Friday, April 15, 2011

10 Most Amazing Armless People

Published on 2/4/2011 under Strange People - by Gracie Murano - 104,076 views




The Armless Motorcycle Rider

The Armless Motorcycle Rider
A motorcyclist received a caution from police officers in China - for riding with no arms. Officers in Jimo, Shandong province, stopped the motorcycle for being overloaded - but were shocked when they saw the driver, reports the Qilu Evening Post. Liu, 27, lost both arms at the age of seven after an electric shock. When he was 10, his parents sent him to a local circus to learn skills, and from then on, he trained himself to ride a motorcycle without arms. Liu admitted that he had been riding his adapted motorcycle for 10 years without arms - and he didn't even have a license. He said the circus where he worked had closed down three years ago and he and two other disabled circus workers had been performing on the streets ever since. Police decided against fining him because he didn't have any money but issued him a serious warning. Liu promised them he would not ride motorbikes again.
(Link)


The Armless Archer

The Armless Archer
When Mark Stutzman, of Richland, unzipped his bow case and began assembling his compound bow, it drew a lot of attention from some of the other shooters. There is nothing special about Stutzman's bow, case or the tools he uses to put them together with and nothing extra ordinary about his arrows. What was drawing their attention was that Stutzman, 28, was doing all of this - with his feet. Armless from birth and adopted into a family with seven brothers and sisters, Matt has never let his disability slow him down. He does everything with his feet — eat, drive (non-modified vehicles, even stick shifts), write (more legibly than most people), and punch the keys on his cell phone faster than most people with their fingers. He began getting serious about his archery when he was 16.

Shooting in bigger tournaments has meant learning to adjust to people watching him. His normal shooting position is seated in a chair holding the bow with his right foot. He uses a mechanical release attached to a sling around his right shoulder. To pull the trigger, he uses his jaw. When he shoots in tournaments, he doesn't enter as a disabled shooter. He shoots along with everyone else. His average scores are good enough, he said, that he's a contender for the 2012 Olympic team.

(Link)


The armless piano player who won China's Got Talent

The armless piano player who won China's Got Talent
When Liu Wei first hit the stage on China's Got Talent, you could hear a pin drop, and there wasn't a dry eye in the thousand-strong crowd. Armless pianist Liu Wei, winner of China's Got Talent, plays piano with his toes. Sure, Liu Wei started his run on the show by playing a super sad song on the piano called “Mariage D'amour” by Richard Clayderman. But what actually silenced everyone was that Liu Wei didn't have arms…he played the song with his toes. On Oct. 10, 2010, it was announced, to nobody's surprise, that the Beijing prodigy won the competition, earning him a three-week tour in Las Vegas with Iggy favorite Jolin Tsai. Liu Wei lost both of his arms years ago when he was electrocuted during a game of hide and seek. He said playing piano with his feet was hard at first and it gave him cuts and cramps, but he mastered the instrument over time.

After his first performance he told judges with a winning adorable grin: “There's no rule that says piano can only be played with hands.” And if there was, it's officially broken.

(Link)




The Street Armless Calligrapher

The Street Armless Calligrapher
On May 19, 2010, at noon, an amazing scene on the pedestrian bridge walkway in front of the south entrance to Foxconn Corporation, Shenzhen, captured people's eyes. From Shandong province, an optimistic man with no arms used his feet and wrote down some inspirational words in Chinese calligraphy for the Foxconn employees, to advice them not to do any more foolish things – jumping off buildings and committing suicide. During 2010 there were at least 10 consecutive suicides of Foxconn employees. The armless man wrote, “To brothers and sisters of Foxconn, life is priceless, ought to fulfill filial duty, there is always a way out, harmony relies on oneself”. This man's action soon attracted a number of Foxconn employees who were passing by on their way home from work. Many expressed support and appreciation, some stepped forward asking for the inspirational pieces.

