Thinking of getting a vasectomy?

Lately I've heard several radio ads for a Chicago-area clinic encouraging men to have a vasectomy. If You're thinking about it, I urge You to research this carefully, and don't rely only on the information provided by those selling these procedures.

Why do I care? No, I haven't had this procedure and never will. There are strong philosophical and moral reasons why no man -especially no Christian (much less a Catholic) man- should consider sterilizing himself. But aside from those reasons I feel sorry for the men who will have this operation and regret it purely because of the chronic physical pain that afflicts more than a few. So I just want to point to some medical info You should be aware of if You're considering paying someone to sterilize You.


"Pain, Diabetes And Dementia -Research Highlights Medical Risks of Vasectomies"
National Catholic Register, August 12-18, 2007
-Read about what may be strong link between vasectomy and a form of dementia called primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

If It Works, Don't Fix It!
Vasectomy Information Home Page.
-Lots of information and references regarding the risks of vasectomy.

"Vasectomy: A pain in the b***s?"
Malehealth
"...few realise that at up to one in three can expect to suffer long-term testicular pain."

"Testicular Pain Following Vasectomy: A Review of Postvasectomy Pain Syndrome"
Christiansen and Sandlow, Journal of Andrology, 2002.
The University of Iowa Department of Urology, Iowa City, Iowa.
"...a small percentage of postvasectomy patients (less than 10%) develop PVPS."
(What if You're in the unlucky 10%?)

LongTerm Complications after a Vasectomy Operation
ABC Radio National
"I had a terrible experience of the pain over a period of a few days, just continuing to get worse and worse and worse and worse. Until I reached the point where I was writhing on the floor in agony; it was dreadful..."

Also see the following:

Journal of Urology
* J Urol 1997 Oct;158(4):1528. Re: Vasectomy reversal for treatment of the post-vasectomy pain syndrome.
* Br J Urol 1997 Feb;79(2):269-270; The incidence of post-vasectomy chronic testicular pain and the role of nerve stripping (denervation) of the spermatic cord in its management.
* J Urol 1996 Apr;155(4):1284-1286; Questionnaire-based outcomes study of nononcological post-vasectomy complications.
* Br J Urol 1992 Feb;69(2):188-191; Chronic testicular pain following vasectomy.
* Br J Urol 1991 Oct;68(4):407-413; Epididymectomy for post-vasectomy pain: histological review.
* J Urol 1985 Sep;134(3):494-497; A late post-vasectomy syndrome.

Trent Lott has had enough of free speech

Senator Lott: 'Opposition must cease'

Senator Lott, I'd like You to publicly explain Your unacceptable comment, "Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.”

You do not seem to remember that You are an elected representative of constituents whose right to free speech -and free press- is protected by the Constitution. Your job is to defend the Constitution and represent Your constituents.

Your remarks suggest You would rather throttle the press and silence opposition, as a despot suppressing a troublesome peasantry.

Your comments and and many of Your colleagues are helping voters realize that "Republican" increasingly means not "conservatism", but "oligarchy".

Giuliani defends murder to win White House

Giuliani Defends Stance on Abortion

Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani forcefully reaffirmed his support for abortion rights on Friday and argued that his divergence from conservatives on the issue should not disqualify him from being the eventual GOP nominee.

"This is a matter of deep and profound judgment," he said in a speech at Houston Baptist University. "It's a matter of morals. It's a matter of your interpretation of how laws should operate, your interpretation of how respect for the rights of others should operate. But in a country like ours ... I believe you have to respect their viewpoint and give them a level of choice. I would grant women the right to make that choice."

...despite his belief that abortion was "morally wrong" — he believes the decision should ultimately be left to individuals and their decisions should be respected.

Mr. Giuliani argues that killing unborn children is "morally wrong", but is to be protected as a decision that rightly belongs to the domain of individual choice, and these "decisions should be respected". Why aren't other forms of murder also to be defended as matters of "individual choice", Rudy? Is there no political advantage to be gained in defending more visible forms of homicide?

The Declaration of Independence loudly proclaims the truth:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

The most basic and important purpose of government -and the highest duty of those who serve in positions of government- is to protect and uphold the basic rights of the individuals comprising the society. The most basic and first of these rights is life: that is, to be permitted to live, free from the unjust assault of aggressors and their apologists.

