Taking Advantage of Parents

There is nothing worse for the parents of a baby or young child than having something wrong with the kid and no way to communicate to find out what is the real trouble. I know it was a relief for me when my daughter learned to talk: If she started crying I could ask her what was wrong and get an answer I could do something about.

But for parents with kids still too young to talk the situation can be horrible. They are desperate and are searching for help. So I find it abhorrent to learn of a psychiatrist taking advantage of such parents and recommending extremely powerful psychiatric drugs for babies and toddlers based on NO TESTS. The drugs aren't even approved for use on children, never mind babies. What are these drugs going to do to a forming brain and nervous system? What happens in 10 years when we find that these drugs have caused irreparable harm to these kids?

This sickening abuse of parents and young children is exposed in this article from the Boston Globe: Misguided standards of care. Not surprisingly this psychiatrist gets lots of funding (millions) from the pharmaceutical industry.

Beckham Playing American Football???

David Beckham and Reggie Bush show each other how to play their different versions of Football:

Becks Meets Bush

Education doubling as Advertising

When drug companies take over the education of doctors is it any wonder that doctors prescribe drugs without knowing the side-effects? When GlaxoSmithKline writes the course then it promotes its own diabetes drug Avandia (which has been found to cause heart disease) and hardly mentions a safer drug from a competitor.

In an article in the New York Times, a professor at Tufts Medical School exposes "Education that doubles as advertising for drug companies": Diagnosis: Conflict of Interest. It's an eye-opening read.

Pharmaceutical Company Recruitment Schemes and Teen Suicide

A researcher has discovered that most child suicides in Florida were by children on psychotropic drug such as anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. Would it surprise you to learn that there are FDA warnings on such drugs that specifically mention that these drugs can cause suicide?

Really we shouldn't be surprised that the warnings say the drugs cause kids to kill themselves and sure enough the statistics show that most child suicides are by children on these drugs.

The researcher analyzed every autopsy and toxicology report on every child suicide in the state of Florida from 2000 to 2004. "The majority," he says, "had already received psychiatric drug treatment even with the FDA warnings that say these drugs can cause mania, suicide, psychosis, worsening depression and even homicidal thoughts."

Right now the big pharmaceutical companies are busy (as one executive said on the Bloomberg Business Channel) "booming their share of the pediatric market." They use such recruiting schemes as TeenScreen and having "authorities" in the psychiatric industry promote the idea that toddlers need to be on anti-psychotic medication. The end result for the "market share" (or perhaps we should use the older word "children") is death, labeling for life and all the other adverse physical and mental side-effects caused by these drugs.

Read this two part article and then take some action:
Lawmakers Want to End Big Pharma Recruitment Schemes - Part 1
Lawmakers Want to End Big Pharma Recruitment Schemes - Part 2

More on TeenScreen:
The Making of Mental Patients - Inside TeenScreen
TeenScreen - What is it?

Sign the petition:
Stop TeenScreen's Unscientific and Experimental "Mental Health Screening" of American School Children
Then contact your elected representative and ask him or her to support bill H.R. 2387: To prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program.

When is it correct to prescribe Psychiatric Drugs?

We hear various opinions about psychiatric drugs. Some say they are over-prescribed, some say they are correctly prescribed. Tom Cruise got into hot water with the pharmaceutical industry for saying they should never be prescribed.

Rather than answer the question I'll leave it to a psychiatrist, Douglas C. Smith, M.D., who has a very clear opinion and gives a very convincing argument to back up that opinion: When should psychiatric drugs be prescribed?

The Biggest Gas Guzzler in the World

I just read the most enlightening article by Michael T. Klare, professor of Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College. He is also the author of Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum.

The article is entitled, The Pentagon v. Peak Oil, and reveals that the Pentagon (i.e., the US Military) is the biggest gas guzzler in the world. For example they consume more barrels of oil in ONE DAY than the entire country of Sweden consumes in ONE YEAR.

