FARK.com: (6926943) Kirk's condition upgraded. Can now beep once for yes, twice for no

		Kirk's condition upgraded. Can now beep once for yes, twice for no (chicagotribune.com)		33
		More: Followup, Mark Kirk, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Super Bowl, Dr. Richard Fessler, senator

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Lionel Mandrake

2012-02-07 10:02:44 AM

He's a Republican Senator...does he really need a code for "yes?"

dittybopper

2012-02-07 11:09:23 AM

That episode pisses me off.

If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code, and he could have thus given full testimony himself. If his cognitive abilities were so damaged that he couldn't learn Morse, then it's doubtful whether his testimony could be trusted anyway.

Also, it's not like Morse was completely unknown or forgotten in the Star Trek universe.

I_Am_Weasel

2012-02-07 11:18:45 AM

What is the condition of Sergeant Kruger?

...

Very well, let me know if there is any change in his condition.

Sock Ruh Tease

2012-02-07 12:10:20 PM

Republican U.S Senator ... swelling on the right side of his brain

Sounds like the right wing is invading his MIND.

lennavan

2012-02-07 12:10:32 PM

Lionel Mandrake: He's a Republican Senator...does he really need a code for "yes?"

Aww dammit, you beat me to it.

yert

2012-02-07 12:11:44 PM

Needlessly Complicated

2012-02-07 12:19:10 PM

dittybopper: If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code,

Futurama did it!

Lionel Mandrake: He's a Republican Senator...does he really need a code for "yes?"

Blammo!

Lionel Mandrake

2012-02-07 12:19:28 PM

yert: southparkstudios-intl.mtvnimages.com

mimg.ugo.com

Knara

2012-02-07 12:22:56 PM

dittybopper: That episode pisses me off.

If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code, and he could have thus given full testimony himself. If his cognitive abilities were so damaged that he couldn't learn Morse, then it's doubtful whether his testimony could be trusted anyway.

Also, it's not like Morse was completely unknown or forgotten in the Star Trek universe.

My main issue is that apparently medical tech interfaces in TOS hadn't advanced in like 200 years.

Still love TOS though.

/Lincoln watch over you, Kirk

BeesNuts

2012-02-07 12:23:53 PM

dittybopper: That episode pisses me off.

If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code, and he could have thus given full testimony himself. If his cognitive abilities were so damaged that he couldn't learn Morse, then it's doubtful whether his testimony could be trusted anyway.

Also, it's not like Morse was completely unknown or forgotten in the Star Trek universe.

But then Susan Oliver was in it and everything was okay again.
images.wikia.com

Hottest award-winning aviator in history. Eat your 'hart out Amelia.

lennavan

2012-02-07 12:24:53 PM

Lionel Mandrake: yert: southparkstudios-intl.mtvnimages.com

mimg.ugo.com

breakingbadcostume.com

NkThrasher

2012-02-07 12:25:12 PM

dittybopper: If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code, and he could have thus given full testimony himself. If his cognitive abilities were so damaged that he couldn't learn Morse, then it's doubtful whether his testimony could be trusted anyway.

I disagree, the yes and no response could be reading rough mental states not fine control, it's entirely possible for input and processing to be fine, but output to be completely hosed (happens not infrequently with TBI). So he could have been able to produce a mental state readable by a computer as "affirmative" vs "negative" in a reasonable amount of time and effort, but not anything more complicated, while still being able to fully understand what is going on around him.

Lionel Mandrake

2012-02-07 12:33:57 PM

lennavan: Lionel Mandrake: yert: southparkstudios-intl.mtvnimages.com

mimg.ugo.com

[breakingbadcostume.com image 602x564]

ding ding ding!

Leo Bloom's Freakout

2012-02-07 12:35:07 PM

Lionel Mandrake: He's a Republican Senator...does he really need a code for "yes?"

"Senator, after this ordeal, do you still have love for God?"

