How to Track Medical Bills Efficiently

Click. Hey, a Billing Error!
By KAJA WHITEHOUSE
February 12, 2006
Wall Street Journal

Tracking medical bills and payments is a complicated task that even the most organized people can find daunting. But new software tools can help.

Rick and Barrie Rappaport of Chicago struggled for years to gain control of the rush of medical bills associated with their daughter's rare genetic disorder. At one point, they tried logging all their information on an Excel spreadsheet. When that proved cumbersome, they organized file folders for each member of the family and the corresponding doctors.

No matter what they tried, "it was never easy," says Barrie Rappaport, a book-publishing analyst. "I always found it overwhelming."

To resolve this problem, people like the Rappaports are turning to software programs that allow them to easily view their medical bills in relation to their insurance coverage and the payments they have made. These tools can help people identify billing errors. They can also do much more, including flagging appointments and helping people determine whether they are eligible to deduct medical expenses on their tax returns.

A Growing Responsibility

Gaining control of medical spending is an increasingly important part of managing household finances. As medical costs rise, consumers are taking on a greater share of the expenses, with higher deductibles and co-pays. Meanwhile, missed payments can have a deleterious effect on consumers' credit ratings.

There are at least three software products that can help: Medical Expense Wizard ($59.95) was introduced in 2003 by medical administrator Pamela Selby-Moore, who is also a cancer survivor. Software giant Intuit launched Quicken Medical Expense Manager ($49.99) last winter, followed by SimoHealth, which launched a free product last summer.

When you receive a medical service, you typically receive a bill -- and may be asked to pay immediately. You also receive a corresponding "explanation of benefits," or EOB, from the insurance company. The EOB is not a bill. It simply tells you what insurance will cover.

Ideally, you shouldn't pay your medical bills until you have compared them with the corresponding EOBs to make sure everything lines up. Some people don't check their bills against the EOBs. Even worse, some patients mistakenly pay the EOB amount in addition to the amount billed.

Multiple Bills

Another complication: It can take months for all the related bills to arrive. A routine doctor's visit or minor medical procedure can result in a slew of bills from a multitude of service providers, including the doctor and laboratories.

The software programs allow people to enter the information from their EOBs and their medical bills in the same place. This way, people can keep track of the bills and EOBs that have yet to arrive. Once they have everything, consumers can more easily spot billing errors.

These programs also can help at tax time. Taxpayers can take a deduction when their total medical spending for the year exceeds 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. The programs tally up your spending and can identify which medical expenses qualify.

Medical Expense Wizard and Quicken Medical Expense Manager offer more bells and whistles than the free SimoHealth product. Both Quicken and Medical Expense Wizard provide pre-formatted dispute letters that allow people who spot billing errors to easily address the problem. People using those two programs can also set reminders when phone calls need to be made or bills need to be paid.

Meanwhile, the Quicken and SimoHealth programs have features to help people manage their flexible spending accounts.

For more information and to order or download the software, see www.medicalexpensewizard.com, www.quickenmedical.com and www.simohealth.com.

WSJ: McDonald's French Fries Contain Possible Allergens Wheat, Milk

McDonald's French Fries Contain Possible Allergens Wheat, Milk
By DAVID P. HAMILTON
February 13, 2006; Page B4

McDonald's Corp. said its french fries contain "wheat and milk ingredients" that might cause problems for diners sensitive to these substances.

McDonald's previously had described its fries as free of substances that can cause allergic or other medical reactions in sensitive people. The Oak Brook, Ill., fast-food giant said the change in its ingredient disclosures followed its decision to conform to new federal food-labeling rules, and doesn't reflect any change in the ingredients of its fries or the way they are prepared.

Some people with food-sensitivity conditions previously considered McDonald's fries safe based on information supplied by the company. For instance, some individuals with celiac disease -- an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley -- worried in an online forum that perhaps McDonald's fries have always contained gluten, despite the company's assertions to the contrary.

