October 29, 2010
Doomed!
If you want to kick off your weekend on a positive note, whatever you do, don't read Paul Krugman's latest opinion piece. He writes that a Republican takeover of the House will ensure several more years of political instability and economic weakness. I want to believe that things won't be quite so dire, but it's difficult to argue with his underlying assumptions. The economy could still recover quickly in spite of Washington gridlock, but most of the economists I've read seem to think that's unlikely. Then again, the future has a tendency to unfold in ways that don't quite go according to plan.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)
October 28, 2010
Avatar II: You've Seen This Before
James Cameron finally dug his way out of the mountain of cash he accumulated from Avatar's box office receipts to announce that he will be directing two sequels to Avatar, which will debut in 2014 and 2015. In the first sequel, human resistance fighters time-travel back from a future Pandora that has been colonized by an aggressive race of xenomorphs who possess acid for blood. The Na'Vi and the human join forces to battle the invading alien horde. In the second sequel, Pandora becomes self-aware and amasses an army of killer robots to wipe out the Na'Vi and humans. Critics will praise the sequels' bold, original vision.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:11 PM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2010
Mapping The Mind
Scientists continue to make strides in their quest to let me download porn just by thinking about it. In a recent experiment, human test subjects with previously installed brain electrodes were able to choose one displayed image over the other just by thinking about the selected picture. This might not seem like a big deal, but it gives researchers a better idea of how specific neurons are fired when generating a thought or concept. If the activity of specific neurons can be measured, it might point the way to brain-computer interfaces that are sufficiently fine-tuned to allow the user to perform complex tasks via neural activity.
In other words, brain-powered porn surfing is inching towards reality.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2010
Weather Storm
Thus far, my building seems to be surviving the Great Plains Hurricane of 2010. A few particularly strong wind gusts have tested the integrity of my windows, but nothing has shattered yet. Given the inherent unpredictability of Minnesota weather, I'm not sure how to prepare for the next freak meteorological event. Do I stock up for an apocalyptic blizzard or a tsunami? Climate change makes planning ahead so difficult nowadays.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 25, 2010
Someone Needs To Review His Contracts Notes
A Boston College law student recently wrote an open letter to the dean requesting a refund in exchange for leaving school without a J.D. The author argues that he shouldn't be saddled with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans at a time when the job market for newly minted attorneys is atrocious. I sympathize with his plight, but I'm not sure I find his argument to have much merit. Law schools make no guarantees about a graduate's ability to find a job even in the best of economic times. They may brag about job placement rates in their brochures, but any 1L knows that this doesn't rise to the level of a contractual promise. Law schools are in the business of providing a legal education; what happens after that is largely up to the individual. That service may be vastly overpriced given current employment prospects, but that's a different argument. College students across the country who are confronting the strong possibility of unemployment or underemployment could make similar demands, but most studies show that college grads have increased earning power over the long run. Law school grads will probably enjoy even greater earning power than college grads over the long term, but that's admittedly little consolation to those currently searching for work.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:15 PM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2010
Hallucinogenic Voyage To Alien World Not Included
My heart has a new desire and it's name is the Monolith Action Figure. It's a miniature replica of the mysterious monolith made famous in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yes, I'm seriously considering playing $12.99 for a black piece of plastic that has no movable parts and doesn't even light up. These are the depths of geekiness to which I have descended. But my bust of Spock is looking like he could use some company (although the monolith doesn't look like much of a talker). If I suddenly stop blogging, it's because I evolved into the Starchild and am off in some distant corner of the galaxy where I'll be totally blowing the local natives' minds.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:28 PM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2010
Worker Bee
October is National Disability Employment Month here in the U.S., but American gimps aren't the only ones venturing into the job market. Liz Carr, a columnist for the BBC's disability-themed Ouch! website, writes about the challenges of adapting to the rigors of a 9-to-5 office job after years of self-employment. She comments on the shock of getting up early, being the only person with a visible disability in the office, and bringing an attendant to work with her every day. Much of it sounds awfully familiar, although the awkward behavior of colleagues that Liz describes is a distant memory for me. Once my team members realized I wasn't likely to die in the middle of a meeting, they quickly became pretty comfortable in my presence.
A word of advice to Liz as she settles into office life: volunteer to take on some extra assignment that nobody else wants. You'd be surprised how quickly that earns you friends.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:05 PM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2010
Up North
I don't venture outside the Twin Cities very often, so today's road trip up to Brainerd for a work event was something of a novelty for me. I think I passed more trees and fields in one day than I have in the past couple years of commuting. I'm a city kid at heart, but I can understand the appeal of rural living: the abundance of open space, the slower pace of life, the lower price of almost everything, the intimate familiarity with neighbors. I could probably even learn to tolerate the plethora of Michelle Bachmann lawn signs that litter the landscape. But I would soon miss the conveniences and amenities of my urban existence: art house movie theaters, comic book shops, skyways, and underground parking.
