Back…with a music recommendation and kidney chat

Dunno what really prompted me to dust off the blog after 5 months of snoredom (and a heap of people responding to my Kidney for $50000 post with, of course, offers to sell their own kidneys), but I thought I’d do so and see what happens.

In the interests of promoting fine unsigned musical talent, check out this link to a band called The Project, headed up by Andrew Furth, who regularly posts at one of my regular forum hangouts, the Dave Matthews Band fan forum http://www.antsmarching.org – Andrew’s been working on a live EP and has tracks to download:

http://www.theprojectboston.com/onathursday

Now, to kidneys.

My Dad’s recuperating in hospital after an operation to remove what’s most likely the very beginnnings of a cancerous growth on one of his kidneys, so it’s sort of a current affairs issue in the family. But looking over the 5 months of yet to be approved comments (as of this afternoon), I was rather stunned to see 20 comments by people who were offering one of theirs. My approval of these is by no way an endorsement of their “for sale” ads, but a simple way of showing just how willing people are to put a price on one of their organs.

It’s just…well, interesting.

The world’s 10 worst diseases

Courtesy of Livenews’ Tim Brunero, who cites such maladies as human maggot infestation, chronic hiccups and the ebola virus worthy of inclusion. And you thought it was annoying to be off for a week or 2 with the flu…

Why euthanasia should not be legalised

An excellently balanced piece by Sandra Lee on the News Limited website – she rightly states that there is too much uncertainty that needs to be dealt with and in the end, advocates of euthanasia are taking matters in their own hands that they really have no right to decide upon, regardless of the state of the ill person. In light of the recent case in the NSW Supreme Court regarding the assisted suicide of Graeme Wylie, it is well worth reading.

Chopper Read: I don’t deserve a liver transplant

Notorious ex-con Mark “Chopper” Read has 2 to 5 years to live due to suffering from Hepatitis C. His response seems a bit strange though – he says that he can’t see why he should receive a liver in front of an 11 year old girl with liver cancer, obviously recognising that what he has done in the past may see other look upon him as undeserving of a chance to prolong his life. Yet, at the end of the article, he says that if he had the chance to live his life over again, he wouldn’t think about not doing what he did.

Add to that his teaching to his boys not to do what he did as they grow up, and it is a sad, confused story of a man who recognises how frail life on this earth is, but probably has scant regard or thought of what follows this life. Maybe he’s not yet as ready for death as he might claim. I wish him well, and in the time that he has left, find out about something far more precious and vital that he is undeserving of.

Source: News Limited

Thongs – the new health threat

Research from the US suggests that the regular wearing of thongs/flip flops does more harm than good when it comes to posture and leg health. Justin Shroyer, the lead author of the study, suggests that they should not be a primary footwear choice for any person who wants to maintain a health gait and prevent pain in the legs and feet.

Makes sense – the typical Havaianas aren’t really that well sculpted to fit a particular foot, and even though they’re reasonably cushy, I would never wear them full time. Plus, if you inadvertently kick your toe on the pavement, it’ll just take the skin off your toe (and possibly a nail if you’re unlucky).

However I wonder what they’d have to say about Maseurs. Should Sven be worried?

Source: News Limited

Sell your kidney for $50000?

Kidney specialist Gavin Carney has floated the idea of offering $50000 to young healthy people to sell one of their kidneys. His rationale behind this is that such a move would save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in dialysis treatment, since people with kidney disorders would not have to wait for up to a decade for a donor kidney.

I agree with Dr Tim Matthews of Kidney Australia, who is advocating a greater awareness of the benefits of organ donation upon death. It is a sad fact that many young people tragically die in accidents (such as the boating accident in Sydney Harbour last week), and I would reckon that hardly any of them were aware that they can be registered as an organ donor via the RTA when they get their drivers license, or via Medicare.

I am registered as an organ donor, simply because I know that when I die, my healthy bits and pieces aren’t going to be of any use to me as I am buried/cremated. If those can help save lives, then I think that it’s worth volunteering myself and my kidneys, liver, etc. for that purpose.

Source: News Limited