Cathy Kapica, McDonald's director of global nutrition, said the company's fries include a "natural flavoring" made, in part, from extracts of wheat and dairy products. Dr. Kapica said those extracts are processed in ways designed to remove wheat and dairy proteins, which are the substances generally responsible for triggering allergies or food-sensitivity problems.

Until last week, McDonald's described the flavoring as safe for people with food allergies and other dietary sensitivities. On its Web site, McDonald's listed the fries on a page of menu items "for people with gluten sensitivity." On an "allergies and sensitivities" page, the fries were described as free of gluten and milk or wheat "allergens."

More recently, however, McDonald's decided to bring its nutritional information into voluntary compliance with new Food and Drug Administration food-labeling rules that took effect Jan. 1. Those regulations, which apply to packaged foods but not to restaurant meals, require labels to note the presence of common allergens such as milk, eggs, wheat, fish or peanuts.

Under McDonald's interpretation of the FDA rules, Dr. Kapica said, the company decided to note the presence of the wheat and dairy ingredients used to flavor its fries. "If someone is really sensitive, they need to be aware that this product was at one point derived from wheat and dairy," Dr. Kapica said.

On the other hand, anyone who has eaten the fries without incident "can continue to do so," Dr. Kapica said.

Write to David P. Hamilton at david.hamilton@wsj.com

Autism Projects in Memory of Liz Birt

From NAA:

Autism Projects in Memory of Liz Birt

Liz dedicated a large part of her life to expanding services, treatments, and research for people with autism. The list below is comprised of projects in which Liz had a special interest and which reflect her priorities in the field of autism. All donations are being made to 501 c 3 non-profit organizations and are fully tax deductible. 100% of all donations will be applied to the described programs.

1. Truth & Love Fund, Thoughtful House
Liz was an advisor to Thoughtful House and helped establish their non-profit status. Her son Matthew was treated by several of the doctors there. Thoughtful House provides clinical care for people with autism and conducts research on the causes and treatments of autism, in order to facilitate recovery. More information about this unique center is available at www.thoughtfulhouse.org.

The Truth & Love Fund was established by Thoughtful House to provide free or low cost clinical services to families with financial need. This concept had been discussed by Liz with Thoughtful House directors, and now Thoughtful House would like to put Liz's wish into practice.

Donations should be designated for the "Truth & Love Fund" and can be sent to:

Thoughtful House Center for Children
Attention: Anissa Ryland, Director of Operations
3001 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX 78746
Telephone : 512-732-8400x 222
Fax: 512-732-8353
Email: anissa.r@thoughtfulhouse.org


2. Camp Scholarships, Extreme Sports Camp Liz was a co-founder and board member of Extreme Sports Camp, and she volunteered as a counselor. Based in Aspen, Colorado, the camp offers sports and recreation in the summer for older children and teenagers with autism. The camp program consists of hiking, water skiing, swimming, rock climbing, rafting, and other sports with one-on-one support. More information about the camp is available at www.extremesportscamp.org or by calling 970 920-3695.

Donations would support the camp's scholarship program, which ensures that
any child can attend camp regardless of need. Donations can be sent to:

Extreme Sports Camp, Inc.
P. O. Box 10729
Aspen, CO 81612

3. Helping Hand Program, National Autism Association
Liz was a board member of the National Autism Association. NAA provides advocacy and education for families with autism and supports biomedical research on autism. NAA has an emergency fund for families in dire financial crisis called the Helping Hand Program. Priority is given to single parents.

The fund provides grants of up to $1,500 per family for critical needs such as biomedical treatments, supplements, and therapy services for their autistic child, as well as basic living expenses. Liz was instrumental in establishing this fund as part of her work on the NAA board. More information about NAA is available at www.nationalautismassociation.org.

More information about the Helping Hand Program is available at www.nationalautismassociation.org/helpinghand.php.

