The Republicans just don't get it. They absolutely believe in the imperial Commander and Chief.

The Republicans are pure paid for politicians. They have no clue what reestablishing any war powers is all about, do they?

February 15, 2015
By Keith Laing
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) said Sunday (click here) that President Obama’s request for a war powers authorization against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is “convoluted.”
“It’s probably appropriate to have the debate. But the president hasn’t come forward with a plan or a strategy for us to have success,” McCain, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on NBC’s “Meet The Press.”“In his proposal, [Obama] left out [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad, which is really amazing in that we are training young Syrians to go in and fight against Bashar al-Assad,” McCain said. “It’s really kind of convoluted and I’d say call it an uncertain trumpet.”
Obama sent Congress draft legislation last week authorizing the use of military force against ISIS, asking lawmakers to vote specifically to approve a new war for the first time since the controversial 2002 Iraq War vote.
The proposed legislation limits Obama from the use of “enduring offensive ground combat operations." The request is widely seen as being deliberately vague language in an attempt to win over critics on the left wary of mission creep and those on the right who don’t want to restrict possible military action against ISIS....

Here is a hint:
 

Speaker Boner has a long standing problem with the Jewish in the USA.

He is probably still doing penance for the Jewish community. So, from one right wing extremist to another, the US Congress is available for election fodder.

November 2, 2011
By Jake Gibson
Rich Iott, (click here) who ran as a Republican for Ohio's 9th Congressional District seat last year against incumbent Democrat Marcy Kaptur, donated $2,400 to Boehner's campaign, reported Washington Jewish Week
"Clearly Boehner is so desperate for campaign cash or so removed from reality that he is accepting money from a Nazi enthusiast who insults the memory of six million Jews who died during the Holocaust and our nations' veterans who sacrificed to defend our freedom," said Jesse Ferguson of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The National Jewish Democratic Council, a left-leaning group, said Boehner has a "responsibility to repudiate Iott's behavior by returning the money or, better yet, donating it to a Holocaust charity."
"Boehner-the most powerful Republican in America and the third person in the presidential succession line-owes American Jews and WWII veterans an explanation as to how he can continue to associate himself with Iott, given his widely-known disturbing behavior," said NJDC President and CEO David A. Harris....

The US rails aren't maintained in a safe manner.

Feb 16 (Reuters) - A CSX Corp train (click here) hauling crude derailed in West Virginia on Monday, setting at least two cars ablaze and forcing the evacuation of two nearby towns in the second significant oil-train incident in three days....

New York State is finding faulty switches and rail cars that can cause derailment. Was the rail inspected in West Virginia after the first derailment a few days ago? I already know the answer. If the tracks and the cars were inspected after the first derailment why were more trains allowed to continue?

December 29, 2014
By Brian Nearing

Trains were slowed on tracks last week (click here) near a large Albany County industrial park — where passing trains routinely carry dozens of tankers filled with flammable crude oil — after state and federal safety inspectors found a faulty switch that could have caused a derailment.
That switch, which feeds trains into the 550-acre Northeast Industrial Park, was examined Dec. 9 as part of the eighth statewide inspection of oil trains and tracks ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in response to safety concerns about a surge of crude oil shipments through New York from the Bakken fields of North Dakota.
The switch is about three miles north of the village of Voorheesville and feeds trains into the park, which itself contains about 15 miles of tracks....

Building another pipeline isn't going to stop this. Building another pipeline only opens up more oil traveling across the country, not less. These rails will have oil on them anyway.

Turkey is having it's own domestic problems, but, it always does in one form or another.

Women on the protest argue that violence against women has become more acceptable in Turkey in recent years.

February 15, 2015
By Selin Girit

Thousands of women in Turkey (click here) have protested at the murder of a young woman who allegedly resisted an attempt by a bus driver to rape her.
Police discovered the burnt body of Ozgecan Aslan, 20, in a riverbed in the city of Mersin, on Friday.
They have arrested three men in connection with her death - a minibus driver, his father and a friend.
The Turkish president and prime minister called Ms Aslan's family to offer their condolences.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu promised the family to hunt those responsible for the crime and punish them.
Ms Aslan, a psychology student, was kidnapped on Wednesday on her way home.
The driver allegedly tried to rape her. She reportedly fought him off with pepper spray, but was then stabbed to death. She was also hit on the head with an iron pipe....

