Then Don't Say Anything

It was announced yesterday that Joe Paterno has just recently been diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer. Now, I'm not going to get all conspiracy theory-ish here and wonder if someone is trying to do a little damage control by making folks feel sorry for Mr. Paterno instead of currently think of him as some sort of vile individual who shields child rapists from detection. And while I'm far from the conspiracy theory type of person,I could see something like that occurring in this particular situation. I wouldn't put anything past Penn State at this point.


But here's my favorite part about this and all stories like this. Joe Paterno's son issued this statement: "Last weekend, my father was diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness...As everyone can appreciate, this is a deeply personal matter for my parents,and we simply ask that his privacy be respected as he proceed with treatment." Wait. What now?


Yes, I would tend to agree that being diagnosed with any form of cancer would be a personal matter for those personally involved. So I asked you...Scott, was it? I ask you , Scott, if this is so flipping personal, why in the hell did you tell the entire world about your dad's condition? Does the world need to know? I'm not so sure that they do if it's as personal as you'd like us all to believe that you think that it is. If you wanted privacy, I'm pretty sure that not telling the entire world you business is a much better way to go about getting said privacy.


I guess I just don't get how those people over there do anything. They hear about child rape and they keep that a secret. They get diagnosed with cancer and they tell the entire world. shouldn't it have been the other way around?

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My Shortest Written Opinion Ever

This could quite possibly be the shortest commentary that I have ever had on just about anything. AND the most remarkable part about it is that I think I have a point of view that's kind of hard to disagree with. Then again, I think that about a lot of things. What do I know? Now, mind you, I didn't read this entire article. I came up with my opinion based solely on the title. I realize that I'm giving a lot of credence to the person who wrote the title and I'm really hoping that it's accurate. If it's not accurate, I might have to rethink my position, but I don't think that it would alter it by much.

Here we go...Over there at the Huffington Post is an article with the following title: "Sex With Animals Can Lead To Penis Cancer: Study".

My response to the aforementioned study? Good.

The end.

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Really? A Vegan Diet?

(Note: Blogger is being super awesome today and not letting me add pictures. Sorry for all of the text without something shiny to distract you on occasion.)

My mental image and personal feelings about Steve Jobs have been altered and I want to know how to get the original ones back. The original feelings that I had about him were those of admiration and appreciation. Now I'm just angry at him. (Yes, I know that he's dead and that I never met him. That's not the point.) How could someone so smart be so incredibly stupid?

I'm a big fan of modern medicine. Big. Huge. If you tell me that there's something wrong with me (medically wrong with me), the first thing that I'm going to ask is "How do we fix this?" (That's assuming that I'm even at the asking question stage. Usually I'm more direct and would probably tend to go with "Fix it.") If you tell me that there is something really wrong with me, say like a rare form of pancreatic cancer, I'm going to have a much more urgent feeling about all of the fixing. And surprisingly, that is one of the many things that was different about me and Steve Jobs.

See, Steve Jobs, when presented with the fact that he had the only type of curable pancreatic cancer (as opposed to the regular kind that just kills you almost instantly), decided that instead of having the surgery to fix it that he would instead try "...fruit juices, acupuncture, herbal remedies and other treatments — some of which he found on the Internet". This according to the New York Times and cited from his biography which comes out tomorrow. Good Lord.


Fruit juices?! He tried to cure his cancer with freaking fruit juices?! He was a freaking genius who had all of the money that he would need to do anything he wanted to do to try to combat pancreatic cancer and instead he goes for fruits and herbs and...and...stuff he found on the freaking Internet?! Had he been on the Internet...EVER?! You know what's on the Internet? Crap. Crap and porn. And yes, obviously there are some good things on the Internet, but I guess Steve Jobs wasn't aware of those sites because he tried to cure pancreatic cancer with a rutabaga!

Basically, if he had the surgery when he was first diagnosed (instead of spending nine months trying alternative methods, some of which included going to a freaking spiritualist), there is a good chance that he would be alive today. But by the time that he finally let them "open up his body" the cancer had spread to his liver. And that's because fruit juices don't stop the spread of cancer. (Make a note of that, kids.) So now I'm mad at him and I see him in a totally different manner than I did before I learned how ridiculous he was being.

