Help a Blogger out

I just found out Anissa Mayhew of Free Anissa had a stroke this afternoon...her server is overwhelmed but Heather Spohr also posted how you can help her and her family.

Republican Senator Vitter dodges rape victim

...and then tries to shove blame off onto Obama. What a loser.

I just really, really like our president.

And babies agree with me.

Republicans vote to protect rapists

This makes me so mad I can't see straight. As that good American, Ed Anger used to say "pig-biting mad."

Gah.

Let's explain it, once again, for the slow learners: RAPE IS NOT OK. EVER. END OF ARGUMENT.

MLB a minefield of homosexuality?

Well, explain THIS, then.

Cure Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Kevin at Always Home and Uncool has a daughter whose Juvenile Dermatomyositis was caught, thankfully, early.

Now he wants to make sure that other people's kids who have JM are diagnosed early.

What are the symptoms of JM?
The primary symptoms of JM are weak or painful muscles, skin rash (with JDM), fatigue and fever. Some children experience joint pain as well.

Weak muscles
The muscles that are affected the most are near the trunk of the body: the stomach, quadriceps, neck and biceps. However, other muscles can become weak as well. Sometimes there is inflammation in the esophagus which makes it difficult for the child to swallow. Other times, there is inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which causes bowel difficulties.

A child with JM has great difficulty climbing stairs and getting up from the floor or from a chair. Walking and running become very challenging and exhausting.

Skin rash
The skin rash in JDM usually occurs on the face, knuckles, elbows, knees and ankles. The rash may appear before, after or at the same time as the muscle weakness. Sometimes the rash is so faint that it is not noticeable.

The rash appears as a red purplish color on the eyelids and cheeks; whereas the rash looks like red dry skin patches over the knuckles, elbows and knees. The fingernails and the nailbeds may take on a pinkish color as well.

Sometimes, the children develop Gottron’s Papules, which are small whitish bumps that appear on the fingers. They look like small blisters.


Fatigue
With JM, the child becomes tired easily and can only walk short distances. The child needs to rest often and lacks the energy for normal activities. It becomes difficult for the child to keep up with friends.

Fever
Oftentimes, the child with JM runs low-grade fevers, especially at night. There has also been a connection discovered between a virus with high fevers just before the onset of JM.

Ralph Lauren - that's some sick stuff

People started making fun of this Ralph Lauren ad. Then the lawyers got involved. That poor model should sue Ralph for making her look like a bobblehead.