Thamail Morgan took the kickoff and headed up the field. He was at the 20 … 30 … 40

He had been avoiding, dodging or just simply running through tacklers on the way. Football always had come easily for Morgan. This game was no different. By the time he hit midfield, only open space was ahead of him. The two-time Arkansas all-state selection was headed for a touchdown.
40 … 30 … 20
He glanced at the clock and saw the final seconds ticking away. He realized his team, Cave City, was on the way to a victory over Yellville-Summit, comfortably ahead, 34-16. He also realized two other things: This wasn’t an ordinary game. And he wasn’t the same Thamail Morgan.
When he reached the 2, he stopped. He took a few steps back and took a knee at the 5-yard line.

****** Yelleville-Summit is a co-op program, a combination of two small rural schools in the northern part of Arkansas, near the Missouri border. Combining the schools allows them to field a football team. But even then, the squad is so small that coach Calvin Mallett has to bring extra uniforms in case a lineman gets hurt and someone needs to fill in.
On Sept. 11, before a game with Salem, the schools came together for a pep rally. Afterward, four of the players piled into the bed of Kymball Duffy’s truck to head to his house for a pre-game meal.

According to Marion County Sheriff Roger Vickers, this is what happened next. As Duffy came over a hill, he quickly came upon a brush pile in the road. Duffy swerved into the other side of the road, attempting to avoid it. He lost control of the truck, sending it into a tumble.
The four players in the back - whose names are not being released - were thrown from the vehicle. Miraculously, three of the players in the back suffered only minor injuries. A fourth remains in the hospital but appears to be headed for recovery. Duffy was killed at the scene.
The game with Salem was cancelled.
The town held memorial services for Duffy, then decided they needed to continue the season as part of the healing process.
Before taking on Cave City, the most seriously injured of the four players in the back of the truck, spoke to the team from his hospital bed.
Players from Yellville-Summit and Cave City met at midfield before the game for a moment of remembrance. Players on both teams were a No. 72 decal - Duffy’s number - on their helmet.
The game began and Cave City quickly scored. Minutes later, it scored again. And again. All hope for a storybook ending appeared lost.

****** Thamail Morgan is the type of player who can dominate a high school game. On every play.
Last year, playing for Newport in a state playoff game against Heber Springs, he had 15 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles on defense. He had 145 yards receiving and two touchdowns on offense.
He was coveted by most Division I programs in the South. Then it all changed.
In January, he violated an unspecified school rule that banned him from athletics for a year. Morgan would be eligible for basketball during his senior season but not football.
A year away from football would hurt his chances of gaining a scholarship, so - after considering a number of options - he transferred roughly 40 miles away to Cave City. His scholarship offers did not travel with him.
“Before I screwed up and got myself into trouble, I had some schools like Arkansas, Florida State, Ole Miss, and some other big schools looking at me,” he said. “Now they are not looking at me, but I have no one to blame but myself for that. Hopefully I can get on someone’s radar, even if it is a lower level D-1 or D-2 school.”
Cave City coach Jon Bradley was willing to take a chance on Morgan. But only if he met certain conditions. He not only is required to attend extra weight lifting and conditioning exercises, he is required to participate in after-school activities with a local church and meet with a pastor on a regular basis for counseling.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Bradley said. “Thamail made some mistakes that did not allow him to play football anymore at Newport, and we knew what those mistakes were when he came here. I sat him down and talked to him, and let him know I was willing to give him a chance, but there were certain things that he would have to do in order to play for our program.
“So far, he has accomplished, and continues to do everything he has been asked to do, and then some. He has transitioned well and the kids here have accepted him. He is doing well in class, and is a leader on the football field and is a great athlete. We feel fortunate to have him.”

****** Bradley said he didn’t get word the game with Yellville-Summit was going to be played until Tuesday. He then wondered all week how it would play out.

