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LONDON, England (CNN) -- They first met in the autumn of 1979; she playing the role of the lovelorn terrorist, he dressed as a rather sloppy Ayatollah Khomeini.

Pamela Stephenson first met Billy Connolly on the set of a comedy show in 1979. They married in Fiji in 1990.

It may not have been love at first sight on the set of British comedy show "Not the Nine O'Clock News," but love, marriage and children eventually followed.

Australian comedienne, now psychotherapist, Pamela Stephenson, describes being captivated by Billy Connolly's wildman looks, his mane of grey hair and devil-may-care demeanor.

She tells CNN's Revealed about her first impressions of her husband, his unique ability to keep audiences entertained and what she learnt about his addictions and childhood abuse while writing his best-selling biography, "Billy."

CNN: Take us back to the beginning. How did you meet Billy Connolly?

Pamela Stephenson: I'm not quite sure what Billy's version of how we met is like because he was very drunk. I met him when I was a performer on "Not The Nine O'Clock News" and he was a guest. He was just shaggy and some kind of terrible beastie. But I was attracted to him immediately, maybe because he was so unusual. I think what I picked up on was his dichotomy -- that beastiness and the underlying sensitivity that he has. I think that's something that audiences relate to, you're aware of all the toughness, but underneath you just know that there's philosophy and this poetic, Celtic nature that speaks to people. Also his pain, his underlying sadness and the pain of his childhood ... when I first met him I think I connected with that.

He played the Ayatollah Khomeini in a scene on "Not The Nine O'Clock News" and I played a demented fan singing a love song to him, it was in days when you could do stuff like that, I suppose.

And then we did an interview, I pretending to be British TV personality Janet Street-Porter, with giant fake teeth which kept falling out. Of course, he could never keep a straight face; I thought he was dreadfully unprofessional because he just kept laughing, especially when my teeth fell out -- my fake teeth --  fell out.

CNN: What's it like being married to him?

PS: People always think that being married to Billy means that I get non-stop Billy Connolly concerts. It's not nearly as exciting as that, although he's adorable. But it's boring sometimes and he would say the same. There are moments when I wish he would go and make me a cup of tea, which he does very often. Actually, Billy is quite a quiet person. He's a little reclusive and I don't think it's necessarily his personality. With the highs he experiences on stage he needs to be very quiet when he's not.  Billy Connolly takes CNN's Revealed on a tour of his home Â»

CNN: What made you write a biography of his life? Was it the first time he opened up about his childhood?

PS: When I wrote "Billy," it was the first time that Billy really looked at his childhood in a chronological order and with depth. It was a painful process, but cathartic. The book gave me the opportunity to understand a lot more about him. Just putting some of this together, the sexual abuse, for example, that he received from his father, the physical abuse he received from his aunts, helped me understand why there's a part of him that's very closed off.  Watch Billy recall his troubled childhood Â»

His learning disability was never understood. Now we'd call it an attention disorder. In those days, he had difficulty concentrating, for which he was beaten and taunted at school. People told him he was stupid and to this day there's a part of him that thinks that's he's not as clever as other people and yet he is absolutely brilliant. He's incredibly well-read and very erudite.

CNN: Can you tell us about Billy's problems with alcohol and drugs and how you helped him?

PS: Billy was extremely famous in Scotland, and you know what happens, especially with people who don't think they are very worthy. As with Billy, they don't handle fame because they don't feel they deserve it and they'll turn to alcohol and drugs.

It became very serious and by the time I met him he was on a very self-destructive path. At first, that was appealing to me, but later I realized I can't be with somebody like that because I don't want to watch him destroy himself. I didn't tell him, "You've gotta clean up your act," I just said I can't deal with this. I discovered you can't make anyone stop drinking or stop taking drugs, you have to just protect yourself and if they want to jump on the good train, they will. Fortunately it worked.

CNN: How would you describe Billy's style of comedy?

PS: Billy doesn't have a style, because to have a style it would mean that there have to be other people with a similar way of working. He goes on stage and it's like he's got these comedy angels whispering in his ear. He makes this extraordinary connection with the audience, and of course he's very astute and funny about politics. He sees the funny side of all kinds of things -- human nature, human behavior, world events, politicians. He'll talk about that with such passion. It's what many of us think but don't want to say. Billy will see something on television or notice something on the street or he'll just think something and it'll go into his computer of a brain and it'll stumble out when he's on stage.  See Billy Connolly perform on a recent tour of Ireland Â»

CNN: Is he the same person on and off stage?

PS: He's honest and real. He's a man of the people, a working class hero. It's a clichÃ©, but people know that he has struggled; they know he's come from the tough part of Glasgow. Billy just loves an audience, he loves speaking to people if they're nice to him, and they usually are. When he's finished his show, he doesn't go home. He stays in his dressing room and people will come and see him and he'll talk to them for another hour.

CNN: He says he's getting more and more nervous when he goes on stage -- have you noticed a change?

PS: I don't think he's getting more nervous. At his age, maybe he thinks that it should have become easier -- well, it's not going to become easier. It's incredibly tough to go on stage in front of four or five thousand people and sustain [their interest] by yourself. And one thing that really impresses me, again as a psychologist, is that I think he is really healing. I think that people really have the opportunity to just laugh like that and it's so good for you. I feel fantastic when I go to one of his shows and come out and I'm just sick with laughter.

CNN: How does he feel when he comes off stage? He says it can be tough and envies the audience. They can go home and forget about it.

PS: Most performers struggle with the letdown after a show, and Billy's no exception. It's tough because it takes time for adrenalin to leave the system. That's actually one reason why a lot of comedians turn to alcohol, because it's a depressant and takes you down.

Now that Billy doesn't drink he's found another way -- he goes back to his hotel and stays quiet. Sometimes he likes to eat after the show but not very often. He will just want to veg out, watch TV. Playing his banjo is a great way for him to relax.  Watch a rare performance of Billy on banjo Â»

He doesn't like me being around when he's touring because he just likes to do his thing. I want to have some food or go and do something. He becomes a bit of a hermit, and that's appropriate for someone who expends that amount of energy and brainpower on stage.

CNN: Billy says he finds the routine of touring increasingly tough -- do you think he will stop soon?

PS: When Billy's touring, he'll say, "Oh I don't want to tour anymore, I've had enough it's too hard on the road." But the truth is, when he's not touring, he wants to go back. It's probably his happiest time. I have been a comedian so I know a little bit about what it's like to be on stage and know that when things are working fantastically, and you're getting that appreciation from the audience. It is an incredible high.

It's pretty hard for me as a wife or us as a family or any of his fans or friends to match up to that kind of adulation and so, you know, he deserves it and I have to remind him that it is a lot of fun for him.

CNN: How would you describe his dress sense?

PS: Billy is a fashion maven. He spends most of his time in New York now so, you know, the New York "Black is the new black" is ... that's got to him a bit. He's influenced by Rock 'n' Roll and Vivienne Westwood and edgy stuff. But he just puts it together in his own unique way. He also takes great pride in his body.

His closet is still extremely fun. It's far more colorful than mine. I have grey and black suits and things for work -- he loves colorful shirts.

It will be a shame if he tones himself down, but I don't think that will happen. He borrows my clothes sometimes, if he sees something particularly mad. We used to say, "First up, best dressed," which is the Glasgow expression for a particularly fun brooch or hat.

