The ubiquitous ability of duct tape to fix anything has been common knowledge since World War II. It was originally made of cotton duck fabric (not from real ducks) and repelled water like a duck’s feathers, so it nicely fits its moniker. Duct tape was easy to apply and remove by hand, making it extraordinarily…
Whaaaat??? What on earth is this blog going to be about? Recently in baseball, there’s been a lot of talk about cheating, and specifically, pitchers using “different” materials on the ball. Sitting on every baseball mound is a rosin bag, historically filled with rosin powder, which is a sticky substance extracted from the sap of…
Chiari I malformation is a complex brain disorder, which is still poorly understood and controversial. There are numerous types of Chiari, however Chiari I is most commonly found in kids and young adults. Many people haven’t heard of Chiari I, although nearly 1 in 1,000 may have the diagnosis. In comparison, multiple sclerosis (MS) affects…
If you’ve ever watched the Olympics, you may think, as I did, that the minimal splash signifies the body cutting through the water like a knife through butter. While a professional slices the H20 better than my belly-flop, it turns out there are pretty incredible velocities and impact forces even with a 10.0 dive. Competitive…
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are a challenging aspect of neurosurgery. Shunts are placed for numerous indications, however the most common cause is hydrocephalus. CSF is a shock absorber for the neural structures, transmits nutrients, and helps regulate pressure. It is produced in the brain’s ventricles by the choroid plexus, and circulates through and out the…
Taylor Swift’s first verse lyrics in “Shake It Off” read: “Got nothing in my brain… That’s what people say, mm, mm…” The chorus soon chimes: “I shake it off, I shake it off (Whoo-hoo-hoo) I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a Taylor Swift fan and I don’t expect her to reappear in…
Many of the most famous painters of all time have come from the Netherlands. Rembrandt, Vermeer… and of course Vincent Van Gogh. Having started painting at the age of 27, Van Gogh died at 37 years old. He created about 2,100 works, with most in the last two years of his life. Possibly his most…
We’ve previously published a blog on the lumbar spine years ago. “Understanding your MRI of the Lumbar Spine”. The cervical sequel is late but at least it showed up to the party. Cervical spine arthritic degeneration results from increased mechanical stressors passing through the cervical spinal column, resulting in bone spur formation (uncovertebral spurring) and…
Have you ever seen the movie Joe Versus the Volcano? The 1990 comedy, at the infancy of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan’s dynamic duo-ship, was about the hypochondriac Joe Banks and his dreary lackluster life. He sees a quack doctor, Dr. Ellison, who diagnoses him with a, “Brain Cloud”. What is a “Brain Cloud” you…
Just this weekend, a SpaceX capsule returned four astronauts to earth, for the first manned space flight return in darkness since 1968. The astronauts had been at the International Space Station since November. It’s another mark in the resurgence of space flight, and potential travel to Mars, since the end of the space shuttle program…