Kate Levering and Kate Middleton - Pregnant with boys or girls?

I've been known to be able to predict the sex of the child.  Nope - not kidding.  I can do it by looking at the pregnant woman's face.  If someone is having a girl, I can sometimes tell even before they know they are pregnant..

Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, will be welcoming the 'Royal Baby' any day now.  I'm predicting a boy.

34-year-old Kate Levering, who is best known for her role as Kim Kaswell in Drop Dead Diva, is expecting a child in August.    My prediction for her is a girl.

If I am wrong on either of these predictions,  it will be a first; hopefully I have not lost my touch!

Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy

 Many things went through my mind when I heard about Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy.  Of course I immediately assumed she had breast cancer.  For me it was very disturbing to know genetic testing precipitated this surgery.  

I can’t say I know much about genetic testing, but I do remember when it was first in the news (yes, I’m THAT old).  Doctors were saying they were concerned that rather than looking at the results as a guide in monitoring for specific disease, people would be unnecessarily removing body parts.  Hmmmm…

When a Hollywood personality, who is more than likely idolized, goes to the extreme of removing body parts that MIGHT end in cancer, I believe it sets a precedent for others to do the same.  Will all the women who look up to her and follow in her footsteps be able to afford reconstructive surgery?

CNN reports, “Only women with increased risk from family history are likely to benefit from such genetic testing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only 3% to 5% of women who develop breast cancer have a BRCA mutation, and about 10% to 15% of women with ovarian cancer have a BRCA mutation.”

An article by Robyn O’Brien states, “According to the Breast Cancer Fund, 1 in 8 women now have breast cancer. But only 10 percent of those cases can be linked to genetics. In other words, 90 percent of breast cancers being diagnosed today are non-genetic or being triggered by factors in our environment.”  http://blogs.prevention.com/inspired-bites/2013/02/25/dirty-dairy-the-unlabeled-artificial-growth-hormone-hiding-in-our-fridges/

Only 3% to 5% of women who develop breast cancer have a BRCA mutation!  I’ll say it again, only 3% to 5% of women who develop breast cancer have a BRCA mutation!  My math has never been superior, but how does that translate to an 87% risk when 90% of breast cancers are NOT genetic????

It is reported that Myriad Genetics’, the company that owns the patent on the genetic testing, stock skyrocketed after news was out about Jolie’s mastectomy.  http://www.naturalnews.com/040365_Angelina_Jolie_gene_patents_Supreme_Court_decision.html

And is it true there is an upcoming Supreme Court hearing for the patent to be extended?  I would like to know if Jolie received any remuneration for this surgery or for speaking out about genetic testing.

Had she removed her breasts and not had implants (because that’s what reconstructive surgery means, right?), I might think it heroic.   I think it was cowardly.  What will be next, people will be on the liver transplant list because gene testing results indicate they MIGHT end up with liver cancer?

So, yes, I think it was a dumb decision.  But that’s just my humble opinion.

Another New Medical Diagnosis - SSD

This is probably one of the most disturbing articles I’ve read in a long time!  So in case you haven’t heard, therapists now have a new “mental illness” with which you can be diagnosed – Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD).  I’ve just learned that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) set the standard on classifying mental disorders and have now added this new “disorder.” 

As I understand SSD, a diagnosis can be made when a patient has:

1.  unbalanced thoughts about the seriousness of their symptoms

2.  a high level of nervousness about their health or symptoms

3.  devoted too much time and energy regarding their ill health.

So an office worker who has access to a restroom might have anxiety for six months about diarrhea and a trucker might take this even more seriously due to the lack of access to a restroom.  Both could be diagnosed with SSD.  A mental disorder diagnosis could occur because their physician, even though they had six months to find a cause and successfully treat this problem, did not.   Maybe the physician should have the new diagnosis!

Sounds like all Lyme patients would, more than likely, fall into this category as most need to beg their doctors to find the cause of their health malady and not usually just for six months, it can go on for years!

Is there something wrong with this picture??? YES!!!

Your Physical Illness May Now Be Labeled a Mental Disorder

Happy New Year!

While I was perusing Facebook this morning, I saw a nice Happy New Year post wishing good health, good cheer and blessings of love.  I thought, oh, how nice, then it sunk it that it said, "Happy New Year."  Being of Christian faith, I didn't realize the start of the Jewish New Year is today, September 17, 2012. Happy New Year!

This brought my thoughts back to last Christmas. Numerous Facebook posts and emails attempted to remind Christians that it's okay to wish people a Merry Christmas rather than "Happy Holidays."  The subject line of those posts/emails was "Say Merry Christmas."  There was never any mention that it is also okay to wish people Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa or any other religious holiday instead of "Happy Holidays."   I found myself feeling saddened and disturbed that many of my friends and relatives would feel their religion is the only religion. Or is it that their religion is the only right religion?

I would not intentionally send a Merry Christmas card to a Jewish friend or relative  during their Chanukah celebration.  Although I would be surprised to receive a "Happy Chanuka," card, I would not be offended.