text: LONDON

text: England

text: CNN

text: They

text: first

text: met

text: in

text: the

text: autumn

text: of

text: she

text: playing

text: the

text: role

text: of

text: the

text: lovelorn

text: terrorist

text: he

text: dressed

text: as

text: a

text: rather

text: sloppy

text: Ayatollah

text: Khomeini

text: Pamela

text: Stephenson

text: first

text: met

text: Billy

text: Connolly

text: on

text: the

text: set

text: of

text: a

text: comedy

text: show

text: in

text: They

text: married

text: in

text: Fiji

text: in

text: It

text: may

text: not

text: have

text: been

text: love

text: at

text: first

text: sight

text: on

text: the

text: set

text: of

text: British

text: comedy

text: show

text: Not

text: the

text: Nine

text: O'Clock

text: News

text: but

text: love

text: marriage

text: and

text: children

text: eventually

text: followed

text: Australian

text: comedienne

text: now

text: psychotherapist

text: Pamela

text: Stephenson

text: describes

text: being

text: captivated

text: by

text: Billy

text: Connolly

text: 's

text: wildman

text: looks

text: his

text: mane

text: of

text: grey

text: hair

text: and

text: devil

text: may

text: care

text: demeanor

text: She

text: tells

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Revealed

text: about

text: her

text: first

text: impressions

text: of

text: her

text: husband

text: his

text: unique

text: ability

text: to

text: keep

text: audiences

text: entertained

text: and

text: what

text: she

text: learnt

text: about

text: his

text: addictions

text: and

text: childhood

text: abuse

text: while

text: writing

text: his

text: best

text: selling

text: biography

text: Billy

text: CNN

text: Take

text: us

text: back

text: to

text: the

text: beginning

text: How

text: did

text: you

text: meet

text: Billy

text: Connolly

text: Pamela

text: Stephenson

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: quite

text: sure

text: what

text: Billy

text: 's

text: version

text: of

text: how

text: we

text: met

text: is

text: like

text: because

text: he

text: was

text: very

text: drunk

text: I

text: met

text: him

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: a

text: performer

text: on

text: Not

text: The

text: Nine

text: O'Clock

text: News

text: and

text: he

text: was

text: a

text: guest

text: He

text: was

text: just

text: shaggy

text: and

text: some

text: kind

text: of

text: terrible

text: beastie

text: But

text: I

text: was

text: attracted

text: to

text: him

text: immediately

text: maybe

text: because

text: he

text: was

text: so

text: unusual

text: I

text: think

text: what

text: I

text: picked

text: up

text: on

text: was

text: his

text: dichotomy

text: that

text: beastiness

text: and

text: the

text: underlying

text: sensitivity

text: that

text: he

text: has

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: 's

text: something

text: that

text: audiences

text: relate

text: to

text: you

text: 're

text: aware

text: of

text: all

text: the

text: toughness

text: but

text: underneath

text: you

text: just

text: know

text: that

text: there

text: 's

text: philosophy

text: and

text: this

text: poetic

text: Celtic

text: nature

text: that

text: speaks

text: to

text: people

text: Also

text: his

text: pain

text: his

text: underlying

text: sadness

text: and

text: the

text: pain

text: of

text: his

text: childhood

text: when

text: I

text: first

text: met

text: him

text: I

text: think

text: I

text: connected

text: with

text: that

text: He

text: played

text: the

text: Ayatollah

text: Khomeini

text: in

text: a

text: scene

text: on

text: Not

text: The

text: Nine

text: O'Clock

text: News

text: and

text: I

text: played

text: a

text: demented

text: fan

text: singing

text: a

text: love

text: song

text: to

text: him

text: it

text: was

text: in

text: days

text: when

text: you

text: could

text: do

text: stuff

text: like

text: that

text: I

text: suppose

text: And

text: then

text: we

text: did

text: an

text: interview

text: I

text: pretending

text: to

text: be

text: British

text: TV

text: personality

text: Janet

text: Street

text: Porter

text: with

text: giant

text: fake

text: teeth

text: which

text: kept

text: falling

text: out

text: Of

text: course

text: he

text: could

text: never

text: keep

text: a

text: straight

text: face

text: I

text: thought

text: he

text: was

text: dreadfully

text: unprofessional

text: because

text: he

text: just

text: kept

text: laughing

text: especially

text: when

text: my

text: teeth

text: fell

text: out

text: my

text: fake

text: teeth

text: fell

text: out

text: CNN

text: What

text: 's

text: it

text: like

text: being

text: married

text: to

text: him

text: PS

text: People

text: always

text: think

text: that

text: being

text: married

text: to

text: Billy

text: means

text: that

text: I

text: get

text: non

text: stop

text: Billy

text: Connolly

text: concerts

text: It

text: 's

text: not

text: nearly

text: as

text: exciting

text: as

text: that

text: although

text: he

text: 's

text: adorable

text: But

text: it

text: 's

text: boring

text: sometimes

text: and

text: he

text: would

text: say

text: the

text: same

text: There

text: are

text: moments

text: when

text: I

text: wish

text: he

text: would

text: go

text: and

text: make

text: me

text: a

text: cup

text: of

text: tea

text: which

text: he

text: does

text: very

text: often

text: Actually

text: Billy

text: is

text: quite

text: a

text: quiet

text: person

text: He

text: 's

text: a

text: little

text: reclusive

text: and

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: it

text: 's

text: necessarily

text: his

text: personality

text: With

text: the

text: highs

text: he

text: experiences

text: on

text: stage

text: he

text: needs

text: to

text: be

text: very

text: quiet

text: when

text: he

text: 's

text: not

text: Billy

text: Connolly

text: takes

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Revealed

text: on

text: a

text: tour

text: of

text: his

text: home

text: Â

text: CNN

text: What

text: made

text: you

text: write

text: a

text: biography

text: of

text: his

text: life

text: Was

text: it

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: he

text: opened

text: up

text: about

text: his

text: childhood

text: PS

text: When

text: I

text: wrote

text: Billy

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: that

text: Billy

text: really

text: looked

text: at

text: his

text: childhood

text: in

text: a

text: chronological

text: order

text: and

text: with

text: depth

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: painful

text: process

text: but

text: cathartic

text: The

text: book

text: gave

text: me

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: understand

text: a

text: lot

text: more

text: about

text: him

text: Just

text: putting

text: some

text: of

text: this

text: together

text: the

text: sexual

text: abuse

text: for

text: example

text: that

text: he

text: received

text: from

text: his

text: father

text: the

text: physical

text: abuse

text: he

text: received

text: from

text: his

text: aunts

text: helped

text: me

text: understand

text: why

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: part

text: of

text: him

text: that

text: 's

text: very

text: closed

text: off

text: Watch

text: Billy

text: recall

text: his

text: troubled

text: childhood

text: Â

text: His

text: learning

text: disability

text: was

text: never

text: understood

text: Now

text: we

text: 'd

text: call

text: it

text: an

text: attention

text: disorder

text: In

text: those

text: days

text: he

text: had

text: difficulty

text: concentrating

text: for

text: which

text: he

text: was

text: beaten

text: and

text: taunted

text: at

text: school

text: People

text: told

text: him

text: he

text: was

text: stupid

text: and

text: to

text: this

text: day

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: part

text: of

text: him

text: that

text: thinks

text: that

text: 's

text: he

text: 's

text: not

text: as

text: clever

text: as

text: other

text: people

text: and

text: yet

text: he

text: is

text: absolutely

text: brilliant

text: He

text: 's

text: incredibly

text: well

text: read

text: and

text: very

text: erudite

text: CNN

text: Can

text: you

text: tell

text: us

text: about

text: Billy

text: 's

text: problems

text: with

text: alcohol

text: and

text: drugs

text: and

text: how

text: you

text: helped

text: him

text: PS

text: Billy

text: was

text: extremely

text: famous

text: in

text: Scotland

text: and

text: you

text: know

text: what

text: happens

text: especially

text: with

text: people

text: who

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: they

text: are

text: very

text: worthy

text: As

text: with

text: Billy

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: handle

text: fame

text: because

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: feel

text: they

text: deserve

text: it

text: and

text: they

text: 'll

text: turn

text: to

text: alcohol

text: and

text: drugs

text: It

text: became

text: very

text: serious

text: and

text: by

text: the

text: time

text: I

text: met

text: him

text: he

text: was

text: on

text: a

text: very

text: self

text: destructive

text: path

text: At

text: first

text: that

text: was

text: appealing

text: to

text: me

text: but

text: later

text: I

text: realized

text: I

text: ca

text: n't

text: be

text: with

text: somebody

text: like

text: that

text: because

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: watch

text: him

text: destroy

text: himself

text: I

text: did

text: n't

text: tell

text: him

text: You

text: 've

text: got

text: ta

text: clean

text: up

text: your

text: act

text: I

text: just

text: said

text: I

text: ca

text: n't

text: deal

text: with

text: this

text: I

text: discovered

text: you

text: ca

text: n't

text: make

text: anyone

text: stop

text: drinking

text: or

text: stop

text: taking

text: drugs

text: you

text: have

text: to

text: just

text: protect

text: yourself

text: and

text: if

text: they

text: want

text: to

text: jump

text: on

text: the

text: good

text: train

text: they

text: will

text: Fortunately

text: it

text: worked

text: CNN

text: How

text: would

text: you

text: describe

text: Billy

text: 's

text: style

text: of

text: comedy

text: PS

text: Billy

text: does

text: n't

text: have

text: a

text: style

text: because

text: to

text: have

text: a

text: style

text: it

text: would

text: mean

text: that

text: there

text: have

text: to

text: be

text: other

text: people

text: with

text: a

text: similar

text: way

text: of

text: working

text: He

text: goes

text: on

text: stage

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: like

text: he

text: 's

text: got

text: these

text: comedy

text: angels

text: whispering

text: in

text: his

text: ear

text: He

text: makes

text: this

text: extraordinary

text: connection

text: with

text: the

text: audience

text: and

text: of

text: course

text: he

text: 's

text: very

text: astute

text: and

text: funny

text: about

text: politics

text: He

text: sees

text: the

text: funny

text: side

text: of

text: all

text: kinds

text: of

text: things

text: human

text: nature

text: human

text: behavior

text: world

text: events

text: politicians

text: He

text: 'll

text: talk

text: about

text: that

text: with

text: such

text: passion

text: It

text: 's

text: what

text: many

text: of

text: us

text: think

text: but

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: say

text: Billy

text: will

text: see

text: something

text: on

text: television

text: or

text: notice

text: something

text: on

text: the

text: street

text: or

text: he

text: 'll

text: just

text: think

text: something

text: and

text: it

text: 'll

text: go

text: into

text: his

text: computer

text: of

text: a

text: brain

text: and

text: it

text: 'll

text: stumble

text: out

text: when

text: he

text: 's

text: on

text: stage

text: See

text: Billy

text: Connolly

text: perform

text: on

text: a

text: recent

text: tour

text: of

text: Ireland

text: Â

text: CNN

text: Is

text: he

text: the

text: same

text: person

text: on

text: and

text: off

text: stage

text: PS

text: He

text: 's

text: honest

text: and

text: real

text: He

text: 's

text: a

text: man

text: of

text: the

text: people

text: a

text: working

text: class

text: hero

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: clichÃ

text: but

text: people

text: know

text: that

text: he

text: has

text: struggled

text: they

text: know

text: he

text: 's

text: come

text: from

text: the

text: tough

text: part

text: of

text: Glasgow

text: Billy

text: just

text: loves

text: an

text: audience

text: he

text: loves

text: speaking

text: to

text: people

text: if

text: they

text: 're

text: nice

text: to

text: him

text: and

text: they

text: usually

text: are

text: When

text: he

text: 's

text: finished

text: his

text: show

text: he

text: does

text: n't

text: go

text: home

text: He

text: stays

text: in

text: his

