'Don't ask, don't tell' is no more

WASHINGTON — A president who has said he benefited from the civil rights movement added to it Wednesday by giving gay men and lesbians the right to fight for their country without hiding their sexual orientation.

Describing it as "a moment more than two centuries in the making," President Obama signed into law a repeal of the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy that required servicemembers who are gay to keep it a secret. When fully implemented in a matter of months, he said, the action will make the nation's armed forces stronger.

"There will never be a full accounting of the heroism demonstrated by gay Americans in service to this country. Their service has been obscured in history," the nation's first African-American president said. "But at every turn, every crossroads in our past, we know gay Americans fought just as hard, gave just as much to protect this nation and the ideals for which it stands."

It was a poignant culmination of a battle Obama launched during his presidential campaign but has struggled to win amid the harsh realities of governing. Describing himself as "overwhelmed," the customarily reserved president elated hundreds of gay rights activists who have been disappointed at times by his mixed record on their behalf.  Obama signs historic bill

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the nation's most prominent gay lawmaker, called it the biggest piece of civil rights legislation since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yet Frank, like others in the audience, said it marked only a step toward full equality that one day should include the right to marry. "We're at the halfway point," he said.

At a news conference later to mark the end of his second year in office, Obama equivocated on the subject of gay marriage — something he has opposed in the past while favoring civil unions, which would give gays and lesbians new legal rights.

"My feelings about this are constantly evolving," Obama said. "I struggle with this."

The boisterous crowd that heralded the bill signing cheered as a history they helped to create was made. They savored the moment with standing ovations and cries of "Yes We Can" and "U-S-A."

"It's history, and very few people get to experience history in a way that they benefit from," said Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran and former Army first lieutenant who came out on television last year and was discharged as a result in June. "When you fight for something you believe in, sometimes you have to break the rules."

President Clinton agreed to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in 1993 as a compromise to replace a Pentagon policy that homosexuality was incompatible with military service. More than 17,000 gay men and lesbians were discharged under the initial policy, as well as 14,000 more since 1993.

The fight to repeal the law was uphill even after Obama won the White House. It took until last weekend for the Senate, in a "lame duck" session, to vote 65-31 for repeal; opponents such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., warned it could weaken military readiness. Republicans' gains at the polls last month likely would have made repeal more difficult next year.

"It's a great day in America," said Darrel Choat, a Marine Corps major who attended the bill-signing ceremony. "It would have been way worse for the next couple of years."

Choat came to shake hands with the president, for whom he had worked as a White House social aide. When the two met in the front of the Interior Department auditorium after the event, Choat said Obama told him: "See, I told you we'd get it done."

It's not quite done. The law gives the Pentagon time to implement the policy, which Obama has said could take months. He said he spoke to his service commanders Tuesday — including Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, who previously opposed the repeal.

"I have spoken to every one of the service chiefs, and they are all committed to implementing this change swiftly and efficiently," Obama said. "We are not going to be dragging our feet to get this done."

In the meantime, gay rights advocates are warning active-duty personnel against declaring their sexual orientation too soon. "The sooner the law is implemented, the sooner our gay and lesbian servicemembers can begin serving their country with honesty and dignity," said Laura Murphy of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The president was joined on stage by some of the gay and lesbian heroes of the repeal effort: Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, who lost a leg as the first American wounded in Iraq, and retired Navy commander Zoe Dunning, who served openly as a lesbian after more than two years of legal battles in the 1990s.

The loudest ovation of the day was reserved for Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Obama quoted Mullen as having said, "Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well."

Speaking directly to gays and lesbians at the end of his remarks, Obama urged them to serve with honor, and he welcomed new recruits:

"I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this country in uniform: Your country needs you, your country wants you, and we will be honored to welcome you into the ranks of the finest military the world has ever known."

What Christmas Means to Me: A Sailor's Story

Alot of people think of Christmas and its different for each and every one of them. Christmas for me means I time with my family, time with the people I love most. I always took for granted spending Christmas and the holidays with my family. Now, I am older and currently serving in the United States Navy, I realize how important this time really is.

Every winter since I have been in the Navy, I have taken a Greyhound bus from Norfolk, Virginia to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It was a long trip, but one that I looked forward to each year. It meant that I could be with my family for a week or two. I could only see them about 3 weeks a year.

