Well, yet another place where I hope to one day visit myself and introduce Zachary and Tristan to the wonders of our world.
Credit to Jon Rawlinson for this superb production on his Canon 5DMKII camera. It’s nothing about the camera but more about the talent of capturing the awesome scene. The song by Barcelona is perfect too.
It’s the Kuroshio Sea Tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan.
Pretty magical place to be with the people you love, no?
Tags: animals, Kids, Kuroshio Sea, Love, Travel

Tristan Majumdar dressing as goalie
Bravo à Tristan pour son beau travail (encore) dans les buts avec les Conquérants de St-Basile-le-Grand dans leur match contre les Éperviers de St-Bruno hier soir… victoire 3-2 !
After so many tough games this first win of the season is well deserved!
Tags: français, hockey, Kids, Novice B, Sports, St-Basile-le-Grand, Tristan

Vicks VapoRub Jar
Now this is one of those news stories that really makes me wonder… why? First of all, Vicks has been around over 100 years. CBC does mention that the bottle has a disclaimer saying that use of the product on kids under two years old should be under the advice of a physician only.
In fairness to the CBC, they were basically reporting on a peer-reviewed study published in Chest by Dr. Bruce Rubin of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine… The January issue of Chest published the study which was authored by Dr. Rubin along with Dr. Juan Carlos Abanses and Dr. Shinobu Arima.
Vicks VapoRub (VVR) [Proctor and Gamble; Cincinnati, OH] is often used to relieve symptoms of chest congestion. We cared for a toddler in whom severe respiratory distress developed after VVR was applied directly under her nose. We hypothesized that VVR induced inflammation and adversely affected mucociliary function, and tested this hypothesis in an animal model of airway inflammation.
Crystal Harrel of Procter & Gamble (yes, they own Vicks) was quoted in a timely response:
“Vicks VapoRub has a long-standing history of being safe and effective when used according to package directions. Where marketed, it is in compliance with the applicable health and safety regulations.”
Interestingly enough, Dr. Rubin – who published the study – suggests that Vicks VapoRub never be inhaled or placed under the nose; even in adults.
I’m guessing the study didn’t assess ravers who use Vicks to accentuate the Ecstasy/MDMA effect…
Tags: Bruce Rubin, Crystal Harrel, Health, Kids, Vicks VapoRub, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Well… as I finalize my thoughts of my Christmas with Zachary and Tristan, my mom and … my grandmother in major surgery today (at 96 years!) it was sad to hear that Jett Travolta passed away. Jett Travolta is the son of John Travolta who is pretty iconic – I think most people my age have grown up with him, be it in Saturday Night Fever or Grease or the many more serious (and challenging) roles that he did after the 80s.
Apparently Jett Travolta had a history of seizures and suffered one on Friday at about 10:00 am. While some reports in the past said that Jett was autistic, John Travolta denied that – saying it was Kawasaki Syndrome – some sort of lymph node illness.
Ironic that my 96 year old grandmother made it through major surgery today, yet a 16 year old succumbs to a sudden death.
More details from the AFP:
CNN has also published a nice story including the statement from the Travolta family about the untimely passing of Jett.
Tags: autism, Health, Jett Travolta, Kawasaki Syndrome, Kids, surgery