Laser headband for Alzheimer's patients, and for really cool people

Look, how many times to we have to explain this? Lasers + headbands = a very good time. We're not sure what you don't get about that, and frankly we're a little disappointed. Alzheimer's patients like laser headbands (laserbands, for short, artist's rendition above) just fine, since the technology is providing a potential way to scan and diagnose brains for Alzheimer's while the patient is still alive -- doctors currently have to rely on symptoms for diagnosis, and a post-mortem look at the actual brain tissue to know for sure after the fact. There are still a few kinks to work out, but this could be a big breakthrough for the detection and treatment of Alzheimer's, and the fashion ramifications are unimpeachable.

[BeyondtheTech @ Jun 27th 2008 11:40AM]

Obligatory Dr. Evil comment in 3...2...1...

[LiqwidZero @ Jun 27th 2008 11:43AM]

No, not really.

[LloydChiro @ Jun 27th 2008 11:43AM]

That picture is done in bad taste. Leave the guy alone.

[kjb434 @ Jun 27th 2008 12:20PM]

I agree.

He was one the best presidents the country ever had. Many of you who enjoy your internet should thank him.

His relentless defense spending helped expand the existing and strengthen the base of the state of the internet at the time (yes it existed in much different form).

After all, the internet was created as part of the defense department during the cold war to link universities.

I love a good Reagan joke or two, but treating him like this is disrespect.

[ZeroCorpse @ Jun 27th 2008 12:26PM]

He was a villain.

"best President" my ass.

[matt @ Jun 27th 2008 12:31PM]

What is wrong with you!! This man was an amazing president, and defended this country. Now you must mock him for his disease? I hope you all get it and suffer. You are all pigs for mocking a man who has done so much for you.

[User @ Jun 27th 2008 12:38PM]

Reagan was by far one of the best presidents the US has seen. No single president can do everything that makes everyone happy. However, he took all the Catch-22's that every president is faced with and he made the best decisions with them. I can see if someone would be ticked off about Reagan's spending cuts as it comes with the territory; but calling him a "villain" is uncalled for. Oops, I shouldn't feed the trolls, huh?

Anyways, this picture is definitely in bad taste. That said, I'm sure there are thousands who have family members who died due to Alzheimer's who are reading this article. It's no laughing matter when someone who knew you since you were born can't remember who you are. Alzheimer's is very common and when Engadget writes about it they should keep that in mind.

[Paul Miller @ Jun 27th 2008 12:41PM]

Can someone explain to me what's offensive about the picture? The post is completely non political, and I think he kind of looks like a badass with the headband. I picked him because he's a public figure that dealt with Alzheimer's. He also had a pretty great sense of humor, and I would like to think he'd get a kick out of that picture -- I mean, look at his Hollywood career, if anybody could laugh at something like this, he could.

That said, if somebody can give me a compelling reason to remove, I will. Just thought it'd be a bit of friday fun.

[01 @ Jun 27th 2008 12:43PM]

While I agree it's in poor taste to make fun of Regan in this way, saying he was one of the best presidents is crazy. Maybe compared to Bush 43, but the man was just...not a good president. For god's sake, he thought trees cause pollution!

[User @ Jun 27th 2008 12:45PM]

Paul Miller, I have a good reason for you to remove this.

YOU ARE LOSING READERS.

[Paul Miller @ Jun 27th 2008 12:47PM]

My grandpa died of complications due to Alzheimer's, I seriously get it. I'm not making light of the condition, I'm just assuming that people can rise above stuff and have a good laugh about it -- my grandpa sure could.

[phanbouy @ Jun 27th 2008 12:50PM]

@User

apparently not

[01 @ Jun 27th 2008 12:51PM]

Paul, I think the reason a lot of people have a problem with it is that Reagan actually DID die of this disease, and the picture is seemingly making light of that. I'm certainly not a fan of Regan, or anything he did in the 8 years in office, but this is more about his disease than his precidency, and it just feels a little...wrong. I'm not unsubscribing or anything, but you're just a little on the other side of tasteful.

[Stiv @ Jun 27th 2008 1:25PM]

You guys *do* realize that when you claim Mr. Reagan was a good president, you are basically saying someone who didn't really know what was going on around him was a good president, right?

[K @ Jun 27th 2008 1:35PM]

"That said, if somebody can give me a compelling reason to remove, I will. Just thought it'd be a bit of friday fun."

Paul Miller read the 70+ comments your article has gotten, they give some pretty good reasons it's inappropriate pic to have with an article and should be removed. Here's a second YOU thought it would be Friday FUN, it's not fun or even close to funny.

[From My Cube @ Jun 27th 2008 11:43AM]

was he really the best person to put that on?

[Nastro @ Jun 27th 2008 11:44AM]

Bad taste, serious disrespect!

[rock99rock @ Jun 27th 2008 12:31PM]

Yea, this pisses me off.

[phanbouy @ Jun 27th 2008 12:49PM]

Nastro, I'm sure you're being objective rather than just a reactionary like in your countless trolling in posts about high mileage cars, bike-share programs, and alternative energy where you call everyone "dirty hippies" and such.