Mr. Giuliani's defends as a matter of private preference the deliberate killing of the most defenseless in our society. A country that will not summon the courage to protect its children from lethal aggression is a country with a death wish.

Mr. Giuliani's position on abortion is barbaric, and reveals he is not worthy of public office.

Be a patriot. Boycott Citgo.

Chavez's Citgo Is No Friend of America by Mac Johnson
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela threatens to provide a South American foothold to nations hostile to the United States: nations who are happy to exploit a thuggish, Marxist dictator of an oppressed, unstable country. (Note Chavez's five-billion dollar regional oil drilling project with China, and his stated intent to destroy U.S. influence in the world.) Through his total control of the Venezuela-owned Citgo Corporation, Chavez intends to manipulate U.S. politics and buy political favors through his sale of discounted heating oil to "needy" American customers in congressional districts with pork-hungry representatives. Are there no laws barring foreign governments from manipulating our elected officials?

The obvious first step for Americans to resist this hostile foreign influence is to stop buying Citgo products. I'm boycotting Citgo, and hope You will too. Next, we should direct Congress and our president to find a way to repel this dangerous dictator.

WFMT Folk Festival 2006 -a political event?

WFMT - Show Detail
Words can hardly express my great appreciation and decades-long affection for WFMT and the superb work You do. Thank You! But I do have to express a little disappointment today. Perhaps my listening was simply ill-timed, but on at least two occasions recently (including today) I've tuned in just in time to hear some angry Canadian folk music performer (or another) denigrating the Bush administration, evidently with the hearty approval of the audience. I don’t know very much about folk music, but suspect that its diversity precludes its being monolithically leftist, pacifist, or contemptuous of our democratic government.
WFMT offers a valuable service in promoting and preserving a wide range of classical and folk music, and this helps to humanize and strengthen our own culture. Not having listened to “WFMT Folk Festival 2006” in its entirety today, I’m left wondering how many songs in the program were supportive of those in military and public service who are likewise engaged in promoting the humanity and security of our culture.
Public dissent and serious criticism of public officials should be a positive force in steering the national rudder, but without balance and fairness even musical programs can become divisive, destructive… and not much fun.

Iran uses Hezbollah as a diversion, continues nuclear program.

WorldNetDaily: Iran missile transfer puts most Israelis in range
While the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah runs its course, Iran is gaining time to develop its nuclear capability.

The world's attention is focused on the more visible but purely secondary regional threat posed by Hezbollah's indiscriminate rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and the Israeli response in Lebanon. How much longer will it be before the president of Iran is fully equipped to carry out the threats he has already openly expressed? Who doubts that once he possesses nuclear weapons he will hasten to use them?

The Tivoli Theater is a classic experience

How often do You get a lot more than You expected?

Tonight my wife, daughter, mother, father, and I attended a screening of the movie 'Cars' at the Tivoli Theater (http://www.classiccinemas.com/history/tivoli.asp) in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The movie was a little slow in spots, but deserves credit for the sophistication and artistry of its animation, its surprising promotion the wholesome values of friendship, loyalty, self-sacrifice, and appreciation of simple pleasures and natural beauty. 'Cars' makes an appeal to recall a nearly forgotten time, when road trips 'out west' were not merely a means to reach a destination, but were prized for the beauty and social dimension of the journey itself, whose pre-interstate era route and pace brought its travellers into closer contact with nature and the people along the way.

This message was well conveyed at the Tivoli, a theater opened in 1928, which not only has escaped the wrecking ball of time, but boldly speaks a happy message of confident and youthful tradition. The anachronistic three dollar admission perhaps prepares one to expect a decrepit box with gummy seats, sticky floors, and a tiny screen, but at the Tivoli we were greeted by a building with a vigorous architecture and beautifully restored and improved interior. Bold color scheme. Gold leaf paint. Good amenities. Comfortable seating, a large screen, good picture quality and very good sound.

Before the movie an organist skillfully enlivened the audience with the 3-manual Wurlitzer. The interaction between the organist and the appreciative audience was a real treat. After the movie, complementary candies were offered to the exiting patrons.

I have to applaud the owners and management of the Tivoli, who provided not just a good movie experience, but an evening of family entertainment that went beyond the movie, and was worth well more than the admission fee. I don't know another theater in the Chicago area I'd rather attend. Thanks to You, and keep up the great work!