Adventures of Bo SuperDog

From earlier this fall - Bo meets a new friend...who is bigger, stronger, and faster. Domination ensues:

Photos of the Year

2010 was a tumultuous, action-packed year, and here is some great photography that sums it up.



My personal favorite. (On a related note, a multitude of sources point to Jim Harbaugh being named head football coach at U of M after the first of the year. But at this point that's still a rumor...)

Merry Christmas from the Young's

2010: A Retrospective

2010 was going to be the “BEST YEAR EVER”, according to the reputable magazines I usually scan as I wait in the check-out line at the grocery store. Oh, who am I kidding, I don’t buy groceries. Take-out baby! That’s why God invented cell phones. And Chinese food. And Discount Burger Wednesday at O’Brien’s, but I digress…

2010 was a good year, if not quite the advertised “best ever”. That title belongs to 2004, the year I graduated high school, started college, and discovered the wondrous game of beer pong. But Mom, it was just apple juice we were playing with, I promise! (Unless apple juice is now sold in aluminum cans marked “Natural Light”, it wasn’t apple juice.) But behold the wonders of naiveté, where sometimes it’s better to cover your eyes and plug your ears and pretend your college freshmen child is in the library on a Friday night. (That was Mackenzie.)

There’s much in this world we overlook, both by accident and by will. Maybe it’s the news we read, or watch, or listen to, that gives us only half of the story, and expects us to be too busy or too tired to care about the rest. Or it’s the stories that go unreported, that pop up on our smartphone or iPad and then get lost in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. There’s no better time than Christmas to pause and reflect upon the gifts we’ve been given, the comfort we enjoy, and the community to which we belong.

And now, haikus about the Young family!

Jon:                 Just got his car back

                       Enjoys his job at B-Y

                       Still has the goatee

Bo:                  A bundle of joy

                       Furry and cute to play with

                       Likes to eat feces

Mackenzie:      Junior at U-M

                       Just turned 21 years old

                       Not a fan of Glee

Cameron:        Working at Steelcase

                      Can see, big thanks to LASIK

                      Pumped for 2011

Mom&Dad:     Not quite empty nest

                      Growing older gracefully

                      Pretty cool I guess



May 2011 bring you joy and happiness (and Michigan victories! C’mon, I had to put one plug in!)

                                                                              Gangsters!

                                                                                Happy!



Missed the Lunar Eclipse? Watch This!

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.


Eerie and beautiful.

At Least He's Wearing A Tie....

Young family Christmas parties are FUN!

As 2010 Draws To A Close...

One of the annual pleasures of the approaching of a new year, besides, you know, Christmas and everything, is the multitude of 'Year in Review'-type articles and compilations. I love these because they remind you of things you may have forgotten throughout the year - and they're just so dang entertaining.



Here's one of the great viral videos of 2010 - heartwarming premise + goofy dancing little kid = Youtube sensation.

MetroDome Roof Collapses

We've gotten quite a bit of snow through Grand Rapids this weekend, but it was nowhere near the blizzard that ran through Minneapolis-St. Paul. Check out this crazy video....



The game scheduled to play there today obviously was cancelled; the Vikings v. Giants game will instead be played in Detroit tomorrow night. Not much of a homefield advantage.

My LASIK Experience

"Just keep staring at that blinking light." That blinking light is a LASER beam and when it's turned on will surely fry my brain. "Ok, we'll need 22 seconds of correction on the left eye." Oh dear God, don't flinch. Do. Not. Move. "Ok, we're all set. Looks perfect in there. Looks really good."

This was the dialogue between my reassuring ophthalmologist and my panicking brain Thursday around 1pm during my LASIK surgery. You go into it prepared for either the best or the worst: thinking maybe he'll magically snap his fingers and you'll be seeing 20/20, or the opposite, you'll walk into a room and there he'll be sitting, in front of a tray of various sized scalpels and clamps. Both of these are true. It is quick and pain-free (as of my follow-up the next day, I was already seeing 20/15 - must have something to do with my preternaturally smooth corneas), but the 20-odd minutes I was lying on my back, getting a flap cut in my cornea and then pulled back, getting the air bubbles brushed away from said cornea, clamping each eye open in preparation of the laser, holding statue-still while the laser was on - those 20 minutes were amongst the most terrifyingly bizarre of my life.

LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and in the simplest terms, involves using a laser to cut a flap of corneal tissue, folding the flap open and using a second laser to reshape the cornea, then repositioning the flap over the cornea so it can readhere and heal itself naturally. Step 3 in this process was a joy, and a giant relief to have my vision back, albeit blurry and disorienting. Step 1 was okay too; I didn't even realize this laser was working until it was done, and the flap opened up, making my vision extremely blurry. The suction cup applied to my eye during this stage was a nice touch too, and left behind a little gift as well, in the form of huge red marks on the whites of my eyes. Apparently these burst blood vessels fade in a few weeks.

