NationStates Jolt Archive


Looks like he'll be OK after all!

Geniasis
11-03-2009, 03:29
So about a year ago, I went all angsty emo and posted a very Heikokian decrying the Iraq War and belittling any who supported it. This of course was mildly hypocritical considering I supported it, but I was also 13 and not of sound mind. So I accepted my double-standard.

This was motivated by news of a family friend who was severely injured when his convoy exploded in Afghanistan--an event which I believe would not have come to pass were our attention not divided, but I digress--and it was up in the air on whether or not he would be able to keep his arms and legs, or even live at all.

Well the news is in--or rather has only just reached me, despite being almost as old as the initial news--and he was able to keep all of his extremities (and indeed, his life). There were, of course some catches.

1. He has no feeling in his hands or feet, and were literally shredded by shrapnel.
2. He has physical therapy every day.
3. There is hope for his hands being usable in the future, but not so much for his feet. He will likely be in a wheelchair for life.

For those of you that will say that NSG isn't a blog, I agree. But I did open the story on NSG and even if you don't remember it, I'd hate to leave it unconcluded.

Thank you for your time,
Geniasis
Hydesland
11-03-2009, 03:31
cool story bro
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 03:44
Well, I'm glad he survived, but I'm sorry for the horrible injuries he suffered.

On a brighter note, now that Obama has eased funding for stem cell research, maybe he will be able to benefit with nerve regeneration to get feeling back.

Also, I was watching a news report about a big toy trade show last week that showed this rather freaky thing that lets you levitate a ping-pong ball by MIND POWER!!! It's true. It's a headset that picks up signals from the electrochemical signals within your brain and transmits them to receivers in the ping pong ball and its holder, somehow causing it to do what you are thinking of it doing.

I have a friend working on her PhD in bio-tech research who has been working on stuff like this. These toys are the first releases of technology being designed to create brain-controlled smart prostheses and other physical aids for severely disabled people -- like war veterans. There is a good chance your friend may walk again someday.
Galloism
11-03-2009, 03:46
Also, I was watching a news report about a big toy trade show last week that showed this rather freaky thing that lets you levitate a ping-pong ball by MIND POWER!!! It's true. It's a headset that picks up signals from the electrochemical signals within your brain and transmits them to receivers in the ping pong ball and its holder, somehow causing it to do what you are thinking of it doing.

Did anyone else think about little miniature mind control projectiles that you could levitate and fire at your enemies using just your mind?
Lunatic Goofballs
11-03-2009, 03:47
We can rebuild him. We have the technology.
Barringtonia
11-03-2009, 03:48
Well, I'm glad he survived, but I'm sorry for the horrible injuries he suffered.

On a brighter note, now that Obama has eased funding for stem cell research, maybe he will be able to benefit with nerve regeneration to get feeling back.

Also, I was watching a news report about a big toy trade show last week that showed this rather freaky thing that lets you levitate a ping-pong ball by MIND POWER!!! It's true. It's a headset that picks up signals from the electrochemical signals within your brain and transmits them to receivers in the ping pong ball and its holder, somehow causing it to do what you are thinking of it doing.

I have a friend working on her PhD in bio-tech research who has been working on stuff like this. These toys are the first releases of technology being designed to create brain-controlled smart prostheses and other physical aids for severely disabled people -- like war veterans. There is a good chance your friend may walk again someday.

There's a lot they can do with translating the brain,

The most interesting for me is allowing blind people to see through their tongue, which has been around for a while technically but it also helps people overcome balance issues, essentially re-routing the brain, very helpful for those who've suffered from strokes across all areas.

The brain is proving ever more amazing every day.

Also, in before Title edit.
Non Aligned States
11-03-2009, 03:48
Also, I was watching a news report about a big toy trade show last week that showed this rather freaky thing that lets you levitate a ping-pong ball by MIND POWER!!! It's true. It's a headset that picks up signals from the electrochemical signals within your brain and transmits them to receivers in the ping pong ball and its holder, somehow causing it to do what you are thinking of it doing.

Bit misleading there Muravyets. It's just a signal reader likely linked to a maglev setup, but the way you describe it sounds like a headset that grants telekinesis.
Heikoku 2
11-03-2009, 03:49
So about a year ago, I went all angsty emo and posted a very Heikokian decrying the Iraq War and belittling any who supported it.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Hydesland
11-03-2009, 03:49
Did anyone else think about little miniature mind control projectiles that you could levitate and fire at your enemies using just your mind?

I just envisioned professor X using it.
Geniasis
11-03-2009, 03:50
Well, I'm glad he survived, but I'm sorry for the horrible injuries he suffered.

On a brighter note, now that Obama has eased funding for stem cell research, maybe he will be able to benefit with nerve regeneration to get feeling back.

