My Quora Answer to "Parents, what did your doctor do that ticked you off?"

My wife had just given birth to our third child, our first boy. We had decided not to have him circumcised. This was at a time when the medical (read more) establishment scared parents into getting them because it is a quick buck for the docs and hospitals. Despite newer evidence against routine use of the procedure, they still try to push it although rather less forcefully or as in our case, less deceitfully.

After delivery and while she was still sedated (it was a C-section), and while I was in the nursery with my new pride and joy, a nurse or other staff person convinced my wife to sign the consent forms. And they KNEW of our stance beforehand! They mutilated our baby against our wishes. And the insurance company paid them for it!

http://bit.ly/2MThQ8U

Comments

Phoenix Andrews: Slightly off topic but I’m curious as to why you wouldn’t want to circumcise your son. I’m not a mom nor do I have a penis so I personal don’t have an experience with it in that sense. From what I know it’s better for your hygiene not to have it. Not judging you I’m just curious.

My Reply

Not off topic. I wrote my Answer hoping someone would ask.

It's a form of genital mutilation invented in the Bronze Age to set a certain group of men apart from those who didn't belong to their society. We are aghast at female genital mutilation yet look askance when it happens to baby boys. Note too, that it was forced upon the male slaves of the Patriarchs who, like infants, had no say in the matter.

While this happened to my oldest in my first marriage, my second wife and I prevented it happening to our two sons. With vigilent hygiene which we taught them, they had a total of maybe 3 yeast infections (smegma) in childhood. The worst case was in Benny, (of “earbuds in nostrils" fame) and that was very short-lived.

The other scare tactic was telling us that there is an increased risk of penile cancer in uncut men. More recent long-term studies have debunked this.

I believe that if you belong to a religion that still mandates circumcision, that it can certainly wait until the day of reckoning, which is 13-years old in the Jewish tradition. It also seems more in line with how it was done in ancient Canaan. After all, both Abraham and Ishmael were at least that old!

Life Extension and Brain Boosters

The following is a cut-and-paste response with my added comments and advice to a real friend of mine who has cognitive issues. No matter what station in life you are at, there are many take home issues here. As always, consult with your physician before blahdy blahdy Hell.

Brain Boosters

Josh: this is mostlly from the Life Extension website. I've emboldened the really important things you need to know and put my thoughts in italics. While it addresses cognitive decline with aging, It's great advice for all of us. At the end I'll give my best recommendation for you.

Proactive lifestyle changes, cognitive training, and nutritional interventions such as phosphatidylserine and glyceryl phosphoryl choline have been shown to decrease the rate of intellectual decay and potentially reverse age-related cognitive decline.

Several dietary and lifestyle changes can help reduce age-related cognitive decline:

1. Switch from a western diet high in simple sugars and saturated fats to a Mediterranean diet high in mono- and polyunsaturated omega-3 fats, fiber, and polyphenol.
2. Caloric restriction may improve learning and memory
3. Cognitive stimulation and training, including playing chess and speaking more than one language, can enhance cognitive reserve and convey protection against loss of brain function
4. Exercise is known to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which can lead to enhanced cognitive function. Tomatoes also contain a Nerve Growth-like Factor which is better absorbed with fats like Olive and coconut oils.
5. Moderate alcohol consumption (up to 2 drinks/day) and caffeinated coffee consumption (~3 cups/day) may convey protection against cognitive decline. Dry red wines!
6. Fish Oil: Daily omega-3 supplementation was independently associated with a dramatic reduction in cognitive decline over a 1.5-year period in an aging study population.
7. Phosphatidylserine: Human clinical trials have found that supplementing with phosphatidylserine improves cognitive function in aging subjects with cognitive impairment.
8. Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (GPC): Patients taking GPC showed neurological improvement and relief of clinical symptoms of chronic cerebral deterioration that was superior or equivalent to that obtained with prescription drugs.
9. Acetyl-L-carnitine: A meta-analysis of data from over 21 studies shows that supplementation with acetyl-L-carnitine improves cognitive deficits observed during aging and pathological brain deterioration. I recommend a combination supplement of ALC & ALA (alpha lipoic acid). Here's why: http://bit.ly/2lcZW4w

10. Huperzine A: Patients with Alzheimer’s disease improved their scores on standard cognitive tests after supplementing with huperzine A.

