DES MOINES, Iowa--In a rare personal moment on the campaign trail for Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker and Republican presidential candidate broke down when asked to speak about his mother, Kathleen Gingrich.
At a town hall meeting at a coffee shop here, Gingrich reflected on the role his mother played in his life, and spoke about her struggles with bipolar disorder and depression. She died in 2003.
"I'm better at talking policy than personal," he said, wiping tears from his eyes.
Sure Newt has made some mistakes in his past, but who hasn't? No one is perfect. And every single candidate who is plugging for the presidency has just as much if not more past baggage.
But as far as Newt's qualifications to be president, trust me he has them. He's an extremely intelligent man and he understands what our founding fathers wanted for this nation.
We here at TWAU BLOG went from endorsing Herman Cain (who dropped out of the race) to now endorsing whoever Obama's opponent ends up being. Because we believe this 2012 election must be an anybody but Obama vote.
If you love this nation, and want it to live on. You must vote for who ever Obama's opponent is, no matter who it is. Obama must be removed from office. Or we quiver to think how it all will end in America.
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12.29.2011
Wearable Robots Help Paralyzed Warriors Walk Again
A Defense Department program to develop super-strong soldiers has led to a wearable robot that enables paraplegics to walk.
At 10 leading rehab facilities from Honolulu to Atlanta, Ekso Bionics' Iron Man-style exoskeletons have been quietly tested over the past year, to resounding success.
Simply put, the exoskeleton is a wearable robot that allows a wheelchair user to stand up and walk. It could be a game-changer not only for wounded warriors with spinal cord injuries, but for people with multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, lower extremity weakness or paralysis due to neurological disease or spinal injury.
Wheelchairs have been the go-to solution for more than 1,500 years – the 2002 census estimated 2.8 million U.S. citizens rely on them -- but now Ekso Bionics is literally revolutionizing this space. Its ultimate goal: a robot that is as easy to wear as a pair of jeans, one that requires not only innovative engineering but biomechanics advancements and cyborg-type research.
“Making a robot itself is difficult enough. To add that to the body and put it on like a pair of jeans is a whole other level,” Ekso Bionics CEO Eythor Bender said at a March TEDMed conference in Long Beach, Calif.
The exoskeleton has four electric motors that replicate a person’s hips and knees. Fifteen sensors are networked with a computer that sits on the user’s back and acts as a “brain.” A battery pack provides four hours of endurance.
While users learn to walk with the exoskeleton -- for some, it is quite literally their first steps -- physical therapists hold a remote control to assist, support and guide them. The Ekso is designed to make the gait as natural as possible, which is particularly important for users who are relearning how to walk.
The exoskeleton can be modified to fit a person ranging from 5-foot-2 to 6-foot-2, with a maximum weight of 220 pounds. While there are some contraindications, many are capable of passing the medical screening and evaluation to use the device, the company has said.
In its current phase, a candidate must have the upper body strength to transfer from a wheelchair to a regular chair and to balance with crutches.
The next stage involves artificial intelligence and the user going solo. With that model, he’ll be able to initiate a step by leading with his arms and crutches and driving the opposite foot forward. The Ekso’s brain identifies body movement signals and converts them into movement of the exoskelton’s “hips” and “knees.”
This next generation will be available for trial within the next six months; it is currently undergoing clinical trials at the Kessler Institute.
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Wow, talk about exciting stuff. This is a great break through in science. People will be able to walk again with this. Some good news in my opinion.
Texas Teen Ben Breedlove Posted Powerful Videos Before Christmas Death
A Texas teenager who said he cheated death three times despite a dangerous heart condition died Christmas night from a heart attack, but not before posting a two-part video on YouTube telling his story and describing a series of powerful visions.
In the videos that have since gone viral, 18-year-old Ben Breedlove of Austin can be seen silently sitting in a room and using handwritten note cards to tell his story. The teen suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which one part of the heart is thicker than the other parts, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.
He described cheating death three times.
The most recent scare was Dec. 6, when he passed out at school and awoke surrounded by EMS medics preparing to use shock pads to revive him.
He posted a two-part video Dec. 18 titled "This is my story." One week later, on Christmas night, he suffered a heart attack and died. As of this afternoon, the first video had been viewed online more than 476,000 times.
"It was obvious to all of us that knew him that he knew what he was doing when he made that video," close family-friend Pam Kohler said. "There are times that [the family is] overwhelmed by the pain and the loss of Ben, but then it's replaced with knowing that he was at peace with what was going to happen."
