The 911 Memorial

A video about the construction of the 911 Memorial. How will you spend 9/11/2011?

"True Colors" - It Gets Better: LA Gay Men's Chorus

This is so beautiful it will give you chills.

Depression and Melancholy, meet Inflammation

Here is a nice blog article by a rheumatologist at UCLA, Dr. Mark Borigini entitled "Inflammation and Chronic Pain: Influencing Culture". Did you know painter Paul Rubens probably had rheumatoid arthritis?

"A close analysis of Rubens's paintings over the last thirty years of his life reveals the deformities of arthritis depicted in various subjects, chronologically documenting the natural progression of the disease. Look at the painting, "The Holy Family with St. Anne": The left arm of St. Anne, resting on Mary's shoulder, is a classic depiction of a typical swollen wrist seen in an inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis."

Michelangelo, Paul Klee, Frida Khalo and Renoir all likely had autoimmune disorders, too, according to Borigini. Inflammation in the body can cause crippling pain, leading to depression, or as Freud termed it, melancholy.

Researcher Murray Straus weighs in on spanking kids

Here is an opinion piece by Murray Straus, a longstanding researcher on spanking and its effects on kids/adults later in life.

When a Texas judge this week handed down a sentence of five years' probation to a mother for spanking her child, he set off outrage and ridicule. "You don't spank children today," Judge Jose Longoria lectured Rosalina Gonzales in the courtroom. "You understand?"

The reporting on the case was cursory - it failed to point out that spanking is, in fact, legal in Texas and neglected to mention that Gonzales had a history of abusive behavior - but the cat was out of the bag. A raging debate has been reignited: Traditionalist parents - and millions of people who vividly remember getting spanked or hit with a belt when they stepped out of line as a kid - cannot believe that government may actually try to get inside the home and regulate the way they discipline their children.

Picture by Norman Rockwell, and retrieved from The Committed Parent.

The US Senate - "It Gets Better"

This is a pretty nice video from the US Senate. See what you think.

Project No Spank

Here is a link to Project No Spank, a "resource for parents, students, educators, education policymakers, healthcare providers, children's advocates, and all others who are concerned with the safety and wellbeing of children".

"If we are ever to turn toward a kindlier society and a safer world, a revulsion against the physical punishment of children would be a good place to start." — Dr. Benjamin Spock

Image retrieved from http://committedparent.wordpress.com/2010/03/20/why-its-harmless-to-spank-your-kids-if-theyre-black/

Venus Williams & Sjögren's Syndrome

Today Venus Williams did a very brave thing. She let the world know she is suffering from Sjögren's Syndrome (pronounced SHOW-grins). This is a very debilitating autoimmune disease that many people think just causes dry eyes and dry mouth, and say, "What's the big deal?" When you've experienced the bone crushing roadkill fatigue it can cause, along with the severe joint pain and brain fog, you'll know.

Here is a link to the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation website. This disease is named for the Swedish researcher that first started putting it all together. Sjögren's affects so many bodily systems that the average time to diagnosis is seven years!

Like Venus, I also have Sjögren's Syndrome. So I understand how serious this autoimmune disease can be. I'm very sorry she has come down with this, but I hope she can use this to bring more awareness to the difficulties of Sjögren's. She's a beautiful woman. I hope she'll be a beautiful spokesperson for those of us with Sjögren's as well.

Photo taken from Venus Williams' Facebook page.