Fans of Vanessa Williams will enjoy "A Diva's Christmas Carol"

Happy Tree Day Eve everyone! I thought I’d post some quick reviews for a few more movies I watched this past week:

Mixed Nuts — An 1994 movie starring Steve Martin and directed by Nora Ephron. I have seen this movie three times now and it’s one of my favorites. The first time I saw it I thought it looked terrible (Steve Martin is known for physical comedy and I hate physical comedy) but it was actually pretty hilarious. Every cast member is funny from Rob Reiner to Juliette Lewis. Daily Show fans will enjoy seeing Jon Stewart in a (very) minor role. Adam Sandler fans will not be surprised by the character he plays (or the silly little song he sings in the movie).

Don’t go into it thinking it’s amazing though, my sister had heard my brother-in-law and me rave about this movie and thought it was boring (it is a bit low-key) but when I went into it thinking it would be boring, I thought it was awesome. You know how that is. I hated Napoleon Dynamite when I saw it because everyone had told me it was amazing and to me it wasn’t.

A Diva’s Christmas Carol — I previously said that I hated “A Christmas Carol” remakes and stopped watching this after a few minutes, but I actually ended up watching the whole thing. And it was surprisingly very funny. It is worth it to see Vanessa Williams + Chilli (from TLC) + some other lady in an ’80s R&B band complete with tacky dance moves and outfits. Hilarious! Be warned, though. You may become very bored of the song the group wrote for the movie and you may wonder if Vanessa Williams will ever play anything other than a mean lady who ends up not being so mean after all ala Ugly Betty.

An Accidental Christmas – Basically a “Parent Trap” on Christmas only with uglier kids and a dad who comes across as gay (but isn’t supposed to be). This movie was okay. Not great, not completely terrible.

Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe — Starring Jenny McCarthy. This was very boring. I ended up playing facebook games at the same time and fast-forwarding when I couldn’t take it anymore. Definitely did not live up to the first movie.

Image by Save the Children / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Via Kevin Drum is a good USA Today article on the struggle to counter medical idiocy from celebrities:

Doctors and public health groups say they struggle over the best way to respond to celebrity claims.

At Every Child By Two, an immunization campaign co-founded by former first lady Rosalynn Carter, board members were initially inclined to ignore celebrities who question vaccine safety, says executive director Amy Pisani. Now, the group spends 80% of its time explaining why vaccines are still critical.

“We were poised to start working in Africa,” Pisani says. “But we were forced to pull back just to re-educate people here in the United States.”

Nowhere is this most problematic than with child vaccination, where in the last few years, a cottage industry has grown up around the medically dubious assertion that vaccines are at least partly responsible for the (perceived*) surge in autism cases:

Vaccines. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll of 1,017 adults found that more than half were aware of McCarthy’s warnings about childhood shots. More than 40% of adults familiar with her message — 23% of all adults surveyed — say McCarthy’s claims have made them more likely to question vaccine safety. The Nov. 20-22 poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

At the risk of sounding like a cruel bastard, I’m pretty convinced the only thing that will destroy Jenny McCarthy’s “credibility” as an anti-vaccine crusader are scores of children dread from preventable diseases.  Part of the longer-term problem with our successful eradication of most childhood diseases is that we’re at least two or three generations removed from the time when mass childhood deaths were fairly commonplace.  Parents would be a lot less willing to lend credence to skeptics like Jenny McCarthy if they had firsthand experience with polio, or whooping cough, or any of the other diseases that maimed or killed hundreds of thousands of children.  I sincerely hope that it doesn’t come to that, but judging from the increasing frequency of childhood epidemics, it’s only a matter of time before we’re faced with scores of parents grieving over the consequences of their anti-vaccine paranoia.

in case you are wondering what is “new” in our neck of the woods… a whole freaking lot!

