Big Pharma and HPV

I am thankful that I live in a time and place when many of the diseases of the past have been conquered by good vaccination programs. However, the recent hysterical hype over H1N1 just turns me off. More people die of seasonal flus than of H1N1.

But this story is over the top. Manufacturers of vaccines to protect girls from HPV are pushing hard to have all school age girls vaccinated, without, it seems, to have run adequate clinical trials! Shame! Shame!

A Sea Change in American Life

A new poll has been published in the USA about abortion.  This shows that the determination of the Pro-life movement has effect. I think of the young folks on university campuses who press on with their presentations even though they are shouted down and pushed around.  May they continue to be protected by the Lord of Heaven and the law of the land.

With a Little Help from His Friends

The other night our Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined Yo Yo Ma on stage at the NAC in Ottawa in a Beatles cover "With a Little Help From My Friends". This video has gone viral and is being seen by hundreds of thousands on YouTube and the Globe and Mail flash version. The most complete including his introduction and the surprised laughter of the audience can only  be seen on the PMO's own YouTube Channel. Only several thousand have seen it there so I thought I'd share it here. I have to smile at all the layers of irony of the song. Who does he need to love? Dion? Who are his friends? Jack and Gilles? After all these minority governments, where is love at first sight? Who is he going to get high with? Rahim Jaffer? It's just all too funny.

** I was hoping to keep it secret, but my sister caught me sitting in the orchestra! You can see me (or maybe its that proverbial double we all have). I've got a look-a-like at 3:52- 3:55 at the bottom right. He appears again at 4:13-4:15 on the bottom left. I'd love to know if he's a long lost relative. Even I think he looks like me!!!