text: dressing

text: room

text: and

text: people

text: will

text: come

text: and

text: see

text: him

text: and

text: he

text: 'll

text: talk

text: to

text: them

text: for

text: another

text: hour

text: CNN

text: He

text: says

text: he

text: 's

text: getting

text: more

text: and

text: more

text: nervous

text: when

text: he

text: goes

text: on

text: stage

text: have

text: you

text: noticed

text: a

text: change

text: PS

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: he

text: 's

text: getting

text: more

text: nervous

text: At

text: his

text: age

text: maybe

text: he

text: thinks

text: that

text: it

text: should

text: have

text: become

text: easier

text: well

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: become

text: easier

text: It

text: 's

text: incredibly

text: tough

text: to

text: go

text: on

text: stage

text: in

text: front

text: of

text: four

text: or

text: five

text: thousand

text: people

text: and

text: sustain

text: their

text: interest

text: by

text: yourself

text: And

text: one

text: thing

text: that

text: really

text: impresses

text: me

text: again

text: as

text: a

text: psychologist

text: is

text: that

text: I

text: think

text: he

text: is

text: really

text: healing

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: people

text: really

text: have

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: just

text: laugh

text: like

text: that

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: so

text: good

text: for

text: you

text: I

text: feel

text: fantastic

text: when

text: I

text: go

text: to

text: one

text: of

text: his

text: shows

text: and

text: come

text: out

text: and

text: I

text: 'm

text: just

text: sick

text: with

text: laughter

text: CNN

text: How

text: does

text: he

text: feel

text: when

text: he

text: comes

text: off

text: stage

text: He

text: says

text: it

text: can

text: be

text: tough

text: and

text: envies

text: the

text: audience

text: They

text: can

text: go

text: home

text: and

text: forget

text: about

text: it

text: PS

text: Most

text: performers

text: struggle

text: with

text: the

text: letdown

text: after

text: a

text: show

text: and

text: Billy

text: 's

text: no

text: exception

text: It

text: 's

text: tough

text: because

text: it

text: takes

text: time

text: for

text: adrenalin

text: to

text: leave

text: the

text: system

text: That

text: 's

text: actually

text: one

text: reason

text: why

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: comedians

text: turn

text: to

text: alcohol

text: because

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: depressant

text: and

text: takes

text: you

text: down

text: Now

text: that

text: Billy

text: does

text: n't

text: drink

text: he

text: 's

text: found

text: another

text: way

text: he

text: goes

text: back

text: to

text: his

text: hotel

text: and

text: stays

text: quiet

text: Sometimes

text: he

text: likes

text: to

text: eat

text: after

text: the

text: show

text: but

text: not

text: very

text: often

text: He

text: will

text: just

text: want

text: to

text: veg

text: out

text: watch

text: TV

text: Playing

text: his

text: banjo

text: is

text: a

text: great

text: way

text: for

text: him

text: to

text: relax

text: Watch

text: a

text: rare

text: performance

text: of

text: Billy

text: on

text: banjo

text: Â

text: He

text: does

text: n't

text: like

text: me

text: being

text: around

text: when

text: he

text: 's

text: touring

text: because

text: he

text: just

text: likes

text: to

text: do

text: his

text: thing

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: have

text: some

text: food

text: or

text: go

text: and

text: do

text: something

text: He

text: becomes

text: a

text: bit

text: of

text: a

text: hermit

text: and

text: that

text: 's

text: appropriate

text: for

text: someone

text: who

text: expends

text: that

text: amount

text: of

text: energy

text: and

text: brainpower

text: on

text: stage

text: CNN

text: Billy

text: says

text: he

text: finds

text: the

text: routine

text: of

text: touring

text: increasingly

text: tough

text: do

text: you

text: think

text: he

text: will

text: stop

text: soon

text: PS

text: When

text: Billy

text: 's

text: touring

text: he

text: 'll

text: say

text: Oh

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: tour

text: anymore

text: I

text: 've

text: had

text: enough

text: it

text: 's

text: too

text: hard

text: on

text: the

text: road

text: But

text: the

text: truth

text: is

text: when

text: he

text: 's

text: not

text: touring

text: he

text: wants

text: to

text: go

text: back

text: It

text: 's

text: probably

text: his

text: happiest

text: time

text: I

text: have

text: been

text: a

text: comedian

text: so

text: I

text: know

text: a

text: little

text: bit

text: about

text: what

text: it

text: 's

text: like

text: to

text: be

text: on

text: stage

text: and

text: know

text: that

text: when

text: things

text: are

text: working

text: fantastically

text: and

text: you

text: 're

text: getting

text: that

text: appreciation

text: from

text: the

text: audience

text: It

text: is

text: an

text: incredible

text: high

text: It

text: 's

text: pretty

text: hard

text: for

text: me

text: as

text: a

text: wife

text: or

text: us

text: as

text: a

text: family

text: or

text: any

text: of

text: his

text: fans

text: or

text: friends

text: to

text: match

text: up

text: to

text: that

text: kind

text: of

text: adulation

text: and

text: so

text: you

text: know

text: he

text: deserves

text: it

text: and

text: I

text: have

text: to

text: remind

text: him

text: that

text: it

text: is

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: fun

text: for

text: him

text: CNN

text: How

text: would

text: you

text: describe

text: his

text: dress

text: sense

text: PS

text: Billy

text: is

text: a

text: fashion

text: maven

text: He

text: spends

text: most

text: of

text: his

text: time

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: now

text: so

text: you

text: know

text: the

text: New

text: York

text: Black

text: is

text: the

text: new

text: black

text: is

text: that

text: 's

text: got

text: to

text: him

text: a

text: bit

text: He

text: 's

text: influenced

text: by

text: Rock

text: n

text: Roll

text: and

text: Vivienne

text: Westwood

text: and

text: edgy

text: stuff

text: But

text: he

text: just

text: puts

text: it

text: together

text: in

text: his

text: own

text: unique

text: way

text: He

text: also

text: takes

text: great

text: pride

text: in

text: his

text: body

text: His

text: closet

text: is

text: still

text: extremely

text: fun

text: It

text: 's

text: far

text: more

text: colorful

text: than

text: mine

text: I

text: have

text: grey

text: and

text: black

text: suits

text: and

text: things

text: for

text: work

text: he

text: loves

text: colorful

text: shirts

text: It

text: will

text: be

text: a

text: shame

text: if

text: he

text: tones

text: himself

text: down

text: but

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: that

text: will

text: happen

text: He

text: borrows

text: my

text: clothes

text: sometimes

text: if

text: he

text: sees

text: something

text: particularly

text: mad

text: We

text: used

text: to

text: say

text: First

text: up

text: best

text: dressed

text: which

text: is

text: the

text: Glasgow

text: expression

text: for

text: a

text: particularly

text: fun

text: brooch

text: or

text: hat

question: Who is Pamela Stephenson married to?

answer: Billy Connolly

text: Billy Connolly

question: What is the name of his biography?

answer: "Billy."

text: "Billy."

question: What does Stephenson suggest is whispering in Connelly's ear?

answer: e comedy angel

text: e comedy angel

question: Where did the two people meet?

answer: on the set of a comedy show

text: on the set of a comedy show

question: Who is Stephenson married to?

answer: Billy Connolly

text: Billy Connolly

question: What was the name of the biography she wrote?

answer: "Billy."

text: "Billy."

question: Who talked about marriage to Cilly Connelly?

answer: Pamela Stephenson

text: Pamela Stephenson

question: Who married comic Billy Connelly?

answer: Pamela Stephenson

text: Pamela Stephenson

question: Where did they meet?

answer: on the set of a comedy show in 1979.

text: on the set of a comedy show in 1979.

question: What did she write?

answer: best-selling biography, "Billy."

text: best-selling biography, "Billy."

question: What did she say writing the biography helped her do?

answer: understand why there's a part of him that's very closed off.

text: understand why there's a part of him that's very closed off.

question: Where did Stephenson and Connelly meet?

answer: the set of a comedy show in 1979.

text: the set of a comedy show in 1979.


text:
(CNN)  -- Hundreds of U.S. and Afghan soldiers have embarked on a major operation against militants in the eastern Afghan region of Tora Bora, near the border with Pakistan, officials have told CNN.

File photo of the remote mountain Tora Bora region on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Air and ground strikes under way in the remote mountain region are aimed at large numbers of militant fighters.

The troops are targeting "hundreds of hardened al Qaeda and Taliban in dug-in positions," said officials familiar with the intelligence.

The operation started two days ago in the region, where al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was once thought to be hiding.

The Bush administration has been criticized for not sending enough ground forces to Tora Bora in December 2001 to capture the militant after the invasion that toppled the Taliban.

"U.S. and Afghan forces engaged al Qaeda and other violent extremist fighters in eastern Afghanistan during a combined arms assault using precision munitions. There have been no substantiated reports of civilian casualties in this engagement," said Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, a U.S. Army spokeswoman.

"The targets were carefully chosen to pinpoint enemy positions and eliminate the likelihood of harming innocent civilians," she said.

"This region has provided an ideal environment to conceal enemy support bases and training sites, as well as plan and launch attacks aimed at terrorizing innocent civilians, both inside and outside the region."

Also Wednesday, a manager at a private British security firm in Afghanistan was shot and killed in the capital Kabul, a spokesman for the company said.

"We did lose a manager today in Kabul to unknown assailants," Christopher Beese, spokesman for ArmorGroup International, said Wednesday.

He said next of kin have been notified and an inquiry into the incident has begun. The name of the man, a British national, was not released.

"It's bad news. He was a very well-respected man," Beese said, noting that the victim had experience in Afghanistan going back to the early 1980s.

Beese -- who said the man's role was to run the administration of the 1,200-person-strong security presence in the country -- described the man as a "logistics manager" and "all things to all people."

The firm, which has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002, mostly provides diplomatic protection and has contracts with the British and American governments.

The man recruited and trained Afghan guards and was the most senior administrator at the company's Kabul base, Camp Anjuman, the company said. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Hundreds

text: of

text: U.S.

text: and

text: Afghan

text: soldiers

text: have

text: embarked

text: on

text: a

text: major

text: operation

text: against

text: militants

text: in

text: the

text: eastern

text: Afghan

text: region

text: of

text: Tora

text: Bora

text: near

text: the

text: border

text: with

text: Pakistan

text: officials

text: have

text: told

text: CNN

text: File

text: photo

text: of

text: the

text: remote

text: mountain

text: Tora

text: Bora

text: region

text: on

text: the

text: border

text: of

text: Afghanistan

text: and

text: Pakistan

text: Air

text: and

text: ground

text: strikes

text: under

text: way

text: in

text: the

text: remote

text: mountain

text: region

text: are

text: aimed

text: at

text: large

text: numbers

text: of

text: militant

text: fighters

text: The

text: troops

text: are

text: targeting

text: hundreds

text: of

text: hardened

text: al

text: Qaeda

text: and

text: Taliban

text: in

text: dug

text: in

text: positions

text: said

text: officials

text: familiar

text: with

text: the

text: intelligence

text: The

text: operation

text: started

text: two

text: days

text: ago

text: in

text: the

text: region

text: where

text: al

text: Qaeda

text: leader

text: Osama

text: bin

text: Laden

text: was

text: once

text: thought

text: to

text: be

text: hiding

text: The

text: Bush

text: administration

text: has

text: been

text: criticized

text: for

text: not

text: sending

text: enough

text: ground

text: forces

text: to

text: Tora

text: Bora

text: in

text: December

text: to

text: capture

text: the

text: militant

text: after

text: the

text: invasion

text: that

text: toppled

text: the

text: Taliban

text: U.S.