• Day 1 – well, i consider it Day 1, because i am one hour late, and i just know, for some reason.
• Day 3 – AJ and I have lunch together, and I decide to just come out and tell him that just maybe… this could be it! i am shocked and encouraged by his immediate excitement.
• Day 7 – go to Walgreens and buy a test. wait an hour until I finally get up the nerve to do it. freaked out by placing dirty test on counter so i clean it off with a clorox wipe, and then the display goes away. faulty (or was it me?). consider calling the 800-number to complain, but then realize, i don’t want to be “that girl”, plus i have another test… but just can’t try again now.
• Day 8 – decide to try second test while AJ showers for work. Box says will take 3-minutes to display, but in some cases can take less that 3 minutes. in 30-seconds I am knocking on shower door to show AJ the Positive Result!
• Later that day i stumble through the baby section at Von Maur and begin to think, “What the hell have we done?”
• Later that night we go to Omaha to meet friends for dinner. When I order a Diet Coke, they ask why I am not drinking and I say, “I lost the coin toss!”… they all think i am quite a responsible Designated Driver!
• Day 9 – we meet up with my parents for a friends wedding reception brunch. i hope that no one notices that i am not downing the mimosas as i would typically do. so hard not to say anything to my Mom!
• Day 10 – call OB and she says, “oh honey, if that test was positive, you’re pregnant. enjoy it!” make appointment for 9-11 week range where we should hear heartbeat. she says I am at five weeks.
• Day 11 – decide i can’t wait and want to tell the family – so invite them to dinner for the following night. Try to work with AJ on organizing and cleaning messy house when i have my first meltdown, prompting AJ to ask, “Are you moody because you’re pregnant, or do think that being pregnant allows you a free chance at being moody?” – frankly, i don’t know.
• also purchased “What to Expect When You’re Expecting“. still haven’t started reading it, but just owning it makes me feel more informed
• Day 12 – Family comes over for a nice night. I have decided that it is too early and we shouldn’t tell them yet. Halfway through the night, AJ says, “Oh, let’s tell them!” i ask my 3-year-old niece to tell the whole group, “I am going to be a cousin” to which she decides to be shy, for the first time in her life. So instead i give my parents a package with a “Grandparent’s” picture frame and a note saying – Arriving June, 2010. Mom cries. Dad and Brother both say, “I knew it!”
• Later my niece follows me into the guest room, where the door was intentionally closed to hide the mess, and i say, “Sorry, sweetie, it’s a bit messy in here.” to which she walks out to everyone and says, “Wow, Aunt KT’s room sure is messy!”… so NOW she decides to be the group spokesperson!
• we tell my family that we are only telling them and AJ’s parents and sister at this point – but won’t tell everyone else for a few more weeks. Everyone agrees that is a good idea.
• Day 13- My brother calls me and says my Niece woke up saying, “KT & AJ are having a baby!” now my niece can’t be around any family members until we announce the news for good!
• nausea has definintely started today. if i keep eating it subsides. i’ll be the size of a house before this is over.
• Day 14- Another call this morning that my Niece announced to her day-care friends, “Listen up everyone, KT & AJ are having a baby!”… she can now no longer go out in public — or i need to change my plan!
• also tried taking Ginger Root Extract pills to ward off nausea. not working so far, and just taking them may lead to more nausea. this plan may not last.
• Day 16 – had a chance to meet up with AJ’s parents and share the news! so exciting to see how excited they are!
• Day 19 – dull, persistent nausea continues
• Day 20 – the amount of sleep i get is directly proportional to the amount of nausea i experience the following day. shoulda, woulda, wish i coulda slept more/better last night… uggh
• Day 21 – baby’s first concert– Kelly Clarkson at Pershing
• Day 22 – Happy Halloween!
• Day 28 – Good Friends in town for the weekend and the NU vs OU game. I am surprised that no one has yet asked why I am not drinking… but my “sober driver” defense and “subway diet” must really keep them off the scent!
• Day 30 – solid dinner. 1/2 a can of progresso soup that’s almost free on the Weight Watchers points scale. followed by 16-oz butterfinger blizzard!
• Day 31 – i have eaten all day long. cornflakes and milk for breakfast, orange juice on the way to work, 30 carrots, 25 gigantic grapes, 15 triscuits and one string cheese before lunch. oy! but, it keeps the nausea down.
• Day 32 – i don’t think my pants will fit much longer. oy vey!
• Day 39 – Sister-In-Law lends me “Belly Laughs” by Jenny McCarthy. Loving it!
• Day 40 – feeling good this morning – that worries me more than anything.
• Day 41 – at this point, i think i have about seven outfits that i feel comfortable wearing in public. seven outfits. seven days in the week. one poor memory… i am guessing i may have duplicated an outfit our two during a work-week, unknowingly.
• Day 42 – caught sight of my rear in a window reflection while walking around downtown at lunch. Baby Got Back!
• Day 47 – First OB Appt… nervous until we heard the most awesome sound ever- the heartbeat! 160 bpm!
• Day 50 – Happy Thanksgiving! broke the news to the extended family members… Lots to be Thankful For!!!
• Day 57 – slipped the word to a few friends at lunch, and this is what you get!
• Day 58 – and more facebook love
• Day 63 – had to pull out the carrots at 8:20am, going to be a long, hungry, nauseous day.
• Day 65 – mailed out xmas cards – the word is out!
• Day 72 – officially Week 14 – The Bean is a size of a lemon, or a fist… and this marks the start to the 2nd trimester, or so they tell me

Hello, I am excited to host a
Fun, Fit and Guilt-Free House Party. This “fun, fit and guilt-free” House Party Event will be held nationwide on Saturday, January 09, 2010. It’s a Perfect way to start the New year!

I am inviting some friends and family to try out the new Wii exercise games “your shape” starring Jenny McCarthy and “Just Dance”.

“Your Shape “— it is a personalized Wii-compatible workout game that creates an individualized program to meet each person’s fitness goals.

“just Dance” is another wii compatible game that features great music and utilizes various dancing techinques disguised as a workout.
It’s a fun way to get in shape. I haven’t recieved it yet but once I do, I’ll post pictures and my reviews.

Hello, I am excited to host a
Fun, Fit and Guilt-Free House Party. This “fun, fit and guilt-free” House Party Event will be held nationwide on Saturday, January 09, 2010. It’s a Perfect way to start the New year!

I am inviting some friends and family to try out the new Wii exercise games “your shape” starring Jenny McCarthy and “Just Dance”.

“Your Shape “— it is a personalized Wii-compatible workout game that creates an individualized program to meet each person’s fitness goals.

“just Dance” is another wii compatible game that features great music and utilizes various dancing techinques disguised as a workout.
It’s a fun way to get in shape. I haven’t recieved it yet but once I do, I’ll post pictures and my reviews.

I love reading comments on CNN news articles. The comments on the BBC website are either too proper or just plain rude. CNN is a website where the comments are either heartbreaking, extremely patriotic, or simply stupid. Here is an example: http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/11/angelina.jolie.barack.obama/index.html

Most of the comments seem to focus on the idea that the American administration needs to focus more on their borders instead of focusing on other people’s problems. Others seem to criticize the mentality that celebrities don’t know what they are talking about, saying that Jolie should use her money instead of her own, and stop trying to save the world.

This is my favorite comment: Since Jolie is good at buying things (ie: houses, cars, children). Why doesnt she just buy Sudan OR just a new president, she has the money and would stoop that low.

