Part of fibromyalgia is a symptom often referred to as "fibro-fog" or "brain-fog". I seem to be going through a period of fibro-fog now, since I can't think of anything to write about. I've spent the day pondering the situation with my computer. My wife bought me a computer on ebay, so that should be getting here soon. Of course, when buying online it's always like getting a present when things come in the mail.
So, I decided to help pay for this computer I would come up with a 'resale' idea. I've been going to local thrift shops and purchasing very good items for small price and then selling them on ebay for a profit. It is only a small profit mind you, but anything is better than nothing at all. Being disabled is not very lucrative, and every little bit helps.
Which reminds me, please click on the ads on this site, as they help support the blog. Every time someone clicks on an add I earn a few pennies. Who knows, it could add up to a few dollars over a years time, maybe even a sawbuck.
Once the fibro-fog clears up and I get my new computer I'll be back to work gathering important information from around the internet and providing it for my readers. Here are a couple of books on fibromyalgia. I'm not recommending them, just letting you know they are out there. I'll try to add links to books like these and on other important issues as I go along.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thrifty things to make with old jeans
This comes from all-freesewing.com. Thrifty Things To Make With Old Jeans
Hopefully I'll be back online with a new computer--in reality a used computer--in the next week or so. I actually super-glued the power jack in my netbook in order to get it to work temporarily. I don't know how long this will last.
Friday, March 25, 2011
It's true, my computer has crashed
I will only be able to borrow a computer off and on until I have the financial resources to purchase another one. My posts will be few until that time comes.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Federal agency proclaims cannabis useful in cancer fight
As federal battles over medical marijuana across the country heat up, a statement from one federal agency may be a huge asset for medical marijuana dispensaries that have been targeted by the various arms of the U.S. Department of Justice and the IRS.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a division of the National Institute of Health, which is itself one of the 11 component agencies that make up the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last week, the NCI quietly added to its treatment database a summary of marijuana’s medicinal benefits, including an acknowledgment that oncologists may recommend it to patients for medicinal use.
The summary cites clinical trials demonstrating the benefit of medical marijuana. Part of it reads:
The new NCI assessment could have an impact on the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the harshest possible drug classification, which has resulted in a prison population in which 1 in 8 prisoners in the U.S. is locked up for a marijuana-related offense. One of the principal criteria for a Schedule I determination is that there be “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” The U.S. Justice Department may have a hard time maintaining that claim if challenged, considering a federal agency now recognizes marijuana’s medical use in cancer treatment.
From the other side of the argument comes a new white paper (PDF) from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) censuring the prescription of marijuana by doctors in states where its medical use is legal. The ASAM takes issue with the fact that marijuana is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and therefore not subject to the same standards as other medicines. The white paper also cites as a health risk the fact that the most common method of using marijuana is smoking it.
Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, believes that the ASAM paper is a direct response to the new NCI evaluation and that ASAM physicians have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal in all cases.
“These doctors are making a fortune off of marijuana prohibition,” he says. “They have a financial, proprietary interest to maintain the status quo.”
St. Pierre argues that addiction specialists would be losing a major revenue source if marijuana were legalized, decriminalized or simply recognized as medicine in federal court. Without the massive number of arrests and convictions based on marijuana-related offenses, there would be a sharp drop in the number of patients referred to a doctor for marijuana addiction counseling by judges.
“The NCI statement? Fascinating. The AMAS reply? Pathetic. And predictable,” says St. Pierre.
Dr. Andrea Barthwell, former president of AMAS, claimed in an AMAS press release that the white paper had its origins in a concern for doctor liability and responsibility.
“Allowing cannabis to circumvent FDA approval sets a dangerous precedent and puts us on a slippery slope,” she said.
From the American Independent
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a division of the National Institute of Health, which is itself one of the 11 component agencies that make up the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last week, the NCI quietly added to its treatment database a summary of marijuana’s medicinal benefits, including an acknowledgment that oncologists may recommend it to patients for medicinal use.
