“Owen, 7, does not have the strength to maneuver a computer mouse, but when a nurse propped her boyfriend’s iPad within reach in June, he did something his mother had never seen before,” Hager reports. “He aimed his left pointer finger at an icon on the screen, touched it — just barely — and opened the application Gravitarium, which plays music as users create landscapes of stars on the screen.”
Hager reports, “Over the years, Owen’s parents had tried several computerized communications contraptions to give him an escape from his disability, but the iPad was the first that worked on the first try. ‘We have spent all this time keeping him alive, and now we owe him more than that,’ said his mother, Ellen Goldstein, a vice president at the Times Square Alliance business association.”
“When Owen was about 8 weeks old, his mother noticed his right arm drooping. It led to a crushing diagnosis: the motor-neuron disease known as spinal muscular atrophy Type 1. A 2003 New York Times article about spinal muscular atrophy said his parents had been told Owen would be ‘paralyzed for his life, which doctors predicted would last no more than about two years,'” Hager reports. “Owen will turn 8 on Nov. 11. While his condition is not expected to worsen, he is extremely sensitive to infection and once nearly died of pneumonia; three specialized therapists and a nurse help keep him alive.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Joe J.” and “Lynn W.” for the heads up.]
Revolutionary and Magical IPad strikes again
Revolutionary and Magical IPad strikes again
Thwarting natural selection has a price.
How much is this kid costing us? I bet you’d be shocked. This is why our health care costs are out of control. And for what? Stuck on a respirator like a lump for life?
Years ago, this kid wouldn’t have lived. Years ago, health care was affordable.
This sort of thing is why I’m strongly pro-abortion. Vacuum these mistakes right out – like Sarah Palin’s Down Syndrome baby. Slurp! Done!
This family is selfish. This mother thinks only about herself: not the horror she’s prolonging for her poor boy, certainly not the costs she’s inflicting on the rest of us.
Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
Thwarting natural selection has a price.
How much is this kid costing us? I bet you’d be shocked. This is why our health care costs are out of control. And for what? Stuck on a respirator like a lump for life?
Years ago, this kid wouldn’t have lived. Years ago, health care was affordable.
This sort of thing is why I’m strongly pro-abortion. Vacuum these mistakes right out – like Sarah Palin’s Down Syndrome baby. Slurp! Done!
This family is selfish. This mother thinks only about herself: not the horror she’s prolonging for her poor boy, certainly not the costs she’s inflicting on the rest of us.
Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
Wow, words escape me
Wow, words escape me
This is one of the many benefits of great innovation and technology. There are several stories that I have read about the great impact the iPad is making on several different types of handicapped and special needs people.
Great societies help and reach out to people like this that are unable to help themselves. I hope to see many apps for these people’s unique needs.
This is one of the many benefits of great innovation and technology. There are several stories that I have read about the great impact the iPad is making on several different types of handicapped and special needs people.
Great societies help and reach out to people like this that are unable to help themselves. I hope to see many apps for these people’s unique needs.
I wonder how much Stephen Hawking is costing?
I wonder how much Stephen Hawking is costing?
Aunt Julia,
You make a few points, however harsh they may be:
– 8 weeks earlier and Owen would have been a nice legal partial-birth abortion, but when his problem developed, if “aborted” then, it would have been murder.
– How many extremely severe health cases are we expected to support through our rapidly rising health insurance premiums?
Aunt Julia,
You make a few points, however harsh they may be:
– 8 weeks earlier and Owen would have been a nice legal partial-birth abortion, but when his problem developed, if “aborted” then, it would have been murder.
– How many extremely severe health cases are we expected to support through our rapidly rising health insurance premiums?
Aunt Julia: omg. your a simple sole arn’t you sweetie. your certainly not a parent are you. read some books. go work with the disadvantaged. gain some perspective on life. think about your own place in the world and what you can contribute.
her daughters life is precious. she’d give her life for her child. she’s probably paying a fortune for her care. who the hell are you to say she should do otherwise.
simpleton.
Aunt Julia: omg. your a simple sole arn’t you sweetie. your certainly not a parent are you. read some books. go work with the disadvantaged. gain some perspective on life. think about your own place in the world and what you can contribute.
her daughters life is precious. she’d give her life for her child. she’s probably paying a fortune for her care. who the hell are you to say she should do otherwise.
simpleton.
Wow, deciding who lives and who dies…
Now if there were only an App for that!
