High Cholesterol Means What?

It now turns out there is room to doubt that lowering cholesterol is effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Apparently, this "conventional wisdom" has been enough for the drug companies to gain immediate approval for cholesterol lowering drugs even before so-called "Instance" trials have taken place. These trials measure whether or not the drugs actually do any good in terms of reducing heart attacks and strokes. The full story is in today's New York Times. Bottom line:

"Doctors, patients and the drug industry will be waiting to see whether
regulators are still willing to accept the theory that lower cholesterol is
always a good thing."

Or maybe natural methods like diet and exercise can be just as effective as popping pills.

Jim

The Bigoted Ban Against Gay Men Donating Blood

High on the list of things that make my blood boil, pun intended, is the archaic and bigoted lifetime ban on giving blood directed at any gay man who has ever had sex with another man.

This ban is totally discriminatory and a relic of the past. In these days I hear pleas for blood donors on a daily basis. The science does not support an arbitrary lifetime ban on gay men in light of the fact that other even higher risk groups are not excluded, and all donated blood is tested. Before the ban I was a regular blood donor. This policy hurts innocent people who could benefit from blood donations by people such as myself.

I have just read and signed the petition: "FDA: Stop Banning Gay Men From Donating Blood"
Do you believe gay men should have the right to donate blood? Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. Please sign here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/395725675

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Jim

PHOTO: Philadelphia's Boat House Row beautifully illuminated for the holidays with all new hi-tech LED lighting (click on the photo to enlarge it)

Official Anti-Gay Discrimination Continues!

The New York Times is reporting that the FDA (Food And Drug Administration) is continuing the ban on gay men donating blood. This is in spite of calls as long as a year ago from the American Red Cross and two other agencies for the ban to be lifted. The FDA claims they are not being discriminatory against gay men, but then what is it? All blood is tested and anyone can lie. This policy, instituted in 1983, is a remnant of Reagan era anti-gay policies and should be jettisoned immediately. Click on the title of this blog entry, go to the FDA web site and tell them to stop discriminating against gay men!

Big oil is now saying that gas prices will go higher as a result of the push for bio-fuels. "Why should they invest in more refining capacity if we're moving to alternative fuels," they ask. Why indeed! Let's keep their profits high at all costs to the American public. As I said yesterday, we will all have to pay much more for non-renewable energy. However, the profits should not go to the oil companies, rather, the money should be used to improve our overall energy independence picture.

Oh yes, and it's now becoming clear that as many as 200,000 U.S. troops may be sent to Iraq by the end of the year in what some (Condi Rice) are calling an "augmentation" of the "Surge." Junior Bush knows that he can do whatever he wants in Iraq and that the Congress and indeed, the American people, cannot stop him. I wonder if future generations will look back upon this time and wonder why the American people went along with Bush, just as we wonder why the German people allowed Hitler's atrocities. Will we be thought of as "Good Americans?"

In the news: Mary Cheney had her baby. The official White House photo is released showing VP Cheney and wife holding the baby. No where to be found: a picture of Mary and her partner of 15 years with the baby. I find this disgusting. I wish the baby all the best in life, but Mary Cheney ought to be ashamed of herself.

Photo: Bradley romps by a tidal pool

Jim