Cancer

It’s that time of year again. It’s “National Breast Cancer Awareness” month. Let’s see what other months or times of the year we should “be aware of” or “remember” cancer

January 2009
 National Cervical Cancer Awareness Screening Month
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February 2009
 Coaches vs. Cancer® Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend (January 30-February 1)
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March 2009
 National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
 National Cancer Nutrition Awareness Month
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April 2009
 National Cancer Control Month
 National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 19-25)
 National Cancer Volunteer Week (April 19-25)
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May 2009
 Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
 Cancer Research Month
 Melanoma Monday (May 4)
 Women's Health/Cancer Awareness (Mother’s Day: May 10)
 National Women's Health Week (May 10-16)
 World No Tobacco Day (May 31)
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June 2009
 National Cancer Survivors Day (June 7)
 Men's Health/Cancer Awareness (Father's Day-June 21)
 National Men's Health Week (June 8-14)
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July 2009
 UV Safety for Cancer Prevention Awareness Month
 Sarcoma Cancer Awareness Month
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September 2009
 National Ovarian Cancer Month
 Childhood Cancer Month
 Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
 National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
 Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (Sept. 10-16)
 Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month
 Take a Loved One for a Cancer Check-up Day (Sept. 22)
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October 2009
 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
 National Mammography Day (Oct. 16)
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November 2009
 Great American Smokeout for Lung Cancer Awareness (Nov. 19)
 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic® Weekend (Nov. 19-20)
 Lung Cancer Awareness Month
 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
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My big question is, who ISN”T aware of cancer? I’d like to MEET someone who says “Cancer, what’s THAT?!??!” I mean, who HAS NOT heard to get themselves checked early; checked often for cancer. Basically, August and December are the only months that aren’t cancer specific or have anything dedicated to cancer awareness. What if someone’s ONLY paying attention in August and December? Seriously, through proactive measures and the check early, check often mantra, many lives have at least been extended; if not saved. You can’t argue with that. But to me, it’s getting a little out of hand. Despite the above, it seems that every 2 weeks there’s SOME sort of run, walk, bicycling, crayfish eating event, etc for cancer. Specifically the Susan Komen Cancer Foundation fund or the ilk. Much money has been and will be raised.

Did you guys know that between 2003 and 2006, becoming a Susan G Komen Foundation non profit was one of the top 5 money making small business /independent start ups according to the US Small Business Administration - www.sba.gov/
That’s when I was doing research for story ideas for a bi-weekly PSA show or a news story.

Now there are stories and TONS of negative press about “the business of cancer” and even plausible ‘conspiracy theories” about big pharmaceutical companies not allowing survivable cancer medicine to be announced or produced. Much akin to the theories about how the automobile industry suppressing engines that runs on water or compressed air no doubt.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m kinda getting sick of the new marketing ways for cancer and cancer awareness. It seems like those involved are worrying about interest drying up, so they’re creating NEW and IMPROVED ways to remind us on a daily or weekly basis about awareness.

Look at HIV/AIDS – Remember the hype and glory that began in the early to mid 80’s? Remember the never ending debate, school programs, TV shows, movies, and all of the safe sex/abstinent ads and awareness walks, campaigns? Those pretty much have died down in the past 15 to 20 years. Even though between 2004 and 2007, AIDS rates have continued to rise dramatically. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm. However, with the advent of the various medical ‘cocktails’, people with HIV/AIDS are living longer.

Take the various forms of cancer. Most cancer rates have decreased. Take this National Cancer Institute study last year - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/health/research/26cancer.html

Yet the Susan G Komen walks, runs, concerts, pie eating contests, et all have increased significantly.

For giggles, check out THIS website about what the different colored ribbons means –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awareness_ribbons.

This site will tell you about ALL of the colors and what THEY represent - http://www.craftsnscraps.com/jewelry/ribbons.html

I lost someone who was like a mother to me years ago to brain cancer. Last year, my mother-in-law fought with cancer while dying of a COPD related illness. I’ve known too many people who have succumbed to SOME sort of cancer- both male and female oriented, and then the non discriminate forms- like brain and lung cancer. Though technically, breast and colorectal aren’t mutually exclusive to one sex or the other, but you wouldn’t believe it by the clever marketing that goes on. Chances are very likely that I myself will be diagnosed with some sort of cancer in the near future. One day either my morbid obesity and unhealthy lifestyle will get me; or just simply being born in 1966 and exposed to unhealthy things such as 2nd hand cigarette smoke, lead paint, disco, lawn darts, whatever. I cannot begin to imagine what cancer sufferers or survivors go through. I am aware of what their love ones face. That’s why that the daily/weekly reminders bother me. It seems that after the grieving and coping with loss time is over, people don’t know HOW to cope and choose to live their lives as a constant reminder. Maybe I’m wrong. What say you?