The summary cites clinical trials demonstrating the benefit of medical marijuana. Part of it reads:
The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep. In the practice of integrative oncology, the health care provider may recommend medicinal Cannabis not only for symptom management but also for its possible direct antitumor effect.Although 34 states have passed laws recognizing marijuana’s medicinal properties and 15 states, plus Washington, D.C., have legalized it for medical use, this is the first time a federal agency has recognized it as medicine. Despite recent developments, Attorney General Eric Holder said in 2009 that the Justice Department would not raid medical marijuana facilities, but at no point did he acknowledge their legitimacy as distribution centers for medicine. A 2001 Supreme Court ruling, meanwhile, declared that medical use of marijuana cannot be considered in any federal court deliberating on a marijuana possession or distribution case.
The new NCI assessment could have an impact on the classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug, the harshest possible drug classification, which has resulted in a prison population in which 1 in 8 prisoners in the U.S. is locked up for a marijuana-related offense. One of the principal criteria for a Schedule I determination is that there be “no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” The U.S. Justice Department may have a hard time maintaining that claim if challenged, considering a federal agency now recognizes marijuana’s medical use in cancer treatment.
From the other side of the argument comes a new white paper (PDF) from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) censuring the prescription of marijuana by doctors in states where its medical use is legal. The ASAM takes issue with the fact that marijuana is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and therefore not subject to the same standards as other medicines. The white paper also cites as a health risk the fact that the most common method of using marijuana is smoking it.
Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, believes that the ASAM paper is a direct response to the new NCI evaluation and that ASAM physicians have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal in all cases.
“These doctors are making a fortune off of marijuana prohibition,” he says. “They have a financial, proprietary interest to maintain the status quo.”
St. Pierre argues that addiction specialists would be losing a major revenue source if marijuana were legalized, decriminalized or simply recognized as medicine in federal court. Without the massive number of arrests and convictions based on marijuana-related offenses, there would be a sharp drop in the number of patients referred to a doctor for marijuana addiction counseling by judges.“The NCI statement? Fascinating. The AMAS reply? Pathetic. And predictable,” says St. Pierre.
Dr. Andrea Barthwell, former president of AMAS, claimed in an AMAS press release that the white paper had its origins in a concern for doctor liability and responsibility.
“Allowing cannabis to circumvent FDA approval sets a dangerous precedent and puts us on a slippery slope,” she said.
From the American Independent
Yes, fibromyalgia is real!
The following is the story of one woman's struggle with fibromyalgia. Many of us who have fibromyalgia experience dismissal by medical providers, family, and friends. This only leads to more suffering. Julie Wendell's story is familiar to all of us:
By Julie Wendell / Special to NBC-2.com
"Mommy, open this, please?", my three-year-old son asked as he handed me a cereal bar early one morning. I tried to tear off the top of the wrapper, but my fingers would not move or grasp the wrapper! Terrified, I tried opening it again, but to no avail. I had lost all strength in both of my hands!
As calmly as I could, I asked my 7 year old son to open the cereal bar for his brother. But inside, I was panicking because the weakness in my hands persisted for about an hour. What was happening to me???
Little did I know that the morning of February 10th, 2008 marked the beginning of a myriad of severely painful symptoms. My life was about to drastically change.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I started to experience alarming new symptoms. In addition to the weakness in my hands, I noticed that the joints in my hands were very swollen and stiff. I even took pictures of my hands from all angles to make sure that their odd shape was not just my imagination.
I would often feel sharp zinging pains in my extremities, especially in my hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. My muscles and joints ached like I had the flu. There were times when I would be convinced I had a temperature of at least 101, just to find out it was completely normal every time I checked.
My level of fatigue went from "full time single working mother" to "full time single working mother who also ran 100 miles a day". I was physically exhausted from dealing with so much pain every day.
To make matters worse, I started noticing that when I woke up each morning, I would not feel refreshed, even after a full straight 6-8 hours of sleep. Instead, it felt like I only slept for one hour each night. So not only was I physically exhausted, I was emotionally drained as well. The overall level of exhaustion was indescribable, the worst I have ever experienced in my life! But I was hoping that whatever was plaguing me would just stop on its own.
