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PTSD: Cannabis Vs. Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) Pizzen Conflict 2008

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - As a Combat Infantryman with PTSD and an observer of PTSD breakdown on the "Front Lines" and as a physician who took care of about 400 Vietnam PTSD victims who requested cannabis medication, I take a dim view that subjecting battle PTSD victims to intense battle sounds – bombs and heavy machine gun fire – would "snap them out" of their PTSD. Most such battle Veterans will hit the dirt if they hear a truck backfire.

To even think or suggest that Virtual Reality battle sounds would "help" battle caused PTSD stretches my understanding and my memories of artillery barrages.

I read of recent VRT with clinical but quizzical interest. I was in Europe for 18 months with 5 months in the battle zones. I endured heavy artillery barrages, mortar barrages, 40mm anti-aircraft cannon fire and more than my share of rifle and machine gun fire as a scout, point man and forward observer.

The Brave New World of Newspaper Publishing

Meet the new publisher of the Statesman Journal.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Salem City Club will feature the new publisher of the Salem's daily newspaper at their November 21st meeting. Steve Silberman is the newly appointed President and Publisher of the Statesman Journal.

Silberman is from Palm Springs, California, where he was the executive editor of The Desert Sun. The City Club's Raquel Moore-Green says the new publisher is fast settling into Salem.

When the forerunner of the Statesman Journal, The Oregon Statesman, was founded in 1851 by Asahel Bush it was printed using a hand press. For a very long time, as far as readers were concerned there was nothing really new about the newspaper business. It seemed people always got the news printed on paper (or hard copy as paper is now called). Television images of Father sitting at the kitchen table reading the morning paper are classic.

State Approves $127 Million in Housing Funds Across Oregon

The money will stimulate economic activity in the state while addressing pressing housing needs.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Fifteen low-income housing projects throughout Oregon will receive funding through the Oregon Housing and Community Services fall 2008 funding cycle, OHCS Director Victor Merced announced today.

These combined grants, loans and tax credits will amount to nearly $75 million in total project costs, which will support construction or rehabilitation of 457 units of affordable housing around the state. The projects will generate approximately $127 million in economic activity throughout the state's economy.

The department's Consolidated Funding Cycle (CFC) provides opportunities to apply for grants, loans and tax subsidies to develop housing for lower-income Oregonians.

Wyden Objects to Potential Loss of Critical Fighter Aircraft

A senator from Oregon says he is standing up for the nation’s air sovereignty and the strength of Oregon’s Air National Guard.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden says he has written a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Bruce Donley objecting to rumored plans for early retirement of more than 300 fighter aircraft up to 11 years ahead of schedule.

Plans were in place to begin a phased retirement of these fighter aircraft beginning in 2014, but news reports are circulating that Air Force officials are considering eliminating the aircraft from their fleet as soon as 2010.

"I must voice my objections to any plan that could negatively impact the National Guard’s vital air sovereignty mission…," wrote Wyden.

The Disenfranchisement of My Daughter

As a native Southerner, I recognize more than most the importance of defending the right to vote. I remember people dying for that right.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - Growing up in Mississippi and North Carolina in the late 1950s and early 1960s, I have vivid memories of African-Americans hoping to participate in their first election being turned away at the polls, denied their most basic right to vote.

Little did I know that near fifty years later, in 2008, my daughter would similarly be prevented from voting.

Her entire adolescence has been under the shadow of the Iraq War, just as my youth had been under the shadow of the Vietnam War. Rather than becoming angry and cynical, however, Kalila threw her youthful idealism into the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, who opposed the invasion, called for change and promised hope for a better future. She spent countless hours making phone calls, volunteering at campaign offices, and even skipped a couple of days of classes at her California high school in January in order to travel to Nevada to campaign for Obama in the caucuses.

Albany Prepares for Massive Veterans Day Parade

The largest Veterans Day event in the western U.S. takes place in historic Albany, Oregon.

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Ninety years ago tomorrow, the war to end all wars ceased and the world was granted peace. November 11th 1918 marked the cessation of hostilities that claimed millions upon millions of French, British, German and Belgian soldiers.

Over 50,000 Americans also died in World War One as well as soldiers from many other nations. November 11th is celebrated all around the world as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.

The largest Veterans Day observance west of the Mississippi River, is the Albany Veteran's Day Parade in Oregon. Upwards of 40,000 people will attend the event featuring approximately 200 entries.

Are Roundabouts the Answer for Our Traffic Problems?

A different kind of revolution for American drivers.

(SALEM, Ore.) - I remember the first roundabout in Las Vegas and with it, the frustration and confusion of drivers unaccustomed to this European style traffic pattern.

The roundabouts at Summerlin, a few miles west of the famed "Las Vegas Strip", are in a semi rural part of Sin City; an area where 45 and 50 MPH speed limits meet two-way stops and crashes are grisly and often fatal.

There are no left hand turn or head-on crashes when traffic slows for roundabouts. And if a driver misses their turn, they can just keep going around until they reach it again.

While Las Vegas has mixed reviews of the Summerlin roundabouts, 50 have been built in Carmel, Indiana since 2001, and the city has seen a 78% decline in injuries related to traffic accidents. Those numbers seem hard to argue with. Modern roundabouts have an amazing level of safety and they save taxpayers big bucks.

Stoning Death of Somali Teen Rape Victim Sparks Outrage from UN

A 13-year old female rape victim was stoned to death in a stadium full of spectators on October 27th after authorities found her guilty of adultery.

(KISMAYO, Somalia) - The United Nations envoy tasked with advocating for children caught up in armed conflict today voiced her horror at last week’s stoning to death of a 13-year-old Somali girl who was a victim of rape.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, issued a statement condemning the killing and calling for better protection for children in Somalia, which remains beset by widespread fighting.

"The incident highlights the extreme nature of violence against children and women in Somalia, which has been heightened by the increasing lawlessness," she said.

Drain Man Dies in Single Car Crash Near Cottage Grove

Police believe speed was a factor in the fatal crash.

(COTTAGE GROVE, Ore.) - Police say a 42-year old Drain area man died early Sunday morning when his pickup drove off Highway 99 about three miles north of Cottage Grove and struck a tree.

The crash happened at approximately 2:24 AM this morning. Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Blaine Hlebechuk says a 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by 42-year old James Dean Plueard of Drain, was southbound on Highway 99 near Cea Jack Road when it left the highway and crashed into a tree.

Mr. Plueard was pronounced deceased at the scene. Safety restraint use information is not available. OSP troopers from the Springfield Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

At Least 20 Die in Russian Submarine Accident

The vessel was set to be commissioned in the Russian Navy later this year, and most of the dead were shipbuilders on board to carry out tests.

(MOSCOW, Russia) - The Russian government confirms that at least 20 died Sunday during an accident on a brand new submarine operating in the Sea of Japan. It is the worst Russian submarine disaster since Russia lost the nuclear-powered submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea on August 12th 2000. The submarine was located by searchers at the depth of 108 meters on August 13. All the Kursk's 118 crewmembers died, The ITAR-TASS News agency reports.

Russian Navy Assistant Commander Capt. 1st Class Igor Dugalo says medics have examined the poisoned crew.

"Leading physicians of the Russian Pacific Fleet have examined 21 people affected in the self-induced start of the nuclear-powered submarine fire system. Twenty of them have insignificant poisoning, and the condition of one is more serious." he said.