HTT - Talk Radio Edition

A few years back while working as a reporter in Utah, I developed a "friendship" with Sean Hannity. Like, we chatted on the phone and exchanged emails for several weeks before meeting - for professional reasons, of course. He was a nice guy. He was reasonable. He was even moderate in his views and ideas. On the radio, however, he's a different story.

Talk radio. I love to hate it. And thankfully there are idiots out there like Michael Savage who say inane comments about autism just to get a rise out the public. (See above, and then take a bath to wash his filth off you.)

To me, there is no difference between Marilyn Manson and talk radio hosts. They all know it's an act but are happy to play up their extremism to attract an audience. They enjoy the attention, and they enjoy a following. They're exaggerating their viewpoints, yet people believe it's who they really are - and they become faithful followers.

Even worse than listening to a talk radio host is to listen to a caller. "Oh, Dr. Laura, I've been listening to you for years, and I have modge-podged your face on all my Precious Moments figurines." The effusive gushing and blind agreement drives me mad! I understand sharing political or moral viewpoints with a particular host, but to agree with everything they say because you "know" them is crazy, in my opinion. And to make them your authority figure is just foolish.

At least Jon Stewart is funny, but even he has gotten too critical for my tastes. Because I want my entertainment to be enjoyable, and my political information to be polite - and preferably in print.

Yet, lots of people I know and love are huge talk radio fans. (Sports talk radio is not included in this attack, I should note, before my dad pens a diatribe.) But when I listen, I just find myself filled with rage at the blatant ignorance, bigotry and general hate that is spewed by most hosts. They aren't looking to make the world a better place; they are looking for ratings.

Of course, I still listen, even if it's just to make my drive go faster as my temper rises.

Do you listen to talk radio?

If so, who do you like?

And do you think talk radio is a good thing or just bad news?

HTT - MMR Edition

Yesterday, Miss Dub had two immunizations to mark her 18-month-old-ness. Yes, we do that in our house. I'm aware that some people believe immunizations can cause autism. And while my heart goes out to families with autistic children, I just don't think there's a link.

I've read the research - and nearly all of it shows that immunizations have no bearing on a child developing autism. Most of it suggests that autism is a genetic disorder. So the only correlation between shots and autism appears to be that children receive them at the same age autism is typically diagnosed ... no matter what Jenny McCarthy says.

My first pediatrician, who prescribed to an organic lifestyle, told me she refused to treat children whose parents refused vaccinations for them. Most times, she told me, they would present her with faulty Internet research or personal testimonials. "Do you mean to tell me your hour-long Internet search is more accurate than my 10 years of rigorous schooling and 10 years of medical practice?" she would ask them. Sadly, most of them said yes.

And a good friend, who is studying to be a neuropsychologist, recently shared with me research revealing children who supposedly "changed over night" after immunizations were actually displaying autism spectrum behaviors since birth; their parents just ignored them or didn't recognize the signs.

I do think today's children are often over-diagnosed and over-medicated, but I also think there's a reason our child mortality rate is lower since vaccinations were implemented. So even though it can cause Miss Dub to wail something awful, I'm happy to spare her mumps, measles and rubella, whatever the heck that even is.

But what about you?

Do you get your children immunized?

And if not, why?

Shoot.