I come home in my dress blues and everyone is so happy to see me and they tell me how proud that they are. It's a feeling I can not describe. It makes me feel all warm inside just thinking about it. I remember sitting around the Christmas table answering all sorts of questions that my family through at me. Where are you stationed at? What do you do in the Navy now? What countries have you visited? I am bombarded with questions. It does get overwhelming sometimes answering so many questions but I know they do not mean any harm and just want to learn more about what I do. After all, I get to attack them with questions when they are done with me. So I know what happened since last time I have been home.

I can not talk about Christmas without talking about presents. After all, it is the season of giving right? There is no better feeling then seeing the people you care about most in the world smiling because of you. I try my best to buy my family the best gifts I can afford. They took care of me when I was growing up, so I try and take care of them. I usually do not ask for anything. Seeing them is more than enough for me. But it seems that they can not resist giving me things.

Things are better now though. I am stationed in Avoca, Pennsylvania only an hour and half from where I grew up. I go home about 3 weeks a month. I can't believe it. It is like heaven. I don't get to see everyone

 when I come home. I do try my best to see as many people as I can though. I also have a girlfriend now. So I get to meet her side of the family and I still get bombarded with questions. Whenever I do, I can't help but think back to those days around Gram's Christmas table.

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting in the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart
So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above
I sent you each a memory of my undying love
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away the tear
Remember I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
-----Written by Ben, age 13, who on Dec 14, 1997 died after a 4 yr. battle with a brain tumor. He wrote this and gave it to his mom before he died.

A SAILOR’S CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming, Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming. They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small, In a 80-man berthing, cramped one and all. I had come down the stack with presents to give, And to see inside just who might perhaps live. I looked all about, a strange sight did I see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, shined boots closed at hand, On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land. They had medals and badges and awards of all kind, And a sober thought came into mind. For this place was different, so dark and so dreary, I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly. A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home. The face was so gentle, the room squared away, This was the United States Sailor today. This was the hero I saw on TV, Defending our country so we could be free. I realized the families I would visit this night, Owed their lives to these Sailors willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, And grown-ups would celebrate on Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year, Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here. I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice, “Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice.” “Defending the seas all days of the year, So others may live and be free with no fear.” I thought for a moment, what a difficult road, To live a life guided by honor and code. After all it’s Christmas Eve and the ship’s underway! But freedom isn’t free and it’s Sailors who pay. The Sailor says to country “be free and sleep tight, No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night.” The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent so still, I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night’s cold chill. I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night, This guardian of honor so willing to fight. The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure, Commanded, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas and all is secure!”

HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT

~~ author unknown

Navy - Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, compartments were still, The sailors were sleeping, as most sailors will.

The ditty bags hung by the lockers with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The men were all peacefully dreaming in bed As visions of liberty danced in each head.

The Chief in his skivvies, hopped into his rack, Having just came from town and a quick midnight snack.

When out on the deck there arose such a roar, I ran to the porthole to find out the score.

I stuck out my head and started to shout, "Just what in the world is this noise all about?"

A moon made for boondocking showed with a glow, It was downright cold out, 'bout seven below.

What I saw out there looked like those Mardi Gras floats, 'Twas a Captain's gig drawn by four white Navy goats.

In the boat was a man who seemed quiet and moody, I knew in an instant St. Nick had the duty.

As quickly as Monday his billy goats came, He whistled and shouted and called them by name.

"Now Perry, now Farragut, Dewey and Jones, What's the matter John Paul, got lead in your bones?

A little to Starb'rd, now hold it up short, No fluffing off now, or you'll go on report!"

He was wearing dress "Reds" that fit like a charm, His hash marks they covered the length of his arm.

The gifts to be issued were all in his pack, The gedunk was ready to leave on each rack.

His eyes they were watering, his nose caked with ice, He wiped it with canvass, then sneezed once or twice.

He opened his mouth and started to yawn, It looked like the Sun coming up with the dawn.

The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth, And took a small nip from a bottle beneath.

He wasn't so big, but he must have been strong, I figured he'd been in SEALs early and long.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old Tar, Who said "Evenin' Matey, here - have a cigar."

He filled every seabag with presents galore, And left us all leave papers, right by the door.

With "Anchors Aweigh" he climbed back into place, A broad smile was creeping all over his face.

One look at his watch and he started to frown, "This mid watch is certainly getting me down."

Then out to the breakwater and into the night, The gig started fading, the landscape was bright.

"Merry Christmas" he said, as he drove on his way, "Now I'll finish my rounds and sack in for the day." 

