Thursday, September 11, 2008

If this is true, and let's hope it's not: charging for rape kits?

As a Canadian, I'm finding the US elections more interesting than usual because of the presence of the Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. The more I read about her, the more afraid I am for women in the US if the Republicans get back into the White House.

But, I'm not talking about her hunting, her drilling, her character - I'm talking about her ideas on women on their bodies. I'm talking about how sex education should be abstinence, when there never has been abstinence - teens have been having sex for generations, before sex ed was allowed in the schools. I'm talking about the anti-abortion stance even in cases of incest or rape. The mental status of the girl or woman meaning nothing in the equation. And, I'm talking about the latest revelation that, for a time, if you were raped in Alaska, you had to PAY FOR YOUR OWN rape kit, that helped collect evidence of the crime. That order was changed by the then governor, but apparently when the message went out to the police departments, the city of which Sarah Palin was mayor, balked. They didn't want to take on the expense.

If you were robbed, there wouldn't be a charge to have your home dusted for fingerprints. If you were in a fight and stabbed, there'd be no charge for the investigation into the stabbing. But, if you were raped, you had to pay for collection of evidence.

Think I'm joking? Check out these articles:

Palin's town used to bill victims for rape kits
Wasilla’s Police Chief Charged Rape Victims for Forensic Testing Under Mayor Sarah Palin
Palin's Wasilla To Rape Victims: Bring Your Checkbook

Today at Help My Hurt:

Exercises useful in treating hip osteoarthritis
Wait before agreeing to that knee surgery for arthritis
Are you making a mistake in managing your chronic pain?

Today at Womb Within:

Listeriosis hits high-risk groups, causes miscarriages and premature births
Pregnancy Post Partum Prep
Herbal remedies while pregnant may cause harm

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Strange rashes and skin stuff

Have you ever had a rash or welt pop up out of seemingly nowhere and you can't figure out why or how you may have gotten it? I think some people are more prone to things like that - perhaps the sensitive skin may be more apt to develop a rash or some sort. I don't know - I'm not a dermatologist.

But, I spent the weekend decluttering nine years of accumulation in our house. It was hard, sweaty work that started on Saturday morning. When I woke up on Sunday, I had one big red welt on my abdomen. Nowhere else, just there. It's as itchy as all get out and it doesn't look like a bit. So, I'm left with a puzzle. Today I worked harder than yesterday so, we'll see if anything else pops up.

I do have to admit; ever since I had shingles a few years ago, I get nervous whenever something pops up out of the blue like this. Have you ever had shingles? If not, pray or hope that you never do. It's nasty, nasty, nasty!

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by the virus that causes the chicken pox. If you've never had the chicken pox, you can't get shingles. What happens is after you're infected with the chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in your system - that's why you can't usually get a virus like chicken pox twice. But, when you're older, a stress to the body - either physical or psychological - can trigger the virus and you end up with a string of sore, itchy blisters along a nerve line on your body. It starts in the center of your body and moves outwards, but it doesn't cross over. So, as in my case, it started in the center of my back at the waist line. It then progressed right along the nerve line (along the waist) right around the right side to the center of my abdomen. Some people get it on their neck, some people on their face. But it always follows the nerve line.

It's very painful and itchy at the same time. And, what shocked me the most was how awful I felt all over. I thought it was just a skin problem, but as my doctor explained, it's a virus that really attacked my whole body and that's why I just wanted to sleep all day long.

There is a shingle vaccination that has been developed and if you are on the fence about getting it, if I had it available, I'd take it. I never want to experience something like that again. Ever.

Today at Help My Hurt:

Wii Fit report
10 best cancer pain posts - Stand up to Cancer
A celebrity with psoriasis
Pain-free bunion surgery?

Today at Womb Within:

Emergency planning for those who are pregnant or have young children
Pediatricians may be best placed to discover postpartum depression
Cancer and pregnancy - you are not alone
Nutrition for vegetarian moms

News for Today:

Canada should screen for abdominal aneurysms in those over 65, group says
Include aging population in society, conference told
Serious Injury In Children Prevented By Both Child Safety Seats And Lap-And-Shoulder Seat Belts
Weekly diabetes drug provides better blood sugar control, spurs weight loss