*beep, beep*

"See, he does, he clearly said yes, yes! He is enthusiastic about it even!"

sprawl15

2012-02-07 12:39:22 PM

V8 is already looking at creating a SuperPAC to endorse this vegetable.

Jurodan

2012-02-07 12:49:11 PM

I hope his recovery is smooth and short. It doesn't look that way though...

Flash_NYC

2012-02-07 01:24:35 PM

BeesNuts: dittybopper: That episode pisses me off.

If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code, and he could have thus given full testimony himself. If his cognitive abilities were so damaged that he couldn't learn Morse, then it's doubtful whether his testimony could be trusted anyway.

Also, it's not like Morse was completely unknown or forgotten in the Star Trek universe.

But then Susan Oliver was in it and everything was okay again.
[images.wikia.com image 640x494]

Hottest award-winning aviator in history. Eat your 'hart out Amelia.

When I first saw this episode, (in re-runs in the mid-1970s, I was about 12/13. Needless to say, she seriously made me feel uncomfortable in my pants, and was a major confirmation of the type of women that I go for.

I saw this episode again a few months ago, (Netflix stream), and I can only conclude that, Damn, she is/was one extremely good looking woman.

g4lt

2012-02-07 01:24:42 PM

He should resign, like they forced Giffords to

Saiga410

2012-02-07 01:28:24 PM

So now IL has no senator to speak of?

/disheartened at Durbin's lack constuency service after he took the whip job.

MostNutsEver

2012-02-07 01:34:27 PM

Lionel Mandrake: yert: southparkstudios-intl.mtvnimages.com

[mimg.ugo.com image 288x288]

*BEEP BEEP*

Double yes! Guilty!

The All-Powerful Atheismo

2012-02-07 01:36:24 PM

MostNutsEver: Lionel Mandrake: yert: southparkstudios-intl.mtvnimages.com

[mimg.ugo.com image 288x288]

*BEEP BEEP*

Double yes! Guilty!

Now please recount the events that led you to be guilty!

Talondel

2012-02-07 02:05:02 PM

Jurodan: I hope his recovery is smooth and short. It doesn't look that way though...

My wife had a very similar stroke last December (block of the carotid artery and the middle cerebral artery) and there simply is no such thing as a fast recovery. Most patients have a recovery that takes anywhere from six months to two years, and generally longer recovery times are actually better than shorter ones in terms of the final outcome. The longer your brain continues to make adjustments and relearn how to do control various muscles and perform various tasks, the better off you'll be in the long term.

In general strokes on the right side are easier to recover from, because right side strokes effect the areas that control the left side of the body and the parts of the brain responsible for spatial reasoning. Left side strokes effect the right side of the body (which is obviously the strong side for most people) and the language centers. It's easier to do rehab on the weak side of the body if your stronger arm and leg are still working. Also, it's easier to do rehab if you're able to communicate effectively with your doctors, but that can be difficult if the language centers have been effected. That's why most stroke patients get three kinds of therapy, physical, occupational, and speech.

metztli

2012-02-07 02:08:14 PM

g4lt: He should resign, like they forced Giffords to

*crickets* Pathetic that not a single person who was demanding Giffords step down "for the good of her constituents" immediately after the shooting hasn't been doing the same here despite the fact that the recovery is projected to be a long one.

Alternatively, perhaps those people the right are actually honest enough to acknowledge that it takes undamaged mental faculties for a Democratic pol to properly represent their people but a Republican one can represent their constituency with a simple, "Hurr!" or "Durr!"

Saiga410

2012-02-07 02:11:07 PM

Talondel: [types of] therapy, physical, occupational, and speech

I wonder what the occupational therapy there is for a congresscritter? "Now Mr Kirk, this is how you accept a bribe and not get caught." "Now today we are going to work on fundraisers". "No Mr Kirk, you need to learn this... today we are going to teach you how to speak out of both sides of you mouth." Though that last one may be part of all 3.

