It's a Jolly Holi-dog Celebration!

As a public employee.....please stop the lies

PEGGY LEE - I Like a Sleighride (Jingle Bells) (1967)

My favorite Christmas song.

YouTube - PEGGY LEE - I Like a Sleighride (Jingle Bells) (1967)

Rescued Baby Hummingbird

Love, love, love this. Saw it linked at Cuteoverload.com

Turning it Around...

Really, really want Pete to be our next Gov. too. Pete in 2012!

Why Knowing Your Vitamin D Levels Might Save Your Life - Oprah.com

Great article from Oprah.com

Why Knowing Your Vitamin D Levels Might Save Your Life - Oprah.com

Greater resistance to viruses

During a recent study, researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine discovered that people with high levels of vitamin D got sick about half as often as people with low levels. And when they did fall ill, they recovered in fewer days. The reason: Vitamin D instructs your white blood cells to manufacture a protein that kills infections.

Less cancer

Specifically, a 30 to 50 percent lower chance of breast cancer, and a 50 percent lower chance of colon cancer. D regulates some of the genes responsible for cellular growth and survival, says Holick, and it does its job cleverly: "It helps shut down any out-of-control growth to prevent malignancy. If that doesn't work, it will help kill the cell. And if a tumor grows anyway, it will work to cut off blood supply."

Higher cancer survival rate

At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, researchers found that colon cancer patients with high levels of D had a 39 percent lower chance of dying from the disease. And this might actually apply to all cancers, says Edward Giovannucci, MD, ScD, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.

More at link

Rep. Peter DeFazio Investigating Impeachment For Chief Justice John Roberts

Picture credit eastbaycitizen.com as far as I can find out. Love it, love it, love it.

Rep. Peter DeFazio Investigating Impeachment For Chief Justice John Roberts

I mean, the Supreme Court has done a tremendous disservice to the United States of America," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) told The Huffington Post on Tuesday. "They have done more to undermine our democracy with theirCitizens United decision than all of the Republican operatives in the world in this campaign. They've opened the floodgates, and personally, I'm investigating articles of impeachment against Justice Roberts for perjuring during his Senate hearings, where he said he wouldn't be a judicial activist, and he wouldn't overturn precedents."

Changing Education Paradigms

Brilliant!

Changing Education Paradigms

Brilliant!

YouTube - RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

Bodacious Tatas!

Fake (+)(+) Perfect (o)(o) Perky (*)(*) Cold (^)(^) and even Grandmas \./\./ ~~~Big(O)(O) or Small (•)(•) LET'S SAVE THEM ALL!!! PINK RIBBON

Vitamin D Linked to Childhood Obesity - Diabetes Health

Vitamin D Linked to Childhood Obesity - Diabetes Health

Vitamin D deficiency is a culprit that repeatedly comes up in the battle against obesity. Actually, vitamin D is not a vitamin at all. It is a hormone precursor found in cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), which is created when sunlight containing ultraviolet light (UVB) hits bare skin long enough to turn the skin pink, but not red. That length of time varies based on skin pigmentation.

Grand Jury Probes George Tiller Murder

Grand Jury Probes George Tiller Murder - News Story - KMBC Kansas City

At least one Justice Department civil rights prosecutor attended Roeder's trial, along with agents from the FBI. Shortly after Tiller's death, the Justice Department increased security around womens health facilities and opened an ongoing investigation.

Conservatives always talk about "smaller" government but then they want to barge into our doctor's offices anytime they please.

Jailed for not reciting the pledge

Scary, scary stuff.

From Jonathan Turley.....

Mississippi Chancery Judge Talmadge Littlejohn means it when he asks everyone to stand and say the pledge of allegiance. When attorney Danny Lampley of Oxford stood but did not recite, Littlejohn threw him in jail.

Littlejohn was just honored by the Mississippi bar for 50 years in public service.

Lampley was jailed from 9:40 a.m. and released about 2:30 p.m. on the judge’s orders.

