Why Photography

Have you ever looked at an old family photo and were instantly brought back to that time and place (figuratively speaking, of course and assuming you were there when it was taken)?  For example, here is one of me that was shot many years ago by my mother at Roslyn Park, NY.  Whenever I look at it, I vividly remember that day.

Besides beautiful memories for you, others will remember how you looked at that time.  Imagine what else it can do for you.  For example, for women, if it is done right, it can celebrate your unique beauty, tell your story, give you more confidence in yourself, help you feel more feminine, more empowered, sexier, and perhaps see a side of yourself that you never knew existed.  That sounds like a lot, but if you know someone (or if you've had a session done to perfection) who has been changed by a glamour/beauty portrait, you'll know it's true.

You probably have seen magazines covers and photos and thought, "wouldn't it be nice if I looked like that!"  Well, every woman is beautiful and with the right photographer and makeup, she can.  Many top models look just like someone you would see walking along and not really notice, at least not until they've had their makeup professionally done, the right lighting and pose, and the right photographer shoot their photo.  Here is a photo of a young woman who became a model and was on the cover of several magazines, including Elle.  I shot the top photo (a snapshot - unplanned and not posed) at Venice Beach.

Here she is on the cover of Elle (not shot by me):

Can you look like a magazine cover?  Most likely.  How would that make you feel?  Wouldn't it be nice to show your kids when they grow up, and your grand kids?  The photo below of my mother was shot by me in the 1970s - she had done her own makeup.  I may be biased, but I think she could have been on a magazine cover in this photo.

The point is - a well done photo can do wonders for your life and how you feel about yourself.  Not to mention how your children and grandchildren and other family members will remember you.

Pro or Anti Vaccine - Neither. Pro Freedom of Choice - Yes

I realized I didn't quite finish my last post.  What did I leave out?  The reason for the post.  Which is this - to balance what you most likely have been hearing in the media (even on Jimmy Kimmel!).  They report all the benefits of vaccines, but none of the downsides.  Both sides slant the statistics in their favor.  For example, before the measles vaccine in this country, measles cases had dropped 98%.  They say the vaccine reduced measles by 99%.  The only conclusion I can come to if both these statistics are true is that the vaccine reduced the remaining 2% by 99% since 1966.  Would the same have happened without the vaccine?  Would measles have been wiped out without the vaccine?  We'll never know.

As far as adverse events related to vaccines - that gets complicated.  How many are there that go unreported (how many know how to report it)?  How many connect an adverse event to the vaccine?  How many are actually caused by the vaccine?  How long might it be before there is an adverse event?  Is the 108 deaths reported from measles vaccine actually caused by the vaccine?  Is it coincidence?  Or is the actual number much much higher?  How about less serious side effects, such as life long brain damage?  What long term negative effect may it have on your immune system?  Why are the makers of vaccines not liable for damages from the vaccines?  And if they are as safe as reported, why have $2.8 billion been paid by the government (the taxpayers, but not the drug companies) to settle claims?  I'm sure there are many more questions.  The point is, there is ample reason for doubt and many reasons everyone should have Freedom of Choice.  Wasn't this country founded on that concept?

Years ago, when I co-owned a vitamin/health food store in Santa Monica, I studied for and received my masters degree, and took all the courses for the PhD degree in holistic nutrition (but never wrote the thesis).  I wanted to learn the truth about this subject.  What I learned was the same thing as with vaccines - there is no way to know the truth, as everyone disagrees about the benefits of this or that and everyone's body reacts differently to different substances.  It may work or not work, it may do harm or do good.  Unfortunately, with vaccines, you don't know until after the vaccination.  I posted all those links so you can get educated about both sides of the argument and then make an informed decision.  

The Pros and Cons of vaccines parallels the pros and cons of vitamins and supplements.  If you listen to the media, most of the time they say you don't need them.  If you learn about vitamins and supplements, and take them, you'll realize they can do wonders for you.  They have for me.  It is my Freedom of Choice to take them or not - I choose to take them.  They work for me!

To Vaccinate or not to Vaccinate, That is the Question

And the answer is ........... it should be up to you (and no one else).  It should be an informed decision.  Rather than me, or someone else, telling you what to do, here are links where you can get the facts, because what's in the media is misleading, wrong, or worse.  For example, many media reports have said vaccinations cause no harm.  But if you go to this government site you'll see that they do.  Close to one vaccine injury claim compensated every two days for the past 25 years - $2.8 billion in settlements, paid by the government (the makers of the vaccines are not liable - if vaccines are so safe, why would they need to be protected from liability?).

So when you have some extra time, check out a link every few days (bookmark this page), get educated about scientific studies and vaccines, and then you can make an informed choice.  And never forget how important your health is to you and your loved ones.

Here are the links:

The first three are about studies and how and why they are unreliable.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/308269/2/

http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/most_medical_research_is_flawed_says_leading_medical_editor

https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=53345

The rest of the links are about vaccines (some from government websites).

http://vaccines.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005206

http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/government-pays-damages-to-vaccine-victims-flu-shot-most-dangerous-with-gbs-and-death-settlements/

http://vaccineimpact.com/2015/zero-u-s-measles-deaths-in-10-years-but-over-100-measles-vaccine-deaths-reported/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/02/10/measles-disneyland.aspx?e_cid=20150210Z1_DNL_NB_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20150210Z1_DNL_NB&et_cid=DM67220&et_rid=837355024

http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66:increase-in-usa-vaccine-schedule-vs-other-countries

http://www.westonaprice.org/press/studies-show-that-vaccinated-individuals-spread-disease/
http://vaccineimpact.com/2015/arizona-cardiologist-responds-to-critics-regarding-measles-and-vaccines/
http://www.morganverkamp.com/august-27-2014-press-release-statement-of-william-w-thompson-ph-d-regarding-the-2004-article-examining-the-possibility-of-a-relationship-between-mmr-vaccine-and-autism/
http://vaccineimpact.com/2015/richard-moskowitz-m-d-the-case-against-immunizations/

Speaking of being informed (this is from the American Medical Association):

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/opinion808.page

Here is a link to get a copy of a book on health by Mahatma Ghandi:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40373?msg=welcome_stranger

I started researching vaccines when someone called people who don't vaccinate, "callously stupid."  I don't resort to nor like name calling and thought that remark was, well, callous, because it was wrong.  So I nicely tried to tell her the reasons for those who don't want to vaccinate, but she didn't want to hear it.  I explained how the tobacco industry used the same tactics as pro-vaxx people use.  She claimed it was not the same - but see this Chart! (Skip all the ads - just check out the article and chart.)  I told her how studies can, and are, flawed to show what the researcher wants to show.  She said no, they don't do that.  What could be the possible reason (read the 3 links above for those reasons).  I told her from zero to four people had died from measles in the last 10 years, and 108 died from the vaccine for the measles.  She said that was BS (spelled out in large caps) and told me to do MY research.  I had done it, and gave her the link to the CDC website and VAERS, where she could verify what I said - don't know if she did.  I suspect there are many others out there who believe what the media and their doctors tell them (keep in mind, the same drug companies that make vaccines also donate money to the medical schools the doctors go to, and fund doctors research projects).  If you do your research, you can learn the truth about things.

I started researching health 38 years ago when I was diagnosed with nervous stomach, but given no answers on how to get rid of the problem.  I discovered it was my diet (mostly caused by sugar in junk food) and changed it, then added supplements.  The problem went away, as did my allergies, headaches, colds, flu, and more over the years.  Doing independent research pays off.

I hope whatever decision you make regarding vaccines (or anything else, for that matter) is the right one for you.  May you live long and prosper....and be healthy.