The armless man claimed that a few years ago when he was a chef in Beijing, a gas explosion made him severely disabled. After several surgical procedures, luckily he was able to live. But his parents raised him in many difficulties, in order to fulfill his filial duty, and to carry the load for his parents he practiced hard at writing using his feet. His actions not only motivated many people across the country, but also fully paid for his huge medical bills. Recently he was heartbroken when he heard the news on Foxconn employees' ten suicides. He thought these able young bodies should think about the filial responsibility and social responsibility. He hopes they will not do any more foolish things, heaven never seals off all the exits (天无绝人之路) – there is always a way out.

(Link)


Armless Wrestler

Armless Wrestler
Kyle Maynard is not your average scholar athlete. Kyle was a top wrestler at his high school and also near the top of his class academically. He also attended the University of Georgia. Why talk with him? Kyle is an inspiration to anyone who ever had a challenge to overcome. Kyle was born without elbows or knees - the result of a rare disorder.

Maynard now works as a speaker for the Washington Speaker's Bureau, specializing in motivational speeches. He is also the author of the memoir No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life.

(Link)


The Armless Golfer

The Armless Golfer
Tommy McAuliffe was the 'World Champion Armless Golfer'. Tommy was born in 1893 in Buffalo, New York, the oldest of five children. His arms were amputated after being run over by a train in 1902. He was left with no arms, not even stumps. He learned to write by holding a pencil in his mouth. He was the president of his senior class, attended three years of college, married in 1919, father of four children and grandfather of 16. He became a caddy at a nearby golf course. Using an old discarded club, he learned to play by holding the club between his neck and shoulder. He became so good he won the caddies tournament. After finishing college, Tommy was encouraged by his brother Walter, a professional golfer, to start his own Vaudeville Act in New York City. His "Trick Shot' act became so popular he traveled to all 48 states, all over Canada and Australia with his show. He did golf exhibitions at major golf courses in the U.S. He knew and played golf with Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagan, Chick Evans, Tommy Armour, Jim Barnes, Geo Van Elm and Sports Writer O.B. Keller. His low score for 18 holes was 85. His average was 92. Tommy became the "World Champion Armless Golfer." (Link)


The First Armless Pilot

The First Armless Pilot
Jessica Cox suffered a rare birth defect and was born without any arms. None of the prenatal tests her mother took showed there was anything wrong with her. And yet she was born with this rare congenital disease, but also with a great spirit. The psychology graduate can write, type, drive a car, brush her hair and talk on her phone by simply using her feet. Ms Cox, from Tuscon, Arizona, USA, is also a former dancer and double black belt in Tai Kwon-Do. She has a no-restrictions driving license, she flies planes and she can type 25 words a minute.

The plane she is flying is called an Ercoupe and it is one of the few airplanes to be made and certified without pedals. Without rudder pedals Jessica is free to use her feet as hands. She took three years instead of the usual six months to complete her lightweight aircraft licence, had three flying instructors and practiced 89 hours of flying, becoming the first pilot with no arms.

(Link)


The Armless Guitar Player

The Armless Guitar Player
Learning to walk means falling a lot for any child. For Tony Melendez, who was born without arms, it meant falling flat on his face time after time, until he learned to tumble and get back on his feet. That lesson, to keep trying, stuck with him. He wanted to play the guitar, and learned to pluck the strings with his toes. He practiced up to seven hours a day until the result was music. In 1987, when Melendez was 25, he played during Pope John Paul II's visit to Los Angeles, and the pope urged him to “continue giving this hope to all the people.” In response, Melendez has traveled to 40 countries and across the United States as a motivational speaker.

(Link)


The Armless Fitness Woman

The Armless Fitness Woman
Meet a living inspiration, Barbie Guerra. Barb lost her arms at the age of two in an accident, yet she is a remarkable fitness model.

(Link | Via)


The Armless Painter

The Armless Painter
This amazing festive image was painted by an armless thalidomide victim, using his right foot. Peter Longstaff's artwork pieces include flickering candles and another depicts a stag in a magical winter wonderland setting. And as well as teaching himself to paint, the 48-year-old has lived life to the full as a pig farmer, father and youth football coach.

