JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. —
National Guard member Robert Harrington, serving in Iraq in 2004, was driving fellow soldiers to go on leave when his truck was attacked. He was knocked out by the powerful explosion.
"I don't remember much of it," said Harrington. "I thought I was just shaken up, but later on, I found out that I was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury."
Four years later and back at home in Winchendon, Mass., something still wasn't right.
"I couldn't read," said Harrington. "I would get headaches. I wasn't able to focus on the words."
Even worse, doctors couldn't find anything wrong.
"They checked my eyes and said, 'No, you have 20/20 vision,'" said Harrington. "I didn't know what it was. You begin to think that, you know, maybe it's me. Maybe I'm going crazy."
Eventually, Harrington found his way to the Veterans Administration, where researchers are uncovering a lesser-known, scary reality of traumatic brain injuries: vision problems.
"The studies range from 38 percent of soldiers with traumatic brain injury having visual impairment all the way up to 66 percent of soldiers," said Dr. Jennifer Gustafson, a staff optometrist at the Veterans Administration.
The VA estimates that there are nearly one million veterans coping with severe visual impairment. Among the newest generation of vets, most haven't been diagnosed or treated. Gustafson only sees those numbers climbing.
"I do believe a whole lot of them have been missed," said Gustafson. "We are going to see an increase in the number of these visual impairment cases."
BOSTON — A litany of physical or emotional problems spill out as Iraq and Afghanistan veterans make their way, one by one, to the 11th floor of a VA hospital in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood.
The tragic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder or battlefield concussion are all too evident. Even more alarming for researchers is emerging evidence that these newest American combat veterans — former GIs and Marines in their 20s and 30s — appear to be growing old before their time. Scientists see early signs of heart disease and diabetes, slowed metabolisms and obesity — maladies more common to middle age or later.
“They should have been in the best shape of their lives,” says William Milberg, a Harvard Medical School professor of psychology and project co-director. “The big worry, of course, is we’re going to be taking care of them until they’re in their 70s. What’s going to happen to them in the long run?”
The research is in its early stages, and scientists with the Department of Veterans Affairs are rushing to understand it. If what they’re seeing is a form of early aging, it seems most common to those with both blast-related concussion and PTSD — about 30 percent of the veterans being studied in a long-term research effort. There is even imaging evidence of diminished gray matter in high-functioning areas of the brain, changes that shouldn’t happen for decades, if at all.
Scientists say their theory may not be proved until they can study these veterans over the next few years, and it remains unclear how these findings might impact policies on the length and number of combat deployments.
However, the Army, mindful of the strain, is allowing troops more time between combat deployments — something possible as the war in Afghanistan winds down — and have shortened deployments from a year to nine months. The numbers suffering brain injury and PTSD continue to grow. The Pentagon says that since 2000, 244,000 servicemembers have suffered traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild to severe, both in and out of combat. Since the 9/11 attacks, the VA has treated about the same number of war-era veterans for PTSD.
“We’re looking at people who are going to be having cognitive problems much earlier than they should be having them,” says Regina McGlinchey, a neuropsychologist and project co-director.
CAMP BASTION , Afghanistan — Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, flew into southern Afghanistan on Friday to begin a four-month combat tour as a gunner for an attack helicopter.
The 27-year-old who has made headlines around the world for his partying is returning to Afghanistan for a second tour. He will start work as an Apache co-pilot and gunner within 10 days in the country’s restive Helmand province, the British military said.
It is a definite shift from last month, when embarrassing naked photos emerged of Harry in a Las Vegas hotel room playing strip billiards.
Looked relaxed if slightly tired, Harry gave a thumbs-up Friday after a long journey on a troop carrier flight from England to Britain’s Camp Bastion, a sprawling desert base close to the town of Lashkar Gah.
Capt. Harry Wales, as he is known in the military, wore his combat uniform and joined his 100-strong unit — the 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps.
Britain has around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, mainly based in Helmand province, and has suffered 425 deaths since the start of operations against the Taliban in 2001.
“Prince Harry, like any soldier, considers it a great honor to represent his country in her majesty’s armed forces wherever it chooses to deploy him,” St James’ Palace said in a statement. Harry did not speak as he arrived in Helmand.
The prince’s previous posting as a battlefield air traffic controller in Afghanistan in late 2007 and early 2008 lasted only 10 weeks. It was cut short after his secret deployment was made public.
With that, he became the first member of the British royal family to serve in a war zone since his uncle, Prince Andrew, flew as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands conflict with Argentina in 1982.
The Deafness Before the Storm
By KURT EICHENWALD
Published: September 10, 2012
IT was perhaps the most famous presidential briefing in history.
On Aug. 6, 2001, President George W. Bush received a classified review of the threats posed by Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network, Al Qaeda. That morning’s “presidential daily brief†— the top-secret document prepared by America’s intelligence agencies — featured the now-infamous heading: “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.†A few weeks later, on 9/11, Al Qaeda accomplished that goal.
