Aid In Dying Passed In Vermont

Vermont is the fourth state to pass death with dignity: otherwise known as “aid in dying measures.” These laws allow mentally competent, terminally-ill adult state residents to voluntarily request and receive a prescription medication to hasten their death.

Oregon, Washington, and Montana are the other three states who have enacted this process, however Vermont is the first state to have passed the measure via legislature. Oregon and Washington both passed aid in dying with a public referendum. Montana did so via a court ruling. In Vermont, the aid in dying measure has passed both the Senate and the House. Governor Peter Shumlin stated he will sign this, making it a law. This is the first time that a request like this has passed in legislature in any state.

This isn’t a new topic to be introduced in Vermont. The state has been trying to have physician-assisted suicide since the 1990s.  The most recent attempt was defeated in 2007.  While a majority of Vermont voters seemed to have been in favor of this measure, Vermont doesn’t allow voters to introduce ballot initiatives. Because of this, the only way to pass a law providing for aid in dying was through the legislature.

There has been some concern in the past with having the government be involved in the practice of medicine and possible coercion on this deeply personal issue. Because of this concern, the aid in dying law will be rolled out in a slightly different manner than in other states.  There will be a 15 day waiting period between the patient’s first request and second request.  There is also a requirement of a second physician evaluation.  It is hoped that with these safeguards in place, there will be no abuse of this new law. These safeguards will mostly disappear in three years when the decision is primarily one between the doctor and patient.  Proponents are hoping that in three years, this new bill will be overturned.

What are your thoughts? Has your state passed an aid in dying bill? Do you have concerns about the government’s involvement into personal health care decisions?

The tornadoes were rated at EF5, with winds upwards of 200 MPH. Little remains in these communities and they look more like war zones than tornado damaged areas. The winds were so strong they ripped up grass and cellar doors off storm shelters. The photo above is a picture of the storm as it crossed our house.

With so much devastation, help is needed. Here are just a few ways you can help out during this especially difficult time for Oklahoma.

The American Red Cross

As always, the American Red Cross is on the front line in helping out these devastated communities. However, their resources are limited. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, donate online, or donate by phone at 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is in Oklahoma providing food, water, and essentials to families in need. You can help out their efforts by donating online or texting STORM to 80888 to contribute $10 to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts. You can also make a donation by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. If you’re sending a check make sure you put the words “Oklahoma Tornado Relief” on the check, and mail it to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK. 73157.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief is there to help with cleanup. This is something that sometimes gets overlooked. There are roadways completely blocked, and emergency personnel have difficult times getting to those in need. This is where Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief come in to help. Those interested in helping can make a tax-deductible donation to the BGCO’s Disaster Relief ministry online or call (405) 942-3800. You may also send checks to: BGCO Attn: Disaster Relief 3800 N. May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73112.

Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op

Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op that services the Moore and Shawnee area. They are sending relief in the form of “no cooking required” foods and clean water. Bountiful Baskets is accepting donations via Paypal. However, you do not have to have a Paypal account to donate. Simply go to Paypal.com, click on “Transfer” and then “Send Someone Money”. The email address to use for donations is: DisasterRelief@BountifulBaskets.org. 100% of monies donated will be used for the procurement of food and water.

These are just a few of the ways you can help out these families in their time of crisis. Please considering helping out my fellow Oklahomans and donating to one of these fantastic organization and their relief efforts.

Justin Bieber Had an Affair with Rihanna?

Justin Bieber’s relationship with Selena Gomez has been rocky (at best) for the past couple months but most of us have been left wondering what went wrong.  Is it possible that one of the reasons for their troubles has been revealed?  Reports are saying that 18-year-old Bieber cheated on Gomez, 20, with 24-year-old Rihanna.  The gossip mill is claiming that this happened about a year ago.  Was there some truth to the rumors about them flirting back in 2011?  It’s certainly sounding plausible.

Kim Kardashian Wants a Divorce … For the Health of Her Baby

Most of us know exactly how it feels to break up with someone, only to have them drag out the process as long as possible.  It feels like it’s been forever since Kim Kardashian dumped her husband, Kris Humphries, after just 72 days of marriage – but the divorce proceedings are still dragging on after more than a year.  Humphries has been making a number of wild claims including the accusation that Kim and her current beau, Kanye West, planned her “unplanned pregnancy” in order to speed up the trial.  It’s unclear what Humphries is truly trying to gain but his lawyers have alluded to the possibility that their client was duped into a phony wedding orchestrated by the Kardashian clan to generate publicity.  Kim has asked the court to expedite the case since the added stress could be harmful to her unborn baby.

