S: Is for Science gone wrong!

Last Year I wrote about a movie done by Gary Null called "Vaccination Nation" (www.vaccinenation.net) and I went into how bad vaccines were. Recently it has come out that autism may in fact be caused by the mercury in shots. Autism will be diagnosed in more than 25,000 U.S. children this year, more than new pediatric cases of AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined. It's a combination of being genetically vulnerable, and then having some kind of social or toxic exposure that tips you over. During the ages of 0 to 5 years, there is a tremendous amount of change that occurs in the brain and brain chemistry. Some believe that thimerosal, a preservative found in childhood vaccines that virtually every child gets, causes autism, because many children were diagnosed after they were vaccinated. But the medical community is standing firm that this isn't the case and it's no wonder ...imagine the lawsuits. In Boston autism is up 200 percent and it always happens after a series of shots.

If a child comes down with a disease after being vaccinated, is it just coincidence? It appeared there is an immuno-suppressive effect due to the vaccines. In the 1998 trial "four vaccinated children died" after receiving an a cellular pertussis vaccine in Sweden, when "one death was expected among vaccinated children". It is appalling that they expected one child to die from the vaccine, but they still declared that the vaccine was safe. In November 2003 The Department of Defense announced findings of two independent panels of medical experts who evaluated the possibility of a relationship between vaccination and the illnesses or deaths of four individuals. They knew that it caused death in adults so what is it doing to our children and what did it do to us.

We don't often think of vaccines as causing death when we submit to their use. We assume that vaccines are tested for safety and effectiveness, and they are ... but the testing is on animals. The question today becomes are we the human "guinea pigs"?
Although many cases of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) have been linked to vaccines, the SIDS relationship to vaccines is often hotly debated. Also children die at a rate eight times faster than normal after a DPT shot. There are many causes of death in infants today, yet vaccines remain the most widely "unpublicized" cause of death today in children. The rates of SIDS deaths in young children parallel the 2 - 4- and 6 - months intervals. Children have a lot against them since their mothers are not passing on immunity to them in the breast milk (because they were vaccinated and no longer make antibodies).
Watch this and make your own decisions but it is a F.A.C.T. we need to ask questions.

T: Is for Tribute!

Today I went to cover Norman Mailer's Memorial at Carnegie Hall partly because it is the kind of event that makes New York, New York and partly because I know two of the ex-wives and two of the children. There are times that you can know too much and it warps your opinion. Charlie Rose spoke eloquently as well as Pulitzer prize winning author William Kennedy. Vanity Fair's editor Tina Brown sang his praises so loudly that all I could think of was, is this one of his many conquests? After all Mailer was just as much known for his drinking, drug abuse, womanizing and chauvinism. As I sat in my seat I wondered was I the only enemy among friends and if not who else felt as I did. What about Adele whom he stabbed with a pen knife seven times, seriously wounding her. His excuse was he had drunk to much after announcing his plan to run for Mayor. At least that's what the papers said. The truth is she accuse him of being a homosexual. Maybe she hit a home run and he just couldn't take the blow to his manhood! What about Beverly the mother of his first two sons? She watched as the younger was ignored while the older was worshiped. Her career taken away and her self esteem berated because Norman couldn't stand anyone more famous or popular than he was. His sixteen year marriage to Beverly took its toll when Norman took a mistress and got her pregnant, married her and divorced her two days later. I met the talented singer Carol last night and of all his victims it seems she got away with the least amount of damage. Mailer stated he had never met a beautiful women who wasn't angry. I think he got it wrong, they weren't angry until they met him. It was said he suffered years with a crooked back. Could it be the atrocities he inflicted on those that knew him took their toll. Mailer's 9 children spoke. Mailer, the father, dared his offspring to risk death, conquer fear, startle their minds, question authority and "get to know each other under dire circumstances", recalled talented daughter Kate Mailer. Her heartfelt reenactment of an incident had the audience rolling with laughter. Stephen, channeled his father, and growled, "Carnegie Hall? Carnegie Hall? Well, why the hell not?" and brought the house down. Bravo, Stephen.


Other famous literary figures spoke and loudly in my brain repeated "If you are a genius does that give you the right to mess with other peoples lives?" Where does talent end and a person begin. "’Norman Mailer is Dead,’ stated Sean Penn. “Norman Mailer is a lament of what greatness once was and a bold reminder of what greatness should be aspired to be." On one hand, he won two Pulitzers, wrote thirty novels, some good, some bad, some horrid, helped found The Village Voice, protested the war, hated plastic and corporations. On the other he openly stated his hatred and violence towards women, was known to start fights with the slightest provocation and for someone with a prolific knowledge of words negated fidelity, sobriety, kindness to ones children and straight (and I don't mean sexually). But this is "Norman Mailer" I am talking about and even in death no one could speak the truth.

The three hour memorial ended with announcement of the creation of The Norman Mailer Writers Colony to be established in Provincetown. Well at least in death he can give back and that is at least a redeemable F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Climate Out of Control?

As most of the country is experiencing spring Michigan has had the coldest winter in decades. Water expands to freeze, and at Mackinaw City the water in Lake Huron below the surface ice was supercooled. It expanded to break through the surface ice and froze into this incredible wave. I've seen pictures of this wave phenomena in Antarctica , but in Michigan ? Yes, it's been quite a winter!

