PetSugar

I was the other woman. (revised)

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:39:22 -0800

I was the 'other woman.' I guess I will start at the beginning. I first met Dan when I was 17 through a mutual friend. I was a teenage ditz and he was a shy nerd and we never really had much to say to one another, although we never disliked each other.

Fast forward to age 23. I was fresh out of a very very bad relationship, I was dressed sexy for a concert, slightly drunk, slightly horny, not looking for a one night stand so much as just desperately in need of some of that naughty sort of confidence that only comes when men drool and trip over themselves wanting me. My friend Seth said, "Hey, Dan's here and he's sad. Why don't you go cheer him up?"

So I see Dan... 6 years later... and damn. He's a big guy but he has gotten sexy since the last time I saw him. I check for a ring... don't see one... so I walk up to him, grab his hands, put them on my bra-less tits and say, "Does that cheer you up at all?" And he just smiles at me. I know that's a sleazy thing to do... but I was drunk and at that point in my life I really didn't care.Nothing happened that night but some nice conversation and mild flirting.

The next day I mention him and someone says, "You know he's married, right?"
"What? I didn't see a ring."
"Well he is married. And his wife is due to have their kid in a couple months."

So I apologize the next time I see him and I ask him if he's REALLY married... which he is... his ring is broken and it's been sitting in his ash tray for weeks or more. "You really did cheer me up though," he says.

His wife, Marcie, is head nurse at a local hospital. She's the 'bread winner' of the family and he works bars as a karaoke DJ. I figured he would have a drop-dead-gorgeous wife. He's just that type: handsome, outgoing, charming. So one night, he and I and a few friends went back to his place after bar closing time, and that's when I first saw her. Not her, her picture. Their wedding picture, to be more precise. And I remember thinking to myself, "I hope this is just an unflattering picture of her... on her wedding day?" But no, that's just how she looks. I'm not judging her based on that, the few times I met her she seemed nice enough- a little aloof but I figured she just didn't see any need to be friendly with his female friends. I was just shocked. Call me vain, I don't care. I honestly thought she would be the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my life.

So I casually flirt with him when I see him... never expecting (or at that time wanting) it to go anywhere. I would say, "Dan, if you weren't married I would f*ck your brains out." To me he was 'safe' the way gay guys are safe... you can talk and hug and hang out and you know it will never go anywhere. I thought he had enough will power to resist me.

So one night... I'm drunk. And broke. I walk up to Dan and say half seriously, "Buy me a shot and I'll show you my tits." He raises an eyebrow at me and smiles- he has an amazing smile- and orders my favorite. I take it and then he grabs my hand and says, "Time to pay up." We walk out behind the building and I give him a quick look... and a quick feel... and then we head back inside flirting and drinking more than we should have. We end up back behind the building again and he undoes my pants button and says, "Now let me see everything else."
Now I'm a flirtatious drunk but as soon as the pants start to come off I sober up. "No, come on, I haven't even shaved... and I'm so drunk right now... let's go back inside." I walk in and later say to Seth, "I think Dan tried to f*ck me."
He laughs and says, "Dan is wasted and his wife's not giving him enough attention. I'm sure he didn't mean it. You're not exactly playing hard-to-get, you know."

So I think nothing of it and things go back to harmless friendly flirting. There was a definite attraction between us, but I figured nothing would ever come from it.
Until one day... We leave the bar. He and I are in his car and the rest of the group is in another. He starts to talk about how his wife is mean and talks down to him all the time. I say, "It's the hormones. She'll be back to normal in a couple months. Babies are stressful, just give her time." He says, "No, it's not the hormones. She's been like that ever since we got married. I don't know what to do." "You not thinking of leaving her, are you?" "No. I was raised Catholic... we never get divorced. And I love her. But I'm lonely," Runs his hand across my cheek..."I've never had sex with anyone other than my wife," Fingers slowly find their way across my cleavage... down under my bra... "And that's not going to change..." Down my stomach, the tips of his fingers teasing the waistline of my pants... "Anything else though..." Slowly undoing the button of my jeans... sliding his hand down further...

That's how it started. I'm not going to give the details... that's for me to keep private. I will say this: we never actually had sex. Penis never touched vagina. Anything else though... in total orgasm only happened three or four times. We weren't animals about it. His wife wasn't satisfying him and my new boyfriend wasn't satisfying me. In a way I feel good that he chose me to mess around with instead of someone else, because I respected him and I never once pressured him to do more than he was comfortable with. Usually it was just, he'd go out to smoke a cigarette and I'd go with him and he'd give me a quick feel-up in the parking lot; not seductively, but just because a man can only go so long without touching a woman and I like to be touched.

And it wasn't an emotional love affair. We were in no way 'soul mates,' more like 'kindred spirits.' We were both attractive and laid-back and fun on the outside but deep and intelligent and sensitive on the inside. And we were horny.

We agreed to keep it completely secret, not only from his wife, but from our whole circle of friends. Not to sound vain, but I'm a good looking girl and there were a few men out there- particularly our mutual friend Seth-who would have wondered, "why not me?" He had just gone through a nasty divorce: his wife Lydia cheated on him with- and then left him for- some guy she met one the internet ("Oh, he's my soul mate," she said). She then broke up with Mr Internet a month later, got back together with Seth, and then left him AGAIN a couple months later saying, "I feel like it was all a lie." And I don't know why I chose Dan- maybe because I'm a bad girl trapped inside a good girl's body. Maybe because I thought if no one knew then it didn't count. Maybe because I just wanted a cheap easy orgasm or two without the commitment and I didn't want anyone kissing-and-telling and labeling me a slut. I don't know. Maybe I just always want what I can't have.

So one night, things get pretty intimate... in his basement... with his wife and baby sleeping peacefully right above our heads. And we mutually decided that enough was enough. There was a bit of crying, but we were both sick of waking up with a guilty conscience, and who were we kidding? Nothing good could ever come of this. So that was it. The end of the affair.

We stayed friends after that, close friends actually. We were so comfortable with the whole situation that we even joked around about it. And it never got intimate again. I think he may have wanted it to once, but I'm not sure. He was going to give me a ride to the bar and picked me up about four hours early, when his wife was gone for the night. He said it was just easier that way because he was on my side of town. All we did was play catch with his kid's ball in the basement and surf the internet. He didn't try anything and neither did I, but he sort of had that look in his eye.

