Strollerderby : jim carrey

Special Court Says Vaccines Don't Cause Autism

Brett Singer — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:15:00 GMT

In a decision that will infuriate many parents (including readers of this web site), a special court has ruled that the MMR vaccine did not cause autism in three children.

Special Master George Hastings of the Department of Justice wrote that, "The evidence does not support the general proposition that thimerosal-containing vaccines can damage infants' immune systems." The ruling comes from The Vaccine Court Omnibus Autism Proceeding. (Aside: "Special Master"? "Omnibus"? It sounds like a comic book.)

Addressing one of the children whose parents say became autistic after receiving the MMR vaccine, Hastings said, "I further conclude that while Michelle Cedillo has tragically suffered from autism and other severe conditions, the petitioners have also failed to demonstrate that her vaccinations played any role at all in causing those problems."

There have been over 5,000 cases filed by parents seeking compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a $2.5 billion fund that was created through a "75-cent-per-dose tax on vaccines," according to Reuters.

Everyone's least favorite vaccine guy Dr. Paul Offit hailed the decision, saying, "it's a great day for America's children when the court rules in favor of science." I think there are a few parents out there who will disagree with him.

Does this put the issue to rest? I doubt it. I myself am highly skeptical of the notion that vaccines "cause" autism, mostly because so far the studies that I have read about can't find a link between the vaccines and autism. Of course, it doesn't help the anti-vaccine movement's case that the doctor who conducted a landmark study on the matter faked his data.

I know that many of you have strong feelings on this issue. Does this court ruling change your opinion at all?

Source: Reuters

Image: USA Today via Babble

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New Pro Vaccine Book Author Getting Death Threats

Brett Singer — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:00:00 GMT

A lot of parents feel very strongly that vaccines cause autism. And they are very vocal about their feelings. So Dr. Paul A. Offit, author of "Autism’s False Prophets", probably expected a certain amount of resistance to a book that posits a different theory.

What he might not have anticipated are death threats.

According to the New York Times, Dr. Offit has in fact received death threats. Some members of the antivaccine movement dispute this, however. One of them is J. B. Handley, the founder of Generation Rescue (although a Google search calls it "Jenny McCarthy's Autism Organization"). Handley told the Times: "We have hundreds of fully recovered children. I’m very frustrated that Dr. Offit, who’s never treated an autistic child, is spending his time trying to refute the reality of biomedical recovery."

Offit is called "Dr. Proffit" because he created a vaccine himself and receives "millions in royalties" from it.

I have no idea if the vaccine that Dr. Offit helped create is one that is given to all children, or how much money he makes from it. If Generation Rescue's members believe that Offit's book is just self-promotion, they have a right to question his motives.

It's the fervor that I find disturbing. When you attack anyone who disagrees with you with name-calling and insults, it becomes difficult to convert anyone to your way of thinking. Numerous scientists and doctors feel that autism is a genetic condition, and there is evidence to back this up. It's not possible that there is a similar body of evidence to support the notion that vaccines are a cause of autism simply because the concept hasn't been around long enough to be studied as much as genetic causes. That isn't to say that it's impossible, or that the antivaccine crusaders are wrong. I'm only pointing out that the body of evidence isn't there.

Another reason could be the conspiracy theory version – that vaccine makers work to keep such studies from happening. Personally, I'm more inclined to believe that than I am to believe that vaccines cause autism. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but our dependence on foreign oil is partly fueled (no pun intended) by an automobile industry that doesn't want to make electric cars. (That's an oversimplification; my point is that sometimes even the weirdest-sounding conspiracy theories can be at least partly true.)

There was a time when doctors told us that smoking was healthy. Or that eating lots and lots of red meat was a great idea. So yes, sometimes doctors and the entire medical industry make mistakes. And Dr. Offit does sound a tad smarmy in the Times article: "I’ll speak at a conference, say, to nurses. But I wouldn’t go into a bookstore and sign books. It can get nasty. There are parents who really believe that vaccines hurt their children, and to them, I’m incredibly evil. They hate me." And, referring to the vaccine he helped create: "When Jonas Salk invented polio vaccine, he was a hero — and I’m a terrorist?" he jokes, referring to a placard denouncing him at a recent demonstration by antivaccine activists outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Well, polio was a bigger disease. Also, you're not funny. But maybe that's doctor humor.

