HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ellenb@diva.Berkeley.EDU (Ellen Boyle)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Ear Infection - homeopathy
Date: 16 Dec 1992 21:19:14 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: diva.berkeley.edu

Several posts and some mail I received (I tried to answer
Shirl Grant but it bounced back) seem to need to discount
the success my family had with using homeopathy to treat
my son's chronic ear infections.  I certainly don't have 
anything vested in people using it, just thought it would
be a helpful solution to the original poster's problem.
	
But homeopathy did work for my family.  Our pediatrician 
gave us the following choices:  low-dose maintenance antibiotics
for a couple of months (till he outgrew it, I guess) or 
tubes in his ears.  Neither of these options appealed 
to us and, at that point, we were too afraid of the 
consequences of not doing anything, since Tyler's ear
infections were painful and made him quite ill.

We went to a homeopathist who prescribed a constitutional remedy.
Then whenever my son would get sick with symptoms of an ear infection 
or when our pediatrician diagnosed one, we would bring him in and
get another remedy.  We didn't stop using our regular AMA doctor 
when we went to the homeopath -  we would still bring
him in for well-baby visits, and invariably (without any other
symptoms) the doctor would diagnose an ear infection based on
the color of his inner ear or the presense of fluid.  We would
then bring him to the homeopath who would invariable say he
didn't think he had one and wouldn't treat it. 

My son is almost 4 now, and since we started going to the homepath
we have chosen to give him antibiotic only once - but for another illness,
not an ear infection.  Considering the pediatrician's alternatives,
we feel VERY relieved that we found another way to solve his health problem.  

In hindsight, I would not have given my son the first prescribed 
antibiotic that started the cycle.  While many people are skeptical 
about homeopathy (it is somewhat unbelievable, and not very scientific 
-- no accepted proven studies, etc.) it definitely has worked for our 
family - either the way it claims it worked, or just because it gave us 
something to lean on when we abandoned antibiotics.  But antibiotics were
definitely not working, unless we wanted him to constantly be
on them which, of course, did not give his immune system much of
a chance.  Another thing - Tyler was an easy-going baby, fun-loving
and happy.  After a couple rounds of antibiotic treatments he was
fussy, unhappy and difficult to take care of.  After using homeopathy,
we got back our happy baby.  If it was coincidence, I really don't
care.  Like I said, it "worked" for our family.

Ellen


Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: yasu@ll.mit.edu (Alan Yasutovich)
Subject: Re: A few facts about circumcision
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 14:24:11 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.181822.27762@newstand.syr.edu> kgatling@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Keith E Gatling) writes:
>As a circumcised male who likes the ease of maintenance which circumcision
>affords, who has found that it has not interfered with my sex life, who did
>*not* spend a lot of time looking at other guys' penises in the shower, and
>who intends to make sure that if our child is circumcised if it's a boy, I
>have to ask isn't there anyone else out there willing to defend it?  Doesn't
>anyone else have anything *good* to say about it?  Surely I'm not the only
>one who feels this way?
>
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>* Keith E Gatling                                  kgatling@mailbox.syr.edu *
>*          Opinions?  I've got plenty of them.  Just ask my wife!           *
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

	I asked your wife about your opinions.  She said she couldn't
	answer because she hasn't spoken to you in over a week; she
	didn't want to interrupt!


	As far as the topic goes, I am circumcised.  I never knew
	I was until I heard the topic in conversation.  Nor did
	I understand what the difference was until I *did* look
	in the shower.

	I think it's like asking if you'd frefer being female.
	"I never have been, so I don't know".

	I've never been "uncircumcised".

-- 
	Alan Yasutovich
	"inquiring  (and nosey) minds WANT TO KNOW!!!"
	I can remember when "safe sex" meant having a padded headboard!!
	Tick Tock.....Tick Tock......Tick Tock .....Tick Tock......
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 09:04:04 EST
From: <WCE2@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Thad's Letter to Santa Claus

Our paper recently published the text of a pathetic letter found in a
mailbox in Washington State.  Written by one "Thad" (apparently a
grade-school child, aged 8-10), it asks Santa Claus to come and take him to
"Heven" because "My mom an dad woud not have too by things for me no more."
Seems dad is out of work (it was found in a depressed timber town) and "We
don't get many food now.  My mom gives us the food she would eat.  . . We
got candils.  A city man took the lights a way."

