Samuel is a lucky kid, his mom lets him hang out with her whenever he wants. Even when food preperation would make it inconvenient to carry him Anna finds a way to compromise. He sure is a luckly little one.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Why the heavy hand in promoting the HPV vaccine?
By: Joseph A. D’Agostino,
The efforts to force all American girls to receive a new, unnecessary vaccine with unknown long-term side effects seem to have lost much of their momentum for now. Merck has dropped its campaign to convince states to mandate the vaccine for sixth-grade girls before they can enter school, and strong public resistance has appeared in many states. This curious episode in the history of American public health is likely to be repeated many times over the next decade or two as the health profession grapples with the ever-rising rates of sexually transmitted disease in this country.
Some states are still moving forward with mandatory plans, but generally with allowing parents to opt out of the vaccination program. Even Canada’s provinces have so far decided not to distribute the vaccine at government expense.
Forty-five years ago, only two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were known to have firm footholds in the American population, and they were largely confined to high-risk populations such as prostitutes and sailors. Today, there are at least 26.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of those and is very widespread among sexually active girls and women. Scientists think that the four strains (there are others) of HPV included in Merck’s vaccine cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and 90% of the genital warts in the United States.
So what’s the problem with giving this vaccine to girls?
First, it implicitly normalizes the abnormal state of modern girls’ self-destructive sexual practices. It says that girls as young as 11 could be sleeping around and must receive this vaccine, called Gardasil, for protection. Rather than spend hundreds of millions on injecting everyone with this HPV vaccine, a better strategy would be to tackle the culture of promiscuity instead, especially since Gardasil will do nothing to combat all the other dangerous STDs girls and women can catch.
Second, like most medical treatments, Gardasil has side effects. National Vaccine Information Center analyst Vicky Debold, RN, Ph.D., says, "The most frequent serious health events after Gardasil shots are neurological symptoms. These young girls are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, temporary loss of vision, slurred speech, fainting, involuntary contraction of limbs, muscle weakness, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and joint pain. Some of the girls have lost consciousness during what appear to be seizures." NVIC says that 82 adverse event reports have been filed between July 2006 and January 2007 for Gardasil, suggesting that serious side effects are rare but hardly unheard of.
Third, no one knows what long-term ill effects Gardasil could cause. It is simply too new, and untried in a large population.
The most curious thing about Gardasil was the attempt to force it on 11- and 12-year-old girls across the country. Why was something so new, so relatively untested, with unknown long-term effects so quickly adopted as mandatory by some such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R.)? Virginia’s Gov. Tim Kaine (D.) is also considering mandating it. Both states will allow for parents to opt their children out.
Obviously, there are the lobbyist connections and campaign cash drug companies have. But there is a more fundamental problem: The assumption that youth sexual promiscuity is here to stay and fierce measures must be taken to combat the resulting diseases, and caution cannot be afforded when a promising new treatment comes along. Would that such energy be directed at keeping pornography away from minors or high school students of opposite sexes away from each other when not chaperoned. These measures would combat all STDs at once and reduce teen pregnancy as well.
It might make sense for parents who believe their girls are at high risk of sexual activity to give their daughters the vaccine, and for girls and young women who intend to sleep around to take it (hopefully, at later ages than 12). Then ten or so years down the road, after the vaccine’s effects are better known, perhaps the health profession might encourage—-not mandate—-more widespread use of the vaccine.
But this cautious, common-sense course was not pursued. Instead, the top-down heavy hand came into play immediately. This attitude of our political class and medical establishment does not bode well for future efforts to combat the rising tide of sexual infections among American youth.
Joseph A. D'Agostino is Vice President for Communications at the Population Research Institute.
The efforts to force all American girls to receive a new, unnecessary vaccine with unknown long-term side effects seem to have lost much of their momentum for now. Merck has dropped its campaign to convince states to mandate the vaccine for sixth-grade girls before they can enter school, and strong public resistance has appeared in many states. This curious episode in the history of American public health is likely to be repeated many times over the next decade or two as the health profession grapples with the ever-rising rates of sexually transmitted disease in this country.
Some states are still moving forward with mandatory plans, but generally with allowing parents to opt out of the vaccination program. Even Canada’s provinces have so far decided not to distribute the vaccine at government expense.
Forty-five years ago, only two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were known to have firm footholds in the American population, and they were largely confined to high-risk populations such as prostitutes and sailors. Today, there are at least 26.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of those and is very widespread among sexually active girls and women. Scientists think that the four strains (there are others) of HPV included in Merck’s vaccine cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and 90% of the genital warts in the United States.
