What Does This Look Like ??

http://www.livescience.com/health/061009_aging_rats.html

As vulnerable as naked mole rats seem, researchers now find the hairless, bucktoothed rodents are invulnerable to the pain of acid and the sting of chili peppers.

A better understanding of pain resistance in these sausage-like creatures could lead to new drugs for people with chronic pain, scientists added.

Naked mole rats live in cramped, oxygen-starved burrows some six feet underground in central East Africa. Unusually, they are cold-blooded — which, as far as anyone knows, is unique among mammals.

"They're the nicest, sweetest animals I've ever worked with — they look frightening, but they're very gentle," said neurobiologist Thomas Park at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Scientists knew the mole rats were quite sensitive to touch — perhaps to help replace their almost useless eyes. After probing their skin, Park and his colleagues unexpectedly discovered the rodents lacked the chemical Substance P, which causes the feeling of burning pain in mammals.

Acid test

The researchers discovered that when unconscious mole rats had their paws injected with a slight dose of acid, "about what you'd experience with lemon juice," Park said, as well as some capsaicin — the active ingredient of chili peppers — the rodents showed no pain.

"Their insensitivity to acid was very surprising," Park told LiveScience. "Every animal tested — from fish, frogs, reptiles, birds and all other mammals — every animal is sensitive to acid."

To explore their pain resistance further, the researchers used a modified cold sore virus to carry genes for Substance P to just one rear foot of each tested rodent. Park and his colleagues found the DNA restored the naked mole rats' ability to feel the burning sensation other mammals experience from capsaicin.

"They'd pull their foot back and lick it," Park said. Other feet remained impervious to the sting of capsaicin.

"Capsaicin is very specific for exciting the fibers that normally have Substance P," Park added. "They're not the fibers that respond to a pinprick or pinch, but the ones that respond after an injury or burn and produce longer-lasting pain."

Curiously, the researchers found that mole rats remained completely insensitive to acids, even with the Substance P genes. This suggests there is a fundamental difference in how their nerves respond to such pain.

"Acid acts on the capsaicin receptor and on another family of receptors called acid-sensitive ion channels," Park said. "Acid is not as specific as capsaicin. The mole rat is the only animal that shows completely no response to acid."

Why so insensitive?

Scientists theorize naked mole rats evolved this insensitivity to acid due to underground living. The rodents exhale high levels of carbon dioxide, and in such tight, poorly ventilated spaces it builds up in tissues, making them more acidic. In response, the mole rats became desensitized to acid.

"To give you an idea of what they experience, we normally all breathe in carbon dioxide levels of less than 0.1 percent. If people are exposed to an air mixture with as low as 5 percent carbon dioxide, we'll feel a sharp, burning, stinging sensation in our eyes and nose," Park said. "We hypothesize that naked mole rats live in up to 10 percent carbon dioxide."

Researcher Gary Lewin, a neuroscientist at the Max Delbrück Institute for Molecular Medicine in Germany, noted, "People may say, 'So what — it's weird, but what has it to do with human pain?' I think that is wrong, unimaginative and short sighted."

Lewin noted that all vertebrate pain-receptor systems "are built in a highly similar way, so the mole rat may tell us how you can unbuild the system."

Help for people

Specifically, Park noted this research adds to existing knowledge about Substance P. "This is important specifically to the long-term, secondary-order inflammatory pain. It's the pain that can last for hours or days when you pull a muscle or have a surgical procedure," he explained.

As such, these findings might shed new light on chronic pain. Park said,

"We're learning which nerve fibers are important for which kinds of pain, so we'll be able to develop new strategies and targets."

Lewin added, "We really do not understand the molecular mechanism of acid sensing in humans, although it is thought to be pretty important in inflammatory pain. An animal that naturally lacks such a mechanism may help us identify what the mechanism actually is."

Park next plans to study distantly related animals that dwell in similar circumstances, such as the Mexican free-tailed bat and the Alaskan marmot, which both spend large amounts of time in high carbon dioxide caves or burrows. "How are they surviving down there? It'd be interesting if we saw some parallels there with the naked mole rats," Park said.

