Meet Justin Anderson, a veteran of the Iraq war and cancer survivor who turned his specialized off-road wheelchair into a snowplow as a way to give back to his community. From the UPI:

Justin Anderson, an Iraq War veteran living in Bellevue, was given an off-road wheelchair by the Independence Fund charity to help him get around after his leg was amputated, and he decided to use the gift to help others in his community.

“I don’t want kids or parents having to go through the snow and possibly trip or hurt themselves,” Anderson told WOWT-TV. “I had a half-dozen people stop to take a picture because they hadn’t seen a chair like this before.”

Awesome!

Anderson told KMTV in Omaha, Neb. that he did so to “inspire other veterans” who have similar issues:

“I want to help inspire other veterans with mobility issues. There are still things you can do that you thought you might not be able to do after your injury.”

Video here of Anderson’s inspiring story here:

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2016/02/03/watch-a-veteran-turned-his-wheelchair-into-a-snowplow-to-give-back-to-his-community/

What comes to mind when you think of a Thanksgiving Day celebration?

Family? Food? Football? Those are, of course, the most common associations.

Maybe a simultaneous combination of the three? “Jimmy, don’t f*%# this up! There’s an entire turkey dinner riding on this play.” Photo by
Fort George G. Meade Public Relations Office/Flickr (altered).

If we’re lucky, our jobs are the furthest things from our minds on Thanksgiving.

But with companies vying for a chunk of that sweet, sweet holiday spending, Thanksgiving has devolved into something more like Black Friday Eve, putting millions of workers on the clock instead of with their families.

“No, ma’am. These are tears of joy. I want nothing more than to help you find the perfect shower head. On Thanksgiving.” Photo via iStock.

Amid the chaos of the season, it can be easy to forget that the folks helping us are people, too. People who would almost certainly rather be eating with their families than feeding our voracious consumer appetites on Thanksgiving Day.

A growing movement wants to “save” Thanksgiving by pressuring companies to close for the holiday.

Bill Nichols’ wife has worked for JCPenney for over 30 years. After decades of loyalty, you’d figure she would have the pick of the crop when it comes to holiday schedules.

But she’s working this Thanksgiving and not by choice.

Photo by
Azt3r1x/Wikimedia Commons.

Angry and disappointed, Nichols started a petition on Change.org calling for JCPenney to close for Thanksgiving, and so far, he has more than 80,000 signatures. He hasn’t heard from the company, and he’s not holding his breath for them to do the right thing.

But he’s not going quietly. “Our values of family are given up one step at a time,” said Nichols. “Being open on Thanksgiving Day is one of those steps, and I will not accept it without voicing my opinion.”

We asked him what he thinks is the best way to get involved beyond signing a petition. His answer was simple: “Don’t shop on Thanksgiving Day.”

JCPenney isn’t the only company being targeted. According to Shareeza Bhola, senior communications manager for Change.org, almost 100 petitions have been launched against companies like Target, Walmart, and Macy’s for opening on Thanksgiving.

“Save Thanksgiving” petitioners have also found surprising allies within the retail community.

Bhola points to a list of national retailers that announced they’re closing on Thanksgiving Day. But one company is going even further.

One participant, Jessica Risco, worked in food service and retail for 10 years. She told Upworthy that during the holidays she and her coworkers often had to choose between their economic security and their families.

All GIFs from Change.org/YouTube.

“For a lot of people,” Risco says, “it’s the choice between paying bills and maintaining employment and being with family and friends.”

Brandon Worthy is an Iraq war veteran who spent a few holidays on active duty, which gave him greater appreciation for family time.

“I was deployed in Iraq I spent a couple of holidays over there, including Thanksgiving. When the holidays come around, where it’s all about family … you really, really take it seriously, because everything is precious.”

He tells Upworthy he’d like to see more “compassion for those who wish to spend their holidays with their families” and more peaceful protest against companies that can but don’t offer their employees that simple dignity.

Another participant, a retail worker named Tre’, says he doesn’t mind working holidays, but he wants shoppers to bear in mind the sacrifice he makes to be there for them.