So what’s the problem with giving this vaccine to girls?
First, it implicitly normalizes the abnormal state of modern girls’ self-destructive sexual practices. It says that girls as young as 11 could be sleeping around and must receive this vaccine, called Gardasil, for protection. Rather than spend hundreds of millions on injecting everyone with this HPV vaccine, a better strategy would be to tackle the culture of promiscuity instead, especially since Gardasil will do nothing to combat all the other dangerous STDs girls and women can catch.
Second, like most medical treatments, Gardasil has side effects. National Vaccine Information Center analyst Vicky Debold, RN, Ph.D., says, "The most frequent serious health events after Gardasil shots are neurological symptoms. These young girls are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, temporary loss of vision, slurred speech, fainting, involuntary contraction of limbs, muscle weakness, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet and joint pain. Some of the girls have lost consciousness during what appear to be seizures." NVIC says that 82 adverse event reports have been filed between July 2006 and January 2007 for Gardasil, suggesting that serious side effects are rare but hardly unheard of.
Third, no one knows what long-term ill effects Gardasil could cause. It is simply too new, and untried in a large population.
The most curious thing about Gardasil was the attempt to force it on 11- and 12-year-old girls across the country. Why was something so new, so relatively untested, with unknown long-term effects so quickly adopted as mandatory by some such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R.)? Virginia’s Gov. Tim Kaine (D.) is also considering mandating it. Both states will allow for parents to opt their children out.
Obviously, there are the lobbyist connections and campaign cash drug companies have. But there is a more fundamental problem: The assumption that youth sexual promiscuity is here to stay and fierce measures must be taken to combat the resulting diseases, and caution cannot be afforded when a promising new treatment comes along. Would that such energy be directed at keeping pornography away from minors or high school students of opposite sexes away from each other when not chaperoned. These measures would combat all STDs at once and reduce teen pregnancy as well.
It might make sense for parents who believe their girls are at high risk of sexual activity to give their daughters the vaccine, and for girls and young women who intend to sleep around to take it (hopefully, at later ages than 12). Then ten or so years down the road, after the vaccine’s effects are better known, perhaps the health profession might encourage—-not mandate—-more widespread use of the vaccine.
But this cautious, common-sense course was not pursued. Instead, the top-down heavy hand came into play immediately. This attitude of our political class and medical establishment does not bode well for future efforts to combat the rising tide of sexual infections among American youth.
Joseph A. D'Agostino is Vice President for Communications at the Population Research Institute.
Friday, March 09, 2007
50 states in 10 minutes
Can you remember all 50 states? Really? http://www.ironicsans.com/2007/02/50_states_in_10_minutes.html Try this it is harder than you think.
I got all 50, but my brain got a lot of exercise doing it...I thnak i'll take a nap now.
I got all 50, but my brain got a lot of exercise doing it...I thnak i'll take a nap now.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
You don't have to pick up your toys
Joshua loves the crazy poems of Shel Silverstein and has taken to memorizing them and even making up his own rhyming poems. This poem is about a toy monster that will destroy your toys if you leave them out overnight.
"You don't have to pick up your toys. When the toy eater comes tiptoeing through the crack of your door he'll swallow up your big wheel and chew off your doll heads...thats ok, you don't have to pick up your toys."
"You don't have to pick up your toys. When the toy eater comes tiptoeing through the crack of your door he'll swallow up your big wheel and chew off your doll heads...thats ok, you don't have to pick up your toys."
Monday, February 26, 2007
What's in your tummy?
During dinner today Maria was ferociously gulping her milk down, in between swallows she managed to say that she was going to make her cauliflower float.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
This kid is going to be a lawyer
We have been buying the 6 pack "Yo Baby!" yogurts for a long time. Joshua quickly developed a preference for the blueberry flavor, but it is paired with the apple cinnamon which has always been the last to be eaten in our house. In fact, sometimes it can be a real chore to get the kids to eat the apple flavor.Today while the kids were devouring the blueberry yogurts Anna held an apple yogurt in her hand and reasoned with the kids: "if nobody eats the apple yogurts I am going to have to stop buying the blueberry."
Joshua quickly looked up and with an air of confidence that he had found the solution said, "Ok Mom, you eat the apple."
(needless to say we looked at eachother and could not hold in our laughter)
What was God thinking?
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I had no idea these creaturs existed, and I have a tough time understanding how this breed of goats ever survived.
For more videos see this google search.
If you think this is funny please comment with your reaction.
For more videos see this google search.
If you think this is funny please comment with your reaction.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Driving along in my automobile...
