Die ransom notes campaign, die!!!

I just need to copy and paste (with permission of course) some info to digest when I have more time.

From Live Journal
New info on NYU's "Ransom Notes" perpetrators
First, I'm afraid I'm being a tad "spammy" with this entry, and for that I apologize. But I think this tale needs to be told, post haste.

By now, you all know about NYU's Child Study Center, headed by Dr. Harold Koplewicz, and their repugnant "Ransom Notes" campaign. And most of you have probably signed ASAN's petition calling for the campaign to be scrapped:

http://www.petitiononline.com/ransom/petition.html

(Thanks Ari!)

Well, just a few hours ago, I was browsing the list of recent signatories, and this entry caught my eye:



486. [name omitted]: comment: I live in Raritan Twsp. NJ = My daughter almost died from Paxil. a drug Dr. Koplewicz helped promote off-label


Yeah, Paxil, and its lavish "off-label" uses -- one of my old pet peeves. So on a whim, I googled the string "Koplewicz + Paxil" ...and a moment later, "the other shoe dropped."

First, it turns out that the ad agency, BBDO, which produced the "Ransom Notes" campaign also represents both Pfizer and the notorious Glaxo Smith Kline, maker and aggressive pusher of Paxil. Shocker.

But among the top hits in the search came this seemingly unremarkable blog entry:

Many Angry At Childhood Mental Illness "Hostage" Ad Campaign
http://www.furiousseasons.com/archives/2007/12/many_angry_at_childhood_mental_illness_hostage_ad_campaign_1.html

The entry, like so many others, tells of the NYU debacle, but then drops this bombshell:


"As it turns out ... Koplewicz is one of the co-authors of the infamous Paxil Study 329 ...

"Study 329 basically asserted that Paxil beat placebo in treating depression in teens when, in fact, it did not. In addition, there were instances of suicidality in this study which Glaxo somehow managed to deep-six."


And from the Alliance for Human Research Protection website comes this repost:

http://www.ahrp.org/infomail/04/03/25.php


The Times quotes Dr. Harold Koplewicz, indicating only that he is the director of the NYU Child Study Center: "The fear I have about this warning is that many teenagers will not get the medicine because it will build resistance among their parents, and that is really a tragic outcome."

Dr. Koplewicz, not only is one of the staunchest promoters of psychotropic drugs for children, he was a co-investigator and co-author of a major Paxil study (329) in which he and the pillars of American child psychiatry claimed to have found that Paxil was "well tolerated and effective" for adolescents. The article has now been discredited by the FDA. Furthermore, an internal 1998 memo by the manufacturer of Paxil indicates that only the positive data from study 329 would be published, but the negative findings would not.

Readers trust the New York Times, believing that the experts selected by the Times for their views, are objective unless identified as having a financial interest in the product/ company or have taken a position. The Times failed to disclose any of the relevant background information that demonstrates a decidedly biased point of view. The Times article also failed to disclose the very substantial financial ties to the drug industry of either Dr. Koplewicz or the NYU Child Study Center ...


And so on.

Obviously, this connection needs to be investigated further. At the moment, I don't feel up to the job of deciding how relevant this information is to NYU's ongoing "Ransom Notes" disgrace. But I felt compelled to bring it to your attention.

Please spread the word.

[all linkage hereby pre-approved -- but it might be better to copy and paste, as my LJ account will be permanently deleted in two weeks]

Lacking an embrace

I miss my brother so fucking much it hurts. I have this thing for tall guys with a big reach. Duh! I married one. My baby brother had few words but when he hugged you it was as if he were wrapping you in everything he couldn't vocalize. My other brother who's just 23 months younger than I is a nice guy and all but his hugs are weak and mean little. Deane? He meant it when he hugged you. You took your life into your own hands when you agreed to a hug. I hadn't seen him in a year and a half, but I miss him like crazy and I hate how much it hurts. Later maybe I'll tell you how absulutely pissed off I am at him but right now I just miss his embrace.

For Linda who's missing her baby...

Haven't we already been here?

aquadots
Do I really have to say any more?
Santa, please bring rocks and sticks this year.

Sleep

Why is it so elusive? Why can't I just stand up brush my teeth and walk to the bedroom at 11 o'clock like normal people? What part of staying up until 3 or 4 when you have to be up with two kids at 7:30 seems like a wise idea? Even better, when I do go to bed at a decent hour why waste my time laying in bed until 3 or 4 when I could be catching up on Cosby show rereuns? I need a lock on Google, every night it's: one....more....search......one......more.......search. There must be some sort of lock for my computer. You know like the ones for cars, you have to blow into and if your too intoxicated it doesn't start. If it's too late Google should give me an error message: You are up too late and not authorized to view this page.

Shit, I better get my ass in gear and finish my work. That backpack and lunch box aren't going to pack themselves. Is that an open bottle of Cabernet on the counter? Laundry and lunch making goes much faster with wine.

