‘The Doctors’ Talk to a Dystonia Sufferer

Once again, the media has taken notice of dystonia. They’ve found someone else who has it–a woman who appears to have a rather disabling case, according to the video clip from the CBS show The Doctors.

The segment with Montel Williams will be on tomorrow (check your local listings for times). Montel apparently focuses on the power of positive thinking when dealing with situations like having dystonia.

I’m not going to bad-mouth positive thinking–it’s all well and good. (Sometimes, it’s all you got.) Nonetheless, while positive thinking has its place and its benefits, it’s not enough–more needs to be done to find a cure for this condition.

Settling for anything less seems unacceptable.

Besides, if we’re so interested in curing cancer, MS, autism, MD, lupus, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, AIDS, Crohn’s Disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and you-name-it, then why overlook dystonia?

Someone’s gotta ask these questions. May as well be me.

Atheist and Proud of it, by God!

Atheists are getting more forthright in their views, it says in the New York Times. Apparently, they’re “coming out of the woodwork” (not sure I’m flattered by that metaphor), banding together and speaking out on their beliefs without (too much) fear of censure or being perceived according to stereotype.

I don’t know what kind of stereotype an atheist is supposed to fit. I didn’t even know I was supposed to be ashamed of being one. I figure we all believe in whatever we can wrap our minds around. Try to do the best we can by others and hope to get their best in return. Is that too much to ask? Where does faith figure in all this? I don’t know. I don’t claim to have all the answers.

Mainly, I have questions. And I’ll probably keep asking them ’til I drop.

(And, yes, the headline is a joke. So we do have a sense of humor. At least, I do.)

Leaving the Law

Been doing a lot of posting on legal stuff lately. Just seems like I keep finding items of interest.

For instance, many lawyers would like to change careers–but don’t know what to do instead or how to do it.

I suggest they read this advice from career coach and consultant Michael Melcher.

And don’t worry. Figuring out what you want to do is not a destination. It’s a journey. (Okay, not the most original thought. But it’s true.)

A Couple of Legal Items

Am watching with interest the student strip search case that the U.S. Supreme Court just heard. Sounds like it was an interesting argument. The NY Times and LA Times both report frequent discussions of underwear and what students might put in it.

According to Justice Stephen G. Breyer, during his early school days, “[w]e changed for gym, O.K.? And in my experience, too, people did sometimes stick things in my underwear.”

This got the gallery roaring with laughter. And Justice Breyer a bit flustered. (Poor guy–one can only imagine what eighth grade was like for him.)

Anyway, it’s an important issue–student privacy rights vs. school precautionary measures. I’m interested in seeing how this plays out.

And on a slightly different note–enjoy this unusual video on YouTube for a law firm. (Who says lawyers don’t have a sense of humor?)

Virtual Health and the Colonoscopy

Virtual colonoscopies sound nice–but not everyone agrees Medicare should cover them.

The traditional method’s no fun. No one wants to be sedated and have optical instruments stuck up their . . .  you know. Got a problem with a doctor sticking stuff in there? Why? It’s nothing they haven’t seen a million times before. Besides you’re sedated, so you can’t feel anything. (Really. I’ve been through it. Twice. With no problem.)

The only catch with the virtual method is, if they find something, they have to go through the usual procedure to take it out. So that increases the costs if you have polyps.

And, either way, you gotta go through the whole “cleansing” ritual. (Sort of like drinking flavored Drano. It really cleans your pipes out, believe me.)

So, would you rather go through a bit of inconvenience or risk cancer? I can think of worse operations than this, especially if you don’t catch a problem while it’s still manageable. Just read this man’s diary (about his battle with rectal cancer). If that doesn’t send you running to the proctologist, I don’t know what will.

Nail-Biting Drives

Yahoo! Travel says these are America’s scariest drives (Highway One/Big Sur being their top pick). But they made a glaring omission when they left out the Apache Trail in Phoenix, AZ. I know. I’ve been on it. Steep grades, miles of dirt road and no guardrail in places. You’re literally crawling down the side of a canyon wall at times. (Everyone should do it once.)

Grist Says ‘Screw Earth Day’

An . . . unusual video from Grist, part of a series in which I believe the point is that we should honor the earth every day, not just on April 22. (At least, I think so.)

‘Dateline’ Does Dystonia

Seems like perfect timing. Only weeks before I hold my first fundraiser for dystonia–the Freedom Ride for Dystonia–suddenly, everyone’s talking about it! (Dystonia, that is, not my ride. )

First, “Oprah.” Then “Today” (which actually did another segment about dystonia in January). And, last night, the boy who was on “Today” was featured on “Dateline.” Check out these clips.

On Aging and . . . the Alternative

I absolutely love this piece from the LA Times on life after 50 (and the wonderful letters you get after you reach that milestone).

As for this article, recession or not, age discrimination isn’t exactly news. And the fact that so many people of a certain age are being forced back to work is not really news either. I think we’ve known about this for a while. I guess the news angle is that these older people are trying to find work, but age discrimination just makes the whole thing harder. Yeah, that bites. (But is it news? I dunno.)

U.S. and Other Countries Should Seek Health Care Solutions Outside Their Borders

This LA Times op-ed points out that the U.S. health care system isn’t the only one that’s got a few problems. England and Canada have health care issues, too. However, while Canadians and Brits may have to wait longer for elective surgery than in the U.S., many Americans can’t afford health care at all. So which is worse? Waiting for medical treatment or not having any access to it?

Somewhere between nationalized health care and nothing, there should be a solution. Why aren’t we looking to Germany, France, Japan or Sweden for guidance? Apparently, their citizens don’t have to stand in line to be treated, due to the greater mix of available public and private health care options they enjoy.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s explore those options.