Status check: Step 1 complete, corneal flap cut and middle of cornea exposed, causing blurred vision and mild freakout, quickly quelled by the knowledge that any movement will make this situation much worse. And, due to a proliferation of numbing drops, I can't actually feel any of this. Which somehow makes it worse.

They say that sensory deprivation can be a very effective form of torture (and by they I obviously mean George W. Bush) and I, for one, will tell you that they are absolutely right. To most accurately depict this harrowing 7 or 8 minute stretch, I better liveblog it:

Thursday, 12/2/10, 1:19pm: After the first laser is done, I'm feeling pretty good. Geez, that was easy. Didn't even feel it. Minus the weird, blood vessel-popping suction cups on the eyes, piece of cake.

1:20pm: So the flaps were just flipped open. I feel like I'm wearing the glasses that simulate drunkenness in driver's ed class. I would wager, out of all the senses, sight is my favorite, followed closely by taste. I'm less than thrilled by this blurriness.

1:22pm: The table shifted from under one big laser machine to under another big laser machine. Doc says I have some air bubbles on my eye, and uses a small brush-like device to wipe them off. To say this was weird would be an understatement. I could see it happening, but it seemed like from a distance, and obviously I couldn't feel it. At this point I began to wonder what the hell I was doing.

1:24pm: Turns out my right needed 16 seconds of correction by the laser and my slightly worse left eye needed 22 seconds. After taping each lid open, and placing a clamp on the lid as well, apparently as a safeguard to prevent frying of the eyelid, Doc told me to look directly at a blinking orange light, and I did as I was told. In normal situations, in which the specter of pain makes an appearance, my default reaction is to shut my eyes tight, raise my shoulders, and pray. In this situation, it was physically impossible to do the first two, so I relied on prayer and some clinched teeth.

 1:25pm: After what felt like an afternoon at Abu Ghraib, the procedure was over, and the corneal flap was folded back over. Both eyes felt scratchy and dry, and pretty blurry, but on doctor's orders, there was to be no rubbing of the eyes for at least a week, lest I risk disrupting the healing of the flap.

Well, I survived and am now the only non-nerdy glasses wearer in my family. Money well spent, and despite the uneasiness described above, I'm glad I did it. Now, if only they had LASIK surgery for spinal cords...

LASIK Tomorrow!

Gonna get the 'ol eyeballs worked on. Slightly nervewracking, what with the whole laser/eyeball in close proximity thing, but nothing a little Valium can't handle. Luckily it only takes around 30 seconds per eye, so it will be quick. And apparently I have very smooth corneas, making mine an easy correction to make. So I've got that going for me....which is nice. I look forward to a glasses-free world, at least until I'm old and need reading glasses, like most old people I know. Wish me luck!

A Montana thunderstorm at sunset.

Paralysis in the News

Maybe I'm just more cognizant of these stories now, but it seems like more and more people are being featured in the news after becoming paralyzed. There's the Southern Mississippi football player recently shot and paralyzed from the waist down, returning to the field to watch a home game from the sidelines. There's former NBA star Rodney Rogers falling off his ATV and breaking his neck. It's hard enough to move around a 6'2'' body; I can't imagine the struggles he has with a 6'10'', 270 lb. frame.

There's usually a flipside to these stories that at first glance seem nothing but tragic. Sometimes from the crevasse of despair come the most inspiring, heartwarming instances of determination and redemption. The Rutgers player injured in a game last month graduated from his ventilator, and had his injury reclassified as incomplete, meaning he has at least some feeling beneath his level of injury. The Jacksonville Jaguar offensive lineman paralyzed in a shooting in 2008 just got married, and stood up for the entire 45 minute ceremony.
As Thanksgiving approaches, tales of immense courage like these remind us what to really be thankful for - family, friends, health, and a life you've still got and is still worth living.

And now, some funny videos to lead us into a delicious holiday...

Do You Know This Person?

An unidentified University of Michigan junior, majoring in engineering, who

turns 21 tomorrow, and apparently is a BIG Harry Potter fan.

Spinal Rehab in the UK

I enjoyed this article. Very informative, and I could relate to nearly every quote in there. Some favorites:

- "When I looked for help on the internet I found out about a place called Project Walk in California," he says. "I gave it a go and went over thinking it would be happyclappy but it was the opposite. It was physically and mentally invigorating." Happyclappy? Must be a British thing.

- Andy begins the session by moving his legs around to wake up the muscles and then Vish starts to work out on the thigh strengthening machine, lifting his legs. He can't hide his smile. "I can feel it," he says. "It's a bit bizarre, but I can feel it."  It is a bit bizarre, but I know exactly what he's talking about.

- "Sometimes we have to clear partners and mothers out of the way so they don't affect concentration. There is a natural instinct of parents to smother." No comment.