Several other medications with potential brain-protective effects are:

1. Piracetam (Nootropil) and levetiracetam (Keppra) are anti-seizure medications sometimes used as cognitive enhancers. These and several related drugs (the “racetams”) are often colloquially referred to as “nootropics.” Preclinical evidence suggests these medications may reduce neuroinflammation, improve mitochondrial function, and prevent β-amyloid-induced neuronal dysfunction. IIn early research, levetiracetam was found to improve cognitive performance on a memory test.Findings from a clinical trial in cognitive impairment and dementia patients suggest piracetam may be most effective in those with depressive symptoms. Whether these medications hold benefits for patients with age-related cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment has not yet been established. Also, the regulatory status of piracetam and related compounds is vague, and legal status varies between countries.
2. Zileuton (Zyflo) is an inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory enzyme 5-lipoxygenase. While its main use is as an anti-asthma medication, zileuton has demonstrated some intriguing effects on brain function in preclinical trials. In animal research, zileuton has been found to reduce brain levels of β-amyloid and tau, as well as amyloid- and tau-related neuroinflammation, neuronal dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. Other animal research suggests zileuton may reduce brain damage and cognitive losses after stroke. The possible usefulness of zileuton in age-related cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia awaits future investigation.
3. Hydergine (co-dergocrine mesylate), a mixture of ergot alkaloids, has been found to improve cognitive function and mood in preliminary trials in elderly subjects with age-related cognitive dysfunction.Its mechanism of action is not completely understood; however, it appears to modulate neurotransmitter activity, improve cerebral metabolism, and increase antioxidant enzyme activity in the brain. Despite interesting findings, there have been no clinical trials investigating hydergine’s usefulness in age-related cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment for decades.
4. Selegiline (Deprenyl) is a monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor that blocks the enzymatic breakdown of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. It is used to treat Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and major depressive disorder, and is thought to have anti-aging effects. Selegiline was found to improve cognitive performance in a six-month preliminary trial in human subjects with mild-to-moderate brain atrophy. Studies in animals suggest it can reduce oxidative stress, protect against brain damage due to loss of blood flow, and preserve neurotransmission and memory. More clinical trials are needed to ascertain the potential benefits of this medication in age-related cognitive decline.
5. Centrophenoxine or meclofenoxate (Lucidril) enhances activation of cholinergic pathways in the central nervous system. An early trial in elderly subjects found centrophenoxine improved formation of new memory and increased subjective reports of mental alertness.Animal research has found that this medication may protect against cognitive losses due to aluminum toxicity, drug toxicity,and lack of blood flow.

My basic prescription medication support list is: Hydergine, Piracetam, and Deprenyl. Ask your doc. While Hydergine and Deprenyl are available by prescription in the US, you need to order Piracetam offshore.. 

Diet

An eating pattern based on the traditional Mediterranean diet has been shown to have anti-aging effects on brain, cardiovascular, and metabolic functions, and on overall longevity. Findings from a variety of studies suggest eating a Mediterranean-style diet can slow cognitive decline and may reduce risk of dementia. If you are already eating Indian cuisine, it will be easy to go.

.

Mediterranean. I asked about fava beans because they increase dopamine levels in your brain. If you're using them as medicine, shoot for either breakfast or lunch since they can cause insomnia.

Mediterranean diet. With its emphasis on fruits, vegetables, unrefined whole grains, legumes, and extra virgin olive oil, as well as moderate amounts of seafood, fermented dairy products, and red wine with meals,200 the traditional Mediterranean diet provides ample amounts of critical nutrients such as mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. It can be used as a template that can be adapted to favor local and seasonal availability of specific foods.

A study including 832 participants examined every two to three years for up to 18 years found that those whose diets most closely reflected a Mediterranean diet experienced significantly less cognitive decline than those whose diets least reflected a Mediterranean diet. A study based on data collected over 16 years from men participating in the Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study found that those whose diets were most Mediterranean-like were 36% less likely to report poor subjective cognitive function than those whose diets were least Mediterranean-like.Examining the brains of cognitively normal older-age subjects has revealed that adherence to a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern is associated with reduced β-amyloid accumulation. The components of the diet most closely linked to this effect were high fruit and vegetable consumption and moderate wine consumption.