So months go by, everything is fine, and then he stops returning my calls. At first I think he's just been busy, but then it's been a month and I still haven't heard from him. Now he's the sort to call any of his friends every week or two just to see how they're doing, so this was out of character for him. So I mention to Seth, "Have you talked to Dan? I'm sure it's nothing but he's hasn't called me in a while. How is he?"
"Uh... Sweetheart, Dan isn't allowed to call you," Seth tells me.
"What? Why?" I ask naively, thinking we still had our little secret.
"Well, he and his wife got in a fight and he told her about everything that happened between you two. They're not going to break up but he had to promise never to see or speak to you again."
"So... now everyone knows?"
"Yup."
"Everyone? They all think I'm a slut now, don't they?"
"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, Marcie knew Lydia was cheating on me and never told me. What goes around comes around, right?"

So that's it. That's where I am now. I pretty much lost my whole social life... all my hang-outs were his DJ spots and I'm at least respectful enough not to risk running into him. Sometimes I wonder what I'll say if I ever run into him again, or even worse, run into Marcie. I don't know. Oh well. I learned my lesson. I'll never be the other woman again. I'm done being a home-wrecker. But I have to admit, I had one hell of a good time doing it.

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Jasmine’s Global Love Letter

MireMolnar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:38:56 -0800

Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that has a strange and murky history. Nobody knows for sure how it began, but the two most common tales are rather interesting. Some believe it is based on the life of Saint Valentine who in third century Rome was ordered to be put be put to death by Emperor Claudius II for secretly performing marriages for young lovers after Claudius had outlawed marriage for young men – his crop of potential soldiers.
It has also been said that Valentine was put to death for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons. Either way you look at, this Saint Valentine was a truly noble man with love for his fellow human.
Others believe that Valentine’s Day is a Christian take on the Pagan holiday Lupercalia. Lupercalia, which commenced on February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus & Remus.
Whatever the factual history may be, this special holiday has simply become a day to love and be loved.

Now I’ll be honest, for much of my life I have been known as a scrooge over this holiday. I didn’t exactly possess that classic beauty that boys were looking for in a mate, so needless to say I was quite the wallflower when it came to meeting that special someone. However, as I’ve aged I have discovered that there are many different kinds of love in the world. Like the love we have for our children, our pets, our families, our neighbors, our colleagues & so on. That is how I learned that Valentine’s Day does not have to be a dreadful day of loneliness. To me it has become a day to share my heart with each and every person who inspires me. And it doesn’t stop there; Valentines can be shared with more than just loved ones. We have quite powerful hearts and we can extend our love to the earth, to animals, and people all over the globe. So this year I challenge you to change your mindset about this holiday and join me as a thoughtful consumer by transforming your online gift shopping into a global love letter.
There are so many fun and unique online retailers that you can reach through www.nonprofitshoppingmall.com that can help you find the perfect gift for loved ones young and old while helping you support the non-profit organization’s that are dear to your heart.
I’ve put together a collection of some of the coolest online stores to find really standout gifts….

Rather than red roses, try a more exotic flower like the orchid. It’s such an elegant flower and with potted plants you will be giving a gift that will last much longer than fresh cut flowers.

It’s no secret that women adore diamonds but another thing they really love is jewelry that reflects their love of art and beauty. These few pieces from artfulhome.com are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. They have fresh concepts with striking craftsmanship.

Both www.chefscatalog.com and www.deandeluca.com provide irresistibly fine foods and kitchen goods that are sure to deliver a promising evening of indulgent romance. Few things are more enjoyable than spending the evening cooking an unforgettable meal with the love of your life. The time you spend working together in the kitchen, while sharing hopes and dreams together creates priceless memories. Here are some delicious gifts that will sweep your sweetheart of his/her feet….
The items below from www.chefscatalog.com are definitely not your common Valentines gift’s, but who says you can’t give a fabulous pannini grill or wine saver to the person you love? Gifts like this have a creative edge and they are fun for both of you.

At www.deandeluca.com you will find a wide variety of mouthwatering specialty foods. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but guess what fellas – the same goes for women. Most women wouldn’t admit it but trust me – if you lay out a fancy spread of gourmet cheeses, succulent meats, and that perfect bottle of wine….she’ll be eating out of your hand quite literally.

To finish off your romantic meal it helps to surprise her with a treat. But why settle for basic chocolates like every other Joe Schmoe out there when you can send her over the top with these mini cupcake chocolates. Each one is filled with a sophisticated ganache in three different flavors – champagne, strawberry, and passion fruit.

The gift giving doesn’t stop there. What about the kids, and the family pet? I happen to be quite the expert in gift giving with children and teens so here are a few ideas to help you earn the mom or dad of the year award….

At www.faoschwartz.com you will find one of the coolest toys I have ever seen, it’s called the “Muppet WhatNot”. Much like the concept of Build-A-Bear, the Muppet WhatNot is a fully customizable Muppet doll. The little ones will go crazy over this!! Here’s an example of two possible dolls your child can create….

And for the teens in your life? Girls are simple, all it takes is a fabulous new pair of shoes or some real quality make-up but you might want to go for a gift card on this one. It’s better to let the young ladies choose those items on their own, and it gives them an opportunity to do some shopping which secretly ends up being a second gift. Here are two great retailers to shop from….

Teen boys can actually be a tad bit trickier to shop for. However, there is one thing that every boy has in common – they all want to be rock stars!! Guitar Center can help them get started….
The 1974 Fender Stratocaster: quite possibly the most popular electric guitar ever.

There is also the Ludwig Junior drum set, perfect for blossoming percussionists – if you can handle the noise.

Finally, if you have a pet don’t forget to show it some extra love. They are always there for us when we get home from a hard days work and they love us unconditionally. Shouldn’t we show them the same devotion? There is a huge selection of goodies available for pets these days, but the leopard print chaise pictured below is my absolute favorite item, currently sold at Petco. It’s pure luxury for our furry friends.

I wish all of you the most beautiful Valentines Day in 2010. May your hearts be filled with endless love. Remember, this is a day for everyone….even the lonely. You can make an enormous difference in somebody’s life by simply showing them that you think of them….no matter how big or small your gifts may be.
As my Valentine gift to you I’d like to share with you my secret weapon for bringing joy to every person I see and meet. It starts with a motto – “Smile on, pass it on”. It’s very simple, just smile at every person you see and chances are they will feel special inside. They will take that joy you gave them and pass it on with a smile to the next person they see….and so on….and so on. These days a smile can go a VERY long way.