The contempt sanction is, in my view, both injudicious and unconstitutional. Requiring an attorney to recite the pledge is a violation of his free speech rights. There is no question that an attorney must comply with court orders and that a judge is given considerable leeway in running his courtroom. However, that does not include monitoring pledge recitals.

http://jonathanturley.org/2010/10/07/mississippi-lawyer-jailed-by-court-for-not-reciting-pledge-of-allegiance/

We need new leadership at the state level

A great guy who lives our values every day vs. a jerk from DC who will never live in Indiana. How does this happen?

Poll shows Coats comfortably leading Ellsworth - chicagotribune.com

Forget Gibbs. Bring Back Dean as DNC Chair | The Nation

50 State Strategy! No more centrists. We need a true partisan.

Forget Gibbs. Bring Back Dean as DNC Chair | The Nation

Dance, Lizzie, Dance.

We need Universal Coverage now!

A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1.

AP Poll: Repeal? Many wish health law went further - Boston.com

Bayh Says Poverty Increase Means We Should Ignore 'Fairness' And Cut Tax...

Assholeyness in action.

Gingrich loses his mind...

And the establishment treats acts like he's not crazy...Obama Derangement Syndrome can take some strange people to some strange places. Disgraced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), in all his pseudo-intellectual glory, has become so enveloped in his own garbage, he appears to have suffered some kind of severe head trauma.

Gingrich's trip to Crazy Town began quite a while ago, but in recent months, his unbridled hatred of the president has pushed him to the point of sputtering, incoherent rage. Earlier in the summer, Gingrich insisted that Obama and his allies represent "as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union once did."

G.O.P. Leader Tightly Bound to Lobbyists - NYTimes.com

I remember when he was passing out checks from the tobacco industry on the floor of the house. Real classy guy.

A G.O.P. Leader Tightly Bound to Lobbyists - NYTimes.com

Indeed!

John Hopkins study on Anxiety|depression in older adults

Johns Hopkins: Depression|Anxiety on vitamin D|depression in older adults

Low levels of vitamin D are common in older adults, often causing high levels of parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism) -- and both may be associated withdepression in older adults, according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry (Volume 65, page 508).

Researchers in the Netherlands measured blood levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in 1,282 residents ages 65 to 95 and assessed any symptoms of depression. Twenty-six participants had major depression and 169 had minor depression.

Researchers found that overall, 39% of men and 57% of women had insufficient levels of vitamin D. These levels were 14% lower in participants with either major or minor depression than in those without depression. In addition, parathyroid hormone levels were 5% higher in people with minor depression and 33% higher in those with major depression than in those who were not depressed.

One Nation Working Together

One Nation Working Together

Vitamin D Cancer Link Revealed: Could Popping a Pill Cut Cancer Risk? - Health Blog - CBS News

CBS finally notices. I dislike the rather flip headline but folks....pay attention.

It's too early to say for sure, but a new study adds to the growing body of evidence linking a deficiency of the "sunshine vitamin" to colorectal cancer as well as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

That's big news, as up to a billion people around the world are believed to have a vitamin D deficiency - including up half of adults and children in the U.S.

Vitamin D Cancer Link Revealed: Could Popping a Pill Cut Cancer Risk? - Health Blog - CBS News

Wheeeeee.......

Koch brothers’ war against Obama

The billionaire Koch brothers’ war against Obama : The New Yorker

The Kochs have long depended on the public’s not knowing all the details about them. They have been content to operate what David Koch has called “the largest company that you’ve never heard of.” But with the growing prominence of the Tea Party, and with increased awareness of the Kochs’ ties to the movement, the brothers may find it harder to deflect scrutiny. Recently, President Obama took aim at the Kochs’ political network.

Vitamin D found to influence over 200 genes, highlighting links to disease

So exciting. Just kind of mind-blowing when you think about it.

Vitamin D found to influence over 200 genes, highlighting links to disease

It is estimated that one billion people worldwide do not have sufficient vitamin D. This deficiency is thought to be largely due to insufficient exposure to the sun and in some cases to poor diet. As well as being a well-known risk factor for rickets, there is a growing body of evidence that vitamin D deficiency also increases an individual's susceptibility to autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, as well as certain cancers and even dementia. More at link.

