WELCOME TO OLE' BILL'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Vol 5-07

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your summer. I came across this tribute to our Vietnam Veterans who are dying in great numbers.

Please take a moment and remember that most of us who served in Vietnam were teenagers who sacrificed our youth to war. We saw and did things that most people will never see or do and we did it to survive. Even though I would not recommend similar experiences to anyone else, I can say that my war experiences made me a better person, at least I hope so.

Click on the link and enjoy. http://www.managedmusic.com/php/BYGIndex.php?page=playBYGVN

Tim

***********************************************

Smokey Gillespie sent this in. BB

2004 MR Iraq 1st Inf Div
4th Cav Regt
M2A2 Bradley APC

***********************************************

John Conley has earned a new award. Congratulations John. But, We're not going to stop praying for you yet. BB

The 47 radiaton treatments are complete. The doctor says we are not looking for remission. We are anticipating full destruction of these cancers. I will stay on hormones until January and then we will verify whether it is completely gone. Then I will receive annual followup verification exams. Now I will see about removing those 2 bad disks in my neck and see if I can make the reunion in August. I trust everyone is practicing The Silent Column. Thanks for all those prayers. I'm not feeling much wear and tear for the ordeal.
John

WARNING!! TROOPER JOKE AREA - Not for the Young and young at heart.

Thanks to Dan Thompson for this great starter.

Two women friends had gone for a girl's night out.

Both were very faithful and loving wives, however they had gotten over-enthusiastic on the Bacardi Breezers. Incredibly drunk and walking home they needed to pee, so they stopped in the cemetery.

One of them had nothing to wipe with so she thought she would take off her panties and use them. Her friend however was wearing a rather expensive pair of panties and did not want to ruin them. She was lucky enough to squat down next to a grave that had a wreath with a ribbon on it, so she proceeded to wipe with that.

After the girls did their business they proceeded to go home. The next day one of the women's husband was concerned that his normally sweet and innocent wife was still in bed hung over, so he phoned the other husband and said: "These girl nights have got to stop! I'm starting to suspect the worst.. my wife came home with no panties!!" "That's nothing" said the other husband, "Mine came back with a card stuck to her ass that said 'From all of us at the Fire Station. We'll never forget you.'"

***********************************************

Heres one from Dave Snavely.

Oil Change instructions for Women:

1) Pull up to Jiffy Lube when the mileage reaches 3000 miles since the last oil change. 
2) Drink a cup of coffee 
3) 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle. 

Money spent: Oil Change: $20.00 Coffee: $1.00 Total: $21.00
 
Oil Change instructions for Men :

 

1) Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, 
   kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00. 
2) Stop by 7/11 and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20, drive home. 
3) Open a beer and drink it. 
4) Jack car up. Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands. 
5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car. 
6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it. 
7) Place drain pan under engine. 
8) Look for 9/16 box end wrench. 
9) Give up and use crescent wrench. 
10) Unscrew drain plug. 
11) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on you in process. Cuss... 
12) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms. Throw kitty litter 
    on spilled oil. 
13) Have another beer while watching oil drain. 
14) Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench. 
15) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off 
16) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. 
    Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties. 
    Drink a beer. 
17) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface. 
18) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine. 
19) Remember drain plug from step 11. 
20) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan. 
2 1) Drink beer. 
22) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil 
    spill. 
23 ) Get drain plug back in with only a minor spill. Drink beer. 
24) Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean 
    drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles 
    on frame removing any excess skin between knuckles and frame. 
25) Begin cussing fit. 
26) Throw stupid crescent wrench. 
27) Cuss for additional 5 minutes because wrench hit bowling trophy. 
28) Beer. 
29) Clean up hands and bandage as required to stop blood flow. 
30) Beer. 
31) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil. 
32) Beer. 
33) Lower car from jack stands. 
34) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during any missed steps. 
35) Beer. 
36) Test drive car. 
37) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence. 
38) Car gets impounded. 
39) Call loving wife, make bail. 
40) 12 hours later, get car from impound yard. 