 Navy - Night Before Christmas - Author Unknown

Man arrested in Maryland terror plot

A 21-year-old Baltimore construction worker, who allegedly "dreamed" of waging jihad against the U.S., was charged by federal authorities with attempted murder and the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction Wednesday in connection with a plot to bomb a suburban Maryland military recruiting station.

Antonio Martinez was arrested Wednesday after allegedly attempting to detonate what he thought was a sport-utility vehicle laden with explosives parked near the Armed Forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Md., prosecutors and the FBI say in court documents.

Baltimore U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said the device represented "no actual danger" to the public because it had been assembled with the help of undercover federal agents who rendered it inert.

The arrest marked the second time in three weeks that federal investigators announced an arrest linked to an elaborate sting operation in which undercover investigators worked with suspects to assemble and deliver a dummy device to an actual target.

RECENT SHOOTINGS: Gunman may have grievance against Marines

Last month, a 19-year-old Somali-born U.S. citizen was arrested in Portland, Ore., after federal prosecutors alleged he plotted a similar car bomb attack at the site of a Nov. 26 Christmas tree lighting ceremony that had attracted thousands of spectators to the city's popular Pioneer Square.

Court documents allege the Portland arrest of Mohamed Osman Mohamud briefly spooked Martinez, who called an FBI informant on Nov. 27 in "an agitated state" after learning that the Portland plot was a "set-up."

"I'm not falling for no b.s.," Martinez allegedly told the unidentified informant, according to a transcript of the telephone conversation. Despite the scare, the documents allege, Martinez called the same informant the next day and reaffirmed his commitment to the plot.

"I'm just ready to move forward," the suspect allegedly said.

Joseph Balter, Martinez's attorney, declined to comment on the allegations. But he cautioned that the arrest and charges marked only the very beginning of the case.

"I would hope everybody would not engage in a rush to judgment here," Balter said.

An FBI affidavit outlining the operation portrayed Martinez as so eager to lash out against the U.S. that he unsuccessfully attempted to recruit three unidentified accomplices.

"All three of them declined, one of whom expressly attempted to dissuade Martinez from committing jihad," the documents say.

After the failed recruitment effort, the plot proceeded when the FBI informant introduced Martinez to an undercover FBI agent, whom Martinez referred to as "the Afghani brother."

Rosenstein said in an interview there was no evidence that Martinez was aided by others in the alleged scheme that began taking shape in September. At that time, the documents say, the FBI informant noticed a series of threatening postings on Martinez's Facebook account.

Attorney Jim Lavine, a former prosecutor, said the government's tactics raise "important questions of whether the person targeted actually has the capacity to commit the crime."

"When you push these cases to the point of creating such an elaborate ruse, you wonder whether they (government) are going too far," he said.

Richard McFeely, head of the FBI's Baltimore Division, said Martinez was "absolutely committed to carrying out an attack which would have cost lives."

Rosenstein said federal investigators tried to measure that commitment by deploying undercover agents in the detailed sting operation.

"The goal is to determine whether the defendant truly wants to go forward with the scheme," he said.

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said President Obama was briefed on the operation prior to the arrest.

"This arrest underscores the necessity of remaining vigilant against terrorism here and abroad and why we have been focusing on addressing the challenge posed by domestic radicalization," he said.

Military chaplains debate their role without 'don't ask, don't tell'