Bauer defends comment comparing poor people to stray animals

stephley — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:44:25 -0800

Lt. Gov. Andre BauerGREENVILLE, SC (WIS) - Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is defending his comment which compared government assistance programs to "feeding stray animals."

Bauer made the comparison during a town hall meeting Friday in Fountain Inn. He was saying poor parents of students who eat free or reduced-price meals in school cafeterias should be required to attend parent-teacher conferences, or the students should go without.

"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed," Bauer said, according to the Greenville News. "You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior. They don't know any better."

The gubernatorial candidate said the government can't afford to keep giving money away without requiring something in return. He said poor people should lose their benefits if they don't pass drug tests, and parents should be required to be more active in their children's education.

But Bauer's comment drew nationwide controversy and criticism as soon as it was reported. On Saturday, Bauer defended his remarks at a gubernatorial forum in Columbia.

"There's no way that I was trying to tie animals to people, but what I was trying to talk about is the dependency culture, and just like when you feed an animal, you create a dependency," he said.

South Carolina's Democratic Party chairwoman doesn't buy Bauer's explanation.

"Andre Bauer's crude utterances once again reveal his immaturity and poor judgment," responded Carol Fowler. "Bauer is a bachelor who has never once had to worry about feeding a child of his own. His notion of punishing children by not feeding them because their parents missed a PTA meeting flies in the face of basic South Carolina values."

Fowler agrees that parents need to be more involved, but that parents should be educated by the school system to do so.

"I don't think it should be the lieutenant governor talking at town hall meetings," said Fowler. "None of those parents are listening to that. I guess they'll hear about it when their child's lunch gets cut."

Democratic candidates have also come out to speak against Bauer.

State Superintendent Jim Rex says Bauer should apologize, stating "if his intent was to blame children, who are not responsible for their own predicaments ... it is regrettable."

Candidate Mullins McLeod said, "It amazes me how some Republican politicians claim a monopoly on Christianity and then go out and say and do some of the most un-Christian things imaginable."

"I really think it's deplorable that people are making this so political when they don't have the backbone to find any solutions or any ways to change, just keep it the same," said Fowler.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11869649

Dairy and Disease

girlA — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:21:41 -0800

So we talked about dairy and calcium. How about dairy and disease? I know, not everyone's favorite topic, but very important!
Our bodies are not meant to consume dairy! We're the only species on the planet that eats dairy beyond infancy and according to the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide that in the United States, as many as 80% of African Americans and 60% of Hispanics are lactose intolerant to some degree.
Dairy and obesity: Cow's milk is designed to make a baby calf into a 400lb cow! Remember those milk ads with the hourglass-shaped glass of milk? They were implying that milk contributed to weight loss, but guess what? The researcher who did the study was sponsored by the Dairy Council and the weight loss results happened only in conjunction with calorie restriction. After being sued by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the ads were suspended and the dairy folks were forced to redact their claims.
Dairy and Cancer: "The medical world acknowledges that some of the biggest factors in breast cancer are fat, animal protein and excess estrogen. Well, since milking cows are pumped full of extra estrogen to make them lactate, dairy is your best and cheapest daily source of all three. Moreover, cows injected with bovine growth hormone have higher levels of naturally occurring hormone called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) which is also connected to tumor growth." Alicia SIlverstone, The Kind Diet Source: "Growth Hormone Raises Cancer Risk", The Harvard University Gazette
In a study comparing the cancer rates of 42 countries, milk and cheese consumption were strongly linked to the incidents of testicular cancer among men ages 20-39. The cancer rates were highest in places like Switzerland and Denmark were cheese is a national food and lowest in Algeria and other countries with lower dairy consumption.
Dairy, Asthma and Allergies: Dairy tends to be a high-allergen food group. This isn't the same as lactose intolerance. It's the milk protein, casein that can cause skin irritation such as eczema. It also causes asthma problems and for some people, dairy can promote the formation of mucus. Studies have linked milk to nasal congestion, ear infections, sinusitis and behavioral problems.
Dairy and Hormones: When all the hormones that cows are injected with combine with our own natural hormones, its no wonder dairy is thought to be a factor in reproductive cancers and even early puberty. When I was diagnosed with Endometriosis (linked with too much estrogen) I was advised by doctors to eliminate dairy from my diet. I never thought I could live without cheese, but after a week, I found out that living with no pain is a heck of a lot better than living without cheese. I've been pain-free since giving it up. Endometriosis, being a chronic inflammatory disease, is no friend of dairy since it's proven that dairy actually aggravates inflammation. Those with Fibromyalgia are urged to give up dairy as well.
Dairy and your Heart: Milk is full of saturated fat and cholesterol--the very things that clog the arteries to your heart! Journal of Internal Medicine researchers write: "It is clear that saturated fat, mainly dairy fats, are closely associated with the mortality rate from ischaemic [artery blocking or constricting] heart disease."
Dairy and Migraines: Study after study suggets that dairy products are key triggers of headaches and migraines. Mentioned earlier, milk can cause an excess of mucus which puts pressure on brain membranes, triggering a massive headache.
Dairy and Colic: More and more medical authorities are recommending that babies under a year old, stay away from cow's milk because cow antibodies and dairy proteins can upset the digestive system in infants.

Dairy has been linked to cataracts, infertility in women, ovarian cancer, juvenile diabetes and even autism.
Not only is dairy not good for you...but it's not good to the planet. Dairy cows produce toxic waste that seeps into the soils (due to all the nasty antibotics and growth hormones they're pumped full of). Fattening up the cows requires lots of land, water, energy, fertilizer, transport, labor, etc. That's a lot of used-up resources. A lactating cow drinks up to 50 gallons of water a day! Between hydrating and washing down the facilities, that's a lot of water! Making milk also uses tons of energy to pump the millions of cows.
I won't even get into how horrible it is to the animals themselves...it's not pretty.
Check out The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone--it's a great source for information!
Ok...I'll get off my soapbox and stick to the recipes!

