WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Terrorists are likely to use a weapon of mass destruction somewhere in the world in the next five years, a blue-ribbon panel assembled by Congress has concluded.
Police watch over travelers at New York's Grand Central Terminal before Thanksgiving.
Police watch over travelers at New York's Grand Central Terminal before Thanksgiving.
They are more likely to use a biological weapon than a nuclear one -- and the results could be devastating, the chairman of the commission told CNN.
"The consequences of a biological attack are almost beyond comprehension. It would be 9/11 times 10 or a hundred in terms of the number of people who would be killed," former Sen. Bob Graham said.
He cited the flu virus that killed millions of people in 1918 as an example.
"Today it is still in the laboratory, but if it should get out and into the hands of scientists who knew how to use it for a violent purpose, we could have multiple times the 40 million people who were killed 100 years ago," he said. Video Watch how officials worry about a biological terror attack »
The U.S. government "needs to move more aggressively to limit" the spread of biological weapons, the commission said in its report.
Graham warned that such measures would be costly, but were necessary.
"The leadership of this country and the world will have to decide how much of a priority ... they place on avoiding the worst weapons in the world getting in the hands of the worst people in the world," he said.
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"It is not going to be cheap. It is not going to be accomplished without some sacrifices. It won't be accomplished without putting this issue ahead of some other competing national and international goals. But I think our safety and security depend upon doing so," he added.
Graham said a biological attack was more likely than a nuclear one because it would be easier to carry out.
Biological weapons "are more available," he said. "Anthrax is a natural product of dead animals. Other serious pathogens are available in equally accessible forms."
"There are so many scientists who have the skills to convert a pathogen from benign, helpful purposes into an illicit, very harmful weapon," he added.
But the commission warned that there is also a threat of nuclear terrorism, both because more countries are developing nuclear weapons and because some existing nuclear powers are expanding their arsenals.
"Terrorist organizations are intent on acquiring nuclear weapons," said the report, which was published Tuesday on the Internet and will be officially released Wednesday.
CNN obtained a copy of the report Monday evening.
It cited testimony before the commission from former Sen. Sam Nunn, who said that the "risk of a nuclear weapon being used today is growing, not receding."
The report recommends a range of measures, including increased security and awareness at biological research labs and strengthening international treaties against the spread of biological and nuclear weapons.
"Many biological pathogens and nuclear materials around the world are poorly secured -- and thus vulnerable to theft by those who would put these materials to harmful use, or would sell them on the black market to potential terrorists," the report warned.
The commission expressed particular concern about the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, and about Pakistan, which it described as "the intersection of nuclear weapons and terrorism."
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While observing that Pakistan is a U.S. ally, the report said, "the next terrorist attack against the United States is likely to originate from within the Federally Administered Tribal Areas" in Pakistan. The tribal areas lie in northwest Pakistan where the government exerts little control; the United States says it is a haven for militants from both Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan.
Congress created the commission to investigate and report on WMD and terrorism in line with a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission, which compiled a report on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Commissioners heard testimony from more than 250 experts from around the world over the course of their six-month
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Radiologists read scans better if they have patient's photo
Radiologists who read imaging exams -- such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans -- may do a better job if they see a picture of the face that goes with the diagnostic test, according to research presented this week at the Radiology Society of North America's annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
"I noticed that I know the patient's liver and spleen better than I know him," says study author Dr. Yehonatan Turner.
"I noticed that I know the patient's liver and spleen better than I know him," says study author Dr. Yehonatan Turner.
Radiologists in the study said they read CT scans more meticulously and felt more empathy when they saw a patient's face, although it's not clear whether the photo actually improved their accuracy in interpreting the test results.
Yehonatan N. Turner, M.D., a radiology resident at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel, came up with the idea of adding photos to patients' files after reading dozens of CT scans as a medical resident. "I noticed that I know the patient's liver and spleen better than I know him," he says. "I thought maybe attaching the patient's photograph to the file may make the scan unique and important."
Turner says he was also drawing on the twentieth-century philosopher Emmanuel Levinas' idea that seeing another person's face instills a sense of responsibility for that person.
In the study, Turner and his colleagues photographed the faces of 267 patients (with their consent) two minutes before they underwent a CT scan. Fifteen radiologists interpreted the CT exams with patients' photos alongside, and then completed a questionnaire. Three months later, 30 of the CT scans that included an incidental finding (an unexpected finding that may or may not have health implications) were shown to the radiologists again, without the patient photos. Health.com: What to expect if you are having a mammogram
Study participants said that seeing the photograph didn't increase the amount of time it took them to interpret the scan, but they did say they interpreted it more meticulously. In fact, in 80 percent of the scans reviewed without photos, the radiologists didn't report the incidental findings that they had seen when they originally viewed the images.