In other words, don’t be a jerk. There are enough of those in the world. Among them are the kinds of people who make other people work on Thanksgiving.

Watch the video by Change.org:

Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/jcpenney-is-making-his-wife-work-on-thanksgiving-despite-30-years-of-service-hes-done-being-quiet?c=tpstream

Here at the List Universe we have already covered many bizarre illnesses and medical conditions, but there is always room for one more! This list deals with odd diseases that have no known cause – or at least no consensus on cause. Most are rare, and they all share the common attribute of having unusual symptoms. Be sure to mention others you know in the comments.

Image-24

Gulf War syndrome (GWS) is an illness reported by combat veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War typified by symptoms including immune system disorders and birth defects. It has not always been clear whether these symptoms were related to Gulf War service or whether the occurrence of illnesses in Gulf War veterans is higher than comparable populations. Symptoms attributed to this syndrome have been wide-ranging, including chronic fatigue, loss of muscle control, headaches, dizziness and loss of balance, memory problems, muscle and joint pain, indigestion, skin problems, shortness of breath, and even insulin resistance. While the cause of the syndrome is unknown, some theories put forth are anthrax vaccines given to soldiers, the use of depleted uranium for weaponry, or exposure to chemical weapons destroyed in various bombings. There is also speculation that it may be caused by an unknown bacteria.

Mcs-Julianna-Martin24Aug03.Gif

Also known as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), Twentieth-Century Disease is described as a chronic condition characterized by adverse effects from exposure to low levels of chemicals or other substances in modern human environments. Suspected substances include smoke, pesticides, plastics, synthetic fabrics, scented products, petroleum products and paints. But here is the odd thing: blinded trials have shown that MCS patients do not actually react to chemicals, but they do react in unblinded tests when they believe they are being exposed to a trigger. The cause of the disease is unknown. It was the focus of the odd 1995 film “[SAFE]” featuring Julianne Moore.

Back-Pain-921.Jpg

Stiff person syndrome is a bizarre (and rare) disease which causes the sufferer to have random muscle spasms that can be so strong they cause the person to fall over – leading to broken bones. SPS is characterized by fluctuating muscle rigidity in the trunk and limbs and a heightened sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, touch, and emotional distress, which can set off muscle spasms. Abnormal postures, often hunched over and stiffened, are characteristic of the disorder. People with SPS can be too disabled to walk or move, or they can be afraid to leave the house because street noises, such as the sound of a horn, can trigger spasms and falls. SPS affects twice as many women as men.

Morgellonshand.Jpg

Morgellons disease is characterized by symptoms including crawling, biting, and stinging sensations; finding fibers on or under the skin; and persistent skin lesions (e.g., rashes or sores). Current scientific consensus holds that Morgellons is not a new disorder and is instead a new and misleading name for known illnesses. Most doctors, including dermatologists and psychiatrists, regard Morgellons as a manifestation of known medical conditions, including delusional parasitosis, although some health professionals believe that Morgellons disease is a specific condition likely to be confirmed by future research. Researchers have found that affected skin when studied under a microscope can contain thousands of tiny hairs which may be being produced by the body (though they are not on record as being typical human hairs), but are not manmade or from plants. A New Mexico doctor reports that a former CIA agent told him the disease was caused by the French. “A botched government experiment contaminated the water. All Evian drinkers are at risk.”

Takerukobayashi.Jpg

Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a condition whose symptoms are recurring attacks of intense nausea, vomiting and sometimes abdominal pain and/or headaches or migraines. Cyclic vomiting usually develops during childhood; while it often ends during adolescence, it can persist into adult life. Onset of the condition is possible at any age but is seen to occur more often in a young age. Sufferers may vomit or retch six to twelve times an hour and an episode may last from a few hours to well over 3 weeks. Some people may find it hard to conceive how anyone can vomit after that length of time, as the stomach will have emptied after the first few instances of vomiting. Acid, bile and (if the vomiting is severe) blood may be vomited. It results in lack of sleep, normal eating, and concentration. The cause of CVS has not been determined, there are no diagnostic tests for it.