Money spent: Parts: $50.00 DUI: $2500.00 Impound fee: $75.00 Bail: $1500.00 Beer: $20.00 
Total: $4,145.00 But you know the job was done right!
***********************************************

Wayne Paddack sent this one in. Somebody was trying to "Hard".

A co-worker got a pen stuck inside our printer. He started to try & remove the pen, but I told him we don't have time for that now, just put a note on the printer telling folks not to use it and then report it to the Help Desk. So he grabbed a piece of paper & scrawled on it.   

I left before he finished the note. . . . 

About 20 minutes later, 1 of my  techs comes in laughing & says he was just in the lobby, saw a piece of paper on a printer & went to investigate. 

Below is what he found.. Sometimes things don't always come out the way you want them to........   



***********************************************

I must say that Gary Chenett dosent seem like a "ducky" sort of fella. 

'LIFE' THOUGHTS BY 'DUCKY'




Marriage changes passion.

Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.




I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it.

So I said "Implants?"She hit me.



How come we choose from just two people to run for president and over fifty for MissAmerica?




Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants.



 
I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing.
 
If I HAD any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!




When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."




Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
 





Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply
 
press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? AMEN, AMEN !!



 
Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?




Wouldn't you know it....

Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells live forever.



 
Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed outside?




 Bumper sticker of the year:

"If you can read this, thank a teacher -and, since it's in English, thank a soldier"
 



 
And remember: life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
***********************************************

This article caught Jim Smiths eye. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT SATURDAY! 

As you may already know, it is a sin for a Muslim male to see any woman other than his wife naked, and that he must commit suicide if he does. So next Saturday at 4 PM. Eastern Time, all American women are asked to walk out of their houses completely naked to help weed out any neighborhood terrorists. Circling your block for one hour is recommended for this anti-terrorist effort. 

All men are to position themselves in lawn chairs in front of their houses to prove they are not Muslims, and to show support for all American women. Since Islam also does not approve of alcohol, a cold 6-pack at your side is further proof of your anti-Muslim sentiment. 

The American government appreciates your efforts to root out terrorists and applauds your participation in this anti-terrorist activity. God bless America  

It is your patriotic duty to pass this on.
***********************************************

Thanks to Jim Dempsey for sending this one in.  


The love story of Ralph and Edna:

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to,
doesn't Mean they don't love you with all they have.

Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day
while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph
suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and
stayed there.

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and
pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's
heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as
she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good
news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since
you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the
life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound
mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom
with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'

Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry.
How soon can I go home?'
***********************************************

Here's one from Alan Bonit, We hope your high and dry down there Alan.





Top 10 reasons a gun is favored over a woman.....� 

#10. You can trade an old 44 for a new 22. 

# 9. You can keep one gun at home and have another for when 
you're on the road. 

# 8.. If you admire a friend's gun and tell him so, he will probably 
let you try it out a few times. 

# 7. Your primary gun doesn't mind if you keep another gun for a backup. 

# 6. Your gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo. 

# 5. A gun doesn't take up a lot of closet space. 

# 4. Guns function normally every day of the month. 

# 3. A gun doesn't ask , 'Do these new grips make me look fat?' 

# 2. A gun doesn't mind if you go to sleep after you use it. 

And the number one reason a gun is favored over a woman.... 

# 1. YOU CAN BUY A SILENCER FOR A GUN
***********************************************

Dan Thompson with some advice about maturing. 




***********************************************

Me thinks George Villanueva has been practicing. 

MANY OF YOU EX MILITARY FOLKS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROPER METHOD OF SALUTING THE FLAG WHEN YOU ARE NO LONGER IN UNIFORM.  IT MAKES YOU FEEL PROUD TO SEE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO SALUTE WHEN THE FLAG PASSES BY OR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED   



   
Brings tears to your eyes, doesn't it??  
***********************************************

Here is an actual sign posted at a golf club in Scottsdale, Arizona:
 
1. BACK STRAIGHT, KNEES BENT, FEET SHOULDER WIDTH APART.
2. FORM A LOOSE GRIP.
3. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!
4. AVOID A QUICK BACK SWING.
5. STAY OUT OF THE WATER.
6. TRY NOT TO HIT ANYONE.
7. IF YOU ARE TAKING TOO LONG, LET OTHERS GO AHEAD OF YOU.
8. DON'T STAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
9. QUIET PLEASE...WHILE OTHERS ARE PREPARING.
10. DON'T TAKE EXTRA STROKES.
WELL DONE. NOW, FLUSH THE URINAL, GO OUTSIDE, & TEE OFF.
 