“I did not know what to expect due to the tragedy,” he said. “You go into the game wanting to win, but then, you feel bad doing it. When we went up 21-0 in the first quarter, I just can’t explain how I felt. The atmosphere was so weird. I just can’t explain it.” His players sensed it too.
“They told me on the sidelines that Yellville-Summit was not into it and they did not want to pad stats or run up the score,” he said. “At that time, I started substituting our kids in and out of the game.”
At this point, what the game represented became clear to Bradley.
“Everyone was glad that they were out there playing, getting some sort of return to normalcy,” he said. “But everyone was going to be glad when it was over.”
Yellville-Summit eventually scored in the second quarter, after Cave City had replaced many of its regulars. Bradley did not have a problem with that.
“I talked with Coach Mallet earlier in the week and before the game,” Bradley said. “He let me know that if the game was to get out of hand, he simply did not have the players to substitute due to his numbers. So, I knew that when I pulled our guys, that there was a chance they would score.”
It was 28-8 at halftime. Then 34-8 at the end of three quarters. Yelleville-Summit scored a second time with little time left to make it 34-16.
They had to kick off, sending a line drive that bounced its way to the back. To Morgan.
“We didn’t even think they would kick off,” Bradley said. “And we had him (Morgan) all the way back. It was our top return team, but we only have one return team.”
What he did next surprised Bradley.
“I did not tell him to kneel down, he did it on his own,” Bradley said. “I did not expect them to kick it to him. I figured they would kick away, because he has the ability to break away. I did not know that he was going to do what he did. He broke tackles, ran sideline to sideline, and got to the 2, and just stopped. That is when he backed up and took a knee on the 5-yard line.”

****** Morgan did not do this completely on his own.
“We were on the sidelines yelling for him not to score,” Bradley said. “Some of the players on the field were saying it, too. But I’m not sure how much he could have heard all of it.”
He heard it, Morgan admitted. But he didn’t need to.
“Before the game, we as a team talked about being classy,” he said. “We did not want to come out in a game like this and not show any class.
“As I was running, some of my teammates told me not to score, and I knew that scoring was not the right thing to do.”
He was glad to be a part of what happened.
“I just want to thank my teammates for not only being classy all night, but pushing me to be classy as well,” he said.
The gesture was well received.
“We weren’t sure how gloomy they would be before the game,” Morgan said. “They had gloom, but it was not as bad as we thought. We met before the game, and they told us that they did not want us to feel sorry for them, and they did not want us to back off just because of what happened. They wanted us to play them like we would have if Duffy has still been there with them, so we did.
“After the game, they complimented us, and even thanked us for the way that we played them. They are some really cool cats, and I wish them the best of luck with their healing process and the rest of their season. I hope they make the playoffs.”

****** What becomes of the rest of Morgan’s football career remains to be seen.
He is getting interest from Arkansas State and Central Arkansas. Bigger schools such as Southern Miss and Texas Tech are starting to re-enter the picture.

At 6-1, 195 with a 4.5 time in the 40, there’s no doubt he can play. It’s the other issues that are a concern. Bradley is doing his best to make those go away. “I send things out to places and I tell schools, he’s had some off the field issues, but if you’re interested, please call me because it’s not near as bad as what it sounds,” Bradley said. “They assume his grades are bad or that he’s done something really, really bad. Everyone deserves a second chance. He’s doing the right thing.”
Bradley said he and Morgan have had many talks, but none of them have been about behavior.
“He’s not a discipline problem at all,” Bradley said. “His grades are getting better. He’ll have an opportunity to play. He’s too good of an athlete and too good of a young man right now.”
Bradley admitted he had concerns at the beginning but they have proven to be unfounded.
“I’ve never seen anything negative out of the kid,” he said. “He’s the most polite kid. He works hard. He knows he has one shot to get his education.
“He’s showing people he’s doing the right thing.”
That was never more evident as when he kneeled down on the field.ARK

Flu Vaccines—2009-2010

Regular flu shot: As in previous years, the National MS Society recommends a regular flu shot as a safe and effective vaccination for people with MS. The flu shot—which is a de-activated or “killed” vaccine—can safely be taken by individuals who are on any of the disease-modifying medications (Avonex®, Betaseron®, Copaxone®, Rebif®, Novantrone®, or Tysabri®).

FluMist Intranasal®: In 2003, the FDA approved a flu vaccine nasal spray “for healthy children and adolescents, ages 5-17, and healthy adults, ages 18-49.” According to Dr. Aaron Miller, the Society’s Chief Medical Officer, FluMist—which is a live, weakened vaccine—is not recommended for use by people with MS, and should specifically be avoided by any person with MS who is on an immunosuppressive medication such as mitoxantrone (Novantrone®), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®), azathioprine (Imuran®), or methotrexate.