/I kid, I kid

dittybopper

2012-02-07 02:31:32 PM

NkThrasher: dittybopper: If Pike has enough control to flash the light once for yes, twice for no, then he's got enough control to make it flash in Morse code, and he could have thus given full testimony himself. If his cognitive abilities were so damaged that he couldn't learn Morse, then it's doubtful whether his testimony could be trusted anyway.

I disagree, the yes and no response could be reading rough mental states not fine control, it's entirely possible for input and processing to be fine, but output to be completely hosed (happens not infrequently with TBI). So he could have been able to produce a mental state readable by a computer as "affirmative" vs "negative" in a reasonable amount of time and effort, but not anything more complicated, while still being able to fully understand what is going on around him.

Morse code is very simple. It consists of only two elements - A "Dit" (one short beep), and a "Dah" (one long beep).

If you can manage the rough mental states for one beep and two beeps, you can manage to make dits and dahs. An affirmative can be a 'dit', and negative a 'dah', and all that is then required is to string them together into characters, a relatively simple task. In fact, Morse code *HAS* been used as an assistive technology. It actually works very well with anyone who has any voluntary control whatsoever, and because computers can read Morse, ordinary people don't need to actually *KNOW* it to receive it, they can merely read the output on a computer.

There are several products on the market now that allow a disabled person with very minimal voluntary control to use Morse to control a computer:

Tandem Master (can use microswitches, 'puff and sip' interface, etc.)

Compusult Jouse2

Darci USB interface

A lot of communications software and hardware for the disabled comes with Morse input capability, because it's so damned versatile and useful.

Knara

2012-02-07 04:34:24 PM

metztli: g4lt: He should resign, like they forced Giffords to

*crickets* Pathetic that not a single person who was demanding Giffords step down "for the good of her constituents" immediately after the shooting hasn't been doing the same here despite the fact that the recovery is projected to be a long one.

Alternatively, perhaps those people the right are actually honest enough to acknowledge that it takes undamaged mental faculties for a Democratic pol to properly represent their people but a Republican one can represent their constituency with a simple, "Hurr!" or "Durr!"

I'm firmly convinced that they only didn't have her resign so that they could find a suitable replacement candidate before an election was coming up.

There's just always something odd about appearances by her: either the audio is obviously edited, or her husband is finishing her sentences for her, or they don't have her talk at all, stuff like that. She's obviously somewhat competent, but as someone who has a friend who actually *is* a neurologist, I am assured that no one comes out of that sort of incident as someone who is all-but-normal, and my gut tells me that from the aforementioned observations, she's little more than an inspirational placeholder so that the GOP doesn't accidentally get a fair shake at the seat.

CrscntBufS

2012-02-07 05:05:37 PM

g4lt: He should resign, like they forced Giffords to

Came in to say this.

urban.derelict

2012-02-07 06:31:45 PM

Knara: There's just always something odd about appearances by her: either the audio is obviously edited, or her husband is finishing her sentences for her, or they don't have her talk at all, stuff like that. She's obviously somewhat competent, but as someone who has a friend who actually *is* a neurologist, I am assured that no one comes out of that sort of incident as someone who is all-but-normal, and my gut tells me that from the aforementioned observations, she's little more than an inspirational placeholder so that the GOP doesn't accidentally get a fair shake at the seat.

I cracked my skull in 5 places in addition to 2 broken ribs, punctured lung, broken collar bone, broken shoulderblade in 2001. 6 month induced coma so my body could heal itself.

I made a full recovery thanks to my frequent cannabis use before my wreck. (See "US files patent for cannabinoids as antioxidants/neuroprotectants") Doctors told my family I would never walk again. College friends didn't think I'd survive. Doctors had to give me 3, 4, 6x standard dosage because I was so hopped up on coke, pot, booze.

