Monday, July 27, 2009

Denny's restaurants sued over salt in meals

As reported on July 23rd, 2009 by Jerry Hirsch on the latimes.com
Doctors recommend against eating more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day. Order Denny’s double cheeseburger and you’ll consume 3,880 milligrams of sodium in one sitting, almost double the daily suggested allowance of salt.
Denny’s meals “are dangerously high in sodium,” according to lawsuit filed today by a New Jersey man with the support of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit group active in nutrition and food-safety issues.
The New Jersey Superior Court lawsuit alleges that Denny’s heavy use of salt puts “the restaurant chain’s customers at greater risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.” The lawsuit asks the court to order Denny’s to list the sodium content of its food on the menu and warn about the hazards of consuming salt in high doses.
The lawsuit was filed in Middlesex County on behalf of Nick DeBenedetto, a 48-year-old resident of Tinton Falls, N.J., who said he takes medicine to control his blood pressure. DeBenedetto is seeking class action status for the suit.
DeBenedetto said he “was astonished” to learn of the sodium content of Denny’s food. “I never would have selected those items had I known.”

Editor Rozek’s Notes:…Ok…so let me get this straight…DeBenedetto wouldn’t have ordered a double cheeseburger if he had known how much salt it contained because he is taking medicine to control his blood pressure? Um…how many years has he been eating at Denny’s? Isn’t their slogan something like, “Denny’s! Clogging the nation’s arteries with plaque and beef, one person without any sense of health consciousness at a time??” This shouldn’t be a lawsuit. When your blood pressure soars and your heart starts to explode from your chest, you think, “hmm…what could I do differently?…Oh…I know! I should stop eating at Denny’s!” I think the president should weigh in on this too. I am certain that he would use his teleprompter to make a big announcement saying, “The American people who eat at Denny’s are acting stupidly!”…and then he can invite them all over to his house for a beer and a cigarette to explain that that’s not what he meant… “err…no, it’s what I meant, just not what I should have said…um…what I meant to say was that you’re all idiots…wait…no…Crap!…why do I keep getting myself in trouble like this? I couldn’t just have kept my opinion to myself? Here! Just have a hamburger out on the white house lawn.” ...By the time his 4 years is up, the white house lawn is going to be a public park for people he’s apologizing to!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Man Catches Fire After Being Tasered

As reported on July 21, 2009 on aol.com By KRISTEN GELINEAU, AP

SYDNEY (July 21) -- A man whose relatives say had been sniffing gasoline burst into flames after a police officer Tasered him as he ran at officials carrying a container of fuel, police said Tuesday.
The man, identified by his family as 36-year-old Ronald Mitchell, was in critical condition at a Perth hospital in Western Australia state following Monday's incident in Warburton, an Aboriginal community 950 miles (1,540 kilometers) northeast of Perth.
Western Australia police said they were responding to a complaint at a house when Mitchell ran outside carrying a cigarette lighter and a large plastic bottle containing what they believe was fuel. When he refused to stop running toward them, one officer Tasered him, police said in a statement.
The man was immediately engulfed in flames. The officer threw him to the ground and smothered the blaze with his hands, the statement said. Mitchell was charged with assault to prevent arrest and possession of a sniffing substance.

An 18-year-old woman threw rocks at the officer as he tried to help, and he was later treated for a cut on his head and burns to his hands, police said.
The officer who Tasered Mitchell was not suspended, Clifford said.


