On things cold and frenzied- I mean the Ice Bucket Challenge.

So why did I do it?

Becuase it is a good thing to do, if by doing it, others will view and consider doing the same and by doing so spread the idea that even a simple person like them can inspire others to try and change the world.

or 

simply, find a way to give back to life.

I donated to the ALSA.org 

and then I did this with my friend, Allan Burgess.

As to the water preservers, I respect your choice, but in all honesty, we used less water than most people take baths/showers or flush toliets with.

Where did our water go?

Into the earth and sky. 

It's not wasted water.

There is a reason behind it being ice water.

It's a symbolic way you share with the victims of ALS, a familar sensation.

As to those who think this is all hype, the ALSA has been trying to raise awareness and funding for research and treatment for a long time. This year, they found a means to bring in so much more money than they ever had in previous attempts.

Why fault their success.

any info is sometimes better than no info or effort.

You can go to their Community of Hope page and find a different cause/flag to raise awareness and funds through, you can donate in memorium of someone you knew and loved.

you can create your own cause.

You can give to another fund altogether.

The point for me, the stepping off point- persay was

that this was something I could do and promote.

and that is life according to Mike

Time for Cool Stuff from Mike

Let's just get right to it. 

All links have been checked and rechecked (in case you are paranoid- if you are then don't bother, they're websites of awesome.

1. The SCALE of My Universe

2. It's the best Taylor Swift music and video I have watched in a long time.

3.  this one takes some patience but it very challenging once you figure it out 2048 Number game

4. can't decide on a netflix movie try this site: Netflixroulette

5. swap paperback books  www.paperbackswap.com

(mostly free)

6. a minor means of temporary escape Avoid Humans

7. Thunderstruck by ACDC covered by...well, Fins, and by Fins I mean Finnish Hillbillies. Err- Steve'n Seagulls

and that's all folks

Robin Williams is Dead, but only in the real world and not in my head.

If you know someone with depression, than you should watch this. if you have depression you should watch this. If you don't know anyone with depression...then you probably just don't know it yet.

Robin Williams is/was without question one of my favorite actors. He wasn't always a successful actor nor were all of his movies made of magic and lifted the spirit. 
In fact, some were so dark that I have never been able to see them.
But his lighter ones were more than enough to outshine those darker one

His words: "What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and dignity, and decency, and God forbid, maybe even humor. Death is not the enemy gentlemen. If we're going to fight a disease, let's fight one of the most terrible diseases of all, indifference." -Patch Adams

Indifference may have been what killed Robin Williams. I mean other than feeling like there was no better way out than ending his own life. The worst thing that a person with depression faces is that people become indifferent to your disease/illness after a passage of time. Human beings have notoriously short attention spans. 
Someone with depression is going to have depression for the rest of their lives (unless someone comes up with a cure and that is unlikely because there are much more worthier illnesses and diseases to cure than something as unimportant as depression like cancer or diabetes or- well the list goes on and on).
At some point even the most stalwart, loyal and true friend wears out. Then is when the depression becomes real when all other venues have run dry and finding a solution seems pointless and taking the time with the person you love or like or admire seems like its to much work and why won't they make a real effort to improve their situations?
There is no cure. There are treatments and drugs and therapies and healthier lifestyles which all seem practical until you have spent the seventh night awake because you can't sleep and you are afraid to sleep, you hate being alone but you can't stand the sympathy of your friends and you cannot tell anyone the truth because you are ashamed that you aren't better after all of the thing they have done and sacrificed so that you would get better and wouldn't it just be better for everyone if you just quit trying and went away so that your wife and husband and children and friends and girl-friend and boy-friend and parents and siblings could get on with their own lives for a change?

"Thank you for every kindness. Thank you for our children. For the first time I saw them. Thank you for being someone I was always proud to be with. For your guts, for your sweetness. For how you always looked, for how I always wanted to touch you. God, you were my life. I apologize for everytime I ever failed you. Especially this one..." -Andrew Martin

I have what they Pschiatrists call "Clinical Depression" or Major Derpession or Major Depressive Disorder.
What is that, you might ask?
Well, Virginia I will let Mayo clinic give you it in brief:
Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Clinical depression is the more severe form of depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder. It isn't the same as depression caused by a loss, such as the death of a loved one, or a medical condition, such as a thyroid disorder.
for a more through descrition follow this link:
Mayo Clinic defines Clinical Depression

I suspect that Robin has it too.
It's hereditary. There are other types of depression and let me be clear on this, all types of depression can lad to sudden and often fatal decisions. DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
I take Wellbutrin, a pretty heavy dose, daily.
I have sunlight therapy in my workspace and home.
I spend some time outdoors and try to get out of doors, several times a day.
I go to therapy twice a month and we work on a healthier, more stable lifestyle and balances. 
I know I need more than this.
It's a day by day process that I will have to live with probably for the rest of my life.
It's doesn't help that I was victimized and abused throughout my childhood. It might mean that is why I have clinical instead of a less serious form of depression but I do not know. My mother has it as well- but thankfully hers is less serious than mine. I believe that several other family members have it or had it as several of them are no longer with us due to suicides.

"Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself." - Sean Maguire

Life can be good.
Life is more often not.
I tend not to take my life seriously.
I am forced to take my depression seriously.
I suspect that this is how Robin Williams tried to take it as well.

I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone." -Lance

I am going to close on this quote because it might have been how Robin felt at the end. I hope it wasn't true but I doubt that he was in his right mind when he crossed into darkness.
I will say this however, at the worst of it, and believe me the worst is very, very ugly; part of my mind stays completely sane and rational. it can't do anything but part of me knows how bad it is and really want the rest of me to stop.

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
                         But O heart! heart! heart!
                            O the bleeding drops of red,
                               Where on the deck my Captain lies,

                                  Fallen cold and dead.
                                                  Walt Whitman.
and that is life according to Mike.