VBAC: it's not just a cool acronym

This just in from Reise. It burns me up. If any of you out there in ReaderLand have experience in the Cesarian department I would be interested to hear your remarks, as I am burning up in a vacuum here.

The following SF Weekly article should be of concern if you are pregnant, planning to have a child in the future, know someone else who is or if you are just interested in women's health and rights. In the name of safety and certainty, VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarian) are being banned in our hospitals, even though there is little evidence to suggest that they are unsafe for the majority of women. The procedure can save lives, but the statistics tell us that we have not saved a greater number of babies or mothers since the national Cesarean rate tripled from under 10% to almost 30% in the last 30 years. Cesarean births make more money for the doctors, anesthesiologists and hospitals, don't require doctors to learn special techniques (such as forceps or how to turn a breech baby) and fit into the 9-5 weekday schedule (more convenient for your doctor). They are considered reliable and quick, whereas labor is a natural process that is different for each woman and happens according to its own schedule. Cesarean section is major abdominal surgery, requires a longer time to heal, can have complications and may delay/prevent breast-feeding and bonding with your baby. I am not advocating against Cesarean, only the unjudicial practice of it.

The Home-style Midwifery Center at St. Luke's Hospital is being closed because it provided services that were considered "above and beyond basic obstetrical practices." Why is the non-hurried and low-interventionist birth attended by midwives considered "above and beyond" basic care?

A march is planned for May 11 to protest the ban of VBACs at St. Luke's. If you can, come show your support. This is not just about women facing Cesareans. It's about our rights to choose the kind of care we need and for health policy makers to hear our voices.

From the New Yorker on How Birth Went Industrial:
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/10/09/061009fa_fact?printable=true

SF Weekly article:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-04-25/news/no-hail-caesarean/print

Outing douches crosses the line

I think Gawker - or its readers, rather - crossed the line into scary Big Brother herd mentality badness today. Exhibit A:


I-Banker Does Profession Proud, Is Titanic Douche

The post is funny, if a cheap shot. The comments start out hilarious as usual, and cross into scary territory towards the end. The commenters ID the guy, and go so far as to link to his retarded college photos on Facebook. I know that we're in a special moment as far as people understanding the trouble that their myspace/facebook/friendster profiles can get them into, but there seems to be no hesitation at all here for the circling sharks.

Is ruining lives what blogging is about? I'm getting worried.

In case you haven't been tuned in

Internet radio is about to croak. Or go underground. Or something.

The backwards, ignorant motherfuckers in question here, the Copyright Royalty Board on Monday refused to reconsider its policy on royalty rates for Internet radio operators, which will increase rates between 300 percent and 1,200 percent - RETROACTIVELY - including non profit stations. Most internet broadcasters will instantly go bankrupt on May 15.

I met Elise Nordling, a SOMA FM producer, tonight. She more or less feels like she's at a wake this week at work. Her suggestion: get people to donate now to their favorite stations. And make her a new job offer while you're at it.

Congress has the ability to intervene in this situation, but seeing as most folks in Washington still don't know what the Internets are, we're probably fucked. So long KCRW, it was nice while it lasted. I guess I'll go back to Live 105. (Oh God, kill me now.)

Take action.

Bill and I are so fucking hip

We were on this shit like 8 months ago. I'm just a member, but Bill is actually the Soda Club for Men president.

Down with plastic soda bottles and giant American corporations! Up with diet cranberry soda from Israel! Although, they're always sold out of that flavor lately...

Engadget catches on to the soda club craze, thanks to Tyler Durden:
The first rule of Soda Club is: beverage companies do not talk about Soda Club.

Remarkable

Finally, my Chronicle blogging draws comment! Yes, you too can follow my adventures as Underground Dilettante and post your comments. (Especially if you're a planner of one of the events I cover.)

Comments are great - a sign that people are actually reading my stuff, which is a relief. Can the Pulitzer Prize for Excellence in Party Journalism be that far off?

Check out my latest post, about the absurd fun that was last week's Yuri's Night.

Panties

If i still had a Jewish tee shirt company I would print up some boxers that say Pesadik on them.

Why is this night more fattening than all other nights?

Well, kiddies, I hosted my first seder. The occasion? My parents were in town. Why go to mom's if mom can come to yours?

It was meant to be a little get together for them and me and Bill, and maybe one or two minyan friends, but next thing you know, FIFTEEN PEOPLE had joined in. All good friends, but it was a terrifying project for me. (I cut off my Shabbat dinners at 8, and honestly, I prefer 6.)

Bill and mom and I cooked all weekend. I mean, ALL WEEKEND. WE got up at 10 and cooked until after dark. The menu included

MB soup
veggie MB soup
8 pounds of brisket
25 orange glazed chicken breasts
veggie stuffed cabbage (inside: mushroom-onion farfel stuffing)
citrus avocado beet salad
roast vegetable quinoa salad
raspberry poached pears

It was a hell of a meal. Other guests brought tons of other food, and ladies and gentlemen, I brought home more food than I know what to do with.

The most interesting takeaway of the evening, aside from Rafi's fascinating discourse on the Four Children, was the tidbit that my mother and grandmother also always make too much food...and that they also both apologize relentlessly for its quality and misperceived scarceness.