As Congress debates the repeal of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, military chaplains are doing their own soul-searching.
About 3,000 chaplains currently serve in the military, endorsed by a multitude of faiths, including Christian, evangelical Protestant, Jewish and Muslim denominations. It's a unique culture where chaplains of various beliefs serve alongside one another counseling and caring for an equally diverse congregation of armed service members.
"Some of the most intense and sharpest divergence of views about Don't Ask, Don't Tell exists among the chaplains," states the Pentagon report, released last week, on the potential impact of repealing the policy. The report concludes that allowing openly gay or lesbian troops to serve in the military would have little lasting impact on the U.S. armed forces.
Among the issues raised by chaplains, according to the report, is whether a change in policy would hinder ministers' religious expression, particularly for those faiths that consider homosexuality immoral.
"Chaplains who aren't able to proclaim what they believe is true about this issue ... means that the soldier then, the airman, the sailor, the guardian, the Marine aren't able to get the full opportunity to hear religious faiths," retired Army Chaplain Brigadier Gen. Douglas Lee tells CNN.
A chaplain for more than 30 years, Lee now serves as executive director of a Presbyterian group that endorses military chaplains from six denominations. A clergy member must be endorsed by a religious group or denomination in order to serve as a chaplain. Lee and dozens of other former military chaplains signed a letter earlier this year to President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates urging them not to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."
"I fear and many others fear that down the road, knowing the other agenda items that are on the plate of those promoting a homosexual lifestyle, (there) would be a concern that chaplains would be restricted from proclaiming their faith tenets," says Lee.
Chaplains provide counseling, guidance and perform religious rites, such as baptisms and marriage, for service members.
Another retired chaplain who served for 20 years says he counseled gay and lesbian service members who confided their struggle over hiding their sexual orientation.
"For me it was very disheartening," retired Air Force Chaplain Col. Jerry Rhyne tells CNN. "I tried to bring them hope and encouragement to live their life to the fullest and to help them deal with their issues."
Rhyne, who spoke to the Pentagon group that issued the report on "don't ask, don't tell," supports the repeal, arguing it's a matter of justice.
"The scriptures and Gospels tell us we need to love our neighbors as ourselves. If you provide ministry on that basis, you can't reject somebody on their lifestyle, but you have to love them as a human being. That's a key element of providing chaplain services to military personnel wherever they are."
Rhyne says if a chaplain is unable to provide religious services because of a conflict of beliefs, they are required to find another chaplain for the service member.
"The issue should not be upon the chaplain's comfortability but it ought to be on how we provide pastoral care to the service personnel," says Rhyne.
Rhyne agrees with Gates that safeguards are in place to enable chaplains to maintain their religious beliefs and still serve a diverse community.
In a briefing last Tuesday, Gates said, "There is an obligation to care for all. But it also is clear that the chaplains are not going to be asked to teach something they don't believe in."
Despite the divergent views, the Pentagon report found that repealing "don't ask, don't tell" would have little impact on the chaplain corps. Only three out of about 145 chaplains who participated in the study suggested they would quit or leave if the law were changed.
The chaplains CNN spoke to seem to suggest the same.

"Chaplains will always help people, always have ... always will, no matter who comes their way," says Lee.

courtesey CNN

U.S. Navy bombarded with Facebook complaints on use of 'Arabian Gulf'

The U.S. Navy's Facebook page is awash with thousands of pro-Iranian messages protesting the force's designation of the "Arabian Gulf" instead of the "Persian Gulf."
Since last Thursday, as many as 4,000 messages have hit the page as part of a coordinated computer initiative from around the world, according to the Navy.
The messages strongly advocate that the Navy use the name Persian Gulf instead of Arabian Gulf for the waters off the coast of Iran, and they are believed to have been a result of several Facebook "cause" pages advocating the change, according to Navy officials.
As a result of the extremely heavy traffic on the Navy Facebook page -- used by service members around the world -- and with postings still coming in, many of the messages are being designated as spam and are not being posted, according to Rear Adm. Dennis Moynihan, chief spokesman for the Navy. However, by scrolling through the site, viewers can still see several older anti-Arabian Gulf postings.
Some examples (with spellings and wordings verbatim) of postings:
-- "From thousands years ago this gulf had been persian gulf and it will be forever persian...sorry for americans."
-- "How can world trust you when you easily change the history ? It's persian Gulf forever."
-- "Is anybody in US Navy who has studied the geography? Have you ever been at school? Have you studied geography? What have you seen in geography? for sure it is Persian gulf. My question is can anybody change the name of America? that's crazy."
But even the Navy's action to deal with the flood of postings got comments. One writer posted a message saying, "why you delete my comment??"
The Navy posted a lengthy statement trying to explain its Facebook page is mainly for service members and those who follow U.S. Navy news.
"This protest started Thursday morning, 2 DEC, and has denied the use of this page, and more specifically the wall, to the majority of fans that normally use it," the statement said.
The Navy said it would continue to take down messages that appeared to be spam.
But it also said in its statement, "As for the primary points raised, we are aware of the long and proud history of the Persian people. You'll note we've permitted posting of content that supports this point. We are also well aware of the long history behind the origin of the name of the Persian Gulf. While sharing tasteful content that supports this has been permitted, out of deference to the fans here who expect more from us, we won't support inappropriate behavior and commentary. We encourage you to post your opinions to other forums better suited for this conversation."
"The use of the term "Arabian Gulf" (versus) Persian Gulf is used by naval forces including our regional partners there for years. We use this term in press releases, news stories, and photos coming from the Navy in the region," the statement added.