Nm Pain Wifi 080527 Mn.Jpg

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity is a condition in which people experience medical symptoms that they believe are caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields. Although effects of electromagnetic fields on the body are established, sufferers of electromagnetic hypersensitivity report responding to electromagnetic radiation at intensities well below those permitted by international safety standards. The majority of trials to date have found that sufferers of electromagnetic hypersensitivity are unable to distinguish between the exposure to real and sham electromagnetic fields. Although individuals who report electromagnetic hypersensitivity believe that electromagnetic fields from common electrical devices trigger or exacerbate their symptoms, it has not been established that these fields play any role in the cause of sensitivity symptoms. In 2005 the World Health Organization concluded that there is no known scientific basis for the belief that electromagnetic hypersensitivity is caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Picture 1-86

The symptoms of nodding disease are very peculiar. When a child is affected by it, his/her growth appears to be completely and permanently stunted. The growth of the brain is also stunted, leading to mental retardation of the victim. The disease is named nodding disease since it causes pathological nodding. This is a seizure which begins when the victim begins to eat food, or when he/she feels cold. As soon as either of these conditions is met, the afflicted will immediately begin to nod. These seizures are brief and halt after the child stops eating or when they feel warm again. However, this symptom is very unusual as the victims don’t appear to suffer from seizures when they are given an unfamiliar food, for example a candy bar. The seizures can be severe and cause the child to collapse, leading to further injury.

Peru-Meteor.Jpg

The Peruvian Meteorite Illness occurred when the Carancas meteorite fell on September 15, 2007. A large chondritic meteorite crashed near the village of Carancas in Peru, close to the Bolivian border and to Lake Titicaca. The impact created a crater and scorched earth around its location. A local official, Marco Limache, said that “boiling water started coming out of the crater, and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby”, as “fetid, noxious” gases spewed from the crater. After the impact, villagers who had approached the impact site grew sick from a then-unexplained illness, with a wide array of symptoms including vomiting. While some speculate that the illness may have been caused by arsenic poisoning as arsenic in the local water was evaporated by the hot meteorite (quite unusual as most meteors are cold upon collision), there is no scientific evidence or consensus on what the cause of this mysterious and brief illness was.

Holbein Charles Brandon 3Rd Duke Of Suffolk.Jpg

Sweating sickness was a mysterious and highly virulent disease which struck England and later Europe in a series of epidemics, the first beginning in 1485 and the last in 1551, afterwards apparently vanishing. The onset of symptoms was dramatic and sudden, with death often occurring within hours. The cause is the most mysterious aspect of the disease. Commentators then and now put much blame on the general dirt and sewage of the time which may have harboured the source of infection. The first outbreak at the end of the Wars of the Roses means that it may have been brought over from France by the French mercenaries whom Henry VII used to gain the English throne, particularly as they seem to have been immune. The fact that the disease seems to have been more virulent among the rich than the poor suggests why it was judged noteworthy in comparison to the other illnesses of the time. Pictured above is Charles Brandon, Third Duke of Suffolk who died together with his brother of the sweating sickness.

Explodinghead.Jpg

Exploding head syndrome is a condition that causes the sufferer to occasionally experience a tremendously loud noise as originating from within his or her own head, usually described as the sound of an explosion, roar, waves crashing against rocks, loud voices, or a ringing noise. This noise usually occurs within an hour or two of falling asleep, but is not the result of a dream and can happen while awake as well. Perceived as extremely loud, the sound is usually not accompanied by pain. Attacks appear to change in frequency over time, with several attacks occurring in a space of days or weeks followed by months of remission. Sufferers often feel a sense of fear and anxiety after an attack, accompanied by elevated heart rate. The cause of the exploding head syndrome is not known, though some physicians have reported a correlation with stress or extreme fatigue. The condition may develop at any time during life and women are slightly more likely to suffer from it than men. Attacks can be one-time events, or can recur.