• Live-virus vaccines are more likely than de-activated-virus vaccines to cause an increase in disease activity in people with MS.
• A person taking an immunosuppressive medication is more susceptible to developing an infection with the vaccine strain of the virus—an infection that may be particularly severe because the person’s immune system is suppressed.
• The interactions between live vaccines and the disease-modifying medications are not known.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine: On September 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved four vaccines for the H1N1 flu virus. The vaccines are manufactured using similar processes by four different companies. A person being vaccinated against H1N1 influenza will receive one dose of one of these vaccines. It is anticipated that these vaccines will be available in early to mid-October.
Three of the H1N1 vaccines are de-activated or “killed” vaccines that are administered by injection. These de-activated vaccines are considered safe for people with MS. One is a live, attenuated vaccine that is administered by nasal spray. This live, nasal spray vaccine should be avoided by individuals with MS.
The initial supply of H1N1 vaccine will not be adequate to vaccinate everyone. The CDC has indicated that five groups will initially be targeted for vaccination:

• Pregnant women
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants under 6 months of age
• Healthcare and emergency services personnel
• Children and young adults aged 6 months to 24 years of age
• Persons aged 25-64 who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

It is important to note that people with disabilities (including people with MS) are not necessarily considered part of this high-priority group. However:

• The flu virus (like any other virus) can precipitate MS exacerbations
• A person with advanced MS or someone with less severe disease (Kurtzke 6.0) who has reduced pulmonary function or has any difficulty with breathing is considered at risk for complications and a good candidate for the H1N1 vaccine.

We recommend that people talk with their MS doctor to determine if they are a good candidate for the H1N1 vaccine.
In summary:

• People with MS should consult with their physician about obtaining a regular flu shot as soon as the regular flu vaccine is available.
• They should also discuss with their neurologist whether they should get the H1N1 vaccination because (1) catching the flu would put them at greater risk of an exacerbation, or (2) their MS symptoms are severe enough to put them at risk for flu complications.
• The FluMist nasal spray vaccine and the live, attenuated nasal spray version of the H1N1 are not recommended for people with MS.

We will update this Web site when new information is forthcoming. You can read information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about the regular flu vaccine at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm and the H1N1 vaccine at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm. Comprehensive information is also available at www.flu.gov.

After reading this article I still don’t think I am going to get the Flu shot or the H1N1 Shot either.  I think if the government is giving them away for free something must be wrong with them!  The government never gives anything way for free!

updated 8:20 a.m. MT, Wed., Sept . 16, 2009

HOBART, Australia - A cat named Clyde was reunited with his owner on Wednesday after a mysterious three-year odyssey in which the long-haired Himalayan strayed 2,400 miles into the Australian Outback.

Ashleigh Sullivan, 19, said she had given up hope of ever finding Clyde after he vanished when he was about one year old from her family home near Hobart city in Australia’s island state of Tasmania.

“I’m positive he remembers. He’s not acting like he’s suddenly appeared somewhere and is frantic,” Sullivan said as she tearfully held her contented cat

A nurse found Clyde wandering at a hospital in the remote Queensland state town of Cloncurry and cared for him for four months before taking him to a local vet as she was leaving town and could not take the cat with her.

The vet, Donna Weber, traced Clyde’s owner from an identification microchip that was imbedded under the cat’s skin.

But no one has a clue how Clyde managed the 185-mile sea journey across the Bass Strait from Tasmania off mainland Australia’s southeast coast, and then about more than 2,000 miles overland to Cloncurry, deep in the arid interior of the Outback.

An animal transport company returned the cat to Hobart for free — flying most of the way.

“It’s pretty special to have him back.” Sullivan said. “I’m overwhelmed.”

A new study finds obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Their brains look 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals, researchers said today.

Those classified as overweight have 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to have aged prematurely by 8 years.

The results, based on brain scans of 94 people in their 70s, represent “severe brain degeneration,” said Paul Thompson, senior author of the study and a UCLA professor of neurology.

“That’s a big loss of tissue and it depletes your cognitive reserves, putting you at much greater risk of Alzheimer’s and other diseases that attack the brain,” said Thompson. “But you can greatly reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s, if you can eat healthily and keep your weight under control.”

The findings are detailed in the online edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping.

Obesity packs many negative health effects, including increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and some cancers. It’s also been shown to reduce sexual activity.

More than 300 million worldwide are now classified as obese, according to the World Health Organization. Another billion are overweight. The main cause, experts say: bad diet, including an increased reliance on highly processed foods.

Obese people had lost brain tissue in the frontal and temporal lobes, areas of the brain critical for planning and memory, and in the anterior cingulate gyrus (attention and executive functions), hippocampus (long-term memory) and basal ganglia (movement), the researchers said in a statement today. Overweight people showed brain loss in the basal ganglia, the corona radiata, white matter comprised of axons, and the parietal lobe (sensory lobe).

