OT: losing memories (was Re: How many of you are Extreme Programmers?)

[Peter Hansen]

Erik Max Francis wrote:
> 
> In all seriousness, there are cases of severe brain injury (volume wise)
> which result in surprisingly little actual impairment of abilities.
> There's obviously the Phineas Gage case (who, after having been involved
> in a railroad construction accident had a very large piece of metal fire
> through his brain, destroying most of the left frontal part of his
> brain) retained most of his mental acuities but had some emotional
> behaviorial changes).  

Okay, let me get this straight.  The very large piece of metal
fired through his brain *after* he was involved in an accident?

He must consider himself lucky that the accident itself didn't
cause any damage!

;-)

-Peter