1. Olive oil😉

Use extra virgin olive oil on vegetables, legumes, salads, stir-fries, and sautés;

Flavor food with herbs, spices, garlic, onion, and lemon

2. Vegetables

Mainly starchy vegetables

Have vegetables with both lunch and dinner;

Use vegetables as a main dish often;

Have some raw, dressed with olive oil and vinegar, every day

3. Fruits

Fruit products often contain added sugar

(Low consumption)

Eat raw fruits as dessert most days;

Include a variety of seasonally appropriate fruits

4. Unrefined whole grains

Use whole grain bread, pasta, and flour;

Include whole unrefined grains often

5. Legumes

Include a variety of beans, lentils, and peas;

Cook dried beans or choose canned beans without additives.

http://bit.ly/2l3Q4u7

6. Nuts and olives

Have nuts and olives as snacks;

Eat a handful of raw nuts daily;

Choose a variety of nuts

7. Moderate seafood intake

Fatty fish (tuna, salmon, sardines) twice or more weekly;

Shellfish (oysters, clams, squid, shrimp) occasionally

8. Moderate fermented dairy (yogurt and cheese)

Use unsweetened yogurt and flavor with fruit;

Have small amounts of fresh or cured cheese occasionally;

Avoid ice cream

9. Home cooking

1. Limited intake of homemade baked goods and processed baked goods (high in sugar, processed fats, and additives). 8n fact Josh, just avoid altogether.
2. Bake at home;
3. Use olive oil instead of butter;

Ghee is good, though. So are coconut oil and MCT oil. Read up on Bulletproof Coffee which is coffee with ghee (or range-fed organic butter such as KerryGold). www.bulletproofcoffee.com I think. It's what I drink.

4. Eat baked goods only occasionally or better, not at all 
5. Little meat and limited poultry. I disagree with this. Range-fed pork and chicken, wild salmon and tuna, crab and shrimp, calamari, and lobster are tasty and healthy foods. Avoid clams and other shellfish since they are filter-feeders which means you are eating fish poop and spawn.

High intake of red and processed meats:

1. Large portions. Limit meat consumption to a fistful per meal.
2. Choose lean poultry. Free-range only.

Red wine/Beverages

1. Avoid beer, hard liquor, and sugar-sweetened soft drinks.
2. Include moderate amounts (up to 1 glass per day for women and 2 glasses per day for men) of wine, preferably red, always with meals. Merlot, Shiraz, and Port. You want a red wine so dry it makes you pucker. 
3. Drink water instead of soft drinks. Limit fruit juices most of all. If you decide to do Intermittent Fasting, break your fast with a single glass of apple or grape juice. These replenish your liver's glycogen stores but too much decreases sperm count and semen volume.

Caloric Restriction

Caloric restriction, a dietary intervention in which calorie intake is reduced but adequate nutrient intake is preserved, has been shown to delay the onset of age-related diseases and extend lifespan in many organisms.216 This effect is thought to be due to a triggering of resilience mechanisms that enhance cellular resistance to stress. This effect is known as hormesis.

In rodent models, caloric restriction was associated with decreased neural stem cell senescence, increased neuroplasticity, and better cognitive performance.

Specifically, caloric restriction has been found in animal models to stimulate neural stem cell activity and promote normal metabolism of phospholipids needed for myelin production, lower stress reactivity and stress-related changes in brain structure, and induce epigenetic changes that support youthful gene expression in aging brains. Some of the same metabolic and molecular changes and health benefits associated with caloric restriction in animals have been demonstrated in humans engaging in 25% caloric restriction or through an intermittent fasting strategy, combined with physical activity.

I recommend Intermittent Fasting. A good strategy is by Brad Pillon at "Eat. Stop. Eat:" http://bit.ly/2kHDJLL

So my best advice for you:

1. Medications: Piracetam, Hydergine, and Deprenyl
2. Supplements: ALA!ALC, Phosphatidylserine, fish oil, and glyceryl phosphoryl choline
3. Food: Mediterranean diet but with more range-fed meats, fava beans, eat low on the Glycemic Index
4. Drinks: water, dry red wines, Bulletproof Coffee.

Kidnapping, Murican, embassy, Nicaragua, Ben

My Letter to the Newest Ambassador at the American Embassy in Nicaragua

Please forward to Ambassador Kevin K. Sullivan

I just read about your appointment almost a year ago, so here's a belated congratulations. I never received a response from your predecessor, so I hope I can get some satisfaction from you. 