Kohler said Breedlove loved coming to her house in the country where he taught her how to make and post YouTube videos for her husband's business and loved going hunting with him.
He had two popular YouTube channels, "BreedloveTV" and "OurAdvice4You," on which he would talk about his own life as well as dishing out relationship advice for his peers. Facebook and YouTube have been inundated with tributes to Breedlove.
"When you think of Ben, you can't help but smile," Kohler said. "He was curious, creative. You never knew what he was up to. He was always full of surprises. We look on all of it as a gift from God through Ben."
Kohler and her husband, Mark Kohler, were driving to the Breedlove home Christmas when they first realized something might be wrong.
"We were going over to share Christmas dinner with them that night and on our way over there, a police car passed us with sirens on," Kohler said. "My husband said, 'Start praying because it could be Ben.'"
When they arrived at the house, they saw ambulances and fire trucks. Breedlove had had a heart attack and medics were trying to revive him. He made it to the hospital, but died there.
At this point, Kohler said the family did not know about Breedlove's last videos. He had shared his visions with his sister, but no one had seen the videos.
He said in the video, through note cards, that the first time he cheated death was when he was 4 and described an experience he had in the hospital as he was being wheeled on a stretcher.
"There was this big bright light above me ... I couldn't make out what is was because it was so bright. I told my mom, 'Look at the bright light' and pointed up. She said she didn't see anything," Breedlove wrote. "There were no lights on in this hall. I couldn't take my eyes off it. And I couldn't help but smile. I had no worries at all, like nothing else in the world mattered."
As Breedlove held up each card telling the story, he alternated serious looks with broad smiles. "I cannot even begin to describe the peace, how peaceful it was," he wrote. "I will NEVER forget that feeling or that day.
"Because of the experiences he'd had, he was ready and he was prepared. He really wanted to know that peace again. He was facing more hospital stays and he was tired of it," Kohler said. "He wanted [his family] to know that he wasn't scared and was looking forward to returning to that place."
In the videos, Breedlove went through the details of his journey.
CLICK ON THE TITLE HEADLINE FOR THE ARTICLE
This is a good reminder for us, that God does exist! And death isn't the end of the road. We all will stand before God one day. Be ready!
In the videos that have since gone viral, 18-year-old Ben Breedlove of Austin can be seen silently sitting in a room and using handwritten note cards to tell his story. The teen suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which one part of the heart is thicker than the other parts, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.
He described cheating death three times.
The most recent scare was Dec. 6, when he passed out at school and awoke surrounded by EMS medics preparing to use shock pads to revive him.
He posted a two-part video Dec. 18 titled "This is my story." One week later, on Christmas night, he suffered a heart attack and died. As of this afternoon, the first video had been viewed online more than 476,000 times.
"It was obvious to all of us that knew him that he knew what he was doing when he made that video," close family-friend Pam Kohler said. "There are times that [the family is] overwhelmed by the pain and the loss of Ben, but then it's replaced with knowing that he was at peace with what was going to happen."
Kohler said Breedlove loved coming to her house in the country where he taught her how to make and post YouTube videos for her husband's business and loved going hunting with him.
He had two popular YouTube channels, "BreedloveTV" and "OurAdvice4You," on which he would talk about his own life as well as dishing out relationship advice for his peers. Facebook and YouTube have been inundated with tributes to Breedlove.
"When you think of Ben, you can't help but smile," Kohler said. "He was curious, creative. You never knew what he was up to. He was always full of surprises. We look on all of it as a gift from God through Ben."
Kohler and her husband, Mark Kohler, were driving to the Breedlove home Christmas when they first realized something might be wrong.
"We were going over to share Christmas dinner with them that night and on our way over there, a police car passed us with sirens on," Kohler said. "My husband said, 'Start praying because it could be Ben.'"
When they arrived at the house, they saw ambulances and fire trucks. Breedlove had had a heart attack and medics were trying to revive him. He made it to the hospital, but died there.
At this point, Kohler said the family did not know about Breedlove's last videos. He had shared his visions with his sister, but no one had seen the videos.
He said in the video, through note cards, that the first time he cheated death was when he was 4 and described an experience he had in the hospital as he was being wheeled on a stretcher.