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe story and Quiz

Monique Marie — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:27:25 -0800

The Story: On the painfully dorky Prince Adam's 18th birthday, a mysterious female named The Sorceress decided Adam was the man his hometown of Eternia was waiting for, the first man deemed courageous enough to enter the mythological Castle Grayskull. Adam was then told he was the sole source of protection to save Eternia against Skeletor, a demon from another dimension. Prince Adam was given the Sword of Power and told that by raising it high above his head and screaming, "By the Power of Grayskull!" he would be transformed into an alter-ego: He-Man, a warrior who, funny enough, looked exactly like Prince Adam, just in leather boots and a furry loincloth. So, giving hope to nerds everywhere, Prince Adam became He-Man, the secret defender of Eternia and the man with the most redundant name in his universe. I guess Dude-Guy was already taken. On a personal note, I am a HUGE He-Man fan, LOL.

The Products: Conan the Barbarian always seemed a bit creepy and the think tank at Mattel seemed to agree. Back in 1982, Mattel planned on releasing a toy based on the forthcoming movie Conan the Barbarian, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but those plans were quickly scrapped when the film was slapped with an R rating. But really, what did Mattel expect? Conan the Barbarian was written by John Milius, who helped write Apocalypse Now, and a young Oliver Stone only one year before he penned Scarface. The movie featured brutal murder, slavery, graphic sexual imagery, Schwarzenegger in his "bad boy/happy hands" days, and was about as child friendly as John Wayne Gacy. But Mattel not wanting to throw away all of their work, simply altered a few of the core elements from their Conan toy prototypes, and voila! an instant favorite toy line! And this is how He-Man was conceived. The first series of the Masters of the Universe toys was released by Mattel at the beginning of 1982 and immediately changed the world of action figures forever. The clunky, yet compact and strong composition of the Master of the Universe figures allowed for numerous hours of play fighting without any broken limbs or pieces, even with the small details of the line. Action figures had never been made like this before. In terms of quality and playability, the figures were leaps and bounds ahead of anything our generation had ever gotten our little hands on. The overwhelming success of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe toy line was undeniable. He-Man's popularity grew at an unbelievable speed, both nationally and globally, even becoming one of France's most popular action figures, where it was dubbed Musculor, wore a beret, smoked cigarettes, and taked about the cinema (just kidding, LOL). It was around that time that Mattel approached Filmation, the same company that produced the TV commericals for MOTU toys, about producing a syndicated cartoon based on the He-Man Universe. Mattel envisioned the cartoon as the perfect avenue for advertising their toy line. This inevitably led to numerous parent complaints, as well as concerns from the TV commission regarding the ethics of commericals disguising themselves as animated TV shows. In Britain, Mattel was even barred from airing their toy commericals during the cartoon. Conflict of interest aside, the show's 130 episode run is still considered premier 1980's boy themed cartoon due to its detailed and emotional story lines. The popularity of the toy line and the TV show gave us two made for TV movies, a spin off series based on a female counterpart (She-Ra), and the crap-fest/vintage classic that was the Masters of the Universe movie. During the six year run of the He-Man empire, the franchise is rumored to have made over $1.2 billion worldwide. In 1986 alone, the company allegedly brought in over $400 million. On the flip side, in 1987, the same rumors say He-Man toys only brought in a paltry $7 million, forever forcing some critics to consider it one of the worst run toy divisions of the 1980's.

You were a serious fan if you had both Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain play set (I had both, LOL). Two of the most elaborate and inventive play sets from the 80's were both parts of the Master of the Universe toy line. The first groundbreaking beauty was Castle Grayskull, released in 1982, and the second set-up was Snake Mountain, first seen in 1984. The incredible intricacies and hiding places found within these play sets were ideal for displaying action figures and setting up strategies for battle. Caste Grayskull was the first to feature the front door drawbridge and the unforgettable trapdoor. This play set also gave you the ability to close the set at its hinges (like a book) and walk around your school like you were carrying an important briefcase (because you were cool like that). Snake Mountain saw Castle Grayskull's bet and raised it a few notches. Snake Mountain not only had the briefcase like storage and the trapdoor (this time triggered by a giant pivoting snake), but it included a net for the victim to fall into. This Snake Mountain play set also had a built in voice distorting microphone, which children could yell into and command the action figures into battle with Skeletor's voice or just use to annoy the hell out of their parents. At the time, the addition of the microphone seemed so technologically advanced, I thought we were minutes away from time traveling.

And now for the quiz, some of the answers are already given to you in the paragraphs above while others are for fans, so just take a guess cause quizzes are fun!

Take the quiz

transcript of rob interview from new moon press conference

athena4rob — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:33:50 -0800

In The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the second chapter in Stephenie Meyer’s phenomenally successful series, the romance between mortal and vampire reaches an intense and dangerous new level, and reveals a conflict that will haunt Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) as the story continues. Delving into the age-old rivalry between the Quileute tribe and the vampires, which comes to a head with her best friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), and her love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Bella quickly learns that the supernatural world that she longs to become a part of will put her at more peril than ever before.As the reluctant vampire who has millions of females swooning all over the world, Robert Pattinson has been working non-stop since signing on for the first Twilight film. Having just wrapped filming on The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the actor also hopes to make Bel Ami and Unbound Captives, before returning for the final chapter, Breaking Dawn, tentatively set to film in the Fall of 2010.At the film’s press day, Robert Pattinson talking about getting used to life with the world watching your every move.Q: What has this past year been like for you? How are you dealing with things? Are you more comfortable with everything now?Rob: I guess it’s inevitable that you become more comfortable. You still fight against some things. There’s nothing really scary about the franchise itself. I like all the people I work with. I generally have very few disagreements about the script or anything while we’re doing it, especially on New Moon. It just seemed so relaxed and easy. I’ve been on three different sets, since January 14th. I’ve had like three days off. I’m going to be on set all next year as well. I don’t know what doing errands and things is really like ’cause I haven’t had a sustained period of time where I’ve been off. I don’t know how it’s really changed. I still feel like I’m pretty much exactly the same, which is maybe not a good thing.