I guess that when you have built the most successful company on the planet that you're going to get somewhat of a swelled head. I understand that. The ego is a pretty powerful thing. But does it really affect someone so much that they can't think in a rational manner when the circumstances and the consequences become a matter of life and death? For Steve Jobs, it apparently did. He thought he knew what was best and what was better than what doctors (and common freaking sense) would have told him. And for nine months there was apparently no changing his mind. Oh, sure. After the surgery, he was all gung-ho about how to beat his cancer. But by then, from all accounts, it was likely too late. The cancer had spread, he needed a liver transplant and he eventually died. And now I'm mad at him.

I'm always marveling at how different every single person is from each other. Thus, it never ceases to amaze me when people make choices that I just flat out do not understand. Why didn't he just get the surgery? Would it have killed him to just have listened to his doctors? Probably not. And that's my point.

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Like A Lion, Only Less Hairy

Warning: This isn't my usual witty fare. But it's important. Granted, I think that other things that I put on here are important as well, but seriously, are they? Kinda. But still not as important as this. Look, my very good friend's father died from melanoma about five years ago. It's not good. But there are things that you can do to catch melanoma early and improve your chances of survival. This video gets to the heart of those things that you should probably know. I know it runs a little bit long at just over five minutes, but give it a watch. If you knew that you were going to be attacked by a lion one day, wouldn't you want to know what to do about it when that lion finally jumped out at you? Of course you would! (Just ask Siegfried and Roy.) Think of melanoma as that lion, only with less hair. And if the video doesn't load, click here.

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It's Not About Insurance

I cannot begin to tell you how freaking sick I am of hearing about health care. I am over it. The politicians in Washington have no idea what they're doing and have their own self-centered and power hungry reasons for wanting whatever bill they've constructed to go through. All they're going to end up doing if the thing passes is causing more taxpayers to foot the bill at a higher price. And it's highly unlikely that the higher price will accomplish anything. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to know because the bill has swelled, at last count, to over 1,900 pages. There is absolutely no way that any given Senator or member of Congress can know precisely what is on every single one of those 1,900+ pages. None. (Granted, I wouldn't trust half of them to know what was in the thing if it were only 19 pages, but with 1,900 I know they don't know what's in there.)

And before you start shooting me emails or leaving me comments saying that things like it must be easy for me to say those things because I obviously have insurance, pipe down. I don't have insurance because I'm uninsurable. I got extremely sick about 10 years ago and damn near died. (I had awesome insurance at the time, but gave that up when I left that particular job.) Since then, whenever I've attempted to get insurance again, time after time I am denied because they dub me to be high risk. Now, my sickness was something that anyone could get, regardless of any particular lifestyle trait or quality, and that over 200,000 people every year come down with. But the fact that over half of those folks die within 48 hours is what makes me "high risk".

The insurance companies can suck it. Would I like those aspects of health care in this country to change so that those with pre-existing conditions or those with past conditions can easily get insurance to access health care? Sure I would. Do I want it done in via this particular health care bill passing? Hell no. In the meantime, I'll just do what I've always done and take care of myself rather than sit around and wait for the government to offer me something to take care of me. I suggest that everyone else do the same.

But my point (surprisingly) wasn't to come here and rant about being uninsurable. My point was to rail on media publications that try to exploit any sort of death out there that they think could possibly be related to someone not having health care. Today's media abomination of exploiting the dead for political gain comes to us courtesy of People.

Apparently, on Tuesday, a one 37-year old Jennifer Lyon died of breast cancer. Until reading about her passing, I had no clue as to who she was. I'm pretty sure I'd never heard the name before in my life. She was a contestant on the 2005 season of Survivor: Palau. (I wasn't real sure that I had ever heard of Palau in my life either, but then realized that it is a tiny little island that is about 500 miles east of the Philippines. Actually, I didn't realize that, but tomato, tom-ah-to. Whatever.)

And while it's unfortunate that Ms. Lyon passed away at such a young age, here's the angle that People magazine felt the need to include in their article. "It all began in the summer of 2004, when she "felt something in my right breast that didn't feel normal," Lyon told PEOPLE in October 2005. "I thought it was probably scar tissue related to my breast implants. It was right along the ridge of the implant, so I let it go, and I let it go for a long time."

