Douchenozzle of the Year - 2009

So, it seems that research published in the February 1998 issue of The Lancet showing some link between the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism was manipulated and misreported.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the lead author of this study and his co-authors are now defending themselves to the General Medical Council of Britain (equivalent to the AMA) for serious professional misconduct, specifically in regard to conflict of interest and manipulating data.

Meanwhile, advocates of the link continue to encourage families to skip vaccination leading to a jump in outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases. Whereas previously there had been one outbreak a year, in 2008 there were 30 outbreaks between January and July. 131 individuals were infected prior to July 30th and of those cases, 63 were in children whose parents had refused vaccination. Thankfully, at least in these cases, none died though 11% were hospitalized. Andrew Wakefield and his followers are lucky in this regard.

The Sunday Times of London stated this week that the rates of vaccination fell from 92% (below measles herd immunity) to below 80% after the publication of Wakefield's study, and that confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales have risen from 56 in 1998 to 1348 in 2008, with two child fatalities.

As I have learned, over and over again working in research, anecdotal information is NOT science. Peer reviewed and repeatable data is science. Period.

H/T Hoyden About Town

On a personal note.

Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. - Robert Heinlein

February 6, 2000

To be loved in the difficult times -- To be comforted and listened to, enshrouded in security - it is the greatest gift I have ever received. Michael is my safety and comfort, my confidante and best friend, my cheerleader, fan and pep squad. He is inspirational and optimistic and gives me perspective when I lose my own. He is generous and kind beyond my wildest dreams.

Happy Anniversary babe. Here's to new challenges and new adventures.




Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Flashback posting

Because:

1) it's been in the 80's all week
2) I love L.A.
3) Liss at Shakesville asked as her Question of the Day about favorite seasons

I thought I'd do a repost from a November of 2006.

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There is a season

Seriously? Do you really not have any short term memory whatsoever? 3 years ago today it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit downtown. This is not unusual. This is not freakish.

In fact, according to the National Weather Service, the highs in Los Angeles for November, December and January have always broken the high 80s. In fact, November 1, 1966 it hit 100 degrees.

It's warm in L.A.? yes
there is global warming? yes
this is a sign of the apocalypse? No. This is why you moved here.

Enough complaining. And, in my presence, I want to hear no complaining about seasons. Spend a week in Minnesota in February. Then complain about seasons.

Anyway, Los Angeles has seasons.

To start the year, we have awards season. Officially this lasts until the Oscars in March, though it can stretch on with the GLAAD Media Awards, the ALMA Awards, the MTV Movie Awards and the Daytime Emmys.

February to May is pilot season. Which is lucky because it overlaps with the rainy season, in which Cosentino's flower shop in Malibu makes its annual trip into the Pacific. In May and November, there is sweeps season.

Late August usually begins fire season which can last until December but usually ends in October and overlaps with Hiatus in August, both of which overlap with Bowl season which stretches from June to early October.

Then there's the Holiday season, which is really just high shopping season - Holiday season is evidenced by the lack of parking at the Grove and the Scientology snow day on Hollywood Blvd. To some extent shopping season never really ends, it just wanes slightly.

See. Seasons. Told ya.