"I think it's a really fun study to have done. I think it's very imaginative," says Etta D. Pisano, M.D., a Kenan professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. She's also the director of the UNC Biomedical Research Imaging Center. "It sort of makes intuitive sense to me." Heath.com: X-Rays, bone scans...Could that radiation be harmful to your health?
But the implications are limited for the time being, she adds, given that the researchers didn't test the accuracy of the radiologists' readings with and without the photographs. "Anything that you do, even taking a photograph of a patient, costs money and time," Pisano says. "If radiologists' performance could improve for something important, then it might be worth implementing. Something like incidental findings isn't worth changing our system of providing care."
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Health Library
There's also the possibility that seeing what a patient looks like could have a negative impact on the radiologists' ability to interpret images accurately, notes Robert Smith, Ph.D., director of cancer screening at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "The physician could bring stereotypes and other information to bear that may diminish the accuracy, a perfectly human thing to do, by the way."
He points to a study in which radiologists who learned about a patient's family history of breast cancer spotted more tumors than if they didn't have this information. But they also came up with more false-positives.
"It's hard at face value to imagine that having the patient's photograph could be harmful," Smith says. "Typically, radiologists may work in isolation. They may actually find that this helps them to connect with the patient and helps them think more holistically about the image they're reviewing." Health.com: What a breast MRI feels like and how it works
The radiologists in Turner's study seemed to like the idea; all of them recommended adopting it for routine
"I noticed that I know the patient's liver and spleen better than I know him," says study author Dr. Yehonatan Turner.
"I noticed that I know the patient's liver and spleen better than I know him," says study author Dr. Yehonatan Turner.
Radiologists in the study said they read CT scans more meticulously and felt more empathy when they saw a patient's face, although it's not clear whether the photo actually improved their accuracy in interpreting the test results.
Yehonatan N. Turner, M.D., a radiology resident at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel, came up with the idea of adding photos to patients' files after reading dozens of CT scans as a medical resident. "I noticed that I know the patient's liver and spleen better than I know him," he says. "I thought maybe attaching the patient's photograph to the file may make the scan unique and important."
Turner says he was also drawing on the twentieth-century philosopher Emmanuel Levinas' idea that seeing another person's face instills a sense of responsibility for that person.
In the study, Turner and his colleagues photographed the faces of 267 patients (with their consent) two minutes before they underwent a CT scan. Fifteen radiologists interpreted the CT exams with patients' photos alongside, and then completed a questionnaire. Three months later, 30 of the CT scans that included an incidental finding (an unexpected finding that may or may not have health implications) were shown to the radiologists again, without the patient photos. Health.com: What to expect if you are having a mammogram
Study participants said that seeing the photograph didn't increase the amount of time it took them to interpret the scan, but they did say they interpreted it more meticulously. In fact, in 80 percent of the scans reviewed without photos, the radiologists didn't report the incidental findings that they had seen when they originally viewed the images.
"I think it's a really fun study to have done. I think it's very imaginative," says Etta D. Pisano, M.D., a Kenan professor of radiology and biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. She's also the director of the UNC Biomedical Research Imaging Center. "It sort of makes intuitive sense to me." Heath.com: X-Rays, bone scans...Could that radiation be harmful to your health?
But the implications are limited for the time being, she adds, given that the researchers didn't test the accuracy of the radiologists' readings with and without the photographs. "Anything that you do, even taking a photograph of a patient, costs money and time," Pisano says. "If radiologists' performance could improve for something important, then it might be worth implementing. Something like incidental findings isn't worth changing our system of providing care."
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Health Library
There's also the possibility that seeing what a patient looks like could have a negative impact on the radiologists' ability to interpret images accurately, notes Robert Smith, Ph.D., director of cancer screening at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. "The physician could bring stereotypes and other information to bear that may diminish the accuracy, a perfectly human thing to do, by the way."
He points to a study in which radiologists who learned about a patient's family history of breast cancer spotted more tumors than if they didn't have this information. But they also came up with more false-positives.
"It's hard at face value to imagine that having the patient's photograph could be harmful," Smith says. "Typically, radiologists may work in isolation. They may actually find that this helps them to connect with the patient and helps them think more holistically about the image they're reviewing." Health.com: What a breast MRI feels like and how it works
The radiologists in Turner's study seemed to like the idea; all of them recommended adopting it for routine
Dealing with complainers who resist your help
(OPRAH.com) -- Margaret's twin girls were halfway through high school when she started thinking about returning to school herself. "I've always wanted to finish my degree," she told me. "Maybe get a master's, even. I'd like to teach."
Those with "help resistance" will simply lob back all of your advice with more problems.
Those with "help resistance" will simply lob back all of your advice with more problems.
"Cool!" I said. Margaret had been complaining of boredom, and I knew she'd thrive in an academic environment.