text: and

text: Afghan

text: forces

text: engaged

text: al

text: Qaeda

text: and

text: other

text: violent

text: extremist

text: fighters

text: in

text: eastern

text: Afghanistan

text: during

text: a

text: combined

text: arms

text: assault

text: using

text: precision

text: munitions

text: There

text: have

text: been

text: no

text: substantiated

text: reports

text: of

text: civilian

text: casualties

text: in

text: this

text: engagement

text: said

text: Capt

text: Vanessa

text: R.

text: Bowman

text: a

text: U.S.

text: Army

text: spokeswoman

text: The

text: targets

text: were

text: carefully

text: chosen

text: to

text: pinpoint

text: enemy

text: positions

text: and

text: eliminate

text: the

text: likelihood

text: of

text: harming

text: innocent

text: civilians

text: she

text: said

text: This

text: region

text: has

text: provided

text: an

text: ideal

text: environment

text: to

text: conceal

text: enemy

text: support

text: bases

text: and

text: training

text: sites

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: plan

text: and

text: launch

text: attacks

text: aimed

text: at

text: terrorizing

text: innocent

text: civilians

text: both

text: inside

text: and

text: outside

text: the

text: region

text: Also

text: Wednesday

text: a

text: manager

text: at

text: a

text: private

text: British

text: security

text: firm

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: was

text: shot

text: and

text: killed

text: in

text: the

text: capital

text: Kabul

text: a

text: spokesman

text: for

text: the

text: company

text: said

text: We

text: did

text: lose

text: a

text: manager

text: today

text: in

text: Kabul

text: to

text: unknown

text: assailants

text: Christopher

text: Beese

text: spokesman

text: for

text: ArmorGroup

text: International

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: He

text: said

text: next

text: of

text: kin

text: have

text: been

text: notified

text: and

text: an

text: inquiry

text: into

text: the

text: incident

text: has

text: begun

text: The

text: name

text: of

text: the

text: man

text: a

text: British

text: national

text: was

text: not

text: released

text: It

text: 's

text: bad

text: news

text: He

text: was

text: a

text: very

text: well

text: respected

text: man

text: Beese

text: said

text: noting

text: that

text: the

text: victim

text: had

text: experience

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: going

text: back

text: to

text: the

text: early

text: Beese

text: who

text: said

text: the

text: man

text: 's

text: role

text: was

text: to

text: run

text: the

text: administration

text: of

text: the

text: strong

text: security

text: presence

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: described

text: the

text: man

text: as

text: a

text: logistics

text: manager

text: and

text: all

text: things

text: to

text: all

text: people

text: The

text: firm

text: which

text: has

text: been

text: operating

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: since

text: mostly

text: provides

text: diplomatic

text: protection

text: and

text: has

text: contracts

text: with

text: the

text: British

text: and

text: American

text: governments

text: The

text: man

text: recruited

text: and

text: trained

text: Afghan

text: guards

text: and

text: was

text: the

text: most

text: senior

text: administrator

text: at

text: the

text: company

text: 's

text: Kabul

text: base

text: Camp

text: Anjuman

text: the

text: company

text: said

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Joe

text: Sterling

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: The ground strikes are to target who?

answer: militant fighters.

text: militant fighters.

question: Which soldiers embarked on a major operation in Tora Bora?

answer: U.S. and Afghan

text: U.S. and Afghan

question: Where there any civilian casualties?

answer: no

text: no

question: Where does the major operation take place?

answer: eastern Afghan region of Tora Bora,

text: eastern Afghan region of Tora Bora,

question: Who was was once thought to be hiding in remote mountain region?

answer: Osama bin Laden

text: Osama bin Laden

question: Who are they targeting?

answer: "hundreds of hardened al Qaeda and Taliban

text: "hundreds of hardened al Qaeda and Taliban


text:
(CNN) -- English Premier League form side Tottenham are on the brink of going out of the Europa League after Greek outfit PAOK Salonika claimed a shock 2-1 Group A victory at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have been in superb form in recent weeks, winning nine of their last 10 league games to move up to third place in the table.

However, their European form has not been as strong, and this month's 1-0 reverse at Rubin Kazan was followed by another defeat on Wednesday to leave Harry Redknapp's side needing PAOK to win their last game next month in order to help Tottenham achieve qualification through to the last 32.

The visitors went ahead in the sixth minute when an unmarked Dimitris Salpingidis guided the ball home from Giorgos Georgiadis' right-wing cross.

And PAOK doubled their lead seven minutes later when Stefanos Athanasiadis tapped home from close range after more suspect Spurs marking.

The home side pulled one back seven minutes before the break when Luka Modric scored from the penalty spot after Konstantinos Stafylidis was dismissed for handball on the line.

However, despite having a numerical advantage for the whole of the second half, Tottenham failed to find the goal they needed.

The result means PAOK are top on 11 points and have qualified for the last 32 knockout stage. Russian side Rubin Kazan are second on 10 points after thrashing Shamrock Rovers 4-1 in the other group game.

For Spurs to qualify, they will now need to win heavily at Shamrock in their final match, and hope Rubin Kazan are beaten at PAOK in the other tie.

Also through to the last 32 are 2010 winners Atletico Madrid, after the Spanish side won 1-0 at Celtic in Group I thanks to a superb long-range strike from Turkish international Arda Turan on the half-hour mark.

The other match between Rennes of France and Italians Udinese ended 0-0, a result that means Atletico have qualified with 10 points ahead of the final round of matches.

Udinese are second on eight points and they will secure their place in the knockout round if they draw at home to Celtic in their final game, with the Scottish side needing a victory to progress.

Group C is the only group where both qualifiers have now been decided, after PSV Eindhoven won 3-0 at Legia Warsaw.

That result means both sides have gone through, on 13 points and nine points respectively. Romanians Rapid Bucharest needed to beat Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv at home to retain any hope, but they were beaten 3-1.

Another side to reach the knockout stage is Standard Liege, who saw off Germans Hannover 2-0 to make it three wins and two draws from their five Group B matches so far.

The Belgian outfit are on 11 points, three ahead of Hannover, who need a point from their final match against Vorskla Poltava to also secure qualification.

Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkov continued their impressive run of form in the competition, thumping Austria Vienna 4-1 to secure their qualification from Group G with 13 points from their five matches.

Malmo and AZ Alkmaar drew 0-0 in the other match to leave Alkmaar needing to beat Kharkov in their final match to join their opponents in the last 32.

However, there is all to play for in Group H, with any two of three teams still able to qualify. Last year's beaten finalists Sporting Braga beat Birmingham City 1-0, while a remarkable match in Slovenia saw Bruges of Belgium fight back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in injury time against Maribor.

That means Bruges and Braga are level on 10 points and they play each other in the final match. A draw there will see them both qualify with Birmingham, who are three points behind in third place, needing to beat Maribor in their final match and hoping the other game does not end in a draw.

There was a suprise result in the English League Cup quarterfinals, where Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at home by Championship side Crystal Palace in extra time.

That result means Palace now play fellow-second tier side Cardiff City in the semifinals, while Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester City face each other in the second semifinal.

text: CNN

text: English

text: Premier

text: League

text: form

text: side

text: Tottenham

text: are

text: on

text: the

text: brink

text: of

text: going

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: Europa

text: League

text: after

text: Greek

text: outfit

text: PAOK

text: Salonika

text: claimed

text: a

text: shock

text: Group

text: A

text: victory

text: at

text: White

text: Hart

text: Lane

text: Tottenham

text: have

text: been

text: in

text: superb

text: form

text: in

text: recent

text: weeks

text: winning

text: nine

text: of

text: their

text: last

text: league

text: games

text: to

text: move

text: up

text: to

text: third

text: place

text: in

text: the

text: table

text: However

text: their

text: European

text: form

text: has

text: not

text: been

text: as

text: strong

text: and

text: this

text: month

text: 's

text: reverse

text: at

text: Rubin

text: Kazan

text: was

text: followed

text: by

text: another

text: defeat

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: to

text: leave

text: Harry

text: Redknapp

text: 's

text: side

text: needing

text: PAOK

text: to

text: win

text: their

text: last

text: game

text: next

text: month

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: help

text: Tottenham

text: achieve

text: qualification

text: through

text: to

text: the

text: last

text: The

text: visitors

text: went

text: ahead

text: in

text: the

text: sixth

text: minute

text: when

text: an

text: unmarked

text: Dimitris

text: Salpingidis

text: guided

text: the

text: ball

text: home

text: from

text: Giorgos

text: Georgiadis

text: right

text: wing

text: cross

text: And

text: PAOK

text: doubled

text: their

text: lead

text: seven

text: minutes

text: later

text: when

text: Stefanos

text: Athanasiadis

text: tapped

text: home

text: from

text: close

text: range

text: after

text: more

text: suspect

text: Spurs

text: marking

text: The

text: home

text: side

text: pulled

text: one

text: back

text: seven

text: minutes

text: before

text: the

text: break

text: when

text: Luka

text: Modric

text: scored

text: from

text: the

text: penalty

text: spot

text: after

text: Konstantinos

text: Stafylidis

text: was

text: dismissed

text: for

text: handball

text: on

text: the

text: line

text: However

text: despite

text: having

text: a

text: numerical

text: advantage

text: for

text: the

text: whole

text: of

text: the

text: second

text: half

text: Tottenham

text: failed

text: to

text: find

text: the

text: goal

text: they

text: needed

text: The

text: result

text: means

text: PAOK

text: are

text: top

text: on

text: points

text: and

text: have

text: qualified

text: for

text: the

text: last

text: knockout

text: stage

text: Russian

text: side

text: Rubin

text: Kazan

text: are

text: second

text: on

text: points

text: after

text: thrashing

text: Shamrock

text: Rovers

text: in

text: the

text: other

text: group

text: game

text: For

text: Spurs

text: to

text: qualify

text: they

text: will

text: now

text: need

text: to

text: win

text: heavily

text: at

text: Shamrock

text: in

text: their

text: final

text: match

text: and

text: hope

text: Rubin

text: Kazan

text: are

text: beaten

text: at

text: PAOK

text: in

text: the

text: other

text: tie

text: Also

text: through

text: to

text: the

text: last

text: are

text: winners

text: Atletico

text: Madrid

text: after

text: the

text: Spanish

text: side

text: won

text: at

text: Celtic

text: in

text: Group

text: I

text: thanks

text: to

text: a

text: superb

text: long

text: range

text: strike

text: from

text: Turkish

text: international

text: Arda

text: Turan

text: on

text: the

text: half

text: hour

text: mark

text: The

text: other

text: match

text: between

text: Rennes

text: of

text: France

text: and

text: Italians

text: Udinese

text: ended

text: a

text: result

text: that

text: means

text: Atletico

text: have

text: qualified

text: with

text: points

text: ahead

text: of

text: the

text: final

text: round

text: of

text: matches

text: Udinese

text: are

text: second

text: on

text: eight

text: points

text: and

text: they

text: will

text: secure

text: their

text: place

text: in

text: the

text: knockout

text: round

text: if

text: they

text: draw

text: at

text: home

text: to

text: Celtic

text: in

text: their

text: final

text: game

text: with

text: the

text: Scottish

text: side

text: needing

text: a

text: victory

text: to

text: progress

text: Group

text: C

text: is

text: the

text: only

text: group

text: where

text: both

text: qualifiers

text: have

text: now

text: been

text: decided

text: after

text: PSV

text: Eindhoven

text: won

text: at

text: Legia

text: Warsaw

text: That

text: result

text: means

text: both

text: sides

text: have

text: gone

text: through

text: on

text: points

text: and

text: nine

text: points

text: respectively

text: Romanians

text: Rapid

text: Bucharest

text: needed

text: to

text: beat

text: Israeli

text: side

text: Hapoel

text: Tel

text: Aviv

text: at

text: home

text: to

text: retain

text: any

text: hope

text: but

text: they

text: were

text: beaten

text: Another

text: side

text: to

text: reach

text: the

text: knockout

text: stage

text: is

text: Standard

text: Liege

text: who

text: saw

text: off

text: Germans

text: Hannover

text: to

text: make

text: it

text: three

text: wins

text: and

text: two

text: draws

text: from

text: their

text: five

text: Group

text: B

text: matches

text: so

text: far

text: The

text: Belgian

text: outfit

text: are

text: on

text: points

text: three

text: ahead

text: of

text: Hannover

text: who

text: need

text: a

text: point

text: from

text: their

text: final

text: match

text: against

text: Vorskla

text: Poltava

text: to

text: also

text: secure

text: qualification

text: Ukrainian

text: side

text: Metalist

text: Kharkov

text: continued

text: their

text: impressive

text: run

text: of

text: form

text: in

text: the

text: competition

text: thumping

text: Austria

text: Vienna

text: to

text: secure

text: their

text: qualification

text: from

text: Group

text: G

text: with

text: points

text: from

text: their

text: five

text: matches

text: Malmo

text: and

text: AZ

text: Alkmaar

text: drew

text: in

text: the

text: other

text: match

text: to

text: leave

text: Alkmaar

text: needing

text: to

text: beat

text: Kharkov

text: in

text: their

text: final

text: match

text: to

text: join

text: their

text: opponents

text: in

text: the

text: last

text: However

text: there

text: is

text: all

text: to

text: play

text: for

text: in

text: Group

text: H

text: with

text: any

text: two

text: of

text: three

text: teams

text: still

text: able

text: to

text: qualify

text: Last

text: year

text: 's

text: beaten

text: finalists

text: Sporting

text: Braga

text: beat

text: Birmingham

text: City

text: while

text: a

text: remarkable

text: match

text: in

text: Slovenia

text: saw

text: Bruges

text: of

text: Belgium

text: fight

text: back

text: from

text: down

text: to

text: win

text: in

text: injury

text: time

text: against

text: Maribor

text: That

text: means

text: Bruges

text: and

text: Braga

text: are

text: level

text: on

text: points

text: and

text: they

text: play

text: each

text: other

text: in

text: the

text: final

text: match

text: A

text: draw

text: there

text: will

text: see

text: them

text: both

text: qualify

text: with

text: Birmingham

text: who

text: are

text: three

text: points

text: behind

text: in

text: third

text: place

text: needing

text: to

text: beat

text: Maribor

text: in

text: their

text: final

text: match

text: and

text: hoping

text: the

text: other

text: game

text: does

text: not

text: end

text: in

text: a

text: draw

text: There

text: was

text: a

text: suprise

text: result

text: in

text: the

text: English

text: League

text: Cup

text: quarterfinals

text: where

text: Manchester

text: United

text: were

text: beaten

text: at

text: home

text: by

text: Championship

text: side

text: Crystal

text: Palace

text: in

text: extra

text: time

text: That

text: result

text: means

text: Palace

text: now

text: play

text: fellow

text: second

text: tier

text: side

text: Cardiff

text: City

text: in

text: the

text: semifinals

text: while

text: Premier

text: League

text: giants

text: Liverpool

text: and

text: Manchester

text: City

text: face

text: each

text: other

text: in

text: the

text: second

text: semifinal

question: What does the team need to do in order to stay in the league?

answer: win their last game

text: win their last game

question: Which year did they won?

answer: 2010

question: Who was the 2010 Europa League winning team?

answer: Atletico Madrid,

text: Atletico Madrid,

question: What league is Tottenham to be eliminated from?

answer: Europa

text: Europa

question: Where goes Tottenham?

answer: out of the Europa League

text: out of the Europa League


text:
Editor's note: Nancy G. Brinker is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, named after her only sister, Susan, who died from breast cancer in 1980. The organization describes itself as the "world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures." Brinker served as Ambassador to Hungary in 2001 and Chief of Protocol of the United States during the Bush administration.

Nancy Brinker says a bill by Sens. Ted Kennedy and Kay Bailey Hutchison would renew the fight against cancer.

(CNN) -- During his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama urged a new effort "to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American, including me, by seeking a cure for cancer in our time."

It was a call to action that resonated for me, as it's a cause I've dedicated my life to pursuing.

Nearly three decades ago I promised my sister, Suzy, who died at age 36 from breast cancer, that I would do everything I could to end the disease that took her life.

A couple of years later, I too was diagnosed with breast cancer, at age 37. Fortunately my cancer was detected and treated much earlier than Suzy's, and it was much smaller and not nearly as aggressive. Following a mastectomy and four rounds of chemotherapy, I am now a 25-year survivor.

We have made a lot of progress since the 1980s. We now have a basic understanding of breast cancer, which is the foundation for discovering the cures. And with this new understanding, we're moving toward more personalized treatments -- as each patient and each tumor is different, their treatment must reflect those differences.

Yet while we are in position to experience significant advances, the sad fact remains that we are still facing an enormous cancer crisis -- cancer will claim the lives of more than a half-million people this year -- about 1,500 people a day.

In all, 40 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, including approximately 1.4 million new cases this year alone. With the graying of the Baby Boom generation, we are about to experience a cancer tsunami.

Thus I was inspired to hear our new president call for reigniting our nation's war on cancer. And it didn't take long for a bipartisan group of senators to answer that challenge. The group, led by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, and Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who have been working together and in close consultation and collaboration with the cancer community for more than a year, introduced the 21st Century Cancer ALERT (access to life-saving early detection, research and treatment) Act.

This bill is an effort to address our shortcomings and renew our commitment to discovering and delivering the cures to cancer.

In a period where Democrats control both the Congress and the White House and true bipartisanship is a rare and precious commodity, I am grateful to both senators, particularly Hutchison, for ensuring that this was a true partnership, and that everyone had a seat at the table. For Kennedy, this is obviously a personal issue. Hutchison has been with us in this fight since our early days, and this would not have happened without her leadership.

The first step in saving lives is in detecting cancer early. If breast cancer is a guide, developing effective early detection techniques is critically important to increasing mortality rates. For example, when my sister died, only 77 percent of women who discovered their cancer before it spread beyond the breast survived at least five years. After nearly three decades of investments and advancements, the five-year survival rate has increased to 98 percent.

Unfortunately, many cancers still do not have effective early detection methods. Ovarian cancer is a particularly devastating example: There is no screening diagnostic, thus a diagnosis is most often made after the cancer has spread.

According to the American Cancer Society, when ovarian cancer is detected locally, the survival rate is 92 percent; however, only 1 in 5 cases are detected at this stage, dropping the overall five-year survival rate to only 45 percent. Mortality rates are even more disturbing for lung and pancreatic cancers. This has to change.

This legislation seeks to address this by placing an emphasis on early detection and promoting the discovery and development of biomarkers so cancers can be detected at the earliest possible stage, when cancer is most treatable. It will also strengthen the cancer research process by promoting public-private partnerships and collaboration between government agencies. And the bill stresses translational research, so new discoveries and breakthroughs in the laboratory make their way to patients' bedsides as quickly as possible.

At the same time, we have to remind ourselves as we push for science to develop the early detection methods that will save lives tomorrow, millions of our friends and loved ones do not have sufficient access to the detection and treatment methods available today. Tens of millions of people are uninsured and lack access to basic health care. Federal and state programs that provide support to underserved people with cancer are dramatically underfunded, leading to huge gaps in access.

Even those with insurance often have difficulty accessing life-saving treatments, whether it is because they live in a rural community, have language barriers or are faced with roadblocks to participating in a clinical trial. The Cancer ALERT Act will begin to improve access to cancer care for underserved populations by expanding access to clinical trials and patient navigation services.