[Souness @ Jun 27th 2008 11:45AM]

Wow, talk about bad taste. I'm embarrassed for engadget right now

[Biomech @ Jun 27th 2008 11:47AM]

I think you guys went too far there... of all people to use, seriously? =/

[Windzilla @ Jun 27th 2008 11:49AM]

somehow and in someway this must be inappropriate

im just not sure how

its like a bumpersticker that says "bo knows abortion"

no its nothing like that, but man i've always wanted to make one

[Windzilla @ Jun 27th 2008 11:53AM]

no, wait i figured it out, it looks as if your making fun of a dead Alzheimer patient, thats how it's inappropriate. Just because he was president dosn't make the disease funny

[nd @ Jun 27th 2008 11:57AM]

A dead Alzheimer's patient that happened to be our President- one huge step further towards being hugely inappropriate. Engadget needs to be taught some respect.

[Nick @ Jun 27th 2008 11:50AM]

I wonder if Ronald Reagan was confused from Alzheimer's when he sold weapons to Iranian terrorists. He probably forgot just they were our enemy.

[User @ Jun 27th 2008 12:43PM]

You must have forgotten that Reagan never authorized the Iran-Contra affair.

[Nick @ Jun 27th 2008 1:01PM]

@User
HAHAHA.
My God, you are a tool.
I bet you believe we went into Iraq for WMD's.

[phanbouy @ Jun 27th 2008 1:23PM]

@G.I.

gee.. you know, i'm a political free agent, mostly libertarian but a bit green, but i gotta say, your articulate political philosophy really makes me wanna join your side.

because, i'm sure that anyone who think there just might've been something going on with that whole Iran-Contra thing is a gay liberal. yep, that's more likely.

[martythemaniak @ Jun 27th 2008 11:52AM]

Excellent choice of picture :D

[decypher44 @ Jun 27th 2008 11:52AM]

Bad form, Engadget.

[decypher44 @ Jun 27th 2008 11:53AM]

One more time:

Bad form, Engadget.

[nd @ Jun 27th 2008 11:53AM]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that found this pic to be in very poor taste. Boo Engadget.

[Magne @ Jun 27th 2008 11:54AM]

Paul M. you know that image is inappropriate. It would be wise to change it. Let's leave the guy alone and resting in peace.

[ZeroCorpse @ Jun 27th 2008 12:23PM]

Yeah!!! You'd better change it or else all the neocons will stop loving you!

::rollseyes:: gag me.

[christopheraven @ Jun 27th 2008 11:55AM]

Partisan much?

[Nick @ Jun 27th 2008 11:58AM]

What other president had Alzheimer's?

[christopheraven @ Jun 27th 2008 12:27PM]

That's not the issue. There are millions of Alzheimer's patients who didn't serve in the Oval Office, and I doubt that headband is "for presidential use only." His profile wasn't necessary for this article.

Bottom line: It's bad taste because he's dead and can be interpreted as a political jab. Engadget's not the place for this.

[phanbouy @ Jun 27th 2008 1:27PM]

@christopheraven

how in sam hell could that be a political jab? only republicans get diseases or wear headbands?

i wonder how many people here that are bitching about this watch south park each week; the most irreverent show ever on TV. well?

[parphat @ Jun 27th 2008 11:57AM]

Wow...really bad taste...

I expected better.

[GreezyG @ Jun 27th 2008 11:57AM]

Ya Im not Reaganite... but this is in really bad taste...that being said......

I for one welcome by laserband wearing overloards!!!

[ken @ Jun 27th 2008 12:01PM]

Yea, it is one thing to make fun of America and what not, but our president, poor taste.

[deyanimay @ Jun 27th 2008 12:05PM]

all american presidents suck, well the more recent ones anyways.

[gmarotta @ Jun 27th 2008 12:06PM]

Engadget -- this is in horrible taste.

[Scuba @ Jun 27th 2008 12:07PM]

Cool.

[decypher44 @ Jun 27th 2008 12:07PM]

"Mr Miller, tear down that photo!"

[deyanimay @ Jun 27th 2008 12:13PM]

don't give in to peer pressure paul.

[ZeroCorpse @ Jun 27th 2008 12:26PM]

Mr. Miller, draw devil horns on that photo!

(BTW: Reagan did not bring down the Berlin wall, revisionists. The Beatles are probably more responsible for the end of the Soviet Union than Reagan. The gipper just happened to be President when the USSR finally rotted from within. Reagan DID sell weapons to our enemies, though.)

[phanbouy @ Jun 27th 2008 12:10PM]

Yeah! How dare you illustrate something on the head of Our Deity Ronald Regan. I gotta laugh at how conservatives love to justify their bigotry as a refusal to be "PC", but a little humor at the (not even) expense of one of their gods is "bad taste".

[gmarotta @ Jun 27th 2008 12:17PM]

Bullhonkey. He's not a diety -- he's a former President of the United States of America. I would feel the same level of offense if the picture was of Jimmy Carter.

[ZeroCorpse @ Jun 27th 2008 12:20PM]

Reagan was downright evil when he was still sane. Once the disease took him, and he was suffering from dementia, he was a much better person.

Sorry, people, but I think "saint" Reagan with that doohickey on his head is perfectly fine, especially considering what it does. My only regret is that Engadget didn't draw devil horns on him as well.

Cry me a river.