A few months ago, I posted about Rom Houben, the Belgian man who attracted media attention for allegedly being misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative state. Using a method known as facilitated communication, Houben seemed to offer vivid descriptions of his years spent conscious without being able to communicate with anyone. His medical staff is now reporting that he may not have been communicating his own thoughts. Further tests showed that Houben was unable to identify simple objects that were shown to him while his facilitated communicator was in another room.

It’s probably discouraging news for his family. The story of someone maintaining his mind and sense of self despite a severe brain injury is something we’d all like to believe. That’s not to say that this man isn’t conscious, but “conscious” can mean a lot of things. Perhaps he has some awareness of his surroundings but doesn’t possess the ability to articulate anything. Or maybe he inhabits a mental state that we can’t begin to understand or imagine.

Governor Pawlenty released his proposed supplemental budget to address Minnesota’s $1.5 billion deficit for the current year. It’s pretty grim reading from a health and human services perspective. MinnesotaCare, the state health care program for the working poor, would no longer be available to single adults. Services for people with mental illness would be reduced. Payments to nursing homes would be cut.

Of course, these are initial proposals and the Democratic majority in the legislature will present their own proposals in the coming weeks. It’s doubtful that anyone will utter the phrase “tax increase” this year. Pawlenty is burnishing his fiscal conservative credentials and state Democrats are hyper-aware of the hostile political environment. As a result, any long-term solution to the state’s financial woes will be off the table and it will be déjá vu all over again next year when we confront a much bigger deficit. We’ve had budget shortfalls for most of the past decade and that seems likely to continue well into the new decade.

Time to hit the shuffle button:

“The Chaconne” by Dessa — Dessa is a local artist who got her start with the Doomtree hip-hop collective and has just released her first solo album. She brings a writerly sensibility to her songs, like this one about a musician who finds fame but not happiness. Her vocal delivery is lush without being showy and her lyrics defy hip-hop convention; you won’t hear many artists rap about the Chicago Manual of Style. Dessa represents all that’s exciting and fresh about the Twin Cities music scene.

“Lewis Takes Off His Shirt” by Owen Pallett — This elaborately crafted pop song is part of Pallett’s album Heartland, which tells the story of a psychotic farmer named Lewis who gets into shouting matches with a deity named Owen. The soaring orchestral stylings of Pallett’s music reminds me a bit of Sufjan Stevens, but Pallett’s tendencies are more confrontational. This song’s refrain of “I’m never gonna give it to you” is almost joyful in its defiance.

“When I’m Small” by Phantogram — Phantogram is a New York duo that combines elements of rock and electronica to create icy cool songs like this one. It sounds like something the house band of an intergalactic dive bar would play on a Friday night. Expect to hear this song on Grey’s Anatomy any day now.

Dear Google,

Please consider me as a candidate for the roll-out of your experimental uber-fast broadband network. I promise to use it for noble purposes that won’t include downloading copyrighted material or streaming porn. What those noble purposes are, I cannot yet say, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.

Would it help to point out that I’m a loyal Gmail and Reader user? I even fire up Chrome once in a while.

Pretty please?

Sincerely,

Mark

Terry Pratchett, the British author who was previously diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, is pushing for legalization in the U.K. of assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill. A BBC poll finds that the British public seems largely supportive of the idea, but becomes more ambivalent if it’s made available to those who aren’t terminally ill.

It’s interesting to note that the issue of assisted suicide has fallen off the radar in the last few years. I can’t remember any state legislature debates or ballot measures on the issue in recent memory. I can’t tell if that signifies a shift in attitude or if we’re simply distracted by our economic woes. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of Western Europe passes laws legalizing assisted suicide before the end of the decade, but a revival of the debate here in America doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.