"... that works like an old-time roll-top desk..."

aka, a 'tambour door'. The rolly part is available in various lengths for those folks who might be inspired to try this at home.

Maybe I'm missing something here but I'm stumped as to why anyone would pay an arm and a leg for something like that.

More pics here: http://www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/predma2.html

Clever yes- perpetually clever, no.

'..."offer beauty but at the same time confront us with the ugliness of life."...'

Not seein' the ugly here. In fact, I think these (and the similar items at her site)are decidedly un-ugly.

"There is no win and no fail. There is only make."
"The only rule is work."

Must work and make, not wake and bake!

"I'm only hanging on
To watch you go down"

Better use for those cool looking tubes:
Tri-D Magneto OptiScope

Copper-covered nostril magnets. Just make sure you turn them so the rivets point downward.

@#30 Xenu... It's Chicklets, dude... Chicklets. Billions of them flowing in rivers. And the billions of little pellets hitting you in the face like a wind made of dried navy beans.

Would guess it also has a heavy dose of fooledyazagain (4,5,3 Trans-gamma Placeboic acid)

My mirror neurons cringe with embarrassment!

The actual pre-pub article:
http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/pdf/1742-2094-5-2.pdf

And a video (linked at the end of the PDF): http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/imedia/1318040001717553/supp1.mov

At one point in the video, one of the people being interviewed (the wife of the test patient) makes the comment, "It's like science fiction!"

Also, the other interviewee, apparently one of the people involved with doing the test, echoes the question posed by DGHILTON, above, regarding what would happen if he took it and whether it would make him super-brainy. An off camera voice adds that maybe she should try some.