Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Katrina's Legacy Begins

CNN posted a concise yet detailed article covering both the words of the President for response to Katrina and what the latest details.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/31/katrina.impact/index.html

Prayers and more Prayers for our Gulf Coast residents.

Friday, August 26, 2005

RU 486 News Again; The Morning After Abortion

Read the article below (highlighted) regarding the use of the Morning After pill. Then read the MorThanCorn opinion.

Study: 'Morning After' Pill Not Harmful to Fetus
Friday, August 26, 2005

WebMD
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167163,00.html

Pregnancies that occur despite the use of emergency contraception that contains a progestin do not appear to be associated with any increased risk to mother or child, according to new research.

Although the number of women in the study was small, researchers found there was no apparent harm to the mother or developing fetus caused by using the emergency contraception -- known as the "morning after" pill -- in a failed attempt to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse.

Emergency contraception called Plan B consists of two 0.75-milligram doses of a progestin pill (levonorgestrel); each pill is taken 12 hours apart. A 1.5-milligram dose of levonorgestrel may also be taken in combination with an estrogen. The emergency contraception must be taken within three to five days of unprotected sex.

This form of emergency contraception is about 85 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and is believed to work in one of three ways: temporarily blocking eggs from being produced, preventing the formation of hormones within the ovaries that maintain a pregnancy, or keeping a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in the uterus.

A possible association between prepregnancy exposure to progestins and congenital abnormalities has been debated, they write. These abnormalities tend to arise from long-term use of levonorgestrel rather than short-term, low-dose preparations used in emergency contraception pills, they add.

Is this WebMD's attempt on putting the best possible face on failed attempts at terminating a life? Simply put, the article states 85% of the time, the 'Morning After' pill is successful at doing one of 3 things;
1) block the production of eggs
2) block hormones which maintain the life of the child
3) block the child from rooting into the uterus

If the pill is unsuccessful at one of the above three, then life continues.

With no medical background, it is still apparent to MoreThanCorn the second two options are ending the pregnancy by directly killing the child.

The pill is designed to at best keep a life from starting, at worst for ending a life.

Friday, August 05, 2005

Prayer and More Prayer for Russian Submariners

A Russian submarine carrying 7 Russian sailors was tangled in a fishing net. The net snared the propellor making it inoperable according the CBS news online. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/05/world/main759853_page2.shtmlThere would typically be 3 days of extra oxygen on board with a typical crew of 3. For unknown reasons there are 7 onboard, dropping the oxygen supply to a day.

According to the reading of multiple articles, the one day clock probably started in early am on Friday, August 8 possibly 5 or 6am. The US Navy and the British are sending rescue vehicles and crew. The Russian Navy is apparently already there towing the vehicle to more shallow water so as to give the rescue attempts a higher chance of success.

In a situation where the oxygen levels are low I would think the crew are rightfully in a bit of a panic. I hope there is someone in communication with them at this time. If the crew could be calmed and asked to lie down or lay in their bunks this would drop the rate of the breathing. A savings of oxygen would be noticeable.

God's speed to the crew members.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Bush Calls Crew of Shuttle Discovery

Courtesy Foxnews.com

President Bush phoned the Discovery crew today. He was able to see them on a TV screen at the whitehouse.

"I know you've got important work to do ahead of you," Bush said.
"We are with you and wish you all the very best. Thanks for taking my phone call. Now get back to work," the president said.
"Thank you for being risk takers for the sake of exploration," Bush said.
"A lot of Americans will be praying for a safe return," he added.
Astronaut Collins told the president, "The steps we're taking right now are really worth it."
Collins noted that, "We did fly over Texas" earlier Tuesday.