Found Not Lost

By now even the most uninformed of us has heard of the controversy regarding stem cell research. You may be against some of the methods of harvesting stem cells, but it’s hard to dispute the science behind the research.

According to Cryo-Cel, a Cord blood bank that has been in operation since 1992, umbilical cord stem cells have been found to treat 70 diseases including anemia, lymphoma, diabets and cerebral palsy. Treating Diseases with Stem Cells is only one of the reasons cited in the website why you should consider banking your babies cord blood at birth. Cryo-cell is not just a blood bank though, they are pioneering stem cell research while constantly searching noncontroversial solutions to preserving stem cells.

The Value of Cord Blood, according to the Cryo-Cell website include:

(1) Cord blood is easier to extract than bone marrow, saving many from the painful procedure of bone marrow extraction.
(2) The body absorbs cord blood stem cells better than those from bone marrow.
(3) About 30,000 people a year in the United States are diagnosed with a disease that can be treated with cord blood stem cells
(4) A number of disease respond favorable to treatment using stem cells

Cord blood banking is one of those events that you hope you won’t ever need, but it is good to know that it is there when you need it. Do a little research and you will find testimonials of how people have been helped by this procedure. Look into it and judge for yourself if this truly is a valuable service.

I’m sure you’ve seen this crazy building before, known as the Dancing house. It is also called the “The Drunk House”, a downtown office building in Prague, in the Czech Republic, and was designed by Czech architect Frank Gehry. Notable features include a French restaurant on the roof, with wonderful views of the city.

Other wacky building such as this is listed in the 10 Wackiest Buildings in the World. Check out the other buildings on the list. Wouldn’t you love to live in one of these?

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If I won this kitchen, I’d have to build a whole new house for it! I just ran across this contest today, and did it go straight to the heart of my desires. I would love to have a kitchen like this especially since almost all of my appliances, none of them less than ten years old, are starting to give out. My husband and I have been salivating over a subzero freezer that would take up half of our kitchen and probably blow the crappy wiring in our kitchen, but what the heck, we can dream can’t we?

This Dream Kitchen contest is also a fantasy. If you win the $50,000 grand prize, you will get:
* Sub-Zero PRO 48
* Sub-Zero Wine Storage
* Wolf Dual Fuel Range
* Wolf Ventilation
* Kohler Kitchen Products
* Dean & DeLuca Gourmet Products
* Windsor Sonoma Wine
* McGuire Table and Chairs

The sweepstakes only runs until July 31st, so better get on over there if you want a chance to win!

What is your favorite film? Or, to be more specific, what is your favorite 80’s film? I’m a lover of movies in general, whether it’s a musical, action, drama, comedy or chick-flick. 80’s films are possibly my favorite genre of films. The music, the style, the actors, everything about them mesmerizes me. The teen films of the era are innocent but touching, something today’s teen films often miss.

Personally, I love The Breakfast Club. Truly, I love any “brat pack” film. However, The Breakfast Club, was my first “brat pack” film. Also, it is completely timeless and something any teen can relate to. The movie is about the superficial differences we see, the things that separate us, along with something as simple as detention to bring the differences so close we see what lies beneath. It shows how people who are so different, and keep walls up, can become best friends within a few hours.

Another great 80’s flick, WarGames, starring Matthew Broderick, is celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary by playing in select theaters nationwide on Thursday, July 24th. The showing is one night only and will include never-before-seen interviews with film’s creators and the cast (including Broderick and Ally Sheedy) and crew on how the movie was ahead of its time and its relevance today. Additionally, only at this one night event, get a sneak peek at the making of the sequel – WarGames: The Dead Code.

This anniversary shows us, that while 80’s movies are things of the past, they will continue to be forever remembered and loved.