Ask your Utah Senator to Vote "No" on H.B. 187

I wrote my state legislator!! It was my first time. We'll see how it goes.

Basically, A bill was pass yesterday in the Utah house that states it illegal to record any video, sound or images anything on a farm without consent of the owner. The fear is that the recordings might be used to make media messages (or propaganda) to hurt the farming industry in issues f cruelty to animals. Keep in mind the law does not say you cannot speak out against problems on farms -- it cuts it off at the source! It's pretty aggressive, and I think it is a dangerous place for Utah to go. If I want to stand across a the road and take a video of corn-fed cows as their stomachs implode from ulcers (which release toxins into the meat) I should be able to, right? (Just kidding ... kind of) I should also have the right to use that footage to make a public service announcement if I think that is needed. This might be an extreme example, but you get the point.

For the record, I feel pretty passionately about laws regarding the food industry. I am against any laws that specifically protects the farming industry and prevents citizens and activists from asking questions about our country's food supply. Several states have laws that make it illegal to criticize the farming industry, and I think this leads toward a lot of other nutritional and health problems in our country. Hopefully, I (we) can take a stand to help Utah from heading down this slippery slope that could leave our community speechless and unempowered.

If you are in Utah, please feel free to pass these arguments and thoughts on to your local state legislator. The bill passed in the house after some debate and is now moving to the senate, so act fast. :)

Find your senator here (http://www.utahsenate.org/map.shtml)


So, here it is. This is how I organized my thoughts and tried to get to the roots of the legal issues involved.


Dear Senator Stephenson,

This is my first time writing to a legislator. Please let me know if I did it right, and how I can be more active in the process now and in the future. Thank you for your hard work and service to our district. :)

I would like to ask you to vote no on H.B.187 -- the bill about surveillance on farms. Specifically, this bill “provides that a person is guilty of agricultural operation interference if the person records an image of, or sound from, an agricultural operation under certain circumstances.”

This bill is excessive and establishes detailed law against actions that are already unlawful. Specifically, laws against trespassing, libel and slander are already in place at the state and federal level that protect all businesses and private citizens. It also appears that this bill, if passed, would add to the group of laws around the country that show an unnecessary and inappropriate government support of the agriculture industry.

I have included a list of other problems with the bill and how it might negatively impact healthy activism and healthy living in Utah and around the country.

1. Conversation on the house floor indicated that this bill is necessary to protect farms from People for the Ethical treatment of Animals or other animal focused organizations. But I am worried about this law because it also bars research and dissemination of information by people focusing on human health issues and the effects of animal products on people. There is a loud and very real conversation about our nations’ health and the relationship between chronic illness and our nations’ food supply. We should be fighting to protect this conversation and encourage a nation of informed citizens and empowered consumers. Laws that specifically limit research and investigation of agriculture are dangerous to an informed society.

2. Utah should not get involved with food industry defamation litigation. Many states protect the rights of farmers at the silencing of the people, and H.B. 187 could pave the way to more drastic laws that handicap the public in other issues relating to food handling and agricultural health.

3. The law does not include an exception to employees and other persons who might be able to serve the public by blowing the whistle on dangerous business practices. What happens to someone who is trying to alert the pubic or the authorities to an actual and real health risk? Or to dangerous and real unethical treatment of animals. We do not want to write laws that scare people away from making hard -- but good choices -- in regards to the common good.

4. The conversation surrounding the bill on the house floor uses aggressive and war-like language, such as the phrase “Terrorists,” to scare citizens and government leaders into paying attention to something that serves only a small group of people at the sacrifice of civil rights.

5. The farming industry in Utah does not deserve stronger protection than the owners of other industries. Slander and libel laws exist to protect everyone and especially private citizens and business from defamation. Any specific laws needed to protect farmers should be enforced only at the point that libel or sander has actually occurred. This bill is currently written to punish the intent to do harm, which is not covered by the supreme courts definition of libel and slander in communication law.

6. There are huge questions in this country about the uses of growth hormones and antibiotics in farming. We should not be passing laws that make it harder to continue to investigate -- sometimes on a grassroots level -- these issues and concerns. These conversations are not based on issues of animal cruelty, and yet the legal investigation into these issues could be damaged by this house bill, which -- in trying to silence the animal rights activists -- could silence other groups as well. Let’s look at the film Food, Inc, for example, This 2008 film investigated the farming industry in America and focused on its health affects on people and NOT on issues of animal cruelty. This film has motivated a new generation of activists and gardeners who are focused on the health of the American people. We do not want to pass laws that limit open-minded and powerful dialogues about societal change and human health.