One afternoon in April 2008, after I got off work and picked up my kids, I couldn't get home fast enough. My body was overwhelmed with pain like I never felt before. As soon as we walked through the door, I immediately headed for the couch, where I spent the next four days. I had to call my mom to help me take care of the kids. In addition to my existing symptoms, I also suffered from oppressive chest pain, muscles/joints that felt bruised, extreme coldness in my arms and face, and TMJ-like jaw pain. I also had the sensation that my aching spine and pelvis were going to slide out of my body.
I cried often, because I had no idea how to cope with these bizarre symptoms. I tried heating packs, ice packs, Tylenol/Advil, but nothing even remotely helped me. My temperature was still normal at 98.6. My mom, who is a nurse, thought maybe I had a virus, but most of the symptoms did not even resemble any virus I had ever had in the past, plus I was not running a fever. Even after the four worst days of feeling severely "sick", most of my symptoms never fully disappeared.
LOOKING FOR A CAUSE
At this point, I was at my wits' end, so I finally decided to get some help. So even though I was terrified of the possible outcomes, I made an appointment to see my primary care physician. After reviewing my list of symptoms and seeing the pictures of my hands, he thought it was very likely that I had rheumatoid arthritis. He immediately referred me to a rheumatologist, who wanted to test me for not only rheumatoid arthritis, but also lupus, mononucleosis, and multiple sclerosis. He ordered some x-rays of my hands and alot of bloodwork. He also prescribed a week's worth of steroids to see if that would help.
At this point, I was at my wits' end, so I finally decided to get some help. So even though I was terrified of the possible outcomes, I made an appointment to see my primary care physician. After reviewing my list of symptoms and seeing the pictures of my hands, he thought it was very likely that I had rheumatoid arthritis. He immediately referred me to a rheumatologist, who wanted to test me for not only rheumatoid arthritis, but also lupus, mononucleosis, and multiple sclerosis. He ordered some x-rays of my hands and alot of bloodwork. He also prescribed a week's worth of steroids to see if that would help.
My daily life started becoming a real chore for me. Everything and anything I usually did without a problem was now unbearable or overwhelming. The mornings and evenings were the worst times of day for my pain, fatigue, and weakness. I tried to stay strong, especially for my children, but there were days where I felt like giving up on everything.
I tried talking to a few friends and family members about how I was feeling, but they would just say that I was complaining too much and/or accuse me of being a hypochondriac. I had never felt so alone in my life.
The results of the blood tests and x-rays came back the following week and were completely normal. Also, the steroids ended up not helping me at all. Based on these findings, the rheumotologist suggested that I may have fibromyalgia. He prescribed an NSAID called mobic to help with my muscle/joint pain and an anti-convulsant/anti-neuropathy medication called gabapentin to help with my nerve pain.
The doctor said that diagnosing fibromyalgia was very tricky because there are no actual diagnostic tools. Instead, the diagnosis is made after everything else has been ruled out. He also wanted to wait and see how the next few months went with the new medications before confirming the suspected diagnosis.
During the following months, both of the medications had made a difference to where my daily activities became more tolerable. I still felt very fatigued, but my quality of sleep seemed to be more restorative (due to the gabapentin). My muscle and joint pain were definitely persistent but they were on more manageable levels (due to the mobic).
A DIAGNOSIS
When I went back to the doctor in August 2008, he reviewed all of my test results and evaluated me again, then officially diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints (definition by MedicineNet.com). The treatment for fibromyalgia includes pain medication and exercise.
When I went back to the doctor in August 2008, he reviewed all of my test results and evaluated me again, then officially diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, a syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints (definition by MedicineNet.com). The treatment for fibromyalgia includes pain medication and exercise.
The doctor advised me to continue with the medications I was currently taking and to try doing light exercise when possible. He also warned me that my medication combination was not always going to be perfect. He said it may take a few tries with various medications before reaching optimal pain management, and what works for me now may not work for me in a few years. I was completely devastated, knowing that I was going to live with unrelenting complicated pain and severe fatigue for the rest of my life.