I would not appreciate it much if foreigners were driving around my city bumping into my car. Yes, it appears that our military has a hummer-driving policy designed to keep our troops from being "sitting ducks." They accomplish this by never stopping, and that involves them bumping into cars and driving like complete idiots. I am not posting this to say I am "for" or "against" the war, but this video caught my attention and I wanted others to see it too.
(watch out for the foul american language in the very last seconds of this clip)
According to rocketboom, the hummers our troops are driving do not provide adequate protection from ambush like other upgraded hummers. This weakness has caused hundreds of US deaths since the start of the war. The response: a driving policy that would make any body's blood boil.
(watch out for the foul american language in the very last seconds of this clip)
According to rocketboom, the hummers our troops are driving do not provide adequate protection from ambush like other upgraded hummers. This weakness has caused hundreds of US deaths since the start of the war. The response: a driving policy that would make any body's blood boil.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Confidence
This weekend we were at our relatives house following a wedding. Maria was jumping between a big footrest and a couch. The distanc was not too great, but after a few close calls I told her she was making me nervous. She looked at me with great compassion and said, "its ok, you can go in the kitchen while I jump."
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Winter Camping
The kids called me at work yesterday and asked if they could go camping in a tent then the snow stopped. I was so excited at the prospect of setting up a tent and braving the cold, that I set up the tent as soon as I got home. It was so much fun we slept in it all night. We had lots of warm blankets and we snuggled up close, because it was a bit chilly during the night. 
We did sleep in the tent last night, and we did turn the heat down, but we set the tent up in the living room...but for the sake of journalism we thought more people would read a sensational story.
We did sleep in the tent last night, and we did turn the heat down, but we set the tent up in the living room...but for the sake of journalism we thought more people would read a sensational story.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Math
Last night before bed Joshua's mind was full of math, he was counting the number of segments, or bars, that made up each number of our digital clock. "Eight has the most", he said.
So we started quizzing him on it: "How many bars does nine have?"
"Six" he corretly responed.
After that we asked him addition and subtraction questions, we used m&m's a our medium of exchange and after a few minutes it got pretty silly.
We started out with "Mom has 2 m&m's and you give her 3 how many would she have?" But then he kept adding them one by one, "if I gave you one more you'de have 6, and if I gave you one more you'de have 7..."
When he got to around 20 I tried to change things up and asked, "What if you asked foe them back Josh?" Without missing a beat he answered, "She would give them to me."
That non-math response was so unexpected it made us laugh. But Josh continued giving mom m&m's and adding up the total until he reached 30, then he stopped and said, ok the rest are for me."
So we started quizzing him on it: "How many bars does nine have?"
"Six" he corretly responed.
After that we asked him addition and subtraction questions, we used m&m's a our medium of exchange and after a few minutes it got pretty silly.
We started out with "Mom has 2 m&m's and you give her 3 how many would she have?" But then he kept adding them one by one, "if I gave you one more you'de have 6, and if I gave you one more you'de have 7..."
When he got to around 20 I tried to change things up and asked, "What if you asked foe them back Josh?" Without missing a beat he answered, "She would give them to me."
That non-math response was so unexpected it made us laugh. But Josh continued giving mom m&m's and adding up the total until he reached 30, then he stopped and said, ok the rest are for me."
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Jelly Fish
Joshua's favorite creature is the jellyfish. He loves to learn about them on the national geographic website or from books we get him at the library. He has the most incredible imagination and will come up with detailed stories about "swimming with Iukandji jellyfish," or getting "stung by the Portuguese Man-of-War."I came up with a craft idea and made some jellyfish with Joshua out of egg cartons and pipe cleaners. After we were finished I was looking for a pen to draw a face. I began walking away from Joshua when he spotted a pen near him and quickly blurted out, "there's a pen over here honey!" Kids are like sponges and they soak up everything we say...it's a good thing we don't have the bad habit of swearing.
Maria is 28
During dinner today I made a homemade blue frozen Margarita. The kids were totally engrossed in it and wanted desperately for a taste. Both Maria and Josh asked, "please can I have some dad."
I responded appropriately, "you can have some when you're 21."
Maria, not really realizing what than meant, but wanting a drink all the same, replied, "I'm 28."