A Chilean miner was on Letterman last week, the same guy who was running in the NYC marathon, and he killed. Wait for his Elvis impression.

Asst. Michigan Attorney General Finally Fired

A State of Michigan Assistant Attorney General was fired today, thanks to his homophobic and inflammatory blog he maintains, criticizing U of M's student body president. He was lampooned recently on 'The Daily Show' in a hilarious segment; thank God Mike Cox finally grew a pair and fired this clown...and also good thing Cox isn't Governor, because he let this guy, who works directly for Cox, make an ass of the whole state for the past 6 months.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-november-1-2010/look-who-s-stalking

November, National Novel Writing Month

I am officially attempting this. November is National Novel Writing Month, so I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring and give it a shot (See that? 2 cliches in one sentence! Skillz baby!). It's highly likely this will end up being a short story. (Note the 'short' in italics. Don't be expecting War and Peace). It also could end up being more of a pamphlet.

Shaq, the King of Social Media

Shaq is the man. Genuine, hilarious, large...I will miss him when he retires. Although I'm sure he'll find a way to stay relevant.

Walking Last Month

Rutgers Football Player Paralyzed

This is terribly sad, and unfortunately happens far too often. This past Saturday, Rutgers special teams player Eric LaGrand broke his neck making a tackle during the Scarlet Knight's game against Army. He collided with a player, and slumped immediately to the ground, motionless. I can and can't imagine what was going through his mind at that moment. As I lay face down in the Atlantic, waiting patiently for someone to flip my ass over, I had no idea what had happened to me. Something serious obviously had happened, as I couldn't move anything, arms, legs, nothing, but I wouldn't find out how serious for days, even weeks later. Coming to understand the permanence of such an injury takes even longer, if at all.

Watching ESPN this morning, I saw and heard many touching tributes to Eric; his team has 'Believe' stickered on their helmets, and Rutgers' opponent today, Pitt, is making a banner that many in the student body will sign. He has received 24,000 emails over the past week. I only hope that this intense wave of support can buoy him in the hard times ahead. As has been reported, he had surgery at the C3/C4 level, and his condition has not changed much over the past 7 days. They say the first 72 hours after injury are the most crucial; you want to see signs of improvement during that window. Shit, we were still trying to understand the doctor's accent during my '72 hour window'. It's been said Eric is a great guy with a strong family and community around him; in that, he is lucky, just as I am - about the family and community part, at least :).

I'm not too sure I would like all my medical updates making the front page of ESPN.com, either. My website was good enough for me. And there is hope for Eric, to which former NFL player Kevin Everett is a walking testament. Eric, we pray for you, and a swift recovery, both in body and spirit.

Now This Is A Candidate I Can Support

The rent IS too damn high! And I dig those gloves.

At Least UofM Cheerleaders Are Still The Leaders And Best

Every school has one: a homecoming celebration, an annual pilgrimage where proud alums return to campus to drink beer, eat chili, and wish for an afternoon that they were still enrolled.

At Michigan homecoming games, a particular delight are the cheerleaders, who, with the zest of Civil War re-enactors, return to their glory days of too-tight block M sweaters and dare-devil stunts. They pull off backflips, arm-in-arm handstands, and the famed 'locomotive', done correctly by the chaps above, and horribly wrong, though enthusiastically, by the fellows below.

Miracle Rescue in Chile

What a story! After 70 days stuck over 2,000 feet below the surface, the last miner was rescued early Thursday morning. I can't imagine the re-entry process needed for those rescued, both physical and psychological; the condition of their eyes, used to only darkness for so long, more resemble those of a mole than those of a human.

One negative from the rescue I read about was actually kind of funny - the mine-side vigil held by friends and family of those trapped attracted both the wife and the mistress of one of the miners, outing his little dalliance. I'm thinking he might want to stay down there a little longer.

Another Cool Feature on Brock Mealer

This story has captured the eyes and hearts of the nation, and recently appeared on the ESPN news show E:60. Each iteration adds a bit more, and the more recognition this gets, the better.

Bonus - At the 10:47 mark of the video, the camera scans over the student section and Mackenzie is easily recognizable, wearing sunglasses.

As for a prediction for tomorrow...this game will be a shootout undoubtedly. The game will ride on which offense can limit turnovers and which defense can make stops on their own side of the field. Homefield advantage will be huge....Michigan 38, Michigan State 31

MORE Great Stem Cell News

U of M created the state's first line of human embryonic stem cells, a huge step forward towards the ultimate goal of cures. Using embryos headed for the garbage, and with the help of the state constitutional amendment passed in November 2008, U of M scientists join a select group of American universities who have created a line of human embryonic stem cells. Read more here.


Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.


A camera in SPACE! Almost as cool!

More Stem Cell Good News

My favorite word is in the title of the article: Progress. Scientists have formulated a more efficacious way to reprogram skin cells into stem cells, the stem cell-creation methodology of choice, as it circumvents the political firestorm surrounding destroyed embryos. 