"The often cited Navy Style Guide that says to use the term "Arabian Gulf" (versus) Persian Gulf is really only applicable to them since commands in their area would be the only naval forces publishing stories in the region. In most other respects (nautical charts and publications for example) the historic name of Persian Gulf is used. We value and respect the partners with whom we serve around the globe, and mean no harm or insult to any people."

Courtesey CNN

Military Pay Freeze Floated

In a call that may well tip the scales in favor of serious cuts to the entire defense budget, senior House Democrat Steny Hoyer called today for active duty troops to take a pay freeze, just as their civilian counterparts will. Hoyer, the outgoing Majority Leader, offered an olive branch to those who might oppose the whole idea of a pay freeze for those who wear the uniform. He said he would exempt those deployed to combat zones. “Millions of Americans are out of work, and many are tightening their belts; Federal employees must be no different,” Hoyer said in a statement posted on the majorityleader​.gov website. “It would have produced significantly more savings had that sacrifice been shared between Federal civilian and military personnel — with a strong exception for the members of our military and civilian employees risking their lives on our behalf in Afghanistan, Iraq, and anywhere else they are serving in harm’s way.”
Hoyer, whose district contains many federal employees, also argued that broadening the freeze to include active duty military was a matter of equity. “It would have also added an element of fairness: there has been parity between civilian and military pay raises for 22 of the past 28 years in which raises were authorized, and hundreds of thousands of Federal civilian employees work alongside military employees in the Department of Defense and other agencies” he said. “In fact, the first American casualty in Afghanistan was a CIA agent–a federal civilian employee.
Hoyer, who stands to the right of his boss House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on many policy matters, could well swing many Democrats behind his move. Given the GOP’s control of the House, his effort faces much greater uncertainty in the institution. Rep. Buck McKeon, incoming chairman of the House Armed Services, has pledged to give troops whatever support they need to get the jobs done in Afghanistan and Iraq. That would probably translate into opposition to any pay freeze, but Tea Party Republicans — and the presidential deficit commission, which reports out tomorrow — may well push hard for something symbolic like this, that also comes with a pretty hefty return.
President Obama announced a pay freeze for all civilian federal workers yesterday: “These are also times where all of us are called on to make some sacrifices. And I’m asking civil servants to do what they always do and play their part.” That is logic that could easily be extended to troops serving at home or at some of the more comfortable foreign bases. The civilian freeze would, the White House estimates, save $2 billion for the 2011 fiscal year, $28 billion over the next five years and more than $60 billion over the next 10 years. No comparable numbers for a military freeze yet.


courtesey dod buzz

Inside one boy's anorexia: 'How can I burn the most calories?'

In class, Eric Ostendorf fidgeted in his seat and constantly kicked his knees up for exercise. He'd ask to go to the restroom, where he would do 45 chin-ups using the bar between the stall walls.
"Everything I did was with the thought in the back of my head, 'How can I burn the most calories?' " he said.
Instead of savoring food, Eric felt disgusted. He would flush his lunch down the toilet. It was as if a calorie counter had been embedded into his brain, forcing him to estimate how much exercise he needed to burn off every morsel.
Eric's anorexic habits began when he was 10.
And more children like him are developing eating disorders early, researchers warned this week in a report in the journal Pediatrics.
Between 1999 and 2006, the age group with the sharpest increase of hospitalizations from eating disorders was under 12 years old. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported a 119 percent rise.
The perception that eating disorders affect only females is wrong, especially for younger kids.
"The younger you get, the more likely they are to be boys," said Dr. David Rosen, the lead author for the eating disorders report in Pediatrics. "For the youngest patients, we see roughly equal number of boys and girls."
Anorexia patients can be as young as 7 or 8 years old.
"If you go back 20 years, a 10-year-old with an eating disorder would've been considered unheard of," Rosen said. "I see 10-year-olds with eating disorders all the time now."
95 pounds

Eric Ostendorf at the age of 10, before the eating disorder began. He said he was teased for being "roly-poly."