This article is licensed under the GFDL because it contains quotations from Wikipedia.

Contributor: JFrater

Read more: http://listverse.com/2009/03/17/top-10-odd-diseases-with-no-known-cause/

It was 54 year-old Jon Lewis Alexander who politely told a man in the liquor store where he worked to please smoke outside.

The man instead decided to try and be a bad ass by demanding that Alexander hand over all the stores money as he reached back to pull out a gun on the clerk. Bad move buddy. This piece of garbage ends up getting a quick draw on his ass as Alexander shoves his own gun right in the guys face! The guy nearly pissed himself as he is a split second away from getting his head blown off. He backtracks and gets out of there.

Alexander is a 4-tour Iraq war veteran who neutralized this threat as quickly, calmly and effectively as you can. And he didnt even have to shoot the scumbag!

Read more: http://damn.com/when-the-thief-said-give-me-all-your-money-he-didnt-know-he-was-talking-to-a-veteran/

http://twitter.com/#!/kerpen/status/482692272522141696

We had expected this Friday night’s news dump to center on the IRS scandal, but instead, it’s the White House’s review of a “blistering assessment” of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

http://twitter.com/#!/cnnbrk/status/482658330868199424

The AP reports:

In a scathing appraisal, a review ordered by President Barack Obama of the troubled Veterans Affairs health care system concludes that medical care for veterans is beset by “significant and chronic system failures,” substantially verifying problems raised by whistleblowers and internal and congressional investigators.

A summary of the review by deputy White House chief of staff Rob Nabors says the Veterans Health Administration must be restructured and that a “corrosive culture” has hurt morale and affected the timeliness of health care. The review also found that a 14-day standard for scheduling veterans’ medical appointments is unrealistic and that some employees manipulated the wait times so they would appear to be shorter.

http://twitter.com/#!/newsbusters/status/482706739020963841

Just another “phony scandal.”

 

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2014/06/27/blistering-assessment-of-veterans-affairs-scandal-quietly-issued/

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post / Reuters

Scott Ostrom cups his hand over his mouth as he tries to calm a panic attack at his apartment in Boulder, Colorado. Scott says it’s been hard to find meaning in his life since 2007, when he was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post / Reuters

Scott looks over his military service records and weeps after being told his apartment application had been turned down. The leasing manager said he couldn’t allow Scott to move in because of an assault charge on his background check. Though Scott had his honorable discharge papers and his good-conduct medal, Scott said they meant nothing. ‘I’m not a criminal. You would think this would be worth something. It should be. It’s not, though.’

See the rest of these amazing photos here.

4. And Here Is Scott Ostram Today, Celebrating With Craig Walker As News Of The Pulitzer Prize Is Announced

Aaron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post / AP

Scott Ostrom watches as Denver Post staff photographer Craig F. Walker reacts to winning his second Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography on Monday, April 16, 2012, in Denver. Walker’s story on veteran Scott Ostrom’s battle with PTSD has been widely regarded since its publication on the Denver Post’s MediaCenter in December 2011.

Aaron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post / AP

Craig F. Walker hugs Scott Ostrom.

Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/gavon/heartbreaking-photos-of-a-troubled-iraq-war-vetera

Story Of Only Soldier To Survive From His Team Will Break Your Heart

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis Williams and the eleven soldiers in his team were on a rescue mission in Barwanah, Iraq in the summer of 2005 when tragedy struck. By complete chance, Lance was told to move to another vehicle before taking off. 

Only a short time later, a powerful explosion shook the ground. The truck holding his entire team was completely destroyed. Now, he must deal with being the only survivor of his crew everyday. 

Story Corps honored Lance and his team this Veterans Day in this emotional short animated film.

 

Read more: http://www.viralviralvideos.com/2014/11/15/story-of-only-soldier-to-survive-from-his-team-will-break-your-heart/

http://twitter.com/#!/markknoller/status/513470941548912641

Here’s the latest on Omar J. Gonzalez, the man who breached security at the White House yesterday:

White House intruder was an Army vet with PTSD, family says http://t.co/EkM6Yd1pEy

— Kim Murphy, LA Times (@kimmurphy) September 21, 2014

The opener:

The intruder who scaled a White House fence and made it through the front doors was an Army veteran diagnosed with combat trauma, but authorities said Saturday the case was still under investigation.