The cells become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) by fiddling with their RNA. The previous approach involved using the cell's DNA, which resulted in a heightened risk of cancer. Needless to say, that plan was quickly scrapped.

Luckily, using the RNA turns out even better, as the process is highly efficient and the iPS cells are of good quality. Good thing, because I want only the finest iPS'.

Quick and Easy Healthcare Reform Explanation

And it's a cartoon, so it's fun! Ok, fun may be pushing it but it is informative while remaining non-partisan. There's so much vitriol out there about the Affordable Care Act that what it actually does, what it costs and who will benefit gets lost in the nonsensical yelling between both sides.

Good article on Marc Buoniconti, president of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

"That's the spirit of the project: Never, never, never give up. We have too much to lose. We're fighting for so much. We're fighting for so many."


Buoniconti was hurt playing football 25 years ago. He's dedicated his life to finding a cure for paralysis. The Miami Project is one of the premier research centers in the world and according to the article, are moving things along to the clinical trial stage. Very cool.

I found the ArtPrize Winner! (maybe...)

The artist, a local man, used only a #2 pencil to draw this early 20th century US Cavalry regiment by hand. It's life-size and the detail is simply amazing to behold in person. He spent 25+ hours a week over the last 9 months creating it. It's located on the 2nd floor of the GR Art Museum. Check it out!

A Quick Prediction...

Oh geez, a 1-AA team...not again! This should go better than 2007....

Michigan 45, UMass 7

Cool pose, Denard...

Paparazzi Photos

These paparazzi photos were shot the other day during a workout.  I sort of look like Humpty Dumpty but I think that's an effect of the camera. Or a baggy shirt. Or....

Adventures of Bo SuperDog

Are we sure Bo's not half waterdog? He looks pretty amphibious to me.

A Michigan Man...

What is A Michigan Man? from Charles Woodson

Hilarious. I need a shirt like the one Braylon has.

Oh and a Civil War beard like his too.

Walking into Michigan Stadium

Pretty cool.

Encouraging Video: Private Company Finding Success in Fighting Paralysis

I remember reading about this guy and his company in a magazine earlier this year. Judging by their tests on monkeys, they are finding some success. The more companies trying, the better, in my opinion. There's certainly money to be made, and it looks like these people are on the right track.

Get Pumped!

This is a great read about Brock Mealer, the paralyzed brother of a Michigan player who will lead the team, running, out of the tunnel on Saturday. I will try to get video and put it up.

Well, this ain't cool!

A federal judge ruled earlier this week that federal funding for embryonic stem cells must cease, negating the expansion of federal research funding Obama signed into law in early 2009. This seems to be the crux of the issue:

"The case involves an obscure rider, known as the Dickey-Wicker amendment, that has been attached to annual appropriations bills for the Department of Health and Human Services since 1996. It prohibits the use of federal funds to support research in which embryos are destroyed or discarded. It does not directly address research on stem cells derived from embryos, a field that developed later."

Recent administrations have toed the line; they would not allow federal money to be used to derive the stem cells, which destroys embryos, but allocated research money to stem cell lines created by private funds.

And the kicker - the plaintiffs in the suit are 2 researchers who work with adult stem cells. Apparently they're scared of the potential competition. Ridiculous. The DoJ is appealing the ruling. Godspeed, dear lawyers.

What a July/early August!

As a whirlwind stretch comes to a close, I'll catch you up on the happenings around here, in the style of a 12 year old on Twitter (remember, 140 characters or less).

- 4 of July spent @ smiths cottage on walloon. much debauchery, many dead soldiers (empty wine bottles). got way sunburnt.

- VIVA ESPANA! spain wins world cup final, i make mucho dinero betting on their games.

- went to chi to see james taylor/carole king. damn they old! great concert - they were on a revolving stage in the center of arena. i didnt fall asleep!

- saw indigo girls at meijer gardens...YAWN...

- not fired from job yet! JK... enjoying working at Nurture by Steelcase, fun people, and i wear jeans to work everyday, my favorite outfit.

- therapy continues good...doing a lot of assisted walking and standing and weights. you should see my biceps! i will put up video soon.

- UM football starts soon! 5 months of awesomeness/possible torture ensues!

I love a good mocking...

...especially when the butt of the joke is my all-time fave mayor governor politician endorser for hire.

 

C'mon, it's at least a little funny.

Adventures of Bo SuperDog Episode 9

Bo, the refined gentleman he is, enjoys a game of croquet now and again. Unfortunately, he does not know how to play.

Heartwarming Video of Soldiers' Return

I challenge anyone to watch this with a dry eye. God Bless the troops!

SCI Research Update

Finally, some good news - I'm getting a little impatient! Researchers based at the Children's Hospital in Boston have made a potential breakthrough regarding nerve regeneration in the spinal cord. About damn time!

