Monday, July 30, 2012

Amazing!



This is incredible.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Most Adventurous Man in the World


In 1989, shortly after Mr. Gorbachev took down that wall, former German airline exec Gunther Holtorf and his wife Christine embarked on what would literally be an adventure of a lifetime. Originally planning on an 18 month tour around the continent of Africa behind the wheel of their trusty Mercedes Benz G Wagen named Otto, 23 years and 500,000 miles later Gunther is still going, albeit solo, after the recent passing of his wife and travel partner. Her photo contiues to hang from Otto's rearview mirror, taking in all the sights and sounds from whatever far-off land Gunther happens to have travelled to.

It's kind of a romantic notion, a life-long adventure, but Gunther and Otto have made it work. He has driven the equivalent of 20 times around the planet in the vehicle, and suffered nary a breakdown. In a world that continues to speed up, with technology sometimes controlling us instead of the other way around, Gunther lives a throwback, simpler life, cellphone-free, gasoline basically his only expense. After watching a compilation of his beautifully taken photos, I'm more than a little jealous.



Click to watch the video


Saturday, July 28, 2012

Looking to Lose Weight?



Here are a few tips :)

Not Going to the Olympics?



Ya, me neither. But here are some cool views of London, included in this time-lapse video commissioned by ESPN to commemorate their coverage of the fortnight at Wimbledon.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Ekso Bionic presentation in Rockford

I had the opportunity yesterday (that's me in blue shirt above) to see a demonstration of an amazing technology called Ekso Bionic, that is basically a wearable robotic exoskeleton that enables paralyzed individuals to stand and take steps. RIM in Detroit owns an Ekso, so I hope to try it soon!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Mid-Year Stem Cell Report

Some cool news off the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation SCI Research blog. A recent post titled 'Mid Year Stem Cell Report'  outlined research news from all over the world, and the clinical trial we've been following most closely (primarily because it acknowledges the importance of the kind of exercise-based therapy I'm doing), headed by Dr. Wise Young of Rutgers University, is featured. The relevant section:
China Network: Wise Young, of Rutgers University, helped set up a clinical trial network in China to test umbilical blood cells (not exactly stem cells but with some similar properties). Some patients (acute or subacute – four weeks post injury) will also get the commonly prescribed mood stabilizer lithium, believed to encourage cell proliferation. The trial also includes a lot of rehab.  
Young told the delegates at the Rick Hansen International SCI conference last month that Phase II results were good enough to move to a large scale Phase III trial. How good? ASIA As – once completely paralyzed -- were walking. Young repeated the observation at a Rutgers open house. He was forced to walk that statement back a bit after a post appeared on his CareCure message board site, headlined “Wise Young Single Handedly Cures Spinal Cord Injury.” The thread was soon changed, by Young, to “Now What.”  
Said Young: " People should not jump to conclusions that we have shown that umbilical cord blood cells improve walking. I have only said that many patients are getting some sensation back and some are walking. In order to determine whether this is from the cell transplant and not from the surgery and rehabilitation, we must demonstrate it in a randomized control trial. ….We simply have some preliminary observations from a yet incomplete Phase II trial that the surgery and transplantation of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells appear to be safe and some patients are responding to the therapy."
This obviously is encouraging. It's hard not to get excited about it, but it's important to keep in mind the snail's pace of scientific research and simply refocus my efforts on therapy in order to be as strong as possible when/if the time ever comes for some sort of trial or treatment. That said, Godspeed Dr. Young! And cool last name!




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Great ad



Can't wait to see these athletes compete!

Friday, July 20, 2012

The Legend of Denard



Here's to a great season! We're going down to the season opener versus defending champion Alabama in Dallas, and I absolutely can't wait!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Rush Limbaugh is an Idiot, Edition XXVII

This reads like satire, but is apparently serious. The villain of the new, mega-blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, is named Bane, pronounced identically as GOP presidental candidate Mitt Romney's former employer, the private equity firm he helped found, Bain.

Obviously, it's a liberal conspiracy that these names sound the same. Rush says:

'Have you heard this new movie, the Batman movie, what is it, The Dark Knight Lights Up or whatever the name is. That's right, Dark Knight Rises. Lights Up, same thing. Do you know the name of the villain in this movie? Bane. The villain in The Dark Knight Rises is named Bane, B-a-n-e. What is the name of the venture capital firm that Romney ran and around which there's now this make-believe controversy? Bain. The movie has been in the works for a long time. The release date's been known, summer 2012 for a long time. Do you think that it is accidental that the name of the really vicious fire breathing four eyed whatever it is villain in this movie is named Bain?'

So...that's bad luck for Romney, but idiotic conspiracy mongering from Limbaugh. Making it even funnier though is the apparent fact that Washington types are playing along. From the Washington Times:

'"Bane" is the terrorist in the new movie who drives the caped crusader out of semi-retirement in the final Batman movie. Democrats, who believe they have Romney on the ropes over the president's assault on his leadership at Bain Capital, said the comparisons are too rich to ignore.
"It has been observed that movies can reflect the national mood," said Democratic advisor and former Clinton aide Christopher Lehane. "Whether it is spelled Bain and being put out by the Obama campaign or Bane and being out by Hollywood, the narratives are similar: a highly intelligent villain with offshore interests and a past both are seeking to cover up who had a powerful father and is set on pillaging society," he added.

Even GOP advisor Frank Luntz jumped into the fray. "Hollywood does it again," he told Secrets. "[Romney] had to know all this was coming and he should have done a lot more to prepare for it."'

'Movies can reflect the national mood'? Try to sound dorkier next time. The only thing I'll be thinking
as I watch the movie is about how I wish Christopher Nolan was able to make more than one movie per year and not about how the mask wearing villain's name sounds like some outsourcing company in Massachusetts. The one positive to come from this malarkey - if you continue the metaphr, does that make Biden Robin? That'd be funny.

The Bain issue will be trouble for Romney, but for other reasons. If your main reason you'll be a good president is your business experience and acumen, you better hope your business isn't in buying companies, firing their workers, and finding cheaper labor in China. As always, John Stewart says it best:


..

Monday, July 16, 2012

Breaking News - An Engagement in the Family!


They'll probably be embarrassed that I'm posting this...but who cares. We're very excited to welcome Liz into our family! All other questions can be sent to macyoung1112@gmail.com. :)

Thursday, July 12, 2012

A Conversation with Yourself



This is very funny and very well done video. I wonder what he thought when he first found this long-lost video. Anyone else have footage of themselves like this as 12 year olds? I'm glad I don't. We'd have to have a 20 minute conversation of the minutiae of that day's sports page - which in '97-'98 would feature...Michigan football and hockey national championships! Where's the old tapes?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Loco!



Doesn't look that dangerous, right?

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Hilarious



I just love the accents.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Best Way to Start a Week



Wait for the 1:19 mark for the adorable-ness factor to shoot through the roof.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Inspiring



A little inspiration on a Sunday.