Egypt is building it's own defense force no different than Israel.

February 16, 2015

The Eyptian defence ministry has released video reportedly showing footage of air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in eastern Libya.

The strikes were in reprisal for the apparent beheading of a group of up to 21 Coptic Christians by Islamic State extremists.
Egypt says there will be more air attacks and is also demanding that the US-led coalition fighting IS in Syria and Iraq, extends its operations to Libya.

Last I remember Russia was assisting Egypt with preparedness. Egypt was the first country to confront the threat of Libya in the region.

The countries in the Middle East are best to deploy their own national defense strategy. 

AMMAN  –– Jordan on Monday condemned the cowardly execution of 21 Egyptian Copts   by Daesh terror group in Libya.

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and the Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said in a statement that Jordan strongly condemns the cowardly and brutal execution of 21 Egyptians, expressing condolences to the egyptian government and the families of the victims.

Momani called on the international community and regional countries, particularly Arabs and Muslims, to fight against the terror group.

On Sunday night, Daesh released a video showed the beheading of 21 Egyptians in Libya.
In response to the beheading of the Egyptians, Egypt's air force bombed Daesh targets inside Libya on Monday, marking an escalation in Cairo's battle against militants.

It was the first time Egypt confirmed launching air strikes against the group in neighbouring Libya, showing President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is ready to expand his fight against Islamist militancy beyond Egypt's borders....

Daesh wants a global war. The deaths of hostages is sad enough, but, launching an invasion force is a completely different subject. The hostages, no matter where they are or came from were taken some time ago in plans made before they organized in Syria.

ROME: Italy would weigh participating in any military intervention to keep forces from the Islamic State group from advancing in Libya should diplomatic efforts fail, Italian officials said Monday.
Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti has said Rome could contribute 5,000 troops to lead such a military mission. But Pinotti and Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday sought to dispel the notion Italy already decided on military operations if launched under the auspices of the United Nations. Renzi told the private TG5 TV news "the proposal is to wait, so the U.N. Security Council can work with a bit more conviction on Libya" diplomatically.
U.N.-sponsored efforts must involve "all the players, the local tribes, African Union countries, Arab countries, the Europeans," Renzi said.
- See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Feb-16/287641-italy-to-weigh-military-action-in-libya-if-diplomacy-fails.ashx#sthash.ZrDloDQA.dpuf

February 16, 2015

Rome: Italy would weigh participating in any military intervention. (click here)...

Recently 2000 Libyan migrants landed in Italy to save their lives. The USA has a naval port in southern Italy The migrants alarmed Italy and they announced they would contribute 5000 troops to fight in Libya. That may be premature. Italy needs to weed through the migrants to be sure none are not linked to Daesh.

North Africa is a security issue and always has been a security issue for Europe. Within in the past couple weeks the eastern end of Mediterranean Sea has experienced high winds and waves to match. There have been ships that cannot sustain those conditions.

The Mediterranean Sea a closed body of water with only small inlets. That means when winds whip the sea it doesn't stop quickly. The energy is not dissipated across a larger body of water such an ocean. The shipping in the eastern area of this sea has experienced several collisions and problems with navigation.

The migrants came from Libya where the sea is calmer. 

would weigh participating in any military intervention - See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Feb-16/287641-italy-to-weigh-military-action-in-libya-if-diplomacy-fails.ashx#sthash.ZrDloDQA.dpuf