Editor Rozek’s Notes
: This really says it all. We need to be careful about what we eat and smell. Who knows when a policeman is going to walk up and taser us? How can you ever be sure it’s not the day that it will happen? For instance, if I was tasered at this very minute, I might burst into a giant pan of lasagna. It’s just dangerous. I have to wonder if he didn’t know that it was flammable judging from the fact that he was carrying a lighter too?? I always read the warning labels. I took the tag off of my mattress just the other day and put it on my refrigerator to remind me that I shouldn’t have removed it “under penalty of law.”…um…oops…sorry! I’m just saying that no where on a lighter does it say, “Caution! If carrying with previously sniffed gasoline and then tasered, contents may cause individual to burst into flames.” That’s how they getcha!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Mischa Placed Under Psychiatric Hold

As reported on July 17, 2009 on popeater.com

On Wednesday, Mischa Barton was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and allegedly placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold after she was removed from her home by police, Access Hollywood reports. This same code was used to hold Britney Spears twice in Los Angeles in January 2008.
Barton was "removed from her home" by police after having a "freak out," a LAPD spokesperson told Us Weekly. Officer April Harding said she and fellow officers responded to "a medical issue" after Barton called them herself.

Barton will skip the New York City premiere of her movie 'Homecoming' on Thursday night, a rep for the actress confirmed. Producer Austin Stark tells PEOPLE, "I wish her all the best. First and foremost, we want her to get healthy again. It's obvious we'd like her to support the movie and be here, but we hope she gets better."
Stark adds, "When she was on-set, she acted like a professional. I honestly had no complaints. She struck me as a nice young girl, she never said anything mean to anyone, and she wasn't late on-set or anything like that." In 2008, the 'O.C.' actress checked into rehab after she was charged with DUI and marijuana possession. She was sentenced to 36 months probation, told to attend alcohol education classes and pay a fine.
A friend of the actress told PEOPLE, "She has been dealing with a lot of personal issues. I don't know if she really ever gave up some of the bad habits that had gotten out of control a couple years back."


Editor Rozek’s Notes: That’s strange! Actresses never have “freak-outs!” It was nice that she “acted like a professional, nice young girl who never said anything mean to anyone!” She must be a great person! I’m sure this is all a big misunderstanding. That DUI and marijuana possession charge…and rehab…were all a set up. I mean…she “wasn’t late on-set or anything!” Everyone knows that women who have “freak-outs” are always late everywhere!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Man Wrongly Jailed Over Child Support

As reported on July 16, 2009 on aol.com AP

ADEL, Ga. (July 16) -- A Georgia man spent more than a year behind bars for failing to pay child support for a child that wasn't his, but he was released after DNA tests showed he wasn't the father.
Frank Hatley, 50, had been jailed since June 2008 for not making payments, but two separate DNA tests in the last nine years showed he was not the father of the boy, who is now 21.
"State child support officials have shown extraordinarily poor judgment in Mr. Hatley's case," Geraghty said.
Hatley had a relationship with Essie Lee Morrison, who had a baby in 1987 and told Hatley the child was his, according to court records. The couple never married and split up shortly afterward.
In 1989, Morrison applied for public assistance through the state Department of Human Resources. Hatley agreed to reimburse the state because he believed the boy was his.
Documents show Hatley paid at least $9,500.
But in 2000, DNA samples showed the two were not related, according to court records. A test earlier this month confirmed that.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: That’s sort of a catch-22! If I worked for social services, I would want to award custody to the man who actually attempted to be a father to the child instead of the woman who couldn’t figure out who the father actually was! I think that she should have to repay him all of the money he paid for the child over the years. What was the judge thinking the first time when he read the DNA tests that showed this man wasn’t the father to begin with? Possibly Sonia Sotomayor could help that judge now by instituting her “block, block, no trade-backs” reasoning (that's consistently "traded back" by higher courts!)! Hopefully the judge has a background of having a dead-beat dad to fall back on! We can only dream!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Man Arrested in Wife's High-Seas Death

As reported on July 17th, 2009 By Gillina Flaccus,AP on aol.com

SAN DIEGO (July 16) - A Los Angeles man was arrested Thursday for allegedly murdering his wife three days into a five-day cruise to Mexico, turning the luxury oceanliner into a crime scene as it sailed through the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Robert McGill was taken into custody from the Carnival Elation cruise ship more than six hours after it returned to San Diego on Thursday. He will be charged with the murder of his wife, Shirley, who was found dead in the couple's cabin on Tuesday evening, said Keith Slotter, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego bureau.