She may or may not have told you about me, but over the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday, I left my then 12-year old son Ben with some "friends" from Casa Ben Linder while I went to get some cough syrup from a nearby pulperia. Instead of picking me up there as we discussed, they went instead to a supermercado much further away. After waiting for them an extra half hour, I went back to where the Thanksgiving party had been, but it was closed up.

In looking for Ben, I was mugged first by a hang of putas who stole my wallet and phone. The next night I was mugged 3 times on my way to the embassy, the last time left for dead.

While I was desperately seeking my son, the CBL people arranged with agent James Bjorkman at the embassy and my then-wife Angie to kidnap Ben away from me, spread lies about me across the Nicaraguan agencies like Mi Familia, and deliberately keep me in the dark about Ben's whereabouts and status. Bjorkman then flew Angie to Managua and then both her and my son back to the states while your agent made sure I was out of the way by getting the police to stick me in an immigration detention center for 5 days.

Basically, I  never wanted anything to do with the embassy again, but after a month of homelessness and hunger in Léon, I gave up, packed my tail between my legs, and went back there. Under EXTREME mental duress, I signed a form saying I would pay back the return flight costs to the State Department. Strange thing about the cost, too. I flew a family of 5 from Miami to Managua for $1000. Yet my single flight back cost what? I think close to $1500. Just one more kick in the nuts from the embassy you inherited.

Because of the muggings, I am disabled and on a fixed Social Security Disability Income. I cannot afford to pay the extortion money to get my passport back. I want to eventually go back to Nicaragua and continue where I left off: healing and teaching those wonderful people. Despite the muggers. Thanks,

Michael Mangold, M.D.

https://amzn.to/2GS2REy

http://bit.ly/2HvNjtn

THE LIES CONTINUE

I lived with a pathological liar for 14 years. In the Summer of Lies (2012), I discovered the hard way how destructive this can be. Angie started the feast by covering the fact that she had been making out with a woman named Christa while keeping me and the kids waiting in the car. She lied through our divorce and the judge never called her on it, despite my protestations. But the biggest lie is still destroying my integrity and friendships.

My daughter Ami has blessed me with a wonderful grandson, Max. I have been impoverished until recently since I was abandoned in Nicaragua by Angie when she conspired with the American embassy there to kidnap my son Ben. This is how it ties in with this blog. Anyway, I feel guilty about not being a generous Grandfather to all three grandsons of mine. It bothers the hell out of me, so I offered Ami a proposal: I would adopt Max, who would then be the recipient of my Social Security Disability Insurance payments after I die. As it now stands, Angie is, just by virtue of having been married to me. Think about that: I became disabled because of the muggings I endured in Managua looking for Ben; she ruined my family, my finances, and my career, and yet our guvment believes she should benefit by death. I seriously am surprised she hasn't put a hit on me.

So when Ami told Chris about my offer, he sent me a nasty message telling me what an awful person I am. At the end, to "get back" at me, he mentioned the rumor, the terrible lie, Angie has been spreading since the Summer of Lies: that I "touched our daughter Savannah like a man touches his wife." Thinking about it makes me physically sick, so here is my response, two weeks in the making:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SAtSZHqiodzy5WLgyvit167kbvGdtZgM2679qyVC9RQ/edit

Read it and weep. I do.

Freedom of Information Act, January 2018

I finally received a few of the papers I requested FOUR YEARS AGO from the State Department under the Freedom of Information Act. An agent there did edit out much of the information including names of those conspiring to kidnap my son Ben from me. The conspiracy involved more people than I expected but now I know the full name of the agent in charge: D. James Bjorkman. He worked with Angie to keep me and Ben apart, essentially violating 18 U.S. Code § 1204 - International parental kidnapping (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1204). Here's a funny thing: after I found out that he moved to the embassy in Guyana, I posted his name and whereabouts on Facebook. That was yesterday. Today, the link has been removed.

If you are curious about what the State Department did to me, you can upload it by clicking here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17GK5zkZ_D_R07juLJ-rBpHGdu59j_pb7/view?usp=sharing

Shalom for the Heart

I will let Rabbi Moffic's words speak for themselves:

What if one word could change your life? What if one word made sense of what was missing...and what is possible? That word is God's promise: Shalom. 

