Music: New, Amazing, Instrument

In the words of Arthur C. Clarke, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from Magic."

This YouTube video is honestly amazing. It depicts an interactive group of pieces of technology that together create a musical instrument (of sorts) capable of auditorially generating electronic music, and allowing us to visually see the sound waves and their interactions.

I send a heartfelt "Thank You" to the Music Technology Group at Universitat Pompeu Fabra - who've created this inspired piece of.... reactable music technology.

Again, the creativity that exists in this world, and that emerges from the human mind; that which can be manifested through technology and shared with the world just blows my mind.

Blows. My. Mind.

If you'd like to see more, click here. And to see a demo of an improv session, click here.

Holy Shit: Brave New World?

I don't know if I should be freaked by this or not.






Today's London press is reporting that scientists have created sheep that are 15% human.

Yikes.

"Scientists have created the world's first human-sheep chimera - which has the body of a sheep and half-human organs.

"The sheep have 15 per cent human cells and 85 per cent animal cells - and their evolution brings the prospect of animal organs being transplanted into humans one step closer."

Video: Downs, Dignity, Respect

I ran across this YouTube video on an autism blog, and thought I'd share. It's out of Brazil however it's in English. (HINT: Read the subtitled text)



And, if you're curious to see an autism blog, check out Autism Diva. It's a great site.

--Shella

"You put your left arm in.... and you shake it all about?"

Russian man grows penis on arm. Yes, on arm.

According to the literature:

"The 30-year-old Russian man, whose name was changed in the article to protect his privacy, had a defect from birth — his penis was crooked, two-and-a-half-inches long and lacked a scrotum, the newspaper writes."

So they cut it off and re-grew it on his arm.

Check it out!

"You put your left foot in... and you shake it all about?"

The first reported case of a nipple (yes, nipple) growing on the bottom of a woman's foot. Complete with aureola and hair.

Read more here!

Upon More Mature Consideration: I Think I'll Wait...

One of the benefits of spending endless hours and days and days at the hospital was that when I was not doing medical research, I compiled a long list of great web sites, add-ons, tools, etc. (likely you've noticed an increase in posting frequency... no?)

One of the fun and amusing things I did was use the below photo morphing program created for cosmetic surgey patients to see what their results might look like.

The pics above show what I might look like with:

- Scarlet Johansson's short blonde hair (bottom);
- Angelina Jolie's lips and nose (center);
- Paris Hilton's hair and lips (top).

Check out the site: http://www.modiface.com/

You upload two photos and pic and choose the parts you want to swap. There is also a button to show what a face lift might look like.

Go ahead. Give it a try (you know you want to...)

--Shella

Welcome Home Simone: Get Well Soon!

Well my daughter, Remarkable Simone, has been released from the hospital.

With her recovery comes some changes. My temptation is to see life interrupted, but in reality its just life. And Simone has been through so very much, we'll have the opportunity to lavish some attention and care on her.

I'll be putting some of my personal indulgences on hold... the hair journey (new year's resolution) and waxing will have to go the way of the dodo bird. My hoped-for gym membership and occasional massage may not materialize for a while yet. Oh well.

--Shella

Blog Creativity: No Boundaries

The creativity I see expressed on the blogosphere is boundless. I think its really exciting and quite fascinating.

I have seen and read things that would never have occurred to me in a million years.

So, imagine my delight and curiosity when I ran across a blog dedicated to publishing photos of the blogger running from his camera.

Yes. You heard me correctly.

And how he thought of it, I'll never know. Muggezifter is his name, and evidently running is his game.

"The rules are simple: I put the self-timer on 2 seconds, push the button and try to get as far from the camera as I can."

Go check it out: Running from Camera. You'll enjoy it as much as I did!

What'll they think of next.

--Shella

Bush Administration: Criminals, each and every one.

Below is a YouTube of today's Congressional hearing and investigation on the leak of covert CIA agent Valarie Plame Wilson's identity.

Some say that very senior Bush Administration officials leaked this classified information to the US mainstream media to retaliate against and discredit Ms. Plame's husband (Ambassador Joe Wilson) having written an Op Ed critical of the "Yellow Cake Uranium" (WMD) excuse the Administration used to justify the US invasion of Iraq.

The below clip is only 7 minutes, but I urge you to listen and watch the entire thing. It is patently unbelieveable what this Administration has done. I consider it treason. Impeachment is too good.

Just watch and tell me if you don't feel the same.



And.... below is what they said BEFORE the Democrats re-took the House and Senate, embarking upon the first credible investigations...

Parody: Apple iRack

This is a brilliant Mad TV parody. Enjoy!

--Shella

Prayers Please: For Simone

Hello everyone, please send your prayers for my daughter Simone. She developed a life threatening infection and has been in the hospital since Monday.

The good news is that she has been receiving intravenous vancomycin - which will kill any bug within a 100 mile radius. It's been tough to control the pain, but the morphene has helped.

Surgery did resolve the infection as far as we can tell, but her wound is now pretty extensive and will require some medical management.

We believe everything will now go well, but ask that you keep Simone in your thoughts and prayers!

I want to thank everyone from my office and Board of Directors who have been so understanding.

Also thanks to Simone's classmates, teacher and school administrators who were so thoughtful in sending flowers, cards, banners. Thanks to Cindy & Mrs. C for making sure her friends Juan and Erik got in for a visit (despite her being in isolation). We eagerly await the day Simone can dribble the pink & white basketball you brought!

Much love,
--Shella

Unbelieveable: A Real Advertisement

Yes. This is real. You should read the comments, they're hilarious. Check it out on AdWeek Blog.

Ann Coulter: The Most Heinous Being in Existence

I re-posting the wholesale front page post from the amazing Kagro X at Daily Kos. It speaks for itself. Unbelieveable.

Ann Coulter wows 'em at CPAC: Edwards is a "faggot."
by Kagro X - Fri Mar 02, 2007
-----------------------------

Yes. You heard me.

It's on video.

Remember, these are the America's "culture warriors" she's speaking to.

America's culture is finally dead.

"I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word ‘faggot' – so... Kind of at an impasse. Can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions."

Coulter was introduced by presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Click here for video of Romney walking out in protest.

Oh, wait. There is no such video.

UPDATE I: Romney's intro.

UPDATE II: Dean's response.