In closing, let’s allow the existing laws regarding trespassing, surveillance, libel and slander to continue to control this problem of agricultural interference. If someone trespasses to obtain video or recordings on a farm or anywhere, they are guilty under trespassing laws. If they get footage or images in a legal way, they would be prosecuted based on the messages they disseminate and not based on obtaining the images alone. Any media messages disseminated about Utah agriculture would be deemed legal or illegal based on defamation laws established by the supreme court.

If the group of existing laws is not doing its job, we should then write inclusive bills that protect all Utah industries and not only special-interest groups and industries.

Thank you, and again, please let me know how I can help,

Jill Fellow
337 E. Eastview Drive
Alpine, UT 84004
(801) 735-7416




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Jill Fellow
801.735.7416
owneroftheband.blogspot.com

Vitamin B3 Flush

What? Have you ever had a B3 Flush. This is CRAZY! It is happening to me right now!! Started at 2:55 p.m. I took 500 MG of Niacin about 1 hour ago. Then 45 minutes ago I started to eat some vegetables. I stood up from eating and I felt a pain in between my chest and stomach. Then I felt a little light headed and a little dizzy and then a little hot and THEN from the top on my head working down, my body was like it was on FIRE. This is seriously nuts. I also feel tightness and dryness around my face and all over my skin. Right now it almost feels like the top of the flush is moving from the top of my head to the middle of my face, and I can feel a combination between a pulling and a numbness on my face. It is unlike anything I have ever felt. The palms of my hands are a little pink, and I can feel the flush leaving my face and moving into my arms and legs. There is SO much heat coming from my body, and as it leaves my faces I can feel some sweat on my head.

On my arms now, I can feel some itching. The ski on any joints feels so tight, and if I move the joints to relieve the tightness, the itching is more noticeable. This is crazy.

So, this all started because I bought Niacin supplements at the grocery store today because I wanted to experiment with high dosages of a few vitamins that I have been reading about in my orthomoleculer medicine book. I was going to get B12, but then I did not because I am worried that my body does not absorb B12 very well. My plan for B12 is to try B12 shots sometimes. So I bought Niacin B3 instead because it does have an impact on digestion and there are a lot of cool studies about Niacin in orthomolecular research.

Luckily -- seriously thank goodness -- I reread the chapter about Niacin before I took my supplement once I got home. The book talked about taking 1000 MG 3 times a day if you have something specific you want to cure. I decided to just take 500 MG one time since I don't have a major element to cure right now. The book about the "Flush," and at first I thought it was talking about going to the bathroom. Then I read about the hot flash and the flush of heat throughout the body from head to toe. Seemed like a long shot, and it didn't sounds like anything I had ever heard of so how popular or common could it be, right? And I couldn't really figure out why the body would have that reaction. And I didn't really think about it happening to me since I was taking a small dose. Seems like the info about the flush would be written all over the bottle if it happens after only taking one or two.

Anyway, flush update: it has calmed down now after 15 minutes. The heat is in my legs now. My skin is still tight, dry, and itchy. The heat is headed to the bottom of my feet, and really now my whole body is so itchy. Wow, this had been a trip. Let me tell you, If I had not read about this possible side effect, I would seriously have called 911. It is so crazy and a little scary. I read that some people actually take Niacin just specially so they can feel this flush. I am not sure I would do that.

I am going to read more. Here are my questions:
What causes the flush? What is the body's reaction to the B3?
What is actually happening during the flush, and why doesn't anything else cause this?
Is the flush helpful for your body?
Is the flush dangerous?
Is the flush a sign that your body, in fact, needed the vitamin?
Is the flush a sign that your body, in fact, DID NOT need the vitamin?
Do high doses of any other vitamin causes reactions this extreme?

It is now 3:19 p.m. and my skin is still warm, but I can feel a little chill on my face. Still really itchy, and moving my arms and legs still makes the itching worse. I feel a tightness in my chest and a little shortness of breath. This has been so interesting. It came on so fast! I am prone to say this was way cool, except it is not gone yet AND I am not done with my research.

3:28 p.m. My face is starting to feel hot off and on again. The back of my legs are super itchy. My hands and torso feeling kind of cold from the wave of heat coming back and worth. Chest still feels heavy, but I can tell the whole thing is calming down.

UPDATE: Well, it has been over an hour, and my skin is still really itchy. Yikes.

I did some research, and basically this is what I learned:
Because I eat mostly veggies and meat, I probably get enough Niacin.
The flushes stop after after weeks on the same doze or on a super high doze of 1 to 2 grams a day, which can cause liver and kidney damage.
Still have very little idea what is going on during the flush, but some studies think that serotonin is involved in the process, and that is really interesting for me.