The scientists detailed their findings online Jan. 28 in the journal PLoS Biology.

LMAO...

Birth Order of Children

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
_____________________________________________________
Preparing for the Birth:

1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't' t do a thing
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month
______________________________________________________
The Layette :

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
______________________________________________________
Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing
______________________________________________________
Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and

wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in. ______________________________________________________
Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.

3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

______________________________________________________
Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
______________________________________________________
Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
______________________________________________________
At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
______________________________________________________
Swallowing Coins (a favorite):

1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!
______________________________________________________

Four Boyfriends

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes
and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing
but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was a lways showing him
off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would
leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always
kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a
problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through
the difficult times.

The girl's 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great
contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did
not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly
took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She
thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four
boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'

Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you
with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that
I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life.
Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm
going to marry someone else!'

Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for
help and you've always been there fo r me. When I die, will you follow
me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd
boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'

His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you . I'll follow you no matter
where you go.'

The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very
skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care
of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:

Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort
you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you
die, it will all go to others.

Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they
have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to
the grave.

And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of
wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever
you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only
part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue
with you throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your
knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

OH WOW!! Heath Ledger Died...

Heath ledger died of an apparent overdose and possible suicide. He was staying at one the Olsen twin's apartments and was found with over the counter sleeping pills all around him... He was only 28 and has a baby with Michelle Williams... Very sad...


http://omg.yahoo.com/heath-ledger-found-dead-in-nyc/news/5898

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN... Hope you have a wonderful , stress-free day... LOVE YOU!


(((HUG))))

Man throws 4 kids off coastal Alabama bridge ( CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ???)

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ???????



Police: Man throws 4 kids off coastal Alabama bridge

By Garry Mitchell

Associated Press Writer

Last Updated:January 09. 2008 11:25AM
Published: January 09. 2008 11:25AM

BAYOU LA BATRE - Authorities searched coastal waters Wednesday for the bodies of four young children believed to have been thrown off a bridge by their father in a dispute with his wife.

Lam Luong, 37, who is charged with four counts of capital murder, confessed Tuesday night to driving to the Dauphin Island bridge and tossing the youngsters off the span, which is as high as 80 feet above the water in places, said detective Scott Riva.

Bayou La Batre Police Chief John Joyner said Luong, who came to this coastal town from Vietnam in 1984 and was a shrimper, apparently had a dispute with his wife, Ngoc Phan, 23, before taking the children to the bridge.

The couple lived with her mother at Bayou La Batre, a fishing village with a large Southeast Asian community. The wife was in seclusion Wednesday morning in the brick home, the front porch cluttered with children’s shoes.

Phan’s brother-in-law, family spokesman Kam Phengsisomboun, who is from Thailand, said the couple had argued Sunday night and again Monday, when Luong left the home with two of the children, later coming back for the other two.

He said Luong had a crack cocaine habit and had spent an insurance settlement from an automobile accident rapidly, presumably on drugs, but he did not know what the argument was about. He said he initially feared Luong had traded the children for drugs, but now believes they were thrown into the water, based on conversations with investigators.

He said he was told that a witness saw someone throw a bundle from the bridge and then saw three children in a nearby car. Other details about the witness account were not immediately available from authorities.

Police also said the couple had lived in Hinesville, Ga., for about two years and had moved back to the Bayou La Batre area only a couple of weeks ago.

Joyner said he feared the search of the Intracoastal Waterway below the bridge would be hampered by bad weather and choppy waters. The bridge, a two-lane span about three miles long with a high rise over the waterway, extends from the mainland to Dauphin Island, which lies between the waterway and the Gulf of Mexico.

At least three boats were being used in the search, and the Coast Guard was sending another boat and a helicopter, Riva said.

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Riva.

Missing and presumed dead were 4-month-old Danny Luong; 1-year-old Lindsey Luong; 2-year-old Hannah Luong; and 3-year-old Ryan Phan. Phan is not the man’s biological child, but Luong raised him from infancy.

Luong is jailed in Mobile.

Police said Luong reported the children missing Monday. He reportedly told authorities that a woman who had the children failed to return them to him. The search began late Tuesday when authorities learned they apparently were thrown from the bridge.