I guess my point is: Yes, it is okay to drop the 'Happy Holidays,'  but please remember that Christianity isn't the only religion.  If you see me on the street this 2012 Holiday Season, you won't hear me say, Happy Holidays; you'll hear Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy  Chanukah,  and you just might hear me say, Happy Festivus or Happy Chrismahanukwanzadan!  That is, of course, if I can figure out how to pronounce Chrismahanukwanzadan!

Chick-fil-A, Gays and Bo Muller-Moore

Who is Bo Muller-Moore you ask?  I'll get to that in a second...

Honestly, I think Chick-fil-A, or any other business, should have the right to support any group they want; you and I should also have the right to be a customer of or boycott an establishment.  From my point of view, eating at Chick-fil-A on August 1, 2012 is an endorsement of their anti-gay marriage stand and their put-the-little-guy-out-of-business tactics.  Personally I've never eaten at a Chick-fil-A, and I can assure you I will not be eating there - especially on August 1, 2012.  I would personally like to see this "Chick-fil-A appreciation day" turn into a "Chick-fil-A boycott day."

Gay marriage proponents are looking for equal rights.  Approval or disapproval of homosexuality isn't the issue.  When a commitment is made between two people of the same sex, isn't it only right to give them the same legal rights of those who make a commitment between a man and a woman? Last time I checked, the Christian way is to not judge and to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Let us remember it wasn't all that long ago that women and blacks were asking for the same thing - to be treated equally.

And while we're on the subject of Chick-fil-A, did you know they've put numerous small businesses out of business claiming trademark infringement?  Bo Muller-Moore, who makes T-Shirts in Vermont, was served a cease and desist letter by Chick-fil-A for his slogan "Eat More Kale."  Chick-fil-A thinks his slogan is too close to their "Eat Mor Chikin."  Huh???  You would have to be a complete moron to think that kale and 'chikin' are even remotely related - especially when comparing kale to fast-food chicken!  And if someone wants to trademark "Eat More" shouldn't they at least be required to spell 'more' (or chicken) correctly???  Bo, the little guy, decided to fight - good for him! Someone needs to stand up to corporate bullying.  Chick-fil-A has already put over 30 companies out of business for trying to use "Eat more...."

According to William Kruidenir, Mars, the candy company, has joined in the fight with their new slogan, "Eat more broccoli."  Yah!!!  It will be interesting to see how it plays out for a company that is much bigger than Chick-fil-A to use the 'eat more' slogan!

If you don't want to boycott Chik-Fil-A on August 1, 2012 because "the bible says marriage is between a man and a woman," at least boycott them because they use their size to pick on the little guys!

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Worst Boyfriend Ever and Ranger Crying Kid

I really must stop watching the news!

What was Good Morning America thinking when they invited "the worst boyfriend ever" to their set???  In case you haven't heard, this kid put on a ski mask, went into his girlfriend's apartment and waited for her to come home with her friends.  He stepped out of her closet making her think it was an intruder.  What he did was wrong.  Sorry, GMA, but by inviting him onto your set, you are condoning what he did!

And while I'm on the subject...the little toddler that cried because he didn't catch the baseball at the Ranger's baseball game:

1.  It looks to me like the kid was crying before the ball even left the pitcher's hand.
                                                   
2.  Why would anyone think they should give in to a crying kid?????

3.  So what if the kid was crying.  I was SO disappointed to see a Ranger throw him a ball. Nice going - further reinforcement that if you cry you get what you want!

Dara-Lynn Weiss and her 7-year-old Daughter

Kudos to Dara-Lynn Weiss for putting her clinically obese 7-year-old daughter on a weight-loss diet!!!  I have not read her book, Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, nor do I know what type of diet this child was eating.  If only more people would pay attention, I mean TRULY pay attention to what they and their children are eating, we would have less disease and obesity in this country.  There are many healthy choices that, when on a weight-loss diet, you can actually say, "Is this really okay to eat?" because it tastes sinfully delicious!  Losing weight shouldn't be about deprivation, it should be about giving the body the nutrition it needs.

Putting an overweight child on a strict diet IS the DUTY of a parent.  A seven-year-old should never become obese in the first place; sorry, but I have to blame the parent, not the child.  Unless a child has some sort of disease that causes weight gain, more than likely, the wrong foods are the culprit.  Most 7-year-old children do not have an income to purchase the household groceries.  If only healthy, wholesome foods are in a child's home, they have no choice but to eat them and yes, the parent probably has a weight issue, too.  "Healthy, wholesome foods" are key words.  This country has been seriously brainwashed as to what foods are healthy.

The word diet bothers me.  We as a society have misconstrued this word to mean "how we eat to lose weight."  By definition it means 'what our daily food consists of.'  i.e. "What is on your diet for today?"  We can go on a weight-loss diet, or a cleansing diet or a healthy-eating diet, but 'diet' has unfortunately become synonymous with 'weight loss.'

Eating healthily should be something that comes naturally to children as parents present only healthy choices.  I only wish I had been educated on eating healthily instead of having been brainwashed when my daughter was young.  Today when I see an advertisement for multi-grain potato chips, I shake my head and say, "Why would a grain be added to a potato since vegetables are a healthier choice than grains?" Then I say, "ahhh, but IS A POTATO STILL A POTATO and IS A POTATO STILL A VEGETABLE????"