Pull Ups

When I woke up on Tuesday morning, I decided that this family is done with Pull Ups. Basically, Kenna is dry every morning, and so I am wasting 25 cents a day. AND I am worried that if I do not pull the Pull Ups soon, she will decide, "What's the point? and start peeing anyway. This, of course, is what happen to Quinn and one of the reasons she is about to turn 5 and soaking wet every morning. Another 25 cents a day. Nice.

So, we had a big girl party for both girls Tuesday night with cupcakes. We set up big girl/ No Pull Up beds on the floor -- and I placed a huge pile of towels and blankets next to Quinn's bed. After she woke of 3 times wet in the night, that pile was empty by morning. Nice. Lots of Laundry.

But Kenna has stayed dry both nights, and she gets out of bed to use the toilet in the night. Wonderful!

I think Quinn might be making some progress. She woke up wet at 2 a.m. this morning, and she was only half wet. So maybe the pee is starting to wake her up. So, I think we are finally in a place where she is ready to learn how to not be a bed wetter. She never cared before, and now I think she is ready to try. Hopefully it will not kill her little spirit that Kenna is much more successful in this endeavor. Oh dear!

Dairy

Good bye, Dairy! You are dead to me. (Except for a dollop of sour cream on a taco and maybe a small bowl of ranch dip with veggie chips .... and Parmesan cheese on ... everything ... oh crap, I mis-spoke.)

Juicin'

Believe it or not -- after the initial shock and awe -- my favorite part of the day is waking up, getting that cute baby fed, and getting the toast and berries on the table for the big girls .... so I can juice!

I am passionately in love with my Breville Juice Fountain Elite. (Details for a future post.) I love getting my veggies out. I love planning my juice, and I love drinking it down whether it tastes good or not. I love how my house smells like a farmers market. And I even love -- and this really is the shocker -- cleaning it all up .... so I can do it again tomorrow.

And lately my favorite part of the morning is juicing a little extra for my friend and then walking 5 house down the road to deliver it to her every day. Yesterday I could hear birds chirping and dogs barking and no children crying, and within seconds that 5 minutes of my day with juice in my belly and a hop in my step has really become something to look forward to. (Sigh).

Juice, anyone?!

Scooter Booter and the many miraces of Dr. Olson

Well, at 10 months (last week), Lizza was not crawling, standing, pulling up or showing any signs or interest in ever crawling or walking. I thought, "Well, maybe she is not ready." I also thought, "Hey, baby, if you could crawl, you would not get so bored and scream at me." And finally, I thought, "Maybe something is wrong."

I am not a crazy, hyper mom who worries. But let me refresh your memory about McKenna. First, she was drugged by Zoloft and got all delayed and emotionally stunted. Second, she never learned to crawl and refused to put pressure on her feet up through 14 months. In both situations, I spent way to long NOT listening to my gut about that very clear fact that something was wrong. I thought the Zoloft was a problem at 4 months, but I listened to doctors who told me not to worry, and so I never confirmed anything until after I stopped nursing at 10 months. I probably got concerned about her not standing up at 6 or 7 months, and I did not do anything until 14. Here is that story:

When Kenna was 14 months, I could not even get her to put pressure on her feet while standing in my lap. I decided to take her to Dr. Olson at Springville Chiropractic. I trusted him and his input. He does not really work on children, but I figured at the very least he would listen to my concerns and give me some ideas. Also, he has fixed her Torticolis (twisted neck) in one visit at 3 months old. I went for it. At the 14 month appointment, he very gently and humbly adjusted one stop at the bottom of her spine and one spot in the middle of her spine. Two hours later at home, I looked over, and she was standing on her feet pulling up on the legs of a table. She walked a few weeks later. It doesn't matter what or how. What matter's is I knew what needed to be done and for months I waited.

So, why wait. Lizza is 10 months and shows no desire to get on or stay on her hands and knees no desire to get anywhere. But like I said, she is bored and is ready to explore the world. Partly I was concerned that if she skipped crawling like Kenna, I would be stuck with another pile of baby pants with the bottom totally worn out. So, I took Lizza to Dr. Olson in Springville on Friday. He was as humble as ever. Not sure he could help, but willing. He was a little more aggressive with Lizza than Kenna, and I was grateful to see his confidence and his magic at work. Lizza hated it, but this was mostly because she was hungry and I dropped the ball on bringing a bottle. Dr. Olson said one of her legs was a little twisted at the pelvis. And she had an area on her neck and shoulder that was out of whack. We left, and as I told Tim on the drive home, "It would be crazy to expect yet another miracle since I have gotten a miracle the last 2 or 3 times I this office, so we'll just see."

One day later, Lizza is dying to be on her hands and knees. She is reaching and .... there you have it ... scooting to get to toys and shoes and wires and people ... or dear it is baby proofing time again.

