The Times Magazine ran a good article over the weekend on brain-computer interfaces, emphasizing the benefits and drawbacks of more invasive versus less invasive methods of measuring brain activity. It also explains how the tech can be used to play videogames like Galaga. Granted, it’s not Red Dead Redemption, but at least researchers understand the potential of their invention. The piece doesn’t say exactly when I’ll be able to telepathically sext via my iPhone, but it implies that day isn’t far off. It also doesn’t tell me who I need to bribe to ensure that I’m part of the next round of human trials.

A.V Club has a good introduction to Mystery Science Theater 3000 for the uninitiated, along with a liberal sprinkling of episode clips. It’s a bit shocking to realize that it’s been off the air for a dozen years. My law school buddy (and one-time guest blogger) Charles and I were huge MSTies and would get together every Sunday night at my tiny West Bank apartment to watch the latest episode. It requires a certain sense of humor to appreciate, but few things have made me laugh harder.

I haven’t watched any of the GOP presidential debates, but the highlights are enough to reinforce my dimmest views of the party and its most vocal supporters. At last night’s debate, audience members cheered when the moderator ask Ron Paul whether a hypothetical young man without health insurance who has fallen seriously ill should be allowed to die. Paul supporters can be a boisterous and particularly knuckleheaded bunch, but I don’t think they were the only ones cheering. And at the previous debate, one of the biggest applause lines came when the moderator pointed out that Texas had executed a lot of people.

Has the combination of the recession and the disaster that was Bush’s presidency thrown conservative psyche into such turmoil that it can only respond positively to other people’s suffering? Has overwhelming nihilism replaced any cohesive ideology they might have once possessed? It may be typical for a pinko Minneapolis liberal like me to react with revulsion to these cries for blood, but I can’t imagine that they play any better with independents who might have tuned into the debates out of curiosity. Republican handlers might consider putting up big signs that blink “DON’T APPLAUD EVEN THOUGH YOU REALLY WANT TO, YOU HEARTLESS DICKS” when appropriate. 

Somebody from Apple has been reading my blog. How do I know this? Because Apple filed a patent application outlining a process for connecting assistive technology to iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. It’s good to see that Apple recognizes a demand for making their devices more accessible to people with disabilities. Perhaps next year’s iPad 3 will actually incorporate these ideas. If it does, I’ll be one of the first in line at my local Apple Store. I’m also available to do beta testing.

I worked at home today for a couple reasons:

1. I needed to do some editing and didn’t want to be slowed down by my work computer’s dying gasps. 
2. Major construction is occurring on my street, which makes getting home an exercise in frustration.

I enjoy working at home from time to time, but I don’t think I could do it every day. Having a disability such as mine already brings moments of isolation and working at home regularly would only exacerbate those feelings. I’m also fortunate to have great co-workers and I think I would miss interacting with them face-to-face. But I do appreciate the flexibility to work from home when my schedule allows. It’s not a crucial accommodation for me, but it does make life easier.