This traction on the retina, which is painless, sends a sensation of light to the brain that we see as flashers. People typically describe these as non-colored sparkles of light in one corner of the field of vision, usually affecting one eye.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond celebrated his 100th birthday in the U.S. Senate in December 2002; New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg is the oldest current U.S. senator; he is to turn 89 next month.
The President of the Senate (who by the Constitution is also the Vice President of the United States) is Joseph Robinette BIDEN (D). The President pro tempore of the Senate is Daniel Ken INOUYE (D-HI). The Senate Majority Leader is Harry Mason REID (D-NV). The Senate Minority Leader is Addison Mitchell McCONNELL (R-KY).