On April 10, 2004, the Bush White House declassified that daily brief — and only that daily brief — in response to pressure from the 9/11 Commission, which was investigating the events leading to the attack. Administration officials dismissed the document’s significance, saying that, despite the jaw-dropping headline, it was only an assessment of Al Qaeda’s history, not a warning of the impending attack. While some critics considered that claim absurd, a close reading of the brief showed that the argument had some validity.
That is, unless it was read in conjunction with the daily briefs preceding Aug. 6, the ones the Bush administration would not release. While those documents are still not public, I have read excerpts from many of them, along with other recently declassified records, and come to an inescapable conclusion: the administration’s reaction to what Mr. Bush was told in the weeks before that infamous briefing reflected significantly more negligence than has been disclosed. In other words, the Aug. 6 document, for all of the controversy it provoked, is not nearly as shocking as the briefs that came before it.
Quote by Raine:
I am still trying to figure out everything with the Chicago Teachers strike. But I gotta say this: Romney should probably shut up about this.
He's taking the same stance as Rahm. He is siding with Rahm Emmanuel.
I would like for Will to chime in on this story.
Quote by BobR:
It's been 11 years. Time to let go.
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by BobR:
It's been 11 years. Time to let go.
I remember and mourn, as I do with YomHaShoah, the Jewish Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. I think that quiet reflection on what might have been is important. Similarly, we need to ensure that first responders and others who need health care receive it.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by BobR:
It's been 11 years. Time to let go.
I remember and mourn, as I do with YomHaShoah, the Jewish Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. I think that quiet reflection on what might have been is important. Similarly, we need to ensure that first responders and others who need health care receive it.
I refuse to be wounded or scarred. The 10 year anniversary was the end for me. No more.
Quote by Scoopster:
Hey Tri.. here's some interesting analysis of the MA Senate race.
Quote by Scoopster:
BTW there was a decent discussion panel about the intelligence failures leading up to 9/11 on Morning Joe today. Be warned that there's some clips of El Chimpo in this segment.
Let's pause and take a moment to remember those tragically lost on September 11, 2001.
Quote by Raine:
This is just odd... On the New York Yankees FB page, they captioned a photo with these words:With this picture:Let's pause and take a moment to remember those tragically lost on September 11, 2001.
Quote by Scoopster:
Now that's fightin' dirty!
Quote by Scoopster:
Now that's fightin' dirty!
Quote by Raine:
Hey I have been meaning to mention this to you guys. Remember this Gas Station: (please forgive the source of the picture...)
Sometime in past years (it seems) it has been torn down.
Quote by Mondobubba:
No...
Quote by Raine:??Quote by Mondobubba:
No...
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:??Quote by Mondobubba:
No...
The gas station picture.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:??Quote by Mondobubba:
No...
The gas station picture.
Quote by Raine:Oh, sorry Mondo -- this was the infamous gas station that had security tape of the pentagon crash. The plane that hit the pentagon pretty much flew over this stationQuote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:??Quote by Mondobubba:
No...
The gas station picture.
Quote by wickedpam:
they tore it down? when did that happen?
I still swear I saw video on the news that was much longer and much clearer and closer of the plane hitting the Pentagon. I just wish I could remember which station played it.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by BobR:
It's been 11 years. Time to let go.
I remember and mourn, as I do with YomHaShoah, the Jewish Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. I think that quiet reflection on what might have been is important. Similarly, we need to ensure that first responders and others who need health care receive it.
I refuse to be wounded or scarred. The 10 year anniversary was the end for me. No more.
Quote by Raine:I think sometime in the pastyear.Quote by wickedpam:
they tore it down? when did that happen?
I still swear I saw video on the news that was much longer and much clearer and closer of the plane hitting the Pentagon. I just wish I could remember which station played it.
It's strange because I would have assumed that someone in the regional news media would have reported this. It's news if you ask me.
Sheldon Adelson Stands To Get $2 Billion Tax Cut If Mitt Romney Is Elected: Report
The Huffington Post | By Amanda Terkel Posted: 09/11/2012 10:31 am Updated: 09/11/2012 10:55 am
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson's backing of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney may not just make political sense for the billionaire -- it may also be in his best interest financially.
Adelson has vowed to spend as much as $100 million to help sway the 2012 election. According to a new report by Seth Hanlon, the director of fiscal reform at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Adelson could turn that investment into a $2 billion tax cut if Romney is elected.
•
Cut top tax rates, saving Adelson approximately $1.5 million on his annual compensation as chief executive of his casino company.
•
Maintain the special low rates on dividends, potentially saving Adelson nearly $120 million on a single year’s worth of dividends, more than enough to recoup his political donations.
•
Maintain the special low rates on capital gains, allowing Adelson to make back his political donations in capital gains tax cuts just by selling a fraction of his stock.
•
Provide a tax windfall of an estimated $1.2 billion to Adelson’s company, Las Vegas Sands Corp., on untaxed profits from its Asian casinos, as well as a tax exemption for future overseas profits. Adelson’s casinos already enjoy a special foreign tax exemption
from the Chinese administrative region of Macau, and Gov. Romney would make
those foreign profits exempt from U.S. taxes as well.
• Eliminate the estate tax, potentially providing a staggering $8.9 billion windfall to
Adelson’s heirs.