See, now I'm thinking after reading that passage that they're going to go with the angle of how important it is to always get these things checked out. Yeah, not so much. Instead they went with: "Asked why she delayed seeing a doctor, Lyon said, "I didn't have insurance, which is a big part of it. And it really wasn't changing much. But a year later, I felt another lump, and then I felt something under my armpit."

Soooo....if the not having insurance was a big part of it, what was the other part? Um, People? Hello? Oh, that didn't get asked. I see. OK, how about this question: When you had your implants, did you have insurance? Oh, what? Oh, riiiight! Right. Implants would be cosmetic and insurance wouldn't necessarily cover them. Huh. Sooooo....you went to a doctor then, right? So, why didn't you go this time? Oh, that's right. People didn't ask that question either. And when you finally went to the doctor because, after a year you felt another lump and something under your armpit, did you have insurance then? Hard to say because People did go there either. Thanks for the craptastic article there, People. Gee, I wonder what you wanted the angle on this story to be?

Let me take a guess as to what happened her. Again, it has nothing to do with the no insurance thing. According to Wikipedia (take it for what's it's worth, I realize that), for the particular season of Survivor that Ms. Lyon was a contestant on, "Applications were due on June 22, 2004. Around 800 applicants were selected for an interview between the latter part of July and August 2004...48 were chosen as semi-finalists...during September 2004. From these...20 were chosen to participate (on) the show between October to December 2004." I think that her desire to be on Survivor was a huge factor in her putting off seeing a doctor. I have absolutely nothing but speculation to base that assumption on, but it seems fairly reasonable, given as how she had proven in the past that she had no problem seeing a doctor when she wanted something to be taken care of, ie breast implants.

Look, I'm not trying to malign the deceased, all right? My condolences go out to her friends and family. But the other thing that goes out to her friends and family is the utmost hope that this doesn't get turned into something that is about having or not having insurance because it doesn't sound like it is. If this is going to get turned into anything at all (and I pray to God that is isn't) it needs to be on the importance of getting checked regularly and to not put off seeing a doctor when you find some abnormality on your body. No one knows your body better than you do. If you find something that isn't right, go find out why it isn't right.

Lately, so many people are obsessed with being on TV for no other reason than just being on TV. There are a gazillion reality shows out there for people to choose from so that they can claim their fame by being seen as whatever it is that they're portraying themselves as by (unfortunately) millions of viewers. I watch these morons that cannot sing a lick try out for American Idol. They act as if their life will be over if they do not make it on that show. There are things that are more important than reality TV. Priorities people. Priorities.

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The Semi-Demi

I've been pondering this for a good deal of my day. See there's a woman over in the UK who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. It's not cancerous, but because of the position and the size, it can't be removed and it is a condition which leads to death. Now, I don't know how I'd react upon hearing a diagnosis like that, but I'm fairly certain that my reaction would be different from that woman's, as she is spending $50,000 for plastic surgery so that she can look like Demi Moore before she dies. Wait. What?

I know, I know! No, actually, I don't know! I don't know what to say or think. The folks across the pond at Mirror News bring us the unfortunate circumstance of a one 29-year old Lisa Connell, who says “I’ve always dreamed of looking like Demi Moore and I’m determined that when I die I will.” Apparently her mother, Angela, had saved up a bunch of money for Lisa’s wedding and Lisa is going to use it for plastic surgery that will transform her into a Demi Moore lookalike instead. ::::sigh::::

Lisa said, "People think I’m crazy for wanting to do this, but I know it will make my last months or years happier. I want to die beautiful.""Crazy" might be a bit harsh. It might be a bit true, but still kinda harsh. I suppose I can sort of understand wanting to "die beautiful"....in a way. But seriously, look at this woman who says she wants to be "beautiful". Behold!
Holy crap, she's hot. (She's the one on the right, by the way. The good looking woman on the left is her mother. Wow.) Is she kidding? Obviously she is not, but that doesn't change the fact that she is extremely attractive. But all good looks aside, this is what she's worried about? Why is that? Exactly? She explains, "I have palsy in the left side of my face. My eye is starting to droop and not open properly and I have been told it will get worse as I will eventually lose all sensation. I want surgery on my face to correct the drooping and make it less drastic when my condition deteriorates." I'm going to interrupt here to point out that she uses the words "less drastic". That doesn't sound like plastic surgery is going to prevent any deterioration from either happening or becoming apparent at all. And really, what is "less drastic"? I mean, if you're Shrek and you have a face lift and end up looking like Yoda, are you really any better off? Was it worth it?

