Saw this on Pirillo's site. He's not kidding, this is creepy.
This company takes ashes from any dead thing (person, pet, amputated leg) and for a nominal fee turns said ashes into diamonds.
Welcome to the LifeGem Home - www.LifeGem.com Memorial Diamond
Monday, January 30, 2006
Upgrading home computer...ug
So I've been thinking about my home computer a lot lately. It's in dire need of some work. I spent a few hours this weekend cleaning up spy/mal/junkware on it and it made me realize what a POS it is.
It's one of those cheapo Dell machines and I think the multiple power outages at home have done some damage to the harddrive. I've been thinking about putting an additional drive in there (for mp3's and images), but now I'm thinking I need to throw together a RAID or buy some NAS device. ug... That's going to hurt the bank.
How is everyone else dealing with backing up data and the wonderful world of failing hds? Do tell!
In the process of upgrading, I think I need at least 2 more LCDs and some sort of ethernet mp3 device to connect my mp3 collection upstairs with my stereo downstairs. oh, and maybe a water cooled overclocked cpu... and a robot... that does massage...
It's one of those cheapo Dell machines and I think the multiple power outages at home have done some damage to the harddrive. I've been thinking about putting an additional drive in there (for mp3's and images), but now I'm thinking I need to throw together a RAID or buy some NAS device. ug... That's going to hurt the bank.
How is everyone else dealing with backing up data and the wonderful world of failing hds? Do tell!
In the process of upgrading, I think I need at least 2 more LCDs and some sort of ethernet mp3 device to connect my mp3 collection upstairs with my stereo downstairs. oh, and maybe a water cooled overclocked cpu... and a robot... that does massage...
Friday, January 27, 2006
The Navigable Atlas of the Human Brain
dude, today the internet is rocking!
I just happened across this site, The Navigable Atlas of the Human Brain,
while looking up a technical definition of sagittal for Anne. This site would have helped me a ton in college!
I just happened across this site, The Navigable Atlas of the Human Brain,
while looking up a technical definition of sagittal for Anne. This site would have helped me a ton in college!
Physician Compensation Report
Holy COW!!! I was checking the spelling of orthopedist and google suggest popped up "orthopedist salary" I had to take a look.
Physician Compensation Report: Merritt, Hawkins survey: pay hikes slowed down in 2001-2002
I'm really in the wrong job. I think it's great that doctors make salaries in the 300k range, don't get me wrong. I just need to be one of them.
Physician Compensation Report: Merritt, Hawkins survey: pay hikes slowed down in 2001-2002
I'm really in the wrong job. I think it's great that doctors make salaries in the 300k range, don't get me wrong. I just need to be one of them.
My own MRI
I had to pick up some medical records from my orthopedist today to take to my surgeon. One of the things I picked up was copies of my latest MRI on my right knee. MRIs are really friggen cool. I've been pouring over the images and posted a few that show some of the things wrong in my knee.
Images here
I need to photoshop them to point out the problems, but you should be able to see the ding in the lateral condyle. Yuck.
I wonder how much it would cost to get a full body MRI... it would be so fun to scroll through the images from your head to your toes! ahh... nerd fun...
Images here
I need to photoshop them to point out the problems, but you should be able to see the ding in the lateral condyle. Yuck.
I wonder how much it would cost to get a full body MRI... it would be so fun to scroll through the images from your head to your toes! ahh... nerd fun...
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Extent of my injuries
Saw the doctor again this morning for the results of my MRI on my knee. After a 55 minute wait to see the doctor, we looked through the MRI images again and the official "reading" of the MRI. The first note on the reading stated there was effusive fluid (i.e. swelling) in my knee. ya, duh...
The rest of the results point to another lateral osteochondral defect, just like my other knee. My doctor is thinking it's not as bad as the other one was and may not need the same allograft surgery. I may only need a good scope and possibly a microfracture procedure (6 weeks recovery), instead of the allograft (12 weeks zero weight bearing). We decided to wait 2 more weeks to see if things get better and we can push off the scope, but we'll most likely have to do it soon. Let's hope it's a small defect...
Some links to cool knee stuff:
Types of proceedures defined.
Some data on allograft proceedures.
The rest of the results point to another lateral osteochondral defect, just like my other knee. My doctor is thinking it's not as bad as the other one was and may not need the same allograft surgery. I may only need a good scope and possibly a microfracture procedure (6 weeks recovery), instead of the allograft (12 weeks zero weight bearing). We decided to wait 2 more weeks to see if things get better and we can push off the scope, but we'll most likely have to do it soon. Let's hope it's a small defect...
Some links to cool knee stuff:
Types of proceedures defined.
Some data on allograft proceedures.
Monday, January 23, 2006
San Quintin
I took a road trip down to San Quintin Baja this weekend and had a great time. This was supposed to be a kiteboarding trip, but thanks to my new injury it was only a photography trip for me. Anne and I drove down with Dan and Cathy, and we met up with David via mutual friends. David turned out to be a wonderful addition to the trip as he spoke great Spanish and knew the area very well. Without him, the 4 of us would have been poking around lost most of the trip. Unfortunately for Dan and David, there was very little wind on Saturday and none on Sunday.
We stayed at a nice hotel on the beach with some great views of a huge sandy beach. The weather was cool, but sunny and it was extremely relaxing to turn off the cell phone for 2 days. David showed us all the kiting spots in town and the good places to eat and we'll definitely go back in spring/summer when the winds pick up. I hope that I'll be able to kite rather than just take pictures, but I'll go anyway.
Some pictures are here
The only thing that happened that wasn't planned was a flat tire after dinner Saturday night. Dan's minivan had low profile tires that didn't take well to the dirt washboard roads. Luckily we had a lantern and the spare held out for the remainder of the trip. The main road in Baja is much nicer than it used to be and only the lack of condos and the grubby local towns remind you that you aren't driving through southern california. Baja really is a beautiful place.
