Culver City Observer -

By Neil Rubenstein

Observer Columnist

I just hate the preparation necessary to get a colonoscopy. The last time the gastroenterology doctor examined me was in January 2015 when he removed seven polyps and said, with a big smile, “I’ll see you in twelve months” Say what:?!? Well, I just read about a test called a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) where the victim sends the lab a stool sample and the techs look for traces of blood and other properties that would indicate a tumor or polyp. I’ve been told it is 92% accurate in ruling out colon cancer and the best part is no prepping, no anesthesia, no poking or prodding.

If you do not have the time to drive to the wine country in Northern California, why not take advantage of the grapes in Temecula? The harvest celebration this year will be on the seventh and eighth of November. Call (800) 801-9463 or go to temeculawines.org.

Mark your calendar for the Civil War Re-enactment at Fort Tejon near Lebec for the Lincoln/Douglas Debate and Civil War battles. Call (661) 248-7001 or go to forttejon.org.

Intarcia Therapeutics anticipates by 2017 their implantable drug delivery pump will be on the market. The device, called ITCA 650, is a matchstick-size pump that holds up to a year’s supply of exenatide, a drug commonly prescribed to control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Senators in Sacramento passed Hannah-Beth Jackson’s SB186, now in the Assembly. The bill would allow community colleges to expel or suspend students who are accused of sexual assault even if the attack happened off campus. What happens to a student who is falsely accused?

The National Security Agency’s authority to store and search domestic telephone records is contained in the Patriot Act, section 215, and is set to expire on June 1, 2015. A report released on April 22, 2015 by the director of national intelligence shows the records were checked for 227 “known or presumed” Americans last year. When the bill is passed by Congress and signed by the president it will be for 5 ½ years and hopefully will have its scope narrowed.

Is it true the inheritance tax was introduced to pay for the Spanish-American War? You remember the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor and Teddy Roosevelt and his charge up San Juan Hill. Do you think its time to put this money grab to bed?

The May 1, 2015 issue of the Beverly Hills Courier states their police chief, Dave Snowden, is due to retire on June 13 with 11 years of service in the top job. According to the article, the chief failed to get the city’s approval for his “outside employment,” from what appear to be mistakes on his form 700 filed in April 2014. See bhcourier.com for a lot more information.

From the file labeled “Why didn’t the Doctor tell us?”: Cancer patients are paying a private lab to breed mice that carry bits of the patients’ own tumors so that treatments can be tried first on the customized rodents. The idea is to see which drugs might work best on a person’s specific cancer. Several labs breed the mice, but the main supplier to patients has been Champion Oncology of Hackensack, New Jersey. Mouse testing costs $10,000 or more, and insurance plans rarely cover it. This is the wave of the future, folks.

Medieval manuscripts and papal documents relating to Saint Francis of Assisi were recently on display in Brooklyn’s Borough Hall. New York City officials said it was the first time the documents have left Italy in 700 years.

I can still remember it like it was yesterday. When the temperature dropped Mother made us kids Quaker Oats cereal extra thick, and with a spoonful of oleo. Also on the table was a half-gallon carton of Jersey Maid milk purchased from either Thriftimart or the Food Giant market. During the rest of the year I just might grab a box of cereal, such as Corn Capitals Chex, Wheaties or French Toast Crunch. Yes, General Mills, after a 20 year vacation, is bringing back the one and only French Toast Crunch.

The volunteers of the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum (MCLM), in collaboration with the African American Quilters of Los Angeles (AAQLA), will host a celebration of African American quilting in commemoration of Juneteenth. The day will feature quilts on display, guest quilters sharing stories of quilt-making, hands-on sewing sessions, “make and take,” artwork, film showing and a featured speaker. The event is on Saturday, June 13. Program events and times are announced on the website, claytonmuseum.org.

Getting around to New York City or, as it’s better known, the “Big Apple,” their city council last December passed a bill providing that a person does not need sex reassignment surgery to change the gender designation on his or her birth certificate.

You just knew it would happen. Native American tribes in Washington, Oregon and Colorado are asking the United States Attorney General about growing and selling pot on tribal land.

For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in hat website’s search box.