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| In the last 48 hours, my watch band has broken, my beaded lip-balm-holder-keychain fell off my keys, a rock chipped my windshield, my passport photos were rejected, one of the four pack of outdoor bulbs I put into the new fixtures blew as soon as I turned it on, one of the two lights on the new range hood failed to turn on at all, the big toe of my "good" foot has turned into an ingrown-nail ball of pain, and a potential $3800 error regarding my foot surgery has cropped up. Know why? Because I was counting on getting lots done on my show cake this last week of Peo's school, and Corran is out of town until December 28 (family emergency), so as many possible things to cause havoc in my life appear to be piling up. So today I took Peo to school, went and got new passport photos taken (it wasn't the photographer's fault, it was because I was wearing a white shirt, but the photographer offered me free replacements which was nice, but I paid anyway since it wasn't their fault...and I've heard they're the only place in Austin that does Canadian passport photos right), got home, inhaled a quick breakfast just as the range hood installers arrived, listened to them complain and work for about half an hour because it turns out this fancy new hood is "professional class" which is translation for "does not fit into the standard hole cut into the underside of the cabinet", then called the podiatrist's office to discuss the weird billing error stuff that came from the insurance company (they think it's an error too but can't be sure until they see their version come in), then went outside to plant the replacement trees the Arbor Foundation sent since the last ten died (they arrived on Saturday so I really had to get them in the ground today or tomorrow), then weeded the garden since the weeds were killing my plants and I haven't been able to weed since the surgery, then sprayed not-very-eco-friendly RoundUp on the weeds that have taken over the xeriscape and swallowed Peo's sandbox, then cleaned up all that stuff, then removed the good and bad bulbs from their fixtures and put them back in the box to return, then had a shower, then had lunch, then put together the package with the passport photos, then got in a WHOLE 45 MINUTES of sugar work, then went and stood in line at the post office for 45 minutes (which is why I bloody well avoid the place in December and had been oh so sensible in sending out Christmas packages weeks ago), then realized it was too late for me to make it to the podiatrist's office to pay them the remaining deductible they've been waiting for pending the resolution of the previous insurance error (I told them I'd be in today or tomorrow), then picked Peo up from school, then battled insane stupid-people-cutting-me-off traffic for 40 minutes back, then returned the box of light bulbs to Costco, then did Costco shopping and almost forgot to get more bulbs, then got home and put the new bulbs all in (they all work, yay), then put the groceries away, then made dinner with Peo (hot dogs wrapped in store-brand crescent roll dough, but I let her cut out Christmas cookie shapes...only as I opened the dough did I notice that there was some crusty dough on the outside of the can so I went with the theory that it was from something else and cut off a bit from that end of the roll just to be safe and we're all just going to assume it's fine because I was so not up to dealing with her mega-angst if the promised special dinner didn't happen), and now... *wilt* *droop* I still need to make cookie dough tonight, though, because it has to chill for tomorrow night Peo can make cookies for her teacher so we can take them to school on Thursday, which is her last day before the holiday. And my feet hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt....*whine* Did I mention that I got in a whole 45 minutes of sugar work? Yay me. I learned that with certain spherical objects that have an indentation on one side, when you're making the line that goes around the middle, you have to turn the sphere against the knife and not the other way around or else the indentation makes your eye want to slope the line and then it looks all wrong and you have to do it over again. At least Peo is funny...she keeps singing Christmas carols with entirely mangled lyrics. I don't mean Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, either (although I sang that to her and she was amused)...I mean like "a faybe is worn" for "a babe is born" and "you'll go down in this tree" for "you'll go down in history". She only believes my corrections about half the time... And the Lion King is over now so someone is demanding her stories before bed... eta Forgot to mention the wonky iPod...first it got stuck on shuffle driving home from the overlapping Christmas parties I had on Sunday and Peo was in tears because she only likes the songs, "IN THE RIGHT ORDER!" Since then, it has developed a habit of the music player crashing out at the worst times...like the wee hours of the morning when it's on as a white noise machine so I get woken up by the ticking of the fan, or when I was in the middle of doing the gardening today, or when driving on the highway with Peo and she's finally happy that the songs aren't shuffling... | ||||||
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Blatherings
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December 15th, 2009
November 23rd, 2009
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| Want to know more about why fructose (and therefore high fructose corn syrup) is bad for you on a biological level? This is a really interesting lecture (it is about an hour and a half long but worth it, and it's mostly listening with only a few slides you really have to look at, so you can do other things while listening) that goes into depth about how the body deals with fructose and sucrose badly: One thing I didn't know: apparently some formulas now contain as much as 46% corn syrup solids, which is leading to an obesity epidemic in six-month-olds. I never bought formula so I've never looked at the ingredients so maybe it's not in all of them, but damn, even being in one...if that's not a good reason to breastfeed I don't know what is! | ||||||
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November 17th, 2009