Slotter said a passenger contacted ship's security Tuesday and expressed concern that Shirley McGill might be dead. Crew members went to the cabin and found her body, but Robert McGill was not in the room. Slotter wouldn't say why the passenger who notified security was concerned, but said several hours may have passed before the body's discovery. Both the suspect and victim were in their mid-50s, Slotter said.
The ship is the length of more than two football fields and carries more than 2,000 passengers and 900 crew members, according to Carnival's Web site. With 14 decks, passengers can spend their days at numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, a spa, a casino, a mini-golf course and three pools. The ship left Saturday, stopping in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Editor Rozek’s Notes
: These 14 deck cruise ships with “numerous restaurants, bars, clubs, mini-golf courses and three pools” could leave anyone feeling a little bit cooped up! I’m sure this is going to be a justifiable homicide. Here was this poor, unassuming man on a cruise with his wife as she started worrying about her hair and her mascara or what she was going to wear to the massive buffet that evening and he just snapped. These cruises are death traps! It does seem like it could’ve been planned a little more carefully though. With the entire ocean at his disposal, don’t you think he could’ve found a better place to hide the body than in his own room? Note to self: if I ever get married, don’t go on cruise with husband! It’s just asking for trouble!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

US Skier Injured in Escalator Fall

As reported on July 16, 2009 on aol.com

PARK CITY, Utah (July 16) - U.S. alpine skier Cody Marshall has a head injury after falling between 20 to 30 feet from an escalator.

U.S. Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly says the 26-year-old Marshall was out with teammates when he fell off the escalator rail about 12 a.m. Thursday in a mini-mall in downtown Park City, Utah. He was taken by ambulance to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, where he was listed in critical condition Thursday afternoon.
Marshall, from Pittsfield, Vt., finished third in the slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships this spring. His sister, Chelsea, is also a member of the U.S. alpine team and older brother, Jesse, is a former member.

Editor Rozek’s Notes
: I can see how this could happen. Haven’t you ever been on an escalator and thought “whoooaaa! This thing is really dangerous!” This guy wasn’t used to doing dangerous, dare-devil stunts like riding an escalator. Those moving walkways in airports scare me a little too. They should have warnings on them! I feel a lawsuit coming on!

Monday, July 20, 2009

'Harry Potter' Star Could Face 14 Years for Growing Marijuana Farm

As reported on July 9, 2009 on foxnews.com

“Harry Potter” star Jamie Waylett has been charged with growing ten cannabis plants.
The 19-year-old actor will have to appear in court later this month for the charges stemming from an April arrest.
Waylett, who plays Potter bully Vincent Crabbe, was busted when cops pulled over his vehicle in London and allegedly found eight bags of marijuana. He was taken to a nearby police station before a team of officers raided his mother’s home in Camden, the Daily Telegraph reports. A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said the actor would appear in court late this month and “is charged with producing a Class B drug, nearly ten plants of cannabis.”
The plants – valued at more than $3,000 – were allegedly found among DJ equipment and a Playstation, the Telegraph said.
Waylett may face up to 14 years for cannabis production, while the maximum charge for cannabis possession is five years.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: If only someone would’ve seen this coming! A child star with thrill seeking behavioral tendencies? Weird! Maybe we should go back to paying kids in buttons on a chart according to how many times they make their bed and wash the dishes?…I’m just saying…early success seems to put a kid right in the line of fire- literally! If you are growing weed next to your playstation, you are either too young, or 40 years old and “know this guy who knows this guy who’s gonna help you get signed to a record label”…step away from the chips and go to college people!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Romo Dumps Simpson on Birthday Eve

As reported on July 13, 2009 on PopEater.com

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback dumped the singer the day before her 29th birthday, "She is heartbroken. She loves Tony. But it's been difficult lately. He's busy with his career and she's getting ready to shoot her show. They decided to part ways," a source says.
Romo and Simpson have been dating since November of 2007 and reportedly split once before because the former 'Newlyweds' star's father was rumored to be meddling in their relationship.

Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is why I don’t let the enquirer know I’m dating someone until we’ve been together for about 3 years. They make it sound like it wasn’t nice to dump her on the day before her birthday. I think it was the nicest thing he could’ve done. This way she was able to have a good time on her special day instead of spending it with someone who she wasn’t getting along with. And on another note: She’s only 29? My gosh! How many times has this girl been married and divorced, girlfriended, dumped…she’s got to be used to it by now! At least now the press isn’t picking on her love for pasta! Nothing like a little breakup distraction to sink her teeth into!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Swearing Makes Pain More Tolerable

As reported on July 13, 2009 on LiveScience
(July 13) -- That muttered curse word that reflexively comes out when you stub your toe could actually make it easier to bear the throbbing pain, a new study suggests.
Swearing is a common response to pain, but no previous research has connected the uttering of an expletive to the actual physical experience of pain.
"Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," said Richard Stephens of Keele University in England and one of the authors of the new study. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain."
Stephens and his fellow Keele researchers John Atkins and Andrew Kingston sought to test how swearing would affect an individual's tolerance to pain. Because swearing often has an exaggerating effect that can overstate the severity of pain, the team thought that swearing would lessen a person's tolerance.
As it turned out, the opposite seems to be true.
The researchers enlisted 64 undergraduate volunteers and had them submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice. The experiment was then repeated with the volunteer repeating a more common word that they would use to describe a table.
Contrary to what the researcher expected, the volunteers kept their hands submerged longer while repeating the swear word.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: Well let's thank this mother ef’ing scientist! All these years saying “oh pooh!” when I stub my toe because I thought it would be unladylike to scream an obsenity, have been wasted on class and human restraint. Those are our kids today! Always finding new ways to justify what they already do as appropriate instead of wasting time learning decent human behavior! They make mommy so proud! I’m going to do a study on the affects and benefits to the human pschy when a person is able to freely spend the cash taken after robbing a quickmart!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Obama Teleprompter Breaks Mid-Speech

As reported on July 14, 2009 on aol.com AP

WASHINGTON (July 14) -- President Barack Obama had just started a spirited defense of his economic stimulus plan on Monday when one of his teleprompter screens came loose, crashed to the floor and shattered into pieces.
The gadget's fall surprised Obama, who uses a teleprompter during most speeches and even brief remarks. The glass plate displaying his speech hit the floor in the auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a massive building within the White House compound.

Editor Rozek’s Notes:…Obama is in the middle of a “spirited defense of his economic stimulus plan” as the teleprompter crashes to the floor…he looks at it shattered in pieces and continues: “and this is the absolute dumbest plan I’ve ever had. This socialist nation that I’m working hard to create has completely proven that I’m a complete idiot! Thank you all for coming out…and by the way…we need to remove good health care from people who already have it and level the playing field by providing really bad health coverage for all! On my honor, I will try, in liberty and Justice reverse racist Sotomayor for all…Amen…Power to the people!…under God, indivisible…abortions for everyone! Don’t my wife’s arms look great?"

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Police: Florida Dad Asked Son to Help Dispose of Murdered Prostitute's Body

As reported on July 9, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

ORLANDO, Fla. — A man charged with killing a prostitute in central Florida and then dumping her body asked his fifth-grade son to help dispose the body, police said.
Alan John Jett, 40, is charged with first-degree murder in the June slaying of Lashanda Rae Brand, Orange County sheriff's officials said. Investigators received a tip that Jett's son told a classmate about the slaying.
The boy was interviewed at school late last month, and authorities said he gave up his father. According to the affidavit, the boy said he heard his father and Brand argue about money. He told investigators he later saw Brand's body wrapped in a blanket and tape. The Department of Children and Families placed the boy with a relative.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: …and yet another tale of great parenting! Don’t adults know that a kid will always talk? There is no way that anyone would ever get away with this. And who the heck pays for it with their 5th grader in the next room? Ridiculous! At least send the kid to mommy’s house where he can watch her get thrown around by a random drug dealer who preys on vulnerable divorced women! Let’s get our priorities straight Daddy!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Factory Worker Dies After Falling Into Vat of Chocolate