I suppose its possible that Dr. Offit is lying about the death threats, but I doubt it. As Dr. Gregory A. Poland, chief of vaccine research at the Mayo Clinic, says in the Times piece, "a few years ago this ceased to be a civil scientific discourse and became about crucifying individuals." The key word there is "civil". Parents can get very emotional when their children are involved; I know I can get a little crazy when anyone is doing something that I feel is harmful to my kid. But I've learned that I get better results when I calm down and try to figure out the best way to solve whatever the problem is. It's not about expressing my anger or frustration. It's about getting something done. If someone really and truly feels that vaccines, which are given to millions of babies every single day, are a cause of autism, that is a very serious charge. It should be taken seriously by those making the claim. If you want to convince someone that what you believe is true, calling them names and making threats is not a good way to do it.

Source: NY Times

Image: Amazon

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20 Worst Holiday Movies - Pick the Worst!

Cole Gamble — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:30:00 GMT

Not every holiday movie is a gift. Many holiday flicks are a multi-million dollar lump of coal. Nothing can drain you of the holiday spirit like a really awful holiday movie. So as a public service, I'm providing this list of the absolute worst so that you may avoid them. Also, vote for your all time worst holiday movie!

Well, I didn't compile them. The good folks at EW.com did. Among their naughty list:

Fred Claus

Jingle All the Way

Jack Frost (Michael Keaton dies and return as a snowman to spend quality time with son. What??! What happened to you, Michael Keaton?)

Check here for the whole list.

And go here if you want to vote in the EW poll.

More by this author:

A Guy’s Take on Stay at Home Moms and Dads (Part 1: The Cons)

Banana Dildos and the 10 Worst Toys and Gifts This Christmas (part 1)

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Desert Island Disks – Kid Music Edition

Gangsta’ Muppets: 12 of the Best Kids Show/Rap Mash-Ups

The Worst Baby Products Ever (Part I)

10 Things You May Not Know About Pregnancy (and might shock you)

The 26 Most Disturbing Kids Movies Ever

Best of FameCrawler: Week of October 3rd

Whit Honea — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

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Moon, June, Spoon

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:30:00 GMT

For reasons unknown to me, my kids are fascinated by the moon. Perhaps they have werewolf blood. Regardless - tonight is a nice opportunity to spend some quality family time lying out in the backyard before bed.

Wednesday's moon will look extra large at moonrise -- the reasons are explained here -- and could provide plenty of fodder for talks about wishes and dreams and life on faraway planets. Or, for the less romantically inclined, it could provide a teachable moment about astrophysics. No matter which approach you like, take a second (or more) to gander skyward at sunset, if only to recall a scene from Bruce Almighty.

Unless your kids actually are werewolves, in which case you might want to take some precautions.

Best of FameCrawler: Week of June 6th

Whit Honea — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

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Actor Jim Carrey is "Autism Whisperer"

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:03:00 GMT

Jenny McCarthy declares her boyfriend Jim Carrey is a gifted communicator when it comes to her autistic son Evan. According to McCarthy, her son and her boyfriend share a language together. And for that and because her son feels safe around Jim Carrey, she calls him the "Autism Whisperer." The two men in McCarthy's life forged a surprisingly strong bond early on.

McCarthy describes her journey with autism in her latest book "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism." For those who may remember Jenny from her boob-flashing bad acting days, she's a surprisingly talented writer (her book about pregnancy and childbirth is laugh-out-loud funny). McCarthy is thrilled to have met a man who can love and understand her child. That her child has autism makes Carrey seem even more valiant. But he's the lucky one, if you ask me.

Men like Brad Pitt and Jim Carrey have learned something important: The way to a woman's heart is through loving and understanding and caring for her children...