ROME: Italy would weigh participating in any military intervention to keep forces from the Islamic State group from advancing in Libya should diplomatic efforts fail, Italian officials said Monday.
Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti has said Rome could contribute 5,000 troops to lead such a military mission. But Pinotti and Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday sought to dispel the notion Italy already decided on military operations if launched under the auspices of the United Nations. Renzi told the private TG5 TV news "the proposal is to wait, so the U.N. Security Council can work with a bit more conviction on Libya" diplomatically.
U.N.-sponsored efforts must involve "all the players, the local tribes, African Union countries, Arab countries, the Europeans," Renzi said.
- See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Feb-16/287641-italy-to-weigh-military-action-in-libya-if-diplomacy-fails.ashx#sthash.ZrDloDQA.dpuf

ROME: Italy would weigh participating in any military intervention to keep forces from the Islamic State group from advancing in Libya should diplomatic efforts fail, Italian officials said Monday.
Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti has said Rome could contribute 5,000 troops to lead such a military mission. But Pinotti and Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday sought to dispel the notion Italy already decided on military operations if launched under the auspices of the United Nations. Renzi told the private TG5 TV news "the proposal is to wait, so the U.N. Security Council can work with a bit more conviction on Libya" diplomatically.
U.N.-sponsored efforts must involve "all the players, the local tribes, African Union countries, Arab countries, the Europeans," Renzi said.
- See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Feb-16/287641-italy-to-weigh-military-action-in-libya-if-diplomacy-fails.ashx#sthash.ZrDloDQA.dpuf

The Ukraine children are counting on their leaders.

President Poroshenko and President Putin need to work diligently to maintain the ceasefire and move toward peace. The children are already traumatized by the war and I am quite certain some are now orphans and some may be dead. 

February 15, 2015
By Dragana Jovanovic

The cease-fire (click here) that went in effect in eastern Ukraine today may quiet the guns, but the echoes of 10 months of bombardment will likely ring in the ears of the child survivors of the conflict for the rest of their lives.

Just hours before the fighting was supposed to stop, Ekaterina and her 8-year-old brother Ivan played on a slide and jungle gym in a central park of Donetsk with the sound of heavy bombardment raining down around them.

But the two children, who had only left their basement shelter Saturday for some sunshine and fresh air as their mother went to buy food, ignored the explosions.

Ekaterina, who is just 5 years old, even explained that she could tell the difference between mortars, rockets, and other artillery by the sounds they made as they hit the ground.

In 15 minutes, 25 explosions were heard, even though it was just hours before an internationally sponsored ceasefire was to go into effect between Ukrainians and Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has killed about 5,500 people....

Every communication method possible to reach the global community was harnessed.

Third in a 5-part series 
The Long Melt: The Lingering Influence of ‘The Day After Tomorrow’

Michael Svoboda  —  November 5, 2014

...The film unquestionably (click here) increased the public profile of climate science. Included in a November 2004 Environment article by Anthony Leiserowitz (publisher of this site) was this finding: The Day After Tomorrow generated more than 10 times the news coverage of the 2001 IPCC report.”

This result seemed to confirm what some scientists, including Michael Molitor, the primary science consultant for Day After, had predicted: “This film could do more in helping us move in the right direction than all the scientific work and all the U.S. Congressional testimonies put together. . . . Nothing I have done in the twenty-three years of my climate change career may have a greater impact than this film.” Similarly, in an e-mail exchange, Stefan Rahmstorf (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) said his review of Day After “is consistently amongst the most-viewed items on [his] home page....

Former President Al Gore still has a group to teach the public about the Climate Crisis. He used this Nobel Peace Prize funding and turned it back into the needed message to everyone. 

Scientists knew this would lead to a human tragedy and they persisted. The most meek and unlikely members of the scientific community became upset and outspoken.

The worst isn't even here. "Earth" doesn't conduct wars, it conducts climate. This is a planet, not an enemy. It is absolutely and completely wrong for any government to make scientists enemies of the state. There is nothing further from the truth.

Indulging political cronies caused this. No doubt in my mind. 

Former Vice President Gore started researching the scientific predictions over 20 years ago.

The Climate Reality Project's (click here) "24 Hours of Reality: The Dirty Weather Report" featured this documentary about the National Geographic Explorer's 2012 expedition to Antarctica. On board were leaders in Science, Arts, Business, Public Policy culture brought on this extraordinary voyage to an isolated continent at the farthest reaches of the earth so they may experience the drastic effects of Global Warming first hand.