Also, I was watching a news report about a big toy trade show last week that showed this rather freaky thing that lets you levitate a ping-pong ball by MIND POWER!!! It's true. It's a headset that picks up signals from the electrochemical signals within your brain and transmits them to receivers in the ping pong ball and its holder, somehow causing it to do what you are thinking of it doing.

I have a friend working on her PhD in bio-tech research who has been working on stuff like this. These toys are the first releases of technology being designed to create brain-controlled smart prostheses and other physical aids for severely disabled people -- like war veterans. There is a good chance your friend may walk again someday.

Awesome! Incidentally, would this perhaps work for spinal damage as well? I have another friend in a similar situation, but caused by spinal damage from a rear collision instead of shrapel damage to the limbs.
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 03:53
There's a lot they can do with translating the brain,

The most interesting for me is allowing blind people to see through their tongue.

The brain is proving ever more amazing every day.
Hm...thinks about things a person might do with their tongue that could be affected by having sight in that organ... hm...

Bit misleading there Muravyets. It's just a signal reader likely linked to a maglev setup, but the way you describe it sounds like a headset that grants telekinesis.
You know what nobody has developed yet? A signal reader that will tell people when to lighten the fuck up. I was using marketing-speak like how they promote the toy. Geez-gods, did you really think I was talking about telekenesis? Get a grip. Next you'll be thinking that if I make a reference to the Magic 8-Ball, I'm talking about real magic. :rolleyes:

But the technology being developed for applications in physical aids for the disabled or injured is true. The goal is to allow a prosthesis to deliver information directly to the brain and receive control impulses directly from the brain.
Barringtonia
11-03-2009, 03:56
Hm...thinks about things a person might do with their tongue that could be affected by having sight in that organ... hm...

Men might finally locate the G-spot without maps, instructions and compasses.
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 03:58
Awesome! Incidentally, would this perhaps work for spinal damage as well? I have another friend in a similar situation, but caused by spinal damage from a rear collision instead of shrapel damage to the limbs.
Yes, but I do believe it is many years in the future yet. Prototypes of such advanced tech often find their way into the toy/entertainment markets (I guess to help pay for the research, maybe), but they are usually very primitive versions. But it's very exciting research. Between stem cells and this kind of technology, I think there are some serious medical breakthroughs coming, probably within our lifetimes, if not quite soon.
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 04:00
Men might finally locate the G-spot without maps, instructions and compasses.
"Is it this thing that looks like a--"

"How the hell should I know what it looks like? My tongue's up here!"
Heikoku 2
11-03-2009, 04:01
"Is it this thing that looks like a--"

"How the hell should I know what it looks like? My tongue's up here!"

"And thus, the first visual finger implant was made..."
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 04:02
"And thus, the first visual finger implant was made..."
Indeed, necessity is the mother of invention. ;)
Naturality
11-03-2009, 04:03
i wish him peace and happiness.
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 04:03
Indeed, mostly it's up your own ass.

JOKING, JOKING, PLEASE DON'T HURT ME, GET AWAY!
*hurts Barringtonia very, very badly*

But don't fret. The technology of the Future-TODAY!!! will let you use MIND POWER!!! to move this here ping-pong ball. Maybe someday you'll be able to train it to get you a beer.
Barringtonia
11-03-2009, 04:05
*hurts Barringtonia very, very badly*

But don't fret. The technology of the Future-TODAY!!! will let you use MIND POWER!!! to move this here ping-pong ball. Maybe someday you'll be able to train it to get you a beer.

Damn, and I thought I was quick, it was supposed to be a joke on 'my head's up here' but seriously, did you edit your post to add 'tongue' or did I actually misread it?
Muravyets
11-03-2009, 04:05
Damn, and I thought I was quick, it was supposed to be a joke on 'my head's up here' but seriously, did you edit your post to add 'tongue' or did I actually misread it?
I did edit it. And you were slow. :p
greed and death
11-03-2009, 04:10
I pray he gets better.
funny story I didn't want to go to school, I was just looking to spend my life drifting around getting drunk. then a friend of mine who was stationed in Afghanistan died. He was the one who joined the army looking for college money. I was really just looking to drift and drink until i died. Now i feel like i got to live his dream.
Indri
11-03-2009, 06:56
Tell him to use his nose to type his own blog, you suck at this.
Geniasis
11-03-2009, 07:05
Tell him to use his nose to type his own blog, you suck at this.

Love you too.
Hydesland
11-03-2009, 07:12
I've just realised, this title is gonna get changed pretty soon.
Naturality
11-03-2009, 07:24
Tell him to use his nose to type his own blog, you suck at this.

I took this as serious .. did no one else?
Geniasis
11-03-2009, 07:40
I've just realised, this title is gonna get changed pretty soon.

Eh, probably. I may have been over the line in titling it the way I did, but it was a moment of just well...y'know, fuck yeah! That said, I'm not going to be too upset when it gets changed, as it probably should.