Wow, deciding who lives and who dies…
Now if there were only an App for that!
Aunt Julia, cold and clueless and sad.
• Note: “… his mother, Ellen Goldstein, a vice president at the Times Square Alliance business association.” These parents and the Palin family seem to have already established how their loved and cared for children will be taken care of.
• Note: Neither of the above to families you pointed out have asked for money from you.
• Note: If this stupid government takes over our choices and make them for us, they need to stop crying about how they run up the cost when they take it over. It was not theirs to take. Vote Tuesday and get the government out of this crisis. They don’t belong their. But, the families, friends and churches do.
Aunt Julia, cold and clueless and sad.
• Note: “… his mother, Ellen Goldstein, a vice president at the Times Square Alliance business association.” These parents and the Palin family seem to have already established how their loved and cared for children will be taken care of.
• Note: Neither of the above to families you pointed out have asked for money from you.
• Note: If this stupid government takes over our choices and make them for us, they need to stop crying about how they run up the cost when they take it over. It was not theirs to take. Vote Tuesday and get the government out of this crisis. They don’t belong their. But, the families, friends and churches do.
Medical applications combined with iOS4 plus iPad technology touch screen/voice activation helps people with disabilities yet the same tech also makes it easier for the rest of use!!!!
Win – win.
Go Apple!
Buy AAPL stocks!
Medical applications combined with iOS4 plus iPad technology touch screen/voice activation helps people with disabilities yet the same tech also makes it easier for the rest of use!!!!
Win – win.
Go Apple!
Buy AAPL stocks!
“When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Women’s Rights Movement Organizer, October 16, 1887
“As bad as the economy is, as bad as the war is, the destruction of innocent human life, especially in the womb, is a greater evil, and correction of this grave evil must take place. Each of us has a role in making this correction in our duties as citizens.” – Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Has America Lost Its Way?, October 24, 2008
“When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Women’s Rights Movement Organizer, October 16, 1887
“As bad as the economy is, as bad as the war is, the destruction of innocent human life, especially in the womb, is a greater evil, and correction of this grave evil must take place. Each of us has a role in making this correction in our duties as citizens.” – Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Has America Lost Its Way?, October 24, 2008
Okay i read the article, he’s being kept alive on medicare.
Perhaps the money would be better spent on reducing the US deficit…. I’m kidding.
Aunt Julia: we’re never going to agree.
Okay i read the article, he’s being kept alive on medicare.
Perhaps the money would be better spent on reducing the US deficit…. I’m kidding.
Aunt Julia: we’re never going to agree.
Wow, Aunt Julia
Your lack of compassion shocks the conscious, regardless of views on abortion. Some day when you’re afflicted by a disease or are in a debilitating accident, perhaps your family will choose to be “less selfish” and let you go. I hope you’ve asked them to, for the sake of humanity.
I truly pity you.
Wow, Aunt Julia
Your lack of compassion shocks the conscious, regardless of views on abortion. Some day when you’re afflicted by a disease or are in a debilitating accident, perhaps your family will choose to be “less selfish” and let you go. I hope you’ve asked them to, for the sake of humanity.
I truly pity you.
Don’t feed the trolls. (Come on – “slurp” ?)
Don’t feed the trolls. (Come on – “slurp” ?)
What’s the difference?,
Now in my early 30’s, I’ve become pro-life over time.
Logic tells me that it’s not a right to “choose” murder just because the baby is still in the womb.
The Consequences of Roe v. Wade:
49,551,703 total abortions since 1973
http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/facts/abortionstats.html
That is simply disgusting and wrong.
What’s the difference?,
Now in my early 30’s, I’ve become pro-life over time.
Logic tells me that it’s not a right to “choose” murder just because the baby is still in the womb.
The Consequences of Roe v. Wade:
49,551,703 total abortions since 1973
http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/facts/abortionstats.html
That is simply disgusting and wrong.
The old election analysis that ‘It’s the economy stupid’ seems to have been replace by ‘It’s the stoopid, stupid’
The old election analysis that ‘It’s the economy stupid’ seems to have been replace by ‘It’s the stoopid, stupid’
Check out the video on NYT. Dry eyes are not possible.
Check out the video on NYT. Dry eyes are not possible.
Listen, if you’re going to force me –unconstitutionally, by the way — to buy into Obamacare, then I still have a right to free speech (until they take that away, too):
I’m already sick and tired of paying for extreme means of keeping people alive who normally wouldn’t be.