"The Climate Reality Project" website (click here)

Everyone was told.

How does -60 degrees interpret in America? 

It caused the heater to click on every 10 to 15 minutes to maintain an air temperature in the house to 65 degrees F regardless of the weather proofing in use.

The house itself was as much an enemy as the snow and ice accumulated. The heat inside the house was being robbed from it's purpose as fast as it was generated. If the heater fell into disrepair the only option would be to leave and move to a heating center. The occupant would have succumbed to the cold that the house already had absorbed. There was a very small 'survival' quotient in that equation. There was nothing else that could be done to expand that survival quotient, except to step into the four wheel drive, turn on the heat and move to a place where heat was available.

Preparedness included running the 4 wheel drive to be sure there was an escape pathway to the highway and be sure the vehicle was capable of 'starting up' to maintain that escape route. 

At that point, snow plows were no longer employed to move the snow, but instead, road graders with plows under them proved effective. The road graders removed the ice as well as the snow providing fool proof routes to residents so long as they made it out of their driveways. Beyond that snowmobiles might prove effectiveness for a rescue in an emergency, however, the wind might prove to difficult to navigate the snowmobile successfully. 

Good luck.

Boston is the center of a hemisphereic vortex.

February 15, 2015
1330.18z 
UNISYS North and West Water Vapor Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)

The reason it is so dangerous is because the jet stream is no longer moving air masses around the globe. The only physics moving air masses around the world is Coriolis. 

The cold is displaced from the Arctic Circle. This level of freezing occurred over Lake Michigan last year. Basically, the air mass Boston is experiencing was stalled over the Midwest last year. The cold and dense air mass has moved only about 1000 miles since last year. The Midwest experienced wind chill to - (negative) 60 degrees. The population exposed to those temperatures was far smaller than the metropolitan areas in NYC and Boston.

If this trend is the new physics of Earth, NYC and Boston should have a milder winter next year and the air mass will have moved closer to Iceland and Europe. However, there is no reason to believe the ocean will hold it's dynamics so much as land. That said, the outcomes may not be as predictable as I have just stated.

This dynamic is what is causing the incremental slowing of Earth's ROTATION. Not orbit. The air mass is dragging against the surface of Earth and is moved only by Coriolis, so therefore the air mass has a direct effect on Earth's Coriolis. 

February 16, 2015
1330.18z
UNISYS water vapor GOES East satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)

The Jet Stream still exists, but, it's velocity has little effect on high tropospheric vortexes. The vortexes overrides the effects of the Jet Stream. It was the Jet Stream that moved air masses before and was not a drag on Earth's surface. 

This is a deterioration of Earth's atmospheres. There is this extreme in the winter and in summer there was a dual tornado system that lasted more than 24 hours.  

The effect of anthropogenic global warming is obvious. This level of CO2 and other greenhouse gases has never been this high in Earth's history.

A cartoon equates to a killing with a gun? Really?

Cartoons criticize. Someone doesn't like the criticism so they pick up a gun and decide outside any daily norms they have the power to end the criticism. Really? 

February 16, 2015
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Two men (click here) suspected of helping the gunman behind the deadly attacks in Copenhagen were jailed for 10 days Monday as Danes mourned the victims of a shooting spree that authorities said may have been inspired by last month's terror attacks in Paris.
They were accused of helping the gunman evade authorities and get rid of a weapon during the manhunt that ended early Sunday when the attacker was killed in a shootout with police, said Michael Juul Eriksen, the defense attorney for one of the two suspects....

Europe doesn't have an ocean between north Africa and the Middle East as the USA does. It is easy to be in the USA and criticize cartoonists. What if those cartoonists bring out the fears of Europe so their leaders pay attention to those fears?

Beneath all this talk about inappropriate cartoons is the fact extremist deliberately misinterpret the message and convert it to violence. That is the problem here. That is the problem in north Africa and the Middle East. ISIS justifies their violence based in the fact SOMEONE needs to defend Islam. Excuse me? No one is defending Islam? No leader in the world stands up for Islam and it's practice in a peaceful method? I didn't know the last Mosque in the world was destroyed; I thought that was reserved for Buddhist statues.