Baby Bumps are in Fashion This Season!

The hottest accessory in Hollywood right now is a baby bump!  Kanye West stunned his audience, and the world, when he announced that Kim Kardashian was pregnant with his child.  Jessica Simpson, the spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, had just gotten back in shape after having daughter, Maxwell Drew, last year when it was discovered that she and fiancé, Eric Johnson, are expecting another bundle of joy.  Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem have also recently revealed that they have a second child on the way.

Other notable future moms include Sara Rue, Amber Rose, Holly Madison, Kerri Walsh, Malin Akerman, Lisa Ling, Beverly Mitchell, Kristen Bell, Hillary Scott, Busy Phillips, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Evan Rachel Wood and, of course, Kate Middleton.

Never a dull moment in Hollywood!

These drug manufacturers must prove that their solutions are both safe and effective before they can hit the marketplace and reap big profits. To do this they must have human drug trials. But, in the United States, it is very difficult to find parents willing to subject their children to these trials. Because of this, many companies have moved an incredibly high percentage of their drug testing trials overseas. They aren’t just moving them overseas though. They are moving them to impoverished countries where informed consent is subjective and regulations are loose.

Back in 2011, Vanity Fair did a fantastic story on the issue of drug testing impoverished countries and the outcomes of these trials. As outlined in the article:

As recently as 1990, according to the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, a mere 271 trials were being conducted in foreign countries of drugs intended for American use. By 2008, the number had risen to 6,485—an increase of more than 2,000 percent. A database being compiled by the National Institutes of Health has identified 58,788 such trials in 173 countries outside the United States since 2000.

These statistics were from 2008. The story gets much more grim as the years continue. We now have many drug companies solely testing overseas with no American trials being performed. Here are some of the major issues with this procedure of overseas testing:

Human Rights Ignored

When testing is done overseas, companies are released from the ethical and legal constraints of the United States. Though these products are going to be brought to the United States, they are not required to follow all the regulations. One example of how this practice can cause major ethical concerns is by forms of consent. In the summer of 2011, for instance, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer began making payments to families of Nigerian children who died of meningitis following a controversial drug trial marred by allegations of lack of consent, inadequate documentation and medical malpractice. Consent is easier to obtain in impoverished countries.

British drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has recently been fined $230,000 by a court after 14 babies died during a vaccine drug trial. The company has been criticised for its handling of the tests and choice to locate the trial in a largely impoverished community, with many parents alleging that they were not informed of their children’s participation in a drug trial until after the vaccine had been administered.

These are just a few of the many examples of what can happen when loosely regulated drug trials on children take place in foreign countries. Ultimately, regulations in many foreign countries are less stringent, if there are any regulations at all. The risk of litigation is negligible, in some places nonexistent. This means drug companies have free rein and can test as they please. As an added bonus they don’t have to release test results performed abroad if they choose not to. This will be covered in a moment.

Are Findings Abroad Relevant to the United States?

Some health professionals also question if tests performed outside the United States are even relevant to treatment here. People in the areas of testing sometimes have little to no health history or past. It is easy for companies to find patients who have never had a drug in their lives. Therefore, reactions to the drug are less likely. Diets are different, medical interventions are different, and overall healthcare is different. This could cause patients to metabolize drugs differently and react differently to the drugs as a whole. This could deem those trials irrelevant to the American population.

Picking and Choosing

When drug trials are performed overseas the company has no obligation to release that data when applying for the drug to be released. They can pick and choose which trials to include in their application for the drug to come to market. Celebrex is a prime example of a drug tested overseas where clinical trials were narrowed down to only include the trials with best outcomes. In reading the Vanity Fair article you learn that:

The National Institutes of Health maintains a record of most—but by no means all—drug trials inside and outside the United States. The database counts 290 studies involving Celebrex. Companies are not required to report—and do not report—all studies conducted overseas. According to the database, of the 290 trials for Celebrex, 183 took place in the United States, meaning, one would assume, that 107 took place in other countries. But an informal, country-by-country accounting by VANITY FAIRturned up no fewer than 207 Celebrex trials in at least 36 other countries.

So why were all trials not included in the count to the National Institutes of Health? Could it be that studies showed patients taking the drug were more likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes than those who took older and cheaper painkillers? After consumption of this drug in the US, it turns out that this was in fact the case and sales of Celebrex dropped significantly.