Tolerance and Mosque...from the Chi Trib

Our Constitution guarantees the freedom of all faiths. Not just the ones most of us are comfortable having as neighbors. Not just the ones that attract the most members or the ones whose faith traditions resemble our own. All faiths.

Tolerance and a mosque - chicagotribune.com

Vitamin D may regulate allergic responses

Vitamin D may regulate allergic responses

Individuals who regularly have strong allergic reactions to things like mold may want to consider seeking a vitamin D tests, as a new study from researchers at Louisiana State University found that the nutrient can reduce the symptoms of mold allergies that are known to complicate asthma and cystic fibrosis.

Russia's Pavlovsk Seed Vault Threatened by Real Estate Developers | Sustainable Food | Change.org

Please visit the website and sign the petition!

Russia's Pavlovsk Seed Vault Threatened by Real Estate Developers | Sustainable Food | Change.org

Vitamin D is Vital to Health

Vitamin D is Vital to Health - Technorati Lifestyle

Just spreading the sunshine!

UCR Newsroom: Biochemist Proposes Worldwide Policy Change to Step Up Daily Vitamin D Intake

UCR Newsroom: Biochemist Proposes Worldwide Policy Change to Step Up Daily Vitamin D Intake

New Vitamin D Council newsletter out today!

As usual, Dr. Cannell hits the right mark on Vitamin D toxicity.

http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/newsletter/gary-null-and-vitamin-d-toxicity.shtml

Water Purifying Floating Pool Cleans NY's Rivers

I would love to see a series of these along the St. Joe river here in Indiana and Michigan. What a great idea.

Water Purifying Floating Pool Cleans New York's Rivers | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

It's hot out -- especially in NYC -- and swimming in a nice cool pool would be just the ticket, but alas public pools are few and far between. One of group of designers and architects is proposing a floating pool in the rivers of New York City that would actually filter and clean the water while serving as a public amenity to help New Yorkers cool off during the heat waves. + Pool is a fantastic concept for an offshore pool complete with a deck that offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline

AIDS 2010: Researchers Moving Toward HIV/AIDS Treatments and Cures

Promising Research

Some of the most interesting research involves vitamin D. Study investigators from Switzerland analyzed 211 HIV-positive patients to determine their vitamin D levels in the spring and the fall, resulting in the highest and lowest vitamin D levels in their bodies. In HIV-infected patients, vitamin D supplementation was shown to improve T-cell counts and lower death rates from HIV.

How It Works

Vitamin D is involved in hundreds of body processes. Its absence can result disrupt many vital process leading to a wide variety of conditions and diseases, ranging from depression to breast cancer to diabetes and high blood pressure.

What's Next

The study investigators recommend that all HIV-positive patients routinely be screened for vitamin-D deficiency and receive an adequate supply to reduce their risk for adverse outcomes.

Picture of Alghero harbor, Sept 2009

Scientists taking vitamin D in droves

I think they know something we don't know!
Scientists taking vitamin D in droves

Picture of waterfront

Alghero, Italy

Sept 2009

Dean Baker: The Attack of the Real Black Helicopter Gang: The IMF Is Coming for Our SS

After destroying the world's economy they now want to destroy our personal security.

Dean Baker: The Attack of the Real Black Helicopter Gang: The IMF Is Coming for Your Social Security

Last week, the IMF told the United States that it needs to start getting its budget deficit down. It put cutting Social Security at the top of the steps that the country should take to achieve deficit reduction. This one is more than a bit outrageous for two reasons.

Vinpocetine - anti-inflammatory supplement may help COPD

Yay, new news on my disease. A widely and safely used plant extract - vinpocetine - acts as a novel anti-inflammatory agent that may one day be used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as other inflammatory conditions. There is an urgent need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as COPD, otitis media (ear infection), and atherosclerosis (chronic inflammation in the walls of arteries), because the most effective and commonly used agents – steroids – often cause serious side effects, such as liver damage, which prevent long-term use.