One thing I've learned over this journey is that we can do anything if we just put our minds to it and show that we are committed to success. This effort is an important and promising step in showing that discovering and delivering the cures for cancer is still a national priority, and that we are committed to seeing it through.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nancy Brinker.

text: Editor

text: 's

text: note

text: Nancy

text: G.

text: Brinker

text: is

text: the

text: founder

text: of

text: Susan

text: G.

text: Komen

text: for

text: the

text: Cure

text: named

text: after

text: her

text: only

text: sister

text: Susan

text: who

text: died

text: from

text: breast

text: cancer

text: in

text: The

text: organization

text: describes

text: itself

text: as

text: the

text: world

text: 's

text: largest

text: grassroots

text: network

text: of

text: breast

text: cancer

text: survivors

text: and

text: activists

text: fighting

text: to

text: save

text: lives

text: empower

text: people

text: ensure

text: quality

text: care

text: for

text: all

text: and

text: energize

text: science

text: to

text: find

text: cures

text: Brinker

text: served

text: as

text: Ambassador

text: to

text: Hungary

text: in

text: and

text: Chief

text: of

text: Protocol

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: during

text: the

text: Bush

text: administration

text: Nancy

text: Brinker

text: says

text: a

text: bill

text: by

text: Sens

text: Ted

text: Kennedy

text: and

text: Kay

text: Bailey

text: Hutchison

text: would

text: renew

text: the

text: fight

text: against

text: cancer

text: CNN

text: During

text: his

text: first

text: address

text: to

text: a

text: joint

text: session

text: of

text: Congress

text: President

text: Obama

text: urged

text: a

text: new

text: effort

text: to

text: conquer

text: a

text: disease

text: that

text: has

text: touched

text: the

text: life

text: of

text: nearly

text: every

text: American

text: including

text: me

text: by

text: seeking

text: a

text: cure

text: for

text: cancer

text: in

text: our

text: time

text: It

text: was

text: a

text: call

text: to

text: action

text: that

text: resonated

text: for

text: me

text: as

text: it

text: 's

text: a

text: cause

text: I

text: 've

text: dedicated

text: my

text: life

text: to

text: pursuing

text: Nearly

text: three

text: decades

text: ago

text: I

text: promised

text: my

text: sister

text: Suzy

text: who

text: died

text: at

text: age

text: from

text: breast

text: cancer

text: that

text: I

text: would

text: do

text: everything

text: I

text: could

text: to

text: end

text: the

text: disease

text: that

text: took

text: her

text: life

text: A

text: couple

text: of

text: years

text: later

text: I

text: too

text: was

text: diagnosed

text: with

text: breast

text: cancer

text: at

text: age

text: Fortunately

text: my

text: cancer

text: was

text: detected

text: and

text: treated

text: much

text: earlier

text: than

text: Suzy

text: 's

text: and

text: it

text: was

text: much

text: smaller

text: and

text: not

text: nearly

text: as

text: aggressive

text: Following

text: a

text: mastectomy

text: and

text: four

text: rounds

text: of

text: chemotherapy

text: I

text: am

text: now

text: a

text: survivor

text: We

text: have

text: made

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: progress

text: since

text: the

text: We

text: now

text: have

text: a

text: basic

text: understanding

text: of

text: breast

text: cancer

text: which

text: is

text: the

text: foundation

text: for

text: discovering

text: the

text: cures

text: And

text: with

text: this

text: new

text: understanding

text: we

text: 're

text: moving

text: toward

text: more

text: personalized

text: treatments

text: as

text: each

text: patient

text: and

text: each

text: tumor

text: is

text: different

text: their

text: treatment

text: must

text: reflect

text: those

text: differences

text: Yet

text: while

text: we

text: are

text: in

text: position

text: to

text: experience

text: significant

text: advances

text: the

text: sad

text: fact

text: remains

text: that

text: we

text: are

text: still

text: facing

text: an

text: enormous

text: cancer

text: crisis

text: cancer

text: will

text: claim

text: the

text: lives

text: of

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: half

text: million

text: people

text: this

text: year

text: about

text: people

text: a

text: day

text: In

text: all

text: percent

text: of

text: Americans

text: will

text: be

text: diagnosed

text: with

text: cancer

text: at

text: some

text: point

text: in

text: their

text: lives

text: including

text: approximately

text: million

text: new

text: cases

text: this

text: year

text: alone

text: With

text: the

text: graying

text: of

text: the

text: Baby

text: Boom

text: generation

text: we

text: are

text: about

text: to

text: experience

text: a

text: cancer

text: tsunami

text: Thus

text: I

text: was

text: inspired

text: to

text: hear

text: our

text: new

text: president

text: call

text: for

text: reigniting

text: our

text: nation

text: 's

text: war

text: on

text: cancer

text: And

text: it

text: did

text: n't

text: take

text: long

text: for

text: a

text: bipartisan

text: group

text: of

text: senators

text: to

text: answer

text: that

text: challenge

text: The

text: group

text: led

text: by

text: Sens

text: Edward

text: Kennedy

text: D

text: Massachusetts

text: and

text: Kay

text: Bailey

text: Hutchison

text: R

text: Texas

text: who

text: have

text: been

text: working

text: together

text: and

text: in

text: close

text: consultation

text: and

text: collaboration

text: with

text: the

text: cancer

text: community

text: for

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: year

text: introduced

text: the

text: Century

text: Cancer

text: ALERT

text: access

text: to

text: life

text: saving

text: early

text: detection

text: research

text: and

text: treatment

text: Act

text: This

text: bill

text: is

text: an

text: effort

text: to

text: address

text: our

text: shortcomings

text: and

text: renew

text: our

text: commitment

text: to

text: discovering

text: and

text: delivering

text: the

text: cures

text: to

text: cancer

text: In

text: a

text: period

text: where

text: Democrats

text: control

text: both

text: the

text: Congress

text: and

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: and

text: true

text: bipartisanship

text: is

text: a

text: rare

text: and

text: precious

text: commodity

text: I

text: am

text: grateful

text: to

text: both

text: senators

text: particularly

text: Hutchison

text: for

text: ensuring

text: that

text: this

text: was

text: a

text: true

text: partnership

text: and

text: that

text: everyone

text: had

text: a

text: seat

text: at

text: the

text: table

text: For

text: Kennedy

text: this

text: is

text: obviously

text: a

text: personal

text: issue

text: Hutchison

text: has

text: been

text: with

text: us

text: in

text: this

text: fight

text: since

text: our

text: early

text: days

text: and

text: this

text: would

text: not

text: have

text: happened

text: without

text: her

text: leadership

text: The

text: first

text: step

text: in

text: saving

text: lives

text: is

text: in

text: detecting

text: cancer

text: early

text: If

text: breast

text: cancer

text: is

text: a

text: guide

text: developing

text: effective

text: early

text: detection

text: techniques

text: is

text: critically

text: important

text: to

text: increasing

text: mortality

text: rates

text: For

text: example

text: when

text: my

text: sister

text: died

text: only

text: percent

text: of

text: women

text: who

text: discovered

text: their

text: cancer

text: before

text: it

text: spread

text: beyond

text: the

text: breast

text: survived

text: at

text: least

text: five

text: years

text: After

text: nearly

text: three

text: decades

text: of

text: investments

text: and

text: advancements

text: the

text: five

text: year

text: survival

text: rate

text: has

text: increased

text: to

text: percent

text: Unfortunately

text: many

text: cancers

text: still

text: do

text: not

text: have

text: effective

text: early

text: detection

text: methods

text: Ovarian

text: cancer

text: is

text: a

text: particularly

text: devastating

text: example

text: There

text: is

text: no

text: screening

text: diagnostic

text: thus

text: a

text: diagnosis

text: is

text: most

text: often

text: made

text: after

text: the

text: cancer

text: has

text: spread

text: According

text: to

text: the

text: American

text: Cancer

text: Society

text: when

text: ovarian

text: cancer

text: is

text: detected

text: locally

text: the

text: survival

text: rate

text: is

text: percent

text: however

text: only

text: in

text: cases

text: are

text: detected

text: at

text: this

text: stage

text: dropping

text: the

text: overall

text: five

text: year

text: survival

text: rate

text: to

text: only

text: percent

text: Mortality

text: rates

text: are

text: even

text: more

text: disturbing

text: for

text: lung

text: and

text: pancreatic

text: cancers

text: This

text: has

text: to

text: change

text: This

text: legislation

text: seeks

text: to

text: address

text: this

text: by

text: placing

text: an

text: emphasis

text: on

text: early

text: detection

text: and

text: promoting

text: the

text: discovery

text: and

text: development

text: of

text: biomarkers

text: so

text: cancers

text: can

text: be

text: detected

text: at

text: the

text: earliest

text: possible

text: stage

text: when

text: cancer

text: is

text: most

text: treatable

text: It

text: will

text: also

text: strengthen

text: the

text: cancer

text: research

text: process

text: by

text: promoting

text: public

text: private

text: partnerships

text: and

text: collaboration

text: between

text: government

text: agencies

text: And

text: the

text: bill

text: stresses

text: translational

text: research

text: so

text: new

text: discoveries

text: and

text: breakthroughs

text: in

text: the

text: laboratory

text: make

text: their

text: way

text: to

text: patients

text: bedsides

text: as

text: quickly

text: as

text: possible

text: At

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: we

text: have

text: to

text: remind

text: ourselves

text: as

text: we

text: push

text: for

text: science

text: to

text: develop

text: the

text: early

text: detection

text: methods

text: that

text: will

text: save

text: lives

text: tomorrow

text: millions

text: of

text: our

text: friends

text: and

text: loved

text: ones

text: do

text: not

text: have

text: sufficient

text: access

text: to

text: the

text: detection

text: and

text: treatment

text: methods

text: available

text: today

text: Tens

text: of

text: millions

text: of

text: people

text: are

text: uninsured

text: and

text: lack

text: access

text: to

text: basic

text: health

text: care

text: Federal

text: and

text: state

text: programs

text: that

text: provide

text: support

text: to

text: underserved

text: people

text: with

text: cancer

text: are

text: dramatically

text: underfunded

text: leading

text: to

text: huge

text: gaps

text: in

text: access

text: Even

text: those

text: with

text: insurance

text: often

text: have

text: difficulty

text: accessing

text: life

text: saving

text: treatments

text: whether

text: it

text: is

text: because

text: they

text: live

text: in

text: a

text: rural

text: community

text: have

text: language

text: barriers

text: or

text: are

text: faced

text: with

text: roadblocks

text: to

text: participating

text: in

text: a

text: clinical

text: trial

text: The

text: Cancer

text: ALERT

text: Act

text: will

text: begin

text: to

text: improve

text: access

text: to

text: cancer

text: care

text: for

text: underserved

text: populations

text: by

text: expanding

text: access

text: to

text: clinical

text: trials

text: and

text: patient

text: navigation

text: services

text: One

text: thing

text: I

text: 've

text: learned

text: over

text: this

text: journey

text: is

text: that

text: we

text: can

text: do

text: anything

text: if

text: we

text: just

text: put

text: our

text: minds

text: to

text: it

text: and

text: show

text: that

text: we

text: are

text: committed

text: to

text: success

text: This

text: effort

text: is

text: an

text: important

text: and

text: promising

text: step

text: in

text: showing

text: that

text: discovering

text: and

text: delivering

text: the

text: cures

text: for

text: cancer

text: is

text: still

text: a

text: national

text: priority

text: and

text: that

text: we

text: are

text: committed

text: to

text: seeing

text: it

text: through

text: The

text: opinions

text: expressed

text: in

text: this

text: commentary

text: are

text: solely

text: those

text: of

text: Nancy

text: Brinker

question: Who is the survivor?

answer: Nancy G. Brinker

text: Nancy G. Brinker

question: Who made a promise to her sister?

answer: Nancy G. Brinker

text: Nancy G. Brinker

question: What would go far toward energizing fight against cancer?

answer: a bill by Sens. Ted Kennedy and Kay Bailey Hutchison

text: a bill by Sens. Ted Kennedy and Kay Bailey Hutchison

question: Who made a promise?

answer: Nancy Brinker

text: Nancy Brinker

question: Who is Nancy Brinke?

answer: founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,

text: founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,

question: What kind of cancer did she die from?

answer: breast

text: breast

question: When did she have breast cancer?

answer: 1980.

question: What kind of legislations is she looking for?

answer: renew our commitment to discovering and delivering the cures to cancer.

text: renew our commitment to discovering and delivering the cures to cancer.

question: Who  dedicated herself to fighting the disease?

answer: Nancy Brinker

text: Nancy Brinker


text:
(CNN) -- Brooke Shields is upset with a tabloid reporter over an incident involving the actress' elderly mother.

Brooke Shields moved her mother to a different residence after last week's incident, Shields' lawyer says.

Shields accused a reporter and photographer from the National Enquirer of taking her 75-year-old mother -- Teri Shields, who suffers from dementia -- out of a New Jersey nursing home last week, People magazine reported.

It was "reprehensible and disgusting," Shields told People.

The reporter, "looking for a tabloid story," signed her mother out of a senior living facility in Old Tappan, New Jersey, by falsely claiming to be her friend, Shields said.  Watch why Shields is upset Â»

The National Enquirer said the reporter has known Teri Shields for a decade.

"Teri asked the reporter to take her out to lunch and run some errands," the tabloid said.

"The freelance reporter then got permission from the facility to do so. ... At no point did the facility, which had given its permission for the outing, contend that there had been any wrongdoing."

Old Tappan police told People they are investigating.

Brooke Shields' lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, said the actress has not filed charges, but was exploring her options.

Shields moved her mother to another facility, Lefcourt said.

CNN's Marc Balinsky contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Brooke

text: Shields

text: is

text: upset

text: with

text: a

text: tabloid

text: reporter

text: over

text: an

text: incident

text: involving

text: the

text: actress

text: elderly

text: mother

text: Brooke

text: Shields

text: moved

text: her

text: mother

text: to

text: a

text: different

text: residence

text: after

text: last

text: week

text: 's

text: incident

text: Shields

text: lawyer

text: says

text: Shields

text: accused

text: a

text: reporter

text: and

text: photographer

text: from

text: the

text: National

text: Enquirer

text: of

text: taking

text: her

text: old

text: mother

text: Teri

text: Shields

text: who

text: suffers

text: from

text: dementia

text: out

text: of

text: a

text: New

text: Jersey

text: nursing

text: home

text: last

text: week

text: People

text: magazine

text: reported

text: It

text: was

text: reprehensible

text: and

text: disgusting

text: Shields

text: told

text: People

text: The

text: reporter

text: looking

text: for

text: a

text: tabloid

text: story

text: signed

text: her

text: mother

text: out

text: of

text: a

text: senior

text: living

text: facility

text: in

text: Old

text: Tappan

text: New

text: Jersey

text: by

text: falsely

text: claiming

text: to

text: be

text: her

text: friend

text: Shields

text: said

text: Watch

text: why

text: Shields

text: is

text: upset

text: Â

text: The

text: National

text: Enquirer

text: said

text: the

text: reporter

text: has

text: known

text: Teri

text: Shields

text: for

text: a

text: decade

text: Teri

text: asked

text: the

text: reporter

text: to

text: take

text: her

text: out

text: to

text: lunch

text: and

text: run

text: some

text: errands

text: the

text: tabloid

text: said

text: The

text: freelance

text: reporter

text: then

text: got

text: permission

text: from

text: the

text: facility

text: to

text: do

text: so

text: At

text: no

text: point

text: did

text: the

text: facility

text: which

text: had

text: given

text: its

text: permission

text: for

text: the

text: outing

text: contend

text: that

text: there

text: had

text: been

text: any

text: wrongdoing

text: Old

text: Tappan

text: police

text: told

text: People

text: they

text: are

text: investigating

text: Brooke

text: Shields

text: lawyer

text: Gerald

text: Lefcourt

text: said

text: the

text: actress

text: has

text: not

text: filed

text: charges

text: but

text: was

text: exploring

text: her

text: options

text: Shields

text: moved

text: her

text: mother

text: to

text: another

text: facility

text: Lefcourt

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Marc

text: Balinsky

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: who's mom is out of a nursing home

answer: Brooke Shields

text: Brooke Shields

question: What did shields ask to do?

answer: take her out

text: take her out

question: What is Shield's age

answer: 75-year-old

question: What did people magazine report?

answer: Shields accused a reporter and photographer from the National Enquirer of taking her 75-year-old mother -- Teri Shields, who suffers from dementia -- out of a New Jersey nursing home last week,

text: Shields accused a reporter and photographer from the National Enquirer of taking her 75-year-old mother -- Teri Shields, who suffers from dementia -- out of a New Jersey nursing home last week,

question: Who is investigating?

answer: Old Tappan police

text: Old Tappan police


text:
(CNN) -- Syria has until Friday to agree to let Arab League observers into the country to monitor the government's response to civil unrest or else face economic sanctions from its neighbors, a senior Arab League diplomat said Thursday.

Syria's membership in the 22-country Arab League was suspended this month after President Bashar al-Assad's regime ignored demands to end its crackdown on citizens.

"If they do not comply, then the league's economic body will file a report to the foreign ministers of the league who will meet on Sunday to vote on the economic sanctions to be implemented," said the diplomat, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the negotiations with Syria.

If Syria agrees by the Friday deadline, then the league will send a delegation to Damascus to discuss details of the observer mission before the team goes, the diplomat said.

At least 35 people died Thursday in clashes with security forces, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC) activist group said.

Another activist group, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported earlier that at least 11 Syrian military defectors were shot dead and four injured during clashes with regular Syrian army units in the area. A further 73 civilians were arrested in Homs province Thursday, the group said.

A campaign of raids and arrests is also taking place in the Damascus suburb of Domeir, the Qalet Mudeeq neighborhood in Hama, and Baniyas, the LCC said.

Funerals were held Thursday for 12 army, police and security forces personnel, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported. The 12 had been targeted by "armed terrorist groups" while on duty in the Damascus, Homs and Hama areas, the news agency said.

The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have been killed in the government's eight-month crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

Al-Assad has resisted mounting calls for his resignation as president in recent weeks as international outcry over the Syrian violence has intensified.

On Tuesday, the humanitarian committee of the U.N. General Assembly voted by a large majority to condemn the violence in Syria and express its support for the Arab League initiative.

It was the first resolution on Syria's crackdown to be approved at the United Nations.

Protesters in Syria are demanding al-Assad's ouster and democratic elections. He has been in power since 2000, following his father, Hafez, who ruled Syria for three decades.

Syria's government has said it is fighting armed terrorists, and it maintains that the death toll is much lower than international observers and opposition groups say.

CNN's Lonzo Cook and Tracy Doueiry contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: Syria

text: has

text: until

text: Friday

text: to

text: agree

text: to

text: let

text: Arab

text: League

text: observers

text: into

text: the

text: country

text: to

text: monitor

text: the

text: government

text: 's

text: response

text: to

text: civil

text: unrest

text: or

text: else

text: face

text: economic

text: sanctions

text: from

text: its

text: neighbors

text: a

text: senior

text: Arab

text: League

text: diplomat

text: said

text: Thursday

text: Syria

text: 's

text: membership

text: in

text: the

text: Arab

text: League

text: was

text: suspended

text: this

text: month

text: after

text: President

text: Bashar

text: al

text: Assad

text: 's

text: regime

text: ignored

text: demands

text: to

text: end

text: its

text: crackdown

text: on

text: citizens

text: If

text: they

text: do

text: not

text: comply

text: then

text: the

text: league

text: 's

text: economic

text: body

text: will

text: file

text: a

text: report

text: to

text: the

text: foreign

text: ministers

text: of

text: the

text: league

text: who

text: will

text: meet

text: on

text: Sunday

text: to

text: vote

text: on

text: the

text: economic

text: sanctions

text: to

text: be

text: implemented

text: said

text: the

text: diplomat

text: who

text: asked

text: not

text: to

text: be

text: named

text: due

text: to

text: the

text: sensitivity

text: of

text: the

text: negotiations

text: with

text: Syria

text: If

text: Syria

text: agrees

text: by

text: the

text: Friday

text: deadline

text: then

text: the

text: league

text: will

text: send

text: a

text: delegation

text: to

text: Damascus

text: to

text: discuss

text: details

text: of

text: the

text: observer

text: mission

text: before

text: the

text: team

text: goes

text: the

text: diplomat

text: said

text: At

text: least

text: people

text: died

text: Thursday

text: in

text: clashes

text: with

text: security

text: forces

text: the

text: Local

text: Coordination

text: Committees

text: of

text: Syria

text: LCC

text: activist

text: group

text: said

text: Another

text: activist

text: group

text: the

text: London

text: based

text: Syrian

text: Observatory

text: for

text: Human

text: Rights

text: reported

text: earlier

text: that

text: at

text: least

text: Syrian

text: military

text: defectors

text: were

text: shot

text: dead

text: and

text: four

text: injured

text: during

text: clashes

text: with

text: regular

text: Syrian

text: army

text: units

text: in

text: the

text: area

text: A

text: further

text: civilians

text: were

text: arrested

text: in

text: Homs

text: province

text: Thursday

text: the

text: group

text: said

text: A

text: campaign

text: of

text: raids

text: and

text: arrests

text: is

text: also

text: taking

text: place

text: in

text: the

text: Damascus

text: suburb

text: of

text: Domeir

text: the

text: Qalet

text: Mudeeq

text: neighborhood

text: in

text: Hama

text: and

text: Baniyas

text: the

text: LCC

text: said

text: Funerals

text: were

text: held

text: Thursday

text: for

text: army

text: police

text: and

text: security

text: forces

text: personnel

text: the

text: state

text: run

text: Syrian

text: Arab

text: News

text: Agency

text: reported

text: The

text: had

text: been

text: targeted

text: by

text: armed

text: terrorist

text: groups

text: while

text: on

text: duty

text: in

text: the

text: Damascus

text: Homs

text: and

text: Hama

text: areas

text: the

text: news

text: agency

text: said

text: The

text: United

text: Nations

text: says

text: more

text: than

text: people

text: have

text: been

text: killed

text: in

text: the

text: government

text: 's

text: eight

text: month

text: crackdown

text: on

text: pro

text: democracy

text: protests

text: Al

text: Assad

text: has

text: resisted

text: mounting

text: calls

text: for

text: his

text: resignation

text: as

text: president

text: in

text: recent

text: weeks

text: as

text: international

text: outcry

text: over

text: the

text: Syrian

text: violence

text: has

text: intensified

text: On

text: Tuesday

text: the

text: humanitarian

text: committee

text: of

text: the

text: U.N.