"But," she told me, her voice tightening, "there are problems. Jeff and the girls are used to me being home, cleaning, cooking..."
"Have you talked to them about it?"
"No, because there's more," said Margaret. "We only have two cars. Jeff drives one, and sometimes the girls need the other one in the evenings."
"Well, you can take classes when they're in school."
"But sometimes they drive to school. Then I don't have a car until afternoon."
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"Then take the bus. Or have the kids take the bus. Or have Jeff drop them off. Or sign up for distance learning."
I was getting into quite a lather of life-coachy problem solving, but Margaret would have none of it. Every time I lobbed a suggestion, she'd smack it back at me like a tennis pro. After a 10- or 15-minute rally, I finally realized that the real issue wasn't Margaret's continuing education. It was something I call "help resistance." Oprah.com: Are the people in your life sucking you dry?
There may be infinite reasons Margaret and others like her ask for help and then reject it; some people may be deeply ambivalent, others biologically anxious, or a few unconsciously combative.
Whatever their motivation, people who resist help can frustrate you half to death, batting back every solution they request with the surreal persistence of Venus and Serena combined. The next time you encounter someone who resists help, I recommend stopping the fruitless verbal rally and addressing the real problem directly.
One of my personal mottoes is "Love it, leave it, or lead it." When faced with a problem, I allow myself these three options -- and only these three.
"Love it" means peacefully accept whatever's happening. If that's not possible, I may be able to "leave it," simply walk away from the whole dilemma. The third option, "lead it," requires that I recognize and use whatever power I have (even if I feel helpless). If I can't devise a solution on my own, I must "lead" my helpers by asking clear, purposeful questions and taking good advice when I get it.
I've found that the "three Ls" are invaluable when you find yourself trading volleys with someone who doesn't want to change.
Loving it: The Pollyanna response
If someone you like goes into a spate of help resistance, try loving your way out. Say something like this: "Well, that's quite a conundrum, but I know you'll figure it out. You're so smart and resourceful. Go for it!"
This response will frustrate most help resisters, who often want sympathy and concern, not cheerleading. They might plead with you, saying: "But I'm really worried! I don't know what to do!" If this happens, just keep reiterating your support, like Pollyanna at a pep rally: "Yes, and I'm absolutely positive you'll do the right thing. Hooray for you!"Oprah.com: How to set personal boundaries
Knowing how to "love it" is like having a killer forehand. Every time a floundering friend or family member serves gloom and doom, you bounce it back with adulatory optimism. Eventually, your opponent will tire and leave the court.
Leaving it: The guy response
If you have no interest in maintaining cordial relations with people who resist help, there's a quick way to get them to leave you alone -- forever. I also call this the Guy Response, because men (who aren't cursed with the so-called "tend and befriend" hormones that make us females offer sweaters and sandwiches to people who are actively burglarizing our homes) often do it naturally.
To use the Guy Response, listen as the person describes the problem, then say: "Wow, sounds like you're screwed. Have you seen my car keys?"
If the friend keeps trying to get your attention ("Are you listening to me? I've got a problem here!"), you can say, "I think I left them in the car. I'm going to check." Then leave.
There's a variation on this response, which I enjoy using on help resisters who bemoan First World problems like a delay in scheduling liposuction, or the inability to get people to weedwack their yards for less than minimum wage.
While staring at the person with an expression of shock and awe, say, "Oh my God, that's horrible." (You can find suitable facial expressions by going to YouTube and searching for the terms "dramatic chipmunk" and "dramatic lemur." Seriously -- check them out.) Then go look for your keys.
These "leave it" reactions are extremely effective, and can be quite enjoyable if you don't mind being crossed off a few holiday greeting-card lists. Wherever you want to avoid that side effect, try the more complex and thoughtful "lead it" strategy.
Leading it: The constructive response
When someone you really love goes into help-resistance mode, it may be time for you to lead the situation. In this case, that means asking for the information you need to be genuinely helpful. Say something like this:
"I can tell you need some kind of support from me, but I'm not exactly sure what it looks like. Do you want me to help you brainstorm solutions? Should I just be a neutral backboard, so you can bounce ideas off me? Or do you just need someone to understand how frustrated you're feeling? Tell me what you need. I'm here for you 100 percent." Oprah.com: How to have the hard talks
If you say this sincerely, even many people who habitually resist help will stop mindlessly backhanding your ideas and think through their real desires. This creates an atmosphere of honesty and relaxation, where real problem solving is most likely to occur -- and it also improves your relationship. In tennis scoring, I believe they call it "love."
Every now and again, I get into a mental match with a particularly resistant and annoying help resister: me. I hear my own voice, talking either to myself or a frustrated friend: "I need to work out, but I can't exercise in the morning because I always get injured when I do. By noon it's too hot, and I hate exercising indoors. And at night I'm just exhausted."