As long as I never have this hair-do, I'm good.

Nerves grow at a snail's pace anyway, but the corticospinal tract, a bundle of nerves connecting the brain and the spinal cord, are particularly resistant to regeneration after injury. And being near the brain, you guessed it, they're important. Th research team, in rodent studies, were able to achieve this corticospinal nerve regrowth by deleting a specific enzyme, PTEN, that usually acts as a brake on cell growth. Early in life, this enzyme's activity is low, allowing a person's necessary growth, but scales up to restrict growth as a person develops, to prevent giants/monsters from growing among us. By eliminating this pesky and annoying enzyme, the damaged nerves can reconnect and the blocked signals from brain to legs can be successfully sent.

          'He, Steward and their colleagues are now asking whether the PTEN-deletion treatment leads to restoration of motor function in mice with spinal cord injury. While the finding of anatomical connections between regenerating nerves and nerve cells beyond the lesion site is encouraging, in order for nerve regeneration to result in restoration of motor function the anatomical connections must represent real sites of information transfer.'

Basically, the nerves must not only be physically connected but also transmit the correct message. God speed, researchers!

Whoops!

The worst miss you'll ever see.

Adventures of Bo SuperDog Episode 8

At a recent family function, Bo encountered many strange people, prompting him to gallantly defend our home turf.

The return of Mad Men

I highly recommend watching. The best part of the show is the unwavering dedication to be totally authentic to the time period, the early 1960's.

These will get you up to speed; first, the favorite pastime of ad men in the '60s, and second, a display of the slightly unorthodox parenting techniques of that era. (Seems similar to today, in my experience. Ha!)

Just A Dollar

This video is a year old, but I just saw it for the first time. Kinda cheesy, but it gets the point across.

New and Improved Michigan Stadium

Michigan Stadium will not only be once again the largest in the country, and 30% louder as a result of the renovations started in 2008 and finally completed, but the $226 million dollar price tag is already almost completely covered.

Here's an update on Brock Mealer, the brother of a UM player who became paralyzed in 2007 and will lead the team out of the tunnel before the home opener Sept. 4.

LeBron Fallout

Anyone who follows sports even a little bit has heard the hubbub about LeBron James and his free agency choice. In a once-in-a-lifetime display of ego, he announced his decision to leave Cleveland and join 2 other superstars on the Miami Heat. In the span of a few weeks, King James has gone from universally adored and respected hometown hero, the savior of the dump that is Cleveland, Ohio (O-H-N-O) to a pariah, mocked across the country as a great player who's too scared to lead a team on his own. The Cleveland owner called him out in a already legendary ALLCAPS rant. Even Michael Jordan, the player all these guys grew up wanting to emulate, came out and said he would have never teamed up with his one-time rivals in order to guarantee multiple championships. 

I can't fault LeBron for switching allegiances to play with his friend in Miami. Obviously, Miami>>>Cleveland in every way possible, and this is his life; as entertaining as it is to watch, he has to live it for the next 6 years and who am I to dictate where someone else lives and for whom they work? I am disappointed though, because I wanted to watch a potential G.O.A.T. develop (Greatest Of All Time), and now that he's on a veritable all star team, he can't shine as bright. I can't say I'll be rooting for them either; it's hard to cheer for something as inorganic as this. One thing's for sure though - the Pistons' won't be winning any time soon.

Power of Creativity

The bridge on the right is hypothetical. Merely a rendered mockup, but a brilliant one at that. Designed to connect the Chinese mainland to the islands of Hong Kong, the designers are using the unique shape of the bridge to solve a potentially car-wrecking problem: in China, they drive on the right side of the road, while in Hong Kong, British influence compels them to be on the left. The figure-8 shape solves this problem, and keeps the highways as safe as possible.

VIVA ESPANA!

For the first time ever, Spain will be playing in the final of the World Cup. And the side they'll be facing, the Oranje of the Netherlands, are there for the first time as well, ensuring that the victory will be even sweeter for one these two long-suffering football powerhouses. Always a bridesmaid, everyone said of Spain. Well, it was more like 'always a wedding caterer', because not only did Spain always come up short, they did so in spectacularly disappointing fashion. But those days are gone, after their dominating 1-0 victory over the Germans this afternoon. Yes, a 1-0 victory can be dominating.

And so we wait for Sunday afternoon, for what is sure to be the most watched sporting event of the year, shaming the Super Bowl by a factor of 10. I can only imagine the fiestas in the Spanish streets after this win. Cross your dedos!

Me and RichRod

He promised me 10 wins. (Ha! Just kidding...not about me laughing at that ridiculously optimistic win total, because I do find the idea of 10 wins darkly funny, but at the fact that RichRod would promise a mere fan like me anything.)

