More >>

Because I need my voice for my daily radio program, I've been quick to use the Z-pack (zithromycin) whenever I get the feeling I have a sinus issue.' Evidently that's been the wrong thing to do.It turns out that almost 21% of antibiotic prescriptions written in the U.S. for adults are for sinusitis, even though studies show the drugs often do little or no good in the overwhelming majority of cases that begin as viral infections.' Less than 2% of those turn into bacterial infections (the kind that CAN be helped by antibiotics) so the American Academy of Otolaryngology suggests that you wait 10 days after the onset of a sinus problem.' If you're still suffering after 10 days, then it's antibiotic time.' Otherwise, saline irrigation, Tylenol, topical steroids and decongestant sprays (used for no more than three days) are the way to go. More >>

A new draft regulation (which is still being revised and debated) from the Department of Health and Human Services will label most birth-control pills and intrauterine devices as "abortion," because they can work by preventing fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterus.' The regulation would consider those items as devices for destroying "the life of a human being." The current administration could enact the regulation at any point without Congressional approval.' The next President will have the power to reverse it.The regulation's stated purpose is to improve enforcement of existing Federal laws that protect some medical professionals' "right to refuse to participate or assist in abortion." Evidently, the draft argues that "state laws too often coerce health-care workers into providing services they find immoral: requirements that emergency rooms offer rape victims the 'morning-after' pill, insurance plans cover contraception as part of prescription-drug benefits, and pharmacists fill prescriptions for birth control.' The draft regulation would weaken these laws by expanding the right of conscientious objection." (Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08). I've been aggravated by the objections of "Un"-Planned Parenthood and most women's activist groups to the required 24 hour waiting period, after a woman receives a consultation and mandated description and visualization of her fetus, before a final decision about abortion is made.' I would equally be aggravated if women were not given sufficient informed consent to know what their options were, including the option of contraception.If a health-care provider believes in good faith that any of these techniques is "killing a child," then they have the moral and ethical obligation to make a referral, so that any woman can know all of her legal options.I'd like Planned Parenthood to put an adoption service in every one of their clinics. More >>

Each year, billions of food wrappers and drink cartons end up in landfills because the material they're made of is geared to keep their products fresh, and not necessarily to decompose.' Kraft Foods, Kellogg's, Clif Bars, and Coca Cola, to name a few biggies, have teamed up with TerraCycle ( www.terracycle.net ), a company that takes their packaging waste and sews, fuses or weaves it into products such as totebags, lunchboxes, showercurtains, pencil cases, backpacks and more.' The Chips Ahoy! umbrella caught my attention, as did the Oreo cookie wrapper shower curtain! More >>

I just about lost it reading Linda P. Campbell's syndicated column ( www.realcities.com/mld/dfw/news/columnists/linda_campbell/17137857/17137857.htm ) about the Supreme Court's abortion decision not being simple or neat. Let me take some of her points one by one, as she explains her abhorrence of any controls over any abortion, in addition to the barbaric sucking out of a baby's brain after the head emerges from the birth canal (partial birth abortion).'First, she says " And of course, a woman who's about to undergo an abortion ought to understand the details, risks and implications just as much as she should before a tummy tuck, hip replacement, or appendectomy ."All those procedures require an office visit and an explanation of the process, and then a new appointment for the procedure.' Call any Planned Parenthood you like - or walk in, and you can get an abortion right then and there, as long as it isn't too busy.' Planned Parenthood, NOW (the National Organization of "I don't know what kind of " Women) and other "feminist" organizations have always been against the waiting period, a sonogram to show the baby's level of development, or a discussion about the benefits of giving life and finding a suitable two-parent, married mom and dad family for adoption.Second, she says, " I can't imagine the circumstances that would cause a woman to choose abortion.' But I can appreciate that each one who does has reasons that only she can reconcile with her conscience ."I have been on radio taking calls from slightly more than 50% women for 32 years.'' I know why women have abortions, because they've called.' It is rarely because of severe anomalies or life-threatening circumstances.' It is generally because of "circumstances," usually meaning the one-night stand, casual boyfriend, fianc', or sometimes husband doesn't want a child or else dumps them.Ms. Campbell continues: "It's all too tempting to make judgments about which motives we consider justified and which we don't.' But then we risk wandering into scary territory.' How far do we want to let lawmakers and zealots reach into our most personal and private decisions when they haven't a clue about what's best for us?" What?? We should make no judgments about motivations to kill another human being?' Self-defense in an armed robbery deserves the same respect as the intentional murder of innocents by a suicide-bombing?' A woman who keeps having casual sex and uses abortion as birth control can't be judged differently from a pregnant woman with a serious heart problem who might die if the pregnancy goes to term?I, for one, am sick and tired with the "nothing should be judged" nonsense.' Of course we judge - that's how we make decisions and choices every day.' To judge is to discern good from evil, right from wrong, and selfish from selfless.' Without that, we are just lower animals.Abortions out of shame, embarrassment, or inconvenience are a horrible, despicable disaster.' An Abortion to save the life of the mother is self-defense.'There.' I dared to judge. More >>

Good grief!' Do you mean that three hours per day, five days per week on radio AND ten or so books AND a website AND a NewsMax monthly column AND guest columns AND interviews on radio and television AND a twice-weekly column for the Santa Barbara News-Press aren't enough opportunities for one 5'3' 110 pound woman to express her opinions?!' Yikes!' How much more could I possibly have to talk about? '''' Lots!' I've decided to begin a blog so that I can give my opinions and perspectives on issues that might not come up in any or all of the above!' I'd like to invite you to send me local news pieces which make your eyelids twitch or just ask me for my knee-jerk opinion about some issue you're curious or confused about.' Just send them to me by clicking 'the 'Remarks' tab at the top of this blog page. You can ask a question, recommend an issue for commentary, or respond to my commentary.' Keep it clear, tight,' and be civil' or your contribution will likely never see the light of day on this blog!'''' Since this first blog is in the middle of holiday shopping, I thought it would be interesting to pass on to you this interesting information from John Stossel of ABC's 20/20 program.' A few weeks ago he presented the facts about Americans and charitable generosity.' He set up a 'test' to verify the statistics that point to political/social conservatives being more financially giving than liberals by having the Salvation Army set up their Christmas Kettle outside the most populous shopping areas in San Francisco and Sioux Falls, S.D.'''' The results?' The folks in Sioux Falls, which is largely Republican, religious and conservative, and of modest income, gave twice as much as the folks in the largely Democratic, secular, wealthy and liberal San Francisco.'''' According to Stossel, 'religion' is the biggest factor in charitable donations.' Evidently, the religious folks, compelled by theology, not only give to their churches, but to other cases as well.'''' During Stossel's appearance on Bill O'Reilly's television program on FOX, the point was made that 'without religious people, most charities would go out of business.''''' When O'Reilly questioned Stossel for the explanation of why liberals give less, while promoting culture wars claiming liberals and Democrats are more compassionate toward the poor and middle class than conservatives and Republicans, the answer was that 'liberals relied on the government to take care of these things.''''' Clever "out," don't you think? More >>