and you will fall in love with him too. Don't forget to slow down and spend some down time that you enjoy doing. What do you think?

Schizophrenia (psychology notes---note not amended since new DSM)

Schizophrenia Pick up patterns as in clusters of problems use your knowledge of psychology to this point: Two or more of the following each present for significant period/month/or less if successfully treated. Delusions - beliefs contrary to fact. hallucinations - (more frequently, auditory) distinguish between thought, actual voices. Disorganized speech (eg. Frequent derailment) or incoherent - conversations does not follow logical pattern. grossly disorganized (arms all over the place) or catonic behaviour. negative symptoms - (something typically present, not there; affective (not a lot of emotion demonstrated), no emotional response, negative thought disorders, poverty of speech…content allege or avolition (does not appear to be motivated to do much). Note: only one criteria. A symptom is required if delusions are bizarre or hallucinations consist of a voice keeping up a running commentary or the person’s behavior or thoughts, or two or more voices conversing with each other. B. Social/occupational dysfunction: for a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of …… Schizophrenia - not as much thoughts as mania- manic, more energy. Deferential diagnosis: two or three possible alternatives to role out. Not all Schizophrenics show every symptom. This is where confusion comes into play. Duration: six months - one month of Criteria A. Criteria A, there is a decline in global function eg. hygiene, reduction of school achievement, no more friends wanted around. C. Duration: continuous signs of the disturbance persists for at least six months. This six month period must include at least one month of symptoms. or less if successfully treated that meets criteria A (ie. active phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or two or more symptoms listed in Criteria A present in Attenuated form (eg. odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences. Ensure six months duration is there. Schizophrenia is very stigmatized. Even after four or five years Schizophrenics are put on anti psychotic drugs and sometimes this may happen due to stress or from another unknown reason. D. Schizophrenic Affective and mood disorder exclusion - have been ruled out because either (1) no major depressive Manic or Mixed episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms or (2) if mood episodes have occurred during active phase symptoms, their total duration has been brief relative to duration of the active and residual periods. E. Substance/General medical condition - eg. head injury. F. etc…..Pancreas not functioning properly. Sugar does not go into cells and can go into coma and die and that is why dabetics can have psychotic type symptom. Make sure medical conditions is ruled out. Make sure not autistic. To be continued: Different Types of Schizophrenics

Update on doing your own web site.....think about it. www.silvaredigonda.com

Well, it has again been a very busy week. I have found doing my web site a bit frustrating because I used an American firm and they have everything centered from the U.S.A. If I was living there it would be no trouble, but I am residing in Canada. As I mentioned, I will share my experiences so you do not repeat my mistakes. First use something you trust, which I have. I think that is the most important. I have used Go Daddy because our instructor recommended them when I took a course on how to design a web site. Our instructor used computer language which you do not need. So, if you do decide to take a course, make sure you don't need the computer lingo. I finally got my pictures uploaded without any difficulty so if at first you do not succeed - try again after a coffee break, milk break or what ever breaks you use. I would recommend using a web from your home land if you are mailing out. If you use American than every thing works as if you are there shipping out (unless you have freights) etc...So, what I did was go to Canada Post and the lady was very nice and patient with me at Shoppers Drug Mart. I should make little medals with a smiley face and give them out to people who really try hard to help you, which is not a given nowadays. So, I think I have everything set up to mail my books. I am taking a break from this for the rest of the week and maybe more due to other commitments. My advice to you is if you can afford it, hire someone trustworthy to do everything for you. It may just save you money on the long run, especially now that the Canadian dollar is suffering compared to our neighbours. So, if you have any problems or concerns about my web site please let me know. There is a form for you to use. I did the best I could with what I learned. Even Go Daddy could not help me with shipping. I wanted to use Canada Post. Even UPS was focused from State side and not my side, nor did they call me when I filled that portion out. I was not too pleased but I have learned from this so you don't have to. The ebook is probably the cheapest method, but I understand wanting hard copies. I still have to play around a bit. I also have to fix the photos. I need to make adjustments to enlarge it for you so you can read what it says. But work is coming to a close and fun is ready to begin. I will be selling both my books at the Oakwood fest 20 Jun 15, at Oakwood and Rogers near the bakery or CIBC bank. So, if you want an autographed copy come by. This reminds me that I should reach out to book clubs, reading places etc but I have to put that on my to do list. This weekend is Doors Open and it is great to go see museums etc...which would normally cost a pretty penny to get in. In case you do not know the libraries have passes to go to different museums/historical sites, art gallery etc...I understand that each library has different passes so this is an option for you to explore, especially if you have big families. Have a nice weekend. Why not spend some time this weekend with someone you really like and want to catch up with. What do you think?