Even though some of the comments make sense, I think people are failing to understand what Jolie is using her fame for. She is trying to raise awareness to a problem that is highly underrepresented in the media – the darfur genocide. It’s still going on, and people need to figure out a way to solve the crisis before it becomes too late. The problem is that the UN forces can only do so much because of their limited resources, and they require help from the US for military backup. The issue of the US having to face their own problems first is a fair one, no one is denying that, but people also need to understand the political and economic driving force that the US is. If the US decides to attack Sudan tomorrow, people will follow, but it will also face criticisms from everyone (just like when Iraq happened) so I think Obama will probably decide not to do this. Instead it could limit the quota of imports it gets from China until they change their trading policy with Sudan which is basically a free trade one. The US could also send troops to help out in camps and social service workers to work in Darfur as communicators between the government and rebel forces. The US can also push for the president to be convicted of human rights crimes by the UN, and people will follow. What Jolie is trying to trying to make the Obama administration do is to plant a seed. It’s not to go into Sudan or to fix it, its to set the initiative for change so the whole world can stop this monstrosity. If the US starts, others will follow and maybe cut ties with the government, forcing the president to leave. No one is asking the administration to forget about the local issues, but they’re (George Clooney is another celebrity interested in Sudan) asking them to promote change by just planting the seed – whatever that may be.

As for celebrities becoming brands for political issues, I don’t disagree with it because the promote awareness to them, but when they start promoting because of fame, that’s when the issue of celebrity activism becomes skewed. Akon didn’t know what Green meant until a day before the Live Earth concert (that might be a rumor though) and Sean Penn went to Venezuela for no purpose whatsoever. It’s different to promote an issue for the good of others, than to promote an issue for your own publicity. There is also the issue of celebrities promoting useless causes, Jenny McCarthy trying to stop vaccination in women as it caused autism is one of them. The issue is completely false, and it brings false and unneeded publicity to it. Most Americans think celebrities should stay out of politics, and I agree, but I don’t think they should that celebrity activism should stop. They promote awareness, and that’s all that matters. I see them as endorsement deals, they just don’t get paid for it. Or do they?

The wife was watching TV this evening. Most of the time I usually pay half attention because I don’t have much intrest in most of the shows she likes, tonight wasn’t much different. I noticed she was watching one of those feel good made for TV Christmas movies that I really find boring as hell. As I briefly looked up at the set I noticed one of the main characters was played by over a decade done has-been “party girl” Jenny McCarthy? The same Jenny McCarthy that not that long ago was breakin’ out her boobies and wolfman in the pages of dirty magazines for money! What casting agent in their right mind would throw Jenny McCarthy in a “family” movie? I kept waiting for the plot action in the movie to switch to Jenny giving Santa a hand-job or her feeding the Reindeer naked, but it never happened. I guess as the years go by the bar of family television morality has been dumped somewhere off the continental shelf which I guess I shouldn’t have a problem with. Maybe next year we’ll get to see Jenna Jamison and Peter North in a remake of It’s a Wonderful Life? Could Ron Jeremy perhaps be cast as the ghost of Christmas past in a Christmas Carol? I bet they could break out  Candy Samples old ass as a huge titted Mrs. Claus! I guess we’ll have to wait till next year to see what new bottom-feeders pop up in “Family” entertainment?

Two years ago, we got slapped with our son’s autism diagnosis. Feeling a bit shell-shocked, we walked out of the autism-specific clinic carrying a heavy diagnosis and a very light folder that included some pamphlets on what to do now. Of the pamphlets, there was one on creating a living will, one on genetics counseling, and one on tracking devices (for your kid who will likely be a “runner” and may drown in a nearby pond). We also got the lecture from one of the doctors that we can “waste our money on THE diet and all that biomedical stuff that is purely local wisdom and anecdotal,” but he wouldn’t recommend it. All in all, crap sandwich.

I buckled up my sweet little curly-headed two-year-old into the backseat and couldn’t help but wonder about his future. My husband and I looked at each other, emotionally worn out. It was like we had officially been handed down a life-long sentence, and we knew we were on our own. WE would have to forge a pathway for our son and shoot for success because no one else would do it for us. If hope didn’t fall in our laps, we vowed we would go find it for ourselves. So, it was from other autism parents, and in locating the right books, and Googling until we unearthed some treasures of hope, that we created a sketchy map for ourselves. Granted, the land of autism is more rocky, treacherous and mysterious than the Afghanistan wilderness. But the “wisdom of the locals”–as it were–can be the most helpful for locating the caves and navigating the mountain passes, if you will.

So, while I am not the best and brightest in the autism world, I will share with you my crash course for what to do if you have just received an autism diagnosis. Aside from the obvious loving on your kid like crazy, we’re talking first-things-first, and you kind of have to do them simultaneously. Sorry, this will be long. I invite others that ”have gone before” to add to this in the comment section.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS (I’m not a doctor, nor do I claim to be):

1. You must know that you cannot trust everything that your doctors tell you. You’ve got to do some research and take the reins on this one, as scary as that may be. You’ll come to know that there are a couple of schools of thought on autism. You’ve got your “it’s genetics and hard-wired” school, and you’ve got your “something environmental triggered susceptible genes to result in autism” school. Here is where it’s a little like religion. You will probably have to choose what your denomination is because that will influence your course of action, the books you read, the conferences you attend. There is some faith involved. Generally, either you are an “autism Lutheran” or you’re an “autism Charismatic.” (Think, though we’re all on the same general team, one side calls the likes of Jenny McCarthy a heretic, while the other side reveres her as a prophet.) Somewhat difficult to be a lukewarm autism parent if you have any sense of curiosity to find out what happened to your kid.  

2. Watch the little documentary we produced, called “Surprised By Autism.” In thirty minutes, you can get a quick overview of some of the basic resources and services to know about, and make a heart connection from the viewpoint of a parent. My husband created this documentary with parents new to the diagnosis in mind, mostly because some of the videos shown at “autism orientation” meetings we attended were old, outdated, and frankly–SCARY! The parents looked like they wanted to fall on pitchforks and get it over with. We were not willing to let that be us.