As reported on July 9, 2009 on foxnews.com

A 22-year-old factory worker died Wednesday after he fell into a vat of boiling chocolate at a manufacturing plant in New Jersey, police said.
The Camden County prosecutor's office identified the victim as Vincent Smith II. He was a temporary worker at the Cocoa Services Inc. plant. Smith had been in the melting pot for about 10 minutes by the time rescue crews arrived, MyFOXPhilly.com reported.
Prosecutor's spokesman Jason Laughlin says a co-worker tried to shut off the machine and two others tried to pull Smith out of the 8-foot-deep vat. He was hit and fatally injured by the agitator that mixes the chocolate. By the time he was pulled out of the tank just after 11 a.m., he was already dead.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is tragic…but didn’t I read this in a book called Charlie and the Chocolate factory? Was there a golden ticket in there or something? I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often. Haven’t you ever been standing over an 8 foot deep vat of chocolate and thought, “hmm…that looks good. I think I’ll jump in.”…it could happen. I’ve been walking through the mall at times and have been overtaken by the smell of the Cinnabon. The next thing I know, my face is pressed up against the glass, peering at its sugary goodness! I feel this one…

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

U.S. Government's Cyberdefense System Doesn't Work

As reported on July 8, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

The flagship system designed to protect the U.S. government's computer networks from cyberspies is being stymied by technical limitations and privacy concerns, according to current and former national-security officials.
The latest complete version of the system, known as Einstein, won't be fully installed for 18 months, according to current and former officials, seven years after it was first rolled out.
This system doesn't protect networks from attack. It only raises the alarm after one has happened.
The total cost of the system, designed to protect all nonmilitary government computers
, is classified, but officials familiar with the program said the price tag was expected to exceed $2 billion.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: The problem is not that it will only tell you after it has happened. The main issue is that some of the best hackers in the world are anti-government. No matter how good our people are, there will always be someone working to be better…and have way more time and their hands to practice…cause they are living on the outskirts of a mountain somewhere with a satellite dish and a computer main-frame made out of coconuts and piano wire….and their twisted brains are very high functioning! I almost have to hand it to them in a Macgyver/Gilligan’s Island professor kind of way…as a matter of fact…I kinda want to date one of them.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Florida Man Wins Lottery Prize for Third Time

As reported on July 7, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

ORLANDO, Fla. — Luck has struck for the third time for a central Florida man.
James Bush of South Daytona is one of three $1 million winners to claim their Firecracker Millionaire Raffle prize so far from the Florida Lottery. He bought the ticket in Port Orange.
But this isn't the first time the 50-year-old has claimed a winning ticket.
On his way to Florida Lottery headquarters, he bought a Billion Dollar Blockbuster scratch-off ticket and won $1,000. And in 2007, he won $500,000 in the Gold Rush scratch-off game.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: This is one lucky guy! I’d like to rub his head and stick him to my ceiling!