"There was this big bright light above me ... I couldn't make out what is was because it was so bright. I told my mom, 'Look at the bright light' and pointed up. She said she didn't see anything," Breedlove wrote. "There were no lights on in this hall. I couldn't take my eyes off it. And I couldn't help but smile. I had no worries at all, like nothing else in the world mattered."
As Breedlove held up each card telling the story, he alternated serious looks with broad smiles. "I cannot even begin to describe the peace, how peaceful it was," he wrote. "I will NEVER forget that feeling or that day.
"Because of the experiences he'd had, he was ready and he was prepared. He really wanted to know that peace again. He was facing more hospital stays and he was tired of it," Kohler said. "He wanted [his family] to know that he wasn't scared and was looking forward to returning to that place."
In the videos, Breedlove went through the details of his journey.
CLICK ON THE TITLE HEADLINE FOR THE ARTICLE
This is a good reminder for us, that God does exist! And death isn't the end of the road. We all will stand before God one day. Be ready!
12.28.2011
Is Your Christian Faith Coming Under Attack?
All across our nation there have been waves of intolerance directed at Christians because of their faith. Student messages about the Ten Commandments were ripped off their lockers by school administrators. A student speaker was threatened with arrest if she prayed during her graduation. School personnel were dragged into court for a simple blessing over a meal, and teachers hid in closets to pray. A pastor was banned from a classroom Career Day solely because of his profession of faith. Historic displays of the Ten Commandments are continually being threatened by radicals.
Is this really America?
This is a world unimaginable to our Founders. The very words they wrote to protect us from religious persecution are being twisted into condemnation against our religious expression. However, all is not lost. In each of these situations listed above, Liberty Counsel got involved and made a difference.
The graduation speaker prayed and received a standing ovation from her peers. The pastor was able to share his passion for Kenyan orphans, broadening the vision and hearts of the listeners. School administrators were educated, the Ten Commandments posters returned and Liberty Counsel is continuing to actively defending historical displays in public places.
In each instance where people who needed help turned to Liberty Counsel, we were able to make the difference. Every time a situation like this arises and we are able to intervene, it is an opportunity to improve our nation. Each time we right a wrong, it helps preserve the foundation of our society. Our ultimate success is dependant on never giving up.
Just as each person relied on Liberty Counsel, we are relying on the supporters of this ministry. Because of you, we were able to turn around many bad situations into opportunities for the glory of God.
Please join with us so that we can continue to provide our legal services at no cost to everyone who needs us. Our legal staff is passionate about their calling at Liberty Counsel. They regularly work 10, 15, and sometimes 19-hour days to try to meet the needs of those who rely on us, and we must be able to show up where we are needed.
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12.23.2011
Boehner Facing Unrest in Caucus Over Payroll Tax Cut Deal
But whether those complaints could imperil his speakership remains to be seen, as the veteran lawmaker and GOP leader projects the message that he did the best he could in tough political circumstances.
In striking the deal with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, Boehner effectively acknowledged that House Republicans were in danger of taking the fall for a tax hike on Jan. 1. Ron Bonjean, a former top aide to ex-Speaker Dennis Hastert, credited Boehner with giving his members a chance to make their case but said he had to strike a balance.
"When their position became unsustainable, the speaker took a leadership position," Bonjean said.
Whether Boehner's members will see it that way is another matter.
After Boehner unveiled the last-minute deal with Republican rank-and-file late Thursday in a curt conference call, members were incensed.
"He may have a hard time keeping his speakership after this," one GOP lawmaker said. "He's got a big problem when he comes back."
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I believe that Boehner did make a leadership decision. He made a choice that prolonged the tax cuts. Sure it's only two months. But it's better than being at a stalemate over the issue.
At least he got something done. And further tax cuts can still be talked about.
12.22.2011
Court Blocks Florida Inmates From Having Pen Pal Ads
A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a complaint from pen-pal services that challenged a Florida policy banning inmates from advertising themselves on the online sites.
The operators of WriteAPrisoner.com and two other services claimed the policy violated the free speech rights of the state's inmates. But the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with state officials who argued the Match.com-style listings could lead to security problems.
It's the latest decision in an ongoing legal feud between the online pen-pal sites and corrections officials who have adopted similar policies in several other states. The federal appeals court in Chicago in July upheld a similar restriction adopted by the Indiana Department of Correction.
Florida officials prohibited the online ads in 2004 after receiving complaints about pen pal scams. The rule allowed inmates to correspond with pen pals but banned them from placing ads on sites to find new pals. Inmates who ignore the rule could have privileges such as visitation or phone calls revoked.