Shalom is right relationship... with others, ourselves, with God. It has worked for 4000 years. In the generous spirit he is known for, Rabbi Moffic exposes Christians to the power of that ancient Hebrew word. When you open up this book, you'll find ways to

stop worrying about being perfect by remembering only God is perfect (p. 9)

pray with intimacy and vision (p. 79) 

know the meaning of mystical Hebrew words (p. 134) 

uncover the 31 ways ancient rabbis have understood key biblical sayings 

And as you read, you will

soak up ancient wisdom in a five-minute devotion and prayer

laugh a little more as you get exposed to Jewish humor and wisdom

feel encouraged during a hectic day

Get Your Copy today to start bringing more Shalom into your life.

POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse

This article is just too good not to post. Shahida Arabi talks about the tactics malignant narcissists and sociopaths use to manipulate others. The article, "20 Diversion Tactics Highly Manipulative Narcissists, Sociopaths And Psychopaths Use To Silence You" is taken from her book POWER: Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse and closely mirrors my own experiences. Unfortunately for me, I didn't realize what the situation was until 15 years into our relationship.

I describe some of this emotional abuse in my book "Mythomania: A Psychodrama." At first, my standard response was frustration. After I discovered Angie's deceptions during the "Summer of Lies" in 2012, frustration turned to anger. Which is apparently a crime in Wisconsin. She ended up using the courts, the police, and her friends against me. But one of the most damaging tactics was exclusion.

Read the article if you can. If you are in a relationship with someone like this, get professional help:

1. Gaslighting.

2. Projection.

3. Nonsensical conversations from hell.

4. Blanket statements and generalizations.

5. Deliberately misrepresenting your thoughts and feelings to the point of absurdity.

6. Nitpicking and moving the goalposts.

7. Changing the subject to evade accountability.

8. Covert and overt threats.

9. Name-calling.

10. Destructive conditioning.

11. Smear campaigns and stalking.

12. Love-bombing and devaluation.

13. Preemptive defense.

15. Bait and feign innocence.

16. Boundary testing and hoovering.

17. Aggressive jabs disguised as jokes.

18. Condescending sarcasm and patronizing tone.

19. Shaming.

20. Control.

"Desperately Seeking Cereal" Available as Free Kindle Download

Once again, I am offering the sequel to My Worst Thanksgiving Ever for free until February 26th. Desperately Seeking Cereal takes off where "Thanksgiving" ends: with me chasing the thieving landlady Claudia out of the house. You can download it at the title in this text or at the Amazon link on the right. This is an excerpt from the first chapter:

Adios San Juan

After chasing the thieving landlady Claudia out of the house, I decided it was time to leave San Juan del Sur for good. I first limped to my attorney’s hostal and asked her to stop working on my license to practice in Nicaragua. We were about ¾’s of the way done with the process, just waiting for more paperwork to arrive from Rivas, the capital of that departmento (state). I told her about getting mugged five times in Managua, Benny's abduction under the direction of the American embassy, and my five day imprisonment in the detention center. It was a sad story to tell, made even sadder by the realization that my dreams were grinding to a stop.

I couldn’t carry everything Dueña Claudia still left at the house so I packed all of our books into a large box and donated them to a local library run by a non-profit group from the U.S. Most of the rest of our possessions such as clothing and costume jewelry I donated to the women I worked with at Barrio Playa Proyecto. I even stuffed Angie’s “massager” into the middle of the bag, figuring that we no longer had any use for it. I can only imagine the looks on their faces when they found it. But by then I would be gone.

After my donation to BPP, I headed back to the house that had been our home in Nicaragua. I stopped first to tell Abuelo and his family the bad news. Abuelo was recovering nicely after his brush with death. He developed septicemia from a kidney infection and his doctor had prescribed the wrong antibiotic. I wasn't licensed yet to care for patients there so I told his son to purchase some ciprofloxacin at the nearest pharmacy and try that instead. Much to everyone’s pleasure and relief, the new regimen worked.

After giving them the news, I crossed to the other side of the brick-paved street and looked in pastor Richard’s yard for my dog Rasco. No sign of him. Ben had taken the dog there the night before we left for the Thanksgiving dinner in Managua. Since my solo return the Saturday afterwards and again since returning from my forced captivity, I had stopped at Richard’s place several times to find Rasco. No one ever answered the door or my shouts. In fact, one kid ran into the house on my arrival and locked the door. First muggings, kidnapping, theft of our household items, and now dognapping?