Donations for this effort should be designated for the "Helping Hand Program" and can be sent to:

National Autism Association
1330 W. Schatz Lane
Nixa, MO 65714

4. Liz Birt "Go for the Gold" Mouse Model, SafeMinds
Liz was a co-founder and board member of SafeMinds, a parent advocacy organization dedicated to expanding research on the role of mercury from vaccines and other sources as a cause of autism. One of the researchers which SafeMinds is funding is Dr. Mady Hornig of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Hornig has created a mouse model for autism using exposure to the mercury preservative thimerosal found in infant vaccines. Expanding this research, she is developing a treatment protocol using gold salts which she will administer to these genetically susceptible mice to determine if the treatment might improve their behavior and brain function and if there are side effects. Gold tightly binds mercury and there are anecdotal reports of gold salts being effective in improving autism outcomes. Gold salts (chrysotherapy) were also used for many years for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. This project has been aptly named "Go for the Gold." Dr. Hornig was inspired to undertake this research when she learned of Liz's death. More information about SafeMinds and the research it funds is available at www.safeminds.org or by calling 404 932-1786.

Donations should be designated for the "Go for the Gold Project" and can be sent to -

SafeMinds
254 Trickum Creek Road
Tyrone, GA 30290

5. Investigation of GI Disorder in Autism, Steve Walker, PhD
Liz strongly believed that there was a link between onset of gastrointestinal problems and her son Matthew's regression into autism. Liz actively raised funds for research on this issue, and the involvement of GI disorder in autism is now acknowledged among clinicians. An important study on GI disorder and autism which Liz supported is being conducted by Steve Walker of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem. Dr. Walker is examining intestinal tissue samples of 300 children who presented with regressive autism and chronic GI symptoms, to correlate viral gene expression with clinical outcomes. This research has implications for medical treatment as well as identifying factors contributing to autism.

Donations for this research would allow Dr. Walker to complete his analysis of all 300 children for which he has medical histories and biopsies. Questions about this research can be directed to Laura Bono of the National Autism Association, which is collecting funds for this effort. The phone number is 877-622-2884.

Donations should be designated for "Steve Walker GI-Autism Research" and should be sent to -

National Autism Association
1330 W. Schatz Lane
Nixa, MO 65714

6. Pro-Bono Legal Services
Liz was an attorney and a strong believer in volunteerism. She was involved in a number of pro-bono legal activities that advanced the cause of autism. Among these were efforts to increase transparency and accountability at key federal agencies around vaccine safety. Her legal activities were most recently centered on A-CHAMP, a non-partisan organization formed by parents to advance public policy issues affecting children with neurodevelopmental and communication disorders. Liz was a co-founder and board member.

Information on A-CHAMP is available at www.a-champ.org.

A-CHAMP needs volunteers to help them with their efforts around political advocacy. Especially needed are those with a legal background, although dedicated people with any skill are welcome.
Those interested in helping protect the rights of individuals with autism can call Bobbie Manning, Director, A-CHAMP, at 716 713-6625 or by emailing her at bmanning83@adelphia.net.


Think Autism. Think Cure.

UK Doctors Angry at Vaccine Backlash

The gist of this article is that people who are wary of vaccines "overwhelming" the immune system are irresponsible in voicing their concerns because the immune system is not overwhelmed by diseases introduced by the triple and quardruple jabs.

This idea is both wrong, and a red herring. People who do not have normally function immune systems can be overwhelmed by multiple antigens. They can also have their immune systems over react to the antigens and develop autoimmune disorders like Gulliam-Barre and Autism.

There is no debate to the idea that vaccines can trigger autoimmune disorders. The safety sheets that comes in the box will list the autoimmune disorders that can be triggered by the vaccine. There is no debate as to whether or not autism is an autoimmune disorder. The only debate is whether or not autism is one of the autoimmune disorders that is triggered by vaccines.

Doctors angry at vaccine backlash
The campaign against a new jab is exposing children to killer illnesses, fear medical experts

Robin McKie and Jo Revill
Sunday February 12, 2006
The Observer

Britain's leading child health experts united this weekend to reassure parents that the use of multiple vaccines for children was safe, calling claims to the contrary 'irresponsible'.