Friday, July 10, 2009

More Kids May Have Been Zapped at Florida Prisons

As reported on July 8, 2009 on foxnews.com AP

MIAMI — More than 40 children shocked with stun guns while visiting prisons in April may not have been the first ones zapped, according to a report released Tuesday.
A corrections officer told investigators she saw a similar demonstration at a prison about five years ago.
The report included hundreds of pages of documents gathered during probes ordered after the Department of Corrections learned children ages 5 to 17 had been shocked at three Florida prisons on April 23, "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." Three employees were fired and two resigned. More than a dozen others were disciplined.
No children were seriously hurt or taken to hospitals. At one prison, those who had been shocked were told they could be first to get hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch, according to the report. Some asked to be shocked and laughed afterward. Some children were shocked individually while others were part of a circle where children and officers held hands so the shock would be passed around. The department cannot investigate the earlier demonstration mentioned in the report because the officer could not remember exactly when it happened or who was involved.
The report also confirmed what officials had said earlier — that some children's parents were asked for permission but others were not. Department of Corrections Secretary Walter McNeil has said previously that even though some parents had given permission that did not excuse officers.
The documents released Tuesday included a resignation letter from Lt. P.J. Weisner, who was involved in one of the demonstrations. "The exercise that I participated in has been a common practice. At no time did I believe that any of the students were in any risk," wrote Weisner, who had been with the department for 11 years. "It is a shame that since this has become a media event, state employees would attempt to obtain some sort of fame at the detriment of their co-workers."
The Department of Corrections also investigated a demonstration the same day where children were accidentally exposed to the tear gas when the wind shifted, but none required medical care.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: As it turns out, you can’t use stun guns on kids. Parent’s get angry…cause they aren’t allowed to use them themselves without someone calling social services. Maybe they should try different activity at the prison’s “take your kid to work day.”…like maybe a prison brawl…or a food fight at lunchtime…or maybe a small shootout with guards! All in all- a great learning experience for a budding criminal!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Is McDonald's New Angus Burger a Big Value?

As reported on July 6, 2009 by Tom Barlow on walletpop.com

McDonald's has launched a new line of Angus steak sandwiches which it hopes will strike the American public as a real value. This begs the question, what is value? And how well does McDonald's hit its mark?Luckily, I live in an area where the Angus Burger has been test marketed, so I've had a chance to try them a few times. Here's the deal: McDonald's Angus Burger: 590 calories; beef patty, bun, American cheese, tomato, mayo dressing, red onions, pickles, lettuce, mustard. $3.99 in my area. For me, it comes down to flavor. The price difference is not great. The Angus Burger, in my opinion, has a real steak flavor, a pleasant consistency that is less mealy than a burger but not full of chunks of gristle. I order mine naked, bun only, and the flavor is well worth the money.For me, value is on the tongue of the beholder. In my opinion, McDonald's new sandwich gives me a lot for my money.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: For God’s sake people! Put the burger down and step away from the beef! Do people really still eat fast food? Do you really want to be one of those people on the tv news stories that are being followed around by cameras pointed at your ketchup stained, t-shirted, rounded bellies with only your head cropped out under the caption “Are Americans Getting Fat?” Enough! I’ll actually stand in front of McDonalds and pay everyone $4 not to walk in and go pick up some lettuce at the grocery store instead!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Courtney Love Blames Malnourishment on Financial Stress

As reported on July 6, 2009 on aol.com

Courtney Love isn't saying she's anorexic, but she concedes she's looking "painfully thin" lately. "I know I've got too skinny," the Hole frontwoman told the Daily Mirror. "I know I need to sort it out." Love, who looked downright voluptuous a few years ago, says her doctor diagnosed her with malnutrition two weeks ago. "He gave me a massive shot of vitamins and told me to start eating," said the 44-year-old rocker, who reportedly weighs just 84 pounds and is five feet, 10 inches tall.Of course, the recent financial trauma of being sued by American Express over unpaid credit coupled with her 2008 claims that identity thieves looted $72 million from the estate of her late husband, Kurt Cobain, might sabotage anyone's appetite. "I need to start working out again," Courtney told the paper. "It's the stress -- you have no idea what is has been like these last few months. I need to get to the bottom of this fraud, I need answers."


