There may be a clue in the Spanish flu to help with immunity against the avian flu we've got now.

I sure hope so. I'm excited we now know what the hell it was -- I think the old theory was that it was from swine.

Thanks, everybody. It means a lot.

you must have a very simple Yom Kippur

You're very funny. In the nicest way possible, but still.

[Edit: 42=6*7, but all woven into each other, which, well, sort of fits 42.]

Religious groups are gearing up to oppose the new HPV vaccine.

From the article:

In the US, for instance, religious groups are gearing up to oppose vaccination, despite a survey showing 80 per cent of parents favour vaccinating their daughters. "Abstinence is the best way to prevent HPV," says Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council, a leading Christian lobby group that has made much of the fact that, because it can spread by skin contact, condoms are not as effective against HPV as they are against other viruses such as HIV.

"Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex," Maher claims, though it is arguable how many young women have even heard of the virus.

That floors. Just floors me.

HPC vac: License to Screw

I love Nilly's Yon Kipper post.

Nilly, not only have you not offended me, I am so happy that we have become better friends and I consider it a wonderful blessing to know you.

I think more and more each year that society in general could really benefit by having a day of atonement.

Of course, if the chaste, abstinent girl marries a guy who cheats on her and spreads HPV to her, then I guess she's been judged by God, eh FRC?

Cervical cancer kils 4000 Americans every year, 300K around the world. We have a vaccine against the causes of 70% of these deaths. And the FRC is worried that this vaccine is a license to screw?

It took nearly 20 years before groups like the FRC finally got that AIDS/HIV wasn't just killing the homos but heathen African kids. Don't tell me it's going to take them another 20 years to figure out that this vaccine is a very, very good thing and will save many innocent lives.

Doesn't everyone have HPV already?

Also, I feel like crap. Bleh. Stupid either-allergies-or-cold.

Neither Nilly nor Sheryl has offended me in the least.

I am not Jewish, but working in a Jewish high school this year has immersed me in Jewish culture and faith. I'm picking up more and more Hebrew, and I'm so much more aware of the holidays--not just their existence, but their meaning. Their rituals.

My Connecticut friend Meredith (who is Jewish) called me on Rosh Hashanah to wish "a Happy New Year to my Jewish friend...because I think you count as one of my Jewish friends now." She was somewhat joking and somewhat not, and I felt honored to be included in her celebrations.

I have become so much more conscious of Shabbot, and though I certainly do not follow Jewish law completely, I have found myself trying to take it easy from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. I try not to work or to be too busy--I try to carve a little peace out of my busy week.

I am not Jewish, but I am immersed in the rhythms of Judaism.

This year I am looking at Yom Kippur approaching and feeling that same need to reach out to the people in my life and say I'm sorry. I cannot claim to be doing it in a religious sense, since I am not thinking about my name being written in the Book of Life, but I think there is a value in this tradition that goes beyond my personal faith.

Be it karma or just human kindness, I want to say that I am sorry if I have done anything to offend or hurt any of you in this past year. Please let me know what I have to do to make it right.

This year I am feeling in need of a little forgiveness.

Sheryl, you have done nothing to offend me either.

Theodosia and Kristin, neither of you have offended or hurt me.

OK, I am off for fun with friends. Let's hope the rain stays off for a while longer.