When I got home I finished packing my backpack. Essentially everything I owned which wasn’t in storage in Wisconsin or in our car in Dania, Florida I was either wearing or carrying on my back. I clipped a camping pot into a carabiner on the back of my pack, grabbed my hat and bandanna, and stepped outside. I left the door wide open and told the kids across the street that they could have anything left in the house. Since everything still there was Dueña Claudia’s, I smiled at their happy shouts as I walked one last time to the parada in San Juan del Sur.

Mi Peor Acción de Gracias Siempre: Una Tragedia Panamericana

Available January 26- January 30 as a free Kindle download is "My Worst Thanksgiving Ever" in Spanish: "Mi Peor Acción de Gracias Siempre: Una Tragedia Panamericana." Since the action takes place in Nicaragua, it seems only fitting.

It is now also available as a paper back. Amazon has modernized CreateSpace to become a print-on-demand company. This is from Capitulo 9: La Pared Embajada:

Capítulo 9

La Pared Embajada

Después de unos minutos de maldición y de agitación, me puse de pie, me sacudí, y tomó un inventario de mis heridas. Mi trasero estaba todavía dolorido de la noche anterior y ahora tenía abiertas, heridas en las manos y los codos con hemorragia activa, y para mi sien izquierda. Espinillas se erosionada hasta los huesos de la tibia, y que tenía fracturas en ambos pies. Mis sandalias se habían ido y caminar duelen como el demonio. Los asaltadores me dejaron con sólo una camiseta, pantalones cortos y ropa interior. La camisa era tan sangrienta que parecía como si hubiera estado en una batalla.

Reconocí un paso elevado de la última vez que estuve en la embajada de Estados Unidos , así que sabía que estaba cerca. Eso me dio fuerzas renovadas y me encontré con. Cuando vi el muro de hormigón que rodea el compuesto, casi lloro. Benny había hecho pis en esa pared dos semanas antes. A plena luz del día.Me sentí tan aliviado esa noche que yo también.

He recibido una llamada de alguien en la embajada de Estados Unidos en Nicaragua con un día de mediados de noviembre. Puede haber sido el mismo James.Angie había contactado con él de Wisconsin y dijo que estaba seguro de Ben tenía la fiebre del Dengue. Podría, le pidió al funcionario de la embajada, llevar a Ben a Managua para demostrar lo contrario? Le dije que estaríamos allí en dos días si pudiera encontrar un maestro sustituto para las clases de inglés que impartía como voluntario en el Barrio Proyecto Planta.

Mythomania: A Psychodrama

The eBook version of Mythomania: A Psychodrama will be free as a Kindle download until January 4th. The following is an excerpt from the book:

Chapter 11

A Miniature Sick Society

“The evil deny the suffering of their guilt - the painful awareness of their sin, inadequacy, and imperfection - by casting their pain onto others through projection and scapegoating. They themselves may not suffer, but those around them do. They cause suffering. The evil create for those under their dominion a miniature sick society.”

M. Scott Peck People of the Lie

The sickness began the day Angie opened the door to the I.R.S. agent. Rather, to paraphrase Robert Jordan, it wasn’t the beginning but it was a beginning. I affirm in “Thanksgiving” that what truly matters when we face a tragedy is how we react to it. And how we react reflects our own characters and personalities, even if they are disordered.

After the Dear John letter from Curtis Johnson, I scrambled to find a new job. I found two, both part-time. The first was at Riverwest Clinic in inner city Milwaukee. It wasn’t the E.R. but it was in an underserved area. I concentrated on Family Medicine there and the other docs concentrated on pushing drugs. I’m not kidding. When I discovered that, I had only two options in my mind: quit or become an addictionologist. I chose the latter. I trained in Suboxone therapy and became very good at it.

The second job was at a community health center in Racine. It was a lot farther than Riverwest and I couldn’t stomach the thought of the drive every day. So I signed on part-time. It was a nice arrangement. I made precious little in Racine but very good money at Riverwest. I still practiced Primary Care, gave quality medical care to the needy, and spent a lot less time in a car than when I worked in E.R.’s.

I started at Riverwest at the end of January, near my birthday. I worked there for 2 weeks before my first paycheck and even then I hadn’t decided whether I was going to stay or not. Either way, I needed a vehicle that was rugged enough to get me through the Wisconsin Winter. We applied for a loan with General Motors for a used Blazer. We got it, I think mainly because of Riverwest. The office manager even wrote a letter of support to G.M. So here I was, just 5 weeks after losing my last job, driving around Milwaukee in a new (for us) S.U.V. It appeared to be a pretty picture. Looks can be deceiving.