Evidently, in the face of defending humanity cartoonists are the real soldiers and defend the right to exhibit the fact the faith has been so distorted by extremists it causes fear and misinterpretation in the world. 

But, forbid the guns are removed from the extremists grip, the cartoonists are to quake in fear so deep it undermines democracy and free speech. Who is the real problem here? The cartoonist? Of the extremists? 

No one was paying such close attention to Charlie Hebdo that it had a global circulation to create war. This is nonsense. 

Netanyahu is wrong! The Israeli Prime Minister should not be fear mongering.

Israel is not completely immune from violence. What is he talking about? Justifying more settlements? 

Calling European Jews home is giving up and is hatred all by itself. The Danish people are doing everything they can do to protect citizens, immigrants and visitors alike. I would appreciate the Prime Minister's view if there was little to no acceptance and safety for the Jewish people in Europe. This is ridiculous.

A screenshot of Netanyahu's campaign ad, February 14, 2015.

February 14, 2015
By Jonathan Lis

 Likud ratcheted (click here) up its campaign against the left in a video released Saturday suggesting that the left would allow the Islamic State (ISIS) into Israel.
The video shows actors dressed as ISIS fighters holding supposed ISIS flags driving in a pickup truck, and the words “Us or them, ISIS version.” On his Facebook page, alongside the video, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote: “This time choose: Likud headed by Netanyahu or a weak and submissive leftist government with Tzipi and Bougie,” referring to Zionist Union leaders MKs Tzipi Livni and Isaac Herzog.
The video shows the fighters in the pickup, which has a “Just not Bibi” bumper sticker. Stopping another driver and asking him in Hebrew with a heavy Arabic accent, “How do we get to Jerusalem, bro?” “Take a left,” the other driver answers them.

"Morning Papers"

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

"Good Night, Moon"

Tonight the Moon is a waning crescent, 26.2 days old and 11.9 percent lit.

In the summer of 2013, (click here) a group of 11 climbers made history when they became the first team of African Americans to summit America’s tallest peak — Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Marking the 100th anniversary of the first Denali summit, the team’s historic climb sought to inspire a new generation of outdoor adventurers and pave the way for young people of color to become passionate about America’s great outdoors. 
As a nation, we pause in February to honor Black History Month, celebrating the achievements of all black Americans. 
Photo Hudson Henry captured these photos as part of the film crew documenting team Expedition Denali’s climb....

 This a video of the setting moon from 14,000 feet on Mount McKinley.

Any brain insult be it a disease and/or injury is considered brain injury.

The brain is a complicated organ. In the case of this disease there is both an injury followed by a degenerative PROCESS. We have to do everything we can to protect from brain injury and interrupt any degenerative process. 

There are many paths that will have to be engaged to end this terrible tragedy of this disease of football players.

First there will have to be a more intense study of the impacts of football players. Impact is physics. Modern sports medicine should know about the physics of the game and it's impact injuries. The impact injuries now includes brain trauma.

The research into preventing repeated impact is to realize the best way the velocity of a football player can be trained to minimize the result of impact on the brain. 

Velocity is velocity. There can be techniques that can be taught by coaching staff to reduce brain trauma. With research into the mechanics of tackling and falling techniques to dissipate velocity over distance by rolling could reduce the trauma to the brain. Remember, the brain floats in a fluid, it is when the brain is suddenly forced against the bone that brain trauma/injury occurs. This disorder does not occur anywhere expect football, at least that we know. That means gymnasts that twist and turn and jump and land are doing it in such a way they are no sustaining brain injury. Why can't a football player learn to move and fall and land in ways that are not injurious?

I think a strong and lean body also improves any chance of dissipating the velocity of injury because muscle supports the body. Muscles can take impact and bounce back from the impact ABSORBING some of that shock. Bone won't do that. Bone is hard and will TRANSMIT velocity, but, muscles will act as a shock absorber.