The Young male U of M alums (that's a mouthful) recently saw U of M athletic director Dave Brandon and head football coach Rich Rodriguez speak at an alumni association function in GR. The highlights were...the food (delicious!). I kid...but it was distinctly more general and boilerplate than in years past. Not much talk about the actual team, and, curiously, no question and answer session at the end of Rodriguez's practiced spiel. I don't blame him for dodging some sure to be tough questions, but C'MON MAN, I want specifics. Oh well. Only 2 months 'til kick-off.  

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL

This was amazing. In the 92nd minute, US captain Landon Donovan came through and punched home the game winner, sending the US team through to the next round. This is as close to a buzzer beater as you'll ever get in soccer.

Sports sound so much more refined when spoken in a British accent. A spot of tea, please. Lovely. Goal for the Americans; heavens, what celestial football.

World Cup 2010

Been a pretty entertaining World Cup so far. There's been goals, yellow cards, officiating controversies, and the ubiquitous vuvuzela. That buzzing sound you hear from your TV set is not a swarm of killer bees descending upon South Africa, nor is it a cruel prank being played by Comcast. It's a South African 'tradition', and despite it being incredibly annoying, it's here to stay. Just don't blow too hard.

New Video!

This was taken Wednesday, June 2nd. I recently stopped wearing ankle braces; they kept my ankles in a constant state of flexion, which then helps in the stepping process, as well as preventing dragging of the precious toes. Basically, wearing them meant one less thing for me worry about. A couple weeks ago, we forgot to put them on, walked about 50 feet, noticed them missing, but after noting how well that set had gone, we decided to try it again without them - and I haven't worn them since. HA! Who needs them! I think this means my legs are getting stronger and can do more on their own. Take a look.



'Sometimes I lay under the moon and thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray, don't take me soon, cause I am here for a reason.
Sometimes in my tears I drown but I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds, I know some day it'll all turn around.'

- Matisyahu

Adventures of Bo SuperDog Episode 7

Bo encounters an RC car; hijinks ensue.

The BEST Nike Ad Ever

Directed by Oscar-nominated director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, (director of Babel), this ad is maybe the most expensive ever made, maybe the most planned (over a year in the making), maybe among the longest - but it's definitely the coolest. You've probably seen it if you spend anytime at all watching ESPN or ABC; it's been ubiquitous amongst their various World Cup promotions.

Most of all, it's fun. Featuring multiple cameos, humorous asides, and pop-culture references, along with some of the world's best footballers, it's entertainment at its finest. A difficult feat to achieve, but this is advertising at its best - art.

Here's a story about Project Walk, a Southern California therapy gym that has been a pioneer in spinal cord injury recovery. Per usual, the article is an over simplification of the therapy process, and seems a bit skeptical of the whole thing. I love the bit with the spine surgeon who's never heard of Project Walk. What a dumbass. You'd think a person who operates on the spine would have at least heard of a nationally known gym in his own backyard. I can understand the skepticism but at least have a base knowledge of something before you dismiss it as snake-oil.

Funniest SNL Sketch of All Time

I think my favorite is I-Zheet M'Drurz. Immature, but hilarious.

Paralysis Recovery in the UM Weight Room

Brock Mealer was hurt in a Christmas Eve 2007 car accident which killed his father, separated the shoulder of his brother Elliott, a UM offensive lineman recruit, and left him paralyzed from the waist down. The UM football staff promised to save Elliott's scholarship, and to help however they could in Brock's difficult recovery. Enter Mike Barwis, UM's gravelly voiced, crazy lunatic strength and conditioning coach. He and Brock have been working together two days a week since November on standing, weights, and assisted walking, and as you can tell from the video above, he's made tremendous progress.

Brock will lead the UM team through the tunnel and out onto the field before the first game vs. UConn this fall. Inspiring stuff.

Vegas: A Retrospection

VIP bottle service: $3000

Tips to the bouncer and waitress: $400

Pretending you're a highroller, if only for 1 night: priceless

Flying into Las Vegas is a strange experience. From the air, the Nevadan desert looks almost Martian, a desolate array of craggy peaks jutting out of scorched red rock. Surely nothing can live out here. This God-forsaken hell is just a fly-over on the way to Cali. Then you look out the tiny plane window and far below you see what must be a lake. Water? But if there’s water… Looking across the aisle and out the other side of the plane you see what resembles a series of motor homes, at least from 30,000 feet up. But didn’t the pilot tell us to prepare for landing? Where am I flying to…You look back out the window, and then you see it. Vegas. Rising up out of nowhere, Las Vegas is a literal oasis in the desert. It’s no mistake there’s a hotel called the Mirage, because if the pilot didn’t know any better, and I flew Allegiant Air so who knows, they easily get confused and fly right on by. I must have drank too much today. And who would blame them? It’s Vegas, baby!