He also introduces a concept that I had not come across before "Peak Oil" which is the very real possibility that global oil production is at or near its maximum sustainable ("peak") output and will soon commence an irreversible decline. He says, "Some experts place it comfortably in the future – meaning two or three decades down the pike – while others put it in this very decade. If there is a consensus emerging, it is that peak-oil output will occur somewhere around 2015."

I don't know about you, but two or three decades in the future doesn't sound very comfortable to me. I think it's about time we started cutting back on oil and using alternative fuels, especially clean ones and alternative energy sources. Let's get busy and make our voices heard.

Here's something to make the FDA and Drug Companies Think Twice

In the US, if a drug, approved by the FDA, is later found to kill people or have horrendous side-effects (such as thalydamide, fen-phen, vioxx, paxil, etc.) then it is withdrawn and maybe the drug company has a law suit in which they have to pay out a few millions, which is nothing compared to the billions they make from such drugs. But that's usually the end of it and life and profit making goes on: FDA staffers and directors later get lucrative jobs with major pharmaceutical corporations or affiliated entities (such as PR firms) and the drug companies continue making billions by selling dangerous drugs to an unsuspecting public.

Things in China are a little different: China's ex-food and drug chief sentenced to death. He took bribes and approved drugs that killed people. Is that so very different from our own FDA? They approve drugs that kill people and one could view lucrative jobs in drug companies or related entities to be a form of bribery. I'm not a particularly blood thirsty person and I don't agree with the death penalty, but perhaps we should take notice of what happened in China and get a bit tougher on the people responsible for approving harmful drugs.

Super Colossal by Joe Satriani

I know, I'm late in getting this album. Very, very late. And I have no good excuse. So I'll try to make up for it by being "better late than never".

Joe Satriani has created another masterpiece in his latest studio album "Super Colossal". It came out last year and I only just got it. Thanks to my wonderful daughter! (I think we should have Father's Day several times a year!) I'm in the middle of listening to it and it is the usual consistently brilliant music that Joe turns out year after year after year. In fact he's about to release a 20th Anniversary Remastered and Repackaged "Surfing with the Alien". So add August 7th to your calendars!

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid - Propaganda of Terror

As far as I can tell, this video is not from the Ron Paul campaign, but whoever made it does support him. It's a video that demonstrates how to use propaganda to persuade us to give up our civil and human rights. It is a bit gruesome at the end, but unfortunately it is reality and our acceptance of the propaganda of terror has helped make those scenes possible.

Terrorism is a terrible thing, but the constant pounding we receive to make us believe it is even worse than it really is, is demonstrated here:

Google Gets Black Mark for Privacy

In an article a month ago I raised the question "What About Privacy?" regarding Google's new "Search, Ads and Apps" strategy. I pointed out that putting your private information in the hands of a big corporation like Google, that has ties to the CIA and NSA is not a good idea. Well, it's always nice to be able to say "I told you so." but I won't gloat too much :)

It seems that an independent privacy organization in the UK (Privacy International) is not at all happy with Google's handling of our private information. In fact they have just ranked Google the worst of 20 top Internet based companies for handling privacy: Google Gets Failing Grade for Privacy.

Rather than say, "What can we do to improve?" Google proved that they are anti-privacy by attacking the messenger. For example, in his blog, Google big-wig Matt Cutts (who used to work for the NSA) suggested the Privacy International report could corrode efforts to improve Internet privacy. That's an interesting twist. Other attacks: Google accused of conducting smear campaign against Privacy International and An Open Letter to Google.

So stay vigilant my friends and think for yourself!

Good News for the Constitution and Habeas Corpus

In uncivilized times a man or woman could be arrested, thrown in jail and left to rot. As civilization progressed certain protections were added to law so that a person in prison could be heard in court, the validity of his detention could be questioned and he could be released if the court decided that the detention was invalid. This protection is called "habeas corpus" (Latin for "you have the body").

Since 1996 and the passing of the "Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act" the right of habeas corpus has gradually been whittled away, with the biggest blow coming last year with the "Military Commissions Act of 2006".