HAPPY FRIDAY! Otober 16th, 2k9

BOO!

The Great Pumkin, Charlie Brown episode airs twice on ABC- October 27th and 28th


Have you had enough of the ballon boy story? Well, in my opinion, I don't think the parents put their son in ANY danger, but I DO believe this is a publicity stunt to further waning interest; their '15 minutes', if you will.. The father insists he doesn't have anything to sell or push, so why would he DO this as a hoax. Well, you don't HAVE to have anything to push or sell to benefit immensely from something like this. The family, or at least the parents, are attention junkies. Unfortunately, with the events of the past few years, when I FIRST heard from a co-worker of their 'reality TV past" shortly after the balloon landed and there was a fear the kid fell out, I immediately felt that this whole thing was something to garner attention; not necessarily a hoax. Even if I'm wrong, consider the father's excuse for the son's "I thought this was for the show, dad" remark. The father explained that since the family was previously on other reality shows, the son believed this whole thing (if not CURRENT events in his life) are all being recorded for TV. How warped is THIS? An how is this MUCH different from those who starve or physically abuse their kids?

anyway- here's some stuff I saw on the internet.


Need a book? WalMart online and Amazon.com are having a price war on new books- some as low as $9...

Marvel Comics, in collaboration with Stephen King, has announced they are developing a new chapter in the Dark Tower graphic fiction adaptation called 'Dark Tower: The Gunslinger'. Beginning in 2010, Peter David, Robin Furth and Richard Isanove return for a new arc exploring the life of Roland Deschain, revealing how and why he began his pursuit of the man in black across Mid-World’s Mohaine Desert

What is this- 1950? A white Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.

The TLC network has sued Jon Gosselin for allegedly breaching his contract as a star of the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8."

Bill Cosby has a hip hop CD out featuring special guests like Alicia Keys, LL Cool J and Eric Clapton

Monty Python Radio premiered today and will be a 24/7 channel running through Oct. 25.

Announced yesterday, Social Security recipients won't get a cost-of-living increase next year for the first time in more than a third of a century. But have no fear: President Barack Obama has a plan to send seniors another round of $250 payments before the congressional elections. Mmmmm, mmmmm, mm. Barack Hussein Obama. At least SOMEONE hwo isn't an owner or officer in a big corporation will benefit!

Former NBC and current CBS show Medium is planning a Night of the Living Dead-themed episode.

A 16-year-old male student was fatally shot this morning after an altercation with a resource officer at Carolina Forest High School, officials said. The 11th-grade student, whose name was not released, died as a result of the incident.

Crews searching for an F-16 fighter pilot whose jet hit another fighter off the South Carolina coast have spotted debris and an oil slick just off the coast of Folly Beach.

And FINALLY, researchers in a new study say Current state taxes and levies on soft drinks are slowing consumption, but not enough to curb the obesity epidemic in the United States. In an analysis of 16 years of data (1990 to 2006) on how various forms of soft drink taxation affected body mass index, researchers found that taxation has only a minor effect on BMI, which is a measurement based on weight and height. For example, a 1 percent tax increase causes a BMI decrease of 0.003 points -- less than a tenth of a pound for a man of average height.

HAPPY TUESDAY! 10/13/09

This screen grab released by MTV Canada shows Aliya-Jasmine Sovani in a scene from public service announcement for Toronto's annual Boobyball party to benefit the charity Rethink Breast Cancer



Back to work for me today. NOT looking forward to a 4-day work week ahead – this Thursday thru Sunday. Nothing much has been going on. Just sleepy from the lack of sleep this morning between 1:30am and when my alarm went off for work.

Here’s some interesting things I’ve seen on the internet this morning and this afternoon..

In North Carolina, the FBI has begun using facial-recognition technology on millions of motorists, comparing driver's license photos with pictures of convicts in a high-tech analysis of chin widths and nose sizes in its search for fugitives.

The oldest female athlete at the World Masters Games in Sydney has broken a world record in the shot put -- at the age of 100. Her 4.07 meter (13 ft 4.2 in) throw on Sunday didn't just win her gold, but also broke a world record.

The senate is voting on the Democratic health care bill today.

In Michael Jackson news, hours after the pop singer's first posthumous single "This Is It" was released amid great hype on Monday, it emerged that the tune had been recorded 18 years ago by an obscure Puerto Rican singer. Moreover the co-author of that tune, "My Way" songwriter Paul Anka, threatened to sue Jackson's estate for proper credit and his share of royalties. The administrators of the estate quickly acknowledged Anka's claims and granted him 50 percent of the copyright, a potentially massive payday for the 68-year-old Canadian crooner. And an equally massive loss for the estate.
To me this is a red flag. Sam Raimi spoke with MTV News about the fourth film. As each film has examined Peter Parker's emerging sense of responsibility, the director says the film will be about "the growth of that understanding, that it encompasses more than just his sense of duty toward others but he also has a sense of responsibility as a human being toward the ones he loves."