“The brains of obese people looked 16 years older than the brains of those who were lean, and in overweight people looked 8 years older,” Thompson said.

Obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. A BMI over 25 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 as obese.

The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Center for Research Resources, and the American Heart Association.

I FOUND THIS ARTICLE VERY INTERESTING. THINGS LIKE THIS HAVE ALWAYS INTERESTED ME THOUGH.

Animal lover steps up to rescue 6 ducklings
Ogden woman had sought help everywhere she could think of — to no avail
By Michael R. McFall
Deseret News
Published: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 1:10 a.m. MDT
OGDEN — When no one official would step in to rescue six stranded ducklings, Monica Robinson answered the call herself.
The Ogden resident noticed a mother duck and one offspring circling the street outside her house. She walked outside to see why the bird was so distressed and found six ducklings trapped in a storm drain outside her home Sunday morning. And if it weren’t for the determined animal lover, the babies wouldn’t have been reunited with their mother.
“I called the city, but everyone said they weren’t going to drop everything for some ducks,” Robinson said.
Her property manager told her the storm drain grate was welded shut and that she was not about to foot the bill to remove it for a few little ducks. But she did recommend Robinson contact a Utah wildlife management employee who lived around the corner.
So she sought out his help, but she said he told her the chances of the baby ducks surviving to adulthood were slim anyway and to just let them go.
“But I gave him that look that said, ‘No, that is not going to happen,’ ” Robinson said.
She then called Critter Control for professional intervention. The company wanted to charge $95 for a residential visit, even though the animals weren’t her pets. She said, “No, thanks.”
The Ogden City Animal Shelter gets calls about ducks in storm drains all of the time, especially during the freak rainstorms this summer, said spokeswoman Casy Beesly. But she acknowledged that there are policy differences between domestic animals and wildlife. Puppies and kittens are a higher priority.
“We’re short-staffed,” Beesly said.
The Utah Division of Wildlife also said ducks in storm drains are lower on their to-do list, said Phil Douglas, the division’s northern region wildlife outreach coordinator.
“I’m just frustrated that no one wanted to help,” Robinson said.
With no one left to turn to, Robinson straightened out a wire hanger, hung a net of fabric on the end and tried to scoop out the ducklings. It didn’t work. So in a last-ditch effort, she called her mother, Jana Petersen, who also lives in Ogden. The two of them decided to try to lift the storm drain’s grate. It turns out it wasn’t welded shut after all.
Robinson crawled into the drain, scooped up the ducklings and kept them in a cardboard box in her backyard until the mother duck returned to fetch her wayward brood.

Utah group seeks sponsors to honor fallen soldiers
July 3rd, 2009 @ 5:30pm
By Alex Cabrero
CLEARFIELD — A Utah group trying to honor fallen soldiers is feeling the effects of a slow economy. They want to set up 5,000 U.S. flags at the Weber County Fairgrounds later this month, but getting sponsors has not been easy.
The 5,000 flags are meant to represent each soldier who died in Iraq or Afghanistan. Organizers of Weber County’s “Weekend to Remember” event say they’ve only received 400 sponsors so far.
Friday, those involved with the event launched a mission to find sponsors for all 5,000 flags.
Gary Yocum is the Captain for Utah’s Patriot Guard Riders. The Riders are always present when soldiers leave for war, come home from war or died because of the war.

“The whole reason for all of this is for our fallen heroes and making sure they’re not forgotten,” he said. “That’s what this is all about, is helping veterans and their families.”
Two of those helping put flags together know about sacrifice more than most. Tim Dolan’s son Daniel died in Afghanistan in 2006. Robert Lehmiller’s son Michael died in Iraq in 2005.
“I think of my boy every day, and some days are easier than others. Mike had one request: Just don’t forget me,” Lehmiller said.
Each flag will have a soldiers name attached to it so they’re not forgotten. Dolan said, “That is our mission, to make sure my son and all the other soldiers are never forgotten. Never.”
Organizers were hoping each flag, which will be placed in the shape of the United States in a five-acre field at the Weber County Fairgrounds, would have a $25 sponsor.
“I know this is a difficult year in the economy. We understand that, but at the same time, the whole idea is to bring awareness,” Yocum said.
Through this awareness, organizers feel those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice won’t be forgotten.
“You know what? If we keep that spirit alive in the country, then we’ve accomplished something,” Dolan said.
Even if organizers don’t get each flag sponsored, they still promise there will be 5,000 flags at the event.
E-mail: [email protected]