Now, where the hell's my will power? I know I left it around here somewhere.

Stop making toys I have to take away from my kids!

FUCK!
Seriously. This is getting ridiculous. Day after day I receive my CPSC alert via e-mail that might as well say "it's time to be the bad guy again, take away the favorite toys"
.................. wait.......and wait.......and wait..........until a suitable replacement arrives. Too late though. The toy that was developmentally suitable for your three year old is not a proper wedding gift for your now 28 year old.
I think the outsourcing United States toy industry can go fuck themselves. I wonder if they buy their own toys for their children and grandchildren. I wonder if the use of lead paint and other hazardous materials in children's toys has anything to do with the rise in autism, allergies and childhood illnesses??????? This year Santa is barred from shopping anywhere but Etsy or countries that have adopted safety standards......REAL ONES!
So this year no more cheap Chinese toys from Walmart. I'll find a Chinese artisan and pay for what the toy is worth if I want: Made in China under my tree this year. Oh! and don't forget: Made in the USA often means company owned in the USA, manufactured on the cheap elsewhere.


Totally OT (and I don't mean Occupational Therapy)
Congrats on a successful valve sparing surgery Scott!

Marfan Syndrome news

Okay, I'll admit it! I get a little excited when I google Marfan Syndrome and find something that won't hit the papers until the next morning. I know it's new research, but I'm always hopeful:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22533806-23289,00.html

My oldest son and my husband both have Marfan Syndrome so it's a really big deal in my little corner of the universe.

If you're interested in knowing what the hell I'm talking about you can look here:

http://www.marfan.org/nmf/index.jsp

Speaking of Marfan Syndrome......Here's a shout out to Beth and Scott, I hope the surgery is valve sparing! Here's to a speedy, healthy recovery!

...but, it's Britney!?

In the unlikely event you've been living on a remote island that doesn't get CNN, MSN, Fox or local news. You've heard the big news; poor Ms. Spears has temporarily lost custody of her two young sons. Mainstream media is abuzz. It's comforting to know the worlds ills have been taken care of and I can just sit back enjoy a diet coke and a cry for the young, pantie-lacking blond washed-up pop bumpkin.

Myanmar
Darfur
SCHIP veto
Korean peace talks
Australian refugee ban

I'll sleep better knowing the world is a safe place because there's nothing more important than whats going on in the sad world of BS (That's Britney Spears to you islanders)

Big Bad Bush v 4 million children

What have you done to help maintain a middle class in the USA Mr. President?
Not a damn thing. My heart's a flutter thinking about the time ebbing from your failed presidency. Perhaps another $600 Bush sponsored field trip to WalMart would make us happier and feel as if we're contributing.

Keep your eye on the veto:
http://www.c-span.org/
Click SCHIP

Postless in Seattle

I'm having a nervous breakdown today and all parenting duties have gone to my husband (poor guy)

-Heather

Friends

.....I don't have many of them in real life. Fact is I have two. Yes two. Not acquaintances, not colleagues (unless you count the other mothers of kids with special needs I know) but friends. You know....people who call you, you call them, you make plans, you see them, say "happy birthday" , "how's the family", blah, blah, blah. Don't get me wrong. I have "friends" people I'm in contact with, concerned about, care about and in general, give a shit about.

Back to the original thought. I have these two friends, and one of them seems to think, that if I'm not doing something with her, I must be seeing the other one, all the time, behind her back, plotting, laughing, ignoring her. So not true. Now that this has come to light though..... I'm thinking I may do just that,with the other friend because this friend works, has 3 kids aged 3 and under, and has soooo much time on her hands that what we're really doing is: plotting, laughing, ignoring and talking about you behind your back......we're also drinking mimosas, getting pedicures and Paulo's massaging us while the kids run wild in the streets playing with bags of glass!

I still love my other friend but really, I just don't have time.

Um....Hello?

I've tried blogging before. I'm just too fucking lazy, or I'm too tired or the petit verdot is too yummy? I'm not sure. I'm a SAHM (I hate that term but it's one people recognize) I have 2 marvelous boys. Ages 8 and 3. They will be my undoing and my salvation. When life is hard I whine, whine, whine. Life is easy and I wonder? We're just like everyone else right?

Parenting is my life. I didn't plan it that way, it is what it is. Kaidth, as T'Pau might say.
My oldest, the smartest most interesting individual I've ever met just happens to have autism, Marfan Syndrome and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (with a bit of hyperlexia, spd and allergies thrown in the mix). My 3 year old is the most honest, fearless, adventurer you'll ever meet. I'm a wife, news addict, sci-fi, anxiety ridden, ex-mormon atheist.

That's it for now, hope I manage to keep this up because I desperately need a toilet for my thoughts so here I am (again).