Already offers of food, money, etc.  are pouring in for Thad's family from
all across the US and Canada.  One problem: police say there is no family in
the area with a school-age Thad that recently had its power cut off.  As
Mark Twain said in 1872 about a similar pathetic misspelled letter: "Do you
[we] know that this letter is genuine?" (That one was written by a
Harvard-educated con man.)

Would anyone with definite information contact me directly, as I cannot
always check this listing daily?  Thanks.  I edit a newsletter on urban
legends and like to post information on phenomena like this and the
perennial Craig Shergold appeals.
.
Bill Ellis (wce2 @ psuvm.psu.edu)                 Editor, FOAFtale News
Penn State, Hazleton Campus                       Voice: 717-450-3026
Hazleton, PA 18201-1291                           Fax: 717-450-3182
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: phvinson@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Pauline Homsi Vinson)
Subject: Hepatitis B vaccine
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 92 20:56:09 EST

Thanks to everyone who responded to my query on the Hepatitis B vaccine.
I've already replied to each person individually, but I thought I'd add
some of my contributions to the net in case any one else is interested.

I happened across an 800 number for information on Hepatitis B.  It is:
1-800-HEP-B-873.  I called them and was answered by a machine.  They
said I should receive the free brochure within 3 or 4 weeks.  It might
be worth trying by others who are interested.

Thanks again to all.  I really like reading this newsgroup when I have
a chance.  There are so many supportive and helpful people in it.

Pauline

Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: gdavis@griffin.uvm.edu (Gary Davis)
Subject: Re: A few facts about circumcision
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:27:12 GMT

In <1gm9h6INNnp5@crcnis1.unl.edu> mpaul@unlinfo.unl.edu (marxhausen paul) writes:

>gdavis@griffin.uvm.edu (Gary Davis) writes:

>>In my opinion circumcision is both cruel and entirely unneeded.
>>In fact Ben Spock does not recommend it nor Dr. Dean Edell.
>>These MDS are some of the most well known in the culture.

>And neither is a urologist.  Their notoriety has no bearing whatever
>on their compentency to speak _on this particular issue._

   Paul, I wonder who you would presume has competency in  this area.
If you expect urologists not to defend the practice,forget it;they make
a good fee for doing them and secondly the only foreskins they usually
see are the ones that "don't work". I hardly think they are the speciality
to ask. Dr. Dean Edell is paid quite handsomely,I understand,to review and
interpret medical literature. He certainly would be the man I would trust
in the area.

One of the biggest pro-circ NUT cases is a urologist by the name of
Arron Fink.(now retired).
By the way Nebraska has one of the largest circ rates in the country,
I'm not surprised the truth makes your hair stand-up.
Gary

--
                       Gary E. Davis /WQ1F/
              Dpt. Electrical Engineering and Com Sciences
              University of Vermont @ Burlington
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: mhn@cs.brown.edu (Marian H. Nodine)
Subject: Re: Sign of the times
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:37:39 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.185813.22839@cbnewse.cb.att.com> elonich@cbnewse.cb.att.com (diane.e.pedersen) writes:

(Concerning the fact that men will change diapers now)

>Actually, I suspect this "phenomenom" is mostly due to the
>advent of disposable diapers and baby wipes, which makes
>changing a baby pretty easy and hard to do badly, even for
>the most diaper-impaired.
>
>o  No washcloths to moisten
>o  No diapers or washcloths to soak
>o  Lots less leakage into the baby\s clothes
>o  No powders/ointments (no longer PC)
>o  No worries about sticking fingers or babies with pins
>o  Faster to fasten (matters a LOT with squirmy babies)
>
>Diapering is no longer an ordeal.  The real test of fathers'
>(and grandfathers') "enlightenment" would be measuring how
>readily they'd change diapers the old-fashioned way.

Well, we used cloth diapers.  Pins, sometimes.  Washed them ourselves for
a period of time.  Used Desitin as needed.  Rinsed the poopy diapers in
the toilet.  Used cloths instead of baby wipes.  And my husband actually
did all of the above, cheerfully, almost as often as I did.  But then,
he's really always been a great guy when it comes to dealing with home
and family things :-).