3. Books you should pick up and devour immediately: 1. All three of Jenny McCarthy’s books: Louder Than Words, Mother Warriors, and Healing and Preventing Autism. 2. Facing Autism. 3. Autism Sourcebook. 4. Overcoming Autism. I know it’s a lot and you probably won’t understand it all right away, but it will give you a foundation you will appreciate, and most importantly, HOPE. (Most of the links are under my “recommended reads” in the navigation.)

4. Yes, I would say you should try THE DIET. Perhaps you’ve heard these code words. GFCF. What in the world, right? Well, gluten-free, casein free (wheat and dairy-free) is  the foundational autism diet that many parents attest to helping to “lift the fog” from their child. Smiles can return, attention, focus, etc. First step: eliminate all dairy. You really can do this because there are a lot of substitutes out there, but you must be aware of all the hidden places dairy is lurking, and it’s got to be a very strict approach to see if it’s working. BTW, soy is not a great substitute, as studies are showing, so we’re talking replacing your cow’s milk with stuff like rice milk, almond milk, potato milk, hemp milk–that sort of thing. Get out your Birkenstocks and wool socks, my friend, you will learn to love the health food store–though luckily many of the major chains are coming around to offer these alternatives. You should be able to tell within the first month if there is a difference. Then, you can follow with taking out gluten. I would recommend these books: Book With A Long Title by Karyn Seroussi, and Special Needs Kids Eat Right. And, there are about a billion things on this ANDI website.

5. Know your educational therapy options. So, your county might have some autism services to offer you, along with your school district, and maybe some outside speech and occupational therapies through various centers. Unless you are really keyed-in, you may miss this whole other world called “Applied Behavior Analysis”–or ABA–therapy. I ask you to exercise a little discernment here. In my experience, the county, etc. will tell you that the 3-10 hours of one-on-one therapy they will offer your child is enough, but the research says differently. Recommended therapy for children with autism is 25-40 hours per week, and the most scientifically proven therapy for kids with autism is ABA (which has some offshoots). Look into this option to see if it’s a fit for your child. There are therapists that will come into your home, and there are some autism therapy centers that offer ABA. You can find out more about in-home options at the Lovaas website, or seek out center-based options like Partners in Excellence. You’ll have insurance and money hassles to deal with, but it’s worth it. There are many other options for therapy. I’m just sharing what I know here.

6. Bookmark and refer to these websites often: www.generationrescue.org,  www.talkaboutcuringautism.org, www.autism.com. These will lead you to many more resources.

7. Get your child on a path to physical wellness. Autism is not just a genetic or mental disorder. There is stuff going on in bodies of our kids with autism that typically is only being treated by alternative medicine practitioners. Vaccines have likely played a factor, maybe ear infections, detox issues, frequent antibiotics that have messed some things up for your child. The standard autism doctors in the “biomedical” world are called DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctors. They are licensed and trained in this approach and can be found throughout the nation–many are wellness or chiropractic doctors as well. Go here to find one in your area. It’s not covered by insurance usually, but at least start with a consultation and develop a course of action. There are also things nutritionally that you can do right now, without the advisement of a doctor–vitamins and nutrients that could make a difference. Jenny McCarthy’s latest book is the best I’ve seen to address that, including recommended dosages, brands, etc.

8. Communicate with your spouse. Friends, in the early days, this is a sprint but it’s training you for the marathon. Life is not the same, nor will it ever be. There is grief. There is pain. There is crying. There is loneliness. Faith is shaken. Love is tested. High days. Low days. Hoping days. Coping days. The best of you. The worst of you. It’s all a major journey and process. And, I say that all because you must give yourself and your spouse a break. This IS a big deal, and each of you will wrestle with the emotions and stress in a different way. Just don’t close yourselves off to each other. Be open and compassionate, and try to get on the same page. Fight autism. Not each other. Read this. Eighty percent of marriages fail when faced with autism. Will you make a commitment to each other to close the backdoor, no matter what? Even the strongest marriage will face very distinct trials, and commitment will have to carry you past how you “feel” about each other at times.

9. Get some support in place. Run, don’t walk, to find at least one other parent out there who has a kid with autism, and subscribes to some of the same basic theories as you. Your circle will expand from there. I would say it’s best at first to find one that has a child that is less than 2-3 years older than yours. Their story will still be fresh, and their resources current. You also have to be careful not to compare your child with theirs. Autism is a spectrum. Each child is different. Thankfully, many friendships are able to be forged online these days. That has been huge for me. But, I have a special place in my heart for that one mom that I met with that got me started, let me cry and pick her brain, and took me under her wing in those early days. There are some good support groups out there. I would recommend TACA.

10. Take care of yourself. I’m talking physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally. You may need to find a therapist or counselor. Get in your Bible. Find out God’s promises. Try to get some sleep. Get away from autism sometimes. Go out on a date. Eat right (not emotionally eating, like I’ve been doing). Exercise (do as I say, not as I do). Get out with girlfriends. Sit and have some coffee alone. You NEED this. You’ve got to, or you’ll burn out. And don’t worry… your heart will probably be re-purposed by autism, but you will dream new dreams and brighter days will emerge again.

Well, I think a top ten will suffice for now. There’s a lot more like helpful products and going green for your child, but this will get you started. My hundreds of  hours of reading, researching, learning and living about autism boil down to this basic cheat sheet for you. I hope it helps. There are so many of us out there cheering you on. You’re not alone!

We just returned from a long weekend in my hometown, the Big Apple.  I don’t know how New York compares to Las Vegas but what you do there can be usually told to most people I know.

Unlike Vegas, which seems to pride itself on its slippage into the pit of sexual and moral despondency, New York still has many fine attributes that allow it to stand head and shoulder about the rest of America.

