The Daily Herald du lieu suivant : Chicago, Illinois • Page 36

Page 1 THE IJVSIDE PAGE Monday, January 15,1996 Second opinion makes a world of difference The following letter is from the mail bag: "Dear Paul Harvey News, "My 76-year-old mother was in trouble. She was forgetful, incontinent and unable to walk or to rise without assistance. Her beloved husband of 43 years had died after a protracted, excruciating battle with cancer. "Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and sent to a nursing home, where she was given drugs. The possible side effects of these drugs included confusion, delirium, depression, hallucinations and dizziness upon standing.

"Because of several falls in her home and her inability to call for help, a nursing home seemed the only viable option. There, she was confined to a wheelchair. Medical expenses were depleting her life savings. "I wish I had insisted on a neurological test first. I wish I had insisted on getting a second opinion.

"From nursing-home nurses, I learned that the drugs Mother had been taking could have serious side effects. She was exhibiting symptoms of those effects. The drugs Dilantin, usually prescribed for epilepsy, and Sinemet, usually prescribed for Parkinson's appeared inappropriate for whatever ailed Mother. "It was then that I did seek a second opinion. "Cleveland Clinic doctors were meticulous.

After a general evaluation, specialists diagnosed her condition as normal pressure hydrocephalus. "NPH occurs in a person when his or her system loses the ability to drain effectively the daily production of spinal fluid. "The doctors recommended inserting a shunt to provide a new route for the fluid to drain. The doctors were not entirely optimistic they warned us not to expect dramatic improvement. "The procedure was successful, and the improvement was dramatic.

"Mother is back in her Beachwood, Ohio, home. She lives unassisted. She is again playing bridge to her life-master level, maintaining her household and hosting the family's traditional Sunday gatherings. "She does her own shopping and driving. She travels again, sings with a local group and receives an occasional gentleman caller.

"All this incredible change resulted from a second opinion. "I wonder, Mr. Harvey, how many people are warehoused in nursing homes, being prescribed inappropriate drugs whose side effects might reinforce incorrect diagnoses. "Please ask your readers to look out for themselves and those they love. Ask questions.

Get a second opinion." Edward Duvall, Richmond Heights, Ohio. 1996, Creators Syndicate Inc. Columnist needs facts to back up comments WASHINGTON When I first heard that New York Times columnist Bill Safire had called Hillary Clinton a "congenital Jiar," I figured he must know what he was talking about. After all, Safire used to write speeches for Richard Nixon, and anyone who did that for a living must know a thing or two about lying. But then something odd struck me about Safire's accusation.

Along with his political column, Safire writes a column about the correct use of the English language. It is filled with criticism about how people use "persuade" when they mean "convince" and how sentences should never end with prepositions. (A problem up with which I will not put.) So when Safire uses language, he uses it very, very carefully. Which is why I found it strange that he would call Mrs. Clinton a "congenital" liar.

I was pretty sure I knew what congenital meant, but I looked it up in a dictionary to be sure. And it said: "Congenital: Existing at or from birth." And so I figured Safire must have examples of Hillary Clinton lying from the cradle did not wet my diaper; it was somebody or at least from grade school on have no knowledge of eating my paste and believe I was not really involved to any significant But when I read Safire's column, I found out that the first "lie" he accuses Hillary Clinton of occurred only a few years ago. So how can her lying be considered congenital? And why would a guy like Safire, a guy who specializes in the precise use of language, use a word like that? Could it be, as the White House believes, that Safire is trying to dirty up Mrs. Clinton as much as possible in pursuit of his own conservative political agenda? Could it be that by attacking Mrs. Clinton, conservatives believe they can topple Mr.

Clinton in the next election? Well, yes, it could be. But I don't think attacking Hillary Clin- ton is the best way to topple Bill Clinton. What are the facts behind Safire's accusations? Fact one, of course, is that if Hillary Clinton is a "congenital liar," Safire has presented no proof of it. His column begins: "Americans of all political persuasions are coming to the sad realization that our first lady a woman of undoubted talents who was a role model for many in her generation is a congenital liar." We have already dealt with the "congenital" part of that, but let's take the other assertion, that Americans "of all political persuasions" are coming to the realization that Mrs. Clinton is a liar.

