It’s amazing how attached we are, ok I am, to technology! I am reminded of this fact when something is not functioning as it should and I have to either fix it, find a replacement, or do without.  We have both LAN and wireless networks in our house so that our desktop computers and laptops can access each other and the Internet and so that our laptops maintain their portability.  Recently I was struggling with constant loss of connection at the most frustrating of times – in the middle of uploads/downloads or when trying to share files.  A very long and frustrating story shortened to the Ethernet port in our DSL modem was not functioning properly and therefore our wireless router/network and Internet access were both impacted.  Since I was in a bit of a bind (read impatient – how can I digital-scrapbook without Internet or the more mundane but highly important question how does my husband access and complete his timecard????) and because I REALLY didn’t want to have to deal with my ISP (the modem provider), we opted to purchase a new modem with the wireless router and LAN ports included.  Again, due to my impatience, my husband stopped at our local Staples to pick-up the new unit after I had called around to verify one was in-stock and reasonably (relatively speaking) priced.  I selected a NetGear DGN-2000-100NAS.  This unit is capable of the new Wireless-N standards as well as supporting older Wireless A, B and G standards.  It is an all-in-one, so the DSL modem and wireless router features reside in a single unit.  If we’d had more time (or I’d been less impatient) I’d have done more Internet-shopping/price comparisons with tools like Shopwiki – a service that combines wikipedia-style background information and price-grabber type price comparisons (and you ALL of the results, not just those from paid-advertisers so you can find the best price on the web and compare it local merchants). As it turns out, Staples was the best choice both price-wise (and we didn’t have to pay shipping since they’re local) and from a convenience stand-point (no waiting for orders to process and ship).  Plus, I VERY satisfied with our NetGear product and with the customer support we received during set-up and installation.  A positive experience all the way around!

No matter which side of the stem-cell research "issue" you fall, the advances in medical research and technology are simply amazing!  I, for one, am not against stem-cell research if the cells are from donated cord-blood (I donated Nadya’s after her birth).  The possibilities for treating debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and MS, just to name a few, are astounding!  We all know of the long waits for organ transplants and the costs of medical treatments while waiting for an organ can be extraordinary… being able to "generate" a specific organ could save many lives and dollars… but again that requires access to stem-cells, which may or may not be readily available. Now, there might be another option (besides cord-blood) for advancing this cutting-edge research.  C’elle, a medical research company, has come up with a way to use menstrual blood – which I know sounds gross initially, but hey if it could be useful for something other than cramps, why not?!?!?  Checkout this news article:

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Taking Control: Future Therapies for a Host of Serious Diseases May Be Found in Women’s Menstrual Blood
July 07, 2008: 01:28 PM EST
OLDSMAR, Fla., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — With today’s hectic lifestyle, where most women are juggling careers, family, relationships, and a host of activities, the idea of possibly facing a serious illness in the future is not something that readily comes to mind — especially when a woman is in the prime of her life. But what most women don’t know, is that the key to treating a number of possibly life-threatening diseases that she, a parent, a sibling or even her children may face in later years, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, may be found within her own body — in vital stem cells, which can now be harvested from her own menstrual blood.
Now, thanks to the revolutionary research and technology of C’elle, a service dedicated to providing women with a safe and easy method of collecting and preserving stem cells found in her menstrual fluid each month, even the busiest woman can take control of her future, right in the privacy of her own home. With C’elle’s non-invasive collection process, menstrual cells are processed and cryo-preserved (stored at a very low temperature) for potential cellular therapies that may be used in the future. These self-renewing cells one day may even be used for sports medicine or cosmeceutical treatments, such as anti-aging therapies.
"C’elle enables and empowers a woman to take control of her future health, and possibly of those genetically closest to her, in a fast, painless and stress free way," said Michelle Kay, Marketing and Sales Manager for C’elle. "We live in exciting times, as science and technology are discovering how extremely valuable menstrual blood stem cells really are, and the enormous treatment potential they represent for future therapies. C’elle’s ongoing research is supporting these promising findings."
For more information about C’elle, please call 1-877-892-3553 or visit www.celle.com.

CNNMoney

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So, instead of waiting 9 months and dealing with the required forms, hospital regulations, and possible stigma, we could have the option of providing valuable stem-cells for medical research and advancement every month (at least when you’re not pregnant) from the privacy of our own homes. I must admit the scientist and engineer in me is intrigued and although I’m not sure I’m ready to jump-in just yet, the idea is definitely thought-provoking.

I don’t know about you, but I hate shopping for glasses almost as much I visiting the Doctor! I’ve been to those places in the Mall where you get high pressure sales pitches to buy the most expensive set of frames/lenses in stock without regard to your budget or whether or not the frames actually look good on you.  So, I think next time I’m in the market for new glasses, I’ll visit Zenni Optical online.  They’ve got a huge selection of stylish frames with multiple lens options (options of single vision, sunsensor (photochromic), tinted sunglasses, bifocal and progressive).  Since they manufacture their own frames and sell directly to us, their prices are reasonable too!  So it’s a win-win situation -  I don’t have to leave home, therefore I’ll save myself the hassle of driving to the mall as well as the annoying high pressure sales. Click on the specs to check Zenni out.