steve barrett

Poor giraffe

Look closely at his guitars.

First of all, this is real. Well, it’s an illustration of a real disorder called Harlequin Ichthyosis. It’s essentially dry skin but it also affects the development of the eyes, mouth, nose, and limbs.

This video creeped me out. I could feel this thing peering deep into my soul and terrorizing me from the inside out. I cannot imagine a birth defect as horrible as this. According to wikipedia most babies borth with Harlequin Ichthyosis die within hours or days, but occasionally one will make it to adulthood.

Meet Ryan González, once a harlequin baby Ryan has become a harlequin man and triathlete. He has to apply lotion to his entire body up to 7 times a day and eats a large amount of food to compensate for all the skin he sheds.

Ryan isn’t the only one; a girl named Lucy from somewhere in Europe has also survived Harlequin Ichthyosis into adulthood. DNA samples and heavy research into the disorder has traced it back to a genetic disorder that causes a specific protein to not function.

You have to somehow wonder how these people find the courage to carry on with such a dabilitating disorder, although I’m sure if you were to ask one of them how they do it they would shrug you off as though it’s a dumb question. I suppose it is, what other option do you have, and what other life have you known when this is how you are and how you’ve always been. It’s who you are. Regardless, I have endless respect.

update: August 31, 2008

Caught this on liveleak. A baby was bord with Harlequin Icthyosis in Turkey.

sometimes out of boredom i piss in the sink instead of the toilet. cause i live in a small house and the flushing would wake ppl up

One of many wonderful confessions on the anonymous website known as grouphug, where anyone and everyone can post their deepest secrets under a veil simply to get them off your chest. Hours of entertainment.

It was obvious the eagle was destined to win but who knew that goat would get its ass thrown off a god damn cliff.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

I find it absurd that “Hilrod” is talking about going to the mat for you and dlivering the peoples elbow. Obama & McCain were just as stupid sounding with all of their wrestling references that were so obviously written into their speeches. This election has become a JOKE. I think I’m tired of both parties.

McCain is going to introduce Osama to the Undertaker. Oh, and DO YOU SMELL WHAT BARRACK IS COOKIN!?

Now that’s impressive. This guy has been in the limelight for a few months now after his well-circulated renditions of mario & homer. If you haven’t seen these yet I’m sure you’ll be slightly creeped out like I was. Jessica Rabbit’s no different, she’s so nasty!

Cernan: “…good old-fashioned gray tape doesn’t want to stick very well.” (At a post flight briefing he explained: “Because there was dust on everything, once you got a piece of tape off the roll, the first thing the tape stuck to was dust; and then it didn’t stick to anything else.”)

His second attempt succeeded, however. “I am done!” crowed Cernan. “If that fender stays on … I’d like some sort of mending award.” And with that, they were off.

[spotted on boingboing]
[via nasa]

Recognize this guy? You might if you watch much CNN these days. Anchor Richard Quest (Dick Quest?) was spotted by an Officer at about 3AM Friday Morning in Central Park. The park was closed so Quest was approached and given a notice of loitering. After some small interaction with the police it was found that he also had Methamphetamine in his pocket, a “sexual toy” in his shoe, and a rope around his neck that was attached to his manhood. The only reason he wasn’t charged with a sexual crime was because he wasn’t exposing himself.

Good to know there’s such classy people spreading the world news across America. I would like to think most of you are smart enough to get your information from multiple sources because odds are you might be hearing that latest story from a gangly white dude with a dildo in his shoe and meth in his pocket.

Richard Simmons was caught fixin’ his business live on the Today Show a few days ago. That spandex must have crammed his junk in so tight he couldn’t take it anymore, I can’t think of any other reason to have to adjust on live daytime TV. Al Roker knew this would make some rounds online.