I can only imagine how frustrating this must be for my friends and family, given that it makes me want to knock myself unconscious with my own racket. Fortunately, the same approaches that work on others work splendidly when I'm the source of the problem.
The fastest way to bring change to a resistant situation is to accept it. Don't believe me? Try this: Think of a subject where you feel ambivalent (you want a baby but worry about your career; you're environmentally sensitive but can't imagine surrendering your Humvee; you're strictly vegan except that you so adore veal binges). Whatever your issue, write it down. Now, decide to do one thing or the other. Now! Right now!
You probably noticed that pressure spikes your anxiety, anger, rage, panic... in a word, your resistance. The best case is that it shoves you into quick decisions that don't really resolve your ambivalence. So let's try another approach. Let's say that for the next hour, you'll simply accept that you're not sure what to do. That's okay. Uncertainty won't kill you. For one hour, let it be.
If you do this mindfully, you'll feel a sense of relief, a space opening around the difficult issue. This enhances creativity -- so, paradoxically, accepting indecisiveness actually frees your mind to devise effective solutions. That's where the other two strategies come in.
Perhaps you feel obligated to do something you deeply don't want to do, such as watching political debates or contacting your PTA group leader. You may be resisting all suggestions because what you really want to do is simply "leave it." Quit the hated job. Don't return the e-mail. Just say nothing.
This is a daring solution, but think: Is "leaving" the problem really scarier than coming up with reasons not to leave the problem? If your answer is "yes," you may have reached a true impasse. Strangely enough, it's when you feel really helpless that you must pick up your authority and "lead" the situation.
You not only can but must lead situations where you genuinely need help. No one except you can say exactly what's stopping you, exactly where you're blocked by confusion or ignorance. Take charge not by demanding and then ignoring the help that's offered but by figuring out as clearly as you can just what you need, then requesting assistance from people who, in your judgment, are likely to be able to provide it. Even if they can't help you, they can usually refer you to someone else who can.
When Margaret did this, she understood her real problem wasn't the logistical difficulty of returning to school but her own anxiety about doing something new. Once she admitted that, she chose the hero's solution: Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Of course, she did need her family's assistance. She asked them if they'd share housework and driving. They exceeded her expectations, offering all sorts of suggestions, which Margaret gratefully accepted. Game, set, and match to Team Margaret.
Moving forward
If you follow the three Ls whenever you encounter help resistance, you'll find yourself playing a lot less verbal tennis. Excuse-making, whining, and pointless reiteration will disappear from your life. Not only will people who ask for help (but ignore it) cease seeking you out but you'll find yourself more capable of either peacefully accepting periods of indecision or getting the effective assistance that moves you forward quickly and decisively.
All the energy that once went into complaining, suggesting, and complaining some more (back and forth and back and forth and back and frigging forth) will align to propel you toward adventures and achievements.
I'm absolutely sure you can do this -- you with that clever mind, that resourceful nature, that winning smile. So get going, kiddo!
What's that? You're not sure of yourself? You have doubts? Things are more complicated than that?
Wow, I had no idea. I guess you're screwed. Have you seen my car keys?
Those with "help resistance" will simply lob back all of your advice with more problems.
Those with "help resistance" will simply lob back all of your advice with more problems.
"Cool!" I said. Margaret had been complaining of boredom, and I knew she'd thrive in an academic environment.
"But," she told me, her voice tightening, "there are problems. Jeff and the girls are used to me being home, cleaning, cooking..."
"Have you talked to them about it?"
"No, because there's more," said Margaret. "We only have two cars. Jeff drives one, and sometimes the girls need the other one in the evenings."
"Well, you can take classes when they're in school."
"But sometimes they drive to school. Then I don't have a car until afternoon."
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* Oprah.com: Speak up to get what you really want!
* Oprah.com: 54 ways to say 'no'
"Then take the bus. Or have the kids take the bus. Or have Jeff drop them off. Or sign up for distance learning."
I was getting into quite a lather of life-coachy problem solving, but Margaret would have none of it. Every time I lobbed a suggestion, she'd smack it back at me like a tennis pro. After a 10- or 15-minute rally, I finally realized that the real issue wasn't Margaret's continuing education. It was something I call "help resistance." Oprah.com: Are the people in your life sucking you dry?
There may be infinite reasons Margaret and others like her ask for help and then reject it; some people may be deeply ambivalent, others biologically anxious, or a few unconsciously combative.
Whatever their motivation, people who resist help can frustrate you half to death, batting back every solution they request with the surreal persistence of Venus and Serena combined. The next time you encounter someone who resists help, I recommend stopping the fruitless verbal rally and addressing the real problem directly.
One of my personal mottoes is "Love it, leave it, or lead it." When faced with a problem, I allow myself these three options -- and only these three.