Eric always had a competitive streak. As early as preschool, he compared himself with his friends. Who was faster? Who was better in soccer or basketball? At age 10, he wasn't athletic.
"I was a little chunky," Eric said. "I had baby fat and hadn't hit puberty."
Kids teased him.
Dr. Ted Weltzin, medical director of eating disorders services at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, has heard this from his young male patients.
"They've been teased, because they're seen as overweight or chubby," he said. "Those are kids that you'll see in the 9, 10, 11-year-old range, because that's when teasing occurs. They may not be as focused on a six-pack ab. They're clearly focused on not being the objects of ridicule."
There is also scientific evidence of growing dissatisfaction with body image in preschool children.
Researchers also say it's possible that some children are more genetically likely to develop disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. The disorder could also be tied to anxiety issues.
Eric's habits started innocuously a few months before his 11th birthday after casual glances at his dad's Muscle and Fitness magazine.
One day, he went to the basement where his dad kept the weight lifting equipment and did 200 sit-ups.
"I was really proud of myself," Eric said. "I decided, I'm going to do this every day. It started gradually."
Such moments are often the genesis of an eating order, Weltzin said. A certain subgroup of boys will take it to an extreme.
Boys who develop anorexia stop eating carbohydrates to build muscle mass. Dieting has become more socially acceptable for males since the Atkins diet, Weltzin said.
Eric cut out carbohydrates and ate only lean protein such as chicken breasts and egg whites. And he worried about the dangers of obesity.
Teenagers with eating disorders usually say they want to change their weight or appearance, but children have entirely different reasons.
"Younger kids are more likely to talk about health," said Rosen, professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan. "They say, 'I want to eat healthier. I don't want to eat junk food.' "
As childhood obesity rates have soared, so have eating disorders. Rosen said young kids could be misinterpreting the obesity prevention message.
"I think kids are very inclined to see things through that black-and-white lens," he said.
79 pounds

At 15, Eric weighed about 94 pounds. This photo was taken before he went to a hospital for heart problems.

When Eric's parents noticed his fixation on exercise and diet, they initially thought it was part of his obsessive-compulsive disorder. He had always been particular with his food, said his mother, Becky Ostendorf.
"He was very compulsive with exercise and of course losing weight," she said.
Eating disorders give kids a sense of control that's related to their anxiety, Weltzin said.
"There are rigid perfection obsessive-compulsive characteristics," he said. "They get locked into a behavior in a compulsive way."
Eating disorders have devastating effects on young, developing brains.
"It changes the way people think," Rosen said. "Whatever anxiety was there previously gets amplified a million percent. It's a vicious cycle, and kids spiral out of control."
Eric's workouts grew longer. At the peak of his eating disorder, Eric ran about seven or eight miles, lifted weights for an hour, played soccer for two hours and also worked on his abs every day. Merely minutes after a workout, he felt he had to do another one.
"My body was a machine," he said. "It was just exercising, not even take a break. I never felt tired because I never let my mind register that I was tired."
And it was killing him. His weight plummeted to 79 pounds.
When he was 15, he was hospitalized with a dangerously low heart rate, and Eric still couldn't stop exercising.
A family friend saw a solicitation for males with an eating disorder on "Dr. Phil" and suggested he appear on the show. He did, and afterward, Eric was connected with Rogers Memorial Hospital's eating disorders program.
He agreed to go to a residential treatment program, saying, "I'm not living life. I'm going through each day, working out. And it's hell."
145 pounds

Eric now maintains a healthy weight. He hopes to go to medical school and help treat teens with eating disorders.

After four months at the clinic in 2009, Eric said, he finally broke free from the anorexia.
"I was two weeks away from a heart attack at 15," he said.
It helped being in an environment surrounded by other male eating disorder patients. When he had an urge to exercise, he found a friend to distract him by merely talking or playing cards. He always had someone there who understood.
"This was my last chance to get help with this," he said. "At this point, I realized how much it affected my parents, myself, and I thought my parents can't afford this treatment if I screw around with this."
Although he worried about becoming obese if he didn't exercise, he said: "I just learned to stop and think. 'Right now, what can I do? We'll do that right now. That's all I have control over.' "
Now 17, he worries more about college than calories. He hopes to go to medical school so he can one day treat children who have eating disorders.
And he eats like a typical teenager -- stopping by Wendy's for an occasional burger combo meal after wrestling practice.
"I love food," the Kentucky teenager said. "I eat pretty much anything and everything."

For help, contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and the National Eating Disorders Association.

courtesey CNN

Chinese train sets speed record

A Chinese high-speed train broke a world record Friday for fastest unmodified commercial train, reaching speeds of up to 481.1 kph (298.9 mph), state media reported.
According to China's official Xinhua news agency, the new-generation CRH380 moved as fast as a low-cruising jet-plane during a trial run on what will become the country's rail line between Beijing and Shanghai.

The previous world record was set by China in September, when a train on a Shanghai-Hangzhou high-speed line hit a speed of 416.6 kilometers per hour, Xinhua said.

Coutesey CNN