Public advice on suntanning may mean vitamin deficiency risk

Stintino on Sardegna

Sept. 2009

Beautiful beach

Public advice on suntanning may mean vitamin deficiency risk - Health News, Health & Families - The Independent

Oliver Gillie: Time to abandon this outdated view on staying out of the sun

From the Independent UK
Oliver Gillie: Time to abandon this outdated view on staying out of the sun - Commentators, Opinion - The Independent

Kiss your coconut shrimp goodbye

How Much Oil Has Leaked Into the Gulf of Mexico? From PBS News

So very sad. I added the "Estimated Gallons Leaked" gauge at the bottom. So many livelihoods will be lost...tourism, fishing, everything will be affected. Seafood prices will never be the same. This is an unimaginable environmental disaster.

We humans can do better than this.

Texas Board of Education sucks...

There are times when being from Indiana can be pretty bad, but the Lonestar Loonies are far worse than *anyone here in Hoosierville.



*except maybe Mitch Daniels

Sign the petition....

Boycott Arizona

Cheech and Chong - "Born In East L.A."

BOYCOTT ARIZONA!!

Sonoma County Separates Senior Gay Couple

I tried to post this earlier this morning but I couldn't get it to link. This just breaks my heart. How do these things still happen? From Bilerico Project:

One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold's care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes.

GE Pays Zero In Taxes saying all of its profits were overseas...

Corporate Leeches suck up more corporate welfare. From Naked Capitalism:

Guest Post: After Getting Bailed Out By American Taxpayers, General Electric Pays ZERO U.S. Taxes, Pretending that All of Its Profits are Overseas

Vitamin D 'triggers and arms' the immune system

NEW RESEARCH...Vitamin D is crucial to the fending off of infections! Simply amazing.
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defences and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system – T cells – will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.

For T cells to detect and kill foreign pathogens such as clumps of bacteria or viruses, the cells must first be ‘triggered’ into action and "transform" from inactive and harmless immune cells into killer cells that are primed to seek out and destroy all traces of invaders.

The researchers found that the T cells rely on vitamin D in order activate and they would remain dormant, ‘naïve’ to the possibility of threat if vitamin D is lacking in the blood.

Professor Carsten Geisler from the Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, said: "When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signalling device or ‘antenna’ known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D.

Click here for more article goodness!

Good, Fast Food to Cook!

I really enjoy good fresh food but never seem to have time anymore. Xanthe Clay of the Telegraph.co.uk makes cooking good things easier with her 5 minute reicipe videos. Some really wonderful, easy things here and videos are fun to watch.

Five Minute Food

I'm watching the five minute ones today. I'll indulge in the 10 Minutes To Table series over the weekend!

Mr. Evan Bayh - the song

Made me laugh! So true.

10 Ways to Stop the Corporate Dominance of Politics following Ctizens United v. FEC

From Yes Magazine
We have got to something about the corporate influence in this country. It's simply appalling what they get away with.

10 Ways to Stop the Corporate Dominance of Politics following Ctizens United v. FEC

Pilobolus on Late Night with Conan O'Brien

This is just so cool.

Why bipartisanship can't work: the expert view

From James Fallows at The Atlantic

Why bipartisanship can't work: the expert view: "I got this note from someone with many decades' experience in national politics, about a discussion between two Congressmen over details of the stimulus bill:'GOP member: 'I'd like this in the bill.' 'Dem member response: 'If we put it in,..."

Vitamin D Deficiency and Autism

The Vitamin D Newsletter
January 30, 2010.

This month, Dr. Cannell dedicates the entire newsletter from the Vitamin D Council to a mother's lengthy case report of her autistic son. Other than name and place of residence, the letter was not edited.

Dear Dr. Cannell:
At age 2.5 years, between December 2007 and January 2008, my son experienced a fairly dramatic onset of symptoms that led to his diagnosis of autism. His symptoms (many of which we did not even know the terminology for at the time they first occurred) included:

--The inability to sleep at night, we would put him to bed at 8:00 or 8:30 p.m. following his normal bedtime routine
--Development of anxiety and refusal to leave the house even to do preferred activities
--Obsessive-repetitive questions and monologuing/run-on speech
--Sensory issues (refusal to wear jeans or any fabrics other than fleece, screaming hysterically at bath time, complaining and covering eyes in sunlight, covering ears for everyday noises that had not bothered him before (toilets flushing, pulling pots and pans from cupboards, etc.)
--Toe-walking
--Flapping and self-stimulating behaviors (repeatedly tapping his cheeks and eyes with all ten fingers, continually twisting up his fingers in pretzel-like configurations, holding objects in his peripheral range of vision and straining to see them from the corner of his eyes)
--Development of an unusual pattern of stuttering/vocal tic at the end of words,he would repeat the last sound/syllable,"I don't want to go to the store-or-or-or-or-or-or. It won't be fun-n-n-n-n-n-n-n." He would make sounds even in his sleep "n-n-n-n-n-n" or "s-s-s-s-s-s-s"
--Loss of muscle tone (stopped walking up and down stairs and began crawling/sliding instead, decline in balance and motor skills)
--loss of handedness (began switching left to right hand, after seeming predominantly left-handed)
--Marked increase in hyperactivity
--Frequent spacing out/unresponsive episodes

Our son and his twin sister were born at 36 weeks, 5 days on March 17, 2005 after four months of bed-rest. As early as their 8 week appointment, I mentioned to our pediatrician that we had concerns about our son's eye contact and social responsiveness (in comparison to his sister). I felt that I was having more difficulty bonding with him. We were told "don't worry, but don't wait" and were referred to our state's Early On intervention program. At the end of June a physical therapist and speech pathologist from our intermediate school district came to our home to evaluate our then 3 month old son and told me that he was doing just fine and that I was worrying too much. I agreed that by the time they saw him he had begun smiling and making better eye contact.

We didn't worry again about our son until fall 2006. He had walked just before his first birthday, but by 18 months+ he still seemed clumsy and prone to falling compared to his sister. We took him back to the intermediate school district for evaluation and were told that all of his development seemed to be in the normal range and that we shouldn't worry. We were advised that we could take him to music and gym classes to work on his coordination and told that we could pay for private physical therapy if we elected. We followed all of the recommendations.
For a year, we didn't notice any other changes until the sudden onset of symptoms listed above when he was 2.5 years. With the sudden onset of symptoms above, we took our son to see a number of specialists during the winter of 2008 including a neurologist (who diagnosed him with Asperger Syndrome), a psychologist (who diagnosed with autism), and a second psychologist who specialized in the treatment of autism (who diagnosed him with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not-Otherwise-Specified). All three diagnoses are on the autism spectrum. He also began seeing an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a behavioral specialist, and a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) doctor for dietary interventions. We saw a dramatic improvement by April/May of that year. Nearly all the symptoms on the list above had resolved. We assumed the improvements were due to diet but he started to go into the sun around that time. Our son slept well and spent many peaceful, happy and anxiety-free months during the spring and summer after turning three.

In mid-November 2008, I sent the following e-mail to the DAN doctor who had been helping us with our son.

"You saw our son Jonathan Switzer a few times regarding his autism diagnosis and diet issues, etc. He had a regressive period last winter from about December through April when his autism was diagnosed, then did pretty well all summer. Nursery school started off okay, too, but now he seems to be having another regression.
Main symptoms:
--Great difficulty getting to sleep (fidgets for 2 plus hours most nights while he had been falling asleep easily for several months prior to that)
--Marked increase in anxiety (again refusing to leave the house even to do things he loves, frequently shaking/clenching and telling us "I'm scared)
--Onset of OCD-like behaviors (afraid to get hands dirty, get extremely upset if he gets even tiny drips of water on himself)
--Increase in self-stimulatory behaviors (flapping, fidgeting, noise-making)
--Frequent crying jags and telling us he's just giving up on everything
We have had other parents tell us that their kids on the spectrum have a worsening of symptoms during the winter months and we feel like we are observing this same pattern. We've done some reading about light therapy for depression/anxiety and to help correct disturbed sleep patterns and would like to give it a try for Jonathan.
Wondering if you have ever prescribed a light therapy box for pediatric patients before. Our insurance told us they will cover it with a diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder, but I don't even know if that is something that can be diagnosed in children. Guess we're willing to try anything at this point. Do you know much about this type of therapy?"