I do know that my father never changed a diaper.  He used to give me
my nighttime feeding, and put me down to bed (no diaper change).  My mom
would get me up in the morning, feed me, and then change my diaper.  I
figure I went 12 hours every night with no diaper change.  And when I
was talking with her about my own kids and how they got a lot of rashes,
she said, "I wonder if that is why you always had such a horrible diaper
rash?"  Geez ....

I do think Mark's dad did change diapers sometimes.

-- Misty
From: nichael@bbn.com (Nichael Cramer)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: WAY!! [was: "my wife and I are pregnant" - NO WAY]
Date: 18 Dec 92 19:42:49 GMT
	<BzEzyI.su@inews.Intel.COM>
Reply-To: ncramer@bbn.com
Organization: BBN, Cambridge MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: kariba.bbn.com
In-reply-to: vnoronha@dagwood.intel.com's message of 17 Dec 92 17:44:41 GMT


   |> How do you men out there feel about this?  Are other women put off by this
   |> also, as Dena is?
   |> Coni

Well I for one would like Dena to speak to my wife.  A normally very
reasonable, calm person, she had a *fit* every time I said _anything_
non-self-inclusive like "My wife is pregnant" or "My wife is going to
have a baby" in her presence.

So, when speaking to third-parties, my (no-win) situation was
basically:

1] Say "We are [etc]" and risk getting smirks and/or giggles from the
other party (no one ever got as upset as Dena seems to be)

or

2] Say "My wife is [etc]" and risk far worse.

Being no fool, it didn't take me twice to learn the right choice.

(Ah the joys of living with the hormonily-enhanced.   ;)

N
From: rollo@xylogics.com (Dena Rollo)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: "my wife and I are pregnant", revisited
Date: 17 Dec 92 17:51:05 GMT
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


OK, now that I've apologized, and acknowledged
that what pushes my buttons may not push
anyone else's, or may actually be preferred by
some, I'd like to discuss the following.

Granted that some of the extremely negative responses
I got were probably due more to my strident tone than
to my point, but still, it occurs to me that, had I
posted saying that it really irks me when some fathers
call caring for their own children "babysitting", I
seriously doubt the response would have been comparable.

So - is this because most people agree with the latter?

I think so, so I tend to doubt that the flames I got were
based solely on my attitude - I think they were responses
to my going against the grain (especially here in misc.kids)
that says that mothers and fathers are equal in all things
(or broaden that to "men and women"), or should be.

But in fact, I'd bet that at least *some* of those men
who talk about "babysitting" *are* in fact *babysitting* -
that is, that they really do feel that they are just
filling in for the primary caretaker. In those cases, what
irks me is not the terminology, but the attitude.

On the other hand, (and here I go again), there is just
no way for the future father to be pregnant - he can
(and should) be a part of the pregnancy experience -
supporting the woman, being actively involved in prenatal
appts. and care, etc., taking on more household work if
necessary. He may experience his own emotional (or even
physical) changes. But not because he is pregnant - but
because his partner is, and because he, too, will soon be
a parent. And for me (and I really don't see why this is
so difficult to understand) declaring yourselves to both
be pregnant takes something away from the reality of what
pregnancy is, and how it's experienced by each partner.

So, if it means something positive to you personally to
say "we're pregnant" then go ahead.

But I think it's euphemizing the differences between men
and women.

I'm not posting this to drone on endlessly about the smaller
point (that particular phrase) but more to open up a dialog
about what is so threatening about acknowledging differences.
And no, I'm not saying that all those who prefer to consider
both partners pregnant are afraid of differences, but it is
a good example in a general way.

-Dena
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: lowry@watson.ibm.com (Andy Lowry)
Subject: Re: Holiday Childproofing
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 19:42:39 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In article <1992Dec10.202442.21514@netwise.com> kat@netwise.com (Kathleen Nosbisch) writes:
 > My girls are older now, but when they were little, when time came to 
 > decorate the house, we used to put the TREE inside the playpen.  The 
 > cords from the tree lights were held inside the cardboard tubes from
 > paper towel rolls, taped together, and then wrapped with foil to look
 > decorative.  The tube protectors went from the inside of the playpen,
 > all the way to the outlet, where we attached it with duct tape.

You can buy something like this that works very well, at stores called
"Hold Everything!".  I'm not sure how extensive the chain is, but I
know there are a few stores around NY City.