I doubt that is true. I doubt most Democrats believe it, and Safire offers no evidence (not even a poll, the weakest kind of evidence) to back it up. I have no doubt that some Republicans believe it. And I have no doubt former speech writers for Richard Nixon believe it. Then there are Hillary's "lies" themselves.

The most serious examples are statements made by Mrs. Clinton to official probers that seem to be contradicted by recently revealed documents. In other words, Mrs. Clinton has one version of events, and documents prepared by others have another. Which version is the truth? We don't yet know.

Maybe after hearing her version of events, Americans "of all political persuasions" will indeed decide she is a congenital liar. Or maybe they wUl decide Bill Safire deserves a punch in the nose, as the White House says. Me, I'm waiting for more Safire columns on the subject of lying. Especially the one in which he reveals whether he wrote the "I am not a crook" speech. 01996, Creators Syndicate Inc.

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BOX 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006. New York politicians give'SNL'a break NEW YORK If you didn't think "Saturday Night Live" was funny this weekend, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki have the reason why. The two Republicans who opened Saturday night's show that after the city's worst blizzard in more than 40 years the cast had to help shovel and salt snow- covered streets. "So folks, if you find the jokes are only marginally funny, cut 'em some slack," Giuliani said.

Added Pataki: "If a sketch doesn't have an ending, well, so what?" The two also had a mock quarrel over who should open the NBC show. As politicians often do, they compromised and did it together. Ricki Lake sees hurdle in playing 'pretty girl' NEW Lake, who made her film debut nine years ago at 250 pounds, says the hard part about playing a romantic lead was accepting herself as a "pretty girl." "I was terrified, in tears," she said in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. "For me it was all coming true, I had this part. And I felt more insecure than I've ever been.

I was questioning my New York Gov. George Pataki, left, and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani open "Saturday Night Live" with a special cameo appearance. Associated Press Photo ability." Playing "the insecure ugly girl is so easy. It's scarier believing that I am a pretty girl," said Lake, who made her movie debut in "Hairspray" at age 18. Now a slim size 8, she plays the title role in "Mrs.

Winterbourne," which opens in April. Lake also host of a syndicated talk show, said it's hard to stay interested in the program after discussing the same topic time after time. "I've done a lot of these shows three times now," Lake said. 'Home Improvement' gets a taste of space NEW YORK Astronaut Kathryn Thorton said it wasn't exactly rocket science, but doing a cameo for "Home Improvement" had its own challenges. As one of the senior members of the space shuttle Columbia's crew last voyage out, Thorton got a starring role in the taping of gags for comedian Tim Allen's televi- sion show.

Allen told TV Guide in the Jan. 20 issue that NASA gave permission hi October for the taping, the first footage ever specially shot in space for a TV series. "Grunting in the cosmos. I couldn't believe it," Allen said, referring to his famous grunts. Thorton was taped using a screwdriver and "without gravity, I spun along with it." Allen called it the "first intergalactic screw- up." Sneak peak at success can't convince singer LOS ANGELES Jack Logan knows that critical acclaim doesn't pay the bills.

That's why, despite good reviews for his 1994 debut album and advance praise for his latest, Logan has no plans to quit his job rebuilding swimming pool motors. "Despite all the great things people have written, we haven't sold many records," the 36-year-old songwriter from Winder, songwriter told the Los Angeles Times recently. "I'm not taking out any big loans or anything," he said. Monday's chuckle What's so sophisticated about Web sites? Spiders have been doing them for years. Chicago critics stand own ground with film nominations BY DANN GIRE Daily Herald Film Critic They left "Leaving Las Vegas." "Persuasion" didn't persuade them.

They have no "Sense and Sensibility," either. The Chicago Film Critics Association bolted from the critics in New York and Los Angeles when they bypassed "Leaving Las Vegas" the top film according to those two groups as a best movie contender. "Apollo 13" leads the 1995 Chicago Flame Awards nominations being released today with six, including one for director Ron Howard and two more for supporting players Ed Harris and Kathleen Quintan. Oliver Stone's "Nixon" raked in four Chicago Flame nominations, among them best film and best actor (Anthony Hopkins). "Heat" won four nominations.