As Sarah Palin would say, it’s like putting lipstick on a pig, or something like that. (I try my best to ignore her). After the millionth slot machine promising a million dollar jackpot, at some point the glitz and in your face glamour begin to feel like some sort of alternate reality. And that’s when it’s time to pack up your things and fly home to your quiet cul-de-sac where you don’t stay out to 5 in the morning drinking $600 bottles of vodka or wake up at 10 the next morning to do it all again. (Not saying we did all that…) Because when Vegas rears back and opens wide, and you can either go all-in or call it a weekend and escape with the dignity and checking account still intact, you gotta what you gotta do. It’s an ugly monster, that Vegas. But boy is it fun.

Lebron: Stay or Go?

The biggest question of the summer, right behind 'will the entire Gulf turn to oil?' and right ahead of 'OMG who will win American Idol, Lee or Crystal?', is for which team will LeBron James be playing come July 1st. At the stroke of midnight July 1, the best basketball player in the world becomes a free agent and can sign a contract with any team. LeBron has been noncommittal up to this point, dodging questions about his future the way he does defenders on the way to the hoop. While every team in the NBA would want a player of his caliber, there are only a select few with a realistic chance of signing him. Allow me to evaluate these contenders chances and emerge with a chosen team for the Chosen One.

Every Country is #1 at Something

This infographic was fascinating - it shows what each country on Earth has more of than any other country. Good or bad, every country needs a claim to fame.

Some highlights -
USA - Serial killers - Seriously? That's creepy.

Slovakia - Overweight women - Cancelling my trip to Slovakia.

Qatar - Men - And also my trip to Middle East.

Finland - Female doctors; Latvia - Women - Hello Baltic!

Adventures of Bo SuperDog Episode 6

Bo, typically surrounded by giants in the Young household, is exceedingly confused when he encounters a human with whom he can see eye-to-eye.

VEGAS!

I'm headed to Vegas in a few hours for a friend's bachelor party. Hello nickel slots - wish me luck!

Oil Still Spilling

This is disgusting. Drill, baby, drill?

'Liquid Mountaineering' - Jesus wannabes or clever viral ad?

This MAY be fake, but pretty funny nonetheless.

Recent Environmental Disasters

Ranging from the man-made to the acts of God, there seem to have been an unusually high amount of environmental disasters. From devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and China (which 5 letter country is next?) to the oil leak crisis persisting in the Gulf of Mexico, these catastrophes remind us of how fragile the ecosystems in which we live really are. These wake up calls have been exceptionally loud, and hopefully they get the right people's attention.
Breathtaking imagery after the jump.

Rest in Peace Ernie Harwell

Detroit Tigers' legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell passed away yesterday at the age of 92. The voice of the Tigers from 1960 to 2002, for millions in Michigan, Harwell's friendly baritone crackling over the radio signaled the end of a dreary gray winter and the coming of the long, warm days and nights of summer. Summer means baseball, and for many baseball meant Harwell. The Hall of Famer was known as one of the friendliest people in the game, quick with a laugh and a wrinkled smile that reminded you this was a game, America's pastime, and meant to be enjoyed.

I heard on SportsCenter this morning a story about Harwell. When asked what memento he would be taking from the old Tiger Stadium before it was demolished, he answered, 'the urinal in the visitor's clubhouse'. And sure enough, he cleaned it up, and made it into a planter for his wife Lulu. His reasoning was that the best players in the history of the American League had all used it, and that made it something worth cherishing.

He missed only 2 games in the entirety of his 55 year broadcasting career. He was a great ambassador for the sport and a beloved figure around the country, and his quirky, cheerful, and always memorable commentary on baseball and life will be missed.

New Video!

Despite it's grainy, unprofessional look, don't worry, this is not security camera footage.

Interview with Dr. Wise Young

Here's an enlightening interview with one of the world's premiere neuroscientists and spinal cord researchers, Dr. Wise Young. He is working to establish a network of hospitals and labs in the US with which to duplicate a clinical trial he is currently running in China. Dr. Young (no relation) hopes to have trials going in the US by 2011, the biggest obstacles being money at this point. Oh, and the ten year dead period in stem cell research we've recently emerged from. Thanks Dubya.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-431681

One Game Changes Everything

I love this ad - the pacing, the imagery, the slight crescendo towards the end, the overall message. Soccer aka Football is probably the most unifying, egalitarian force on the planet. Everyone likes it, anyone can play, and no one can buy a victory, it must be earned on the pitch. I'm pumped for this summer.



FIFA World Cup 2010: One Game Changes Everything

Happy Birthday to Bo!

Today Bo turns....2 years old! If he were a human, he'd be clamoring about drivers ed and his first pimple. Luckily, he's a dog, content to chase shadows of bugs for hours on end. 

Stem Cell Interview

I recently read a very interesting interview with Lawrence Goldstein, a leading stem cell researcher and advocate. He wrote 'Stem Cells for Dummies', a book I think a lot of people could stand to read.