Anti-immunisation campaigners say too many jabs can overload a child's immune system and lead to illness. But experts say the idea endangers children's lives. 'The idea of vaccine overload damaging our immune defences is rubbish,' said Professor David Goldblatt, director of clinical research and development at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London. 'It is a myth, and those who spread it are doing immense harm. The public is beginning to doubt the worth of vaccines and that has deeply worrying implications for their health.'

Last week the government announced it would add a new vaccine against the pneumococcus bacterium - a cause of ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis - to its immunisation programme for children, raising the number of jabs given to under-twos from seven to 10.

Groups like the anti-vaccine campaign Jabs, backed by several tabloid newspapers, argued that would put too much strain on children's immune systems. They said previous combinations of vaccines had triggered serious side-effects in children.

The claim was flatly rejected by scientists. The only previous connection drawn between multiple vaccines and illness was in 1996 when autism was blamed on immunisation for mumps, measles and rubella (MMR). The link was refuted by all subsequent studies.

'Twenty years ago, news of a new vaccine that could save children from dying from meningitis would have been hailed as a medical breakthrough,' said paediatrician Adam Finn, of Bristol Children's Hospital. 'Now it is howled down as a threat to their well-being. It is very depressing.'

People underestimated the complexity and power of the human immune system, the scientists said. Far from being overwhelmed by a handful of new substances in the bloodstream, the body was capable of coping with an estimated 10 billion chemical invaders, known as antigens.

'Even if the concept of immune overload was true, campaigners would still not have a leg to stand on,' said Dr David Elliman, of Great Ormond Street. 'Far from increasing numbers of antigens to stimulate immune defences, we have reduced them a hundredfold.'

Until a few years ago the whooping cough vaccine given as part of the 5-in-1 jab (see box) used whole bacteria. These contained about 3,000 antigens, each raising an immune response. Today the vaccine uses a fragment of the bacterium containing only five antigens and triggering five immune responses. 'The idea we are overloading the system is therefore utterly ridiculous,' said Elliman.

The protest is alarming, say scientists, because it has already led parents to reject vaccination for their children. 'That can only lead to deaths,' said Prof Goldblatt. 'Diseases like measles and mumps can, in small numbers of cases, cause serious disease and even kill.'

Doctors worry the campaigns will make ministers and civil servants hesitate over the introduction of more multiple vaccines for the young. These could protect against severe diarrhoea, chicken pox, and human papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer in later life.

'The sort of things being said about immunisation cannot help but make parents worry,' said Elliman. 'They shouldn't; vaccines are life-savers.'

Campaigners insisted vaccine overload was real. 'Vaccinations deliver the virus very quickly into the bloodstream in a totally different way from the way in which you breathe in germs,' said Jackie Fletcher, founder of Jabs. 'We want to know what trials have been done on babies to show that the new immunisation plans will be safe. We have been shown nothing at all by way of evidence.'

Vaccinations given to under-twos

Two months: Pneumococcal vaccine and the five-in-one vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib (a bacterium that leads to meningitis).

Three months: Five-in-one booster and meningitis C vaccine.

Four months: Boosters for five-in-one, meningitis C and pneumococcal.

One year: Combined Hib/meningitis C vaccine

Thirteen months: MMR (mumps, measles and rubella), pneumococcal booster.

Ban Mercury in Colorado

From The Autism Society of Boulder, Colorado:

ASBC Legislative Alert - In 1999 the American Academy of Pediatrics advised governmental agencies to work expeditiously to remove mercury from vaccines. Seven years on, the influenza vaccine contains mercury in amounts above federal safety guidelines, while influenza vaccine meeting governmental guidelines exist in surplus. In 2003 a three year investigation of mercury in vaccines concluded that it was hazardous and recommended research into mercury as a contributing factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism, ADD/ADHD, Speech Delay, Alzheimer’s and Gulf War Syndrome be conducted. Recommended research remains incomplete. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced three weeks
ago the continuing investigation into mercury in vaccines and autism.