Where is the line? How much do we have to pay? Who decides? I say bring on the death panels before we go totally broke!
And, don’t tell me I can “keep my plan if I like it.” More Obama bullshit. My employer has already dropped insurance coverage altogether due to unworkable rising costs as a result of the Obamacare fiasco.
My excellent doctor has simply retired rather than continue to operate in such conditions.
Get ready for unnecessary waiting and pain and death.
Listen, if you’re going to force me –unconstitutionally, by the way — to buy into Obamacare, then I still have a right to free speech (until they take that away, too):
I’m already sick and tired of paying for extreme means of keeping people alive who normally wouldn’t be.
Where is the line? How much do we have to pay? Who decides? I say bring on the death panels before we go totally broke!
And, don’t tell me I can “keep my plan if I like it.” More Obama bullshit. My employer has already dropped insurance coverage altogether due to unworkable rising costs as a result of the Obamacare fiasco.
My excellent doctor has simply retired rather than continue to operate in such conditions.
Get ready for unnecessary waiting and pain and death.
The solution to your problem is very simple: November 2, 2010. Get out and vote.
The solution to your problem is very simple: November 2, 2010. Get out and vote.
Aunt julia– take your tea tampon and stick it eternally your hemorrhaging brain
Aunt julia– take your tea tampon and stick it eternally your hemorrhaging brain
Aunt Julia,
That forced payment will never make it past the U.S. Supreme Court. The fscking interstate commerce clause it not infinitely applicable to whatever socialist bullshit idiots like Obama dream up.
Aunt Julia,
That forced payment will never make it past the U.S. Supreme Court. The fscking interstate commerce clause it not infinitely applicable to whatever socialist bullshit idiots like Obama dream up.
Aunt Julia, can it or take it elsewhere. This forum isn’t for your weak political rhetoric.
Don’t focus on the family, focus on the device. This child was considered normal until after birth. The iPad helps him.
Autism is frquently not noticed until the third year. Ipad’s have been proven to help the autistic find a voice.
Disabled people of all ages can benefit from this seemingly simple device.
Let’s focus on the positives of the iPad, shall we?
Aunt Julia, can it or take it elsewhere. This forum isn’t for your weak political rhetoric.
Don’t focus on the family, focus on the device. This child was considered normal until after birth. The iPad helps him.
Autism is frquently not noticed until the third year. Ipad’s have been proven to help the autistic find a voice.
Disabled people of all ages can benefit from this seemingly simple device.
Let’s focus on the positives of the iPad, shall we?
Rather than get slurped into obtuse political baiting, I’m going to take this opportunity to remind you all that it’s now November, and we should shortly be expecting iOS 4.2 to bring 3rd party multitasking, folders, and other goodies to our iPads. Whatever your feelings on the sanctity of life, I think we can all agree to be Pro-4.2.
Rather than get slurped into obtuse political baiting, I’m going to take this opportunity to remind you all that it’s now November, and we should shortly be expecting iOS 4.2 to bring 3rd party multitasking, folders, and other goodies to our iPads. Whatever your feelings on the sanctity of life, I think we can all agree to be Pro-4.2.
Human embryo, oyster – either one is slurptastically delicious!
Human embryo, oyster – either one is slurptastically delicious!
And I keep remembering how Bill Gates & Ballmer kept saying people really needed keyboards and that iPads wouldn’t really be a good solution…
And I keep remembering how Bill Gates & Ballmer kept saying people really needed keyboards and that iPads wouldn’t really be a good solution…
Re: @breeze
“The old election analysis that ‘It’s the economy stupid’ seems to have been replace by ‘It’s the stoopid, stupid'”
Who is the “stoopid”? Is it the guys currently in charge or the guys possibly about to be put in charge? Or is it the people that supports the guys currently in charge? Or is it the people that supports the guys about to be put in charge?
Careful, ‘cuz it’s a trick question…
No matter how you answer…
YOU WILL BE CORRECT, SIR!
MDN Magic Word “gives” as in who gives a ‘Q@#$%@#$%’!!!
Re: @breeze
“The old election analysis that ‘It’s the economy stupid’ seems to have been replace by ‘It’s the stoopid, stupid'”
Who is the “stoopid”? Is it the guys currently in charge or the guys possibly about to be put in charge? Or is it the people that supports the guys currently in charge? Or is it the people that supports the guys about to be put in charge?
