Federal Court Rules: There Is No Link Between Autism and Vaccine

Friday, August 30th, 2010, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on upheld what the lower courts have ruled that there is no connection between vaccines and autism in children.

The ruling came in Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, In this case Michelle Cedillo recieved the the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in 1995 and began to show mental retardation and autism symptoms afterward. Cedillo was among the roughly 5,000 cases alleging a link to autism filed under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.

Joined by Judges Pauline Newman and Richard Linn, Judge Dyk concluded that the report of the lower level courts in the Cedillo case was "rationally supported by the evidence, well-articulated, and reasonable." They saw no need to overturn the results. In May, the Federal Circuit issued a similar ruling in another of the autism test cases, Hazlehurst v. HHS.

Theresa Cedillo, the mother of the plaintiff in the case decided Friday, sent this comment on the ruling: "We are obviously extremely disappointed. Michelle has a very strong case. The facts in her medical records speak for themselves. Our lawyers are currently reviewing the decision to see what legal options are available."

Opinion: I am saddened that there will be no one to blame for this child's illness. As a mother, I know that Theresa Cedillo must feel helpless that her child's health has deteriorated yet there is no explanation for it's orgin. What is a mother to do?

Obama Visits. Raises a Million, Creates Some Jobs and Causes Some Traffic. Cool.

President Barak Obama visits Los Angeles, raises $1 Million dollars , has some talks with small business owners, pitches ideas about eco-friendly job creating and all us Los Angelenos can think about is how much traffic he is causing.



Really?

Held at the Hancock Park home of producer John Wells, whose credits include "West Wing," "ER" and "Southland." About 200 people attended, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D- San Francisco), J.J. Abrams, Judd Apatow, Taye Diggs and his wife, Tony Award winner Idina Menzel.

The entry fee was $2,500, but co-hosts — including Abrams, Steven Spielberg,Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, and Barbra Streisand — paid $30,400 a couple. They didn't all attend, however.

Obama told the crowd that he and congressional Democrats, through the economic stimulus measure, had "made the biggest investments in clean energy in our history — building solar panels and wind turbines and advanced batteries."

Sounds good. But instead of the ecstatic elation we should all feel to have our president within our mist. Most of us are only annoyed that he is causing so much traffic around here. "I was an Obama supporter, but … was stopped by police from crossing Olympic to get home … during my daily dog walk," Amy Christine said on the website. "I've lost all belief in his judgment. Can he really think he's more important than the tens of thousands of people trying to get home to their families?" - Los Angeles Times.

Really? Are you really basing your opinion of your President's judgment in ruling the world on how much traffic he is causing and the police forces protecting him. Get a grip lady, and get a grip Los Angeles. We have just as much traffic in West L.A. for the USC v. UCLA games and when Jay-Z or Cher are at the Staples Center.

Obama leaves @ 12pm and heads to Seattle. Bye Bye Mr. President. Thanks for the visit!

Found on the Web: Mama of the Year Moment

One of the funniest articles I have read in a very long time came from the creative mind of my friend Sarah aka The Crazy Baby Momma. In the spirit of all L.A. Mommas trying to make it with a toddler I belly laughed at her attempt to do the simplist task. Sometimes as a mom we find us having to crack the code of the CIA just to have one moment of normal. In this adventure of Sarah's proves you see this phenomena take place. I just had to re-post an excerpt here for all of you. So here it is, "Mama of the Year Moment: Going out in LA... with Kids!

"In theory, it could have been a lovely evening for the four of us. But Mama of the Year over here forgot to pack snacks. And diapers. And Percoset. I had managed to pack my lipgloss and mirror because I clearly have my priorities straight.

Really, the 12 minute car ride of doom itself should have made us turn around: Benjamin spent most of it screaming like a pig getting, um, violated, but it was Saturday night in LA, and no matter what, I was determined that my friend and I would hit the town. Even if hitting the town meant leaving the kids in the car and cracking a window. Even if hitting the town included an infant and a toddler..."

Check it out here...

Woman Catches Husband Cheating On Facebook

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's one thing to suspect your spouse of cheating. It's another to see proof on Facebook.

A Cleveland woman is dealing with it first-hand in what's becoming an alarming trend.

"I'm in a living nightmare, and I just feel like this isn't real, and I have to remind myself that it is real. It is happening." For this anonymous woman, a click around Facebook is a reminder of a nightmare she never saw coming. "It's disturbing to see my husband and my children essentially in a double life with another woman."

Mrs. Anonymous's husband, who was married in Italy just five years ago, secretly met another woman in Florida. After receiving a tip from her relatives she found the "other woman's" Facebook page and began to watch as her husband's faux business in Florida unraveled before her eyes.

She quickly found that they were getting married at Disney World. That she was registered at target. They had been together since '07. She was living at his home in Florida. Within weeks, Megan saw heart-breaking images of a lavish, storybook wedding for Wife No. 2. She was dressed as Sleeping Beauty, and Megan's husband was kissing his new bride as Prince Charming. Megan watches as the other wife posts photo of activities with Megan's children.

"Someone who went to the wedding posted all the pictures from the wedding. About 200 pictures from the wedding," Megan said.

The photos tore at Megan's heart, but those same photos will be used as she seeks a divorce. It is evidence such as this that family law expert Andrew Zashinsaid often is used in court. Gee, thanks Facebook!

Around Town: Folk Music, Crawfish and Costumes

Hear some beautiful music, eat some beautiful food and see some beautiful clothes.

The New Los Angeles Folk Festival on Sat. August 7th. The Festival is ten hours long starting at 2pm. Featuring music from folk music artists such as Linda Perhacs, Mia Doi Todd, Les Shelleys, Ariana Delawari and LA Ladies Choir. + Beard contest, raffle, Metl tequila & mezcal specials, O.N.E. coconut water, food by The Little Frenchie truck, and many surprises to be announced. Proceeds go partially to the gulf oil crisis.