Q: Can you talk about working with Chris Weitz, and how the syllabus he gave the cast helped you?Rob: I’ve never had that, from any director. It was 40 or 50 pages long, in addition to a bunch of letters and emails, trying to show that he was on the same page as us and was completely with us, in making the film. And, he didn’t falter from that attitude, throughout the whole movie. It probably sounds ridiculous how much praise he gets. I was just with him and his wife in Japan, and she was even kind of sick of it. But, he is like a saint. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met, let alone directors. In a lot of ways, it shows in the movie. It’s got a lot of heart, especially for a sequel in a franchise. He’s just a great person to work with.Q: Appearing in most of the movie as only a series of visions, did you feel disjointed from your cast mates at all? Did you wish you were in more of the film?Rob: Those scenes were the hardest scenes. They weren’t really, at the time, but after I saw the first cut of the movie, they changed them quite a bit in the edit and ADR. It’s not Edward. It’s a manifestation of Bella’s loneliness and desperation. It was always very difficult. I asked Kristen, “How would you play it?” It’s her opinion, so that was hard. As for being alone, I’ve always felt a little bit aloof as the character, throughout the whole series. I think that’s how he is, so I didn’t feel any different.Q: What was it like to film that break-up scene between Edward and Bella?Rob: There’s something weird about it. One of the main things I felt doing that and what really helped was people’s anticipation of the movie, and the fans of the series’ idea about what Bella and Edward’s relationship is and what it represents to them. It’s some kind of ideal for a relationship. And so, just playing a scene where you’re breaking up the ideal relationship, I felt a lot of the weight behind that. Also, it took away a fear of melodrama. It felt seismic, even when we were doing it. It was very much like the stepping out into the sunlight scene, at the end. You could really feel the audience watching, as you’re doing it. It was a strange one to do.Q: Have you ever had your heart broken, like Edward does when he leaves Bella?Rob: No, I don’t think so.Q: What were your thoughts while you were filming that scene in Italy, where Edward reveals himself in the sunlight?Rob: I just came to a realization about that scene. It was one of the closest moments I really felt to people’s emotional attachment to the character because there were so many extras there who were just Twilightfans, who had flown in to be in the town square. Just taking that one step into the light, it’s been the one moment, since the first Comic-Con, where I’ve felt the whole weight of anticipation and responsibility to all the people who are so obsessed with the stories. It was a good moment. It was very nerve-wracking, but I probably felt the most in character that I’ve ever felt, throughout the whole series, at that moment.Q: If there was a fight between Edward and Jacob, who would win?Rob: I don’t know. I think it’s actually a fact that Edward would win, if I read the books correctly. So, I guess I can hold onto that, for my ego.Q: What about in a fight between you and Taylor Lautner?Rob: I did hear, the other day, that Taylor had agreed to an interview where the interviewer was going to fight him. I don’t think I’d ever agree to that. And, after looking at Taylor’s martial arts videos from when he was like nine, I wouldn’t really want to do anything. Maybe if I had some kind of weapon.Q: What personality traits do you share with Edward?Rob: I guess stubbornness, in some ways, about some things. He’s pretty self-righteous. I get quite obsessive about things, and possessive as well.Q: With what?Rob: I have very, very specific ideas about how I want to do my work and how I want to be perceived, to the point of ridiculousness, sometimes. I don’t listen to anyone else. That’s why I don’t have a publicist or anything. I can’t stand it, if someone is trying to tell me to do something, which is maybe a mistake sometimes. I like being meticulous, and it’s quite difficult, as an actor, to have that much control. The good thing about the Twilight series is that it does give you a lot more control over tiddly little things, which I want to have. I’m a control freak about it.Q: Do you appreciate Edward more, with each movie? What are your favorite things about him?Rob: When I read New Moon, it gave me ideas about how to play him in the first film. It’s the one I connected to the most, and the one that humanized Edward for me the most, as well. In the first one, he still does remain, from beginning to end, an idealistic character. But, in the second one, he makes a mistake that’s acknowledged by everybody, including himself. Also, he is totally undermined by more powerful creatures, and he’s undermined emotionally by people as well. That’s what humanized it.Since I read that book, I always liked him as a character, and I’ve tried to play that same feeling throughout the films. He’s the hero of the story that just refuses to accept that he’s the hero, and I think that’s kind of admirable.Q: Love plays such a major part of these films, and so many fans want what happens on the screen to happen in your real life. How do you separate falling in love in real life with the women that you’re cast opposite?Rob: You’ve always got to remember that you’re being paid. There’s a lot of connotations that come with that. That’s one of the major separations.Q: Do you agree with the decision to make Edward appear as a vision and not just as a voice?Rob: I was always very worried about that. Even before we started shooting, people were asking questions and saying, “Oh, are you worried that people will think there’s not enough Edward in it?,” but he’s not in the book. I was so worried that it was just going to be random scenes. There was talk, at the beginning, of showing his backstory in South America, going around moping. That would have been terrifying for me, and I think it would have been catastrophic for the film as well.I fought as far as I could to keep it as limited as possible, mainly because it just doesn’t happen in the book. But then, at the same time, it’s scary just to do a voice-over because it could end up being very cheesy. I guess there was a medium. I’m not just there. I was supposed to be playing this vision and, if you play it as realistically as possible, it becomes an interesting thing to try to figure out. It was interesting for me, at the time.Q: How did you fight for that?Rob: I just talked to Chris. He wasn’t ever going to just do things for the sake of doing them. He was always on the side of the story. Even since it’s been edited, there were loads and loads of the apparition sequences cut out. A lot of them, Chris cut out without me saying. But, when I was doing ADR, I was saying, “It will be more interesting and mystical if you cut out more of these shots. It becomes more eerie and more realistic, the less of these visions you have.” Just having head-on shots makes it something other than a vision. It becomes a super-imposed image, which is not interesting.Q: This franchise has made you a bankable leading man. How has that changed your career, and where do you want to be in five years?Rob: I don’t know. I’ve only done one movie outside of the series, which was Remember Me. That’s going to be out sometime next year. But, even that, I did with the same studio. I’m still a little bit blind, as to what my actual economic viability is, outside of the series, but it’s definitely different. You get offered stuff that you never would have dreamed of getting offered before, but that’s scary as well ’cause you don’t have to audition for anything. You’re just like, “I don’t want to do a movie just ’cause it gets made.”It’s a scary situation to be in, in a lot of ways. You have to question yourself a lot more. Before Twilight, I did any movie that I got and tried to make the best of it afterwards. Now, you’re expected to come into the movie and provide not only economic viability, but a performance as well. People are like, “You can’t just mess around. We’re employing you to be a star and an actor.” It’s difficult and it’s scary.Q: Isn’t that what you dream about when you start out in the business?Rob: You do. When you haven’t gotten a big movie behind you and you’re not bankable, everyone is like, “He’s not bankable enough,” so you can’t get the roles that you want to get. And then, when you do, especially with a movie like this where there’s a perceived specific audience, people start thinking, “Oh, you need to get in with this audience. You need to do this or that. You need to look a certain way.” There are some limitations to it, whereas when no one is watching your movies and you get a part, you can do whatever the hell you want. That’s just the way it is. So, there are good and bad points, either way.Q: With everything that you’ve got going on now, how do you keep your life from just being a blur?Rob: It is just a blur. There are random moments which stand out, but I’ve been working so much this year that it’s almost like living in an alternate reality. The hours on a film set are so long that you’re doing doctor hours, and every doctor that I’ve ever spoken to says the same thing, that you have no idea what’s going on, other than working. You’re away from your family and friends, and all that stuff.Q: With all of the fan encounters that you’ve had, has there been anything that’s just made you laugh?Rob: Yeah, a lot of the time. Recently, I have less direct interaction with people because there’s way more security and stuff on set. But, I always find it funny when older people come up. There was a woman who came up to me the other day who must have been in her 90’s. It’s very unusual. And, they say exactly the same things as 12-year-old girls. That is kind of bizarre.Q: When you are shooting the more romantic things, what goes through your head?Rob: It’s weird. I keep getting told by people, “Pump up all the stuff about the action, so the guys will go and see it,” but it’s ridiculous. It’s like saying that guys can’t appreciate romance. I don’t think you can say that about Gone with the Wind. I’ve watched Titanic and I didn’t think, “Oh, this is a girl’s film.”Especially in New Moon, and actually in the whole series, I’ve never played it thinking, “Oh, I’m in a series of girls’ films and I’m doing something just for girls.” I don’t feel like I’m doing an animated Tiger Beat, every week. I like doing romantic scenes. I felt like a lot of the storyline in New Moon is very heartbreaking and true. I didn’t think I was doing something, just for the sake of romance. I thought, in a lot of ways, that it was a really sad story.Q: Are you a romantic person, in real life? What is the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?Rob: I haven’t done that many romantic things, in my life.Q: Have you ever serenaded somebody?Rob: Oh, no! I don’t think that would ever be romantic. You need to have so much balls to do that. Jesus Christ! I actually can’t think of a single romantic thing I’ve ever done. That’s terrible.Q: Have you ever given anyone flowers?Rob: Yeah, I did. I put a flower in someone’s locker when I was 15 years old. This girl, called Maria. Maybe I was 14. She actually thought it was from someone else, and the other guy claimed it as well, which was just great.Q: What was it like watching Taylor transform physically?Rob: I didn’t see Taylor until just a little bit before we started shooting, so when he came back, I had the same reaction as everybody else. I was like, “Now I have to go to the gym.”Q: What has it been like to develop the romantic triangle?Rob: It was weird because I hardly did any scenes with Taylor. We just did the scenes at the beginning and the scenes at the end, and he had his entire storyline develop without me being around, which is interesting because I had no idea where his performance was going. It wasn’t really a competition or anything. It was independent. Whereas, in Eclipse, we did scenes together, all the time, with Bella. It really shows the dynamic in that film.Q: Who is your favorite movie vampire of all time, and why?Rob: I don’t really know. I always think of the wrong people. I’ll be like, “Ethan Hawke in Interview with a Vampire,” and someone will say, “He’s not the vampire.” There’s a bunch. I actually really like Wesley Snipes (in Blade). I think he’s great.Q: What’s the weirdest or funniest thing you’ve ever read or heard about yourself?Rob: Recently, some magazine had on the cover that I was pregnant. I was just like, “Wow!” And, it was without a hint of irony or anything. I didn’t really know what to make of that one. I don’t even know if that qualifies as libelous because they can just say, “Well, it’s obviously fiction,” but it’s written in a non-fiction magazine. I saw a couple comments under the article saying, “That’s why he always wears jackets. He always wears layers to hide it.”Q: How do you maintain the balance of letting your fans and the public know who you are, outside of just being Edward, but also keep your private life private?Rob: I think you just do it through doing jobs. It’s such a risky thing, doing interviews. I try to limit the amount of interviews I do. No one is that interesting, especially when you’re not really saying anything. And, I don’t particularly want to be some kind of character in society. So, I guess the only thing you can do is do jobs and see if people respond to that.But, I’m always holding onto the fact that I don’t really know who I am, so hopefully I won’t compartmentalize myself because of that. I’m just completely ignorant of the whole thing. I’ve never really struggled with anything, up until recently. I’ve got to stop being so self-depreciating ’cause people are starting to believe it. They’ll be like, “That guy is an idiot,” so I’ve tried to stop doing that.Q: Was it a big shock to have Bryce Dallas Howard on the set of Eclipse, instead of Rachelle Lefevre?Rob: Yeah, it was a shock, but she’s lovely. She’s really, really nice.Q: Have you been told a tentative time that you might film Breaking Dawn?Rob: I think the tentative for Breaking Dawn is Fall of next year. I think. They may well change that.Q: What movies have you committed to in 2010?Rob: Depending on how things go, I’m doing a movie called Bel Ami in February, which is an adaptation of a Guy de Maupassant novel. And, I hope I’m doing a Western with Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman, called Unbound Captives, sometime around there as well. They’ve got to try to work around everybody’s schedules and stuff.Q: Who do you play in Unbound Captives?Rob: I’m playing a kid who is kidnapped by the Comanches, when he was four years old, and he’s brought up by them. His mother spends her entire life trying to find me and my sister, and when she finds us, we can’t remember who she is or anything about the Western culture that we grew up in. They speak Comanche, the whole movie. You can’t really be more different from Edward.Q: Is that why you responded to it?Rob: No. I actually sign on to that after I had done Twilight, in the summer, just a couple of months after I finished. It was really before anything had happened, so I wasn’t really thinking about it. It was just a cool script and it reminded me, in a lot of ways, of Giant, which is one of my favorite movies. I think that’s why I responded to it.Q: Is James Dean one of your favorite actors?Rob: One of, yeah.Q: Are you going to have to learn Comanche for your role?Rob: Yeah.Q: Have you had time for your music?Rob: I’m trying to.