Around that time I received a phone call from a government official claiming to speak “on behalf of the Department of Education.” He wanted to know why I was applying for a deferment on my medical student loan. I explained that I lost my job earlier that year. He wanted to know if I had any other income. Since I hadn’t been paid yet from Riverwest, I told him “no.” Which was misleading. I admit it. I was expecting my first paycheck but I still hadn’t decided if I was going to stay there or not. I suppose if he had been calling on behalf of G.M., I would have said “yes.” But I really needed that deferment and I really needed that car.

In April, we filed our taxes. Married, filing jointly. Angie was working at Aurora Health Care in Kenosha at the time. We were supposed to get some money back, but the feds refused to send us the refund because of my back taxes over 8 years before. Which wasn’t fair to Angie. We weren’t even married that earlier tax year. The rape continued.

That was when Angie started recruiting members into her Miniature Sick Society. Her brother Greg Lentz is a financial advisor with Ozark Life Insurance. Since meeting Angie, I had taken out several policies with him and so over the years I gave him thousands of dollars. When we opened our second clinic in West Bend, The Mangold Center for Family Health & Wellness, I also bought business insurance from a friend of his. Did my generosity make him think twice about his actions?

When Angie didn’t get her tax refund that year, she started planning a new strategy with Greg. It didn’t take effect until two years later when they brought in a co-conspirator named Nicholas Bartz. She sought out “innocent or injured spouse relief.” I call it the “Up Yours, Mike” strategy and it was all behind my back. Was it within her rights to do it? Of course. The I.R.S. had no business stealing her money. But was it the right or loving thing to do? Did Greg and Angie have to be so deceitful?

Dr. Peck writes, “We do not become partners to evil by accident. As adults we are not forced by fate to become trapped by an evil power: we set the trap ourselves.” The lies, scapegoating, victim-blaming, excuses, and backstabbing all become a mental labyrinth. It got worse because People of the Lie need to revise history to prove their righteousness to themselves and especially to others. “Evil was defined as the use of power to destroy the spiritual growth of others for the purpose of defending and preserving the integrity of our own sick selves.” Welcome to the Miniature Sick Society of Southeast Wisconsin.

After my plea bargain, the feds did a “Pre-Sentencing Investigation.” The goal of the P.S.I. is to prove to the judge that the defendant deserves a harsh sentence. They interviewed Angie. If I were king, I would make it illegal to use the testimony of an ex-spouse or of someone who would soon be your ex-spouse. What makes them think the testimony is unbiased and truthful?

Besides all of the crap Angie made up After Christa (AC), she also told the pre-sentencing investigator one last, big lie.

She said she was not aware that I used the tax money to save Jon’s life.

"Worst Thanksgiving Ever Trilogy" Available for Free

The Kindle eBook version of Worst Thanksgiving Ever Trilogy is now available as a free download at Amazon.com. If you haven't already, you can download the free Kindle Reader at the link below. It is definitely a wise move to get the Reader. Currently, I have over 1450 eBooks in my Kindle library, most of them were free. Including this one.

The Trilogy combines all three accounts that center around Thanksgiving weekend.2013 when I was mugged 5 times trying to find my son Benjamin who was abducted by the US embassy in Nicaragua. This is from the book's description:

"What would you do if your spouse used the police and courts to harm you? What would you do if your child was abducted in a foreign country? How would you survive being homeless, abandoned, and broke in a foreign country?

The Worst Thanksgiving Ever Trilogy combines Dr. Mangold's three accounts of his trials before, during, and after the abduction of his son Benjamin in Nicaragua one tragic Thanksgiving weekend. This boxed set contains Mythomania: A Psychodrama, My Worst Thanksgiving Ever: A PanAmerican Tragedy, and Desperately Seeking Cereal: A Travelogue.

In Mythomania, Dr. Mangold asks we can lead sane lives in a world gone mad. How do we create a sane world when we are sick ourselves? Mangold interweaves politics, medicine, and psychology in a real-life account of how he was broken by forces fueled by fear and lies. This heart-felt and transparent account takes us on a personal journey into a world that is flying upside and on the verge of crashing soon.