Expectant mothers and young children deserve to be vaccinated with only the safest vaccines available. Senate Bill 06-099 puts safety above expense and eliminates mercury, a known and well documented neurotoxin, from vaccines given to our most vulnerable population. Give Colorado’s immunization program a shot in the arm. Contact the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in support of SB 06-99. (Sample Letter & Contact Info Below)

SB 06-99 goes to committee on Wednesday, February 15th, Room 352. Testimony is invited and children welcome. Those willing to testify should be brief (2 minutes), must arrive at the capital at 9 am and be prepared to stay until around lunch time. If you can’t come to the capital to show your support, please make your concerns known! Use the sample letter below to contact committee members.

Click Mercury FAQs/Facts to learn more about mercury in vaccines. Act now to remove this neurotoxin from our vaccines.

HBOT: Girl Surprises Mother By Taking First Unaided Steps

Girl Surprises Mother By Taking First Unaided Steps
Family Credits Hyperbaric Therapy Treatments
UPDATED: 11:46 am CST January 23, 2006

MADISON, Wis. -- An inspirational little girl with a rare neurological disorder took another amazing first on Friday. She surprised her mother by walking on her own for the first time.

Watch The Report

News 3 has been following 6-year-old Gracie Kenitz's progress as she continues to defy the odds.
She did so again when she walked to her mother on Friday at the Dane County Regional Airport. Her mother was returning from a business trip.

Gracie, who will turn 7 years old in March, first defied the odds by living past the age of 2 -- the life expectancy of someone with the rare neurological disorder. She's the only survivor of the five known cases in the world, News 3 reported. The disorder is mitochondrial cytochrome c reductase, which starves brain cells of oxygen. For the first three years of her life, Gracie lived in a vegetative state.

Gracie's mother, Shannon Kenitz, said that she was amazed when she began to crawl -- one of the first signs that Gracie was ready to fight. The young girl was never expected to feed herself, which she did. And then, there was the first time she walked with a walker. She survived for her kindergarten graduation as well.

On Friday, Kenitz was shocked when she saw her daughter greet her and she responded with hugs and kisses. While on the 12-day trip, she was unaware that her daughter had begun to walk unaided.

"It's the first time I've seen it in my life ever, with her just walking like a normal kid," said Shannon Kenitz. "I'm a little bit overwhelmed. I mean, this is something that we have hoped for Grace her whole life!"

Her family said that they believe daily hyperbaric chamber treatments have extended her life and improved its quality. Shannon Kenitz's trip was on behalf of the International Hyperbaric Association, and she spoke to parents about the benefits of hyperbaric treatments for children with so-called hopeless conditions, News 3 reported.

"The fight that we have for hyperbaric therapy is well worth it because it saved her life," said Shannon Kenitz. "And now she's walking."

For Gracie's grandfather, Dave Matthews, this is a surprise that he's glad to finally share with his daughter.

"Things are starting to turn into a windfall for us," Matthews said. "We don't take these firsts for granted."

Friday's surprise is yet another first for a little girl who continues to take life step by step, News 3 reported.

Black Box Warning for ADHD Drugs

Strongest warning suggested for ADHD drugs
2 million children are prescribed the drugs every month

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ritalin and other stimulant drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should carry the strongest warning that they may be linked to an increased risk of death and injury, federal health advisers said Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted in favor of the "black box" warning after hearing about the deaths of 25 people, including 19 children, who had taken the drugs. The vote was 8-7, with one abstention.

One committee member, Dr. Curt Furberg, a professor of public health sciences at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, said it would be "inappropriate, unethical behavior" not to disclose that there was uncertainty about the safety of the drugs.

The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisory committees but typically does.

"The committee plainly wanted to tell us certain things ought to be in labeling in a more forceful way," Dr. Robert Temple, director of the FDA's Office of Medical Policy, told reporters after the meeting.

Doctors prescribe the drugs to about 2 million children and 1 million adults a month.