Neither the DAN Doctor nor our pediatrician would write a prescription for a therapy light, so we purchased one on our own and found it made no discernible impact on his symptoms.

By December, our son's symptoms had worsened further and we decided to put him in a very expensive and intensive autism treatment program through our local hospital. He made slow progress during his participation in the program from January through April. He was also involved in speech and occupational therapy during the winter months. At his IEPC meeting at school in March, we were encouraged to put him in the district's program for children with developmental delays. We instead elected to register him for regular pre-school for the following year.

During that winter, I was crying to some friends about my son and describing his seemingly seasonal pattern of symptoms. We had just seen a second neurologist searching for help, and I was extremely frustrated when, after listening to my son's symptoms and history, he told me bluntly, "There is nothing seasonal about autism," then suggested that we put our son on an anti-depressant. We refused the medication. One of the friends I was crying to is a research librarian and the other is a medical researcher. After our conversation, they located and e-mailed me a few journal articles they thought might help, one of the articles was by Dr. Cannell and discussed his vitamin D theory of autism. Reading the article was one of those "Aha!" moments and I felt hopeful that Dr. Cannell was on to something.
By June our son was released from both speech therapy and occupational therapy and we were told that he no longer showed any delays for his age. When he had begun occupational therapy in January, the OT had been astonished at our son's lack of muscle tone. She recommended that he also receive Physical Therapy services, so we went on a long waiting list. Our initial OT was in a car accident, and in May we were transferred to a new OT. When the new OT first saw our son, she said could not believe he was the same child described in the notes. By May the low muscle tone, hyperactivity and distractibility noted in his file, were no longer evident. His turn came up for physical therapy and we were told he no longer needed it.

Our son has always spent a lot of time outdoors in the summer, without sunblock. He had a happy and relaxing summer. As fall/back-to-school approached, I began to fear the onset of another regression and again read the article by Dr. Cannell my friend had sent. I visited his website and decided we would try a vitamin D supplement. Our pediatrician did not encourage any dose higher than 400 i.u. (that found in a typical multivitamin) but did write a script to have his 25-hydroxy level tested. In August his level was 37, so we started him on 5,000 iu daily and had his level retested on October 21st. By October his level was 96. The pediatrician was concerned that this was too high and told us he should not have more than 400 iu per day.

Knowing that Nov-March are typically his worst months, we reduced the dosage down only to 3,000 iu from October through mid-December. At an appointment in December our son was doing wonderfully (none of his usual fall/winter symptoms yet evident) and the pediatrician told us 3,000 iu was too much and that we should be giving no more than 400 iu. In mid-December we reduced the dose to 1,500 iu. By the beginning of January we noted a marked loss of eye contact. We also noted that our son was again interchanging his right hand for writing and eating (after using his left hand exclusively for 8+ months). We increased his vitamin D level to 4,000 iu daily in early January. On January 11 we had his 25-Hydroxy level checked on January 11 and found that it was 89. By the end of January, we and his grandparents noted improvement in his eye contact.

In January 2010 we attended his preschool conferences. The teacher had marked cards with the following code (1=age appropriate, 2=developing, 3=area of concern). Our son received 1s in all areas with the exception of hopping on one foot and balance beam where he received 2s. We were told that he is on par with or ahead of his peers in all areas (academic, fine motor, etc.), and that his teacher had noted no unusual symptoms or concerns.

During the fall/winter 2009-2010 our son has been free from nearly all of the most troubling symptoms that plagued him the previous two winters. The following example may demonstrate the improvement in his daily life since last winter.

One of our son's low points was a Christmas party we attended in December 2008. Before leaving the house to attend the party our son screamed and yelled about having to take a bath and because we would not let him wear sweatpants to the party. He then begged us not to make him leave the house. During the 40 minute trip to the party our son asked us repetitive questions and talked incessantly. Upon arriving at the party, he immediately walked into an unoccupied room adjacent to the room where the party was occurring, and put his face into the corner. Despite much coaxing by my husband and me, he refused to come out of the corner.