Drug testing is a must to ensure safety of products before they reach market, but are we allowing the unethical treatment of children abroad to potentially benefit our own? What are your thoughts? Should there be heavier regulation in the pharmaceutical industry in testing and procedures for drugs to make it to the marketplace?

Here is a rundown of the changes that you will see in 2013 payroll and income taxes. Please note that income in headlines are quoted for individual earners, you will find married, and head of household, amounts in the summary.

For All Income Earners

Regardless of how much you earn, whether it be $6000 per year or $600,000 per year, income earners across the board will see a paycheck that is 2% less than the previous year as the payroll tax holiday was allowed to expire. This means the full 6.2% of Social Security will now be withheld from your pay as opposed to the previous 4.2%. The tax holiday lasted two years. The new increased percentage will help continue funding to the Social Security system. The wage ceiling on which Social Security is taxed has also been increased to $113,700. Medicare tax is unlimited, but if you earn more than $200,000 an additional 0.9% will also be withhold.

Income Earners over $200,000

This tax increase was one that was put into place when the healthcare bill was passed. This tax will be labeled a Medicare surtax and is a 3.8 percent additional tax on net investment income. This tax applies to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income that exceeds a threshold ($250,000 for married filers and $200,000 for singles).

Income Earners over $250,000

Dependent and Personal Exemptions Decreased

Beginning in 2013, taxpayers with incomes in excess of the below gross income levels will lose some or all of their exemption deductions.:

• Singles at $250,000
• Married jointly at $300,000
• Head of household at $275,000
• Married filing separately at $150,000

Removal of Some Itemized Deductions

The same income guidelines as decreased deductions apply to itemized deductions. Earners can lose up to 80% of there deductions for previously exempt-able items such as mortgage interest, charitable contributions, property taxes, and state income taxes paid.

For Income Earners over $400,000

Tax Rates on Standard Taxable Income

For a large percentage of taxpayers, tax rates will remain the same as 2012. For single filers with taxable income above $400,000, married filers with income over $450,000, married filing separately over $225,000 and heads of household with taxable income over $425,000, the new 39.6% rate will replace the 35% tax rate for income over these amounts. All other tax rates on income will remain the same. Here is the tax table for 2013.

Capital Gains and Dividend Income

If you happen to fall into the highest income bracket on the tax table ($400,000+ income), your capital gains and dividend income tax rate increases from 15 percent to 20 percent.

How do you feel about the new tax laws and schedule?

The document claimed that the salmon “will not have any significant impacts on the quality of the human environment of the United States.” It also claimed that the GE salmon, the first ever intended for human consumption in the United States, is unlikely to harm populations of wild salmon. This is the first of its kind: the first “transgenic” animal allowed into our food supply. It may sound harmless enough and could even appear as a huge asset to food crisis. The GE salmon is touted for being able to help grow our food supply as the salmon is genetically altered to grow at twice the rate of its unaltered counterparts. However, what does this mean for the average consumer?

Just like genetically modified produce, there is no legislation in place to enforce labeling of this new GE salmon. This means unless the package specifically states that the salmon contained within is GE-free, you will have no way of knowing what you are eating.

The safety of the new genetically altered fish is being questioned by a number of health organizations, non-profits, and legislators, but it doesn’t appear to be slowing the progress the GE salmon is making towards your dinner table. The concerns about the GE salmon range from overcrowded farming practices with the inclusion of more antibiotics and alterations, to the GE salmon making its way into the natural salmon population and overpowering the native fish. The fish grow at twice the rate of a traditional salmon and could cause issues if introduced into the wild.

Health concerns are another area that nonprofits and legislators are hitting on. The sad truth is that the only studies being done on the safety of consumption of these genetically altered fish are being done by the company who is set to make large sums of money off of their sale. The FDA has left it up to AquaAdvantage to prove the safety of the fish which makes it easy to see why there is concern and outrage among health advocates and consumer labeling groups.

GE salmon has yet to get final approval so it is not too late to voice your opinion. Be sure to contact your local legislature with your concerns or suggestions. The food labeling revolution is well underway and GE salmon is on the agenda.

What is your take? Do you see any issue with genetically altered fish hitting your supermarket shelves? Would you want to know your salmon was GE before consuming it?