In other comic book news, Eliza Dushku discussed the "Internet fantasy" of the Wonder Woman film with MTV News. While the actress has no particular interest in the role, she wouldn't mind trying out for the part if the film ever approaches being a reality.

Bryan Singer has talked with 20th Century Fox about returning to the "X-Men" franchise. "I'm still looking to possibly returning to the 'X-Men' franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it," says Singer. While this would be the "X-Men 4" mentioned a couple of weeks ago or one of the other spin-offs is unknown. Singer develops many projects simultaneously, so no guarantee even successful talks would lead to a new Singer "X-Men" film within the next five years.

And finally, Font Bureau Inc. of Boston, is suing NBC Universal Inc. for $2 million, claiming trademark infringement for unauthorized use of three typefonts. Font Bureau alleges the broadcaster bought one software license yet widely distributed unauthorized copies of three fonts: Bureau Grotesque, Interstate and Antenna. The type designs are used in such highly visible programs as "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Saturday Night Live," and "The Jay Leno Show."

HAPPY FRIDAY!! October 9, 2k9

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

It appears the big moon crash NASA conducted Friday morning wasn't as spectacular as many had hoped. I thought the tiny flash was ok and was what I expected. Many wanted or thought they'd see something spectacular like a huge cloud of dust or something like would happen here on earth. Sheesh!!

Got back from the doctor- we're changing some meds around and shifting some things. I'm starting on Byetta again. It's an injectable drug that , depending on my pancreas, will hopefully eliminate my insulin usage. We'll see. Missed my eye appointment. Had ot set it for 2 weeks from today. I'm gonna call and see if I can get it sooner. Not being able to see well sucks.

My 'dad' is up in Memphis with his brother for a few days before jetting out to Las Vegas to be with his woman for a while before the holidays. He's really diggin' the food and such up there.

My 'brother' is entertaining some relatives from Johnson City, Tennessee this weekend. They're all going to Carowind's annual 'Scare-o-winds'event tonight. Let's hope the rain stays away.

Every one's a tizzy about my city's annual "Fall For Greenville" 3 day family/booze festival the city's downtown area beginning tonight. I sometimes hang around and work in or near downtown G-Vegas, so it's not a big deal for me anymore. PLUS I've either worked or attended the event a few times too, so it's kinda lost it's appeal to me personally. Though I like the exposure we as a city get and I feel the vibe everyone's experiencing, so it's really "all good" as the young whipersnappers say.

Let's see what I saw on the net this afternoon:

President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. Pretty good considering he was in office for only 11 days when they voted in February of this year.....

Marge Simpson appears on the cover of the November issue of Playboy.

There's a neat website where you can supposingly 'zombie-fy" yourself- http://zombify-yourself.net/. It's by the folks who brought you zombieland.

There's a new comic book related animated film coming to DVD in February of next year I'm now looking forward to. "Planet Hulk" tells the tale of what happens when Bruce Banner and his Hulk persona are subdued and blasted off into outer space by a group of heroes calling themselves the Illuminati (Captain American, Namor, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, and Dr Strange, I believe) after deciding that the Hulk is much too dangerous to be here on Earth. You can read about it here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Hulk

Hurry up and get your KISS M&M's at your local Wal-Mart !!

Michael Vick will be giving the public an inside look at his life during an eight-part television series scheduled to debut on BET next year.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Happy Thursday- ROCKTOBER (sigh) 8th, 2009!!

Happy Thursday! It's actually my FRIDAY for the work week as it's my weekend off. I'm taking Columbus Day off (Monday) as well. Only because a co worker needs next Thursday off and she is working for me Monday.

I'm going to a retina specialist Friday afternoon to discuss a hemorrhage in the back of my left eye. I'm not exactly sure how I got it or if the damage is permanent; but it HAS made reading stuff and working a heck of a lot more of a challenge. I'm also going to my diabetes doctor later that afternoon.

I am REALLY loving my new Blackberry phone. I can now manage my bank accounts and my fantasy football/baseball teams. I am a 7 year old with a new toy. Since my phone is 'wi-fi' enabled, whenever I'm at home or at ANY place with wireless internet, I can log into it and make all the calls I want for free- NOT counting against my monthly minutes restriction. So the extra $24/month the 'Blackberry Plan' will cost me is now enabling me to shave $30 off my bill; by reducing my monthly minute allotment. PLUS it really picks up much better than my 'welfare' 2005 low-end motorola.

It's kinda slow today on the internet....

NASA will start broadcasting the ‘crash into the moon’ event live on NASA TV at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT) Friday morning. The first impact is set for 7:31 a.m. EDT (1131 GMT

Levi Johnston is going for the ultimate exposure — the 19-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandchild will pose nude for Playgirl.