After approximately 45 minutes of standing in the corner we managed to get him out through the promise of some food rewards. He proceeded to walk around and around the perimeter of the living room where all of the other kids were playing. He rubbed himself along the walls and covered his ears as he walked. He finally settled into playing alone in a corner of the room. All of the kids at the party participated in a book exchange. Our son refused to come to the area where the other kids were gathered. We coaxed him over only to have him throw the book he received and refuse to thank the parent who had purchased it for him. He spent much of the evening in time-outs for that and other inappropriate behavior.

In June of 2008, after playing in the sun for several months, we met for a picnic with the same group of friends at a local park. Our son ran up to the other children and joined right in playing bulldozers in the sand with them. He behaved and interacted in a completely appropriate and typical way during the picnic which lasted several hours.

This year (2009) we attended the same Christmas party at the same house. Our son got ready and left for the party without anxiety or incident. He chatted normally during the drive to the party. He walked into the house, said, "Hey, check out my new train," to some of the kids already playing and settled in to playing happily with the other kids. During the book exchange, he received a book, smiled and gave a big hug to the person who gave it to him.

In December of 2008, I took a leave from my job so I could get my son to the intensive behavioral treatment program he was in and to all of his other therapy appointments. I dedicated 40-60 hours per week to my son's various appointments and home therapy program.

This winter (January 2010), a former colleague asked me what Jonathan's current therapy program consists of. I told her I spend about 30 seconds each day opening the jar of vitamins and giving him his chewable vitamin D. In my opinion, the 3 minutes or so I spend each week giving him his vitamin D have been much more effective, and much less expensive, than any other treatment we have pursued.

Thank you.
Jeannette, Wisconsin

Dear Jeanette:
You're welcome. Several things need comment. First, the symptoms are typical of autism. Second, the seasonality of symptoms suggest a vitamin D deficient disease. Third, the treatment in the spring of 2008 seemed effective but, in hindsight, it was simply due to spring sun exposure. Fourth, as you may now know, light boxes for seasonal affective disorder make no vitamin D. Fifth, your pediatrician knows little about Vitamin D other than what committees tell him; your decision to ignore his advice probably saved your son's brain from further injury, as autism is a progressive inflammatory destruction of brain tissue. Sixth, the fact that you needed bed rest and gave birth prematurely suggests you were Vitamin D deficient during your pregnancy.

Seventh, his twin sister has never had autism, despite the same intrauterine environment. This is consistent with my theory, that autism is caused from a quantitative, not qualitative, variation is one of the enzymes that metabolize Vitamin D. That is, there are no structural differences in these enzymes in autism, only a genetically determined difference in the amount present. These enzymes are responsive to estrogen; estrogen protects the brain from being damaged by low Vitamin D, probably by increasing the amount of activated Vitamin D present, explaining why boys are four times more likely to have the disease.

The report that your son deteriorated when his dose was reduced from 3,000 to 1,500 IU suggests autistic children need adult doses of Vitamin D. When you reduced the dose from 3,000 to 1,500 IU/day he worsened although his level on 1,500 IU/day was probably still greater than 50 ng/ml. This makes me think that dosage needs to be stable and suggests that Professor Reinhold Vieth's theory of a detrimental seasonal resetting of the intercellular metabolism of Vitamin D may even be true at levels above 50 ng/ml, where the body is storing the parent compound, cholecalciferol, in muscle and fat.

His current dose of 4,000 IU per day is perfectly safe and will give him a level of 80-100 ng/ml, inside the reference ranges of American laboratories. Toxicity (asymptomatic high blood calcium) begins somewhere above 200 ng/ml. Generally speaking, autistic children should take 2,000 IU per every 25 pounds of body weight for six weeks, then have a 25(OH)D blood test and adjust the dosage to get into the high end of the reference range, 80-100 ng/ml.

Although I first published the Vitamin D theory of autism theory 3 years ago, few autistic children are currently treated for their Vitamin D deficiency. This is due to several reasons. One, those who think, correctly, that autism is a genetic disease, stop thinking after that, reasoning that genetic diseases are untreatable. Such thinkers do not understand epigenetics (upon the genome). Vitamin D is probably the heart of epigenetics, as nothing works upon the genome like vitamin D.
Secondly, the "all autism is caused from vaccinations" crowd cannot accept the Vitamin D possibility as it threatens their core beliefs. They simply cannot change their minds.