"Leaving Las Vegas" did score three nominations for Mike Figgis and cast leads Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. The eighth annual Chicago Film Critics Awards will be announced March 11 at Park West in Chicago. Tickets are $75 and can be ordered by calling (312) 509-8155. Here are the nominees for the 1995 awards: Best Picture: "Apollo 13," "Crumb," "Exotica," "Heat," "Nixon." Best Foreign Language Film: "The City of Lost Children" (France), "Lamerica" (Italy), "Les Miserables (France), "The Postman" (Italy), "Through the Olive Trees" (Iran). Best Director: Clint Eastwood for "The Bridges of Madison County," Mike Figgis for "Leaving Las Vegas," David Fincher for "Seven," Ron Howard for "Apollo 13," Martin Scorsese for "Casino," Oliver Stone for "Nixon" Best Screenplay: Atom Egoyan for "Exotica," Richard Linklater for "Before Sunrise," Christopher McQuarrie for "The Usual Suspects," Aaron Sprkin for "The American President," Emma Thompson for "Sense and Sensibility." Best Cinematography: Dean Cundey for "Apollo 13," Darius Khondji for "Seven," Matthew Leonetti for "Strange Days," Emmanuel Lubezk for "A Walk in Injury ((Info)) ((Tapes)) Listen Learn Free 24 Hours Dial 312-332-1800 For a free phone mini-consultation call free 1-800-332-1307 after you listen to the ((Info)) ((Tapes)) Peter Francis Geraci Arlington Palatine) Schaumburg(Golf Meacham) Crystal Lake(10! Corporate Corner Rt.14 Oak) Midwest Rd.) Rt.31) EIgin(I-90 Si 31) Loop(55 E.

Monroe) Waukegan Libertyville ADDITIONAL Selected winter fashions already reduced 25 to 50 for a total savings of up to Plus, use this coupon to save even more! the Clouds," Dante Spinotti for "Heat," Haskell Wexler for "The Secret of Roan Inish" Best Original Score: Mason Daring for "The Secret of Roan Inish," Elliot Goldenthal for "Heat," James Horner for "Apollo 13," John Lurie for "Get Shorty," Randy Newman for "Toy Story." Best Actor: Nicolas Cage in "Leaving Las Vegas," Morgan Freeman in "Seven," Anthony Hopkins in "Nixon," Sean Penn in "Dead Man Walking," Denzel Washington in "Devil in a Blue Dress" Best Actress: Kathy Bates in "Dolores Claiborne," Rena Owen in "Once Were Warriors," Elisabeth Shue in "Leaving Las Vegas," Sharon Stone in "Casino," Meryl Streep in "The Bridges of Madison County." Best Supporting Actor: Don Cheadle in "Devil in a Blue Dress," Gene Hackman in "Get Ed Harris in "Apollo 13," Delroy Lindo in "dockers," Kevin Spacey in "The Usual Suspects." Best Supporting Actress: Joan Allen in "Nixon," Kathleen Quintan in "Apollo 13," Kyra Sedgwick in "Something to Talk About," Mira Sorvino in "Mighty Aphrodite," Diane Venora in "Heat." Most Promising Actor: Don Cheadle in "Devil in a Blue Dress," Greg Kinnear in "Sabrina," Temuera Morrison in "Once Were Warriors," Mekhi Phifer in "Clocker's," Benicio del Toro in "The Usual Suspects." Most Promising Actress: Toni Collette in "Muriel's Wedding," Minnie Driver in "Circle of Friends," Salma Hayek in "Desperado," Rena Owen in "Once Were Warriors," Alicia Silverstone in "Clueless." Dann Gire is president of the Chicago Film Critics Association. January 21, 1996 LAKE COUNTY GUN COLLECTOR'S SHOW January 21, 1996 Lake County Fairgrounds Rt. 120atRt. 45 (Near-l-294 Exit from 294 West on 120 Fairgrounds approx. 3 miles W.

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