Taylor Lautner on the cover of Rolling Stone

athena4rob — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:43:31 -0800

see all the pics from the photoshoot HERE, and watch a video from the shoot HERE
Here's the interview from the magazine(Source:rollingstone.com)
In our latest issue, Taylor Lautner reveals how he went from a skinny martial arts kid to starring in the blockbuster Twilight franchise. In this bonus Q&A you won't find in the issue, he examines the love triangle that drives Stephenie Meyer's stories.
Don't you think that when some fans see New Moon, they may be disappointed, because you're kind of the villain in a way.I have some pretty passionate team Jacob fans [laughs].
Right. But you're also the obstacle getting in the way of the great romance between Bella and Edward.I can see where you're coming from. The thing is, Jacob and Edward are two completely different guys. They are opposites. And it's just what kind of girl you are. If you like that more mysterious, dangerous type, then that's one guy. I personally love Jacob and Bella's relationship, and how they began as friends. They are so much more open, and can tell each other anything. And Bella and Edward's relationship, it's always tense. It's always serious. But Jacob and Bella's friendship starts growing stronger and stronger and you just wonder if they can go past friends. It looks like that at some points.
But when your character hangs up on Edward in New Moon, it sets off the whole chain of events that almost lead to a major tragedy. That's something a villain would do.Yes. that is part of Jacob's character. He can't really control himself. When he gets mad, he gets mad. And all Jacob has on his mind is on Bella. That's who he cares for. That's who he loves. If somebody gets in his way, it's not good. And he will explode. So I guess you could see that either way.
And then Bella is always lying to Edward so she can see you. This is supposed to be like true love forever, so why can't she just be honest?You know, she's serious with Edward and then she meets best friend Jacob. She gets confused.
But you're not really her friend. You have an agenda with her, and you're always making snide comments about Edward.If I was Jacob, and I feel like I have lived as him, it gets so annoying. Because she's in the car with you one moment, about ready to kiss you and then she leaves and is with Edward. And then she's back with you, you know.
Then she even says she loves you.That's why Eclipse was actually my favorite of the series. It's the height of the love triangle. I think it's going to be good. That tent scene is the biggest thing possible. She's cold and I'm hot, so [since vampires are cold], are you going to let me crawl in the sleeping bag with her, or are you just going to let her die?
That's what I mean. Why don't you be like, "You guys stay there. I will get you an extra blanket so you can stay warm?" Or, "I'll turn into a wolf and go skin some animals and make you a blanket."No, no, no. Oh my.
That said, I understand the book's appeal: it's a great fantasy for someone to have two powerful good-looking guys who can have anybody fighting over her. It's a classic romance, with fangs and fur heightening it.Definitely. And I admit proudly that I enjoyed the series. I was not a book reader at all. But then when I read them, they hook you. I feel like each book, and more so the movies, are just getting more exciting and better and better. With New Moon, you know, it's not just the love story between these two anymore. Now there are three people, and it's dangerous.
But when you're reading the book, aren't you sometimes thinking, "Come on, when is there going to be some action?"It's a tease.
Why do you think Jacob and Edward likes Bella so much?Because she's different, meaning she's more of the plain Jane type. You know, she's not fake. I know that attracts me too. Just somebody who is down to earth and themselves. I mean, apparently Edward likes her smell. But Jacob's relationship with her is - Jacob has just always liked her. They used to be friends because their fathers are best friends. And he's just always had a crush on her since he was a kid. Now they are getting to that stage where things can start
What do you think of the whole part about Jacob's "brother" imprinting on a two-year-old and falling in love with her, then keeping her around until she's of proper age? Isn't that a little weird?Yeah, yeah. Let's not go there.

Sesame Street still Big Bird’s nest after 40 years

starangel82 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:53:50 -0800

Not really news... but it's big. And probably one of the better kids shows on the air today. Plus I loved Sesame Street!

NEW YORK - Big Bird is leaving Sesame Street!

That's what he decides on the "Sesame Street" season opener. A rapping real-estate agent pitches him on migrating to a new habitat ("habitat," the episode's "Word on the Street"). After sizing up a beach and a swamp for his new habitat, Big Bird chooses a rain forest.

But then he comes to his senses with a musical number.

"Sesame Street is my habitat!" he sings. "Sesame Street is my home!"

Indeed, Big Bird - that towering, yellow-feathered 6-year-old - has been calling Sesame Street home for four decades, ever since the show premiered on Nov. 10, 1969.

Now, as it marks its 40th anniversary on Tuesday on PBS (check local listings), he remains an essential member of the flock.

He is still brought to life by Caroll Spinney, who also plays trash-can denizen Oscar the Grouch.

Hand-picked by Muppet-meister Jim Henson, Spinney was 35 when "Sesame Street" began. He turns 76 the day after Christmas. In his dressing room at Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens, where the show is taped, he was pondering an existential question not long ago.

"If you didn't know when you were born, how old would you think you are?" he mused. "I can apply that to Sesame Street's longevity: It seems like years, but I'd NEVER guess 40!"

Maybe that's because the self-renewing "Sesame Street" is forever young.

A realm of sunny days where everything's A-OK, the series starts its new season with episode 4187, which features the letter H and, naturally, the number 40. With it and the 25 new hours that follow, "Sesame Street" will continue to explore its chosen habitat - and experiment with how it does the job.

"We think of every year as experimental," says Carol-Lynn Parente, the show's executive producer, "and this new season is just part of that continuing evolution.

"It was always designed to emulate the TV-viewing environment," she notes. "Back in 1969, it had a magazine format that emulated what was then on television."

To meet expectations of its audience 40 years later, each new episode has been reformatted as an hourlong block composed of modular programming parts.

Murray Monster, a lively orange Muppet, hosts each episode's four segments. These include Abby Cadabby in the new "Abby's Flying Fairy School," which marks the first time a "Sesame Street" character has been transformed into CGI animation.

The program is also kicking off "My World Is Green & Growing," a two-year science initiative designed to increase positive attitudes toward nature and the environment.

With that in mind, first lady Michelle Obama visits Sesame Street to plant vegetable seeds with Elmo and several young flesh-and-blood gardeners.

Then Big Bird steps up.

"Wow, did I just hear right?" he says. "The first lady eats seeds? I love seeds!"

Not exactly, says Mrs. Obama, but "I do eat what grows from these seeds."

Big Bird absorbs this information with the thoughtfulness of any curious 6-year-old, which is what he is.

But that wasn't how he was originally hatched.

"For the first few shows, he was just a silly, goofy guy," recalls Spinney. "Then one day I said, 'Big Bird should be a kid. Forget the fact that he's eight feet tall.' And real children accepted him."

Indeed, Big Bird fast became a signature figure on "Sesame Street." Early on, he appeared solo on the cover of Time magazine, which dubbed his show "TV's Gift to Children."