We stayed at a nice hotel on the beach with some great views of a huge sandy beach. The weather was cool, but sunny and it was extremely relaxing to turn off the cell phone for 2 days. David showed us all the kiting spots in town and the good places to eat and we'll definitely go back in spring/summer when the winds pick up. I hope that I'll be able to kite rather than just take pictures, but I'll go anyway.
Some pictures are here
The only thing that happened that wasn't planned was a flat tire after dinner Saturday night. Dan's minivan had low profile tires that didn't take well to the dirt washboard roads. Luckily we had a lantern and the spare held out for the remainder of the trip. The main road in Baja is much nicer than it used to be and only the lack of condos and the grubby local towns remind you that you aren't driving through southern california. Baja really is a beautiful place.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Monday, January 16, 2006
I Lack judgment
That's right, I lack judgment. And possibly a working memory.
Last year, after another season of snowboarding, I told myself that I was done. Snowboarding hurts my knees so much that it affects the other sports I do. Those other sports are more important to me than a few weekend on the snow each year, so I told myself I'd quit.
I must not have meant it, I didn't sell my gear.
It's snow season again and like a brainiac I got excited and signed up for a few boarding trips. Spur of the moment, I jumped in with some friends for a quick weekend get-away to Mammoth.
Day 1: snowing hard. Windy, cold, foggy, cold. Cold. My out of shape legs burned with each turn, but it felt good to be back on the snow, never mind that little click in my good knee.
Day 2: beautiful, sunny, powder! Amazing day of riding. Tree runs in foot deep pow-pow. Riding through the trees off chair 9 I had a bad toe-side turn. Cut too hard and came to a stop and crunch, my good knee goes down in the snow.
I knew right away I did something bad. It wasn't extremely painful, but it didn't feel normal and I had visions of the days in college when I walked around with loose cartilage floating around inside my other knee.
I managed to ride down the mountain somehow, but the moment I took off my board, I knew I was done. I could barely stand.
Limped back to the condo; showered, iced, Alieved, thought
"Why did I snowboard again?"
"I knew this would happen!"
"What about the future trip that's already paid for?"
"You're an idiot"
"What about the kiteboarding trip next weekend?"
"What about kiteboarding?!?!"
"What if I have to go through that cartilage surgery again?"
"Why am I such an idiot?"
"Why can't my body keep up with me?"
Saw the ortho doc today. Xrays look fine, ligaments are fine, knee cap is floating in fluid, disgusting popping noises when moved, need an MRI to see if I tore a meniscus or developed a new cartilage hole like my other knee. Either way it's not good, my season is over, my kiteboarding trip ruined, my mood lowered, my plans for the future quickly altered. All from one bad turn...
So, in the end, what's better; living for each moment while it lasts, milking life for every drop, or being conservative and carefully planning for the future?
What if that future never comes?
What if it does?
Last year, after another season of snowboarding, I told myself that I was done. Snowboarding hurts my knees so much that it affects the other sports I do. Those other sports are more important to me than a few weekend on the snow each year, so I told myself I'd quit.
I must not have meant it, I didn't sell my gear.
It's snow season again and like a brainiac I got excited and signed up for a few boarding trips. Spur of the moment, I jumped in with some friends for a quick weekend get-away to Mammoth.
Day 1: snowing hard. Windy, cold, foggy, cold. Cold. My out of shape legs burned with each turn, but it felt good to be back on the snow, never mind that little click in my good knee.
Day 2: beautiful, sunny, powder! Amazing day of riding. Tree runs in foot deep pow-pow. Riding through the trees off chair 9 I had a bad toe-side turn. Cut too hard and came to a stop and crunch, my good knee goes down in the snow.
I knew right away I did something bad. It wasn't extremely painful, but it didn't feel normal and I had visions of the days in college when I walked around with loose cartilage floating around inside my other knee.
I managed to ride down the mountain somehow, but the moment I took off my board, I knew I was done. I could barely stand.
Limped back to the condo; showered, iced, Alieved, thought
"Why did I snowboard again?"
"I knew this would happen!"
"What about the future trip that's already paid for?"
"You're an idiot"
"What about the kiteboarding trip next weekend?"
"What about kiteboarding?!?!"
"What if I have to go through that cartilage surgery again?"
"Why am I such an idiot?"
"Why can't my body keep up with me?"
Saw the ortho doc today. Xrays look fine, ligaments are fine, knee cap is floating in fluid, disgusting popping noises when moved, need an MRI to see if I tore a meniscus or developed a new cartilage hole like my other knee. Either way it's not good, my season is over, my kiteboarding trip ruined, my mood lowered, my plans for the future quickly altered. All from one bad turn...
So, in the end, what's better; living for each moment while it lasts, milking life for every drop, or being conservative and carefully planning for the future?
What if that future never comes?
What if it does?
Monday, January 09, 2006
New Scientist Breaking News - Dogs as good as screening for cancer detection
Can dogs detect cancer better than any of our high tech methods?
New Scientist Breaking News - Dogs as good as screening for cancer detection
Dogs are so cool!
New Scientist Breaking News - Dogs as good as screening for cancer detection
Dogs are so cool!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Einstein's Riddle
Can you solve Einstein's Riddle? He believed that only 2% of the world could solve it.
Einstein's Riddle
I have an answer, but I'm waiting for someone else to solve it before I look at the answer. I'll let you know!
Update: It's confirmed. I got it right. Did you???
Einstein's Riddle
I have an answer, but I'm waiting for someone else to solve it before I look at the answer. I'll let you know!
Update: It's confirmed. I got it right. Did you???
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