Lourdine’s Continuous Cup

I read with interest this week and Associated Press story about how Merck, maker of Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, is funding measures in various states to mandate the vaccine for middle school girls. From literature I’ve read, the vaccine, which received FDA approval in June 2006, prevents only cervical cancer resulting from having multiple sex partners, which could also be prevented by limiting the number of one’s partners or by using condoms. Also, it is most effective administered to young girls, preferably before they become sexually active (although you wouldn’t know that from the Gardasil ad). But how, as someone said to me today, is a parent to know if his or her 11-year-old is going to grow up to be a slut? Finally, side effects of the vaccine have only been tracked for five years, not nearly enough to know long-term side effects.

In Illinois, Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D [of course] -Urbana) has the dubious honor of having introduced a bill mandating the vaccine. Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), is a co-sponsor and a Women in Government state director. Women in Government received an undisclosed contribution from Merck for its assistance in helping get legislation passed.

Merck, who also gave us Vioxx, stands to make millions and perhaps billions on the $360, three-shot vaccine and the government stands poised to take away yet one more choice, sticking its collective nose in a matter best left to parents.

www.youtube.com/v/RB-wUgnyGv0

If you went to a restaurant and ordered a sandwich but ended up with the sandwich, fries, a drink and dessert and were expected to pay for it, would you?

A few days ago, I called my PA’s office to ask him to fax an order for my annual blood work to the hospital. I had heard that, in an effort to drum up business, the hospital was ordering extra tests so I was waiting to see if it would happen to me. Unfortunately, I was not disappointed.

I walk in and the phlebotomist asks if I’ve had anything to eat or drink. I said, yes, coffee. She then tells me that she can’t do the test. I ask since when one has to fast for a thyroid test. She informs me that a lipid panel and Chem 7 (basic blood workup) have been ordered. I say I don’t want the lipid panel and Chem 7. That results in two telephone calls being made to the clinic. The nurse tells the phlebotomist that the patient can refuse the tests but that it’s been “years” since they’ve been done and I will have to come in and talk to my PA about it later.

I don’t know when the last Chem 7 test was done - if ever - but the lipid panel was done last year or the year before…soon enough to suit me.

I assume when the results are in, the clinic will call and want to schedule an appointment for me to talk to the PA but I don’t want to do that, either. It’s just because the hospital/clinic wants to raise their bottom line. They’ve lost a long-time doctor, a new, good doctor and at the rate they’re going, are going to lose a patient…maybe more.

I was afraid I was having early-onset of Alzheimer’s (or as my students call it, “Old-Timers”) but thanks to the Jan. 16 issue of Time, I realize I have several brain-working years ahead of me. A series of articles details people who multi-task, people who don’t, the need for sleep and how brain function changes with age.

Now if I could just remember where I put my keys…

In it’s infinite wisdom, the Catholic church last week took a huge step towards abolishing limbo.

For those unfamiliar with Catholic dogma, limbo (limbus infantium) is was a collection place for babies not yet baptized in the faith. It is not be be confused with bending backwards under a broomstick while trying to sway to a Latin beat. Limbo was better than hell, better than purgatory but yet not quite heaven.

That all changed last week when top Catholic theologians, ending a December conference, declared limbo “in crisis.”

It’s about time.

I’ve always had a problem thinking that innocent little babies don’t go to heaven simply because they weren’t old enough to profess a faith.

Apparently, those tiny souls confined since limbo was invented now get a free pass to heaven. That’s got to be a measure of comfort to parents of unbaptized babies.

On the other hand, it’s a little disconcerting to do away with a tenet on which millions were raised. I felt the same way when mass switched from Latin to English and when the priests started facing the congregation.

What’s next? Do away with requiem masses? Free candle-lighting? Axing requiem masses would pretty much nix purgatory, not to mention stop a huge flow of money to the Catholic church. Ditto the candle-lighting. Can’t have that.

It’s a pity that one of the largest churches in the world has to prey on the grieving, the mourning, for money. It shows how low can they go.

Apparently, some people are in a big hurry to see someone’s maiden blog entry. I have been trying to think of something pithy or witty or entertaining. To amuse you while I think of something, amuse yourself with this: http://home.planet.nl/~Qwyzzle/

By the time you finish, I will probably have thought of something.