GUS (Gave Up Smoking) is a community support diary for Kossacks in the midst of quitting smoking. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are quitting or even thinking about quitting, please -- join us!
The GUS Library at dKosopedia is organically evolving, and stocked with free-range information: quit-smoking links, helpful GUS diary writing tips, and the GUS Buddy List.
Now showing at the GUS Library: the Demon Diaries.
Tip of the hat to Kossack and Dkosopedia tech AlanF, who injected some cool edits into the GUS Library. Click on the link and check out the upper right hand corner of the page. There is a block that contains links you can use to check out the most recent GUS diaries (same as using the GUS tag), along with diaries that received the most recs.
Another link lists diaries containing the GUS tag that have been featured on the front page. As of now, there are two: the Cheers 'n Jeers diary that plugged our little support group upon its inception last year, and a review of Gus Van Sant's Milk by DKos FP'er Laura Clawson. OK, so it's a different GUS. But it was a fantastic film.
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GUS turns 9 months old tomorrow!
Tomorrow morning shines upon not only 9 months for GUS, but also the first diary hosting for GUSsack luvsathoroughbred. Over the past full year, my GUS pal and fellow Wisconsillinoisan (?) has endured cancer, quit smoking, and has steered funds normally spent on bIG tobacco products towards a purpose of love (luv), and found a thoroughbred. It would be an insult to compare anything to the cost of a cigarette, much less the founding of such a companion. Our best to you, luvs!
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I've been busy with work over the past two months. In the trade that I perform, this is a blessing during the winter months. So I've been absent around GUS much of the time, but have been conducting business with no desire for a smoke break. When I smoked my Camel Lights, it seemed like the completion of every room (or ceiling, door jam, crown molding, or baseboard) called for a victory cigarette.
Nowadays, the victory is in having closed at least twenty painting jobs since last June, when I quit smoking. In doing this, I also closed about eighty smoke breaks. The cigarette cost amounts to $40 and change in my neighborhood. But the time saved? Priceless.
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Currently, I'm watching Capitalism: A Love Story, and at the 19-minute mark, I saw this GUS-related image flash before my eyes. In this segment, director Michael Moore conducted a brilliant observation of the Carter-to-Reagan snow job that our country was fed.
Will you check out that cigarette that is hanging from Unca Ronnie's lips? Now, the Photoshop technology was not available at the time of that particular printing (1950's or so). But I swear, if you look at the way that Ron is related to that disease-flaunting cigarette, you'd swear he was trying to sell something really crazy. Like a single payer system of health care.
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On a brighter note...
A shout-out to fellow Chicagoan MillieNeon, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few Fridays ago, at a performance of her long-time friend Z'ev. I don't want to minimalize his work by labelling it "percussion." Z'ev is a master of many odd and wonderful sounds. I captured two samples from his performance at Enemy Sound, humble in that the video quality is obviously lacking. But the sound quality is spot-on, for a li'l digi-cam:
The first minute and a half of this one may seem redundant to you. Stick through it, and the reward is yours.
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This piece (it starts in G... trust me, I have an ear for it) sounds aerodynamic, like being dead center of a landing strip. This sound melds with reverberating lower-toned metal.