This true story recounts the struggles Dr. Mangold faced not only from an uncaring and unforgiving government but also from a wife whose own psycho-pathologies prevented her from performing the two tasks he needed so desperately during those struggles: love and support. It is more than an account of persecution and victimization. It is a story of drowning and discovering that the rescue rope had been severed by those entrusted to throw it in the first place.

Book two, My Worst Thanksgiving Ever: A PanAmerican Tragedy This recounts the doctor's tragic Thanksgiving in Managua, Nicaragua searching for his son Ben who was abducted by the U.S. embassy there. Dr. Mangold endured multiple muggings during his search and was eventually imprisoned in an Immigration detention center while the embassy flew in his ex-wife to pick up Ben.

Michael Mangold M.D. and Ben were pawns in a cosmic chess game between U.S. government officials and Mike's Nemesis. All he had was a handful of Córdobas and the truth against an unlimited amount of money and power. 

It is the "Story of Job" without an overcompensating God, and "The Odyssey" without the love and support of an awaiting Penelope. It is a true tale of good and evil and how the evil that people do has consequences for eternity.

Alone, broke, and abandoned by family and friends, book three of the trilogy, Desperately Seeking Cereal: A Travelogue relates how the good doctor survived being homeless in Nicaragua by using his wits and at times doing the "unthinkable.” With help from unexpected sources like a Roman Catholic priest in Estelí and Mormon missionaries in León, this book also describes how those who are entrusted to serve the needy and desperate often do so at a cost. If at all.

The book is a sequel to My Worst Thanksgiving Ever and the fourth in Dr. Mangold’s “Bridges” series. It is a tale of ugliness and beauty, of evil and good, and how all are to be found in the least expected sources."

WORST THANKSGIVING EVER TRILOGY

All three books are now available as a boxed-set on Amazon, Smashwords, and LuLu. This is the link to the Amazon site for my new eBook Worst Thanksgiving Ever Trilogy. The following is the book description:

"What would you do if your spouse used the police and courts to harm you? What would you do if your child was abducted in a foreign country? How would you survive being homeless, abandoned, and broke in a foreign country?


The Worst Thanksgiving Ever Trilogy combines Dr. Mangold's three accounts of his trials before, during, and after the abduction of his son Benjamin in Nicaragua one tragic Thanksgiving weekend. This boxed set contains Mythomania: A Psychodrama, My Worst Thanksgiving Ever: A PanAmerican Tragedy, and Desperately Seeking Cereal: A Travelogue.


In Mythomania, Dr. Mangold asks we can lead sane lives in a world gone mad. How do we create a sane world when we are sick ourselves? Mangold interweaves politics, medicine, and psychology in a real-life account of how he was broken by forces fueled by fear and lies. This heart-felt and transparent account takes us on a personal journey into a world that is flying upside and on the verge of crashing soon.


This true story recounts the struggles Dr. Mangold faced not only from an uncaring and unforgiving government but also from a wife whose own psycho-pathologies prevented her from performing the two tasks he needed so desperately during those struggles: love and support. It is more than an account of persecution and victimization. It is a story of drowning and discovering that the rescue rope had been severed by those entrusted to throw it in the first place.


Book two, My Worst Thanksgiving Ever: A PanAmerican Tragedy This recounts the doctor's tragic Thanksgiving in Managua, Nicaragua searching for his son Ben who was abducted by the U.S. embassy there. Dr. Mangold endured multiple muggings during his search and was eventually imprisoned in an Immigration detention center while the embassy flew in his ex-wife to pick up Ben.


Michael Mangold M.D. and Ben were pawns in a cosmic chess game between U.S. government officials and Mike's Nemesis. All he had was a handful of Córdobas and the truth against an unlimited amount of money and power. 


It is the "Story of Job" without an overcompensating God, and "The Odyssey" without the love and support of an awaiting Penelope. It is a true tale of good and evil and how the evil that people do has consequences for eternity.


Alone, broke, and abandoned by family and friends, book three of the trilogy, Desperately Seeking Cereal: A Travelogue relates how the good doctor survived being homeless in Nicaragua by using his wits and at times doing the "unthinkable.” With help from unexpected sources like a Roman Catholic priest in Estelí and Mormon missionaries in León, this book also describes how those who are entrusted to serve the needy and desperate often do so at a cost. If at all.


The book is a sequel to My Worst Thanksgiving Ever and the fourth in Dr. Mangold’s “Bridges” series. It is a tale of ugliness and beauty, of evil and good, and how all are to be found in the least expected sources."