So, there it is just listen to your gut. It was not a huge deal, but I knew something wrong among all the "all babies progress differently." (And BTW, the more I learn about health, the more I think that is probably a load of junk.)

Also, I've said it once, and I'll say it a thousand times, I believe that Dr. Olson has a beautiful, and humble gift for healing, and I would take my children and myself there with just about any problem. I am so grateful for a post on my friend Lizza Nelson's blog in 2007 that introduced this doctor to me. Thanks, friend! And Thanks, Dr. Olson.

Springville Chiropractic
Dr. Richard P. Olson
485 S Main Suite 101
Springville UT 84663
Appointments: 801.489.4990

My Crazy Quinn and the Fit of Jan 29th

Oh dear! As sweet as Quinn is, she is also a little crazy person. Some of her craziness is good and creative and some of it is mean and destructive. It is a tricky balance. For example she is so creative. She tapes toys and papers to the walls all over the house; she makes sculptures out of furniture; and takes anything that can be tied and ties it to anything that can have something tied to it. I find computer cords tied in knots and toilet paper tied into bows attached to door handles. I find any decoration in our house redecorated … like today I found a sun shade from a toy stroller sticking out of a vase with something tied to it and draped over to the next vase. When we got to Grammy’s house last week, Quinn walked straight into the living room and quietly put the end tables on TOP of the table and made a “house for her kitty.” (I was actually really impressed that Grammy let this craziness go on for a whole day before finding scratches on her table and calling off the show.) Quinn is passionate and fun. But … don’t piss her off.

Her most recent passion is for a show called Dragon Tales. She just loves it so much. She gets this lit up smile when she talks about it. I can tell that it really does mean a lot to her. And hey, since I have shows I love, I don’t see any harm it in. I think the show teaches a lot of good principles, so go for it, Kid. However, when she can’t have it, she will occasionally hit the fan. Tonight our internet was going in and out, and so the Netflix wasn’t really working. I told the girls we would have to turn on a show we own from iTunes instead – We don’t have any Dragon Tails on the iPad. Quinn crumbled to the ground in despair. She could not even hear me offer to buy a few episodes of Dragon Tales for tonight and for next time. But then she quieted down, heard me, and got excited … oops, they don’t sell Dragon Tales on iTunes. Oh Dear. It was OVER. Then – God forbid – I gave her a choice about whether we would watch Backyardigans or Blue’s Clues since Dragon Tales was not an option. She refused to decide. So I decided. I decided wrong and several minutes, screams and lash-outs later, she was banished to her room for the night (kindly tucked in by her daddy.) She had completely freaked. Here is how it went down. First, I gave her a timeout for the screaming, and she continue to scream at the top of her lungs. She wouldn’t stop. I tried to take her to her room. She went dead fish on me, and I dropped her a few times. Oops. She was screaming and yelling, and telling me I was hurting her even when I was not touching her. Then while “we” were going down stairs, she started kicking and screaming and she threw her arms behind her with her claws out to scratch my face. (Don’t be confused. We are still talking about a 4-year-old little human girl here.) I screamed “Do not do that to me” while looking in her eyes, so she would know I was serious. Then, I put her in her room, and she proceeded to scream. So then – here is where it gets good -- she yelled with much passion, “If you do not let me watch a show, I will get up in the night when you are sleeping and take an iPad and watch a show all by myself.” See … she’s a bit creepy.

But it is hard to stay mad (or scared) for long. After Tim went down to her room, she calmed down pretty quickly. When I went down to put Kenna to bed a bit later, I peaked in on her, and she was all cozy in bed with a smile. I sat with her and asked how she was feeling. She said she was still said because she did not get to watch a show. But then she laughed at the baby, who was in my arms, and we talked about other things instead of the show. I said I was sorry for yelling, but that is never OK to hit mommy. She nodded her head in agreement. Then we sat together and sang some songs … some from Dragon Tales, of course, some from her music class, and some from church. She was remembering parts of the songs in music class that neither of us can ever remember. She even pulled out a little harmony. I was so proud of her, and she was proud of herself, which is really important to me. Then we sang all of “As A Child of God,” which is a new song from church that talks about how God has given us the holy ghost, our lives and our families, and we can use all of these things to make good choice and be happy. It is really a very pretty song. “I feel so safe and happy because such feelings of peace come from family love. As a Child of God I receive special light. The holy ghost tells me to know what is right.” I felt a lot of peace when I left her room. A little scared that she might be up in the night doing things she is not supposed to do … but mostly peace and gratitude that together we are learning and growing and doing all we can. I love her passion. I love that her mind is wide open and that she loves to learn and try things out. I even love that she tapes crap to my walls. She loves tape, and I love her.