Careful, ‘cuz it’s a trick question…
No matter how you answer…
YOU WILL BE CORRECT, SIR!
MDN Magic Word “gives” as in who gives a ‘Q@#$%@#$%’!!!
The sad thing about “Aunt Julia” is that he thinks his life is worth more than this poor kid’s.
The sad thing about “Aunt Julia” is that he thinks his life is worth more than this poor kid’s.
@Aunt Julia
OK, simple question, what is a reasonable limit on the amount of money to spend on a person to save / sustain their life?
Another question, can you say that the same reasonable limit applies to your life too?
Money: you can’t take it with you (Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…).
Life is precious in invaluable, and you only get one.
Putting a price on life makes life itself commodity to be bought, sold or traded. That sounds like slavery to me.
BTW, with regard to the article, awesome application of the iPad’s capabilities
@Aunt Julia
OK, simple question, what is a reasonable limit on the amount of money to spend on a person to save / sustain their life?
Another question, can you say that the same reasonable limit applies to your life too?
Money: you can’t take it with you (Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…).
Life is precious in invaluable, and you only get one.
Putting a price on life makes life itself commodity to be bought, sold or traded. That sounds like slavery to me.
BTW, with regard to the article, awesome application of the iPad’s capabilities
@ Aunt Julia
I wish your moma had aborted you then we would have one less redneck moron on the planet
@ Aunt Julia
I wish your moma had aborted you then we would have one less redneck moron on the planet
@ Julia
You are true Nazi, and I don’t use that word lightly. They killed the retarded before the Jews, Gays, and anyone else that was not “perfect.”
I am pro choice. Mainly because I don’t believe a raped women should be forced to have that man’s kid. Also men will be jailed because a women decides she does not want to have a child and the only way she can have a abortion is to lie and say she was raped. Pro life is pro rape.
Julia you are not pro choice, you are pro death camps.
@ Julia
You are true Nazi, and I don’t use that word lightly. They killed the retarded before the Jews, Gays, and anyone else that was not “perfect.”
I am pro choice. Mainly because I don’t believe a raped women should be forced to have that man’s kid. Also men will be jailed because a women decides she does not want to have a child and the only way she can have a abortion is to lie and say she was raped. Pro life is pro rape.
Julia you are not pro choice, you are pro death camps.
Now on topic. This is not only great for this boy, but other disabled people. Now we don’t need specialized, expensive tools to improve peoples lives. A easy to obtain device with some affordable software can now help a lot of people. Those who see the iPad as nothing more than a media consuming device have no vision of it’s true potential. Just think who the iPad will be helping after it’s first year; third year.
Now on topic. This is not only great for this boy, but other disabled people. Now we don’t need specialized, expensive tools to improve peoples lives. A easy to obtain device with some affordable software can now help a lot of people. Those who see the iPad as nothing more than a media consuming device have no vision of it’s true potential. Just think who the iPad will be helping after it’s first year; third year.
C1:
Was just last night wondering if the update would be quietly released in days to come, my iPad’s begging for folders and multitasking.
C1:
Was just last night wondering if the update would be quietly released in days to come, my iPad’s begging for folders and multitasking.
Boy, this story got pulled off the rails. I have something that’s more relevant. I want to believe this story. But I’m concerned of bias in the facilitator who holds up his hand and guides it to the screen. There have been issues with this in the past where given a non-biased facilitator, the results cannot be duplicated. I wish the story addressed this.
Boy, this story got pulled off the rails. I have something that’s more relevant. I want to believe this story. But I’m concerned of bias in the facilitator who holds up his hand and guides it to the screen. There have been issues with this in the past where given a non-biased facilitator, the results cannot be duplicated. I wish the story addressed this.
The problem with pulling the plug, Auntie Julia, is who makes up the rules on pulling the plug and will they make an exception for you when it comes to your turn to die prematurely.
The selfishness of keeping a child, in dire straights, alive much longer than necessary, just because you can’t bare to see it die, is contrasted with the eagerness to pull the plug, on a geriatric relative, so you can get your hands on your inheritance.
Health care costs an awful lot of money and in many instances we can’t afford to keep throwing money at lost causes. Even if we do love that lost cause.
The problem with pulling the plug, Auntie Julia, is who makes up the rules on pulling the plug and will they make an exception for you when it comes to your turn to die prematurely.
The selfishness of keeping a child, in dire straights, alive much longer than necessary, just because you can’t bare to see it die, is contrasted with the eagerness to pull the plug, on a geriatric relative, so you can get your hands on your inheritance.