Sometimes, in addition to medication and exercise, doctors recommend a gluten free diet to help alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms. Coincidentally, I had already been on a gluten free diet for 4 years already, due to having an auto-immune digestive disorder called Celiac Disease.
Unfortunately, being on this diet did not stop me from having fibromyalgia, nor had it eased its symptoms. My doctor said that I'm one of the unlucky fibromyalgia patients who was not positively affected by a gluten free diet. Sometimes I like to think that being gluten free has stopped my fibromyalgia symptoms from becoming uncontrollable.
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia carries a negative stigma in society because the symptoms are very vague and are not so clear-cut as other diseases/conditions. I have actually heard people say that there is no such thing as fibromyalgia, or that the symptoms are fake and they are all in the person's head.
It is also widely believed that people who have fibromyalgia just want attention and/or medication. There are many doctors who do not recognize fibromyalgia as an actual medical condition. Therefore, people who do have fibromyalgia usually have to see numerous doctors before receiving a diagnosis. Luckily for me, reaching a diagnosis for my symptoms only took 6 months and involved seeing only two doctors. Some people suffer for years before finding an answer.
Since my diagnosis, additional symptoms have added themselves onto the original list, such as hypersensitivity to stimuli. For example, if there is too much light or sound, I start feeling very overwhelmed and need to remove myself from the situation. There are times where I cannot be touched, when even my clothes feel like too much overload on my skin and receiving a hug actually HURTS. I also started becoming sensitive to the weather patterns, especially low pressure systems.
I jokingly call myself the "human barometer" because I seem to predict rain better than the weatherman! During periods of damp or cold weather, my muscles and joints heavily protest, and in turn, the pain increases substantially. I found that I have a low tolerance for any kind of exercise, it makes me feel worse rather than making me feel energetic and refreshed. I have also developed difficulty with my short term memory and concentration (ie-"fibro-fog"), which has affected all aspects of my life, especially work.
Today, it remains difficult for me to deal with the pain and fatigue that I experience every day with fibromyalgia. My doctor has changed my pain reliever from mobic to tramadol, which is a bit stronger, so my pain is at a tolerable level most of the time. But I definitely have my share of bad days.
On a positive note, I have learned a few things from my experience with fibromyalgia. I've learned not push myself to do more than I can handle, but I'm still learning that it's okay to ask for help. I have also learned to prioritize what is actually important and to just take things one day at a time.
Having fibromyalgia has made me realize it is so important not to take anything for granted.
After my diagnosis, my rheumatologist had pointed out to me that fibromyalgia is not a deadly or destructive disease, which is very fortunate. However, living with chronic pain and fatigue is still a difficult challenge, no matter what the cause or prognosis.
Yes, fibromyalgia is REAL.
7.0 earthquake hits Myanmar
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck Myanmar Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Earthquakes of that magnitude are capable of causing major damage, especially when they are relatively shallow. The Geological Survey initially said the quake had a depth of 142 miles (230 kilometers), but it later revised its estimate to say the quake was 6 miles (10 kilometers) deep, putting it fairly close to the surface.
A destructive tsunami is not expected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. In advice to government agencies, the center said the quake "is located too far inland and too deep inside the earth to generate a tsunami in the Indian Ocean."
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Sewing Books
I am currently reading a few books on sewing and fitting. I really enjoy reading them, but I don't know when I'll get back to putting them into practice. Anyway, here are links to them on Amazon.
Making Patterns from Finished Clothes
Both these books are great for beginning sewers. The second one, "Making Patterns from Finished Clothes" allows you to use your favorite styles to create multiple patterns without deconstructing the garments themselves. "Fit for Real People" can only be described as a classic and was recommended to me by women (and men) at the Sewing Guild website, which you can access here.
Making Patterns from Finished Clothes
Both these books are great for beginning sewers. The second one, "Making Patterns from Finished Clothes" allows you to use your favorite styles to create multiple patterns without deconstructing the garments themselves. "Fit for Real People" can only be described as a classic and was recommended to me by women (and men) at the Sewing Guild website, which you can access here.
What happened to made in the USA?