But today there is good news: Court rules against enemy combatant policy. A federal appeals court ruled that a US resident cannot be held without being charged with something.

"To sanction such presidential authority to order the military to seize and indefinitely detain civilians, even if the President calls them 'enemy combatants,' would have disastrous consequences for the constitution — and the country," the court panel said.

Keeping a man in jail since December 2001 and in solitary confinement since June 2003 without charging him with a single crime is absolutely unacceptable in a civilized country. If he is a terrorist then charge him with whatever crime he has committed and if you don't have any proof then let him go. Is this America in the 21st Century where we have civil and human rights or Medieval Europe where we are owned by the local Baron?

Choosing Doctors for Clinical Trials

Here's something to give you a warm fuzzy feeling about your favorite medical or psychiatric drug:

The New York Times published an article entitled "After Sanctions, Doctors Get Drug Company Pay" about their investigation which found more than 100 doctors who had been disciplined or criticized by a medical board but who, nonetheless, were paid by drug companies to conduct clinical trials or to promote certain drugs. Altogether, drug makers were found to have paid $1.7 million from 1997 to 2005 to 103 doctors who had been cited by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.

The sanctions by the board ranged from reprimands to demands for retraining to suspension of licenses. Of those 103 doctors, 39 had been penalized for inappropriate prescribing practices, 21 for substance abuse, 12 for substandard care and 3 for mismanagement of drug studies. A few cases received national news media coverage, but drug makers hired the doctors anyway.

The reason that Minnesota was singled out is that Minnesota is the only state to make its records publicly available. So what is going on in the rest of the country?

Here's one example: The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice accused Dr. Faruk Abuzzahab of a “reckless, if not willful, disregard” for the welfare of 46 patients, 5 of whom died in his care or shortly afterward. The board suspended his license for seven months and restricted it for two years after that.

His response? Dr. Abuzzahab dismissed the findings as “without heft” and said drug makers were aware of his record. He said he had helped study many of the most popular drugs in psychiatry, including Paxil, Prozac, Risperdal, Seroquel, Zoloft and Zyprexa.

Well, doesn't that give you confidence in the accuracy of the drug trials for those drugs? Heck, they must be safe and effective, just look at these success stories of their use: SSRI Stories.

Ron Paul Wins GOP Debate

According to CNN the "CNN Voters" (i.e., the people) voted overwhelmingly for Ron Paul as the winner of the recent Republican debate. Debate Scorecard.

However a sinister note crept in when it came to light that CNN had removed all pro-Ron Paul comments from their Political Ticker page and in fact reverted the page to an earlier version containing comments about the Democratic debate.

So much for a free press.

Could a real statesman please stand up?

I had this silly idea that Russia was no longer a threat to the West. Democracy was gradually (if a bit slowly) making its way into Russian politics and free enterprise was moving in. In fact I just read an article in BusinessWeek all about US & European investment in Eastern Europe and Russia. Call me naive, but it seems to me that when you have very strong trade and investment ties with a country that the likelihood of war with them is very low. When you actually know people from another country, when you deal with them all the time and when you actually visit that country and see what it is like, then the propaganda that gets spread in order to justify a war just doesn't convince you.

So I was shocked to hear that Pres. Bush is proposing to build a missile defense shield in former Iron Curtain countries: an anti-missile radar system in the Czech Republic and interceptor missiles in Poland. I wasn't surprised when Putin made angry noises about this: it certainly looks rather threatening to me.

So today I read that the missile shield is actually to protect Europe from Iran. Iran? Since when did Iran have ICBMs? If this shield is to protect Europe from Iran then why isn't Europe doing it? What's it go to do with the US? And if protection against Iran is the goal then why are the missiles being put in Poland? Surely that's too far north. There are other European countries much closer to Iran.

Since 9/11 it seems to me that the Bush Administration has been hell bent on creating enemies for the US. As if Al Qaeda wasn't enough, we now have serious enemies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran North Korea and many newly pissed off people all over the Muslim world. So not content with that Mr. B seems to be aiming to add Russia to the list. Whether it's incompetence or part of some scheme to "protect American interests", it's bad statesmanship and it's creating a dangerous environment.