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| Peo and I have finally gotten our H1N1 shots and Peo now has had a seasonal flu shot too. I got my seasonal one weeks ago but nobody, including my doctor's clinic, knew how to get me an H1N1. I got it today because Peo's doctor put her on a short list to get it because of my compromised immune system (no spleen). In particular, Peo has to have the killed virus because the live one is a danger to me, so that got her on the list. The pediatrician's office called yesterday about a shot clinic today, so I took Peo out of school early for it, which annoyed her but she was pretty brave about it, considering how sore she was after getting a bunch for her fourth birthday last month. I asked if they'd do me too and they seemed happy enough to do it, as long as I paid up...yes, the three shots today came to a total of $70. I know a LOT of people who can't afford $70 right now. Here's to hoping this keeps us healthy for the next few months! | ||||||
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November 16th, 2009
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| For those who aren't worried about BPA in plastics, here's more to consider: Study links BPA in plastics to erectile dysfunction
Now, most people reading this will never be working in a factory where they're exposed to high levels like that. However, it does mean that those of us who purchase products containing BPA are contributing to the health problems of the workers. In essence, our convenience is poisoning other people. It'd be nice if we had more choices to not have to purchase it at all, but since it's in almost all canned food, that's very hard. And it does make me wonder about the long-term safety of exposing kids to the stuff. | ||||||
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November 8th, 2009
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| It's not just the health insurance companies that are stupid. It's the providers too (as I've mentioned before in my tale of why nobody should ever go to River Ranch Radiology): http://consumerist.com/5398768/hosp Granted, it's an error. But it's a very bad and very stupid error, and the bit about the patient being indigent is getting into evil territory. It demonstrates once again that the US model of health care is too focused on dollars over concern for humanity, which can never realistically be rectified as long as it remains a for-profit industry. It also reflects what I've been saying for some time about US health care: the stress of wondering if an error will come your way and then the subsequent stress of having to deal with the error and try to get it fixed is obscene. The last thing anyone needs when they are ill or dealing with an ill or deceased loved one is to have to deal with someone else's massive clerical errors. A more streamlined, single-payer system that covers everybody reduces errors simply by having less options that could be accidentally selected. | ||||||
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October 29th, 2009
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| Lack of health insurance played a role in thousands of child deaths, researchers say "This does not mean that the children received less aggressive care at the hospital but that they were probably in poorer health before the arrived, researchers said." Hopefully that's the last nail in the coffin of the moral hazard myth. Then again, anti-healthcare rhetoric knows no bounds. | ||||||
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October 28th, 2009
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| Gah, every time Senator John Cornyn opens his mouth about health care or replies to one of the petitions/emails I've signed/sent regarding health care, I just want so badly to paint my cane to say CLUE STICK in big bright letters and then find out where his local office is and then go down there and beat him with it. Stupid dumbfuck Republican asshole moron stinkface idiot. I used to be able to laugh at Texas, being represented by such idiots who are always being quoted on NPR with such incredibly ridiculous statements that reveal how out of touch they are, but now...*sigh*. | ||||||
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October 27th, 2009
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| This morning I went to the eye doctor for a screening test regarding getting eye surgery so I don't have to wear contact lenses through another allergy season. I do not wear glasses because I have severe astigmatism in one eye only, making my eyes focus at different distances, so I would have to have step-shaped glasses to avoid headaches from glasses (which I had for years as a kid until I got contacts). They said that even though my prescription is fairly high and my corneas a bit thin, the new Epi-LASEK (note the E, it's not LASIK) should work to get me contact-lens-free. They said there's a bit more discomfort and inconvenience involved compared to LASIK, but from what I've read it looks like there's also slightly less risk of some of the complications that LASIK has. The clinic my eye doctor partners with for surgery is called LaserView and they do seem to be a long-term, not-chop-shop establishment. I can't find any reviews online, though, other than one guy's blog who seems happy enough with the clinic but ended up regretting his LASIK surgery because of complications. I read some more around at various websites, some general eye-care sites, some doctors marketing their surgery, and it looks like I would have to expect 2-4 weeks for the vision to really come up, which seems like a long time. Plus I'd have to buy glasses and wear them for two weeks prior to the surgery, which means two weeks of headahces. So really, I'd be looking at almost two months of hassle, poor vision, discomfort, etc. That's kind of a lot when my main reason for doing this is to avoid the discomfort and hassle of contact lenses for three or four months of allergies. And it's not like my eyes won't itch in future allergy seasons, it's just that without contacts I could use drops or at least not have the contacts getting icky and making it worse. We can afford the $3900 it'll cost, but that's still a lot to pay if it doesn't make things better and risks making them worse. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I'm leaning towards no. But if any of you have had Epi-LASEK surgery and want to share any information, I'd be grateful. Also, if any of you have been to LaserView and want to share information, that'd be good too. Thanks. | ||||||
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October 26th, 2009
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| Sen. Franken: "You said the way we're going will increase bankruptcies...How many bankruptcies because of medical crises were there last year in Switzerland?" So awesome. | ||||||