ABC news reports that 98% of clothing that Americans wear is made in China.. I remember when I was young, it was common for my mom to specifically look for clothing made in the USA, but primarily I remember her sewing my clothing.
I have been missing my mom lately, especially since I’ve been sewing more, but she’s gone now. So many conversations I would like to go back and have with her now. Sewing helps me feel closer to her somehow. One of my granddaughters has an interest in fashion design, and I have tried to encourage her to take up sewing. I think as artistic as she is, she would love to sew. Too bad she is many states away or I would encourage her even more.
My mom’s sewing machine was one of her most prized possessions. She cared for it like an infant—oiling, cleaning and polishing it till I thought it would wear clean away. But it didn’t, it only shone all the more brightly and sewed all the more smoothly.
I wish I had my mom’s sewing skills. Don’t get me wrong, I can sew a straight seam (usually) and love to do it, but my mom could sew anything. I remember her making bridesmaids dresses for more than one wedding that looked like they cost hundreds of dollars. As far as I know she wasn’t paid for doing this, but I don’t think she would have let me know if she was.
A wet, disappointing day
There is a flood watch in our area today, and it is raining steadily. It is cold and miserable, and I am cold and miserable also. Hope the weather gets better before too much longer. I don't really mind the rain, we always can use more precipitation in this area, but the cold is killing my shoulders. So here's hoping for some warmth to move in by tomorrow.
I'm really disappointed by the 9th Circuit Court's decision to maintain the stay prohibiting same-sex marriage in California. My wife and I were one of the couples that got married while it was legal in 2009. We are still legally married, but there are so many other couples who deserve the right to marry also.
I'm really disappointed by the 9th Circuit Court's decision to maintain the stay prohibiting same-sex marriage in California. My wife and I were one of the couples that got married while it was legal in 2009. We are still legally married, but there are so many other couples who deserve the right to marry also.
9th Circuit Court upholds stay on same-sex marriage in CA
The following is from Equality California:
We're deeply disappointed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just decided not to lift the stay on marriages for same-sex couples in California -- forcing loving couples to continue waiting for the freedom to marry as the federal case against Prop. 8 slowly progresses.
What a devastating decision for same-sex couples and their families! Every day that passes, LGBT people remain second class citizens, and real families experience real harm.
It's time to speak out against this injustice and demand full equality now. We can't stand around and wait while the courts, who are supposed to ensure equal treatment under the law, continue to deny us our basic humanity.
We know that personal conversations are the best way to help others understand why LGBT rights matter. Please, speak to three people you know today and tell them how denying loving couples the right to marry harms them and their families. Ask these three people to stand with you as the case progresses.
Then, tell us on Facebook or Twitter that you had these conversations, and let us know how they went. Having a conversation might seem like a small act, but we know it makes a tremendous difference in support.
Then, keep your eyes on your email in the weeks ahead for more ways to help overturn Prop. 8 and advance full equality across California. While today's decision is disappointing, if we work together, all the heartbreak of waiting for the end of Prop. 8 will soon be a memory.
In solidarity,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
We're deeply disappointed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just decided not to lift the stay on marriages for same-sex couples in California -- forcing loving couples to continue waiting for the freedom to marry as the federal case against Prop. 8 slowly progresses.
What a devastating decision for same-sex couples and their families! Every day that passes, LGBT people remain second class citizens, and real families experience real harm.
It's time to speak out against this injustice and demand full equality now. We can't stand around and wait while the courts, who are supposed to ensure equal treatment under the law, continue to deny us our basic humanity.
We know that personal conversations are the best way to help others understand why LGBT rights matter. Please, speak to three people you know today and tell them how denying loving couples the right to marry harms them and their families. Ask these three people to stand with you as the case progresses.
Then, tell us on Facebook or Twitter that you had these conversations, and let us know how they went. Having a conversation might seem like a small act, but we know it makes a tremendous difference in support.
Then, keep your eyes on your email in the weeks ahead for more ways to help overturn Prop. 8 and advance full equality across California. While today's decision is disappointing, if we work together, all the heartbreak of waiting for the end of Prop. 8 will soon be a memory.