If any of this makes sense to you or strikes a cord then I strongly recommend you take a look at Ron Paul, who is running for President. He voted against the Iraq war and he voted against the Patriot Act. How many of the "peace" candidates running for President can say that?

Ron Paul is of the opinion that we should follow the Constitution and that the US should keep its nose out of the affairs of other countries. We should make friends and trade with other countries. We should use diplomacy and persuasion rather than force of arms.

Those sound like good ideas to me!

Secrets of how to make billions revealed!

Why work and slave day after laborious day when you could get rich easily and quickly using clinically tested and foolproof methods?

Health Ranger Mike Adams has figured out how big pharmaceutical companies make billions and now he is sharing their methods with you for free! There is no cost and no obligation. You too could be stinking rich today!

Just click here to go to the Disease Mongering Engine, follow the instructions on how to market your newly generated disease and immense riches will be yours soon!

Disclaimer: Void where prohibited. Side-effects include feeling sick when you realize what the big pharmaceutical companies are doing to us.

Opposition to perceived Injustice and Oppression

The amount of dissatisfaction with world leaders is much, much more than the mainstream media is willing to admit. Whenever the G8 holds a conference, tens of thousands of people protest. Doesn't that tell you something about the true feelings of people in the world? 

Police quell violence ahead of G-8 summit

Beckham Rules!

Not only did David Beckham make an incredible comeback to the England squad on Friday against five time World Champs Brazil, but now it seems he may be getting a knighthood!

Amazing, how things can change. Dropped from the England squad a few months ago he is now back with a bang!

I'll bet the LA Galaxy owners are beside themselves - you can't buy PR like that!

Beckham set to keep England spot
David Beckham being considered for 'posh' honour
Beckham does everything but score as England draw Brazil

Psychologist encourages children to have sex and take drugs

I first heard about this while radio channel surfing. I landed on the Radio Factor, Bill O'Reilly's show. Not something I pay much attention to, but it was a local station and I was listening for news about a possible tropical storm. Anyway, I heard this piece about a high school in Boulder, Colorado which held a mandatory assembly of children at which a psychologist told them (it was recorded) "I am going to encourage you to have sex and encourage you to use drugs appropriately." 

My first reaction was "Here we go again, the media sensationalizing something or making up a story." But as the piece went on and I heard the recording of what the psychologist was saying, I was appalled.  

I am more informed about the agenda of psychiatry and psychology than the average person, but even I was stunned that the school principal allowed this to go on and that very few parents have complained about it. If it had been my kids I would have demanded the resignation of everyone involved with allowing this. 

One very telling quote from the psychologist, Joel Becker,

"We all experiment. It's very natural for young people to experiment with same-sex relationships. When you are 13, 12... one of the most appropriate sexual behaviors would be masturbation. Even today, there are psychiatrists who will do sessions under the influence of ecstasy. If I had some maybe I'd do it with someone, but you know." 

In any other profession, being under the influence of an illegal drug while dealing with your clients would get you thrown in jail, disbarred or at least fired, but according to Becker it's quite normal behavior for a psychiatrist or psychologist.  

But actually it's worse than that. Let's not forget the fact that a psychiatrist or psychologist is there to (supposedly) help the person who is paying them for their services. What sort of base betrayal is it to pretend to "help" someone while being stoned? It is little wonder that the commonest treatment handed out by psychiatrists is drugs.

One last point: According to WorldNet Daily, Joel Becker is an associate clinical professor of psychology at the University of California at Los Angeles, and when you consider the history of Dr. Louis Jolyon "Jolly" West at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA, the fact that Becker is pushing destructive drugs on kids is not very surprising. 

Anyway, here is more on what happened:

• I Never Thought This Could Happen
  
• 'Have sex, do drugs,' speaker tells students
  
• School district rethinks policies on CU panels
  
• School Employees Reprimanded For Sex, Teens, Drugs Assembly