You purchase the doll, name it, register it, and then the elf “receives its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.” The elf takes in the activities throughout the day, and then each night after the family goes to bed, the elf uses magical powers to fly back to the North Pole and relay what has happened. Before the family awakes, their special elf returns home. ”However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot!”

Cute tradition, right? Some parents use this as a behavior modification tool during the Christmas season, but some are taking it to some huge extremes. What started out as, in my opinion, as a cute idea to help bring a little holiday tradition to the family, has taken on a life of its own in many households.

There are websites, blog posts, Facebook pages, and Pinterest boards all dedicated to the happening and shenanigans of these Elves on the Shelves. It has become a staple on my Facebook newsfeed to see at least 15 different Elf on the Shelf photos each day when I login. I think most of the pictures are cute, but honestly what are these elves (moms) doing?

The elves have seemed to take on a naughty streak. There are elves who are hanging from light fixtures, making messes in the kitchen for mom to clean up the next morning, spilling dog food, and getting into all sorts of trouble. I thought the idea behind the Elf on the Shelf was to encourage good behavior? So why are these elves getting into so much trouble?

We currently do not have an Elf on the Shelf, but the idea is a cute one to me. However, I don’t think I would partake in the elfish bad behavior if we got one. I think I would stick to the original idea and keep it cute and funny. The main reason I have not purchased an elf is because I think it would scare my children to death. Just a tad bit creepy if you really think about it. A small misbehaving elf running around at night through the house is something of nightmares for some little kids.

What do you think? Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? If so, does your elf do bad things, or does he stick to his original purpose of keeping the kids in line?

Image Source: Michael Kappel on Flickr

In a recent Gallup poll, they found that the average American will spend $770 on Christmas presents this year. 

For many families, $770 is a very large sum of money. However, for some $770 is just a drop in the bucket of their holiday spending sprees. In fact, 30% of respondents said that they have or will spend over $1000 on Christmas shopping this year. Regardless of income, it seems that giving gifts is something that most families plan on doing. Only 6% of respondents said they will not be purchasing holiday gifts this year.

Though the thought of spending $770 on Christmas presents may seem crazy to some, the holiday shopping season and forecasts are typically a really good indicator of the state of the economy. The more stable the economy and financial outlook, the more willing consumers are to spend more money for the holidays. The less secure consumers feel in the economy the less they spend.

So how does this year stack up compared to recent years? This year is actually on a decline. If you look at the graph from the study you can see that 2008 was a rough year for holiday shopping and consumer purchases dropped significantly from 2007. This was due to the financial crisis of 2008 with fear of uncertainty within the economy and declines in wages. However, rebound came and spending  rose sharply in 2009 and then slightly in 2010, but dropped off in 2011 and declined again approximately 1% this year. What does this say about the consumer?

Most economists agree this year will not hold any surprises for retailers. Sales will be on target for most markets and according to the Commerce Department, consumer spending in 2012 has been up each month over 2011 levels, but by modest amounts at best, and it looks like holiday shopping will maintain that pattern, providing a 3.5% to 3.7% increase in sales. This is very important since the nation’s retailers typically need a strong Christmas shopping season to help them meet their revenue goals, and, in terms of the planning that goes into inventory and hiring, it is always better to be prepared for a slow year than unpleasantly surprised by one.  With shopping relatively on target, most retailers are not going to be surprised by the holiday retail numbers.

Does this poll surprise you? Do you think a $770 average holiday budget is reasonable, over-the-top, or not enough?

The Dark Knight Rises (December 4)

The latest installment in the Batman series picks up eight years after the last one left off when, in an instant, the Caped Crusader went from hero to fugitive after he assumed the blame for D.A. Harvey Dent’s death in order to protect Commissioner Gordon.  Their plan initially worked and crime was greatly reduced in Gotham by the Dent Act but the emergence of Catwoman and Bane, a masked terrorist, leaves Bruce Wayne no choice but to don his cape and cowl one more time.

Hope Springs (December 4)

After decades of marriage, Kay is longing to reconnect with her husband, Arnold, and hopefully introduce a little spice into their lives.  When news spreads of a fabulous couples’ therapist in a small town, she manages to convince her very traditional husband to board a plane for a week of intense marriage therapy.  She soon realizes, however, that getting him there was probably a lot easier than reigniting that original spark.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (December 4)

In this Disney tale for the whole family, Cindy and Jim Green can only dream of the child they so desperately want when young Timothy shows up on their doorstep one stormy night.  The happy couple welcome the boy into their home and they, along with the people in their small town of Stanleyville, quickly realize that some of life’s greatest gifts can come from unexpected places.