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Tractor-tipping with Lightning and Mater
Joshua really likes the Pixar movie "Cars", and so do Anna and I. Joshua loves to reenact some of his favorite parts including the tractor-tipping scene where Lighting McQueen and Mater have a romp in the cow field. The first video is the actual scene, the second is Joshua's version. I posted this at the request of my sister Charlotte, enjoy!
for another version of Joshua's acting, click here.
for another version of Joshua's acting, click here.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Fun with the little kids
Anna took Joshua grocery shopping and I got to watch the two little ones, Sam and Maria. Boy did we have fun. First we made a fort with a fleece blanket and two chairs. After going in and out a few times Maria's hair was full of static electricity causing her hair to stand up and making her look freakishly cute.
Next, because they are always trying to use me as their personal jungle gym, I thought of a new way for them to have fun...a cross between gymnastis and a monkey bar. I did this with them at least a hundred times, until my arms practically fell off.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Saved by Amy
The big car was barreling around the bend on Ann Arbor road and did a 360 degree spin right where we would have been. We would have been in a horrible accident with this car if it weren't for Amy Redente.
Just 20 minutes earlier Amy Redente invited Anna to join them at the Ice Sculpture show near our home. We couldn't go because Maria was still recovering from her operation. But on the way home as we approched the Ann Arbor Road / Ann Arbor Trail fork in the road Anna asked me to veer off our normal path home so we could pass by the Ice Sculptures. After a small protest, I went left.
The timeing was amazing...5 seconds later a big Lincoln Towncar came speeding around the curve where we would have been, his tires hit some snow on the shoulder, he tried to pull himself out too quickly, and he did a complete 360 spin in the EXACT SPOT where we would have been passing by him. He then slammed into the gaurd rail with the side of the car.
Even though we were in a safe spot, it all seemed to happen in slow motion, I pointed and told Anna, "that guy is going to crash." We slowed down and watched as it al happened.
Thanks to Amy for your generos friendship in telling us about the ice show, and thanks to God for keeping our family safe!
(the guy in the accident was apparently more embarrased than injured because he drove away without even checking the damage on the side of his car).
Just 20 minutes earlier Amy Redente invited Anna to join them at the Ice Sculpture show near our home. We couldn't go because Maria was still recovering from her operation. But on the way home as we approched the Ann Arbor Road / Ann Arbor Trail fork in the road Anna asked me to veer off our normal path home so we could pass by the Ice Sculptures. After a small protest, I went left.
The timeing was amazing...5 seconds later a big Lincoln Towncar came speeding around the curve where we would have been, his tires hit some snow on the shoulder, he tried to pull himself out too quickly, and he did a complete 360 spin in the EXACT SPOT where we would have been passing by him. He then slammed into the gaurd rail with the side of the car.
Even though we were in a safe spot, it all seemed to happen in slow motion, I pointed and told Anna, "that guy is going to crash." We slowed down and watched as it al happened.
Thanks to Amy for your generos friendship in telling us about the ice show, and thanks to God for keeping our family safe!
(the guy in the accident was apparently more embarrased than injured because he drove away without even checking the damage on the side of his car).
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Much Better
Maria had a great night sleep with no snoring and no periods of apnea. Praise God. She woke up this morning happy, hungry and smiling. She is now sitting at the table and coloring in the book Grandma Bolster gave her.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Almost Pathetic
Maria has a really good attitude, she is trying hard to communicate with us even though her throat is so sore.
I haven't seen her smile since the operation has been over. And everytime she coughs she cries the most pathetic little weak cry.
She is so cute just wanting to cuddle anybody who will hold her. In fact the nurse told us that when she first woke up from the general anesthesia she cried but when the nurse picked her up she just snuggled up to her and stopped crying--lots of other kids hit and kick.
Thanks for all the prayers: we are so happy that she did well enough to come home without having to spend a night in the hospital.
I haven't seen her smile since the operation has been over. And everytime she coughs she cries the most pathetic little weak cry.
She is so cute just wanting to cuddle anybody who will hold her. In fact the nurse told us that when she first woke up from the general anesthesia she cried but when the nurse picked her up she just snuggled up to her and stopped crying--lots of other kids hit and kick.
Thanks for all the prayers: we are so happy that she did well enough to come home without having to spend a night in the hospital.
Maria's surgery a success
Maria is back home with us already after her surgery. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed early this morning, and after only a couples hours in recovery the doctors said she was fine to come home. She was a real trooper, no fear or fighting going into the operation. She was very amiable with the doctors and nurses. We had a great doctor who was a very good listener and very gentle with her.
She is going to be pretty sore for a week or so, so please pray for her recovery. The result of this operation will most likey be a sounder night sleep and no more trouble breathing.
She is going to be pretty sore for a week or so, so please pray for her recovery. The result of this operation will most likey be a sounder night sleep and no more trouble breathing.
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