These infrequent day trips are great for appreciating greater Minnesota, but they also remind that home is waiting for me.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:07 PM | Comments (0)
October 19, 2010
Dog Whistle
Law students don't have a reputation for spontaneously bursting into laughter, but that's what happened during a debate at a Delaware law school when Delaware Republican Senate candidate (and avowed anti-onanist) Christine O'Donnell challenged her opponent's assertion that the principle of separation of church and state is contained in the the Constitution. Her comments prompted a lot of guffaws from the audience, but liberal commentator Peter Daou points out that O'Donnell is simply (if clumsily) repeating a talking point that is popular among Christian conservatives: the words "separation of church and state" don't appear verbatim in the Constitution, which means the whole concept was fabricated by godless liberals after one of their cocaine-fueled orgies. O'Donnell may not care if the audience laughs at her because she knows she has almost zero chance of winning the election. Instead, she may be burnishing her far-right credentials for a post-election gig as an authoritative voice of the Tea Party.
If that is her strategy, it's a clever one. The Tea Party needs telegencic spokespersons, but I'm not sure O'Donnell is ready for the Sunday talk show circuit. Silly me; she probably won't venture far from the Fox News lair.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:21 PM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2010
Critic At Large: Gorillaz At Target Center
The Target Center seemed like an odd venue for a Gorillaz show. The arena's cavernous interior seems better suited to basketball games and Lady GaGa concerts, but I soon realized that the Target Center was better suited to accommodate the sheer number of musicians on the stage. Most Gorillaz fans are familiar with the demented animated characters that make up the "band", but in a live setting Gorillaz is an eclectic music collective. Last night's performance included a string ensemble, a brass band, a group of Arab-American musicians, two former members of The Clash, hip-hop artists De La Soul, soul artist Bobby Womack, and, of course, frontman and creator Damon Albarn. The combination of the live show and the animated clips projected on the giant screen behind the musicians generated an exhilarating sensory overload that I can't recall experiencing at any previous concert.
The whole concert was great, but a few performances stroked my pleasure center just right: a propulsive rendition of "Dare", a brass interlude during "Broken" that shouldn't work but somehow does, a bouncy but bittersweet delivery of "On Melancholy Hill", and a majestic finale in the form of "Demon Days" where the backup singers somehow manage to invoke the grandeur of a church choir.
It's probably too much to hope for another Gorillaz tour of this scope, but I hope Albarn gives it some thought. He's one of the few musicians working today who can put together such a sweeping effort and make it look easy.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:11 PM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2010
Next Stop: Lonely Mountain
It looks like we're finally going to get a filmed version of The Hobbit. The project had been stuck in limbo as attorneys and bean counters for the studios involved worked out a financing deal. Even better, Peter Jackson will be directing and Ian McKellan will be back as the bearded guy in the funny hat. But who will be voicing the dragon Smaug? And will the Battle of the Five Armies be awesome or mind-blowingly awesome? And how long will I have to wait for the extended edition on DVD?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:34 PM | Comments (1)
October 14, 2010
Constant Companion
Over at the Bad Cripple blog, William Peace writes about his temporary forced bed rest and how keenly he misses his wheelchair:
I miss my wheelchair, I miss the power it gives me to be independent. I miss the feel of upholstery against my back. I miss pushing against the tires and the intimate knowledge I have as to how I can direct it's forward thrust. Why I even miss the dirt I collect during the day on the wheelchair frame-an absence my lab misses as my tires clearly pick up smells that are utterly fascinating. I miss watching a scary movie and the way I slightly rock back and forth. I could go on but I miss my wheelchair more than anyone can imagine.
