New York Public School Nurses Give Swine Flu Vaccine to Kids Without Parental Consent, Nikiyah Torres-Pierre Ends Up in Hospital

A School nurse at Public School 335 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, mistakenly gave the swine flu vaccine to two students who didn't sign up for it and one student, Nikiyah Torres-Pierre, who suffers from epilepsy, ended up in the hospital. Her mother, Naomi Troy, was visibly upset in an interview with the NY Daily News and said her daughter had a possible allergic reaction to the shot. The child, who was immediately taken to the hospital, said, "My stomach was hurting, and I was itching." This error also occurred at a Staten Island school on the first day of the city's in-school H1N1 vaccination program. Most parents, including me, have some serious reservations about this vaccine, despite some doctors saying that it is safe.

Troy was waiting for advice from her family doctor on whether Nikiyah should get the shot since she takes medicine to control her epilepsy. When the nurse called for a student Thursday morning, Nikiyah's teacher misunderstood and sent the wrong student, Troy said.

The error was compounded when the nurse didn't check Nikiyah's name before sticking her in the shoulder, the mother said. "The school made a horrible mistake," she added. "They never asked for her name. They have no paperwork....How do you make a mistake like this?" After the mistake was discovered, officials summoned Troy to the school, she said. Troy said the nurse - a Department of Health employee - tried to get her to sign a consent form, after the fact. Source: NY Daily News

The Health Department has launched an investigation into this horrible mix-up. There must be better safeguards in place to ensure that this does not occur again. So parents, watch out, the H1N1 vaccine may be coming to  your child's school. What is the purpose of the consent form? If a teacher does not receive one from the child's parents, then that simply means you do not administer the vaccine to that child. Isn't that easy to comprehend?

The Drudge Reports Dubs President Obama "Barack 'N Bones," in a Shameful Dig About His Weight Loss

With all the issues confronting the United States today, the best Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report could come up with as the main story on his website is "Barack-n-Bones," a dig at the president's weight loss. Didn't President George W. Bush seem to have aged 20 years in front of our eyes? He didn't leave office looking like a Greek Adonis. The same holds true for President Bill Clinton, so what's the big deal if the guy lost some weight?

The article on The Drudge Reports continues to state:

Eyebrows raised over the weekend as President Obama walked out of the gym at Fort McNair -- appearing thin as a rail! Rigorous workouts and high-stress basketball games are said to be behind the dramatic weight loss.

"No, he's not chain smoking," claims an insider. "He's working non-stop for the country... yes, he does occasionally skip meals." The president explained in Miami last week: "Just because I'm skinny doesn't mean I'm not tough."

Sorry, but this isn't the first time President Obama has made reference to his size and who's this insider that Drudge claims divulged this information? This is nothing but hogwash and typical right wing smear.

Rudy Giuliani Miffed Over Being Ousted from Prized Seats at Yankee Stadium for First Lady

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was recently displaced from his prized seat at Yankee Stadium by First Lady Michelle Obama and in classic Giuliani style, he was none too pleased about it. This is the same man who had so little regard for his former wife Donna Hanover that he announced his decision to file for a divorce from her at a press conference and cheated on her with his former jump-off, now wife Judith Nathan.

According to Page Six, Giuliani, who always sits near the Yankee dugout, was relegated to behind the photographer's box for Game 1 of the World Series because Michelle Obama was given the seats instead. The paper said that it was the White House that didn't want Giuliani near Obama, but considering that this is coming from an arm of News Corp., which owns Fox News Channel, I take this with a grain of salt. The First Lady did not even occupy the seats because of the weather and they remained empty for the whole game. So, I am guessing he would have had the same reaction had it been Laura Bush instead of Michelle Obama? I seriously doubt that. Once again, Giuliani thinks the whole world revolves around him.

Drama Continues as Republican Scozzafava Endorses Democrat Bill Owens After Exiting N.Y. Congressional Race

The upstate New York 23rd Congressional District seat drama continues as Republican Dede Scozzafava endorsed her former Democratic opponent Bill Owens, just one day after she exited the race under pressure from the GOP and after Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman experienced a late-stage surge in the polls. The move was widely expected to consolidate GOP voters behind Hoffman, but that may not be a forgone conclusion at this point. 

Scozzafava backed Owens in a statement put out by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which read,

"I am supporting Bill Owens for Congress and urge you to do the same," she said. "In Bill Owens, I see a sense of duty and integrity that will guide him beyond political partisanship. He will be an independent voice devoted to doing what is right for New York. Bill understands this district and its people, and when he represents us in Congress he will put our interests first."

The seat formerly held by Republican John McHugh, who was lured away by the Obama administration to be Army secretary.  Though it is not clear what impact her endorsement will have on the outcome of the election, it is interesting, nonetheless to see that drama continue to play out, even after Sarah Palin openly endorsed Hoffman over Scozzafava. She was criticized by members of her party for being too moderate on social issues.