Additionally, I think football players have to maintain a healthy diet that supports their brain while in training and during the season of playing. If a player supports brain health from early on will it prevent degeneration even if an injury occurs? My instincts tell me yes. But, they also need to have that brain healthy diet into retirement as well. With the building blocks in the diet can the brain function better and degenerate less? 

We need to take these problems seriously. We are the USA and we can about all our people. We want them to be happy all their years, not just a few years. 

I am hopeful. I sincerely believe we already have this disease on the run and the future will hold more and more promise. This comes at a time when President Obama has set the country on a path to investigate the brain and the disease that beset it. He has asked the scientific community to find treatments. 

Mr. Dorsett was the first player I heard stating he was going to be well again. I think a positive outlook is necessary in treating any disease, but, certainly when it comes to treating the brain all those positive juices are best to meet the day with this level of challenge. '

We know geneticists have already grown nerve tissue in a Petrina dish. Anyone for a transfusion of brain cells? 

Stem cells have proven when placed with mature cells they will grow new tissue. This is tomorrow, but, it has to begin sometime.

There is much to be done and hope has to be a place where we all live to make the dream of recovery and prevention come true. 

I like Mr. Dorsett. I want him to be able to tell stories of his days in football for a long time. I am glad he is a spokesperson to bring about a better outcome for those already ill with this disease and those currently playing and the young folks who love the game. There is no doubt he is a great man and he has capacity to be greater. 

Good luck.

There is such a thing as "Brain Food."

This is an example of brain food from an article on "WebMD". Don't take a simple article for granted that it is the do all or end all for brain health. A worthy medical doctor can make a referral to a nutritionist to discuss the type of foods best for optimal brain activity. A diet that might be able to intervene to diminish protein damage and it's future degeneration.

The brain is tissue. It has building blocks. Proteins are amino acids. There is much to be known about nutrition and how it might stem poor outcomes to brain injury. 

There's no denying that as we age chronologically, (click here) our body ages right along with us. But research is showing that you can increase your chances of maintaining a healthy brain well into your old age if you add these "smart" foods to your daily eating regimen.

Blueberries. "Brainberries" is what Steven Pratt, MD, author of Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life....

Wild salmon. Deep-water fish, such as salmon, are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are essential for brain function, says Kulze. Both she and Pratt recommend wild salmon for its "cleanliness" and the fact that it is in plentiful supply. Omega-3s also contain anti-inflammatory substances. Other oily fish that provide the benefits of omega-3s are sardines and herring, says Kulze; she recommends a 4-ounce serving, two to three times a week.

Those that aren't sure what kind of Omega-3s to prepare in food can ask for a prescription of Omega-es.

Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E, says Pratt, explaining that higher levels of vitamin E correspond with less cognitive decline as you get older....

Avocados. Avocados are almost as good as blueberries in promoting brain health, says Pratt. "I don't think the avocado gets its due," agrees Kulze....

Here is another one that stresses eating on a schedule to be sure the brain has the nutrition it needs without delay. Again, consult a nutritionist that is used to working with brain injuries.

Nutritional Tips for Head Injuries (click here)

• Eat small meals every three to four hours.
• Keep small baggies of healthy snacks with you during the day to boost your energy, such as nuts, trail mix, apples, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and energy bars. Ask a member of your family or support group to make these for you and put them in a small cooler to take with you when away from home.
• Balance small meals with a combination of protein, healthy fats and oils, and carbohydrates. Proteins include fish, lean meats, nuts, and eggs. Healthy fats and oils can be found in avocados, seeds, and nuts. Carbohydrates are found in vegetables, fresh fruits, and grains. Avoid eating carbohydrates by themselves if you have blood sugar concerns. Many individuals report that sugar and chocolate increase headaches, so eat sweets sparingly.
• Eat moderately. Do not overeat as it can cause you to feel sleepy.
• Eat by the clock. If your brain/body signals are not working well, set a timer, watch alarm or a mobile phone to alert you that it’s time to eat....

I am not a brain doctor. I simply have a sister that marvels me after her multiple surgeries to her brain. So, I studied up.