Peter was one of many babies born with deformities in the late 1950s and early 60s when their pregnant mothers were given the drug thalidomide to combat morning sickness.
But as a boy he learned to use his right foot like a right hand and was independent enough to complete main stream schooling growing up on Teesside. Peter said: 'My right foot is like your right hand. I figured out ways of doing things.' He opens doors and turns on light switches standing on one leg, using a mixture of agility and balance. As a teenager he had to endure cruel comments from 'ignorant people' but took it in his stride. His ability to get around between home, studio and sports field is down to an adapted Range Rover, which he steers with a plate under his left foot, but which is otherwise a standard automatic. He was once stopped by a stunned policeman who spotted he had no hands on the wheel - but quickly understood when he opened the door.

12 Hilarious Signs That You Are a Computerholic

Published on Today 4/15/2011 under Misc - by Gracie Murano - 30,259 views




You work in your computer even when you are sick, I mean, really sick.

You work in your computer even when you are sick, I mean, really sick.



You have several computers, and you use them at the same time.

You have several computers, and you use them at the same time.



You create your own DIY Portable computer.

You create your own DIY Portable computer.





You sleep at work and your office looks like this.

You sleep at work and your office looks like this.



You take your computer to the bathroom with you.

You take your computer to the bathroom with you.



Or even worse, you take your bathroom to your computer.

Or even worse, you take your bathroom to your computer.



You have keyboard keys as sleep prints

You have keyboard keys as sleep prints



You neglect your kids.

You neglect your kids.



Your family and friends need to send you an email if they want to talk to you.

Your family and friends need to send you an email if they want to talk to you.



You stop caring for your personal hygiene.

You stop caring for your personal hygiene.



You rather die than to live without your computer.

You rather die than to live without your computer.



And when you do die, you ask to be buried under a computer gravestone.

And when you do die, you ask to be buried under a computer gravestone.




Found on Half of Meat, Poultry Products

Posted 4:00PM 04/15/11 Health Care
Tainted Food Epidemic: Staph Bacteria Found on 25% of Meat, Poultry in StoresConsumers headed to the grocery store may soon be giving organic foods a second look, following a national study that found many meat and poultry samples tested contained drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria -- otherwise known as Staph.

The study found that 47% of the meat and poultry samples taken were contaminated with Staph, and of this group, 52% of the bacterial samples found were resistant to at least three types of antibiotics, according to Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), which released the results of the study Friday.

"The fact that drug-resistant S. aureus was so prevalent, and likely came from the food animals themselves, is troubling, and demands attention to how antibiotics are used in food-animal production today," said Lance Price, director of TGen's Center for Food Microbiology and Environmental Health, in a statement.
"Antibiotics are the most important drugs that we have to treat Staph infections; but when Staph are resistant to three, four, five or even nine different antibiotics -- like we saw in this study -- that leaves physicians few options."

But it could mean that some consumers may start paying a little more for organic meats and poultry, given that these animals are not subjected to daily supplemental antibiotics. The more antibiotics an animal receives, the less effective it generally becomes in warding off antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that can emerge.

Study samples were taken from a variety of 26 retail grocery stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Flagstaff, Ariz., and Washington, D.C.

Staph bacteria, however, is relatively easy to kill, providing consumers thoroughly cook the meat and poultry. Also important is to avoid improper food handling and cross-contamination in the kitchen. So, wash your hands before and after touching raw meat and poultry, and wash cutting boards that have been used for meat before they come into contact with other foods, especially fruits and vegetables.

People exposed to Staph bacteria can suffer from a range of problems from minor skin infections to life-threatening illnesses such as sepsis, pneumonia and endocarditis. The Mayo Clinic offers this description and assessment of Staph:
Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria, a type of germ commonly found on the skin or in the nose of even healthy individuals. Most of the time, these bacteria cause no problems or result in relatively minor skin infections.

But staph infections don't always remain skin-deep. In some circumstances, they may invade your bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs or heart.

Severe staph infections usually occur in people who are already hospitalized or who have a chronic illness or weakened immune system. But it is possible for otherwise healthy people to develop life-threatening staph infections.
Although federal food inspectors routinely check meat and poultry in retail stores for four types of drug-resistant bacteria, Staph bacteria isn't one of them, the report notes. TGen says a wider inspection program may be needed.