The Long Beach Crawfish Festival is this weekend Sat. and Sunday & Rainbow Lagoon from 12 noon till 11pm. Love Zydeco, Dixie and Jazz as much as I do? (I'm a Nawlins' girl at heart) There will be live entertainment and activities for all ages. Arts and crafts booths, Ribs, Chicken, Jamaican, Chinese, Thai and other international foods and desserts, and of course, CRAWFISH. Lots and lots of Crawfish.

The Art of Television Costume Design - A retrospective of over 100 of television's most memorable costume designs from the present and a salute to the work of 2010’s Emmy®-nominated Costume Designers and Costume Supervisors will be on display this summer in FIDM’s annual exhibition. The costumes reflect the creativity, imagination, and research of the Designers, who are able to skillfully echo the mood and aura of the more than two–dozen television programs featured.

This free exhibition will be open to the public Tuesday – Saturday during the exhibition dates from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Did I mention free?

Proposition 8 Found Unconstitutional, Now What?

Hooray! All will be free to marry who they wish and the 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place in 2008 will be valid. Not.

Unfortunately, our legal system is a bit more complicated than that. California's ban on gay marriage, will be nothing if not a long and winding road. Today, there is a signpost in that road.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker handed down his decision in the first federal court challenge to the constitutionality of the law. Despite the court's holding that the law does violate the constitution, not much will change today for same sex couples in the Golden State who wish to marry. Before the decision was announced, Prop 8 supporters had the petition ready to challenge the ruling.
Judge Walker's ruling was clearly based on basic logic. "California is able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples," Judge Walker wrote, "as it has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples and has not suffered any demonstrated harm as a result." Translation: It was already done and the world didn't crash into oblivion so why not?

But do not look for rice and white roses for same sex couples anytime in the very near future. A motion to stay (temporarily halt) the decision was already filed and an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is in the works.

So, if since it's found unconstitutional, can't we get married while this is ongoing? No.

Judge Walker has refused to allow same sex marriages to take place during the on-going legal process, citing the uncertainly that will result until the law is settled. Despite the decision from the court today, Californians will still have to wait to see what the long term effects of allowing gay marriage would truly have on the lives of not only those who then marry, but on all citizens.

F.U.I Drunk Flying: Delta Airline Pilot Boots Passenger

A Toluca Lake woman was recently kicked off a Delta Airlines flight after reporting that she thought she had smelled alcohol on the captain's breath. Cynthia Angel said the incident occurred on July 19 as she was trying to travel home to Southern California from Georgia.

Angel, 51, said the trouble occurred after she and three other passengers had a brief conversation with one of the pilots of Delta Airlines Flight 2355. She learned later that the pilot was actually the captain of the flight.

"The flight had been delayed almost an hour," said Angel. "We were in the jetway waiting to get on the flight when the pilot walked by us and I jokingly said, 'Boy you had been here a long time.'" After he walked away, said Angel, another passenger asked if they had smelled alcohol on the pilot's breath. Angel said she volunteered to talk with the head flight attendant once aboard the plane.

"I told her that I didn't know what protocol is, but I believe I smelled alcohol on one of the pilots' breath," said Angel. Angel said the flight attendant immediately talked to another pilot who was in the cockpit getting ready for departure. The pilot informed her that it was the captain of the flight who spoke with her. He assured her that the captain had not been drinking. "He said he had been with the captain for several hours before the flight," said Angel. "I was satisfied with the pilot's explanation, thanked him and returned to my seat."

But Angel said that 20 minutes later, a Delta Airlines manager came aboard the flight and asked her to follow him off the plane. "The manager wanted to hear what I had told the flight attendant," said Angel. "He then told me the captain took a test that proved he did not have anything to drink." Angel said the manager then thanked her and she returned to her seat on the plane. At this point, she thought it was over.

"About 20 minutes later, the Delta manager returned with a female colleague and they asked me to gather my belongings and follow them off the flight," said Angel. "I was so embarrassed."Angel said she followed them back into the airport. She was lead into a nearby office where she was told again that the pilot had tested negatively for alcohol.

"They told me they take these accusations very seriously and that the captain and his crew did not want me on his flight," said Angel. Angel said Delta gave her meal and hotel vouchers, and said she could come back in the morning to take another flight back to Los Angeles.

"All I did was voice my concerns," said Angel. "I wasn't a threat to anyone and for them to remove me was wrong." "I understand airlines have to have protocol," said Mark Silverman, Angel's Beverly Hills-based attorney who Angel contacted to look into the incident.

Silverman said his office has called and written Delta Airlines for a response and to ask the airline to open an investigation into the incident.

"She was just trying to be a good citizen. You'd think Delta would thank her for her concern," he said.

NBCLA also contacted Delta Airlines for comment. Susan Elliott from Delta's corporate communications office sent this response via e-mail: "Once we have reviewed Mrs. Angel's letter and investigated her claims, we will follow-up with her on our findings."

"Making drinking accusations against pilots is a serious matter," said Ross Aimer, CEO of Aviation Experts, LLC.

"If you think someone is drunk, you owe it to yourself, your loved ones and other passengers to report it," said Aimer, who is also a retired United Airlines captain. "However, in this case, because the captain had not been drinking, Delta made the right decision by asking her to leave the plane."

Aimer explains that in situations like this, flights usually end up delayed or canceled because the captain will take himself off the flight.

"It's an either you or me situation," said Aimer. "She had to go because the captain has his crew and hundreds of other passengers to think about."

Aimer adds that if he found himself in a similar situation, he'd do the same thing.

"The issue of pilots and drinking has become a very big deal, and accusations like that could end your career," Aimer said.