To my mind it is still the greatest city in our American universe.  Upon returning, I commented how neat all the people were that we encountered during our stay—from waiters, to sales people to just people in line at the Trump Tower Starbuck’s.  That alone was refreshing to me, a recovering New Yorker.

However that does not mean that New York, like so many urban centers, doesn’t have a quasi-rotten core.   New York is the largest abortion provider in the country.  I read that 75% of their pregnancies terminate in the local Planned Parenthood abattoir.

Christmas is also under siege in New York.  Despite, its long and colorful history,  New York is trying to ignore the Christmas season in a big way. Businesses have all chimed in with their Happy Holidays campaigns to express their hope that you will spend all your money in their stores. All their window designs were absolutely gorgeous and very creative yet something…someone was missing.

I assume they were just following the new American tradition of separation of store and religion.  I just wonder how many of them realize that the word holiday, is a derivative of the word “holy day?

One reason we visited New York in December was because of the beautiful Christmas tree that lights 30 Rock every year.  The only change this year in its resplendent display of yellow and blue lights was the fact that this year’s 75’ Norwegian spruce, was now called, simply, the tree at Rockefeller Center. Christ’s name had wound up on another cutting room floor.

Signs on buses now proclaim in a new twist on a Christmas theme that people can be good for goodness sake.  Humanists, who think that people do not need the Author of goodness to be a moral and upstanding people, sponsored this series of ads. I wonder if these Madison Avenue anti-believers realize that right in the middle of their Christmas play on words, they reveal the seeds of their own self-parody.

Take the God out of goodness and what do you have?   You get a form of oneness, which serves as the self-centered egotism that makes it impossible to be good just for goodness sake.

Another sign of Babylon is lurking around New York was former Playboy Bunny of the Year, (1993) Jenny McCarthy who was in town, presumably to promote her new ABC movie, Santa Baby II. Jenny was staying at our hotel by the Park and when we passed her she had set up an impromptu  signing of her books and some of her publicity photos on 59^th Street.

The baptized Catholic from Chicago is still only 37 yet looked much older to me.  The years of Sturm and Drang since Playboy have aged her.  She has one failed marriage, a son with autism and is now sharing a domicile with the zany actor, Jim Carrey.  As she stood out in the cold with the men flocking around her, I kind of felt sorry for her.

Here it was Christmas and she was in the most exciting city in the world and she is hawking photos of a body that has served as her greatest asset.  That is a cruel commentary on what is supposed to be the most joyous time in the year.  Her movie reviews have been on the dark side of outstanding.

What so many people fail to see is that Christmas is a spiritual time of the year.  Those who deny things of the spirit are probably the very ones who want Christ to disappear on His own birthday.  They want to fill his absence with material toys, gadgets and an occasion Playboy Bunny under the tree.  No matter how much fun the toys were or how pretty the Bunny, they just don’t fill the emptiness that only Christ can at this time of the year.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you really want to blow the mind of a secularist or opponent of Christmas, just start wishing them a HAPPY HOLYDAY and see what happens!!!

Oh Neil. Please don't agree to any more Xmas movies.

Here are a few Xmas movies I’ve watched so far and my thoughts:

Awesome!

A Very Cool Christmas – A valley girl gives Santa (played by George Hamilton) a makeover. So terrible it’s good.

Olive the Other Reindeer – Cute cartoon about a dog named Olive. With voices by Drew Barrymore and Michael Stipe(!)

Santa Baby – This one surprised me. I thought it would be a waste of time, but actually was enjoyable. Jenny McCarthy is awesome in this movie about Santa’s daughter.

Shrek the Halls – Totally hilarious.  Worth watching again and again.

Okay.

Noel – Kind of a serious movie starring Susan Sarandon and Penelope Cruz (as well as Robin Williams?!). It was well acted and interesting, but was a bit of a tear-jerker…not the silly Xmas movie I was looking for. If you’re looking for drama, this one’s for you.

Secret Santa – Vaguely enjoyable movie starring Jennie Garth as a reporter looking for the identity of a secret santa. (no, it doesn’t turn out to actually be santa, as I thought when I first started watching)

Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus - Weird movie in which Santa’s son looks for a wife so he can step into his father’s shoes. St. Nick Jr. is too jolly and completely un-hot. Their is absolutely no chemistry between him and the lead female actress. But not a complete waste of time if you laugh at how terrible it is. I found out there is a sequel, but I have no intention of watching it.

Boring. Just couldn’t watch the whole thing.

A Carol Christmas – A talk show host (Tori Spelling) is scrooge. We didn’t get past five minutes.

A Diva’s Christmas Carol – This time a singing diva (played by Vanessa Williams) is scrooge. Another boring one. I guess I have a prejudice against the scrooge story. It’s been done way too many times.

The Christmas Wish (with Neil Patrick Harris) — Oh man was this boring. NPH is the only one who can act in this movie. So terrible I can’t even tell you what it was about because we didn’t get very far.

As I watch more I’ll keep you posted and I’ll have a wrap-up at the end of the year.

Image from lanbui of TheBuiBrothers.com / CC BY-SA 2.0

With Jim Carrey’s daughter Jane expecting her first child in March of 2010 ,Jenny McCarthy thinks she and her boyfriend of four years will rock as grandparents.I think he’s going to make the world’s best [grandfather] because he is so animated,” McCarthy, 37, told PEOPLE at ABC Family’s World Record Elf Party on Monday in New York City. “I also think I am going to rock as the grandma. I love her and I am excited about this baby.”Although McCarthy admits that she can be pushy at times, the former playmate says that she and Carrey, 47, are going to keep their opinions about raising the baby to themselves.

“My biggest lesson in it will probably be to just shut up and just let her raise the baby the way that she wants it,” she says. “I think grandparents can kind of overstep their boundaries. I’m going to try to be there as a friend and a cool grandma.”