I haven't been without a wheelchair for more than a few hours in at least a decade, so it's difficult for me to imagine being away from it for weeks at a time. It certainly wouldn't take long for me to miss it. My wheelchair and ventilator are probably the two most vital devices in my life, but I feel a connection with my chair that simply doesn't exist for my vent. The vent is a machine, but my chair is an extension of my personal space.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:58 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2010
TV Malaise
As an avid fan of scripted television, this new season has been notable for its nearly complete lack of compelling new series. My TiVo is recording only a couple new shows--The Event and Boardwalk Empire. And The Event is dangerously close to losing my interest unless its writers decide to stop futzing around with watered-down science fiction tropes and start actually telling a story that would make me care. The lack of exciting new television isn't anything to cry about, however. Between returning shows (like Community and Fringe) and Netflix streaming of older shows that I haven't seen (30 Rock and Dexter), I don't suffer a lack of video content. I'm sure that something new will eventually grab my attention, but probably not until the spring.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:49 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2010
You Used To Be Cool, Wisconsin
I've been watching the train wreck that is the Wisconsin Senate race with growing dismay. I checked the box next to Russ Feingold's name in the 1992 election, just after I turned 18. He sent me a congratulatory note when I graduated from law school, which surprised and delighted me. And now it looks like he'll lose to a know-nothing businessman with a lot of money and anger. Unlike a lot of Democrats up for election this year, he hasn't tried to run away from Democratic accomplishments or give the cold shoulder to the President. It's just bad luck that his number came up in a year when the economy has turned Wisconsin voters into frightened reactionaries. The Senate can ill afford to lose one its few truly progressive voices, considering that Bernie Sanders isn't getting any younger.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:53 PM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2010
Automaton
If Google can build a prototype car that drives itself, then they can damn well build me a robot nurse. What do you need to make this happen, Google? Money? My soul? You probably already have a working model tucked away in some closet in your Mountain View lair. How about just lending it to me and I'll do all the beta testing? I'll even sign a waiver indemnifying you against any claims in the event my robot nurse accidentally tears off one of my limbs or tosses me from the roof of my build in a fit of machine rage.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:38 PM | Comments (1)
October 08, 2010
Pretend It's Not There
It's no secret that Governor Pawlenty isn't a fan of health care reform. But when his ongoing refusal to even acknowledge the law's existence starts to piss off the insurance companies, it's a sign that he may be trying too hard. The federal government asked for states to comment on issues related to setting up the insurance exchanges that are envisioned in the law. Pawlenty wouldn't allow those comments to be submitted, so the local health plans obtained the letter through a Data Practices Act and submitted it themselves. I have no great love for insurance companies, but at least they understand the need to actively engage in a dialogue with the federal government on the law's implementation. Meanwhile, Pawlenty is acting like a craven politician who's terrified that he'll get a bad case of the pinkos if he even utters the words "Affordable Care Act." His persistent efforts to will the law into nonexistence bear the rank smell of desperation. What's more, the ultra-conservative activists that Pawlenty is trying impress with these shenanigans don't show any signs of returning the love. But that won't stop our governor from trying even harder to scrub himself clean of socialized medicine's unAmerican taint.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:37 PM | Comments (1)
October 07, 2010
Stepping Out
The Wired editors are on something of a disability kick this week. Today they're running a feature on an exoskeleton device designed to help people with spinal cord injuries walk again. The article features a couple videos showing a couple folks with paraplegia testing the device. The exoskeleton is designed by a Berkeley-based firm and based their model on a similar device that was developed for the military.
It won't be long until my cybernetic gimp army is ready to lead my revolution. I'd like to wait a little longer for the thought-controlled aerial drones to come on-line. And the sexbots. I'm going to need a whole squad of sexbots in order to effectively lead this revolution.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:34 PM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2010
A Seat At The Table
Several months ago, I wrote about Ari Ne'eman, a young man with autism whose nomination to the National Council on Disability was held up because some advocates didn't like his views on disability as a societal construct rather than a medical problem. Ne'eman finally won confirmation over the summer and he gave an extensive interview to Wired. He responds to the attacks (some of them pretty vile) that greeted his nomination and discusses the tension between people with autism and the organizations that claim to represent them (a common theme in disability circles). He also demonstrates awareness of his role as a representative for all people with disabilities, as evidenced in this response to one of the interviewer's more clueless questions:
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:23 PM | Comments (3)
October 05, 2010
The ABCs of Health Care Reform
I'm doing a couple presentations on the Affordable Care Act over the next week and I'm tempted to include this animated explanation of health care reform produced by the Kaiser Foundation. It's probably a little too cute for my audiences, but it does a good job of explaining how the law will change the health care system over the next few years. While some media outlets have done an admirable job of trying to explain the real-world implications of health care reform, plenty of Americans still aren't sure exactly what it means for them. Videos like this one might not change the minds of people who oppose the legislation, but they can provide a factual framework for a debate that isn't fueled by misinformation and distortion.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:13 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2010
Incredible Machine
A 15-year-old Italian boy with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart. The device, which is only 4 centimeters long, is expected to extend the boy's life by another 20-25 years. This is potentially big news for people who need organ transplants but have underlying health conditions that keep them off the the organ transplant lists. Let's hope that this kid's heart performs as expected and that artificial organs eventually become viable and affordable options for not just people with disabilities, but everyone.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:00 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2010
Neighbors
I have to wonder if the inhabitants of Gliese 851g, the newly discovered Earth-like planet in the vicinity of Libra, are speculating about the Gliese-like planet that their astronomers have just found. Or maybe they've known about us for a while and they've already dispatched a diplomatic emissary. Or an invasion fleet. Or maybe they're just going to wait a couple hundred years to see if we can manage not to cook ourselves to death.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)