Editor Rozek’s Notes: Now there’s a great doctor: “start eating.” Problem solved! Forget the drug addiction, the eating disorder and the dysfunctional attention seeking behavior! Just start eating. The question I have is “how the heck does that happen?” If I was down $72 million, I would be lying in bed eating and watching Law and Order 24/7. You almost have to admire her sticktoitiveness! I also have to wonder if she should “start working out” just yet? At 84 pounds and no food, I have to worry that a treadmill would kill her in under 15 minutes. Wait…or was that what she meant? I never know with these stars. She is likely worth much more dead than alive!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Two Anti-smoking drugs to carry mental-health warnings

As reported on July 1, 2009, by Saundra Young on cnn.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two popular anti-smoking drugs will now carry warnings about the risk of severe mental health problems, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The FDA said Chantix and Zyban will carry the warnings to alert consumers to the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts when using the drugs.
The drugs also have been reported to cause changes in behavior, hostility and agitation in users, whether users had a history of psychiatric illness or not. In many cases, side effects started shortly after use began and ended when the medication was stopped. The FDA does not know what is causing the changes and said people taking these products should be monitored by their doctor.
"The risk of serious adverse events while taking these products must be weighed against the significant health benefits of quitting smoking," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The FDA says that since Chantix was approved in 2006, the agency has had reports of 98 suicides and 188 attempted suicides. Zyban has had reports of 14 suicides and 17 attempts.
Zyban contains the same active ingredient as the antidepressant Wellbutrin and already carried a box warning about the increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior.


Editor Rozek’s Notes: I have to say that I would never smoke so I suppose that this isn’t really a problem for me. In order to understand this article completely, I had to relate it to a topic that I do know something about- cheese! I simply rewrote the article for myself and replaced the word cigarette or smoking with mozzarella. OH MY GOSH! I totally get it now. You take a drug and then-like magic… you don’t have to eat cheese anymore…I mean smoke anymore? That’s a miracle!...wait…you feel like you want to kill yourself if you take the drug? Oh… Well…but what about those hottie little jeans?...I mean…well...what about my lungs COPD?...I’ll do it!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sotomayor says women's club doesn't discriminate

As reported on June 29, 2009 by Bill Mears on CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An all-women's club that counts Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor among its members does not "discriminate on the basis of sex," she told senators.
The New York federal appeals judge has provided thousands of pages of material to the committee, but some Republican senators asked for more information, including her participation in the Belizean Grove.
The New York-based professional women's organization describes itself as helping "women pursue more significant dreams, ambitions, purposes, transcendence and spiritual fulfillment."
"The Belizean Grove is a constellation of influential women who are key decision makers in the profit, nonprofit and social sectors; who build long term mutually beneficial relationships in order to both take charge of their own destinies and help others to do the same," a statement on its Web site said. Sotomayor told senators her group is not purposely exclusive.
"To the best of my knowledge, a man has never asked to be considered for membership. It is also my understanding that all interested individuals are duly considered by the membership committee," she wrote to the Senate Judiciary Committee. She added that men participate in the group's activities, including trips, hosting events and talks. Sotomayor said that in her opinion, her membership did not violate the Code of Judicial Conduct, which says judges should not join organizations that discriminate based on sex, religion, race or nationality.


Editor Rozek’s Note: Ok…we may have gone a little too far on this one…even for my taste. I worry that we may be grasping at straws a little here. My mother has a woman’s group that gets together to sew and eat dessert each week. Does that mean that she wouldn’t be able to be a Supreme Court Justice? I’m not sure that she realized that. She was just talking about going to law school the other day. Darn! The strange thing is that I don’t think that there’s a man on the planet that would want to sit there and sew with them…It seems like we’ve taken political correctness and anti-discrimination to new heights! I mean…we’ve finally overturned her dyslexic fire fighter case…maybe we could call it even now and get back to breeding our children into that new, more dyslexic, colorless, genderless generation we’ve all been dreaming of! Ah! AMERICA! The land of the “free to be anything you want to be as long as it is what someone else wants you to be!”