What I've been hearing regarding the increase in autism has been the link between immunizations in young children and autism. Not having researched it further, I can't say for sure, obviously, but if it takes a celebrity to bring it to the public's attention, so be it. If there's truth to it, then we all benefit. If not, no harm, no foul.

In another vein, any time we "mess w/nature", we're bound to get into a cloudy area. An example is the new drugs on the market for decreasing the number of menstrual periods a year. I understand that the monthly cycle can have its inconveniences but I'm one of those women who actually didn't mind her period and, now that I'm not having them any more, I would LOVE to experience it again, cramps and all. Sometimes I think I was born into the wrong era. Our sister ancestors used to go to their menstrual huts, take care of themselves, and impart wisdom to others, sometimes in the form of psychic predictions even. I used to take aspirin, drink tea, curl up w/a book and cat or dog, sit by the fire and take it in stride. And, yes, I was a working mother. I taught exercise and aerobic classes, among other things, sometimes as many as 6 classes a day. The world didn't stop because Mary was on her moon time. However, if I had had the luxury of not working during my cycle, I would have taken better care of myself. We push ourselves too much today and sometimes forget that we're women first and working people second. I don't know what harm these drugs can do to the body; I can't imagine that they can have only a positive effect. This isn't a value judgment; it's an opinion that a woman's menstrual period is natural and we should embrace it rather than attempt to abolish it.