In solidarity,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
Handbag design contest for a whole new sewing studio
There are a number of prizes based on several categories, including my favorite, "most socially responsible handbag." You can win a new sewing studio, including both a sewing machine and a serger. See complete details here.
Gay federal workers still in legal limbo
While the Obama administration’s position on the Defense of Marriage Act is evolving, federal employees who have been victimized by the law remain where they always have been — stuck without benefits for their same sex spouses.
Though DOMA opponents hail the Obama administration’s recent decision to abandon its defense of the law as “momentous,” in practical terms they are no closer to securing victory.
This leaves them unable to provide their loved ones with the same benefits straight spouses have.
Postal clerk Nancy Gill said “limbo is a good word” for the state she’s in.
Gill has sued the Office of Personnel Management in order to get employer-sponsored health insurance for her spouse, Marcelle Letourneau. She and Letourneau have been together since 1980 and have two children. Tey were legally married in 2004 in Massachusetts, but that means nothing to the federal government.
Read the rest of the story here.
Susan Symonds/Infinity Portrait Design / - Dean Hara, whose same-sex partner was former representative Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) has been unable to collect survivor benefits or his late partner’s pension.
This leaves them unable to provide their loved ones with the same benefits straight spouses have.
Postal clerk Nancy Gill said “limbo is a good word” for the state she’s in.
Gill has sued the Office of Personnel Management in order to get employer-sponsored health insurance for her spouse, Marcelle Letourneau. She and Letourneau have been together since 1980 and have two children. Tey were legally married in 2004 in Massachusetts, but that means nothing to the federal government.
Read the rest of the story here.
Upcycling
Many sewers are doing what is known as upcycling. They take an outdated or pre-owned item and reuse/repurpose it into something fresh and new. Here is an article on how to upcycle an old T-shirt into a cool new cardigan. This site also has tons of other crafty things to do.
Upcycle T-shirt into a cardigan
Upcycle T-shirt into a cardigan
Monday, March 21, 2011
Workers Flee Smoking Nuclear Plant in Japan
From the Huffington Post:
FUKUSHIMA, Japan -- Officials raced Monday to restore electricity to Japan's leaking nuclear plant, but getting the power flowing will hardly be the end of their battle: With its mangled machinery and partly melted reactor cores, bringing the complex under control is a monstrous job that is anything but a quick-fix.
Restoring the power to all six units at the tsunami-damaged complex is key, because it will, in theory, power up the maze of motors, valves and switches that help deliver cooling water to the overheated reactor cores and spent fuel pools that are leaking radiation.
Read the rest of the story HERE.
FUKUSHIMA, Japan -- Officials raced Monday to restore electricity to Japan's leaking nuclear plant, but getting the power flowing will hardly be the end of their battle: With its mangled machinery and partly melted reactor cores, bringing the complex under control is a monstrous job that is anything but a quick-fix.
Restoring the power to all six units at the tsunami-damaged complex is key, because it will, in theory, power up the maze of motors, valves and switches that help deliver cooling water to the overheated reactor cores and spent fuel pools that are leaking radiation.
Read the rest of the story HERE.
Reality sucks sometimes
After my visit with the doctor today, it is just now soaking in that it may be more than a couple of weeks before I get back to sewing. Having both shoulders affected by adhesive capsulitis might mean a much longer period of recovery. This is very depressing to me. I had just begun to think that my sewing was the one productive thing I could do after leaving school because of my health.
Two steps forward and one step back, at least you can get somewhere. I am about one for one right now. I will keep up with this blog as my body allows and make it the one thing I can do. I will shamelessly promote the ads that google inserts in my blog. Please click on any that you might find interesting as this helps support the blog and my expenses.
Two steps forward and one step back, at least you can get somewhere. I am about one for one right now. I will keep up with this blog as my body allows and make it the one thing I can do. I will shamelessly promote the ads that google inserts in my blog. Please click on any that you might find interesting as this helps support the blog and my expenses.
US demanding gay rights support at UN body
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration will introduce its first statement calling for the United Nations' top human rights body to combat discrimination against gays and lesbians around the world, completing a U.S. reversal from years of ambiguity on the subject during the presidency of George W. Bush.
