"Seeing machine" helps the blind surf the web

There was a pretty amazing post in Science Blog the other day stating, "An MIT poet has developed a small, relatively inexpensive 'seeing machine' that can allow people who are blind, or visually challenged like her, to access the Internet, view the face of a friend, 'previsit' unfamiliar buildings and more." For those with healthy retinas, but other eye problems, the device projects an image directly onto the retina of the eye "past the hemorrhages within the eye." The device is based on the technology of a "scanning laser opthalmoscope, or SLO." It costs $4000 bucks.

Mun Mun digs assistive technology.

Bad Omen

The other day TK and I wished on a wishbone. Neither of us won because each of our ends broke off before the middle. I guess my wish for a successful summer reading program won't come true.

Growing up, my sister and I would wish on a wishbone soon after it had been cooked. However, TK alerted me to the practice of drying the wishbone out before wishing on it. It makes it so the person with the fatter end doesn't always win.

My Famous Last Words Will Be:

"I dunno, press the button and find out."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Arboreteum, damnit!

I was sure that the L.A. County Arboretum in Arcadia was spelled a-r-b-o-r-e-t-e-u-m. I consulted several dictionaries and could not find arboretum with that other spelling. Yet if one Googles "arboreteum," one can find many examples of places that use the extra "E" in the spelling. I have a feeling that the L.A. Arboretum used that other spelling when I was growing up and that's why it's imprinted on me. However, I can't find evidence that this is the case. How very vexing.