This was sent to me in an e-mail and my original column was going to be about this. A major newspaper wrote this story, however while doing research I found the origin and discovered these are not from Michigan but Antarctica. The pictures look really amazing. The ice formations are not waves but large areas of ice that have been formed into wave-like shapes by the elements, mostly melting. The additional “ice wave” look is due to icicles on the edges of the ice. The Urban Legends and Snoops Reference Pages explain the pictures and mentions that they were originally claiming to be arctic “ice waves” but due to Michigan’s cold winter, the text was updated to a Lake Huron phenomenon.

These sites are a wonderful place to research stories passed along via the internet. I’ve used it to look up the validity of stories forwarded to my email account. Some frauds such as, the Michigan “ice waves”, are harmless and obviously not real but some misinformation can be more troublesome. The site clarifies rumors about politicians, celebrities, news stories, children abductions and events. In a recent top 15 list of the “hottest urban legends”, they dispel a number of rumors and validate others. They address a list of Barack Obama rumors, gas pump beliefs, rumors about Social Security and many other timely stories in need of verification. The site lists research materials for anyone that wants to verify the information themselves.

To see these pictures and more log onto www.astro.caltech.edu/%7Etonyt/Domec/ Though it is an urban legend, nature is an awesome phenomenon and that is a F.A.C.T. you can count on.

A: Is for Atlantic Crossing!

The Bridge Art Fair made the leap this year over the Atlantic arriving at the heart of the Chelsea art scene. Expanding from its roots in Chicago to include Miami and London, this version represents 57 galleries. 23,000 beautifully displayed square feet transformed the ex-night spot the Tunnel once known for stabbings and drug busts in the '90s. Once inside we were given a glimpse into the pulse of the international world of art . Macedonian artist Igor Josifov showered in the buff as part of a performance piece called ``Purification Process. '' Transgender star Amanda Lepore belted out a few tunes while fountains spout absinthe. Ark Galerie from Jakarta, Indonesia, brought a brilliant installation by young Indonesian artist, Eko Nugroho . The Yogyakarta-based, politically savvy artist is known for his humorous visual commentaries on the socio-political tip and is at the forefront of a new generation of rebellious Indonesian artists who mark the departure from the gloomy, violent aesthetics that characterized the arts during the tumultuous 1980s and 90s in Indonesia. Blending classic Chinese painting techniques with a 21st-century pop aesthetic, the works of Taiwan’s leading artist, J. C Kuo (Asian Art Center; Taiwan) was also remarkable. Given the focus on Asia, two pieces of Warhol’s Mao series were also on display. The fair's founder, Michael Workman, has gotten dealers from 50 cities, including Jakarta, Rome and Seoul, to stock booths with works by young hopefuls, mostly priced from $5,000 to $20,000.
Like the organizers, the art at Bridge is polished, introspective, and carefully crafted. Terri Jones' installation Spin is carefully smudged texts that become soft, minimal works. Monika Lin's heavily epoxied paintings layer faceless children frolicking amongst decorative motifs. Lauren Fensterstock's monochrome gardens of carefully constructed from black paper epitomises the majority of the work at Bridge; carefully constructed, flawlessly executed, and understated. It is a F.A.C.T. that this is a fair to watch.

F: Is for a Fantastic Invite!

I have written about my friend, singer extraordinaire, Blythe Gruda before. Blythe is an amazing vocalist who will be performing in the Carnegie Hall production of 'ShowBoat' in May. Paul originated as a sommelier with Mario Batali at Babbo. When he and Blythe got together they started throwing personalized wine dinners in Blythe's studio apartment. One of the attendee's was Mario Batali who stated these first experiences were "one of his best food and wine experiences." Those first parties turned into A Casa, Paul's own business providing private wine tastings and dinners. Since it's humble beginnings A Casa has become the premiere wine event company of its kind, hosting celebrity parties in the Hollywood Hills and intimate evenings for the elite of Martha’s Vineyard. Paul’s wine tasting events have been featured in Time Out New York, Food & Wine Magazine, and Daily Candy, Men's Health Magazine, Boca Magazine, and Japan's Cuisine Kingdom.

Now married, Blythe and Paul are combining their talents and are introducing "A Casa Musica!" Teaming with Joe Baker, a conductor and pianist on Broadway for over 20 years, they seek to bring the ultimate magical evening. Starting at 7:00 on Tuesday April 8th in a loft just north of Madison Park, Paul will serve the typical A Casa dinner. Look for home made pasta doused with just the right amount of red wine, beef braised for 8 hours, panforte di Sienna, antipasti, and lots of other tasty treats. This is for the consement wine lover. Bring your thirst, as prosecco will be flowing as you arrive and will be followed by five different wines along with dinner. The focus will be on small, family run Italian producers making wines in traditional ways. A wonderful part of the A Casa experience is learning about these wines, and all levels of wine knowledge are encouraged to attend. Right now a limited amount of tickets are available (www.ACasaNYC.com/Musica.html). To learn more about the A Casa experience and this evening that is sure to be enchanted log onto www.acasanyc.com

Paul and Blythe make music together and this endeavor proves that F.A.C.T.