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October 22nd, 2009
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| Hey all of you out there who are horrible parents like Corran and I as evidenced by your non-standard-sized child, pay attention. Your kid can be denied health care coverage in the US if they're too thin or too fat, and the latest case shows that if you're proactive in trying to address the issue, that might be what gets you in trouble too: Heavy infant in Grand Junction denied health insurance Toddler denied insurance for being too small And here we were being so damned thrilled that Peo weighed in just over 30 lbs at her 4th birthday doctor's appointment last week, because the Wii Fit board still marks her as being just under 30. Guess she's at risk of being denied coverage. How fun. | ||||||
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October 16th, 2009
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| I was sitting with some other parents outside of Peo's music class and we were discussing school and whether each of our kids likes it or not. I said that Peo loves it and was furious with me yesterday because as far as she sees it, I made her miss the morning of school to take her to the doctor where she got jabbed with needles. Worse, at first I said she'd only get one because the doctor said that, but then it turned out she needed four (she couldn't have the combo because she's had her full dose of one of the ones in the combo). So I said that I was getting angry glares all morning for depriving of her of school and taking her to "a place where people HURT ME!" The other parents laughed that knowing laugh...except one. Who then jumped down my throat about the mercury in vaccines. I immediately thought, "Do I get into it with this person or leave it?" I decided to leave it. But then she repeated about vaccines having mercury in them and that not being safe. So I got sucked in and said, "Actually, they don't have mercury any more." She said, "Yes they do." I sighed and said, "Some childhood vaccines used to have thimerosal, which contains mercury, but they haven't had it in years." She says something about being a research biologist so therefore she knows about such things. I said, "Okay, whatever, but you're wrong. I was worried about it too and my pediatrician has shown me labels on vaccines that indicate they are thimerosal-free." (Actually it was our Vegas pediatrician and I'll admit I haven't had the Austin one do so, but that's because I know thimerosal has been phased out for years.) So of course, she brings up the autism thing. To which I said that the MMR study often cited as "proving" the link between vaccines and autism was a badly done study with something like 12 kids, several of whom exhibited signs of autism BEFORE they got the MMR. I said, "A study of 12 is not good science." One of the other parents nervously said, "Um, I'm pretty sure they don't put mercury in them any more." So the anti-vax woman keeps going on and on, and eventually I said, "Look, I respect those parents who choose not to vaccinate. I let them know when my kid has been vaccinated so they can keep their kids away for a week or so. I support parent choice. But I don't have a lot of sympathy for the parents who post to message boards complaining that they're boiling sheets for their five kids with mumps because if they made that decision." She was furious and told me I had no right to tell anyone how to decide for their kids, and then snidely said that if I chose to vaccinate, that was my problem. And I said (probably stupidly), "And if someone else choose to live with sixteenth century medicine, I'm not obligated to feel sorry for them if it doesn't work out." Then she told me off for being insulting and starting such a discussion. I pointed out that she was the one who started it by coming down on me for having vaccinated my kid. She said that wasn't true. I said yeah it was. She said she wasn't judging me, so I repeated back her initial statements and of course she didn't like that. She demanded that we drop it. I said, "Okay, then drop it." She says, "YOU drop it!" I said, "It's dropped!" She says, "Then you have to stop talking about it!" I said, "I have! If you want it dropped, then drop it!" She says, "YOU drop it!" again. I rolled my eyes and said, "It would be dropped if you would stop telling me to drop it!" She stormed off. One of the other mothers had slipped away earlier. The one who was left and I then had a lengthy conversation about how it's kinda sorta important to read the CURRENT information before espousing to others. She was the one who had said she was pretty sure the mercury was gone too. She pointed out that those who choose not to vaccinate can largely do so since the rest of us do vaccinate and keep many of these diseases from being so prevalent in the first place. We talked about autism levels being on the rise and all of the various factors that might or might not be part of that, and how maybe the thimerosal was involved, but how the fact remains that the standard childhood vaccines just don't have it anymore. Then we talked about how frustrating it can be when people decide something is true, even when it's not, and spread it around with authority and other people believe that and that's how myths get propagated. I brought up the example of pineapple juice in infertility...a few years ago it was all over the fertility discussion that vast quantities of pineapple juice could help you conceive. I had the audacity to ask if there was clinical data on that and ruffled some feathers. I don't know if it helps or not, maybe it does. I know people who had trouble conceiving for years and then drank pineapple juice and got pregnant. But I also know people, like myself, who had trouble conceiving for years and then one time it finally worked and no pineapple juice was consumed. Correlation is not causation. I also know that for women with PCOS, carb intake must be strictly managed to keep estrogen levels stable, and juice of any kind is counter-productive. So spreading around anecdotal information can actually be dangerous. Maybe there is clinical data now about pineapple juice. Maybe there will one day be conclusive, well-researched proof about vaccines and autism. But right now, the FACT is that the mercury has been removed from all childhood vaccines. There are flu vaccines with thimerosal but there are also ones without and I know that's what our pediatrician uses. Some vaccines never had it at all. Here is a government table that lists information on thimerosal in vaccines, because nobody should take my word for it any more than the person who spouted off at me today. I suppose one could say that the government is biased and might be lying and hiding mercury in them, but that reaches a level of unlikely conspiracy that I refuse to discuss as plausible. If people want to argue about whether vaccines are a good idea or not, that's one thing, but I do require that people bloody well get their facts straight before jumping on others, mmmkay? The mercury was there in some, it is gone now. Point. | ||||||