***********************************************

MICHELIN MAN DENIES PATERNITY SUIT... CLAIMS CHILD IS NOT HIS...















HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH
 
Weekly news on changes in the medical community by Doctor Edward Hayes.

FDA Warns Individuals and Firms to Stop Selling Fake Cancer 'Cures'

Warning Letters have been sent to 23 U.S. companies and two foreign individuals marketing a wide range of products fraudulently claiming to prevent and cure cancer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today. The FDA also warns North American consumers against using or purchasing the products, which include tablets, teas, tonics, black salves, and creams, and are sold under various names on the Internet. 

Those companies and individuals warned, the complete list of fake cancer 'cure' products and their manufacturers along with a consumer article on health scams can be found here, http://www.fda.gov/cder/news/fakecancercures.htm.

"Although promotions of bogus cancer 'cures' have always been a problem, the Internet has provided a mechanism for them to flourish," said Margaret O'K. Glavin, the FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "These warning letters are an important step to ensure that consumers do not become the victim of false 'cures' that may cause greater harm to their health." 
***********************************************

Hormone May Help Dieters Keep Weight Off: U.S.

Falling levels of a hormone called leptin that helps the brain resist tempting foods may explain why people who lose weight often have a hard time keeping it off, U.S. researchers said on Friday.

Restoring leptin to pre-diet levels may reverse this problem, they said, offering a way for weary dieters to finally win the weight battle.

"When you lose weight you've created about the perfect storm for regaining weight," said Michael Rosenbaum of Columbia University Medical Center in New York, whose research appears in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

After weight loss Rosenbaum said the metabolism not only becomes more efficient, so the body needs fewer calories, but the brain becomes more vulnerable to tasty-looking treats.
***********************************************

Novel Compound May Treat Acute Diarrhea

In a development that may lessen the epidemic of diarrhea-related deaths among children in developing countries, scientists in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Ferid Murad, M.D., Ph.D., at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have discovered a novel compound that might lead to an inexpensive, easy-to-take treatment. The results of pre-clinical tests appear in the June 16 online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

The compound - a pyridopyrimidine derivative - targets acute secretory diarrhea caused by E. coli and other enterotoxigenic strains of bacteria, which produce toxins that stimulate the linings of the intestines, causing them to secrete excessive fluid, thereby producing diarrhea.

Diarrhea kills an estimated 1.6 to 2.5 million children every year, according to researchers quoted in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Enterotoxigenic strains of bacteria may account for a significant amount of these deaths, according to an article in Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Enterotoxigenic E. coli or ETEC is a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea.

During pre-clinical tests, the compound was associated with a significant reduction in intestinal fluid secretion in an animal model of bacterial diarrhea. It was also linked to reduced fluid build up during laboratory tests on human colon cells. It caused significant decrease in fluid secretion without apparent toxicity.
***********************************************

Should Doctors Be 'Selling' Drugs For The Pharmaceutical Industry?

 Are senior doctors who help drug companies sell their drugs independent experts or just drug representatives in disguise, asks Ray Moynihan from the University of Newcastle in Australia, in the British Medical Journal.

Moynihan exposes the reality behind the practice with some candid revelations from industry insiders.

Pharmaceutical companies regularly sponsor leading specialists with "generous fees to peddle influence" and promote drugs to the profession and the public, writes Moynihan.

Drug companies will pay influential doctors up to $400 an hour to act as key opinion leaders, and some doctors earn more than $25,000 a year in advisory fees.

Kimberly Elliot, a former award-winning drug company sales representative interviewed by Moynihan, reveals that drug companies desperately need key opinion leaders in order for doctors to believe what they are saying and prescribe their products, because drug representatives are often not believed. Essentially, she says, key opinion leaders are just salespeople.
***********************************************
 
FDA Requests Boxed Warnings on Older Class of Antipsychotic Drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today exercised its new authority under the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA) to require manufacturers of "conventional" antipsychotic drugs to make safety-related changes to prescribing information, or labeling, to warn about an increased risk of death associated with the off-label use of these drugs to treat behavioral problems in older people with dementia.

In 2005, the FDA announced similar labeling changes for "atypical" antipsychotic drugs. At that time, Boxed Warnings, the FDA's strongest, were added. The Boxed Warning will now be added to an older class of drugs known as "conventional" antipsychotics. The warning for both classes of drugs will say that clinical studies indicate that antipsychotic drugs of both types are associated with an increased risk of death when used in elderly patients treated for dementia-related psychosis.

"It is important that health care professionals and consumers have the most up-to-date drug safety information," said Thomas Laughren, M.D., director of the FDA's Division of Psychiatry Products in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "The prescribing information for all antipsychotic drugs will be updated to describe the risk of death in elderly patients being treated for symptoms associated with dementia."
***********************************************

Study Links Vitamin D to Colon Cancer Survival

 Patients diagnosed with colon cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood were less likely to die during a follow-up period than those who were deficient in the vitamin, according to a new study by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The findings of the study - the first to examine the effect of vitamin D among colorectal cancer patients - merit further research, but it is too early to recommend supplements as a part of treatment, say the investigators from Dana-Farber and the Harvard School of Public Health.

In a report in the June 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the authors note that previous research has shown that higher levels of vitamin D reduce the risk of developing colon and rectal cancer by about 50 percent, but the effect on outcomes wasn't known. To examine this question, the investigators, led by Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, and Charles Fuchs, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber, analyzed data from two long-running epidemiologic studies whose participants gave blood samples and whose health has been monitored for many years.

They identified 304 participants in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Followup Study who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1991 and 2002. All had had vitamin D levels measured in blood samples given at least two year prior to their diagnosis. Each patient's vitamin D measurement was ranked by "quartiles" - the top 25 percent, the next lowest 25 percent, and so on. Those whose levels were in the lowest quartile were considered deficient in vitamin D.  
***********************************************
 
Same Drug, Different Results"
 
 Minor genetic differences between individuals change the effect of a common medication, study shows

Medicine has moved a little bit closer to the era of tailor-made treatments, based on the unique genetic profiles of individual patients, according to recent research conducted by Dr Rima Rozen of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) at the Montreal Children's Hospital and McGill University. Her study, published June 18 in the journal Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, shows how minor genetic differences between individuals alter the way a common drug affects the body.

Rozen has measured the impact of Methotrexate -- a drug that inhibits the metabolism of folate -- on mice with an altered MTHFR gene, which is a gene crucial for folate metabolism. The results were striking: after treatment with Methotrexate, mice with the altered gene had approximately 20 per cent less hemoglobin and red blood cells than their counterparts with non-altered genes. The altered mice also showed increased susceptibility to liver and kidney damage following treatment.

"We know that these results are applicable to humans because a parallel mutation in the human MTHFR gene affects human folate metabolism similarly. The results demonstrate that medication affects subjects differently according to individual genetic traits," Dr. Rozen explained. "And tests exist to detect this mutation." Genetic testing would allow physicians the modify treatment based on each patient's personal genetic makeup, limiting potential side effects.
Believe it or not

***********************************************

NC 'Big twins' tip scales at a combined 23 pounds

They aren't America's heaviest newborn twins on record, but they certainly tip the scales: Sean William Maynard and Abigail Rose Maynard weighed in at a combined 23 pounds and 1 ounce at birth this week, a North Carolina hospital announced Friday. 
 

Freda Springs, spokeswoman for Forsyth Medical Center, said the twins were delivered two minutes apart by Caesarean section on Tuesday at the center's Sara Lee Center for Women's Health in Winston-Salem.

The boy weighed 10 pounds, 14 ounces; the girl, 12 pounds, 3 ounces. Springs said both babies are in excellent condition after their birth to parents Joey and Erin Maynard of Winston-Salem.

The combined weight of the twins is about four pounds shy of the combined weight of twins born in Arkansas in 1927, the hospital said. Those twins weighed a total of 27 pounds, 12 ounces, hospital researchers said, adding they could find no public record of any heavier twins than the Arkansas pair born since 1900.

They said the Maynard twins topped a 1997 delivery in North Carolina of big twins weighing a total of 18 pounds, 10 ounces.

Sean, tucked in a blue blanket, was held by his mother and his sister, swaddled in pink, was cradled by her father at a hospital news conference Friday. The infants slept quietly through their first public appearance.
 





AD-DA-VA-RETIREE NEWS

Program Challenges Veterans 

Outward Bound Wilderness expeditions include travel to course destinations and an opportunity for physical and mental challenges in beautiful wilderness locations across the country. An open enrollment allows war veterans to sign up for a pre-scheduled course. Customized expeditions also are available to pre-existing groups and can be tailored to fit specific needs. All costs, including travel to the expedition, are paid for by the Military Family Outdoor Initiative Project. For more information, visit the (http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/veterans.html) Outward Bound Wilderness website.
Golden Age Games in August 

An estimated 600 "golden age" veterans from across the country will travel to Indianapolis to compete in the largest sports and recreational competition for senior veterans in the world Aug. 20-24, 2008. Golden Age Games competitions are open to all U.S. military veterans age 55 or older who receive care at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility. The games give participants the opportunity to compete in ambulatory, visually impaired and wheelchair divisions, according to their ages. Events include swimming, bicycling, bowling, croquet, air rifle, golf, shuffleboard, horseshoes, discus and shot put. For more information, visit the 2008 National Veterans (http://www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov/) Golden Age Games website. 
**********************************************

Insomnia and Combat Veterans
 
A recent study at the University of Pittsburgh has shown that insomnia among U.S. combat veterans returning from Iraq is as severe as that seen in patients with chronic insomnia. The researchers compared veterans with post-deployment adjustment disorders to insomnia patients and good sleepers, and found that the veterans displayed significantly more severe disruptive nocturnal behaviors, such as nightmares and body movements, than people in the other two groups. The researchers also found that the veterans preferred relaxation therapy and pharmacological treatments for their insomnia. The findings were recently presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. 
**********************************************

The Last WWI Veteran 

U.S. Senators (http://capwiz.com/military/bio/?id=444&lvl=C&chamber=S) Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) and (http://capwiz.com/military/bio/?id=622&lvl=C&chamber=S) Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) introduced a resolution honoring Frank Woodruff Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I. The measure authorizes Mr. Buckles to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda upon his death. By order of the President, he will then be interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. For more information on Mr. Buckles, visit the Library of Congress' (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.01070/album) Veterans History Project, the (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080306-1.html) White House website, and the Department of Defense's (http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2008/0308_ww1/) The Great War website. 
**********************************************

Featured Job: You're a US hero. Now be NY's Finest.
 
As the largest police department in America, the NYPD is widely recognized as the nation's leader in law enforcement technology. Now you can be one of NY's Finest. (http://bs.serving-sys.com/BurstingPipe/adServer.bs?cn=tf&c=20&mc=click&pli=324066&pi=0&ord=%n) Call 212-Recruit for free exam info.
**********************************************

Retired Reserve/Guard TRICARE Bill
 
Congressman (http://capwiz.com/military/bio/?id=30341) Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) introduced (http://capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=11525121) H.R. 6185, the TRICARE Continuity of Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Families Act of 2008. H.R. 6185 would enable retired members of National Guard and reserve units with 20 or more years of faithful and honorable service to purchase health care that was available to them during their time in active service or after they reach 60 years of age. Currently, members who have retired but are not yet 60 years of age are not eligible for TRICARE, and are referred to as being in the "gray area." There are currently approximately 220,000 retirees that fall within in the "gray area" and an additional 12,100 servicemembers retiring and entering this status each year. 
**********************************************