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It's local, as equally relevant in terms of sonics, and a heartfelt favorite of mine:
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Current members of the GUS team! Please post a comment in the butt can if you would like your name added to the GUS Buddy List:
1BQ, 3rdGenFeminist, Abra Crabcakeya, addisnana, AfroPonix, aishmael, ambeeeant, American in Kathmandu, amk for obama, andsarahtoo, Anne933, anodnhajo, aoeu, arcadesproject, Archie2227, Arthur Wolf (in memoriam), assyrian64, awkawk, bamablue, BARAKABETH, barnowl, bdizz, bgblcklab1, Bike Crash, BirderWitch, bleeding heart, blingbling65, blue husky, Blue Intrigue, bluestatedem84, BoiseBlue, Brahman Colorado, breedlovinit, BrenP?, BrowniesAreGood, bsmechanic, burrow owl, cee4, Cen Den, ChocolateChris, ChurchofBruce, Colorado is the Shiznit, coloradomomma, Common Sense Mainer, coppercelt, dadanation, dangoch, demkat620, Dexter, DiegoUK, Dingodude, dolfin66, donnamarie, Donna O, DRo, droogie6655321, duckhunter, EdgedInBlue, El barragas, ericlewis0, Everest42, Ex Con, fhamme, Fineena, fiona2, fishhawk, Flea, FlipperWaves, flumptytail, FrugalGranny, Garrett, Gator, gchaucer2, Geiiga, Georgianna Darcy, gooderservice, gooners, greylox, grndrush, GrumpyWarriorPoet, Haole in Hawaii, hideinplainsight, High Tide, hulibow, I love OCD, Im a frayed knot, imisa, Indexer, indyada, Interceptor7, inventor, itsbenj, Jahiz, JamesEB, janl1776, jbou, Jeffersonian Democrat, jmadlc55, Joe's Steven aka Steven, john07801, johngoes, jsfox, jvolvo's Mom, jwinIL14, Jyrinx, kai99, kailuacaton, Kelly of PA, kestrel9000, khloemi, Khun David, Kitsap River, Ksholl, labwitchy, Lady Kestrel, ladypockt, langerdang, LarsThorwald, last starfighter, Laurie Gator, Lipstick Liberal, litoralis, lmdonovan, longislandny, luvsathoroughbred, maggiemay, magicsister, Marc in KS, marknspokane, maryabein, Matt Esler, mdemploi, michael1104, Mikeguyver, MillieNeon, Minerva1157, MinervainNH, Missys Brother, Morague, mrsgoo, mskitty, nannyboz, ncsuLAN, Nick Zouroudis, notgivingup, NY brit expat, operculum, one pissed off democrat, OrangeMike, Ordvefa, OverTheEdge, paige, PaintyKat, paradox, parryander, Pennsylvanian, phrogge prince, Positronicus, post rational, psycho liberal, Purple Priestess, PvtJarHead, red mittens, relentless, revelwoodie, revsue, Rex Manning, rexymeteorite, RiaD, rickeagle, rincewind, rkex, roadlion, Roger Fox, Rosebuddear, Rudini, Safina, SallyCat, Sark Svemes, Scrapyard Ape, seenaymah, sfbob, sgary, Shahryar, sheddhead, shmuelman, slowbutsure, smartcookienyc, smeesq, snoopydawg, snorwich, SoCalHobbit, sofia, soonergrunt, spmozart, SpotTheCat, Statusquomustgo, Tay, theatre goon, TigerMom, tiredofcrap, tonyahky, Treefrog, triciawyse, trueblueliberal, Turn VABlue, Turtle Bay, uc booker, Unduna, Unforgiven, Vacationland, valadon, Vayle, webranding, weelzup, Wes Opinion, willy be frantic, willy mugobeer, Wood Dragon, wolfie1818, Wordsinthewind, Wreck Smurfy, x, yet another liberal, Zotz
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So you've had some experience with the effects of smoking, and want to write a GUS diary or host an open thread? Please sign up in the Butt Can (Tip Jar), and name the day and time that works for you (AM, PM, late-night, early-bird...)
*Asterisks* indicate regular GUS diary time slot:
Sun PM: bsmechanicc
Mon AM: luvsathoroughbred (woo-hoo!!!)
Mon PM: flumptytail
Tue AM: ** Frugal Granny **
Tue PM: El barragas
Wed AM: open
Wed PM: open
Thu AM: **Colorado is the Shiznit**
Thu PM: open
Fri AM: open
Fri PM: **rexymeteorite**
Sat AM: open
Sat PM: open
Sun AM: open
How to write a GUS diary on the fly and easy as pie.
UPDATE Mon 03.15.10 @ 8:58AM CST: In double-checking with her, MillieNeon confirmed that her name wound up on the GUS diary schedule by mistake, but says "hi" and misses all you GUSsacks very much.