President Barack Obama said Wednesday he planned to nominate an openly gay lawyer as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. The recently nearly destroyed by a typhoon Samoa..

Writer/director Gary Ross, currently rewriting "Spider-Man 4," is in discussions with Columbia Pictures to write and direct a feature film version of "Venom," spinning off from the previous "Spider-Man" film.

Michael Jordan is causing controversy playing in a charity golf tournament in San Fransisco. He's smoking cigars on the course!!!

As the first wave of swine flu vaccine crosses the country, more than a third of parents don't want their kids vaccinated, according to an Associated Press poll.

Want more poll news? Here ya go..According to a Marist College poll, The popular slacker term "whatever" easily beat out "you know as the "most annoying in conversation" by 47 percent of Americans surveyed

Another survey found 64 percent of voters disapproving of the way Republicans in Congress are doing their jobs, with 25 percent approving. The performance of Democratic lawmakers was disapproved of by 56 percent, with 33 expressing approval. For the party in general, 46 percent expressed disapproval, 38 percent approval. Voters disapproved of the way Obama was handling health care, 51 percent to 41 percent.

Rush Limbaugh and a financial partner are trying to buy the St Louis Rams for about $89 million.

Football coach Urban Meyer, of the University of Florida Mastergators, is being coy about QB Tim Tebow's start this weekend. He's coming off a concussion injury 2 weeks ago. He calls Tebow's return a 'game time decision'. Yawn....

Brian Setzer has a new CD - "Songs From Lonely Avenue".

Can't wait to check out the new KISS CD tonight- WHOO-HOO!!

HOWDY! Wednesday, October 7th

It's 7am here at work, just under 12 hours to go. It's very rainy here but is supposed to clear up later this morning or early this afternoon. Went to the eye doctor yesterday. I had never had a battery of test like that before. Amazing. I was able to drive home, but I nearly got sick on the way and was experiencing a terrible head ache. After a few hours, I was able to see again. I have a hemorrhage at the rear of my left eyeball. Thank you type 2 diabetes!! I think I'll have another doughnut in defiance!!
Let's see what's going on early this morning...


*a new Dutch study says Your pants size might help gauge your risk of developing certain cancers, regardless of how much you actually weigh

* The Spitzer Space Telescope in California has discovered the biggest but never-before-seen ring around the planet Saturn

* Bank of America Corp. on Tuesday pledged not to hike credit card interest rates or fees before a new law intended to reform industry practices takes effect in February

* Canadian zoo officials say a man suffered injuries to his arms after he and a friend hopped the fence at a Canadian zoo early on Monday and stuck his hands into the tiger exhibit,

* A new survey in Paris indicates that nearly half of French youths are using their mobile phones in class, with a majority saying they had answered calls during lessons.

* MORE rumors about a live action Wonder Woman are making the rounds. I really don't believe this, but according to a 'Comic Book News' report, Beyonce is in talks to star in the film, with a script from Stuart Beattie and David Elliot, the writers of "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" and "Max Payne's" John Moore set to direct. "She said she has to meet up with the writers and directors in a couple months and things will start to pick up by mid-2010 for a late 2011 release," according to the article. None of these people are listed as being involved in the film and a quick search reveals no other references to them being attached

* Another rumor going around is that "THEY" are making a movie based on the 'Monopoly' board game.

* Fresh off of confirming the rumor as he hosted SNL this past weekend, Ryan Reynolds appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last week. The host asked him about the film. Reynolds mentioned he is "four or five months" from shooting

* The reboot of the 'Predator' movie franchise will apparently be called "Predators" and will deal with the home world of the Predators. The film is supposedly is about a prison ship in space which crash lands and pits six ruthless people against a planet of Predators.

* New KISS album is out. The geezers of rock newest effort is called 'Sonic Boom' and is what you'd expect. No classics on this one, but it is good. GET IT!

Happy Friday ROCKtober 2nd

How about that David Letterman? Apparently, a 48 Hours (another CBS show) producer threatened to expose Letterman's sexual affairs with some female members of his staff unless he coughed up $2 million dollars. I heard him relate the whole ordeal late last night on his show. It was unclear as to whether or not these encounters occur ed before he got married last year or not. I'm sure there'll be more later today. Until the BIG announcement that the 2016 Olympics are coming to Chicago anyway (just a possibility as of writing this 0630 hrs Friday morning.... It is widely known that Letterman dated and even LIVED with a couple of co workers on his show when at NBC and early during the CBS "Late Show" years. So unless these liaisons are recent, the story is all about the stupid extortion attempt. Though it DOES pose an interesting dilemma concerning workplace romances and romances between people who are in authority... The thing I'm looking forward to are the upcoming Letterman/Sanford jokes.