Dr. Ralph Newsome, Jr., 45, Tulane Surgeon Stabbed to Death in French Quarter Home that was Set on Fire

Dr. Ralph Edward Newsome, Jr., 45, a Tulane University plastic surgeon, known for healing the disfigured limbs and facial features of trauma victims and skin cancer patients, was stabbed to death inside his home in the French Quarter early Saturday. He home was then set on fire in an attempt to conceal the crime and any possible clues leading to the killer. He was found unconscious on the second floor of his home, stabbed several times, but he was pronounced dead at LSU Interim Public Hospital. The police have not made any arrests or named any suspects in the case.

Newsome was listed in a directory of gay doctors and medical providers. He received his medical doctorate from the University of South Alabama. He also completed a general surgery residence there.

Dr. Ralph Newsome, from Huntsville, Ala., moved to Mississippi and started a private practice in general surgery and emergency medicine. He then completed a plastic surgery residency program at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia and earned certifications from the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery before joining Tulane's medical school faculty in 1998.

He worked his way to assistant dean of medical education at Tulane and served as the chief of plastic surgery. His background in emergency medicine, general surgery and plastic surgery "was a unique combination of skills to have, " Sachs said. "He was a gift." At Tulane, he nursed a passion for healing the limbs of patients wounded in car accidents and physical assaults. His skills especially suited him to care for people stricken with skin cancer -- he could not only surgically remove their tumors, he could also repair the disfigurements the procedures left behind. Source: NOLA.com

This is a sad turn of events and I hope a suspect is apprehended sooner rather than later. The residents of New Orleans and the medical community have lost a great doctor and friend.

Singer Leona Lewis Told to Leave London Store Because Her Father is Black

Singer Leona Lewis, 24, was told to leave an unnamed London store, along with her Guyana-born father Joe, because of the color of his skin. She said she was purchasing photo frames when they were approached by the store owner, who said: ‘get out of my store right now.’ She asked her ‘are you joking?’ “She said, ‘No, I want both of you to remove yourselves from my store’ She asked why – and pointing at her father she said, ‘I don’t like the look of him. I want him to go now.’

“I said: “What do you mean? She said, ‘I know why you’re coming in here’. She was implying we were trying to steal stuff.” The woman shouted at Leona in front of other customers, but despite being in tears the singer refused to leave.

“I was so angry my dad had to drag me out of the shop. I’d never experienced anything like that. Being judged by the colour of your skin is horrible.” Source: UK Mirror

This young lady has been having a tough time. You will recall that two weeks ago she was punched at a book signing by a crazed fan rejected at an early stage in the X Factor auditions. It will be very interesting to see how Leona Lewis handles this situation -- will she let it go or will she call for a boycott of this store? I am sure this isn't the first time this store owner has taken such a position. I am also a little surprised that she did not reveal the name of the store. I would want others to know about this store and what transpired during her encounter with the store owner.

Long Island Student, Dean Jeziorkowski, Sent Home from School for Dressing Up as Blackface Aunt Jemima for Halloween

Dean Jeziorkowski, a white student from Commack High School in Long Island, NY, said he was sent home from school last Friday because he dressed up as a black Aunt Jemima for Halloween. He said administrators at the school told him that the outfit was racially insensitive and that he had to either scrub off his black makeup or go home. He said he didn't consider the costume offensive and said he has been dressing up as female characters, including Pocahontas and Wilma Flintstone, every Halloween since third grade. Personally, I found the Aunt Jemima more offensive coming from Quaker Oats which uses the character to advertise pancake mix and syrup, than this young man wearing blackface.

The Aunt Jemima character- a smiling African-American woman - is a registered trademark of the Quaker Oats Co. and has undergone significant portrayal revisions since it was first introduced in 1893, a fat black mammy. The image of Aunt Jemima has gone through several revisions -- with her headband removed and giving her pearl earrings and a lace collar. Sorry, but six or seven decades ago she didn't stand for warmth, nourishment and trust. It was more like nourishment and trust of blatant racism. How else would you describe a slogan from an Aunt Jemima ad in the 1940s that said: "Happifyin' Aunt Jemima Pancakes Sho' Sets Folks Singin'!" Here's another one:

The term "Aunt Jemima" has often been used in a colloquial form as the female version of the derogatory "Uncle Tom" portrayal of African-Americans, but I wouldn't throw this teenager under a bus and the NAACP needs to back off and find another cause to champion. I can't recall them pressing for Quaker Oats to change the name from Aunt Jemima because of the racist connotations during the early years. I don't think Jeziorkowski, a football player and wrestler, meant to offend anyone.