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October 8th, 2009
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![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} nightxade has a post with some important info on the HPV vaccine Gardasil that parents considering using it should read:http://nightxade.livejournal.com/49 Remember: I'm not anti-vaccination, but I am against a naughty big pharma company (Merck, who was previously sued for their Vioxx coverup) going so far to try to shove this on kids when there are obviously questions about its efficacy and safety. | ||||||
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September 28th, 2009
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| Last article post of the day, I promise...but this was just really nifty in a medical-science way: Blind Woman Sees With 'Tooth-in-Eye' Surgery - basically, they remake an eye in a sort of mouth kind of way. It's kind of meaty reading that might gross some people out, so be warned. I thought it was nifty. | ||||||
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September 27th, 2009
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| I've lost count of how many of these hideous stories there have been lately, but have another one just for kicks... US Health Care Sucks Reason Number 51239713783 CA Insurer: Woman's Bleeding Breast Not Emergency Summed up, a woman woke to a shirt covered in blood and appeared to be bleeding from her breast, so she went to the emergency room. Her insurance tried to deny the claim on the basis of it not being an emergency. They've paid up now that her local news team came a-callin'. | ||||||
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| "I think your mom probably did." Awesome. | ||||||
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September 22nd, 2009
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| Apparently, in recent years these have also been reasons US health insurance companies have used to deny coverage: being a cop, firefighter, construction worker, athelete, logger, migrant worker, or war correspondent. Or having had acne, allergies, ADD, or bunions. And: 'Pregnancy and expectant fatherhood are common grounds for denial. Blue Shield of California's 2006 guide even goes a step farther and considers families with an adoption in process a "declinable condition."' Consumerist: Sorry, Sir, Firefighting Is A Pre-Existing Condition And in case you missed it, being a victim of domestic abuse is a condition that insurance companies have used to deny coverage as well. I recall that in Sicko, Moore had a huge list of conditions that lead to exclusion. With all of this, who the hell has coverage other than through work/Medicare/Medicaid? Sheesh. | ||||||
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September 20th, 2009
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| Source on Daily Kos, which includes a PDF version for handy printing. The Teabagger Socialist-Free Purity Pledge by Laura Clawson I, ________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following: I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights. I will complain about the destruction of my 2nd Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public. I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also. I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following: * Social Security * Medicare/Medicaid * State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) * Police, Fire, and Emergency Services * US Postal Service * Roads and Highways * Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA) * The US Railway System * Public Subways and Metro Systems * Public Bus and Lightrail Systems * Rest Areas on Highways * Sidewalks * All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009 federal senate appropriations) * Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!) * Public and State Universities and Colleges * Public Primary and Secondary Schools * Sesame Street * Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children * Public Museums * Libraries * Public Parks and Beaches * State and National Parks * Public Zoos * Unemployment Insurance * Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services * Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them) * Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them) * Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions) * Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking * Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies * Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C. I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to: * Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History * The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments * The government-operated Statue of Liberty * The Grand Canyon * The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials * The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery * All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare. I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America. I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army. I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees. Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks. Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die. SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR ___. _____________ _________________________ Signed Printed Name/Town and State | ||||||
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September 15th, 2009
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| Oh, this is a special new level of sick... Domestic violence is a "pre-existing condition"? - "...in DC and eight other states, including Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming, insurance companies have gone too far, claiming that 'domestic violence victim' is also a pre-existing condition." That is FUCKED UP. | ||||||
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Blatherings
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