Hey look... it's art!

In response to an artist friend's return to blogging, I've posted my own attempt at abstract art:



Actually, no, I lied. It's not art... it's SCIENCE!!! It's actually yesterday's lab results from my research project in grad school. My feeble attempts at art are strictly limited to music and photography. And, really, I think I approach even those genres from much more of an "analytical" perspective than an artistic one....

[Edit, 2/7/10 -- looks like I'm not the only one to equate DNA with art!]

Medical Anomolies

I saw this clip on YouTube a few months ago about the "Tree Man of Java" (superpowers sold separately):

For those with slow connections (or for those who need motivation to wait for the video to load), here's a shot of his "hands":


I ran into a recent article about his condition (a random combination of the HPV virus plus an incredibly rare genetic immune disorder) and the treatment he's been getting... which led me to an article on the man without a face....



....which, in turn, led to an article about a girl with two faces....


...which, of course, pointed me to an article about an 11-pound, 23-inch-tall 15-year-old. Here, she's pictured with a 13-month old, and her classmates:


It's interesting to note the role of religion in some of these stories. The guy with the facial tumor has firmly refused medical treatment until recently, since (until recently) the medical procedures involved would have required a blood transfusion, something he won't consider as a staunch Jehovah's Witness. Meanwhile, the girl is being hailed as a reincarnation of the Hindu god Ganesha. Her parents certainly don't mind... everyone who comes to pay their respects to the baby include a nice monetary gift.