So is the cosmetic face surgery all she's doing? Um, no. "...I won’t leave it at that – I want the full works, top to toe, including my boobs as they are heading south." (Hey, don't they all at some point? Don't they all?) And she fully admits, “It is not the usual dream of someone with a terminal illness" and then adds "but it is my body, my choice.” I've got nothin'. I can't argue with that....even though I want to! I just can't. And Demi Moore? A fine, fine choice.

The transformation or whatever you want to call it will begin in about two weeks at the Skin Health Spa in London. I have to assume that she's aware that she'll need more than a couple of weeks to recuperate from "the works". While I know very little about plastic surgery, I do know that you don't come out of it looking great or feeling great right away. Full face lifts can take longer than a month for the bruising to go away and the swelling to go down. You're not going to be looking all Demi Moore for a while, that's for sure. And again, it's not me and I have no idea what I would do in Lisa's situation, but I don't know that I'd want to spend whatever amount of time I did have left recuperating from plastic surgery and looking less than attractive as I did. It just doesn't sound like how I'd be using my time, but that's just me.

The thing I find odd about this choice for her stems from some of the statements that she's made: "...I want to look beautiful when I die. Inside I’m melting away, but on the outside I want to be strong and stunning.....This is my way of getting the control back in my life....I hope the surgery will give me a new lease of life and the confidence I need to live the rest of my days to the full.” It's not the statements in and of themselves that confuse me. It's when I read those words and then learn that Lisa founded Rent A Date For Charity in 2007. It's the "...Original Auction Dating Website’ allowing everyday people and celebrities to put themselves up for auction to the highest bidder with proceeds going to charity." And "...she has made it her personal mission to raise £1 million pounds for charity through the business she has created."

I suppose I find it rather saddening that she's looking for that "control" in her life through the nip/tuck of plastic surgery to look like the very stunning Demi Moore. She writes in a blog post of how she was beginning to lose muscle coordination in her legs and was falling frequently after the diagnosis of the tumor. She turned to exercise with a fitness coordinator and they worked on muscle strengthening and coordination skills and was back up on her feet within a month and even ran a 10k in July of 2007 and raised £3,000 for charity. Not bad for someone who was told that they would never walk normally again.

See, that all seems to indicate that she possesses an incredibly strong will and determined focus, and all of that without looking like Demi Moore. Yet she needs that "control" in her life through her appearance. Again, I'm not in that situation, so I can't judge, but I think I'm OK with saying that I really wish she didn't feel like that. If you didn't think that there's an influence from society that puts too much emphasis on looks before, perhaps you might consider what that influence could actually be doing to people on the inside. I mean, look at her. I think she's hot. I know you think she's hot. The only one who doesn't think she's hot is her. And the point is that how hot she is or isn't really shouldn't matter right about now, but for some reason it does.

I suppose that if her looking like Demi Moore will help her to feel better about herself to the extent that it could actually prolong her life (they have no idea how long to live she has, just that the tumor is going to be inconvenient), then great. I cannot imagine what it will do to her if the surgery does not turn out the way that she is hoping or expecting it will. The thing is though, that if the surgery is successful or not, it's never going to change how the people that know her and care about her and love her feel about her. And I really wish that was enough for her, but I'm not going to condone her because it isn't. (And I just read that she wants to be the first to do a topless shoot for charity. I'm not going to condone her for that either!)

I started off writing this post expecting to fully rip this chick to shreds for the Demi Moore thing. After reading more about her and her charity and how she's raising money and awareness about brain tumors, it just lost it's comedic edge for me. (And yet oddly enough, I kept writing. Go figure.) I expected her to just be a nutjob lunatic, but I don't get that impression. She's smart, sane, strong, determined and has definitely found purpose in her ordeal. I have no idea why she feels the way that she does about her physical appearance, but it's no secret that society does tend to elevate those who are "pretty" over those who are not and it's total BS that it works like that because the effect that it has upon (mostly) women. If there was ever an indication that we need to change that, I'd say this is it.

Good luck with all you're doing, Lisa. I would love to read that you had reconsidered turning yourself into the Semi-Demi, but if that doesn't happen, I certainly hope that you turn out the way that will make you the happiest and will make it the easiest for you to deal with the unimaginable.

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