"Love it" means peacefully accept whatever's happening. If that's not possible, I may be able to "leave it," simply walk away from the whole dilemma. The third option, "lead it," requires that I recognize and use whatever power I have (even if I feel helpless). If I can't devise a solution on my own, I must "lead" my helpers by asking clear, purposeful questions and taking good advice when I get it.
I've found that the "three Ls" are invaluable when you find yourself trading volleys with someone who doesn't want to change.
Loving it: The Pollyanna response
If someone you like goes into a spate of help resistance, try loving your way out. Say something like this: "Well, that's quite a conundrum, but I know you'll figure it out. You're so smart and resourceful. Go for it!"
This response will frustrate most help resisters, who often want sympathy and concern, not cheerleading. They might plead with you, saying: "But I'm really worried! I don't know what to do!" If this happens, just keep reiterating your support, like Pollyanna at a pep rally: "Yes, and I'm absolutely positive you'll do the right thing. Hooray for you!"Oprah.com: How to set personal boundaries
Knowing how to "love it" is like having a killer forehand. Every time a floundering friend or family member serves gloom and doom, you bounce it back with adulatory optimism. Eventually, your opponent will tire and leave the court.
Leaving it: The guy response
If you have no interest in maintaining cordial relations with people who resist help, there's a quick way to get them to leave you alone -- forever. I also call this the Guy Response, because men (who aren't cursed with the so-called "tend and befriend" hormones that make us females offer sweaters and sandwiches to people who are actively burglarizing our homes) often do it naturally.
To use the Guy Response, listen as the person describes the problem, then say: "Wow, sounds like you're screwed. Have you seen my car keys?"
If the friend keeps trying to get your attention ("Are you listening to me? I've got a problem here!"), you can say, "I think I left them in the car. I'm going to check." Then leave.
There's a variation on this response, which I enjoy using on help resisters who bemoan First World problems like a delay in scheduling liposuction, or the inability to get people to weedwack their yards for less than minimum wage.
While staring at the person with an expression of shock and awe, say, "Oh my God, that's horrible." (You can find suitable facial expressions by going to YouTube and searching for the terms "dramatic chipmunk" and "dramatic lemur." Seriously -- check them out.) Then go look for your keys.
These "leave it" reactions are extremely effective, and can be quite enjoyable if you don't mind being crossed off a few holiday greeting-card lists. Wherever you want to avoid that side effect, try the more complex and thoughtful "lead it" strategy.
Leading it: The constructive response
When someone you really love goes into help-resistance mode, it may be time for you to lead the situation. In this case, that means asking for the information you need to be genuinely helpful. Say something like this:
"I can tell you need some kind of support from me, but I'm not exactly sure what it looks like. Do you want me to help you brainstorm solutions? Should I just be a neutral backboard, so you can bounce ideas off me? Or do you just need someone to understand how frustrated you're feeling? Tell me what you need. I'm here for you 100 percent." Oprah.com: How to have the hard talks
If you say this sincerely, even many people who habitually resist help will stop mindlessly backhanding your ideas and think through their real desires. This creates an atmosphere of honesty and relaxation, where real problem solving is most likely to occur -- and it also improves your relationship. In tennis scoring, I believe they call it "love."
Every now and again, I get into a mental match with a particularly resistant and annoying help resister: me. I hear my own voice, talking either to myself or a frustrated friend: "I need to work out, but I can't exercise in the morning because I always get injured when I do. By noon it's too hot, and I hate exercising indoors. And at night I'm just exhausted."
I can only imagine how frustrating this must be for my friends and family, given that it makes me want to knock myself unconscious with my own racket. Fortunately, the same approaches that work on others work splendidly when I'm the source of the problem.
The fastest way to bring change to a resistant situation is to accept it. Don't believe me? Try this: Think of a subject where you feel ambivalent (you want a baby but worry about your career; you're environmentally sensitive but can't imagine surrendering your Humvee; you're strictly vegan except that you so adore veal binges). Whatever your issue, write it down. Now, decide to do one thing or the other. Now! Right now!
You probably noticed that pressure spikes your anxiety, anger, rage, panic... in a word, your resistance. The best case is that it shoves you into quick decisions that don't really resolve your ambivalence. So let's try another approach. Let's say that for the next hour, you'll simply accept that you're not sure what to do. That's okay. Uncertainty won't kill you. For one hour, let it be.
If you do this mindfully, you'll feel a sense of relief, a space opening around the difficult issue. This enhances creativity -- so, paradoxically, accepting indecisiveness actually frees your mind to devise effective solutions. That's where the other two strategies come in.
Perhaps you feel obligated to do something you deeply don't want to do, such as watching political debates or contacting your PTA group leader. You may be resisting all suggestions because what you really want to do is simply "leave it." Quit the hated job. Don't return the e-mail. Just say nothing.