The U.S. declaration will be made Tuesday at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and has the support of more than 80 countries. Although it is not in the form of binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year.
The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance for homosexuality in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment.
"We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Suzanne Nossel, deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations. "This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated."
The U.S. document calls for nations to end any criminal punishments against lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and asks the global body to review how governments treat them in the U.N.'s human rights assessments. It acknowledges that "these are sensitive issues for many," but insists that people must be freed from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.
Nossel said the U.S. was proud to be taking a leading role in promoting the idea that gay rights are human rights — among the sharper foreign policy redirections that occurred after President Barack Obama took office.
Obama has stepped up the case for gay rights in recent months, winning a congressional vote to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military and urging last weekend in a joint statement with the Brazilian president for the establishment of a special investigator to monitor respect for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals in the Western Hemisphere.
Under the Bush administration, the U.S. policy was markedly different. The administration didn't support a French resolution at the U.N. General Assembly in 2008 that addressed similar concerns, joining Russia, China, the Vatican and Islamic states in opposition. The U.S. explained its position at the time in technical terms, saying it was fearful of language that would infringe on the right of American states to legislate matters such as gay marriage.
In December, even the Obama administration held back from voting for a U.N. resolution condemning killings of vulnerable people around the world after specifically proposing an amendment to protect people based on their sexual orientation. At issue was a separate, arcane legal dispute over international human rights law.
U.N. General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions aren't legally binding; they reflect only the view of the majority of the world's nations.
But gay rights advocates say it is important to gather backers for statements, resolutions and other documents such as the one that will be presented Tuesday by the United States, even when their legal effect is null. Because gay rights are still hotly contested in many parts of Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere, establishing an ever larger coalition of countries can help create a legal norm such as those that exist for the protection of women, religious minorities, children and other vulnerable or marginalized groups.
Supporting the statement Tuesday will be newcomers such as Thailand, Rwanda, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
The growing movement also highlights the gradual shift in the U.N.'s top human rights body, which has previously scorned the plight of gays and lesbians.
In 2003, the council's predecessor body, the Human Rights Commission held a heated dispute after a proposal made by Brazil and backed by European nations. Muslim countries balked, saying they couldn't accept any reference to the term "sexual orientation." Pakistan's ambassador went further, telling diplomats he preferred the term "sexual disorientation."
The U.S. declaration will be made Tuesday at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and has the support of more than 80 countries. Although it is not in the form of binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year.
The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance for homosexuality in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment.
"We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Suzanne Nossel, deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations. "This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated."
The U.S. document calls for nations to end any criminal punishments against lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and asks the global body to review how governments treat them in the U.N.'s human rights assessments. It acknowledges that "these are sensitive issues for many," but insists that people must be freed from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.
Nossel said the U.S. was proud to be taking a leading role in promoting the idea that gay rights are human rights — among the sharper foreign policy redirections that occurred after President Barack Obama took office.
Obama has stepped up the case for gay rights in recent months, winning a congressional vote to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military and urging last weekend in a joint statement with the Brazilian president for the establishment of a special investigator to monitor respect for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals in the Western Hemisphere.
Under the Bush administration, the U.S. policy was markedly different. The administration didn't support a French resolution at the U.N. General Assembly in 2008 that addressed similar concerns, joining Russia, China, the Vatican and Islamic states in opposition. The U.S. explained its position at the time in technical terms, saying it was fearful of language that would infringe on the right of American states to legislate matters such as gay marriage.
In December, even the Obama administration held back from voting for a U.N. resolution condemning killings of vulnerable people around the world after specifically proposing an amendment to protect people based on their sexual orientation. At issue was a separate, arcane legal dispute over international human rights law.
U.N. General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions aren't legally binding; they reflect only the view of the majority of the world's nations.
But gay rights advocates say it is important to gather backers for statements, resolutions and other documents such as the one that will be presented Tuesday by the United States, even when their legal effect is null. Because gay rights are still hotly contested in many parts of Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere, establishing an ever larger coalition of countries can help create a legal norm such as those that exist for the protection of women, religious minorities, children and other vulnerable or marginalized groups.
