WSU to Study Iraq Toxins' Effect
Spokesman-Review
by Bert Caldwell
Research to examine how exposure might damage offspring of soldiers
Washington State University scientists will use a $1.7 million grant to study what multi-generation genetic damage might be done by toxins U.S. troops could encounter in Iraq.
The research using laboratory rats, not humans, will be the first for the military to examine the epigenetic effects of pesticides, herbicides and other compounds, said lead scientist Michael Skinner, director of the university's Center for Reproductive Biology.
Previous studies have looked at the health effects of other substances, notably the Agent Orange used to defoliate jungles in Vietnam, on the soldiers directly exposed, he said, not on their children or grandchildren.
"The science really had not caught up with the trans-generational stuff," said Skinner, one of several WSU pioneers in the field of epigenetic, or multi-generational, inheritance.
Besides herbicides and pesticides – which and in what combinations has not been determined – the study also will look at the effects of explosives residues, he said.
The four-year study will allow researchers to see how any changes in genetic chemistry that develop are passed along through two subsequent generations of rats, he said, noting that only the first two years of research have been funded.
Among the problems that might develop are kidney disease, or changes in the male and female reproductive organs, he said.
If any genetic markers are identified in rats, Skinner said, follow-up research could look at whether they might show up among members of the military as well.
That would be of particular interest to Dave Holmes, interim chief operating officer of the Institute for Systems Medicine, which was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense grant passed through to Skinner.
Holmes' son, Tim Hammond, did two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"They sprayed all kinds of stuff on them," Holmes said.
Although the grant money, the first awarded ISM, will fund work in Pullman, he said the organization's supporters hope any subsequent clinical studies will be done in Spokane.
"There's a lot of excitement about making it happen," he said.
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THE USA, Land of Entitlements?
By Cowboy Veteran, Bud Keller
What have we become
folks? It scares me to
death to think what
my/our country is turning
into. Our country now
owes our souls to China
and Japan! Something
we may never get out of
if we, the American
people, don’t take our
country back, and very soon. We have stood by and watched our elected Government officials run us right into the ground, all parties to blame, not just one or the other, all of them! They have SOLD us out to the rest of the world. Landing us into a country of entitlements. We were once the land of plenty, prosperity, riches Nation in the world in so many ways, respected in so many ways, that others envied us, were jealous of us, and yes, even angry at us because of the power we held.
Now, were 14 trillion$$$$ in debt and counting, looking to go even deeper in debt, unemployment in double digits and climbing higher, all the while our government is doing nothing more than pointing the “Blame Game” fingers at each other, trying to cover their collective asses! All this starts at the very top of the food chain folks. Our current President thinks he can spend our way out of trouble! Hellfire, we still have paper and ink, lets just keep printing the stuff, to hell with the consequences of it all. Our members of congress aren’t any better, they think they are entitled to our money, to spend as they so choose. THEY ARE VERY WRONG!
Our state and local governments are in dire need of funds just to survive and are asking congress for help; good luck with that one people. So it screams out to me--WHY? Why are we in the state we are in? Here it is in a nut-shell folks.
Entitlements, Entitlements, and more Entitlements.
We are well into our 3rd plus generations of being a “WELFARE” nation. And who put us there? 100 Senators, 435 Congressmen, and 9 Supreme Court Justices, one President to sign the bills. 545 + 9 + 1= 555, out of over 300 million people, that are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems of our country. Our politicians alone, are the only people in this country who create laws, call them problems, and then campaigns against them just to get re-elected! Imagine that, huh! (Do the words “Term Limits” mean anything,” hold onto that thought!) Yes our government started all of our problems, and it all started with Entitlements. All the FREE stuff many people get, that we the tax payers have to pay for. Folks, if you’re like me, you’re damn sick and tired of being told that we have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my/your work ethics, of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too damn lazy to earn it themselves. I don’t like the idea of hearing people with air conditioned homes they can’t afford, big screen TV’s, 2 cars, being called poor! I’m real sick and tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. Of blaming big government, or discrimination, or rich people, or whatever it is, for their problems, that they and they alone are responsible for!
I don’t believe that illegal aliens should be called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but who live on welfare and/or crime. Why not call drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists,” and NO, I’m not a racist! Just want them to come to this great country the same way my Great-Grandparents did, the legal way! I am however, willing to fast track any illegal alien for citizenship, if they learn to speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record, who will freely abide by our laws, who won’t push their old ways on ours, who is self supporting without any family on welfare, and anyone who serves at least 3 years in our military. Those are the type of citizens we need in our country.