In breaking down the frequency that Staph was found in various meat and poultry samples, turkey topped the list. According to the study, notes a report in the Arizona Republic, 77% of turkey samples were tainted with Staph, 42% for pork, 41% for chicken and 37% for beef.

While the study pointed to Staph bacteria coming from the animals themselves, a representative from the National Turkey Federation told the Arizona Republic that the way humans handle and process the meat is a likely source of some of the contamination, since the bacteria are often found on people's hands.

Given the amount of money that's at stake for the industry if consumers start fearing to purchase poultry, it seems the National Turkey Federation and TGen will need to, well, talk turkey.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Army Seeking a Rifle to Replace Controversial M4

Army Seeking a Rifle to Replace Controversial M4

Feb 10, 2011 – 5:33 PM
The Army is poised to select a new rifle after years of debate about the effectiveness of its M4, which has been in use since the 1990s.

"Is there something better than the M4 out there? Let's go find out," Army Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller said about a draft solicitation to replace the weapon,according to Stars and Stripes.

The M4, as well as the M16, which was introduced in the Vietnam War, are both derived from the AR-15 and built by Colt Defense of West Hartford, Conn. But the M4 in recent years has been part of a heated debate over rifles, particularly over its use in Afghanistan, with critics questioning its ease of maintenance and, more critically perhaps, its lethality.

A paratrooper fires his M4 rifle during an exercise
Chris Hondros, Getty Images
A paratrooper from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division fires his M4 rifle during an exercise in Afghanistan on Sept. 15, 2002.
Several government-sponsored studies have raised questions about the M4, and media reports have repeated soldiers' complaints. A contentious Fox News story last year -- titled "M4 Vs. AK-47: Is U.S. Army Outgunned in Afghanistan?" -- suggested that the M4's 5.56 mm caliber bullet was not as lethal as that of the weapon favored by the Taliban, the AK-47, which uses a 7.62 mm round.

The Army says some of the issues with the M4 can be addressed through improvements to the rifle, but its decision to seek a replacement indicates it is finally heeding to calls for a new weapon. It will still be several years before a new rifle is fielded, however.

In the meantime, the Army continues to field improvements to current rifles and is experimenting with new weapons, such as the XM25 air-burst grenade weapon, which will not replace the M4 but could provide additional firepower. The Army has also been field testing the XM25 in Afghanistan.

Two Army units have been provided with prototypes of the weapon, which calculated the distance to the target, allowing it to penetrate barriers. Though only five prototypes exist today, the Army isconsidering building another 36.

Soldiers who have tried the weapon have reportedly nicknamed it "the Destroyer" for its ability to penetrate barriers and destroy anything behind them.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Best And Worst Cities For Home Values In 2011

The Best And Worst Cities For Home Values In 2011

California touts the most metros on the list

Poor Florida. The state that is home to Disney World, key lime pie and the Daytona 500 hasn't had much to crow about when it comes to real estate in recent years. Sorry to break it to Sunshine Staters, but they shouldn't be expecting a rebound anytime soon either.
That's according to Local Market Monitor (LMM), a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm that crunched the numbers for our list of the best and worst cities for home values in 2011. One list includes the 10 cities where home values are expected to rise the most in 2011, and the other the 10 cities where they are expected to fall the most.
LMM tracks 315 American real estate markets, assessing values and applying Investment Suitability ratings based on multiple factors. For the Forbes lists, LMM President Ingo Winzer and his researchers started with a U.S. Census-defined list of Metropolitan Statistical Areas with populations of 500,000 residents or more. They then analyzed key economic factors that directly affect housing markets: unemployment and job growth rates, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. LMM tracks real estate markets' valuations based on the theory that markets go through cycles.
From Forbes.com
"We see a predictable pathway that home prices follow," explains Winzer. "If you know where in the cycle a market is, you can make some predictions about where it will go in the next one, two, three years."
Assessing the progression of those market cycles means comparing average "actual" home prices to equilibrium home prices--meaning where prices should be in the absence of market distortions that result from speculation and mismatches between population growth and new home construction. Another tool is peak-to-trough analyses, which factors in the number of single-family and multi-family housing permits active in each city, as recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau.