Types of Bipolar Disorder

 Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings from "high" episodes of mania to "low" periods of depression. An episode of mania is the initial characteristic of bipolar disorder and, depending on its severity, is how the disorder is classified. Mania is generally characterized by a distinct period of an elevated mood, which can take the form of exhilaration. When between these "highs" and "lows", people with the disorder often have the normal range of moods. 

Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25 and some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life.  Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year.

Bipolar disorder is not easy to spot when it starts. The symptoms may seem like separate problems, not recognized as parts of a larger problem. Some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated. Bipolar disorder symptoms can cause damaged relationships, poor job performance or school performance, and even suicide.

According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), there are four basic types of bipolar disorder:

1.Bipolar I disorder is mainly defined by manic or mixed episodes that may last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, the person also has depressive episodes, typically lasting at least two weeks. The symptoms of mania or depression must be a major change from the person's normal behavior. A person affected by Bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life. . At more extreme phases of Bipolar I, a person in a manic state can begin to experience psychosis or a break with reality, where thinking is affected along with mood

2. Bipolar II disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes shifting back and forth with hypomanic episodes, which is generally a mild to moderate level of mania, characterized by optimism. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by the occurrence of at least one hypomania episode and one major depressive state. Sometimes, this type may even have occurrences of more depressive episodes. In some cases, hypomania actually enables the individual to excel in their fields of expertise. The state of hypomania can be apparent in people that are top achievers in the work environment and at parties. The symptoms in hypomania are mostly positive and may run for about four days before it subsides. Nevertheless its manifestation is obvious and can be observed clearly by other people, it doesn’t cause any disruption in normal functional settings.

3. Cyclothymic disorder, or Cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. While cyclothymic disorder is not as severe as either Bipolar I or II, the condition is more chronic. Hypomanic symptoms tend toward irritability as compared to the more ecstatic symptoms of Bipolar II. People who have cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania that shift back and forth with mild depression for at least two years. However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for any other type of bipolar disorder.

4. Bipolar Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS) is diagnosed when a person has symptoms of the illness that do not meet diagnostic standards for either Bipolar I or II. The symptoms may not last long enough, or the person may have too few symptoms, to be diagnosed with Bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms are clearly out of the person's normal range of behavior.

Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging in maintaining a regular lifestyle. Bipolar disorder tends to worsen if it is not treated. Over time, a person may suffer more frequent and more severe episodes than when the illness first appeared. Manic episodes can lead to family conflict or financial problems, especially when the person with bipolar disorder appears to behave erratically and irresponsibly without reason. During the manic phase, people often become impulsive and act aggressively. This can result in high-risk behavior, such as repeated intoxication, extravagant spending and risky sexual behavior. Throughout severe manic or depressed episodes, a person may have symptoms that overwhelm their ability to deal with everyday life, and even reality.

Identifying the first episode of mania or depression and receiving early treatment is essential to managing bipolar disorder. In most cases, a depressive episode occurs before a manic episode, and many patients are treated initially as if they have major depression. Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime. Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but some people may have lingering symptoms. To this date, there is no cure for bipolar disorder. But proper managing helps most people with bipolar disorder gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms.  Because I it is a lifelong and recurrent illness, people with the disorder need long-term treatment to maintain control of bipolar symptoms. An effective maintenance treatment plan includes medication and psychotherapy for preventing relapse and reducing symptom severity.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings from "high" episodes of mania to "low" periods of depression. When between these "highs" and "lows", people with the disorder often have the normal range of moods.  Bipolar disorder symptoms can cause in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.

Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25 and some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life.  Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year.

Bipolar disorder is not easy to spot when it starts. The symptoms may seem like separate problems, not recognized as parts of a larger problem. Some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated.

According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), there are four basic types of bipolar disorder:

1.Bipolar I disorder is mainly defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, the person also has depressive episodes, typically lasting at least two weeks. The symptoms of mania or depression must be a major change from the person's normal behavior. A person affected by Bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life.

2.Bipolar II Disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes shifting back and forth with hypomanic episodes, but no full-blown manic or mixed episodes. The Bipolar II disorder is characterized by the occurrence of at least one hypomania episode and one major depressive state. Sometimes, this type may even have occurrences of more depressive episodes. In some cases, hypomania actually enables the individual to excel in their fields of expertise. The state of hypomania can be apparent in people that are top achievers in the work environment and at parties. The symptoms in hypomania are mostly positive and may run for about four days before it subsides. Nevertheless its manifestation is obvious and can be observed clearly by other people, it doesn’t cause any disruption in normal functional settings.

3. Cyclothymic disorder, or Cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. While cyclothymic disorder is not as severe as either Bipolar I or II, the condition is more chronic. Hypomanic symptoms tend toward irritability as compared to the more ecstatic symptoms of Bipolar II. People who have cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania that shift back and forth with mild depression for at least two years. However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for any other type of bipolar disorder.

4. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS) is diagnosed when a person has symptoms of the illness that do not meet diagnostic standards for either Bipolar I or II. The symptoms may not last long enough, or the person may have too few symptoms, to be diagnosed with Bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms are clearly out of the person's normal range of behavior.

To this date, there is no cure for bipolar disorder. But proper managing helps most people with bipolar disorder gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms.  Because bipolar disorder is a lifelong and recurrent illness, people with the disorder need long-term treatment to maintain control of bipolar symptoms. An effective maintenance treatment plan includes medication and psychotherapy for preventing relapse and reducing symptom severity.

Commercially Manufacturing Process of Cigarettes

A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smolder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well. Most modern manufactured cigarettes are filtered and include reconstituted tobacco and other additives.

Growing and harvesting the tobacco

Tobacco is initially grown in outdoor frames called seedbeds. In warm regions, the frames are covered with mulch or a cotton top sheet; in cooler regions, glass or plastic shields are installed to protect the plants. After 8-10 weeks, when the seedlings are almost 10 inches tall, they are transplanted to the fields. Although transplanting machines are available, the vast majority of the world's tobacco plants are still planted manually. As the plants grow, the heads are broken off by hand so the leaves will grow fuller, a process called topping. The plants stay in the field 90-120 days before they are harvested.

Tobacco plants are harvested by one of two methods, priming or stalk-cutting. In the priming method, the leaves are gathered and brought to a curing bam as they ripen. In the stalk-cutting method, the entire plant is cut and the plants are allowed to wilt in the field before being taken to the curing barn.

Curing the leaf

The curing process takes place in a specially constructed barn by air curing,fire curing, or flue curing. Air curing uses natural weather conditions to dry tobacco. Stalks are hung in a barn with ventilators that can be opened and closed to control temperature and humidity. Artificial heat is used only during cold or excessively humid weather. The stalks are hung for four to eight weeks. Fire curing dries tobacco with low-burning wood fires whose smoke comes in direct contact with the leaves, thus producing a smoky flavor and aroma. The tobacco is allowed to dry naturally in the barn for three to five days before it is fire-dried for 3-40 days. Flue curing is main method used in commercial production of cigarette and it’s done in small, tightly constructed barns that are artificially heated. The heat comes from flues (metal pipes) that are attached to furnaces. This process applies direct heat, which increases the amount of tobacco specific nitrosamines (a major cancer causing agent) and tobacco volume (thus making more cigarettes with less tobacco). This method is now used as a convenience and was not developed to cause cancer. It was actually developed by accident and the effect is to make a brighter yellow leaf. Flue curing takes about four to six days

The whole leaf is then processed since the stems within the leaf have more nicotine than the leaf. Stems used to be removed because they are bitter, but are now retained for their high nicotine content. In order to mask their poor burning qualities and bitter flavor, the stems are masticated along with scrap leaf into a paper pulp, which then has sugars added. Basically the stems are spread throughout the paper to mask its poor burning qualities, and the sugar is used to mask its bitter flavor. A problem here is that burned and inhaled sugar is an addictive substance, which is a factor in why Nicoderm and Nicorette are unsuccessful in helping people quit: there is no sugar withdrawal program. The sugar also accounts for the burning sensation in the throat and larynx associated with some products.

Ammonia is also added to the masticated paper pulp. Ammonia has the effect of raising the PH of the smoke which "frees" the nicotine that is in salt form. Freed nicotine is more readily absorbed by the body in smoke. Alkaloids, like nicotine and cocaine, are more readily absorbed when freed and not in salt form. This is a same process used to make crack-cocaine.

Next licorice and cocoa are added to many popular brands to smooth out the flavor. The REAL reason: licorice and cocoa, while approved for use as a food additive, have never been approved for use to be burned and inhaled. When they are burned and inhaled, it opens up the breathing passages deep in your lungs and gives you that final kick in your nicotine rush. The more surface area of your lungs exposed to the freebased nicotine and sugars, the faster you get your rush. Independent study’s has shown for this to cause more insidious cancer since it gets in deep where surgery is ineffectual.

Moistening and stripping

Unless humid weather conditions eliminate the need, the brittle, cured tobacco leaves must be conditioned in moistening chambers so they do not break when they are handled. After moistening, the tobacco is stripped. During this process, the leaves are sprayed with additional moisture as a precaution against cracking or breaking.

Sorting and auctioning

After the leaves are moistened and stripped, they are sorted into grades based on size, color, and quality, and tied in bundles for shipment. The farmers then bring the tobacco to warehouses, where it is placed in baskets, weighed, graded once again by a government inspector and, finally, auctioned to cigarette manufacturers.

Conditioning, aging, and blending

After they have purchased and transported the material to their factories, manufacturers treat and age the tobacco to enhance its flavor. First, the manufacturer re-dries the tobacco. This involves completely drying the leaves by air and then adding a uniform amount of moisture. Packed into barrels called hogsheads, the tobacco is then aged for one to three years, during which period it develops its flavor and aroma. After it is aged, the tobacco leaves are again moistened and the stalks and other wastes removed. Leaves from different types of tobacco are mixed to create a particular flavor.

The leftover tobacco particles from production processing and returned cigarettes are grinded down to fine grade. Its then mixed with water and boiled, to create a solution called “mother liquor”. The solution is sprayed on to continuous roll of paper and dried by direct heat. This is called reconstituted tobacco. Each commercially made cigarette contains % 30 reconstituted tobaccos, % 20 heat expanded tobacco and % 50 treated tobacco.

Making the cigarettes

After blending, the tobacco blends are pressed into cakes and mechanically shredded. Materials such as fruit juices or menthol are added to give additional flavor. The final shredded tobacco is then dispersed over a continuous roll of cigarette paper. A machine rolls the shredded tobacco into the paper and cuts it to the desired length. A device then grabs each cigarette and fastens a filter in one end. Modern cigarette machines can produce 25-30 cigarettes a second.

Commercially Manufacturing Process of Cigarettes

A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smolder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well. Most modern manufactured cigarettes are filtered and include reconstituted tobacco and other additives.

Growing and harvesting the tobacco

Tobacco is initially grown in outdoor frames called seedbeds. In warm regions, the frames are covered with mulch or a cotton top sheet; in cooler regions, glass or plastic shields are installed to protect the plants. After 8-10 weeks, when the seedlings are almost 10 inches tall, they are transplanted to the fields. Although transplanting machines are available, the vast majority of the world's tobacco plants are still planted manually. As the plants grow, the heads are broken off by hand so the leaves will grow fuller, a process called topping. The plants stay in the field 90-120 days before they are harvested.

Tobacco plants are harvested by one of two methods, priming or stalk-cutting. In the priming method, the leaves are gathered and brought to a curing bam as they ripen. In the stalk-cutting method, the entire plant is cut and the plants are allowed to wilt in the field before being taken to the curing barn.

Curing the leaf

The curing process takes place in a specially constructed barn by air curing,fire curing, or flue curing. Air curing uses natural weather conditions to dry tobacco. Stalks are hung in a barn with ventilators that can be opened and closed to control temperature and humidity. Artificial heat is used only during cold or excessively humid weather. The stalks are hung for four to eight weeks. Fire curing dries tobacco with low-burning wood fires whose smoke comes in direct contact with the leaves, thus producing a smoky flavor and aroma. The tobacco is allowed to dry naturally in the barn for three to five days before it is fire-dried for 3-40 days. Flue curing is main method used in commercial production of cigarette and it’s done in small, tightly constructed barns that are artificially heated. The heat comes from flues (metal pipes) that are attached to furnaces. This process applies direct heat, which increases the amount of tobacco specific nitrosamines (a major cancer causing agent) and tobacco volume (thus making more cigarettes with less tobacco). This method is now used as a convenience and was not developed to cause cancer. It was actually developed by accident and the effect is to make a brighter yellow leaf. Flue curing takes about four to six days

The whole leaf is then processed since the stems within the leaf have more nicotine than the leaf. Stems used to be removed because they are bitter, but are now retained for their high nicotine content. In order to mask their poor burning qualities and bitter flavor, the stems are masticated along with scrap leaf into a paper pulp, which then has sugars added. Basically the stems are spread throughout the paper to mask its poor burning qualities, and the sugar is used to mask its bitter flavor. A problem here is that burned and inhaled sugar is an addictive substance, which is a factor in why Nicoderm and Nicorette are unsuccessful in helping people quit: there is no sugar withdrawal program. The sugar also accounts for the burning sensation in the throat and larynx associated with some products.

Ammonia is also added to the masticated paper pulp. Ammonia has the effect of raising the PH of the smoke which "frees" the nicotine that is in salt form. Freed nicotine is more readily absorbed by the body in smoke. Alkaloids, like nicotine and cocaine, are more readily absorbed when freed and not in salt form. This is a same process used to make crack-cocaine.

Next licorice and cocoa are added to many popular brands to smooth out the flavor. The REAL reason: licorice and cocoa, while approved for use as a food additive, have never been approved for use to be burned and inhaled. When they are burned and inhaled, it opens up the breathing passages deep in your lungs and gives you that final kick in your nicotine rush. The more surface area of your lungs exposed to the freebased nicotine and sugars, the faster you get your rush. Independent study’s has shown for this to cause more insidious cancer since it gets in deep where surgery is ineffectual.

Moistening and stripping

Unless humid weather conditions eliminate the need, the brittle, cured tobacco leaves must be conditioned in moistening chambers so they do not break when they are handled. After moistening, the tobacco is stripped. During this process, the leaves are sprayed with additional moisture as a precaution against cracking or breaking.

Sorting and auctioning

After the leaves are moistened and stripped, they are sorted into grades based on size, color, and quality, and tied in bundles for shipment. The farmers then bring the tobacco to warehouses, where it is placed in baskets, weighed, graded once again by a government inspector and, finally, auctioned to cigarette manufacturers.

Conditioning, aging, and blending

After they have purchased and transported the material to their factories, manufacturers treat and age the tobacco to enhance its flavor. First, the manufacturer re-dries the tobacco. This involves completely drying the leaves by air and then adding a uniform amount of moisture. Packed into barrels called hogsheads, the tobacco is then aged for one to three years, during which period it develops its flavor and aroma. After it is aged, the tobacco leaves are again moistened and the stalks and other wastes removed. Leaves from different types of tobacco are mixed to create a particular flavor.

The leftover tobacco particles from production processing and returned cigarettes are grinded down to fine grade. Its then mixed with water and boiled, to create a solution called “mother liquor”. The solution is sprayed on to continuous roll of paper and dried by direct heat. This is called reconstituted tobacco. Each commercially made cigarette contains % 30 reconstituted tobaccos, % 20 heat expanded tobacco and % 50 treated tobacco.

Making the cigarettes

After blending, the tobacco blends are pressed into cakes and mechanically shredded. Materials such as fruit juices or menthol are added to give additional flavor. The final shredded tobacco is then dispersed over a continuous roll of cigarette paper. A machine rolls the shredded tobacco into the paper and cuts it to the desired length. A device then grabs each cigarette and fastens a filter in one end. Modern cigarette machines can produce 25-30 cigarettes a second.

LAST GOODBYE TO ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT

This Saturday was just like any other Saturdays, except I witnessed the tear down of the Seattle’s iconic structure, Alaskan Way viaduct. I have been seeing that structure for the last 12 years since I have been living in Seattle area. The Washington State Department of Transportation held a commemorative walk from 9:30am to 12:30pm on the top deck near the stadiums as crews demolished large sections of the viaduct, and walkers, including myself, enjoyed great views of the city from the structure that helped shape Seattle's waterfront. Even though it was a cold and rainy morning, thousands of people came to for the last sights of the structure. The Rat City Rollergirls and a motorcycle stunt team took over the Viaduct for half an hour. The roller derby team and the motorcycle stunt team called the Seattle Cossacks won a contest to spend 30 minutes on the viaduct. The Rollergirls showed off their derby skills along several blocks of the viaduct and the Cossacks built human pyramids and performed stunts on their vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, completed on April 4, 1953, was a double-decked elevated section of State Route 99 that runs along the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle's Industrial District and downtown Seattle. The viaduct runs above the surface street, Alaskan Way, from S. Nevada Street in the south to the entrance of Belltown's Battery Street Tunnel in the north, following previously existing railroad lines.
The viaduct was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and is proposed to be replaced, in part by an underground tunnel running beneath the city's downtown core.

The viaduct opened that year was built with enough steel to construct two Liberty ships, enough concrete to pave 30 miles of residential streets. And 18 minutes after the structure was opened, police had to deal with a traffic jam on the south ramp.

Emergency telephones were installed on each deck of the viaduct with a direct connection to police headquarters. Lights, 77 florescent kind spaced 60 feet apart on the lower deck, were the first of their kind in Seattle.

The Battery Street Tunnel didn’t open with the first viaduct section, leaving a missing link to Aurora Avenue North. It was completed about a year later.
The viaduct was built partially in response to traffic congestion along Alaskan Way, which was called Railroad Avenue until its 1936 renaming.

The viaduct was proposed to help alleviate downtown traffic after a 1946 survey by the State Highway Department and City Engineering department recommended building it.

Former city engineer R.W. Finke, who served from May 1948 to December 1952, was a strong supporter of the project. The first viaduct contract was awarded Dec. 29, 1949 and work started in early 1950, according to archived P-I accounts. H.W. Tyler was the principal design engineer and R.M. Murray was a design consultant. The Bureau of Public Roads and State Highway Department checked the original viaduct plans, and Corwin A. Pilon was resident engineer in charge.

On January 12, 2009, the state of Washington, King County, the city of Seattle, and the Port of Seattle revealed that they had agreed to replace the viaduct with a four-lane, 2-mile long underground tunnel. The tunnel would have a south portal in SoDo, near CenturyLink Field, and a north portal near Thomas Street, north of the Battery Street Tunnel.

The project is estimated to cost US$4.25 billion, with the state, city, and county promising funding well short of the estimate. The state will fund boring of the tunnels, while the city and county will fund surface street improvements and repairs to the Alaskan Way Seawall. There is at present no publicly-known timetable for the construction and opening of the tunnel. Construction of the tunnel has been scheduled to end in late 2015, with the potential length of the project being 6 years.

LAST GOODBYE TO ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT

   This Saturday was just like any other Saturdays, except I witnessed the tear down of the Seattle’s iconic structure, Alaskan Way viaduct. I have been seeing that structure for the last 12 years since I have been living in Seattle area. The Washington State Department of Transportation held a commemorative walk from 9:30am to 12:30pm on the top deck near the stadiums as crews demolished large sections of the viaduct, and walkers, including myself, enjoyed great views of the city from the structure that helped shape Seattle's waterfront. Even though it was a cold and rainy morning, thousands of people came to for the last sights of the structure. The Rat City Rollergirls and a motorcycle stunt team took over the Viaduct for half an hour. The roller derby team and the motorcycle stunt team called the Seattle Cossacks won a contest to spend 30 minutes on the viaduct.  The Rollergirls showed off their derby skills along several blocks of the viaduct and the Cossacks built human pyramids and performed stunts on their vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct, completed on April 4, 1953, was a double-decked elevated section of State Route 99 that runs along the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle's Industrial District and downtown Seattle. The viaduct runs above the surface street, Alaskan Way, from S. Nevada Street in the south to the entrance of Belltown's Battery Street Tunnel in the north, following previously existing railroad lines.
The viaduct was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and is proposed to be replaced, in part by an underground tunnel running beneath the city's downtown core.

The viaduct opened that year was built with enough steel to construct two Liberty ships, enough concrete to pave 30 miles of residential streets. And 18 minutes after the structure was opened, police had to deal with a traffic jam on the south ramp.

Emergency telephones were installed on each deck of the viaduct with a direct connection to police headquarters. Lights, 77 florescent kind spaced 60 feet apart on the lower deck, were the first of their kind in Seattle.

The Battery Street Tunnel didn’t open with the first viaduct section, leaving a missing link to Aurora Avenue North. It was completed about a year later.
The viaduct was built partially in response to traffic congestion along Alaskan Way, which was called Railroad Avenue until its 1936 renaming.

The viaduct was proposed to help alleviate downtown traffic after a 1946 survey by the State Highway Department and City Engineering department recommended building it.

Former city engineer R.W. Finke, who served from May 1948 to December 1952, was a strong supporter of the project. The first viaduct contract was awarded Dec. 29, 1949 and work started in early 1950, according to archived P-I accounts. H.W. Tyler was the principal design engineer and R.M. Murray was a design consultant. The Bureau of Public Roads and State Highway Department checked the original viaduct plans, and Corwin A. Pilon was resident engineer in charge.

On January 12, 2009, the state of Washington, King County, the city of Seattle, and the Port of Seattle revealed that they had agreed to replace the viaduct with a four-lane, 2-mile long underground tunnel. The tunnel would have a south portal in SoDo, near CenturyLink Field, and a north portal near Thomas Street, north of the Battery Street Tunnel.

The project is estimated to cost US$4.25 billion, with the state, city, and county promising funding well short of the estimate. The state will fund boring of the tunnels, while the city and county will fund surface street improvements and repairs to the Alaskan Way Seawall. There is at present no publicly-known timetable for the construction and opening of the tunnel. Construction of the tunnel has been scheduled to end in late 2015, with the potential length of the project being 6 years.

Portugal- Lisbon court places US fugitive under house arrest

LISBON, Portugal— A US  captured fugitive George Wright, leaves jail to stay at his Portuguese home while he fights extradition to the U.S., his lawyer said Friday. According to his lawyer, Manuel Luis Ferreira, Wright became Portuguese citizen through marriage to  Maria do Rosario Valente in 1991 after Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony in West Africa, gave him the new name of "Jose Luis Jorge dos Santos" and made him a citizen. Wright's new identity from Guinea-Bissau was granted after the country gave him political asylum in the 1980s, and that was accepted by Portugal.

Wright spent seven years in a U.S. prison for a 1962 murder of gas station owner Walter Patterson, a decorated World War II veteran shot during a robbery at his business in Wall, New Jersey, before escaping in 1970, and has been on the run for 41 years. He was arrested in Portugal almost three weeks ago, after authorities matched his fingerprint on a Portuguese identity card to one in the United States. Wright had been held in a Lisbon jail since he was caught.

A judge's decision  released Wright from custody on condition that he remains at his house near Lisbon and wears an electronic tag that monitors his movements, lawyer Manuel Luis Ferreira said.
Portuguese broadcaster S.I.C. showed Wright arriving at his home, in a hamlet near a stunning beach about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Lisbon, Portugal's capital, on Friday evening. Wright, his head shaved and wearing glasses, was escorted into the house by two police officers. He kissed his Portuguese wife, Maria do Rosario Valente, who was waiting at the front door before going inside.

In comments to reporters outside the house, Ferreira said his client was happy to be home."He wants to say ... that he doesn't intend to run away. He just wants to spend his life here with his family," Ferreira said.
Under Portuguese law, court proceedings and police investigations are confidential. "He can't leave the house and he can't speak about the case to anyone," Ferreira told The Associated Press.

The U.S. is trying to extradite him to serve the rest of his 15- to 30-year sentence.

Though Wright served eight of his 15- to 30-year sentence for the murder, it was his daring hijacking that made put his name beside D.B. Cooper, as one of the few criminals with the nerve to steal a plane and actually get away with it.

Wright and three other men escaped from the Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, New Jersey, on Aug. 19, 1970 and made their getaway after boldly stealing the warden’s car.

For the next two years Wright got affiliated with an underground militant group, the Black Liberation Army, and lived in a “communal family” with several of its members in Detroit.

In 1972, Wright — dressed as a priest and using an alias — hid a gun in a hollowed-out Bible and hijacked a Delta flight from Detroit to Miami with four other Black Liberation Army members.
The hijackers demand $1 million in exchange for the 90 passengers, which they actually got it -- the most ever paid for the release of airplane hostages-- hand delivered by FBI agents who followed instructions to wear
swimming trunks to keep them from concealing weapons.

Wright and his partners held on to the flight crew, forcing them to refuel in Boston before escaping to Algeria, where Algerian officials seized the plane and the money but let the hijackers go.

Ferreira contends that Wright is now a Portuguese citizen and should be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence in Portugal, where his wife and two grown children live.

The judge overseeing the case may call witnesses before announcing his decision on extradition in coming weeks. That decision can be appealed to higher courts, and the entire process could take months or longer.


http://news.yahoo.com/lisbon-court-places-us-fugitive-under-house-arrest-175633584.html
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/fugitive_who_was_portugal_lam_for_KFUorIQciq1v6IjAXVm2vN