MSI Press Blog

  Lizzie’s academic efforts had always met with success. She started reading at two, and everything accelerated from there. By the time she reached elementary school, the teachers had no idea what to do with her except move her along. She skipped second grade. Then seventh. It was the only tool the schools had in those days—and perhaps even today—for a child who learned faster than the system could teach. Then came eighth grade. Or rather, it would have come, had she stayed in Arlington, Virginia. Instead, just as the school year began, twelve‑year‑old Lizzie boarded a plane with me for a months‑long research trip to Russia and Siberia. In Moscow she attended School No. 77, the school for the MosFilm studio kids—children who had grown up around directors, cameras, and expectations. They were bright, worldly, unimpressed by an American girl who read at college level. Lizzie, who had always been the standout, was suddenly just one more capable student in a room full of them. Then...

  When people think of Alzheimer’s disease, they usually think of severe memory loss . But the early signs are often much subtler. They can appear gradually and may be mistaken for stress, distraction, or normal aging. Here are ten early warning signs doctors often look for. 1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life Forgetting things occasionally is normal. But repeatedly forgetting recent conversations, appointments, or important events can signal a problem. People may also begin relying heavily on reminders, notes, or family members. 2. Difficulty Planning or Solving Problems Tasks that once felt routine may become challenging. Examples include: Following a recipe Managing finances Keeping track of bills Concentration may decline as well. 3. Trouble Completing Familiar Tasks A person may suddenly struggle with activities they have done for years, such as: Driving to a familiar location Operating household appliances Playing a favorite card game 4. Confusion Ab...

  Chris Richards' book,   Nothing So Broken , reached  #74 in Vietnam War biographies and #160 in disability biographies. Book description:  In the shadow of loss, a path to healing begins. Chris Richards grew up in a small New England mill town, where life was tough and loyalty ran deep. At just 19, his world was shaken when a close friend was left permanently disabled by a devastating accident. At the same time, Chris’s father began to show troubling symptoms linked to his service in the Vietnam War—unseen wounds that would slowly unravel the man he once knew. The weight of watching two people he loved unravel under the strain of trauma and physical decline left deep scars—ones Chris carried silently into adulthood. For years, he buried his grief and fear, never imagining that one day, facing his own crisis, he would turn to their stories for strength. This powerful and moving memoir explores the enduring impact of trauma, the quiet power of resilience, and ho...