This is a daring solution, but think: Is "leaving" the problem really scarier than coming up with reasons not to leave the problem? If your answer is "yes," you may have reached a true impasse. Strangely enough, it's when you feel really helpless that you must pick up your authority and "lead" the situation.
You not only can but must lead situations where you genuinely need help. No one except you can say exactly what's stopping you, exactly where you're blocked by confusion or ignorance. Take charge not by demanding and then ignoring the help that's offered but by figuring out as clearly as you can just what you need, then requesting assistance from people who, in your judgment, are likely to be able to provide it. Even if they can't help you, they can usually refer you to someone else who can.
When Margaret did this, she understood her real problem wasn't the logistical difficulty of returning to school but her own anxiety about doing something new. Once she admitted that, she chose the hero's solution: Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Of course, she did need her family's assistance. She asked them if they'd share housework and driving. They exceeded her expectations, offering all sorts of suggestions, which Margaret gratefully accepted. Game, set, and match to Team Margaret.
Moving forward
If you follow the three Ls whenever you encounter help resistance, you'll find yourself playing a lot less verbal tennis. Excuse-making, whining, and pointless reiteration will disappear from your life. Not only will people who ask for help (but ignore it) cease seeking you out but you'll find yourself more capable of either peacefully accepting periods of indecision or getting the effective assistance that moves you forward quickly and decisively.
All the energy that once went into complaining, suggesting, and complaining some more (back and forth and back and forth and back and frigging forth) will align to propel you toward adventures and achievements.
I'm absolutely sure you can do this -- you with that clever mind, that resourceful nature, that winning smile. So get going, kiddo!
What's that? You're not sure of yourself? You have doubts? Things are more complicated than that?
Wow, I had no idea. I guess you're screwed. Have you seen my car keys?
New center offers warmer welcome to Capitol tourists
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The days of having nothing but an idle outdoor wait ahead of a U.S. Capitol tour appear to be over.
The underground visitor center, seen here under construction, has skylights allowing views of the Capitol.
The underground visitor center, seen here under construction, has skylights allowing views of the Capitol.
The $621 million underground U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, which opens Tuesday following six years of construction, features exhibits, orientation theaters and a restaurant. It offers Capitol guests a more comfortable and educational experience, according to the office of the Capitol architect.
The facility, built under the Capitol's east grounds to make it unobtrusive, presents historic artifacts from across the country and teaches guests about the House of Representatives and the Senate. Admission is free.
Capitol tours will now begin and end at the center, which the government hopes will cut down on long outdoor waits.
"Over the years, as interest in the Capitol has increased, people have been standing outside in the extreme heat, cold and humidity waiting to get into this building," said Stephen Ayers, the acting architect of the Capitol.
People still will have to pass through a security screening before entering the center. But once inside, they'll have things to do before their tour.
In the center's exhibition hall, visitors can touch an 11-foot model of the Capitol's dome. The facility's skylights offer striking views of the 215-year-old building above.
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* U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Web site
The three-level center takes up 580,000 square feet, roughly three quarters the size of the Capitol. The construction was $356 million over budget, partly because Congress redesigned the facility while it was being built and upgraded security plans for the center after the September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
But Ayers said the money was well spent.
"This is monumental architecture and monumental public space, and a place that's built for generations," Ayers said.
The government encourages visitors to book tours in advance, either on the center's Web site or through their congressman's office.
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However, a limited number of same-day passes will be available at the Capitol Visitor Center, according to the center's Web site.
The number of visitors to the Capitol rose from 1 million in 1970 to more than 3 million in 2000, according to the architect's office. The yearly number dipped after the September 11, 2001, attacks, but it has rebounded to nearly 3 million, the office's Web site says.
The underground visitor center, seen here under construction, has skylights allowing views of the Capitol.
The underground visitor center, seen here under construction, has skylights allowing views of the Capitol.
The $621 million underground U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, which opens Tuesday following six years of construction, features exhibits, orientation theaters and a restaurant. It offers Capitol guests a more comfortable and educational experience, according to the office of the Capitol architect.
The facility, built under the Capitol's east grounds to make it unobtrusive, presents historic artifacts from across the country and teaches guests about the House of Representatives and the Senate. Admission is free.
Capitol tours will now begin and end at the center, which the government hopes will cut down on long outdoor waits.
"Over the years, as interest in the Capitol has increased, people have been standing outside in the extreme heat, cold and humidity waiting to get into this building," said Stephen Ayers, the acting architect of the Capitol.
People still will have to pass through a security screening before entering the center. But once inside, they'll have things to do before their tour.
In the center's exhibition hall, visitors can touch an 11-foot model of the Capitol's dome. The facility's skylights offer striking views of the 215-year-old building above.