At the same time, 95 percent of Americans—those making $200,000 or less—would get
a tax increase, on average, from the Romney tax plan.
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, everyone. I think I may unofficially be in a contest with the cat over who could sleep more. But, the cat is winning of course.
Quote by TriSec:
Sicker I've become. Old and weak. When 900 years you reach, look as good you will not, hmmm?
Treatment tomorrow. *sigh* Feels like I had two good days this cycle, yesterday and today. Curiously, aside from the neuropathy effects, I should be feeling OK until Friday now, even with the drugs.
Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:
Good day, everyone. I think I may unofficially be in a contest with the cat over who could sleep more. But, the cat is winning of course.
They ALWAYS win
Quote by Mondobubba:
There they are supressing the truth! ROSWELL! ROSWELL :tin foil hat flops off head:
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:
Good day, everyone. I think I may unofficially be in a contest with the cat over who could sleep more. But, the cat is winning of course.
They ALWAYS win
I beg to differ, I stared down one of my cats.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:
Good day, everyone. I think I may unofficially be in a contest with the cat over who could sleep more. But, the cat is winning of course.
They ALWAYS win
I beg to differ, I stared down one of my cats.
Quote by TriSec:
Long, long, ago we one tended to a young feline named "Sunshine". As it turns out, the cat was strong with the Dark Side of the Force. We quickly renamed it "Saddamshine" (you can see how long ago this was) and my friend still bears scars from at least one "incident".
So yes....cats always win. Always, every time.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:
Good day, everyone. I think I may unofficially be in a contest with the cat over who could sleep more. But, the cat is winning of course.
They ALWAYS win
I beg to differ, I stared down one of my cats.
this is for you:
Quote by Scoopster:
I love The Onion, but.......
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Scoopster:
I love The Onion, but.......
Ya know, this actually made me chuckle. TriSec is a very sick man. But maybe, possibly....if I can look at the black irony and actually smile, maybe I can move forward on this day, too.
Quote by TriSec:
Why aren't Americans building these?
I don't expect an answer.
Quote by BobR:
I think the DC Metro cars are built in Canada
Quote by BobR:Quote by TriSec:
Why aren't Americans building these?
I don't expect an answer.
I think the DC Metro cars are built in Canada
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Scoopster:
I love The Onion, but.......
Ya know, this actually made me chuckle. TriSec is a very sick man. But maybe, possibly....if I can look at the black irony and actually smile, maybe I can move forward on this day, too.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:
Good day, everyone. I think I may unofficially be in a contest with the cat over who could sleep more. But, the cat is winning of course.
They ALWAYS win
I beg to differ, I stared down one of my cats.
this is for you:
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
Quote by Raine:And yet these same fuckwitsd just LOVE Chik-Fil-*meh*Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
Only in america.
Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
saw that - decided to leave a good (4*) with a positive review on the yelp - read some of the reviews the wingers left - not pretty
Quote by Raine:
You know what?
I am listening to Bruce Springsteen's *The Rising* for the first time in 10 years without crying or feeling disconnected and jaded.
Time does indeed help the healing.
Quote by Raine:
You know what?
I am listening to Bruce Springsteen's *The Rising* for the first time in 10 years without crying or feeling disconnected and jaded.
Time does indeed help the healing.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
saw that - decided to leave a good (4*) with a positive review on the yelp - read some of the reviews the wingers left - not pretty
They do like to hide behind an online handle and be very ugly, don't they. Childish it isn't it?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
saw that - decided to leave a good (4*) with a positive review on the yelp - read some of the reviews the wingers left - not pretty
They do like to hide behind an online handle and be very ugly, don't they. Childish it isn't it?
I'm always reminded of the clip D&M used to use of Ditka "It takes a big man to hide behind a microphone, son."
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:
Pizza Hug Man now faces RW backlash
Never before could I fathom in an instance where rounded wheels of grease and melted cheese would supplant political discourse in America. Then again, I also never imagined having to write about elected representatives screaming about the legitimacy of a sitting president’s long-form birth certificate years after he had been elected and during an economic shitstorm of epic proportions. But I suppose this is what happens when a beauty pageant contestant gets to be a VP nominee and somebody named Snookie has a reality show.
Leave it to Republicans to turn a seemingly innocent and candid moment of affection into a fire-breathing, insanely irrelevant non-issue of foaming-at-the-mouth partisan hackery.
saw that - decided to leave a good (4*) with a positive review on the yelp - read some of the reviews the wingers left - not pretty
They do like to hide behind an online handle and be very ugly, don't they. Childish it isn't it?
I'm always reminded of the clip D&M used to use of Ditka "It takes a big man to hide behind a microphone, son."
Yep!
Quote by TriSec:
TriSec needs a talking down off the ledge.
Chemo side effects, or dying of cancer. Great choice I get tomorrow.
Saturday --> (actually, that hasn't happened yet. At least it's all following the proper path.)
Quote by TriSec:
TriSec needs a talking down off the ledge.
Chemo side effects, or dying of cancer. Great choice I get tomorrow.
Saturday --> (actually, that hasn't happened yet. At least it's all following the proper path.)