A family member in California said Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas, near Ft. Hood, has been homeless and living alone in the wild and in campgrounds with his two pet dogs for the last two years.

“We talked to him on 9/11 and he said he planned to go to a Veterans Administration hospital to seek treatments,” said the family member, who asked that he not be identified pending completion of the Secret Service investigation.

And this. Eek:

White House intruder simply worried the atmosphere is collapsing and needed to get word to Obama http://t.co/5HyPXeMgNM

— SunnyRight (@sunnyright) September 21, 2014

White House intruder said he feared "the atmosphere was collapsing" and needed to inform Obama ASAP http://t.co/JYHtvUQAuP

— PzFeed Top News (@PzFeed) September 21, 2014

White House: President Obama has ‘full confidence’ in the Secret Service. Just like every other time he said it?

‘Seems insane’: Fox News’ Ed Henry questions how WH fence jumper got so far

 

 

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2014/09/20/yesterdays-white-house-fence-jumper-identified-as-omar-j-gonzalez-a-homeless-veteran-with-ptsd/

http://twitter.com/#!/jimabeler/status/470226462985842689

Rep. Jim Abeler, a Republican, is a state Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Yesterday he (or whoever is running his account) confused Veterans Day with Memorial Day.

http://twitter.com/#!/jimabeler/status/470314683266633728

It’s not the first time we’ve seen that mistake, and unfortunately it won’t be the last.

 

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2014/05/25/minn-legislator-mixes-up-veterans-day-and-memorial-day/

1. President Obama signed a bill ensuring the military would be paid during the government shutdown, but United States armed forces are being affected in other ways.

Us Marines / Reuters

2. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Democrat from Illinois, says soldiers need intelligence to carry out their missions but the CIA, like other government agencies, is losing employees due to the shutdown.

“All DoD work will stop on weapons and equipment maintenance not directly related to war, bases will not be maintained and we will see a degradation of facilities,” he said. “You’ll see massive disruptions all across this country.” While the Defense Department will continue to operate with service members and essential employees after a shutdown, Durbin said a gap in funding would “cripple our intelligence community.” “We rely on their agencies to warn us of threats, to prevent terrorist attacks and inform leaders making critical national security decisions,” he said.

3. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Tuesday that the government shutdown raised a “dark cloud of uncertainty” over overseas military missions that would raise doubts among key allies, inevitably damaging U.S. credibility.

Yuri Gripas / Reuters

4. Army aviation has reportedly been grounded except in Afghanistan.

In the guidance on Defense.gov for the government shutdown, the movement of military personnel is said to be “limited,” and only movement to essential activities will continue as well as movement from essential activities as long as the commander deems it necessary.

7. While the government will pay civilians and contractors who support the military, there will be other complications.

8. About 400,000 of the Defense Department’s civilian employees will be furloughed.

Andrew Burton / Reuters

About 400,000 civilians, including tens of thousands in California, would be furloughed and would be paid retroactively only after congressional approval, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Department of Homeland Security is planning to furlough just less than 14% of its employees.

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the home of the 82nd Airborne Division, plans to put about 38% of its civilian workforce on furlough if the shutdown goes forward, Bragg officials said Monday.

9. Veterans and the retired military population will be affected during the shutdown.

Michael Probst / AP

“We have to remain hopeful that Congress will reach some sort of compromise that won’t financially devastate millions of disabled veterans and survivors, as well as those who provide protect and secure our country,” said Joe Davis, national spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, to Military.com.

“The fact that funding for VA benefits could disappear in a month ought to be incentive enough for our elected leaders to achieve a solution,” said Daniel Dellinger, national commander of The American Legion. “Our federal government must never put veterans in this kind of position.”

Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/sure-the-military-is-getting-paid-but-its-still-affected-by