Health care costs an awful lot of money and in many instances we can’t afford to keep throwing money at lost causes. Even if we do love that lost cause.
As others stated, the original post by “Aunt Julia” was harsh. But it contains a grain of substance that deserves further debate. Human life is only truly “priceless” when you have infinite resources to expend. And the reality is that all resources are finite. And control over the allocation of finite resources has led to many historical conflicts.
Human life is often assigned a value in the real world. Companies weigh the cost of alternative parts versus the cost of litigation for injury and death. And the justice system levies monetary compensation for wrongful death. We are also willing to spend lives in car accidents and military actions. From the viewpoint of a society, human life clearly has a finite value.
In my experience, we also occasionally prolong life beyond what is reasonable or desirable. But who asks the people who are potentially trapped in such a situation? I wonder what Owen Cain would prefer?
This is a very difficult subject full of moral and ethical implications as well as economic ones.
As others stated, the original post by “Aunt Julia” was harsh. But it contains a grain of substance that deserves further debate. Human life is only truly “priceless” when you have infinite resources to expend. And the reality is that all resources are finite. And control over the allocation of finite resources has led to many historical conflicts.
Human life is often assigned a value in the real world. Companies weigh the cost of alternative parts versus the cost of litigation for injury and death. And the justice system levies monetary compensation for wrongful death. We are also willing to spend lives in car accidents and military actions. From the viewpoint of a society, human life clearly has a finite value.
In my experience, we also occasionally prolong life beyond what is reasonable or desirable. But who asks the people who are potentially trapped in such a situation? I wonder what Owen Cain would prefer?
This is a very difficult subject full of moral and ethical implications as well as economic ones.
Gee – on the whole you Americans are several flavours of fscked up aren’t you! Quite unbelievable.
Gee – on the whole you Americans are several flavours of fscked up aren’t you! Quite unbelievable.
@The Australian
Indeed.
@The Australian
Indeed.
Aunt Julia wrote:
“I’m already sick and tired of paying for extreme means of keeping people alive who normally wouldn’t be.”
And I’m already sick and tired of paying for extreme means of killing people who normally should live. The Bush/Cheney invasion of Iraq for example, which cost untold lives and us taxpayers three trillion dollars.
Aunt Julia wrote:
“I’m already sick and tired of paying for extreme means of keeping people alive who normally wouldn’t be.”
And I’m already sick and tired of paying for extreme means of killing people who normally should live. The Bush/Cheney invasion of Iraq for example, which cost untold lives and us taxpayers three trillion dollars.
Aunt Julia… U should ask ur government not to go for war. Have a look how much it cost u every year. May be that amount of money will keep u American happy. Pls dont tell others what to do with their disabled kids.
Aunt Julia… U should ask ur government not to go for war. Have a look how much it cost u every year. May be that amount of money will keep u American happy. Pls dont tell others what to do with their disabled kids.
Hmm, Aunt Julia seems to be mentally disabled. I think we should just short list her for the death chamber immediately because her mental disability has clearly demonstrated that she is less than a human being and should be treated as such.
Of course I don’t believe that and do believe in your right to free speech. But if you want to advocate killing people, then I say great. Let’s start with you.
Hmm, Aunt Julia seems to be mentally disabled. I think we should just short list her for the death chamber immediately because her mental disability has clearly demonstrated that she is less than a human being and should be treated as such.
Of course I don’t believe that and do believe in your right to free speech. But if you want to advocate killing people, then I say great. Let’s start with you.
I think we should take a lesson from Iran: Remember during their war with Iraq when they rounded up all of the orphans and ran them through the mine fields in order to clear the way for their soldiers? Now that’s logical thinking.
We should do the same in our trumped up wars. Keep the strong and healthy at home and ship out all of the criminals, gimps, retards and gays (except C1) to the front lines. Might as well through in the old codgers, too. Buncha leeches!
I think we should take a lesson from Iran: Remember during their war with Iraq when they rounded up all of the orphans and ran them through the mine fields in order to clear the way for their soldiers? Now that’s logical thinking.
We should do the same in our trumped up wars. Keep the strong and healthy at home and ship out all of the criminals, gimps, retards and gays (except C1) to the front lines. Might as well through in the old codgers, too. Buncha leeches!
“Throw” – not “through”. Looks like I’m a candidate too.
“Throw” – not “through”. Looks like I’m a candidate too.