QUICKIES

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you a mechanic. Anonymous

Message from the grave? Or cryostat? We’ve previously reported here on the ingenious services funeral homes can come up with. While this one isn’t a funeral home service, it’s aimed at the same audience. Dallas based LastWishes.com allows customers to create a list of people they wish to receive personalized messages, photos, videos upon the subscribers death. It has 12,000 subscribers in it’s first year of service, only a few of whom have had cause to use the service. For a lifetime fee of $99, members can store (among other things) passwords,, banking details, or perhaps where that pile of cash is hidden NEWSWEEK

Grow your own teeth? Scientists at the National Institute of Dental Research have used human adult stem cells from extracted molars to grow new tooth buds that are implanted into animal jaws and develop into new teeth. AARP BULLETIN

To Defib or not? After spending $98,963 for 60 new defibrillators, the City of Boca Raton, Florida, has only been able to give away a dozen. Intended for use in public gathering places, many eligible organizations are wary of liability problems. Ibid

Speaking of defibrillators, the FDA has just approved the overthecounter sale of the Phillips HeartStart, an automated external defibrillator. (AED) Each day in this country, an estimated 165 people suffer an electrical short circuit in the heart, called ventricular fibrillation—the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest. Consumers can now buy the units for around $2000 for use in the home, where most sudden cardiac arrests occur. While the FDA said the device could be used by anyone following directions on the unit, training helps reduce panic. FLORIDA TODAY