# Ask the 'bif

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 19, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874 "2002-12-19T19:58:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/1 "2002-12-19T19:58:12Z")

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As you may know, I have Spina Bifida, and Taxguy’s thread has inspired me to start my own like-thread. So if you have ?'s for me (or maybe cosmo), I, and hopefully she, will be happy to answer. (NOTHING is off-limits for me).

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**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/2 "2002-12-19T20:27:12Z")

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An ex co-worker of mine’s 1st son was born with spina bifida, it’s been a heart-wrenching 6 years.

Q#1: Are people of Irish descent are most like to carry the SB gene?  
Q#2: Is it true, high doses of Vitamin E in the 1st trimester eliminates SB?  
Q#3: If SB can be eliminated with prenatal vitamins, why does Medicaid screen for it & private insurance carriers do not?  
Q#4: Even though he does some good work for the SB cause, wouldn’t you concede Larry King is an annoying boor?

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/3 "2002-12-19T20:31:11Z")

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One by one:

1.Have heard this, unsure.  
2.If Vit E=Folic acid, then yes.  
3.$$$  
4.No opinion on Larry, never knew of his SB work.

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**Author:** ![maybelze05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@maybelze05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maybelze05)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/4 "2002-12-20T07:38:32Z")

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I have no idea what this is… What is spina bifida???

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**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/5 "2002-12-20T08:03:49Z")

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What did you think of the guy in Shallow Hal?

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**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/6 "2002-12-20T12:46:09Z")

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Why do I always see your name as “Erictile vision”, think of some porn channel and what does that have to do with 'Bif?

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**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-bif/143874/7 "2002-12-20T16:58:59Z")

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'bif is a shorthand way of saying Spina Bifida. World Eater-get glasses! Silentgoldfish-didn’t see flick, but the movie tried to make point we all need to learn eventually. Mabelze05-SB occurs when the spine doesn’t form correctly in utero, causing paralysis and associated problems.