The item is a flexible hose made of hard plastic, with a slit running
the entire length.  The curl in the tube is enough to cause the two
edges of the slit to overlap along the whole length.  You put wires
into it by prying open the slit and shoving the wires inside.  It's
easy to have cords entering and exiting at intermediate points along
the tube.  It's also easy to cut the tube to whatever lengths you
need.  I bought one to handle our assorted stereo and TV cords, and
the result is the neatest and most child-proof configuration I've ever
had.
--
Andy Lowry, lowry@watson.ibm.com, (914) 784-7925
IBM Research, P.O. Box 704, Yorktown Heights, NY  10598
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: Theresa Jarosz Alberti <sapphire@wings.micro.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: When Will She Smile? (35/36 week Premie)
X-Xxdate: Sun, 20 Dec 92 20:07:27 GMT
Organization: Authors with Twins
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d7
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 07:43:48 GMT

In article <72065@cup.portal.com> Carol F Topp, ctopp@cup.portal.com
writes:
>My daughter is now 9 weeks old. She  was born at 35+ weeks gestation.
>It seems her development is a mixed bag at this point. She has some
>head control, follows objects, and focuses on faces, but no smiles
>yet. 
>
>What were the experiences of other parents of premies in terms
>of development. Did you need to use an adjusted age? In general,
>I don't think about her  early entrance, but with one key milestone
>being so late, I'm beginning to wonder.
>
>Carol
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: staffan@ca.serum.kodak.com (Kenneth Staffan (x37507))
Subject: Simple toys (was Re: **> DISCOVERY TOYS <**)
Keywords: toys
Organization: Clinical Products Division, Eastman Kodak Company
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 20:03:17 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.195542.5855@oakhill.sps.mot.com> johnm@oakhill.sps.mot.com writes:
>
>Well, my wife went to a Discovery Toy party and just fell in love with what 
>she saw. You really have to see them and play with them to fully apprectiate 
>them, but they are really neat.

We have bought a couple of things from Discovery Toys in the past, and 
have been happy with the quality, etc.

One thing, though, that we keep noticing.  Our son is about 2, now, and I
swear that he discerns that toys are meant to be played with, and because
of this are somehow not "real", or as much fun as other things.  People have
always said "give a child a fancy toy, and he/she'll be much happier with
the box it came in".  Sometimes this seems all too true.  He has blocks and
Duplos, and more toys than I think our house can hold (including a lot of
the "educational" or "stimulating" variety, but you know what
amuses him much more, and much longer, than any of them?  The recycle bin,
which contains lots of plastic bottles.  Part of the appeal is probably the
fact that the contents change over every couple of weeks.  There's always
a different assortment of juice, laundry, shampoo, syrup, etc. bottles.
He loves it!  He builds towers with them, knocks them down, plays 
bowling with them, makes trains, gives them human characteristics and uses
them like dolls (big bottles always have the deepest voices...).  Who'd
have thought?  I couldn't have _bought_ a better, more versatile toy if
I tried!

Ken
---
staffan@serum.kodak.com
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: exusag@exu.ericsson.se (Serena Gilbert,cs,x0364)
Subject: Re: When To Turn Car Seat?
Reply-To: exusag@exu.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Network Systems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 20:12:07 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This article was posted by a user at Ericsson.
              Any opinions expressed are strictly those of the
              user and not necessarily those of Ericsson.

In article 2899@clpd.kodak.com, staffan@ca.serum.kodak.com (Kenneth Staffan (x37507)) writes:
> In article <1992Dec17.194818.27162@admin.kth.se> palm@admin.kth.se (Christer Palm) writes:
> >
> >Can't reply by mail to smme@cbnewse.att.com!
> >
> >Your message dated: Thu, 17 Dec 92 12:50:50 EST
> >>> In article <BzCwzo.G2J@unix.amherst.edu> njamal@unix.amherst.edu (Nuhad Jama
> >>l) writes:
> >>> >
> >>> >I probably should know this from my first son...but, when are you
> >>> >supposed to turn a backward facing infant seat forwards?  
> >>> 
> >>> When the child is 3 year or when the childs head reaches the to edge
> >>> of the seat. The neck of a child under 3 is not strong enough to keep
> >>> the head in place, burstings might occur in the neck due to the wait
> >>> of the head, in case of an accident.
> >>> 
> >>> /Christer
> >>> -- 
> >>> "Destiny makes relatives, selection makes friends."
> >>> 
> >>
> >>3 YEARS ??!!!
> >
> >YES. 36 month. Thats what the car security board in Sweden recommend.
> >The recommendation is based on accident investigations and research work
> >at Chalmers institute of technology in cooperation with car
> >manufacture's and insurance companies
> 
> Does anyone know of a brand (available in the US) of car seat which would
> allow the weight of a three-year-old in the rear facing position, though?
> 
> Ken
> ---
> staffan@serum.kodak.com


What do you do?  Cut the kid's legs off?