Don't Miss
* U.S. Capitol Visitor Center's Web site
The three-level center takes up 580,000 square feet, roughly three quarters the size of the Capitol. The construction was $356 million over budget, partly because Congress redesigned the facility while it was being built and upgraded security plans for the center after the September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
But Ayers said the money was well spent.
"This is monumental architecture and monumental public space, and a place that's built for generations," Ayers said.
The government encourages visitors to book tours in advance, either on the center's Web site or through their congressman's office.
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However, a limited number of same-day passes will be available at the Capitol Visitor Center, according to the center's Web site.
The number of visitors to the Capitol rose from 1 million in 1970 to more than 3 million in 2000, according to the architect's office. The yearly number dipped after the September 11, 2001, attacks, but it has rebounded to nearly 3 million, the office's Web site says.
Story about someone
(CNN) -- Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss claimed victory Tuesday in the Senate race in Georgia against Democrat Jim Martin, killing Democratic hopes of gaining enough seats to halt filibusters.
Voters "delivered a strong message that conservative Georgian values matter," Chambliss said.
Voters "delivered a strong message that conservative Georgian values matter," Chambliss said.
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"People all around the world truly had their eyes on Georgia, and you have delivered tonight a strong message to the world that conservative Georgian values matter," Chambliss said.
"Now comes the hard work."
Chambliss said he is prepared to work with Barack Obama when he becomes president, but not in all matters.
"When he wants to raise your taxes, when he wants to tinker with the Second Amendment, when he wants to make proposals with respect to health care that is going to take your choice of choosing your doctor away form you, then I'm going to be the 41st senator to stand up and say no." Video Watch Chambliss give his victory speech »
Chambliss' remarks followed a concession by Martin.
"Tonight, the voters of Georgia have spoken," he told supporters. "I accept the decision that has been made." Video Watch Martin give his concession speech »
The election is playing off the results of November 4, when Chambliss failed to win a majority of the vote in November's three-person race.
Democrats have so far picked up seven Senate seats in this year's election, with the Republican seats in Georgia and Minnesota still undecided.
In Minnesota, freshman GOP Sen. Norm Coleman topped his Democratic challenger, Al Franken, by just 215 votes, triggering an automatic recount that will extend well into December.
Had Democrats taken both remaining contests, they would have reached their pre-election goal of controlling 60 Senate seats, which would be a filibuster-proof majority. A filibuster is a move by the minority party in the Senate that brings the chamber to a standstill by blocking votes on legislation. Video Watch CNN's John King report on the runoff »
Chambliss won a plurality on Election Day, but Georgia state law requires a majority -- 50 percent plus one vote. Because of the inclusion of a third-party candidate, Chambliss fell just shy of that threshold, forcing a runoff election. See live results from Tuesday's runoff election
Chambliss promised to be a firewall against the Democrats in Washington, while Martin aligned himself with Barack Obama and the president-elect's message of change. Both sides brought in big-name surrogates to help motivate base voters, who could be crucial to the outcome of this runoff election.
Don't Miss
* Live results from Georgia runoff
* TIME.com: What's at stake in Georgia's Senate runoff
* Palin makes a Peach State sweep for GOP senator
Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor and former Republican vice presidential nominee, teamed up with Chambliss at four campaign events across Georgia on Monday. Video Watch more on Palin's return to the trail »
"You Georgians are going to have the opportunity to determine the direction this country is going to take," Palin said during a campaign rally in Perry, in south Georgia.
"This election is that important, and I know come tomorrow night, Georgians are going to speak, and Georgia's going to speak with a loud and clear voice. We want to make sure we have at least 41 Republicans in the United States Senate to make sure that we shape bad legislation, or kill bad legislation."
Chambliss had urged Palin to come to Georgia and help him get out the conservative vote.
Sen. John McCain returned to the trail to campaign with Chambliss just nine days after losing the presidential election to Obama.
Other former presidential hopefuls -- including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- also have hit the trail for Chambliss in the past month.
Giuliani, Huckabee and Romney could all make another presidential bid in 2012, and Palin could be joining them. iReport.com: Did you vote in Georgia?
Martin also received some major-league help. Both former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have separately teamed up with him.
And while Obama resisted Martin's invitation to come down to Georgia in person, the president-elect did lend his voice to a 60-second radio ad that's been running for more than a week.
And many who worked in Georgia for Obama during the general election campaign are now assisting Martin.
On Monday, Martin teamed up with Rep. John Lewis and other prominent Georgia Democrats before ending the day at a rally at the State Capitol in Atlanta with rapper Ludacris.
Martin called Palin's four campaign stops Monday a sign of desperation for Chambliss, adding that "bringing Sarah Palin is not going to help him, because the voters of Georgia want someone who will stand up for them in Washington; someone who understands their issues."
Analysts said turnout was crucial to the outcome of this election, raising the question of whether big-name surrogates make a difference.
