According to a recent report, the desktop computer may become as dated in the next few years as console televisons. Instead, notebook computers and palmtops will become the preferred tool for accessing’s one’s e-mail, music files, and porn. Call me old-fashioned, but I like the greater expandability and customization that a desktop allows. I’m also influenced by the fact that my adaptive computer hardware isn’t easily portable, which makes notebooks somewhat useless to me. I suppose that could change in the future, but I’ll probably still prefer a desktop that I’ve built myself.

I met a friend earlier tonight at a restaurant in Seven Corners, which was my neighborhood for the first seven years I lived in Minneapolis. Even though it’s only a mile or so from downtown, I don’t have much reason to go there anymore. It’s primarily home to U of M students and the businesses that cater to them. Half a dozen eating and drinking establishments sit within a block and a half of each other. I always preferred Sgt. Preston’s because it has great outdoor seating and people-watching during the summer months. I remember going there once with this cute blonde law student on whom I had the worst crush. I couldn’t help it; she was smart, funny, and she wore leather pants to Health Law. I don’t get crushes like that anymore, but I’m glad she was one of them.

Bush is threatening to veto the bipartisan bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Why? He’s concerned that it will encourage more people to enroll in government-financed health care programs. And this president is all about letting the free market have its way with people, including kids. Conservatives are terrified that an expansion of SCHIP will lead to universal health care, so they’re jerking the president’s marionette strings in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable.

And we still get another 18 months of this bully and his craven, morally bankrupt policies. Somebody, pour me a drink. A backrub would be nice, too.

A couple people e-mailed me an NPR story about a reunion concert of the punk band Dismemberment Plan to benefit Callum Robbins, the son of the band’s former producer. Callum has Type I spinal muscular atrophy and his parents are facing steep medical expenses for his care. Callum’s parents make a good impression in the story as well as on the blog they’ve created to share news about Callum. They are clearly devoted to their son and take great pleasure in describing his discovery of new foods or his mastery of a new word. And I like this quote from Callum’s dad: “[Callum] stands a very good chance of being a really bright, sociable, awesome guy.” Best of luck to all three of them.

President Bush once again demonstrated his deep empathy for the average American. He had this insightful observation about health care:

I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room.

Never mind that one ER visit can put an uninsured person into crushing debt. This president really should stop pretending that he cares about health care or any other issue that affects the daily lives of most people. I’m reminded of Scrooge telling those nice church-going gentlemen that the poor don’t need charity because there are still workhouses and debtors’ prisons. Except Scrooge eventually got a clue. If any of the Christmas ghosts showed up in Bush’s bedroom, he would scream, cower, and generally cause a scene until Cheney showed up and shot it in the face.