I don't ever believe in giving up. 

This is from Wikipedia and it says it well. Encephalopathy is degeneration of the brain tissue.

In some contexts it refers to permanent (or degenerative) brain injury, and in others it is reversible. It can be due to direct injury to the brain, or illness remote from the brain. In medical terms it can refer to a wide variety of brain disorders with very different etiologies, prognoses and implications. For example, prion diseases, all of which cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are invariably fatal, but other encephalopathies are reversible and can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, toxins, and several other causes.

I think with such a new diagnosis the medical profession has a clear picture of the potential for reversing any brain damage associated with this disease.

The rule with ANY brain trauma is that no one knows exactly the extent of the injury until a full year after the insult. Why? Because we know for a fact nervous tissue where there is myelin (White Matter) will seek to regenerate within that myelin.

Now, this is a degenerative process, so once it starts it continues. But, I question whether there are ways of supporting the brain tissue that will minimize the deterioration. I think it is very important to completely understand this disease. We owe it to the men who brought excitement into the lives of Americans. They are important and the game they played was important.

There many types of cells in the brain.

Outside the gray and white matter, literally, there are structures that support the brain. The body has very unique ways of protecting the brain. It is these specialty cells that protect and feed the nervous tissue of the brain. The only part of the brain that is unprotected by any tissue is the gray matter. 

Gray matter is nerve tissue without the myelin. It is the myelin that insulates nerve tissue and it is the white matter. Both are important for normal function. 

The most dramatic example of the difference between gray and white matter is in MS. In MS (Multiple Sclerosis), the myelin is missing. It literally short circuits. MS has nothing to do with the brain disorder of the NFL.

Scientists now beginning to probe the long-neglected half of the brain called the white matter are discovering how it specializes in connectivity, with bundles of insulated “wiring” that link neurons within and between gray matter areas into ensembles that may produce the light of conscious mental functioning. A pioneer of research on white matter, Filley proposes a new field of study that would bring “the other half of the brain” into the mainstream of neuroscience.  - See more at: http://www.dana.org/Cerebrum/Default.aspx?id=39152#sthash.yNPIM26X.dpu

Oligodendroglia

Astroglia

- microvasculature

- Blood Brain barrier 

Microglia

I simply want to stress how completely incredible human brains are and how they are perfect before injury. The human body has developed specialized support tissue to keep any type of toxic substance away from the brain tissue. The nourishment reaching the brain is literally strained by the supportive tissues to protect all those nerves that carry our thoughts and memory. 

"Why the White Brain Matters" (click here) This is an article by Dana Farber which speaks to the forgotten part of the brain.

Why bring this up? Because Mr. Dorsett wants to rehabilitate his brain. He doesn't want to accept the fact in the year 2015 the USA has little to no clue on host to stop and reverse the process of DTE. 

Mr. Dorsett's ambition is admirable and I think it is very realistic, however, it is going to take some more research to identify the cells most effected from person to person. I do not believe this type of encephalopathy is exactly the same in every football player. The reason there is difference is because every player has had a different experience in the game. While this phenomena is diagnosable under one set of terms, the path of this disease my manifest worse in some people than others.   

Scientists now beginning to probe the long-neglected half of the brain called the white matter are discovering how it specializes in connectivity, with bundles of insulated “wiring” that link neurons within and between gray matter areas into ensembles that may produce the light of conscious mental functioning. A pioneer of research on white matter, Filley proposes a new field of study that would bring “the other half of the brain” into the mainstream of neuroscience.  - See more at: http://www.dana.org/Cerebrum/Default.aspx?id=39152#sthash.yNPIM26X.dpuf

There are basically four types of tissue in the human body other than organ cells.

Epithelial Tissue covers body surfaces (epi, on + thelium, surface).  Epithelial tissue consists of cells attached to one another to form an uninterrupted layer of cells that separates the underlying tissues from the outside world.  The body's epithelium not only covers its obvious surfaces (such as the epidermis of the skin and the linings of respiratory, urinary, and digestive tracts) but also extends into all of the complex invaginations which form lungs, kidneys, sweat glands, digestive glands, liver, etc.  Epithelial tissue provides the essential functions of protection; containment of body fluids; and transport in and out across body surfaces (absorption and secretion).  Embryonically, most epithelial tissues are derived either from ectoderm (e.g., epidermis) or endoderm (e.g., epithelium of trachea and lung).