Drugs that would have to carry the warning labels are methylphenidates, which are sold as Ritalin, Concerta, Methylin and Metadate. The labels for Adderall and Adderall XR, both amphetamines, have included the warnings since 2004.

The Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committee also recommended that the drugs include a medication guide for patients and parents. The vote was 15-0, with one abstention.

Adderall is made by Shire Pharmaceuticals; Ritalin by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.; Concerta by Johnson & Johnson; Methylin by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals; and Metadate by UCB. Various other companies make generic versions of Ritalin.

Novartis said Ritalin, approved by the FDA in 1955, is safe and effective. A company review of more than 50 years of records shows no apparent increase in cardiovascular problems associated with the drug's use, according to Novartis' medical safety director, Dr. Todd Gruber.

He told the committee that the drug's label advises caution in patients with certain pre-existing heart conditions.

The FDA had asked the advisers to consider ways of studying the drugs because agency data suggested the drugs were linked to an increased risk of sudden death and serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks.

The committee, however, quickly began debating whether it should consider new warnings for the drugs rather than the need for more studies.

Dr. Steve Nissen, medical director of the Cardiovascular Coordinating Center at The Cleveland Clinic, told fellow committee members they should recommend the black box warning.

Nissen said his suggestion was meant partly to slow what he characterized as the "out of control growth" use of the drugs.

The drugs already carry warnings related to the possible risk they could pose to patients with heart defects.

"We feel this warning is appropriate given our current knowledge of these drugs," said Dr. Gerald DalPan, a division director in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The FDA review that found 25 reports of deaths among the drugs' users between 1999 and 2003 also uncovered 54 cases of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia. Some of these ADHD drug-treated patients had pre-existing heart conditions or hypertension.

"There's smoke. Does that mean there's fire?" asked Dr. David Graham, a medical officer at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

"We wouldn't be going through this exercise if we didn't think there was a real possibility of increased risk," Graham told reporters.

The FDA's review found fewer than one reported death or life-threatening injury for every 1 million prescriptions filled for the drugs.

"The decision has been apparently made, and if it's been made, I agree with it, that the reports are not enough to warrant regulatory action," committee member Sean Hennessy said.

Hennessy, an assistant professor of epidemiology and pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, ended up voting against recommending additional warnings.

The FDA said the few studies that have looked at longer-term use of ADHD drugs provide little information on those risks.

Also, the agency's analysis of the reports of death and injury only suggests a possible link between the drugs and cardiovascular problems, said Dr. Kate Gelperin, a medical officer in the agency's Office of Drug Safety.

She said the link is not conclusive, nor is it clear whether there is an increased incidence of death or serious injury among people treated with the drugs.

That "is really a question we'd like to have answered," she said.

Sales of ADHD drugs rose to $3.1 billion in 2004 from $759 million in 2000, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting firm.

About 2.5 million children between age 4 and 17 take ADHD drugs, according to federal survey data cited by Dr. Andrew Mosholder, a medical officer in the Office of Drug Safety. The survey found 9.3 percent of 12-year-old boys and 3.7 percent of 11-year-old girls take the drugs, Mosholder said.

Adult use of the drugs alone grew 90 percent between March 2002 and June 2005, he said.

Autism: Really Good Fun!

"I wanted to write a film that showed that sometimes living with autism can be harrowing but that actually most of the time it's really good fun," Pell told reporters."

soooo.... Autism is, most of the time, really good fun?

Anyone know where I can get some of the fun kind of autism?

A new look at autism as Berlin film festival opens
Feb 9, 11:47 AM (ET)
By Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - The Berlin Film Festival opened on Thursday with a story of love and loss starring Sigourney Weaver as an autistic woman whose daughter dies in a car crash and Alan Rickman as the man who helps her cope.

With snow falling on the German capital, the bittersweet British-Canadian co-production "Snow Cake" kicked off the 56th annual "Berlinale," regarded as one of the top three festivals in the world alongside Cannes and Venice.