4 Tips to Land a Federal Job
 
Fed Fact - 25 percent of new federal jobs were filled by veterans. Veterans are interested in high-quality, well-paid positions. Retiring and separating military personnel prefer work in the federal civil service. We have 4 tips that will help you write your federal resume and apply for federal jobs, including key words and how your resumes is evaluated and salary is determined. (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//www.military.com/Careers/Content1%3Ffile%3DcareersArticlesFedApps.htm%26area%3DReference&code=VR_062308_4tips) Get the 4 tips now.  
**********************************************

Committee Approves Bill 

The House Veterans' Affairs Committee recently approved a bill that would comprehensively address epilepsy treatment and care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill, (http://capwiz.com/military/issues/bills/?bill=11526906) H.R. 2818, provides for the establishment of Epilepsy Centers of Excellence at each of the five polytrauma rehabilitation centers within VA. The bill requires each center to research the long-term effects of epilepsy, develop evidence-based treatment for epilepsy, and coordinate care for veterans that suffer from epilepsy, among other things. The bill was introduced by Rep. (http://capwiz.com/military/bio/?id=2130) Ed Perlmutter (D-CO).
**********************************************

New GI Bill Passes Congress 

Many post-9/11 veterans and servicemembers will soon be eligible for a new comprehensive education benefits package. The new bill goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition. Many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefits. The new GI Bill will soon be on its way to the president for signature, he is expected to sign it by July 4. 
**********************************************

New GI Bill Benefit Overview 

The new GI Bill (Chapter 33) or so-called Post-9/11 GI Bill, boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944. The new bill goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition; many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill benefits. (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/new-gi-bill-overview&code=VR_062308_GIelibile) Get eligibility and benefit coverage details. 
**********************************************

Patriot Hearts Offers Support 

Servicemembers, veterans and their families going through problems related to deployments can get help from a California-based troop-support organization. Members of the group called Patriotic Hearts developed a plan to help families navigate the sometimes-unexpected issues they may face when a loved one returns from the front lines. The plan involves working with spouses of deployed servicemembers to map out welcome-home parties, helping veterans find jobs, and hosting military marriage-enrichment weekends. For more information, visit the (http://www.patriotichearts.org/) Patriotic Hearts website. 
**********************************************

Veterans Address 1960s Chemical Tests
 
Several veterans have testified before a House Veterans Affairs panel that is considering legislation that would require more Pentagon disclosure about the Cold War-era germ and chemical weapons testing in Project SHAD and Project 112 and extend benefits to veterans who participated in them. Veterans say the Pentagon has not acknowledged a link between the tests and health problems, which has made it difficult for veterans to get health coverage. For more information on the testing, visit the (http://www1.va.gov/shad/) VA's Project 112 webpage, the Force Health Protection and Readiness Project 112 and (http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil/shad/index.jsp) SHAD webpage, the (http://www.vva.org/TaskForce/shad/index.html) Vietnam Veterans of America website, and the (http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3795/4909.aspx) Institute of Medicine's website. 
**********************************************

Program Challenges Veterans
 
Outward Bound Wilderness expeditions include travel to course destinations and an opportunity for physical and mental challenges in beautiful wilderness locations across the country. An open enrollment allows war veterans to sign up for a pre-scheduled course. Customized expeditions also are available to pre-existing groups and can be tailored to fit specific needs. All costs, including travel to the expedition, are paid for by the Military Family Outdoor Initiative Project. For more information, visit the (http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/veterans.html) Outward Bound Wilderness website.






WEEKLY INSPIRATION

Psalm of Protection

God is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? 
God is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, 
even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; 
though war should rise up against me, even then will I be confident. 
- Psalms 27: 1-3 
**********************************************

Prayer for Peace

If there peace in the heart,
There will be peace in the home.

If there is peace in the home,
There will be peace among neighbors.

If there is peace among neighbors,
There will be peace between cities.

If there is peace in the cities,
There will be peace in the nations.

If there is peace in the nations,
There will be peace on the Earth.

If there is peace on the Earth,
All is well in the Universe
Amen

Return to QH Newsletter, Week 2