But even if he has never grown older, he has never stood still. Spinney continues to refine the performance.

"I study tapes to see how to get new expressions out of his face," Spinney says. "I see something good that I did, and I take note to make sure I do it again."

As the silver-haired, nattily bearded Spinney speaks with a reporter in his dressing room, Big Bird's lower half is hanging in the closet: fuzzy orange fleece pants with platter-size feet, into which Spinney climbs almost like pulling on waders.

Then, on the set, with an assistant's help, he encases himself in the feathered yellow body and head before each scene is taped. A tiny television monitor harnessed to his chest lets him glimpse the outside world. He recites Big Bird's lines as his upraised right hand supports the head and animates its mouth and eyes.

"The head weighs about 4 1/2 pounds," reports Spinney. "One fellow says, 'That's no big deal, I can do that.' And I said, 'All right. Let's hold our hand up for five minutes. You don't even have to put anything in it.' And in a couple of minutes, he said, 'My God!'

"There's a rule with puppetry: If it's comfortable, you're probably doing it wrong." Spinney laughs. "My arm has gotten much stronger than it was when I started. I'm really great at painting ceilings."

Spinney is one of but a few charter members of the show still on the Street. Among them: Bob McGrath (Bob) and Loretta Long (Susan), as well as camera man Frankie Biondo.

They and so many others pioneered a strategy for channeling television to help underprivileged youngsters. Cradled by a nonprofit organization (now called Sesame Workshop), the mission continues, its mandate expanded to reach middle-income kids, too.

Just as in the formulation of the show's original game plan, research continues to play a major role.

"That is the model that 'Sesame Street' has always been based on: The education and research department works hand-in-hand with producers," says Rosemarie Truglio, who heads up Sesame Workshop's research effort.

In-house testing helps identify key curriculum goals, shape the show's content and track its success.

Meanwhile, independent academic researchers have conducted more than 1,000 studies, making "Sesame Street" the most researched TV show in history.

One notable study reconnected with adolescents who had participated in "Sesame Street" research as preschoolers. It found that teens who watched "Sesame Street" in preschool had higher grades and spent more time reading for pleasure than other teens who had missed the show as children.

"We feel so passionately about getting 'Sesame Street' in the hands of as many kids as possible because we know it works," says Carol-Lynn Parente. These days, it's not only available on PBS, but also on cable's Sprout network, online and video podcasts.

Last season, "Sesame Street" averaged more than 5 million viewers each week, and beyond that, logged 135 million impressions through media sources other than PBS between January and September.

And the show goes on. "Sesame Street" is currently midway through production of its 41st season, and one recent afternoon was shooting a scene on a rare rainy day. In Studio J, the diminutive Muppets Elmo and Rosita are having a problem sharing an umbrella with Big Bird.

"You can't fit under the umbrella if I'm holding it," Rosita worries.

"Oh, sure I can," says Big Bird. "I'll just make myself short." And down Spinney sinks into a Big Bird crouch. Good knees!

With no sign of slowing down, Spinney says he aims to keep at it as Big Bird and Oscar.

"I still have the job, and I have contracts for the future in hand," he says with a smile, "and I'm delighted."

After 40 years and counting (plus spelling and other explorations), on "Sesame Street" everything's A-OK.

Source: MSNBC

Baby Cured in Medical First

samantha999 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:54:18 -0800

Doctor cures 'Baby Z' of molybdenum cofactor deficiency in medical world first

By Grant McArthurHerald SunNovember 05, 2009 07:14am

Baby's brain starts dissolving; 'no hope'

Drug administered; Baby Z wakes up

A MELBOURNE baby given no chance of survival has amazed doctors after being saved with one of the biggest long shots in medical history.

"Baby Z's" brain started virtually dissolving soon after she was born 18 months ago because she had too much toxic sulphite in her system.

But her parents and doctors refused to give in to the one-in-a-million genetic condition and stumbled on a highly experimental drug. The Herald Sun can reveal treatment began a month after she was born and within days Baby Z "woke up".

"It was really like awakening - it was just bang, and she was switched on," pioneering neonatologist Dr Alex Veldman said.

Baby Z's overjoyed mother said she had grown into a happy and determined little girl.

"She is absolutely delightful and as stubborn as anything - I don't know where she gets that from," she said. "She has just started saying a few words and is constantly moving around.

"Every day just gets better and better. We look at her every day and just think, 'Wow'."

The first person to be cured of molybdenum cofactor deficiency - a condition that poisons the brain and kills within months of birth - Baby Z has made world medical and legal history for Monash Children's at Southern Health.

The child and her parents cannot be named for legal reasons and to protect their privacy.

But her relieved mother told the Herald Sun she refused to accept her daughter would die, even when told she had no chance.

"(The procedure) was a tiny bit of hope but, when you have nothing, that is a lot of hope. She might have one bad gene but she has a lot of other good and strong genes."

Soon after she was born in 2008, Baby Z's toxic sulphite levels were almost 30 times higher than normal and were dissolving her brain.

After three weeks looking for answers, biochemist Dr Rob Gianello found a research paper by German plant biologist Prof Gunther Schwarz describing how he had developed an experimental drug that was able to save mice with the disease in 2004.

The drug had hardly been used in animals and nobody had more than an educated guess at what it would do in a human.

But Monash's Dr Alex Veldman contacted Prof Schwarz in Cologne and appealed to the hospital's ethics committee to use the drug on Baby Z. The long shot was backed because the only other option was a painful death.

The Office of the Public Advocate then called on special medical procedure powers - used just twice before - to convince the Family Court to allow the unique treatment to go ahead. Within an hour of the court's approval, Baby Z was given the drug.

Within hours of receiving her first daily dose of cPMP (cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate), tests showed Baby Z's sulphite levels immediately dropped from near 300 to below 100. Within three days they fell to the normal level of about 10.

Baby Z's neurological development is delayed due to some brain damage in the weeks it took to find the cure, but she is now improving.

The full details of the treatment are now being analysed for a planned human trial of the medication at Southern Health.

Victorian Public Advocate Colleen Pearce said she was thrilled everything had fallen into place for Baby Z and her family.

'Baby Z' is the first person to be cured of molybdenum cofactor deficiency, when she was given a highly experimental medicine, only ever trialled on German mice / supplied

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26307721-421,00.html?referrer=email...