First task as the “cool grandma” – handling the baby shower.

“I will be planning [Jane's] baby shower in January,” McCarthy says. “I have to try and think of those baby games. My mom did the chocolate Raisinets in the diaper but I’m not sure I can go there!”

I just got vaccinated today at Cal Poly Pomona’s Student Health Services.

It was free, and despite the concerns over the mercury thermosal (used to preserve the vaccine and prevent germs) and the minute chance of autism, I took the plunge.

It was the injection and not the nasal spray, but it was painless — other than a sore left arm, which is standard for all shots.

Maybe it’s my laid-back northern California nature, but I’m really not too worried. People have been getting vaccinations all through their lives, and not until there’s one for this new case of H1N1, or swine flu, does everyone become a cynic.

WIRED magazine had a cover story last month called An Epidemic Of Fear that is an enlightening read. The jist? Like with all controversial topics, there’s a plethora of misinformation that floats around, much of it coming from bias sources with a stake in the game. Jenny McCarthy is one advocate linking autism to vaccinations, despite evidence that proves otherwise.

The article reads:

The parent who reads what Jenny McCarthy says and thinks, ‘Well, maybe I shouldn’t get this vaccine,’ and their child dies of Hib meningitis,” he says, shaking his head. “It’s such a fundamental failure on our part that we haven’t convinced that parent.” Consider: In certain parts of the US, vaccination rates have dropped so low that occurrences of some children’s diseases are approaching pre-vaccine levels for the first time ever.

If you want to prove me wrong, go read this: http://bit.ly/5PughD. I don’t doubt that there’s research and studies to link vaccinations to autism and other harmful things, but contracting swine flu is pretty harmful too. Perhaps less severe, but I’ll take my chances and avoid the current pandemic.

from wired.com

I did a feature on swine flu concerns on college campuses recently for 89.3 KPCC.

DOWNLOAD THIS MP3:

http://www.box.net/shared/ng7bgol919

[file name = swine flu college mixdown]

It’s my public radio debut and I don’t have mp3 uploading capabilities on the blog just yet. Here’s the script:

H1N1 – the “swine flu” virus – is hitting young people especially hard.  That’s why local college campuses are on guard.  But getting students to take the “swine flu” threat seriously can be a challenge.  Reporter Daniel Ucko has our story from Cal Poly Pomona.

Daniel Ucko: It’s lunchtime – and thousands of students are roaming the Cal Poly Pomona campus. It’s “university hour” – with no classes in session. Think recess for big kids.

Ucko: It’s the perfect time for Student Health Services workers to pass out fliers that remind people to practice basic hygiene to avoid the flu. But it’s a tough sell.

Eric Au: I’m actually not too worried about it.

Ucko: Cal Poly junior and graphic designer Eric Au says he’s not worried about the “swine flu” even though faculty and students file in and out of his campus office all day. He admits that where he works, germs spread easily.

Au: Anytime flu season comes around or something, we always have that talk in a meeting. And so if this is indeed still flaring up, we’re definitely gonna talk about it here.

Ucko: David Patterson is doing more than talking. He’s Cal Poly Pomona’s director of environmental health and safety.

David Patterson: I would say we have to plan for the fact that we will probably see some cases on campus.

Ucko: There’s only been one confirmed case of H1N1 at Cal Poly Pomona. But it’s hard to say for sure. The campus health center no longer tests for the virus. New guidelines from the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say test only if a patient is hospitalized. The CDC says health officials should instead focus on treatment and containment. David Patterson.

Patterson: It’s the same thing if you live at home and the same thing if you go shopping down at the mall. An old adage I’ve used for years and years is to keep four feet most of the time between you and other people. Avoid sneezing or coughing on people by covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough. You know, frequently washing your hands.

Ucko: Next week, Cal Poly Pomona will host one of LA County’s H1N1 vaccination clinics. The university has a “swine flu” web page that answers basic questions about the virus, and debunks myths – including one that got some play on campus.

Ucko: The agricultural school has about 10 pigs in its swine unit. Despite a campus rumor, you can’t get “swine flu” from these specially bred Cal Poly pigs. But grab your little brother’s piggy bank while he’s sick in bed – and you just might get it.

Patterson: Pretty much the same thing we’ve heard again and again.

Ucko: Cal Poly Pomona health and safety director David Patterson.

Patterson: The issue here is that this is the flu, and given the current severity that CDC’s reporting on the H1N1, it’s a fairly mild version. So it’s as much the same precaution as for any flu or any diseases. It’s all about protections the individual can do or things the individual can do to reduce their chance or risk.

Ucko: Of particular worry on campus are dormitories, shared bathrooms – and, of course, frat parties.

Nick Spagnola: I’ve made a joke that I think that there’s going to be a correlation between the spread of swine flu and the amount of frat parties attended by freshmen.

Ucko: Senior Nick Spagnola is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He thinks the H1N1 virus will spread when partygoers share drinks. But he says there could be an upside to an outbreak.

Spagnola: Oh absolutely! If it becomes like a serious thing, I intend to miss class a decent amount. I’m not saying it’s a good idea to lie to teachers or any sort of administrator or anyone listening, but if I was looking in my arsenal of excuses, “swine flu” would probably pop up there.

Ucko: Cal Poly Pomona anticipated a pandemic of phony “swine flu” absences. Professors will post class notes online for students who really are sick – but those students will need a note from the doctor.

You know what I love about coming home to my girlfriend at night? She always surprises me. And tonight is no exception.

I took the Santa Claus gig at the local mall because we needed extra money. It’s not the because of the love of making little kids smile or creating memories for parents. Fuck no. I got the gig so we won’t be in the fucking dark for the month of December. It’s the recession and we’re barely making it. Trish had to pick up a few extra shifts at her waitressing job just to make sure our bills are covered. So yeah. Ho-fucking-ho-ho.

