I guess this was inevitable. Half of my nursing staff has had the sniffles over the past week and apparently the virus decided to share the love with me. So far, it’s not too bad. A sore throat and a low-grade fever. I’m a little bummed that I wasn’t able to go the rest of the year without getting sick again, but better now than when I’m supposed to go on a trip or something. Let’s hope it runs its course quickly and, as always, good karma is welcome.
I belatedly realized that there was a problem posting comments on the blog since I upgraded. That should be fixed now, so start talking to me again.

With the death of Yasser Arafat, perhaps we will finally see some real movement towards a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Back in 2000, it seemed like they were on the verge of an agreement, but Arafat was more concerned for his personal safety than for the future of his people. Bush’s conservative Christian base with probably push hard against any negotiated agreement, but I think Bush and his inner circle understand that some kind of settlement is inevitable and that they need to do something to boost their credibility in the Arab world.
I finally got around to watching the first episode of Lost on my computer last night. This was the first time I ever watched something recorded in high-definition and I did utter “Wow” a couple times during the program. The image quality of HD is almost startling. Once I can get a high-def television with a built-in TiVo box for under $600, I’m sold. Watching television on a computer is acceptable, but there isn’t enough space under my desk for me to cross my legs, which is my optimum television-watching position.

I’ve written before about the UN’s efforts to pass a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In a recent Washington Post editorial, the Bush Administration is criticized for not supporting the Convention. Apparently, the Administration feels that disability rights is not a human rights issue. Instead, they view it as a matter of domestic policy for each nation to sort out independently. I should know by now that the Bushites regard the UN with barely concealed disdain, but it’s especially discouraging to see them withhold support from an international effort to improve the quality of life for millions of people around the globe. It’s okay for us to invade a country and topple its government, all in the name of spreading freedom and democracy, but we won’t sign a treaty on disability rights because it’s none of our business when other countries blatantly oppress an entire class of people. It’s this kind of hypocrisy that’s going to drive me nuts over the next four years.
I’m tempted to start a letter-writing campaign urging the Administration to change its stance on the Convention, but I don’t know where to apply the pressure. My senator? And are American disability organizations doing anything about this, or are they fixated on problems here at home? The United States could be a true leader in this area, but given the toxic state of our international relations and our leaders’ lack of vision, we’re sitting on the sidelines.

I’m usually up on gaming hype, but the first time I heard about I Love Bees was in this NYT article. It reminds me of a game I played a few years ago called Majestic. Same principle–the game’s creators would plant clues and instructions on various websites that would advance the game’s plot. I Love Bees goes the extra mile by encouraging players to leave their computers and interact with the real world. For example, players would have to seek out pay phones that would ring at a precise time with instructions or another clue. You’re going to see a lot more of these types of games being developed. They’re a great viral marketing tool (I Love Bees is a promotion for the Xbox game Halo 2; a similar game was done a few years ago for the movie AI). And they’re cheap to produce. All you need to do is assemble a few writers, some web designers, maybe a few voice actors. If this whole policy wonk thing doesn’t work out, maybe I can write scripts for another game–a game featuring a man in a wheelchair who issues cryptic clues about an international conspiracy from the comfort of his base of operations in an anonymous condominium building in an anonymous Midwestern city
I went to a new dentist today. Apparently, I have very hearty, decay-resistant teeth. Considering how little use they get (most of my nutrition comes through a gastrostomy tube, for those of you new to this blog), my teeth shouldn’t be falling out of my head anytime soon. My teeth are kind of like the after-market rims some kids put on their cars; all form and not much function.

I’m totally bummed that the WB network passed on Warren Ellis’s Global Frequency. I’ve read a few issues of the comic and it’s exciting, mind-bending stuff. Here’s hoping it will get picked up by another network.