The film, which received scattered applause from Berlin's notoriously blunt audience of journalists and critics, jolts viewers out of their seats early on when a truck ploughs full-speed into Rickman's car, instantly killing a quirky hitchhiker girl he has just picked up.

Wracked with guilt about the accident and weighed down by his own troubled past, Rickman's character Alex forms a strange bond with the girl's mother, a high-functioning but emotionally erratic autistic named Linda.

Weaver, whose diverse film credits include the "Alien" films and "The Ice Storm," spent the better part of a year meeting people with autism to prepare for the role -- an experience she said gave her a new view on the disorder.

"I think we have to begin to see it as a gift," she told a news conference. "We may not understand what it's there for, but if you're in the presence of someone with autism you learn so much. You learn how to play, you learn how to see things, you learn how to experience things and how jarring the world is."

GRIM LINE-UP

"Snow Cake" headlines what critics have described as a strong but morbid line-up of films featuring murder, drug addiction, exorcism and rape.

Weaver and Rickman will accompany Berlinale head Dieter Kosslick down the red carpet on Thursday evening, and other stars due to appear at the February 9-19 festival include George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Natalie Portman.

A record number of 18,000 film buyers, sellers, producers, directors, actors and journalists will crowd the screening of 400 films, including "A Prairie Home Companion" from Robert Altman and "The Road to Guantanamo," an account of three British men held at the U.S. prison camp in Cuba.

"Snow Cake," which contains both poignant and off-key moments, was directed by Marc Evans and written by first time screen-writer Angela Pell. Pell was inspired by her own autistic son Johnny, who like Weaver's character in the film loves to eat snow and bounce up and down on a trampoline.

"I wanted to write a film that showed that sometimes living with autism can be harrowing but that actually most of the time it's really good fun," Pell told reporters.

Unlike "Rain Man," the 1988 film that starred Dustin Hoffman as the autistic brother of Tom Cruise, "Snow Cake" strives for a more subtle message about a disorder which is characterized by repetitive acts and a preoccupation with fantasy.

In a dig at those who would try to put autism in a box, one of the film's more disagreeable characters says at one point: "I know about autism, I saw the film."

EOH Finalist for Excellence In Journalism Award

From St. Martin's Press:

“Evidence of Harm” is a finalist for the 2006 The New York Public Library Helen
Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism

Other nominees are:

Jasper Becker, Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea
(Oxford University Press)

Kurt Eichenwald, Conspiracy of Fools: A True Story
(Broadway Books)

George Packer, The Assassin's Gate: America in Iraq
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

Anthony Shadid, Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War
(Henry Holt)

The list of finalists will also be posted shortly on the NY Public Library Award webpage at http://www.nypl.org/pr/awardspage.cfm

WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED IN MAY 2006

AutismFiles.com

So last year I put up a web site and never bothered to announce it. Sorry.

I have been stockpiling autism documents, articles, research papers, hearing transcripts, speeches, power point presentations, etc. etc. for the last two years and thought I should make them of use to people. So I put them up at AutismFiles.com.

Just to be clear, I am not necessarily endorsing all the information found there. I am just stockpiling interesting stuff that I have found.

I will just keep uploading new stuff there, so if you wanna dig through the archives, dig away.

Quote of the Week....

From The US Autism and Asperger Association:

The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease. — Sir William Osler

Autism One Radio is Expanding

From Autism One:

AUTISM ONE RADIO IS EXPANDING
www.autismone.org/radio

There
is so much information available that is helpful to getting our children better
and improving their lives - information that they need NOW. Autism One Radio is
pleased to welcome new hosts who will share information important to our
children's health and welfare.

In February, Nicola McFadzean, ND will
begin helping parents with preconception health tips to break the cycle of
autism. Dennis Debbaudt will inform us how to keep our children safe and educate
first responders and others in the Autism Risk and Safety Show. Beth Clay's
Capitol Weather Report focuses on national legislation and policies affecting
the autism and disability communities with complementary discussions regarding
innovative treatments on the horizon. The show will bring interviews with
recognized experts and legislators and provide insights on effective advocacy.
Dr. Timothy Ray debuts with his experienced perspectives on detoxification.
Chantal Sicile-Kira is adding a program to reach listeners in France and other
French-speaking countries. And Emily Iland and her expert guests, alternating
programs in English and Spanish, will help you know what to expect at different
ages and stages and share ideas to meet the challenges. Learn about strategies,
programs and options for older elementary-aged children, teens and adults.
Create an informed plan for the future and feel ready for what lies ahead.