But being Santa Claus is not what’s cracked up to be. Screaming babies, impatient parents, and shitty diapers are only the highlights of my day. I sit in an uncomfortable throne that’s supposed to look like it’s made of plush velvet but really made out of some hard-ass plywood that’s conveniently covered. So now I have ass splinters on top of smelling like baby vomit at the end of the day. Yeah, go ahead and laugh. Everyone else does; you should join the party.

It’s 8 o’clock and that means it’s time for me to get the fuck home and think about how much of a douchebag I’ve become. Being 29 and working as a part-time Santa is not how I imagined my life after graduation. Oh well. I leave the mall and make a beeline straight home. All I want to do is sit on the couch, scratch my nuts and watch some SportsCenter. But the moment I step through the door, I know that’s not going to happen. It seems Trish had other ideas in mind. Her thigh-high red latex boots and her hot little Mrs. Santa number tells me she wants something more. But that blaring Nine Inch Nails music in the background definitely tells me she doesn’t want to be made love to tonight. She wants to be fucked like it’s nobody’s business. Suddenly, I’m not so tired anymore.

She turns to me and looks at me with a sexy twinkle in her eyes. I know what that means. I’m barely taking off my dirty-ass Santa costume before I see Trish adjust herself on the dining room table. She spreads her legs and all I see is pink. Her shaven lips are begging me to spread them and see that wonderful, delicious clit. Her Santa dress is barely containing her big-ass titties and it’s just barely holding up with a few strings. That’s okay. I’ll rip those damn things apart and buy her a new outfit later. Fuck it, start a tab. I’m going to be tearing up a lot of shit tonight.

I clear off the table and all sorts of shit fall and break on the floor. I told you to start a tab. Anyways, my focus is on fucking my girlfriend’s tight little pussy, not some goddamn Crate & Barrel shit. I’m barely out of my Santa uniform when my cock jumps out of my pants. He’s ready and I can’t blame him. I position myself in between Trish’s thighs and enter her wet heat. Fuck, she feels amazing. It’s been a while since we fucked and it’s something we both need right about now.

But my baby doesn’t want the romantic shit and honestly, I can’t blame her. I just need to knock it out of the park right now. I start to thrust fast inside her, making the kitchen table squeak and move with every motion. I lift her legs so her ankles are by my ears and I just go hard. Trish is barely holding onto the table while she screams out in pleasure. That’s right, baby. Scream for Daddy.

Trish climaxes shortly afterwards and I slow down to let cum all over my dick. But we’re not done. Not by a long shot.

To be continued….

You know what I love about coming home to my girlfriend at night? She always surprises me. And tonight is no exception.

I took the Santa Claus gig at the local mall because we needed extra money. It’s not the because of the love of making little kids smile or creating memories for parents. Fuck no. I got the gig so we won’t be in the fucking dark for the month of December. It’s the recession and we’re barely making it. Trish had to pick up a few extra shifts at her waitressing job just to make sure our bills are covered. So yeah. Ho-fucking-ho-ho.

But being Santa Claus is not what’s cracked up to be. Screaming babies, impatient parents, and shitty diapers are only the highlights of my day. I sit in an uncomfortable throne that’s supposed to look like it’s made of plush velvet but really made out of some hard-ass plywood that’s conveniently covered. So now I have ass splinters on top of smelling like baby vomit at the end of the day. Yeah, go ahead and laugh. Everyone else does; you should join the party.

It’s 8 o’clock and that means it’s time for me to get the fuck home and think about how much of a douchebag I’ve become. I leave the mall and make a beeline straight home. All I want to do is sit on the couch, scratch my nuts and watch some SportsCenter. But the moment I step through the door, I know that’s not going to happen. It seems Trish had other ideas in mind.  Her thigh-high red latex boots and her hot little Mrs. Santa number tells me she wants something more. But that blaring Nine Inch Nails music in the background definitely tells me she doesn’t want to be made love to tonight. She wants to be fucked like it’s nobody’s business. Suddenly, I’m not so tired anymore.

I noticed the person who made this video forgot to mention all those, you know, medical researchers who actually work on finding effective autism treatments every single day, opting for these intellectual deficients instead.

If these are the “autism heroes,” I have to say that the person who made this video has extraordinarily low standards for hero worship.

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Sometimes it’s best to keep your mouth shut. I already knew that, but knowing something and actually show behavior which is in accordance with that knowledge is something else. My latest mistake, in a steadily extending line, was when I somehow got involved in a discussion about vaccination. Like in many other countries, many people around here can get vaccinated against H1N1 (or: Mexican flu).
Our best medical experts, health scientists and epidemiologists have been debating this for weeks and decided: yes, for certain groups it is wise to get vaccinated and should they so desire, they should be given the opportunity to do so. As a parent of a five month old son I belong to one of those groups. I hav been informed that my son does not have an increased risk of actually dying of H1N1, however, there is a higher chance that he might need medical care in hospital. I think every parent would do anything to avoid that as well.

The wiser choice
What I also did was read up on the subject as I had also done when it came to all the other vaccinations that babies and infants receive in the Netherlands (like tuberculosis, polio et cetera). I was always a bit sceptical about the idea of injecting perfectly healthy people with all sorts of drugs, so I wanted to know more about it. As it turns out, all scientific evidence points clearly towards: getting vaccinated is the wiser choice.  The diseases that are prevented by it are serious and horrific and the odds of side-effect are very small indeed.