One of President Obama's first moves as president was to reverse Dubya's inane decision to restrict federal funding of stem cells to just existing stem cell lines. Now, funding restrictions have loosened, but along with the available funds come serious regulations over the ethical nature of the stem cells. Out of the 21 existing lines, only 2 have qualified for more funds, because of the difficulty in proving that these cells were derived by ethical means. Oh, the wonders of red tape.

QUESTION: Do you have pet peeves regarding how the public perceives stem cell research?

ANSWER: I have a few.

The Walkabout Foundation in Haiti

Very worthy.

Olympics!

The Olympics have finally come to an end. And what a two weeks it was. Here are my best and worst moments.

Adventures of Bo SuperDog - Episode 4

Here is the latest in the acclaimed 'Adventures of Bo SuperDog' series. Enjoy (but seriously...don't call PETA).

Adventures of Bo SuperDog - Episode 3

Here is the 3rd episode in the award winning series 'Adventures of Bo SuperDog'.
Enjoy.

Skiing Video

Here is some long awaited footage from my skiing adventure several weeks ago. The videography leaves something to be desired, and you'll soon find out why.

Meeting Mitt Romney

Yup, that's a real life celebrity. And that's Mitt Romney too.

UofM Commencement Speaker...and a Brief History of Pretty Much Everything

Quick, guess who UofM locked down to speak to their graduates this year? Any guesses? Stumped yet? Oh, just some dude named Obama. No big deal. They had Clinton in '07, and now Obama in '10. Somewhere in the middle of all that prestige, the lowly '08 winter grads were stuck listening to Roger Penske talk Nascar for 20 minutes. I'm pissed.

This is cool though.

New Video

This was filmed sometime in January, I think.



And yes, turtlenecks ARE in style!

David Brooks and the Great Decisions lecture series

Every now and then I like to get out and have an educational experience, to, you know, keep the post-collegiate mind fresh. When I'm really lucky, I have multiple in a single day. (Oof, that sounds like a 'that's what she said' joke.) Anyway...what I'm trying to say is, yesterday I was fortunate to go to not one but two interesting lectures that at first glance seemed unrelated but after some inspection, worked together nicely.

Cool video - robotic exoskeleton allows paras to walk

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthyLiving/bionic-breakthrough-robotic-suit-helps-paraplegics-walk/story?id=9741496&page=1

This an interesting article with video. An Israeli made robotic suit with a battery pack can help paraplegics stand up from a chair and slowly walk, by sensing when steps are taken and even when stairs need to be climbed. Possibly available in late 2010, this is just another example of some great innovation and research that is happening. Exciting stuff.

Pool!

My experience in the pool was not as unenjoyable as I thought it might be. I wouldn't make the leap to say it was 'fun' or 'something I liked', but it wasn't unbearable. The water was warm, hopefully due to the heater, not the previous occupants. We, two trainers and myself, tried to replicate some of the standing and walking we do on land, in an attempt to compare the reactions of my leg muscles in the differing environments. Fighting buoyancy every step of the way, we managed to get through it, and the experience was instructive. My trainers reported my muscles firing on command (sort of), like a well-trained army with a malfunctioning radio. But my glutes, hammys, and quads were all making noise, so that's good news enough to keep getting in the water. It'd be nicer to look out the window and see palm trees instead of snow drifts, but what can you do.

Therapy Update

IT'S GOOD!

Just kidding, I'll provide a more substantive update than that. My therapy schedule was slightly interrupted during the holiday season, thanks in part to Christmas and New Years both falling on a Friday this year (Who knew, 7 days apart...) So I was forced against my will to take those days off, and relax a little bit, and, you know, stuff my face with delicious food on multiple occasions. Also against my will. But I'm back on my normal MWF schedule now, and have worked off the rust that comes with taking extended breaks. I have friends who are former wrestlers tell me before that they can notice a difference in their conditioning after drinking a single carbonated beverage, let alone a 24 pack of Milwaukee's Best Light like I did on New Year's Eve (Not true.) I've worked all that 2009 dust off, and am now operating at peak levels. I walked using the blue walker this week for the first time in several weeks and I think the break was beneficial in some ways too; I felt very strong and balanced and my trainers commented on the quality of our walking session.

I think I'm going to start going in the pool soon, so watch out for video of that. Be sure to wear your shades as the pale tint of my untanned skin may cause blindness.

First Day of Work

Great success! My first day as an employed member of Steelcase Nation was both exciting and encouraging, and I think I'm going to enjoy my time there very much. I'm working for Nurture, Steelcase's health care furniture division, in their marketing department two days a week. This allows me to continue with my physical training the remaining three days. It definitely has the feel of a small company, everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and I can't wait to get the acclimation process out of the way and get down to business.



Wishful thinking, but hilarious.