In March, look for the debut of faith-centered programming on Autism One
Radio with Jack & Rebecca Sytsema; Sound Effects with Dorrine Davis; Rhonda
Brunett's Unlocking the Door to Autism; Jane Casey addressing autism with diet -
including practical tips such as how to handle birthday parties - and
detoxification methods, such as infra-red saunas and HBOT; and Larry Kaplan, PhD
who will interview guests from across America on a wide variety of topics
relevant to autism, including biomedical and educational interventions, research
studies, and current events. Other upcoming programs will focus on: explanations
of scientific concepts and terminology from Dr. Lauren Underwood; neurofeedback,
with Dr. Betty Jarusiewicz and Bob Patterson; siblings' perspectives, with
Ashley and Dillan Bono; and nutritional intervention, with consultant Karen
Hubert of Total Health Coach. Also planned are: a new news program, Autism
Global Week in Review, and a multi-part series on the history of autism.

Thank you for tuning in to Autism One Radio.

David Kirby Visits Canada

From David Kirby:

When Autism Today asked me if I would be interested in touring Canadian cities to speak about my book, “Evidence of Harm – Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic,” I jumped at the chance. This simmering controversy affects Canada every much as it does the United States, and I am honored to be able to discuss the debate with our northern neighbors.

It will be the first time I take the “Evidence of Harm” message outside the United States.

Why should Canadians be concerned about mercury and their children? There are many reasons. To begin with, many Canadian kids received significant amounts of thimerosal in their vaccines until at least 1994, and some children may have received mercury after that time. In fact, many children born in three Canadian provinces and three territories received mercury in their Hepatitis B vaccines until at least 2002, and perhaps beyond. These exposures were in addition to possible exposure through the influenza vaccine, which is often given to pregnant women and children in Canada.

Mercury Exposures Today

Canadian children who received the flu and hepatitis B vaccine series were exposed to as much as 63 micrograms of ethylmercury in the first seven months of life, nearly equal to the amount of exposure in the UK, until very recently. And prenatal exposure to thimerosal in Canada continues, in the form of the flu shot (25 mcgs). Also, some women may have received injections of thimerosal-containing immune globulin products while pregnant. Prenatal exposure to mercury is thought to be extremely hazardous for the developing fetus.

Meanwhile, a number of other thimerosal-containing vaccines for children are still used in Canada, including some single antigen acellular pertussis and conjugate H. influenzae vaccines, diphtheria-tetanus (DT), and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines, all of which contain 25 micrograms of ethylmercury.

All of this comes on top of environmental exposures in Canada, including fish consumption, dental amalgams and air pollution. Some Canadians are exposed to increased levels of mercury from coal-fired plants in Canada and the US. Meanwhile, mining activities are also a significant source of environmental mercury contamination.

Autism in Canada

It is much more difficult to assess mercury exposures and autism statistics in Canada than in the US. To begin with, there are no reliable nationwide autism prevalence statistics in Canada, and it is impossible to say what are the current trends in the number of cases in the country. The rate of Pervasive Development Disorders in Canada is said to be 1-166, roughly the same at the US. However, these numbers include children up to 19 years of age, and many of them would have received mercury in vaccines. The prevalence of full blown autism in Canada, as opposed to PDD, has not been reported publicly.

These are just some of the many topics I will address on my tour. I will also give an update on all new science that has been generated recently and recent action in the US Senate. In addition, information on controversial new treatments for autism – such as chelation and methyl B12 therapy – will be discussed.

Thanks are due to Autism Today for making these important engagements a reality.
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