Finally, as you now know, organized medicine would say you should stop the vitamin D and watch your son deteriorate, which is why slavery to evidence based medicine is fine for scientists and unethical for practitioners.

John Cannell, MD
Executive Director
Vitamin D Council

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This is a periodic newsletter from the Vitamin D Council, a non-profit trying to end the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency.

First, do no harm Senator

Steve Benen nails exactly what's wrong with the senator's thinking:

Getting reform done isn't just about passing some bill; it's about helping millions of Americans suffering under the current system. As anyone even passively familiar with the debate surely knows, the tens of millions of Americans with no coverage are struggling with a burden unseen in other major democracies. Thousands more join the ranks of the uninsured every day. Tens of thousands of Americans die every year because they have no insurance. Hundreds of thousands of others fall into medical bankruptcy -- and most of these medical bankruptcies involve people who have insurance, but whose coverage proves inadequate.

Bayh's argument, quite literally, is that those suffering under a dysfunctional status quo will just have to continue to suffer, because the legitimate legislative procedure needed to help them might annoy Republicans.

Helping those who are suffering isn't as high a priority as maybe getting some GOP help on a few issues?

Mrs. Bayh...

sits on the board of WellPoint. Congratulations on the 727% increase in profits this year alone. Denial of benefits really pays doesn't it?

From Jason Rosenbaum at Fire Dog Lake's Seminal:

Like the rest of Wall Street, WellPoint – one of the nation’s largest insurers, with 14 state Blue Cross brands in its portfolio – is having a banner year.

Today, WellPoint announced that profits jumped 727%. In the middle of the biggest recession in generations, WellPoint is raking in the cash hand-over-fist.

Why the jump? Turns out, last year WellPoint spent even less on actual health care than it did in 2008.

In 2008, it spent 83.6% of the premiums it took in on care – paying for doctors, drugs, and the like. In 2009, they spent only 82.6% of your money on your care. That seemingly small difference actually belies bigger discrepancies. An analysis by the Senate Commerce Committee [pdf] found that while WellPoint spends about 85% of every premium dollar on care in the large group market that big businesses can tap into, they spend as low as 73% of every dollar collected through individual plans, and 79% on small group plans purchased by small businesses.

More at link

What Evan Bayh says about reconciliation just doesn't matter

Getting the Numbers
Josh Marshall | January 26, 2010, 3:06PM
Now we have two Democratic senators saying explicitly (and a third perhaps implying) they will not support using budget reconciliation for an amending bill to 'fix' the original senate bill and pave the way for passage in the House.

They need 50 votes.

Needless to say, the magic of the reconciliation process is that you don't need these three and up to seven of their colleagues.

Majority rule. What a concept ...

Clinton to Rep. Pence (R-IN): Obama Won the Election

Mike Pence wants to be governor so he can then run for president.....so he can get revenge. It's just his nature.

Ernie Ford - 16 Tons

echidne at Eschaton posted this last night and it reminded me of my dad...and all the damned trips from South Bend to Atlanta I've made these many years. My big sis and I have a CD with 16 Tons on it and we sing along to it all the way through Tennesee. So, thanks for the memories.

MAN, I HATE THESE CORPORATIST CREEPS...

Justices Block Key Part of Campaign Law
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on their participation in federal campaigns.



http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/21/us/AP-US-Supreme-Court-Campaign-Finance.html

Finally, some of the Big Guys decide to help educate the public...

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Walgreens announced today that they have joined forces to educate people about the need to take in adequate levels of Vitamin D. The two organizations are working with United Way of the Midlands on a Vitamin D giveaway program being piloted in Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina. They will be handing out coupons that residents can redeem at Walgreens stores for free 100-day Vitamin D supplies. The program will begin Jan. 23 and run until April 24, or as long as supplies last.

“It helps people absorb calcium, which strengthens bones and teeth and helps nerves and muscles work correctly.”

Sunlight and vitamin D deficiency linked to 17 varieties of cancer

Sunlight and vitamin D deficiency linked to 17 varieties of cancer

You want to be where you can see....

Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.

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