WriteAPrisoner and two letter services, Freedom Through Christ Prison Ministry and Prison Pen Pals, argue that the sites play a valuable role in helping inmates. They say many people who use the sites are from religious groups, and that they help inmates rehabilitate by providing them more contact with the outside world.
But prison officials countered that the sites could lead to more money and contraband entering the facilities. The department would have to assign more staffers and to comb through mail to root out any signs of fraudulent schemes or illegal material, state officials said in court records.
In an 18-page ruling, Circuit Judge Charles R. Wilson concluded that allowing inmates to post ads on the sites would place an extra burden on already-strained prison staffs. He said the rules don't violate the inmates' rights, and noted they still allow them to "glean the positive influence" from pen pals using sites that don't require ads.
Florida corrections spokeswoman Ann Howard said the state is pleased with the ruling. WriteAPrisoner.com owner Adam Lovell said the decision blocks his site from offering rehabilitative services to Florida inmates that could have helped reduce recidivism. He is considering whether to appeal.
"The department's rule and today's decision solved a non-existent problem," he said. "It is a sad day for us, but we proudly move on with the support of a very strong base committed to prison reform."
Lovell said the policy has prevented any inmates in Florida state prisons from posting ads, but his site features more than 170 listings from Florida members in federal prison.
They range from a 34-year-old man seeking a pen-pal to ease his "loneliness and despair" to a 32-year-old female who jokes of living in a "wonderful gated community equipped with 24 hour armed security and surveillance."
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This was a wise ruling by the courts. Inmates use sites like this to send messages about drop offs of contraband to prisons. And to prey on women, even minors. Most prisons, especially California state prisons are far too easy on inmates. Pretty much catering to them on every issue.
The courts need to step in and take more things away from inmates, not spoil them further. Prison is suppose to be hard not easy. Get a clue judges!
Christmas According to Marx and Lenin, by Ronald Reagan
The war against Christmas has only recently come to this nation, but repressive governments in other parts of the world have banned that holy day for many years. From 1969 to 1997, Christmas was banned in Cuba. Christianity Today in 2002 reported that in the Vietnamese province of Dak Lak, children's choirs were forbidden to sing "Silent Night." Such examples are endless. Repressive forces have always had the same goal - to first secularize and then to eliminate Christmas.
Communist leaders of the former Soviet Union banned Christmas, changed the words to Christmas songs and folded all Christmas celebrations into a New Year celebration.
Christians exhibited bravery and courage in confronting Communism's anti-Christmas campaign. One person recalled how the young people would go out in the streets and sing Christmas carols, knowing that if police heard them, they would be arrested. In Communist Romania, Geza Palffy, a priest, delivered a sermon in 1983 protesting against the fact that December 25th had been declared a work day instead of a holiday. The next day he was arrested by secret police, beaten, imprisoned and died.
Before becoming President, Ronald Reagan delivered more than 1,000 three-minute radio broadcasts, writing nearly all of them himself. In one broadcast he told a fascinating story about how Communists gradually changed Christmas in the Ukraine.
Reagan's broadcast recounted that both inside and outside the Iron Curtain, Ukrainians never stopped singing: "We beg you our Lord, we pray to you today. Grant us freedom, return glory to our Mother Ukraine." He ended with: "I guess we all hope their prayer is answered."
And indeed it was.
Communist leaders of the former Soviet Union banned Christmas, changed the words to Christmas songs and folded all Christmas celebrations into a New Year celebration.
Christians exhibited bravery and courage in confronting Communism's anti-Christmas campaign. One person recalled how the young people would go out in the streets and sing Christmas carols, knowing that if police heard them, they would be arrested. In Communist Romania, Geza Palffy, a priest, delivered a sermon in 1983 protesting against the fact that December 25th had been declared a work day instead of a holiday. The next day he was arrested by secret police, beaten, imprisoned and died.
Before becoming President, Ronald Reagan delivered more than 1,000 three-minute radio broadcasts, writing nearly all of them himself. In one broadcast he told a fascinating story about how Communists gradually changed Christmas in the Ukraine.
Reagan's broadcast recounted that both inside and outside the Iron Curtain, Ukrainians never stopped singing: "We beg you our Lord, we pray to you today. Grant us freedom, return glory to our Mother Ukraine." He ended with: "I guess we all hope their prayer is answered."
And indeed it was.
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