Too many people have a sense of entitlement, rich or poor alike. Especially many of our Athletes, Entertainers, Actors/Actresses, and Politicians. Many who have never spent a day in the military with boots on the ground. But will bitch about our military that protect this country for pennies on the dollar a month, of what they make in a hour! While they, (Athletes, and tinsel-town cronies,) break laws, do drugs, cheat to gain an edge, will then cry “OH poor me.” I had a tuff life as a kid, nobody loves me, I didn’t have roll models, ect, ect! Kiss my rosy red apple! You got yourselves into it, get your selves out of it. Quit using our tax dollars to cover your lack of responsibility! Yes, our tax $$$$$, you pooooor deprived bunch of irresponsible morons, take up court time to settle your ill-fated problems, and expect us to bail your worthless butts out of your problems! Take responsibility for your own actions for once in your life!
I’m sick and tired of hearing how “poor people” need more help! Now before I get goin on this topic folks, let me clarify one thing very clearly! I’m NOT a RACIST period! I’m for helping people who are willing to help themselves get out of the situations they find themselves in, OK?!
This country’s poor, for the most part, are that way because they are waiting for someone to “FEED” them, cloth them, house them, educate them, AND THEN---PAY THEM, to do absolutely NOTHING! Like well trained sheep, they wait for handouts! Entitlements folks, they think they are entitled to all this without having to EARN it!
I do blame the Democrat party mostly for this, but the Republican and Independents aren’t totally off the hook either! The Democrats are famous for running around campaigning, “lying,” promising, “ENTITLEMENTS” to those poor folks who will VOTE for them. Let me ask ya something guys, how the hell is that working out for ya now? For well over 50 years, you have been promised “Entitlements” that will help you get out of your lazy way of life! News Flash, you’re still there aren‘t you?! And you now have the next 2 or 3 generations right there with you! Like I said folks, how’s that working out for ya now? Like the TV commercial, “Can you hear me now?!” Get off your lazy butts, improve the way you live your life. People will be far more willing reach out with a helping hand. You will feel so much better, you will think with the mindset of great accomplishment, satisfaction, worthiness, more than you ever had in your entire life! It will make you a far better person.
Katrina was a prime example folks! People sat around waiting for “Entitlements,” (Government at it’s best,) to get them out of harms way. Hell-fire people, most could have WALKED out! They had the time and 500 school buses! I could go on and on, but, I want to finish this out with my view of solutions too many of our country’s problems at hand, and the way to correct them.
TERM LIMITS! Yep folks, term limits for all our elected officials in both houses, the Supreme Court Justices, no more life time appointments for any court appointed judges at any level, any courthouse, in any state, and/or local government levels.
Being a member of congress or court appointee, should be a privilege, not a job, not for the $$$$, not for the benefits they receive, but to serve the people of our country, and NOT to serve themselves! All the political seats in our government structure, are the people's seats folks! Our elected and appointed officials need to be reminded of that very point. Term limits would help stop most of the “Holier-than-thou", attitude many of our government officials have. It would force them to stick to their guns, and quit running around like a scalded hog when the going gets tuff, just too get re-elected. Term limits that I propose are for all, but not limited to, all elected and appointed government officials.
1) All elected/appointed government officials must retire by their 80th birthday or the end of the current term.
2) Senators, will drop from 6 year term to a 4 year term. Will only be allowed to run for 3 consecutive terms, Elections to be held 2 years after the Presidential elections take place. May re-run for office after a 6 years.
3) Representatives will go from a 2 year term to a 3 year term. Will only be allowed to run for 4 consecutive
Terms. May re-run after 6 years.
We have term limited the president, lets now term limit all members of congress, all levels of our courts systems throughout our country.
Next, we do away with all their special “Entitlements,” such as their special retirement programs, their special health-care programs, with one exception, our President. They do need to be protected for life with security, but not any different health care and retirement that you and I get.
Dump, get rid of the IRS! Go to a straight flat tax immediately! Audit the Federal Reserve and always keep it solvent. These are just a few of my thoughts folks.
Entitlements folks, bad for the country? YES! Entitlements are kinda like a “Post-Turtle” folks. Don’t know what a post Turtle is? Let me tell you a story I was told as kid growing up on the ranch. This here city-slicker was driving down a dirt road, and saw a Turtle on it’s back, on top of a post. He saw an ole rancher nearby, stopped, and asked what it was there for? The ole rancher answered, “that there is a Post Turtle.“ He saw the puzzled look on the city-slickers face, so he went on to explainin it to’m. “You know it didn’t git up there by itself, you know it doesn’t belong there, it doesn’t know what to do while it’s up there, so you just wonder sort of Dumb-Ass put it up there to begin with.” As the city-slicker drove off in a cloud of dust, the ole rancher spurted out, “God must love stupid people, he sure made nuff of’m!”
Patriotically yours
Cowboy Veteran, Bud Keller