Gullible people
I thought (stupid, stupid, stupid) I could have an intelligent and respectful debate about this with someone who was clearly an anti-vaccine crusader. No way. Within seconds I was treated to an extremely unpleasant mixture of conspiracy theories (our government wants to make us all ill because of the powerful and wealthy vaccination lobby), misinformation (I was informed that there is scientific evidence that vaccination causes autism. I know for a fact: there is no such evidence whatsoever), bad source-material (websites by -mostly- moms who makes claims they do not provide any relevant evidence for) and plain old gossip (our national top medical advisor has shares in pharmaceutical companies (true) which is why he is not to be trusted because vaccines make him rich (not true)). In short: I should have ignored all this. But I didn’t. I explained, calmly or so I thought, why all their theories are dubious,  non-scientific and in fact: dangerous. Gullible people believe them. They do no get -their kids-  vaccinated and people might end up in hospital (let’s not even talk about ‘dead’) because of it. And I am pretty sure that no one of those vaccination critics will take any responsibility for it. It will undoubtedly be the government’s fault yet again.

Stay critical
The anti vaccination lobby’s mantra seems to be: stay critical. Which, as mantras come and go, seems to be a clever one. Unfortunately these ‘critical lobbyists’ have something in common with conspiracy theorist’s; being critical only refers to ‘them’ and never to ‘us’. The anti-vaccination crusaders use unscientific source material, myths and nonsense as arguments, while at the same time spreading lies and gossip about scientists, researchers, policy makers and politicians who have to work by ethical and scientific rules and laws. Perhaps there are good arguments why there is a better alternative to vaccination, but they will come, in time, from the latter group, not the misinformed cynical mob. And in the mean time, all these bad arguments and poorly informed ‘worried parents’ are taking up a lot of research time that could also be used for advancing medical knowledge. Not to mention all the victims of unnecessary diseases.

1. Oprah’s going off the air!! – The Flying Spaghetti has answered my prayers! Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen until 2011 at the earliest and I’m sure it won’t be the last we’ll see of Oprah. But it’s cause for some degree of dancing in Munchinland.

2. California atheist group made to take down sign at tavern meet-up – The Seal Beach Atheist Meetup Group held their meet-ups at a bar called Hennessy’s Tavern. But after at least one complaint, the bar manager made them take down their oh, so offensive sign that read:  “SEAL BEACH ATHEISTS MEETING.”  Here’s the tavern’s contact information. Do with it what you will.

3. Even Christians don’t like Ray Comfort -

So, congrats to you Ray Comfort. You have truly surpassed all previous Attie award winners. You have  slandered a man (Darwin), you have made all Christians look like ignorant boobs, and worst of all, you have caused people to question the validity of Christ through your dishonesty. You were in the zone today, my friend.

4. The limey’s are back with a brand new atheist ad – This time it features a couple of kids with the slogan, “Please don’t label me. Let me grow up and choose for myself.” And in the background we see a bunch of religious labels:

I love it!

5. Jenny McCarthy is featured on Living Without Magazine – I guess they’re living without is standards and integrity.

6. When is being dismissive justified? – I say NEVER!!!!! Period. That question is too ludicrous to even warrant any further answer than that.

1. Another atheist ad is vandalized – This time it was in Boston. The Boston Coalition of Reason ad read:  “Good without God? 40 Million Americans are.” Sadly, the faith of some Christians is so fragile that even that posed a serious threat to them.

2. Can a plant be altruistic? -

Although plants have the ability to sense and respond to other plants, their ability to recognize kin and act altruistically has been the subject of few studies. The authors explored kin recognition in Impatiens pallida (yellow jewelweed). By moving their resources into leaves, these plants not only positively affected their own growth, but also negatively affected their competitors’ growth. This is the first instance where researchers demonstrated that a plant’s response to an aboveground cue is dependent upon the presence of a belowground cue.

3. If you get vaccinated, unicorns will impale you – Okay, this is a satire. But is there really anyone who thinks the claim is beneath Jenny McCarthy and Generation Rescue?

I need some hairspiration. I love Jenny McCarthy’s asymmetric bob, and totally brought this picture to my hairstylist months ago to sweat her style, but now I’m shopping around for a new cut.

ps I’m very jealous of people with light to medium hair color because they have sooo many more hair options then me and my black hair, but it’s ok, cause I just think about how I will never go grey and that makes me feel better. (Seriously, no greys in these genes!)

This is a trailer to a documentary on early childhood vaccines called ‘Green our Vaccines’.

Actor/Comedian Jim Carrey (playing Scrooge in the new film version of A Christmas Carol) can polarize opinions with his extreme physicality and antics, but you cannot find fault with his commitment to charitable causes. Carrey has a new personal website (www.jimcarrey.com) that raises the bar for interactive bells and whistles (and takes a long time to load). The most interesting part of this ethereal site (home page pictured above) is the link to Carrey’s Better U Foundation, a wonderful charity with a true invitation for getting involved in the lives of others, recognizing that we are at our best when we are reaching out. The particular issues being undertaken at this time include autism (Carrey and his wife, actress/comedienne Jenny McCarthy, have a son working through autism and are empowering activists in the cause), safe water (advocating the simple affordable and lifesaving use of LifeStraw, a personal water purifier that anyone anywhere can use and can transform global health), food security (an eco-friendly program to increase rice crops and feed millions more people each harvest), mobility for the disabled (creating affordable, simple wheelchairs), and human rights (calling for international action on global humanity issues).

As we round the bend toward the holidays, look for ways in your own life to embrace the season of generosity, and take a page from this Ebenezer Scrooge’s book.

Complex:  “Allen Iverson’s Greatest Moments In Philly”   Read Here

Bossip: “Alicia Keys & Beyonce Team Up For New Track” Listen Here

F-Listed: “Jenny McCarthy Wants Back In Playboy” Read Here

This Is 50: “Ex NBA Player’s Wife Shot & Killed In Brooklyn, NYC” Read Here

Your Black World: “Dr. Boyce Watkins: What We Can Learn From Shaq’s Mistress” Read Here