/then the c*nt rehab doc made me deaf with legal medicine -- where's the war on (some) drugs when you need it? I am sure she did it intentionally because she did not want me to have a full recovery after she knew of all the drugs I had in me
//i will enjoy urinating on her grave
///do have subtle 'neuropathic' 'pain' (mild discomfort) on the outside edge of my right hand (pinkie), all my toes as a result of my TBI
//it's called 'cranioplasty,' they remove a section of skull to prevent you from DYING because your brain needs space to swell into
/had a pic, can't find it

Knara

2012-02-07 08:02:11 PM

urban.derelict: I cracked my skull in 5 places in addition to 2 broken ribs, punctured lung, broken collar bone, broken shoulderblade in 2001. 6 month induced coma so my body could heal itself.

I made a full recovery thanks to my frequent cannabis use before my wreck. (See "US files patent for cannabinoids as antioxidants/neuroprotectants") Doctors told my family I would never walk again. College friends didn't think I'd survive. Doctors had to give me 3, 4, 6x standard dosage because I was so hopped up on coke, pot, booze.

While your story is indeed amazing, be careful not to generalize your experience to those of others with brain trauma. In this case, the source and nature of her brain injury is very likely much different than yours.

/have the left pinky thing too, but it's from a congenital shoulder defect
//see what I mean?

had98c

2012-02-07 08:51:45 PM

I_Am_Weasel: What is the condition of Sergeant Kruger?

...

Very well, let me know if there is any change in his condition.

He's dead.

Came here for this, leaving satisfied.

firefly212

2012-02-07 09:06:39 PM

It's not that I don't feel bad for him, it's that I don't understand why I'm paying for his health insurance when I can't afford any for myself.

g4lt

2012-02-07 09:24:45 PM

Knara: metztli: g4lt: He should resign, like they forced Giffords to

*crickets* Pathetic that not a single person who was demanding Giffords step down "for the good of her constituents" immediately after the shooting hasn't been doing the same here despite the fact that the recovery is projected to be a long one.

Alternatively, perhaps those people the right are actually honest enough to acknowledge that it takes undamaged mental faculties for a Democratic pol to properly represent their people but a Republican one can represent their constituency with a simple, "Hurr!" or "Durr!"

I'm firmly convinced that they only didn't have her resign so that they could find a suitable replacement candidate before an election was coming up.

There's just always something odd about appearances by her: either the audio is obviously edited, or her husband is finishing her sentences for her, or they don't have her talk at all, stuff like that. She's obviously somewhat competent, but as someone who has a friend who actually *is* a neurologist, I am assured that no one comes out of that sort of incident as someone who is all-but-normal, and my gut tells me that from the aforementioned observations, she's little more than an inspirational placeholder so that the GOP doesn't accidentally get a fair shake at the seat.

So what does your magical distance-diagnosing neurologist friend say about Kirk's prognosis? If it ain't "totally farked", it certainly should be close.

urban.derelict

2012-02-07 10:00:53 PM

Knara: While your story is indeed amazing, be careful not to generalize your experience to those of others with brain trauma. In this case, the source and nature of her brain injury is very likely much different than yours.

I'm not 'generalizing' anything I was simply telling my story. I think doctors tend to tell people the worst possible outcomes -- not including 'death' -- so that the family can be relieved when the 'worst possible scenario' doesn't happen.

However the purpose of my telling it here was to tout the healing/curative/protectant effects of the wonderful cannabis plant. It really can cure cancer -- tinyurl.com/gov74 -- it really does protect brains from head trauma. The US government really did award themself a patent for 'cannabinoids as neuroprotectants/antioxidants' despite it being schedule 1 and having 'no accepted medicinal value.'

/my parents were woefully inept, I learned about drugs from nancy reagan on 'diffrent strokes' around 1982/I was 5, D.A.R.E. in 4th grade, catholic grade school
//when I realized how safe they were -- compared to alcohol -- once I got to college and was finally exposed to them firsthand, I thought I had it made... nope
/it was, of course, the alcohol I hold responsible for causing my stupid, dumb-ass wreck
_{.alcohol makes you fat and stupid; that's why it's legal! That's just how Uncle Sam likes his citizens!}

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