The Blue Jay (my oldest daughter) had her first seizure when she was 13 months old and she was diagnosed with a “seizure disorder” when she was 2 years old.

Despite the doctor passing me a pamphlet from our provincial epilepsy association when he gave us this diagnosis, it was quite a long time before I actually put two and two together. And realized that “seizure disorder” was just another way of saying epilepsy.

It’s amazing how huge language is. How it can so easily hurt. Come with so many stigmas attached. Can be used to build someone up. Or tear then down. Sometimes without the speaker even realizing it.

And so it is with the word epilepsy. There’s a certain stigma attached. Although it doesn’t carry as much baggage as the words “mentally retarded”, for example, for some people there’s still a certain sting to it. And if you doubt that, try the word “epileptic” on for size and see if you feel any differently. Think of it applied to your son or your daughter. Or yourself.

And so it was understandable that 9 year old Cassidy Megan didn’t want to tell her classmates that she took seizures. That she had epilepsy. She was afraid they would make fun of her. Can you blame her?

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The official findings from the the U.S. Veteran Administration’s Congressionally mandated “Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses” were released on Monday, Nov. 17th, 2008.

Executive summary: it’s sure ain’t psychosomatic or psychiatric in origin.

Well, duh.

Among it’s conclusions:

“Evidence strongly and consistently indicates that two Gulf War neurotoxic exposures are causally associated with Gulf War illness: 1) use of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, given to protect troops from effects of nerve agents, and 2) pesticide use during deployment.”

and

“Gulf War illness is associated with diverse biological alterations that most prominently affect the brain and nervous system. Research findings in veterans with Gulf War illness include significant differences in brain structure and function, autonomic nervous system function, neuroendocrine and immune measures, and measures associated with vulnerability to neurotoxic chemicals.”

and

“A question often asked about Gulf War illness is why some Gulf War military personnel developed chronic symptoms during and after deployment, while others who served along side them remained well. It is well established that some people are more vulnerable to adverse effects of certain chemicals than others, due to variability in biological processes that neutralize those chemicals, and clear them from the body. The enzyme paraoxonase (PON1) circulates in the blood and hydrolyzes organophosphate compounds such as pesticides and nerve agents, converting them to relatively harmless chemicals that are then excreted. Individuals who produce different types and amounts of PON1 differ, sometimes dramatically, in their ability to neutralize different organophosphate compounds.

For the full pdf (it’s large – 450 pages, 7Mb):

http://sph.bu.edu/insider/racreport

Yeah, because without a day off millions of Americans wouldn’t go to their favorite watering hole to celebrate the occassion.

Still, in principle I’m in favor of taking a day off in early spring and spending it with a Guinness.  Or a few.  Nothing wrong with that.

Now the Province of Nova Scotia, in its infinite wisdom, had decided to become the first province in Canada to ban smoking in vehicles with children in them. Apparently, Wolfville being the first in town in Canada to pass such a by-law was simply not sufficient. Because now everyone wants tin on the game. Both Ontario and British Columbia are debating similar legislation.

Like I said before, I don’t smoke. Nobody is allowed to smoke in our home. And, personally, I think those that smoke around kids are nuts, as in seriously need to have their head examined. So let’s just say that I never ever thought that I would agree with anythinga group like MyChoice.ca had to say.

A spokeswoman for MyChoice.ca, a group funded by the Canadian TobaccoManufacturers’ Council, said the ban is a slippery slope to making it illegal to smoke anywhere.

I guess none of us should ever say never. Smoking in your own home with children present just has to be next. Sure, why not?

Oh yeah, did I mention that this move was made by Nova Socita’s Conservative provincial government? 

Not that that will necessarily make you feel any better about what else may or may not be happening in your hotel room.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NrLryd9o7I&eurl=http://www.attorneymarketing.com/2007/12/03/dont-let-this-happen-to-your-clients-or-you/[/youtube]

As if there aren’t enough scams out there to guard against.

H/T to The Attorney Marketing Center