-Serena

By the way I turned our car seat around once the kids could sit by themselves and
no longer could ride in the car seat backwards.

Newsgroups: misc.kids,soc.culture.asian.american
From: ajh@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Alan Hu)
Subject: Re: Which is it?  Sacramento or Santa Clara?
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 23:47:04 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.171028.21326@nynexst.com> clare@nynexst.com (Clare Chu) writes:
>
>
>  Well, my husband has made his trip out to the Bay Area.
>  And it rained the entire time he was there!  But apparently
>  they needed it since there was a drought.
>
>  We're down to choosing between Sacramento and Santa Clara.
>  The pluses for Sacramento are:
>  - lower housing prices
>  - less congestion
>  The pluses for Santa Clara are:
>  - better chance for me (a techie type) to find a job
>  - more things to do, better landscape, climate

	closer to the SCAA Bay Area netters and associated gatherings!  :-)
>
	[Sacramento as Cow Town comment deleted.]

>  Also, which place has the better public schools?  The
>  recruiter said that Los Gatos has really good public schools.
>
>  Since we're a multi-cultural couple, we're also interested
>  in the ethnic mix in both areas.  My son is Asian-Hispanic
>  and I've heard that Sacramento has a 8:1 ratio of Asian women
>  married to white men and that Santa Clara has a 4:1 ratio
>  of Asian women married to white men (versus married to Asian
>  men).

If these are from the stats that I posted from Christine Lee's typing
of Joan Walsh's article, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE STATS SAY.  (I think I now
understand why people keep thinking the interracial dating thread is a whining
thread rather than a fascinating-sociological-observation thread.)
The ratio is Asian-American-women-married-to-white-men vs.
Asian-American-men-married-to-WHITE-women.  The figure has nothing at
all to do with outmarriage rates.

	So this means that the girls won't like my son!  :-(
>  Of course my son is 22-months old, but it's never too early to
>  start worrying!  :-)  The ratios are also bad for white women
>  married to Asian men (do they exist?)  I also want my son to
	[See above.]
>  be bilingual Spanish-English, since he already has a good
>  Spanish background from his grandparents.  Do they have Spanish-
>  speaking daycares out there?

	Lots of chances to learn Spanish out here:  TV, radio, etc.

	[Job, company, and lifestyle questions deleted.]
>
>  Thanks a lot for your responses.  Have a Happy Holiday!
>
>  Clare
>  clare@nynexst.com

						--Alan Hu
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: jill@sol.asl.hitachi.com (Jill Boyce)
Subject: Baby pulling other baby's hair
Reply-To: jill@sol.asl.hitachi.com
Organization: Hitachi America Ltd
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 14:52:16 GMT

My 7 1/2 month old baby, Jimmy, is at family day care during the day with one
other baby, Kyle, who is one week older than him.  Jimmy has just started crawling,
and Kyle hasn't.  Jimmy has this annoying habit of crawling over to Kyle
and pulling poor Kyle's hair.  Kyle, who can't yet crawl, can't escape.  

So, how do I get Jimmy to stop pulling Kyle's hair?  He pulls my shoulder length
hair too, but I can at least defend myself, or I can tie it back and keep it out
of his reach.  I can't imagine that Jimmy at this young age has any inkling that 
he is actually causing pain.   Is it not worth worrying about? Will Jimmy outgrow
this habit?  Kyle will eventually be able to crawl himself and escape.  The sitter 
can avoid the problem by keeping them separate or keeping very close watch on them 
when they are together.  I just hate the idea of my baby being a bully.

Has anyone else ever had this problem before?  Do parents of twins keep the twins
separate or together, say in a playpen or playing on the floor?

Jill Boyce
jill@sol.asl.hitachi.com



Newsgroups: misc.kids