There were roughly 30 deaths in the U.S. from Guillain-Barre syndrome in 1976. GBS can be caused by a variety of things (typically infection), which stimulate the body to produce antibodies not just against the infection, but which also attack the nerves, producing (usually) temporary weakness and paralysis. It's thought that many of the GBS cases that year were linked to the swine flu vaccine. Nobody knows exactly why, since the flu vaccines used in the decades since 1976 have not caused the problem. I made an incorrect statement earlier in this thread about the incidence of GBS during the 1976 swine flu - it was much less common than the figure I gave: "In all, the vaccination resulted in nearly one extra case of Guillain-Barré for every 100,000 people immunized, which would translate into roughly 450 cases for the 45 million people who got the shot." Obviously, even those numbers were unacceptable (particularly when the flu strain in '76 did not turn out to be an especially dangerous one). Given the continued advancements in vaccine science and the good health record since 1976, I'd expect far fewer side effects from a 2009 vaccine, and given the choice between the vaccine and taking my chances with a full-blown deadly flu outbreak, I'd go for the vaccine, no question. apollog is dead on target, by the way, when he contrasts the risks of getting an immunization with a small quantity of killed virus, with the far, far greater hazard of having large amounts of virulent virus coursing through your system. Many of us have forgotten or never known what it's like to actually face a deadly epidemic of infectious disease in our community. When such a thing happens (and I hope it doesn't in this case), the current climate of alarmism about vaccines will change rapidly.

Double check your information source, jewell, I don't think you have the right story for gabapentin. It's not a diabetic drug but rather one used to treat nerve pain of many kinds, certain seizures, and anxiety. It has many other off-label uses too, including the one I use it for, restless leg syndrome. I've been taking it for over 15 years with no side effects at all. I once asked a pharmacist what risks taking it might present, and he said "the most likely risk you could encounter is that if you put a handful of them in your mouth at one time, you might choke". Asked to clarify, he laughed and said that it was a drug most people find effective and non-problematic. Everyone is different, but perhaps your distress suggests you should see a physician.

I received the Spraway and the Bio-Clean. The Sprayway did take away the water drip marks and made the SS look nice. But it seems like it is a lot like WD-40 but with a citrus scent added. Do not spray it down near the floor or you'll end up with a slick, oily puddle. I will continue to use it because it is the only thing so far that has taken away the water marks. Bio-Clean.....I have a Toto toilet that has an area at the bottom of the bowl that a brush won't reach. I have tried everything.....vinegar, CLR, bleach, Coke. What has worked best so far are denture tablets but even they don't get the job done anymore. Well, unfortunately neither did Bio-Clean. It did take away one small spot higher up in the bowl though. I think if it were liquid instead of gel it may have worked better at the bottom. I turned off the water and flushed so there was little water. I squeezed a bunch into the bottom and let it sit all day. I flushed later that night and it took away just a little bit. Looks like I will have to empty the bowl and scrub it by hand....yuk! But hopefully Bio-clean will work with hand scrubbing. We have another Toto in the powder room that doesn't have the same broblem but it is also difficult to clean. They flush great, but cleaning is a pain. I'd really like to get rid of both of them.

Alanna, I think MOST of us feel the same way! Those of us that have to grow them inside that is..Can you imagine how many people that don't even come here have the same issues? And worst yet, I have been growing them since I was 10 years old!! I have never had a perfect banner year with every tree, but thank God 99 percent of them do ok and the 1 percent that does not do well, goes in the trash! I feel your pain too. There is no perfect environment to grow them perfectly unless you grow them in an area they are accustomed t Oh the joys of this hobby...lol