Major advancements in technology like this one are what makes the future worth looking forward to. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have invented an artificial cornea that may well be the key to restoring sight for our people with damaged corneas.
“Our artificial corneas are based on a commercially available polymer which absorbs no water and allows no cells to grow on it,” says IAP project manager Dr. Joachim Storsberg. “Once our partner Dr. Schmidt Intraokularlinsen GmbH has suitably shaped the polymers, we selectively coat the implants: We lay masks on them and apply a special protein to the edge of the cornea, which the cells of the natural cornea can latch onto. In this way, the cornea implant can firmly connect with the natural part of the cornea, while the center remains free of cells and therefore clear.” What is special about this protein is that it can survive the later thermal sterilization of the artificial cornea without being damaged, as it does not have the three-dimensional structure typical of large proteins. Such a structure would be destroyed during the sterilization process, leading to changes in the material’s properties. The optical front part of the implant is coated with a hydrophilic polymer, so that it is constantly moistened with tear fluid.
Researchers in Dr. Karin Kobuch’s working group at Regensburg University Hospital have already tested these corneas in the laboratory and found that their cells graft very well at the edge and cease growing where the coating stops. The optical center of the implant thus remains clear. The first implants have already been tested in rabbits’ eyes - with promising results. If further tests are successful, the technology will be tried on humans in 2008.”
This is either the worst commercial ever and most disappointing exploitation of the Pittsburgh Penguins players, or the most perfect over-the-top, purposefully terrible ad campaign in history.
I love these “The Office” fake but real style shorts still. So fake it’s real, so real it’s fake, so dry it’s dumb, so dumb it’s cool, out of bounds and irrelevant enough to somehow hold your interest…
So I just realized how awesome Public Enemy was for actually changing not just music, but the mass of people. Flava frickin Flav even. It’s terribly easy to forget how sweet ass those dudes really kind of were when Flava Flav is being a dildo on television out-of-his-mind with these “reality” shows.
Fight the Power. I still don’t really like this track when it comes down to it because I’m just not into non-rythmic, hard, overcharged raps, but how ridiculously influential they were can’t be overlooked. (Oh and I saw a photo with Chuck D wearing a Pirates P cap at one point, sick).
So Philly this past weekend… really frickin great time. Booze was involved a little too much, perhaps, but it’s “out of town drinking” mentality and you can’t come down on us for that. Went out for the Glass Candy show which ended up being a sweet dance party in this old mausoleum place. Big stone wall front, a garage door that doesn’t open all the way, but actually pretty sweet inside. Mad Decent Mausoleum.
If there was ever a party that the cops could have cleaned up at arresting under age drinkers, it was this one. BYOB ordeal with no I.D. check at the door… well it worked out for Matty… like a hurricane.
So it was sweet. That was Saturday night. We got there Friday pretty late and ended up going out with Natalie and her friends to Khyber (spelling?) Just a normal good time that night. Saturday, as I said, was Glass Candy preceded only by a few other bars and restaurants.
Sunday night, we ended up requiring to stay another day, so we watched the American tackle football conference championship playoff matchups. Rivers is a bum. Tomlinson may have been able to win that game for them. “Bert” Favre is a maniac for throwing that ball in OT. Tynes is a son of a bitch. Matt is disgustingly happy. Giants? Who would have thought. Then again, “Packers? Who would have thought?” would be equally as striking a question.
Best quote of 08: I’ll put my Giant in her Packer.
So Monday mornings hangover was wretched for everyone I’m sure. Though well worth it after a good out of town trip. Drive was good. That’s the long and short of it. Khyber definitely has a swagger. I dug it. I also dug the second time we went with the $10 cover - all you can drink… is it even possible to make money doing that???
I just flipped through some channels right now and - oh my God - this show I’m watching is quite honestly fantastic in the weirdest way possible. The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman. It’s pretty much like the absolute last thing I would ever normally watch. It’s actually almost terrible, but somehow is actually cracking me up in a quiet way. I’d put it on the same Tier of Sarcasm and overall-human-criticism as Strangers with Candy (which, sidenote, I’m not really a fan of). Give it a watch. I’ve still yet to decide completely, though. As I speak it’s either slowly getting worse in a really bad way or funnier in a really creepy, most awesome way.
Okay yeah it’s pretty hilarious! “He just shot off when I asked ‘Do you like cream soda’? The topics they’ve chosen here are absurd. A guy that cums without being touched whatsoever and some creepy love relationship between some writer chic and a B-horror movie special effects sleaze.
It’s on IFC if you want to know. The dude that cums too fast is a fantastic character.