Supporting the statement Tuesday will be newcomers such as Thailand, Rwanda, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
The growing movement also highlights the gradual shift in the U.N.'s top human rights body, which has previously scorned the plight of gays and lesbians.
In 2003, the council's predecessor body, the Human Rights Commission held a heated dispute after a proposal made by Brazil and backed by European nations. Muslim countries balked, saying they couldn't accept any reference to the term "sexual orientation." Pakistan's ambassador went further, telling diplomats he preferred the term "sexual disorientation."
Adhesive Capsulitis
I have added a page on Adhesive Capsulitis. Just click the tab at the top of the page. I have just returned from the doctor with a diagnosis of Adhesive Capsulitis in both shoulders. This is what has been giving me so much pain and suffering lately.
This is considered an "acute" pain condition, which is on top of my long-standing chronic pain condition.
This is considered an "acute" pain condition, which is on top of my long-standing chronic pain condition.
Disability Awareness Blog
My friend Penny just posted on a disability awareness blog, so here is a link to her article. She is a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. Her article is titled Positive Awareness for Bully's.
Readers from Hungary
I've discovered that quite a few of my readers are from Hungary. I find this interesting and wonder what it is about my blog that is attracting them. So, how about letting me know. If there is something in my blog you like, leave me a comment. Thanks for reading!
Tote Pattern available for $2.99
Butterick's Pattern of the Week is out and it is something most people can use, if they sew. It is a tote in three sizes for $2.99. The regular price on this pattern is $18.95, so it's quite a deal.You can check it out here HERE.
I haven't been able to sew for the past couple of weeks due to pain in my shoulders, but hopefully I will get better soon. I've made quite a few totes lately using my own patterns, but this looks like a nice easy one for beginning sewers.
I'm adding a link to a similar tote bag you can buy at Amazon for $19.95. Since you can use the pattern over and over again, you could even make a few and give them for gifts. You can see what a great bargain the pattern is.
“Kill the Gays” Bill May Pass Ugandan Parliament Within a Week | Religion Dispatches
This bill has been moving through the Ugandan Parliament over the past year. It makes being gay a capital crime. Yes, that's right, you can get the death penalty for being gay.
In addition, anyone who knows someone who is gay and doesn't turn them in to the authorities within 24 hours can get six years in prison. So, if your child is gay and you don't turn them in, you can go to prison. This bill includes clergy in the part that requires people to turn in gays. Therefore, if a priest hears the confession of a gay person, he is required to turn them in.
“Kill the Gays” Bill May Pass Ugandan Parliament Within a Week | Religion Dispatches
In addition, anyone who knows someone who is gay and doesn't turn them in to the authorities within 24 hours can get six years in prison. So, if your child is gay and you don't turn them in, you can go to prison. This bill includes clergy in the part that requires people to turn in gays. Therefore, if a priest hears the confession of a gay person, he is required to turn them in.
“Kill the Gays” Bill May Pass Ugandan Parliament Within a Week | Religion Dispatches
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Auction site for trading unwanted items
I have just become aware of a no cash auction site. You earn credits by "selling" unwanted items and can use the credits to buy things you want. Sounds like a nice idea. There are free credits to get you started at sign up. You can check it out at www.Listia.com. I think I will find out more about it and see if it can help me get rid of some unwanted items.
Worries in the night
Lying here listening to my sweetheart breathing in the night. I worry about things sometimes. Our next-door neighbor just lost her husband, and I've seen her wandering around sort of aimlessly lately. I wonder how I would make it without my own spouse. Her breathing reassures me for now, but we aren't getting any younger.On top of all the normal worries that couples have, we also have to worry about being considered second-class by many people in our community. When one or the other of us has been hospitalized it has been apparent that our marriage is troublesome to many in positions that could make our lives a living hell.
Legislation has been introduced to overturn DOMA, and that's a good thing, but how much will it really change? When there is so much hate out there in the world toward us, how comfortable will we ever be? No wonder I have trouble sleeping.
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