Organ cells are specialized and do not replicate. In most all instances a person is born with the number of cells they will have in their lifetime. The exception to that are skin cells and bone cells. 

Connective Tissue supports other tissues.  Connective tissue consists of several cell types and extracellular products which, together, provide essential functions of mechanical reinforcement, immune surveillance, transport/diffusion of nutrients and wastes, and energy storage (fat).  Embryonically, connective tissues derive from mesoderm or mesenchyme.

Nervous Tissue is responsible for rapid long-distance signalling, coordination, and "thinking".  Nervous tissue consists of highly specialized nerve cells and support cells which are derived from embryonic neuroectoderm and neural crest. 

Muscle Tissue is specialized for gross movement by means of cellular contraction.  Embryonically, muscle derives from mesoderm or mesenchyme.

Brain tissue has a great many blood vessels. Remember? Microtubules.

Central nervous tissue is highly vascular, so blood vessels should be a significant feature in any histological specimen of CNS.  Large vessels generally remain on the surface of the brain or spinal cord, so only smaller vessels penetrate into gray and white matter.  

Such small vessels may not be immediately recognizable as such.  As in other regions of the body, capillaries may be quite inconspicuous due to small size.  Even venules and arterioles may be small enough that the layers in their walls are not clearly visible.  Blood cells may be washed out during preparation.  Nevertheless, such vessels should be noticed, since they play a crucial role in brain function and pathology. 

Blood vessels are generally the largest structural elements in neuropil and in white matter (i.e., even capillaries are larger in diameter than most CNS axons and dendrites). The thumbnails below link to several spinal cord specimens in which blood vessels may be observed.  Blood vessels appear similar in any region of the brain.

We all know blood vessels are vital to the survival of tissue anywhere in the body. We have witnessed the "compartment syndrome' of a famous journalist in all places an airplane receive an injury that cut off the blood circulation to his lower arm. Blood circulation is vital.

If injury occurs and tau proteins released, the brain tissues microtubules can no long function to circulate vital fluids containing oxygen and cellular food.

So, I think we are getting a fairly good picture to what is occurring with concussion injuries in the NFL. The injury insults the blood circulation and the tau proteins are released from the damaged micro blood vessel and the deterioration begins.

It is understandable, isn't it? It all makes sense to me. I hope it makes sense ot others. I don't think there is a mysterious anything happening with the brain so much as understandable processes or deterioration. In that one can also understand why one player may or may not have the same symptoms as other peers.

This is from Boston University. They have isolated a "tau protein" in these players.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) (click here) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head. CTE has been known to affect boxers since the 1920s. However, recent reports have been published of neuropathologically confirmed CTE in retired professional football players and other athletes who have a history of repetitive brain trauma. This trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau.  These changes in the brain can begin months, years, or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement.  The brain degeneration is associated with memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia....

Tau proteins  are proteins that stabilize microtubules. They are abundant in neurons of the central nervous system and are less common elsewhere, but are also expressed at very low levels in CNS astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Microtubules support cellular processes. The tau proteins are found, in my opinion, in higher numbers in the brains of former football players because the tissue has been damaged. These proteins are probably at first released outside of the cells due to damage and then continue to function, but, now function inappropriately causing greater damage. That is pure theory, but, it seems to me to be realistic. 

So, the question arises as to how to 'turn off' these dysfunctional proteins without turning them off while they function properly. Research. We need to understand what happens to 'advance' the deterioration after the initial injury. 

To date, (click here) the only established function of Tau is the promotion of assembly of tubulin into microtubules and stabilization of their structure. The protein occurs mainly in the axons of the CNS and consists largely of six isoforms generated by alternative splicing; the longest of them has 441 amino acids....