text: General

text: Assembly

text: voted

text: by

text: a

text: large

text: majority

text: to

text: condemn

text: the

text: violence

text: in

text: Syria

text: and

text: express

text: its

text: support

text: for

text: the

text: Arab

text: League

text: initiative

text: It

text: was

text: the

text: first

text: resolution

text: on

text: Syria

text: 's

text: crackdown

text: to

text: be

text: approved

text: at

text: the

text: United

text: Nations

text: Protesters

text: in

text: Syria

text: are

text: demanding

text: al

text: Assad

text: 's

text: ouster

text: and

text: democratic

text: elections

text: He

text: has

text: been

text: in

text: power

text: since

text: following

text: his

text: father

text: Hafez

text: who

text: ruled

text: Syria

text: for

text: three

text: decades

text: Syria

text: 's

text: government

text: has

text: said

text: it

text: is

text: fighting

text: armed

text: terrorists

text: and

text: it

text: maintains

text: that

text: the

text: death

text: toll

text: is

text: much

text: lower

text: than

text: international

text: observers

text: and

text: opposition

text: groups

text: say

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Lonzo

text: Cook

text: and

text: Tracy

text: Doueiry

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who could impose sanctions on Syria?

answer: Arab League

text: Arab League

question: what can happen if Syria ignores deadline

answer: economic sanctions

text: economic sanctions

question: what number of people have died since the protests began in March

answer: 3,500

question: Syria is under what kind of pressure?

answer: economic sanctions

text: economic sanctions

question: How many people died?

answer: At least 35

text: At least 35

question: what did the activist group say

answer: At least 35 people died Thursday in clashes with security forces,

text: At least 35 people died Thursday in clashes with security forces,

question: what will happen if syria ignores deadline

answer: economic sanctions

text: economic sanctions

question: what is syria under pressure to do

answer: to agree to let Arab League observers into the country to monitor the

text: to agree to let Arab League observers into the country to monitor the


text:
(CNN) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday it will apologize to veterans who were mistakenly told they'd been diagnosed with a fatal neurological condition.

Brent Casey said went into a "meltdown" when he got a letter from the VA saying, erroneously, that he had ALS.

Letters were sent August 13 to 1,864 veterans and survivors, the VA said in a written statement. They were supposed to be sent to veterans with ALS -- also known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- to keep them apprised of expanding benefits eligibility.

"According to the records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you have a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)," said the letter, according to the National Gulf War Resource Center. "This letter tells you about VA disability compensation benefits that may be available to you."

But some who received the letters, like Brent Casey, do not have ALS. Casey, a disabled Army veteran from the first Gulf War, told CNN that when he received the letter, he was "just completely beside myself. Just floored. Went into a complete and total meltdown. I couldn't speak, couldn't -- I guess I was, truthfully, speechless."

The VA said issued a statement saying it made "a coding error, and a number of veterans who should not have received this letter did."

An estimated one-third of the letters -- more than 600 -- were sent erroneously, a department official familiar with the program told CNN.

After hearing from veterans who received the letter but do not have ALS, the VA immediately began reviewing individual claims files for all the recipients to determine who received the letter by mistake, agency spokeswoman Katie Roberts said in the statement. "VA employees are personally contacting these individuals to ensure they understand the letter should not be confused with a medical diagnosis of ALS, explain why they mistakenly received the letter and express VA's sincere apologies for the distress caused by this unfortunate and regrettable error."

"It's not right for it to happen this way," Casey said. "Regardless if it was the case that I was diagnosed with ALS, that would be the worst possible way for an organization to let an individual know."

Upon receiving the letter, some veterans sought a second opinion outside the VA, according to veterans' service organizations, paying for doctors' consultations out of their own pockets. The VA said it will reimburse those veterans for the costs.

In addition, the VA said it is reviewing its notification process to make sure a similar error doesn't happen again.

The AmVets service organization is "encouraged" by the VA's response to the situation, and pleased to see they caught the error, said spokesman Ryan Gallucci.

CNN Radio's John Lorinc contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: The

text: Department

text: of

text: Veterans

text: Affairs

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: it

text: will

text: apologize

text: to

text: veterans

text: who

text: were

text: mistakenly

text: told

text: they

text: 'd

text: been

text: diagnosed

text: with

text: a

text: fatal

text: neurological

text: condition

text: Brent

text: Casey

text: said

text: went

text: into

text: a

text: meltdown

text: when

text: he

text: got

text: a

text: letter

text: from

text: the

text: VA

text: saying

text: erroneously

text: that

text: he

text: had

text: ALS

text: Letters

text: were

text: sent

text: August

text: to

text: veterans

text: and

text: survivors

text: the

text: VA

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: written

text: statement

text: They

text: were

text: supposed

text: to

text: be

text: sent

text: to

text: veterans

text: with

text: ALS

text: also

text: known

text: as

text: Lou

text: Gehrig

text: 's

text: disease

text: to

text: keep

text: them

text: apprised

text: of

text: expanding

text: benefits

text: eligibility

text: According

text: to

text: the

text: records

text: of

text: the

text: Department

text: of

text: Veterans

text: Affairs

text: VA

text: you

text: have

text: a

text: diagnosis

text: of

text: amyotrophic

text: lateral

text: sclerosis

text: ALS

text: said

text: the

text: letter

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: National

text: Gulf

text: War

text: Resource

text: Center

text: This

text: letter

text: tells

text: you

text: about

text: VA

text: disability

text: compensation

text: benefits

text: that

text: may

text: be

text: available

text: to

text: you

text: But

text: some

text: who

text: received

text: the

text: letters

text: like

text: Brent

text: Casey

text: do

text: not

text: have

text: ALS

text: Casey

text: a

text: disabled

text: Army

text: veteran

text: from

text: the

text: first

text: Gulf

text: War

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: when

text: he

text: received

text: the

text: letter

text: he

text: was

text: just

text: completely

text: beside

text: myself

text: Just

text: floored

text: Went

text: into

text: a

text: complete

text: and

text: total

text: meltdown

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: speak

text: could

text: n't

text: I

text: guess

text: I

text: was

text: truthfully

text: speechless

text: The

text: VA

text: said

text: issued

text: a

text: statement

text: saying

text: it

text: made

text: a

text: coding

text: error

text: and

text: a

text: number

text: of

text: veterans

text: who

text: should

text: not

text: have

text: received

text: this

text: letter

text: did

text: An

text: estimated

text: one

text: third

text: of

text: the

text: letters

text: more

text: than

text: were

text: sent

text: erroneously

text: a

text: department

text: official

text: familiar

text: with

text: the

text: program

text: told

text: CNN

text: After

text: hearing

text: from

text: veterans

text: who

text: received

text: the

text: letter

text: but

text: do

text: not

text: have

text: ALS

text: the

text: VA

text: immediately

text: began

text: reviewing

text: individual

text: claims

text: files

text: for

text: all

text: the

text: recipients

text: to

text: determine

text: who

text: received

text: the

text: letter

text: by

text: mistake

text: agency

text: spokeswoman

text: Katie

text: Roberts

text: said

text: in

text: the

text: statement

text: VA

text: employees

text: are

text: personally

text: contacting

text: these

text: individuals

text: to

text: ensure

text: they

text: understand

text: the

text: letter

text: should

text: not

text: be

text: confused

text: with

text: a

text: medical

text: diagnosis

text: of

text: ALS

text: explain

text: why

text: they

text: mistakenly

text: received

text: the

text: letter

text: and

text: express

text: VA

text: 's

text: sincere

text: apologies

text: for

text: the

text: distress

text: caused

text: by

text: this

text: unfortunate

text: and

text: regrettable

text: error

text: It

text: 's

text: not

text: right

text: for

text: it

text: to

text: happen

text: this

text: way

text: Casey

text: said

text: Regardless

text: if

text: it

text: was

text: the

text: case

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: diagnosed

text: with

text: ALS

text: that

text: would

text: be

text: the

text: worst

text: possible

text: way

text: for

text: an

text: organization

text: to

text: let

text: an

text: individual

text: know

text: Upon

text: receiving

text: the

text: letter

text: some

text: veterans

text: sought

text: a

text: second

text: opinion

text: outside

text: the

text: VA

text: according

text: to

text: veterans

text: service

text: organizations

text: paying

text: for

text: doctors

text: consultations

text: out

text: of

text: their

text: own

text: pockets

text: The

text: VA

text: said

text: it

text: will

text: reimburse

text: those

text: veterans

text: for

text: the

text: costs

text: In

text: addition

text: the

text: VA

text: said

text: it

text: is

text: reviewing

text: its

text: notification

text: process

text: to

text: make

text: sure

text: a

text: similar

text: error

text: does

text: n't

text: happen

text: again

text: The

text: AmVets

text: service

text: organization

text: is

text: encouraged

text: by

text: the

text: VA

text: 's

text: response

text: to

text: the

text: situation

text: and

text: pleased

text: to

text: see

text: they

text: caught

text: the

text: error

text: said

text: spokesman

text: Ryan

text: Gallucci

text: CNN

text: Radio

text: 's

text: John

text: Lorinc

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Letters were received by how many people in error?

answer: 600

question: What is the agency reviewing?

answer: individual claims files for all the recipients to determine who received the letter by mistake,

text: individual claims files for all the recipients to determine who received the letter by mistake,

question: How many veterans were informed?

answer: 1,864

question: What were the veterans and survivors diagnosised of?

answer: with a fatal neurological condition.

text: with a fatal neurological condition.

question: The agency is reviewing what process to ensure no such errors in the future?

answer: notification

text: notification