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  • Rebecca Called

    Rebecca called tonight to let us know that Greg had a rought time last night and today, but is now stable. They switched Greg from the first ECMO machine to one that can be used for a longer period of time, but the changeover was difficult and they had to work on him through the night. There’s not much they know right now, but they’re hoping he can stay stable for 24 hours so that they can see if they can take him off the ECMO. They’ll know more tomorrow. They’re very tired so send out some energy for all of them. 24 hours isn’t long, Greg. You can do this.

  • ECMO

    Greg is literally on the cutting edge of technology as usual. He’s been moved to Boston Children’s Hospital ICU (where he is the oldest patient) to be hooked up to a state-of-the-art machine called an ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxegenation) that oxegenates blood and cycles it through his system. He may be on this system for several days, but the longer he stays on it, more risks build up, so they’re watching him very carefully.

    In addition to the ECMO specialists at Children’s he’s got the constant care of excellent doctors and nurses including his pulmonary surgical team from the Brigham. It took 12 doctors and nurses to move him from one ICU to the other… good thing the buildings are connected. To be safe, they currently have him intebated, sedated and physically paralyzed with medication.

    They’re still not sure why his system is having such trouble, but at this point, they’re treating everything they can in hopes to get him fixed up again. This could be a reaction to the blood transfusion, or rejection, or something else… they’re just not certain.

    Music can be an amazing healer, so Greg’s dad went back home this morning to get Greg’s iPod, so he can listen while his body is so deeply under. He’s in tough shape, so please continue to send your prayers to him and also to his family who are doing as well as they can be in the circumstances.

  • update from eleanor

    Hi all…

    Emily here again. I heard from Eleanor. The surgery went ok, but the recovery has been tough. His system is having trouble equalizing following the proceedure. Before he was intibated this afternoon, he asked that I update his blog to let you all know. Please send him love, light and prayers as his system adjusts. Hang in there Greg! You can do it!

    🙂 emily

  • What Would You Have Printed

    Images 2006 05 Custom Tp

    Gizmodo posts about how you can get custom printed toilet paper. Just $12/per for four rolls (cheaper in volume). What would YOU have printed on yours?

  • More Surgery

    I’ve kept fairly quite about this for no real good reason, but I’m having surgery on Thursday. I’ve had issues with acid reflux for years and years now and my lung doctors are concerned that it could cause complications with my new lung as time goes on (there’s even some speculation that it could have been a factor in my IPF, but that’s for another time). So Thursday I get to go into the hospital and get my esophagus tied off. This will prevent any acid from working its way up from my stomach. Though it isn’t tied off tight enough that food can’t get down.

    They say I’ll be in the hospital for four to five days. So my stay won’t even be that long. I hope to have my laptop with me to make it all the more bearable. If you want to come visit I’ll be posting updates on that too so check here for more information.

    I get to eat tonight and then I’m on clear liquids till my surgery. Including having to drink a gallon of stuff to clean me out. I’m oh so thrilled for that. Wish me luck!

  • I want a monkeycam!

    I want to see what the Monkey Webcam looks like personally. Perfect for spying on people.

    Images 2006 04 Usbmypet

    Lovers of cute things (and the Japanese) will snatch up this USB MyPet Webcam that comes in both monkey and puppy models. Supporting up to 640×480 at 15 frames per second, this webcam is perfect for the girlfriend that hates tech.

    Readers could also use it to spy on a victim who doesn’t know this is a webcam. A very dumb victim.

    USB MyPet Webcam cranks the cuteness factor [uber gizmo]

    [via Gizmodo]

  • Hollywood and Computers

    The WSJ has a short article about how Hollywood still falls short when portraying computer use in movies.

    In the 1996 blockbuster “Mission: Impossible,” the secret agent played by Tom Cruise uses email to set a trap for one of his adversaries — a shadowy, Bible-quoting figure he knows only as “Max.”

    Mr. Cruise’s character uses a laptop to compose an email message addressed to “Max@Job 3:14.” Once he clicks the “send” button, the email is carried away in an oversized on-screen envelope, complete with postage stamp. In the real world, such a message would set the stage for a bounce-back error message, not an action/adventure thriller. [WSJ.com]

  • Stop or I’ll Shoot!

    Perfect for stopping little kids in their tracks.

    Images 2006 05 Teddybeargun

    Step away from the limousine, or I’ll shoot you with this … teddy bear? The Teddy Bear Gun capitalizes on a cutesy trend in Japan where wedding guests throw teddy bears at wedding receptions instead of rice or bouquets.

    If teddy bear throwing sounds like a lot of work to you, here it’s made easy with a simple touch of a button. Pull the trigger and the tiny plush bear is catapulted into the air, and once airborne, it’ll float safely back to earth thanks to its tiny parachute. Made by paintball gun manufacturer Sunamiya, the party crackers will go on sale this month.

    Gun-shaped teddy bear crackers ready to liven up wedding receptions [Gizmodo]

  • Perfect Moment

    This morning I woke up to part of Electric Skychurch’s Deus Suite playing on Groove Salad. And the sun was shining through the windows just right. Such a nice peaceful way to wake.

  • Those Damn Blue Shirts

    Recently around 50 members of Improv Everywhere dressed up in royal blue polo shirts and khakis and infiltrated a Best Buy. Hi-jinx ensue.

    Images Bb51

    The idea for this mission was submitted by a stranger via email. Agent Slavinsky wrote in to suggest I get either a large group of people in blue polo shirts and khakis to enter a Best Buy or a group in red polo shirts and khakis to enter a Target. Wearing clothing almost identical to the store’s uniform, the agents would not claim to work at the store but would be friendly and helpful if anyone had a question.