(takes a humble bow)

Article found in Pub Med. Interesting. Never heard of the herb. Unfortunately, it also seems to be studied for it's psychiatric effects as well, so given my mental history doubtful I'd mess with it. Thanks for the heads up though, DN.

Forsch Komplementarmed. 1998;5(6):272-278.
Mastodynon(R) bei weiblicher Sterilität.
Gerhard I, Patek A, Monga B, Blank A, Gorkow C.

Mastodynon(R) for Female Infertility. Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Double-Blind Study OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The effects of Mastodynon(R), an Agnus castus-containing preparation, were investigated in 96 women with fertility disorders in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 38 women with secondary amenorrhoea, 31 women with luteal insuffciency and 27 women with idiopathic infertility received 30 drops of Mastodynon or placebo twice a day over a period of 3 months. OUTCOME MEASURE AND RESULTS: The outcome measure, which was pregnancy or spontaneous menstruation in women with amenorrhoea and pregnancy or improved concentrations of luteal hormones in both other groups, was achieved in 31 out of 66 women who were suitable for evaluation. It was achieved more often in the Mastodynon group compared to the placebo group (57.6% versus 36.0%, p = 0.069). 15 women conceived during the observation period (n = 7 with amenorrhoea, n = 4 with idiopathic infertility, n = 4 with luteal insufficiency). In women with amenorrhoea or luteal insufficiency, pregnancy occurred in the Mastodynon group more than twice as often as in the placebo group. Under therapy no hormonal changes were found at a 5% significance level. Only very few undesirable drug effects were observed. CONCLUSION: In women with sterility due to secondary amenorrhoea and luteal insufficiency, a treatment with Mastodynon can be recommended over a period of 3 to 6 months.

A school in my ward is facing closure. It is almost certain that it and another school will be replaced by an academy. I have such grave misgivings about an academy for this community. The high levels of permanent exclusions, the reluctance to deal with Special Educational Needs...I'm not even going to talk about my political objections, these are are serious, operational concerns. I fear, and I hope I'm wrong, that the same children whom we have failed to reach with the comprehensive school are the ones who won't be admitted to, or retained within their local academy. I'm told there are safeguards, and that we will have input as a Local Authority into the management and ethos of the school, especially if we are co-sponsors. But...I am not wholly convinced.

That said....it is an opportunity to get a large investment into education, and a chance to give a fresh start to a deeply troubled school community. Ten years of rescue attempts and super heads. Every newspaper's favourite failing school story. It's hard to see how it can be rescued in its current form. The alternative to Academies, Building Schools for the Future has our area down for new builds in 2011 (at the earliest) and there's another school in a different community whose building is severely dilapidated which will get that first shot. The 'failing' school' (I don't like that tag, it's made improvements, just such an uphill battle) is structurally sound. It could be another 6 or 7 years to get something done in ths community if we don't accept an academy. How can I not embrace £30mil investment and a chance to break this appalling cycle?

At the end of the day, I'm just one voice in a small group within one of the stakeholders. My stance probably won't make a difference either way. But, I have to be able to look my constituents in the eye when I talk to them about this.

The #$*&% neighbor kid.
Showed up at the door last night at 7 - "Wanna see my frog?!" Has a frog in tupperware with a few blades of grass.
Showed up at the door at 10am - "Wanna see my dead frog?!" :greenface

Little shit.

My kids invited him to go raspberry picking with us - he lasted 20 minutes before he was too hot, getting attcked by too many bugs, and crying from the thorns. Just dropped his ass back off with his mommy..... grrrrrrrr.....

lol...he sounds like the kid who got thrown off the airplane!

Hopkin no!!!!!

:D

Yeah, except that was a toddler wasn't it? This kid is freakin 9!


Poor little Hopkin... :sniff:

You got more than a pint of raspberrys I hope!

mmm raspberrys ...on icecream :drool:

Long talk with my wife yesterday.
We need money.
Selling some stuff.
Having to accept limitations that I have had for some time.
Have known for a while, but the reality sucks.

Ya. We shared with Jay the Dunkin Donuts guy, and our next door neighbors, and still ended up with more than we could eat tonight.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL162.../265546041.jpg

bummer rk. I'm sorry to hear that this is added to your other woes.

I'm sorry rk.

They look lovely.

Dunkin Donuts you say? We have one right down the block. I am able to pass by it most days withought stopping in.

mmmm dunkin

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!!

My new (3 mths old) mobile phone shat itself last nite. Which is annoying in itself, but the *oh fuck* bit is....

I will have to hand it over to some phone fixer dude to repair it ANDDDDD....its full of inappropriate pics and vids :eek:

I dont want my account manager (who is a friend of mine) to see these pics n vids!!!!

Yes, I am a dirty slurry, buts its why *y'all* love me. :cool:

I'm at work