"Generally they can help boost turnout, because of all the media attention," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst.
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"Turnout in a runoff election is often very low compared to a presidential election, and each side needs to get as many of their voters to the polls as possible."
This is Georgia's first runoff election for a U.S. Senate seat since 1992, when incumbent Democrat Wyche Fowler won a plurality of the vote on Election Day but lost the runoff election to Republican Paul Coverdale.
Voters "delivered a strong message that conservative Georgian values matter," Chambliss said.
Voters "delivered a strong message that conservative Georgian values matter," Chambliss said.
Click to view previous image
1 of 2
Click to view next image
"People all around the world truly had their eyes on Georgia, and you have delivered tonight a strong message to the world that conservative Georgian values matter," Chambliss said.
"Now comes the hard work."
Chambliss said he is prepared to work with Barack Obama when he becomes president, but not in all matters.
"When he wants to raise your taxes, when he wants to tinker with the Second Amendment, when he wants to make proposals with respect to health care that is going to take your choice of choosing your doctor away form you, then I'm going to be the 41st senator to stand up and say no." Video Watch Chambliss give his victory speech »
Chambliss' remarks followed a concession by Martin.
"Tonight, the voters of Georgia have spoken," he told supporters. "I accept the decision that has been made." Video Watch Martin give his concession speech »
The election is playing off the results of November 4, when Chambliss failed to win a majority of the vote in November's three-person race.
Democrats have so far picked up seven Senate seats in this year's election, with the Republican seats in Georgia and Minnesota still undecided.
In Minnesota, freshman GOP Sen. Norm Coleman topped his Democratic challenger, Al Franken, by just 215 votes, triggering an automatic recount that will extend well into December.
Had Democrats taken both remaining contests, they would have reached their pre-election goal of controlling 60 Senate seats, which would be a filibuster-proof majority. A filibuster is a move by the minority party in the Senate that brings the chamber to a standstill by blocking votes on legislation. Video Watch CNN's John King report on the runoff »
Chambliss won a plurality on Election Day, but Georgia state law requires a majority -- 50 percent plus one vote. Because of the inclusion of a third-party candidate, Chambliss fell just shy of that threshold, forcing a runoff election. See live results from Tuesday's runoff election
Chambliss promised to be a firewall against the Democrats in Washington, while Martin aligned himself with Barack Obama and the president-elect's message of change. Both sides brought in big-name surrogates to help motivate base voters, who could be crucial to the outcome of this runoff election.
Don't Miss
* Live results from Georgia runoff
* TIME.com: What's at stake in Georgia's Senate runoff
* Palin makes a Peach State sweep for GOP senator
Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor and former Republican vice presidential nominee, teamed up with Chambliss at four campaign events across Georgia on Monday. Video Watch more on Palin's return to the trail »
"You Georgians are going to have the opportunity to determine the direction this country is going to take," Palin said during a campaign rally in Perry, in south Georgia.
"This election is that important, and I know come tomorrow night, Georgians are going to speak, and Georgia's going to speak with a loud and clear voice. We want to make sure we have at least 41 Republicans in the United States Senate to make sure that we shape bad legislation, or kill bad legislation."
Chambliss had urged Palin to come to Georgia and help him get out the conservative vote.
Sen. John McCain returned to the trail to campaign with Chambliss just nine days after losing the presidential election to Obama.
Other former presidential hopefuls -- including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- also have hit the trail for Chambliss in the past month.
Giuliani, Huckabee and Romney could all make another presidential bid in 2012, and Palin could be joining them. iReport.com: Did you vote in Georgia?
Martin also received some major-league help. Both former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore have separately teamed up with him.
And while Obama resisted Martin's invitation to come down to Georgia in person, the president-elect did lend his voice to a 60-second radio ad that's been running for more than a week.
And many who worked in Georgia for Obama during the general election campaign are now assisting Martin.
On Monday, Martin teamed up with Rep. John Lewis and other prominent Georgia Democrats before ending the day at a rally at the State Capitol in Atlanta with rapper Ludacris.
Martin called Palin's four campaign stops Monday a sign of desperation for Chambliss, adding that "bringing Sarah Palin is not going to help him, because the voters of Georgia want someone who will stand up for them in Washington; someone who understands their issues."
Analysts said turnout was crucial to the outcome of this election, raising the question of whether big-name surrogates make a difference.
"Generally they can help boost turnout, because of all the media attention," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst.
advertisement
"Turnout in a runoff election is often very low compared to a presidential election, and each side needs to get as many of their voters to the polls as possible."
This is Georgia's first runoff election for a U.S. Senate seat since 1992, when incumbent Democrat Wyche Fowler won a plurality of the vote on Election Day but lost the runoff election to Republican Paul Coverdale.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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