The Bourne Legacy (December 11)

In order to protect their top secret programs, the government intelligence community must go to great lengths to eliminate any traces of evidence which could include killing their own agents.  Clearly, they underestimated the survival skills of Aaron Cross, a man who embarks on a journey to complete Jason Bourne’s mission.

Ice Age: Continental Drift (December 11)

Manny, Sid and Diego are back in this hilarious animated film that takes the Ice Age gang on an adventure set almost two million years in the past.  The trio find themselves happily floating on an iceberg until they encounter pirates who have plans to capsize their vessel.  The group of friends must find a way to outsmart the bad guys and make it safely home.

Ted (December 11)

In this unique film, John Bennett is a man who grew up with his teddy bear at his side.  While many people can say the same thing, what sets this plot apart is that Ted can actually talk, walk and interact with other people.  Things get a little tense, however, when John realizes that he needs to part ways with his life-long friend if he plans to have a real life as an adult.  With Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane, at the helm, expect the humor to push boundaries and definitely be for mature audiences.

Total Recall (December 18)

In this reboot of the original film, Douglas Quaid is a man who seems to have it all but he still is lured by the promise of Rekall, a company that specializes in making dreams real memories.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t all go as planned and suddenly, Quaid is running from the police and teams up with a beautiful female rebel fighter in his quest to distinguish fantasy from reality.  In the process, he learns a lot more about himself than he ever could have anticipated.

Trouble With the Curve (December 18)

Aging baseball scout, Gus Lobel, has an incredible eye for talent but begins to have his judgement questioned by the front office of the Atlanta Braves.  Meanwhile, his daughter, Mickey, is on the fast track to success in her job at a high-powered law firm but soon finds herself putting her career at risk to join her father on a scouting trip to North Carolina where he hopes to redeem himself.

Resident Evil: Retribution (December 21)

Alice is back and (of course) she’s on a mission to save the world from the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus which is being used to transform humans into zombies.  With the future of the human race at stake, she fearlessly travels through continents and cities inside of Umbrella’s prime research facility.  Unfortunately, she soon realizes that everything she thought she knew could be a lie.

Along those lines, we decided to look at some of the sequels scheduled in the next year – and discuss how they might affect the franchise.  Weigh in!

Star Wars

The biggest franchise news around right now is that George Lucas sold Lucasfilm and LucasArts to Disney which, essentially, means that Disney has control over the Star Wars series.  As if that’s not enough, it’s been announced that they plan to release Episodes VII, VIII and IX.  The reaction has been very mixed among fans.  Some are excited, having been critical of Lucas. They are happy that the story arc will be completed by adding those three final films and are looking forward to the merchandising (or rides) Disney will create to promote the films.  On the other hand, fans are worried that the integrity of the storyline and production will be compromised without the creator at the helm.  For his part, Lucas said that he was tired of being yelled at and criticized by purists and is happy to pass on the torch.

Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was epic and ground-breaking and introduced catch phrases including Gollum’s famous line, “my precious,” into popular culture.  Visually stunning, the storyline resonated with long-time fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic books and anyone who enjoys a tale of friendship, determination and redemption.  Moviegoers will be once again transported to Middle Earth for the prequel trilogy which will include The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: There and Back Again which will all be released in theaters in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.  Originally, there was only supposed to be two movies but director, Peter Jackson, decided to add a third film based off of the material found in the Lord of the Rings appendices.  Many fans have expressed their dismay over the fact that the final installment will not act as a bridge between The Hobbit trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Instead, moviegoers will learn a lot about Bilbo Baggins.

Transformers

The first major shakeup with this franchise was the departure of Megan Fox’s character, Mikaela, between the second and third movies (Rosie Huntington-Whitely replaced her in Transformers: Dark of the Moon).  Fans seemed more than willing to accept the exchange of one attractive leading lady for another but now an even bigger cast change is taking place.  Shia LeBeouf will not be returning to the series and Mark Wahlberg has signed on to replace him.  Mature women on message boards all over the internet rejoiced at the choice but will he be able to connect with younger viewers?  It’s possible.  Then again, the kids who grew up watching the original series are in their 30s and 40s so director, Michael Bay, could be trying to focus on that demographic.  There hasn’t been any explanation as to how LeBeouf will be written out of the storyline and how Wahlberg will be introduced.