- Finally…..the bionic eye is a viable option for the
sight-impaired in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finally
approved a bionic eye that won't restore sight to the blind, but will allow
sight-impaired individuals to detect both light and dark. The FDA announced
approval late last week for a device created by Second Sight Medical Products
that can be used to treat the condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, a rare
form of blindness. Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic condition where the retina
cells, which translate light rays into the images the brain sees, gradually
deteriorate. Sufferers of the condition begin losing peripheral vision and
their symptoms grow to the point where it is difficult to see things at night
before they eventually lose their central vision. Studies place the number of
people suffering from RP at one out of 4,000 people living in the U.S. To offer
assistance for those afflicted with it, Second Sight Medical Products has
created an artificial retina known as Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System. It is
the first device that is implantable to treat RP and is now FDA-approved for
patients 25 years of age or older
who suffer from advanced RP, but can see some light. The complicated device consists
of electrodes in a panel that are implanted surgically into the eye and glasses
that have a camera attached. That camera sends images to the panel of
electrodes, bypassing the retina and tapping directly into the eye’s optic
nerve that signals the person’s brain to “see” the images. In approving the Argus
II, the FDA said it may eventually approve it to treat additional conditions
like macular degeneration, mostly affects the elderly and impacts the sight of
more than 2 million Americans. Second Sight CEO Dr. Robert Greenberg said the
company hopes to eventually be able to implant the panel of electrodes directly
in the cortex of the brain to treat all forms of blindness…….
- Soccer’s biggest event is coming to Brazil next year and
when it arrives, it will be packing a long-awaited addition to the sport that
should avoid potential controversies on the pitch. FIFA, soccer’s governing body, committed
Tuesday to using goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and could
have as many as four systems competing for selection. Anyone who has a reliable
means for determining whether a ball crossed a goal line can now submit a
tender for their system to be used at the Confederations Cup in June and next
year's World Cup. "Interested GLT companies will be invited to join an inspection
visit to the Confederations Cup venues, currently scheduled for mid-March, with
a final decision due to be confirmed in early April," FIFA said in a
statement. If previous FIFA bids for event hosting and other matters are any
indication, a healthy envelope of large, unmarked bills should also accompany
any bid. FIFA president Sepp Blatter zeroed in on the use of high-tech aids to
help World Cup referees make goal-line decisions after seeing England
midfielder Frank Lampard have a clear goal denied against Germany at the 2010
tournament in South Africa. FIFA's rule-making panel, known as IFAB, approved goal-line
technology at competitive matches in July after two systems passed extensive
tests. GoalRef, which uses magnetic sensors, and the camera-based Hawk-Eye
system were used successfully at the Club World Cup in Japan in December and
those systems will compete with two German systems that have completed tests
and could soon be approved for use. The two approved system communicate information
within one second to the referee's wristwatch and GoalRef uses magnetic sensors
in the goalposts to track an "intelligent" ball, made by Danish
company Select. Hawk-Eye is already used in cricket and tennis. If goals are
determined accurately by technology, soccer fans will have to find another
reason to riot………
- The people have spoken and their slurred, belligerent
speech has been heard. Maker's Mark has heard the angry outcry of the drunken
masses and backed down from plans to begin watering down its popular whiskey.
The bourbon producer announced Sunday that it won't be diluting its product
after saying last week it would have to cut the alcohol volume of its signature
red wax-sealed whiskey to 42 percent from its customary 45 percent in order to
meet rising global demand. After hearing one hammered person after another
berate it for the change, Maker's Mark said it was reversing its decision and
production resumed Monday with 45-percent alcohol content. "You spoke. We
listened. And we're sincerely sorry we let you down," the company said in
a statement. "While we thought we were doing what's right, this is your
brand -- and you told us in large numbers to change our decision." The
angry reaction across social networking sites was both impressive and alarming,
as one has to wonder why people are so protective of the alcohol content in
their whiskey and their resulting ability to get fall-down drunk as quickly as
possible, but they can't be motivated to speak out and demand change on more
important social issues. Rob Samuels, chief operating officer of Maker's Mark,
cited thousands of phone calls, emails and social media interactions that made
it "very clear" that customers
were less than pleased with that decision. However, the company still has to
find a solution for the issue that caused it to water down the drink in the
first place. More and more emerging liquor markets are popping up around the
world and bourbon, with its sweeter taste, is appealing to consumers in
countries such as India. Using less alcohol would allow Maker's Mark to stretch
the supply. Bill Samuels Jr., the company's chairman emeritus, recalled 20 shortages in the 35 years he ran the company. Bourbon is a type of American whiskey that must be
aged in new barrels and distilled at less than 160 proof and given the
ultimatum handed down by consumers, it must also arrive on store shelves with
45 percent alcohol content……….
- When faced with a choice between making boring,
overproduced, hacky mainstream pop music or being the credibility-less reality
karaoke show judge, what’s a person to do? Demi Lovato may face that choice and it
could tear her away from her role as a karaoke judge on “X Factor Karaoke.” Two
of the show’s judges, L.A. Reid and Britney Spears, have already confirmed they
will not be returning to the most prominent shameless attempt to rip off
“American Karaoke” and Lovato sounds torn on whether she should return with two
new partners in crime or walk away and pretend to be a real recording artist. "It's
hard, 'cause at the end of the day, I'm a musician. So, I could take the
opportunity to tour, and, you know, I have to be a business woman and I have to
like balance it out on both aspects," Lovato explained. "But, at the
same time I had some much fun. And I would love to go back. It's just a matter
of making things work and, you never know, I may do both; I may just pick one
or the other.” Oh no, the drama and the anxiety of waiting to see what a
dime-a-dozen, totally replaceable and disposable pop hack will do with her
career. Whatever she elects to do, Lovato needs to choose soon because the show
is already auditioning prospective karaoke-ers for its third seasons. Should
she return alongside show runner Simon Cowell, Lovato knows who should fill one
of the vacant judging slots. "I would love to see Lady Gaga," Lovato
said. "I don't know if that's possible or not." Lovato is actually in
luck because Gaga just canceled a planned international tour because of a hip
injury and there is no better job for an immobilized person with no musical
credibility at all………
- The sleek, modern airport in Belgium’s capital scene
became the scene of a major diamond heist Monday and the eight-figure crime has
Brussels buzzing. Eight masked thieves stole $50 million in rough and polished
diamonds in a blitzkrieg-quick heist at Brussels Airport, the Antwerp World
Diamond Centre confirmed. According to police, the robbers used two vehicles to
breach a security gate when the stones were already on an aircraft. Jan Van der
Cruysse, a spokesman for Brussels Airport, said it took the thieves only three
minutes to rob the cargo hold of the plane, which was bound for Zurich,
Switzerland. Within minutes, the thieves fled through the same breach in the
airport periphery they created when they entered. All eight were reportedly
heavily armed but because they planned their operation well, they escaped with
their targeted goods without firing a single shot. The flight the diamonds were
to travel on was a regular passenger flight from Brussels to Zurich operated by
Helvetic Airways on behalf of Swiss Air and there were about 20 passengers on
board the aircraft at the time of the heist. "This was a very precise, almost military-organized and well-executed
robbery," Van der Cruysse
said. "We are an airport that is, as all
international airports are, subject to very strict aviation security and safety regulations. It comes as a big
surprise that something like this is possible. But of course, this is rather
connected to banditism and organized crime rather than aviation security.” A spokesman
for the Antwerp World Diamond Centre confirmed that the center is aware of
reports that gold and platinum were stolen along with the diamonds. The stones
began their day’s journey at the center, which has $200 million in stones coming
in and out daily……..
No comments:
Post a Comment