I neglected to mention that last Friday was the United Nations’ designated International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Fortunately, the BBC was paying attention and ran a whole week’s worth of disability-related stories under the heading of All Access. The stories explore issues such as employment, technology, sports, and civil rights from a disability perspective. I haven’t had a chance to review all of the pieces, but the ones that I have seen were quite good; the reporters treated their subjects without resorting to mawkishness or hero worship. I’ve said this before, but of all the mainstream, global news operations, the BBC is one of the best when it comes to presenting disability issues with nuance and maturity. American media outlets–yes, even NPR–could learn a thing or two from their British colleagues.

While some researchers are trying to figure how to control a wheelchair with brain power, others are taking a different approach that doesn’t involve drilling holes in one’s head. One team is exploring the possibility of controlling a wheelchair via tongue clicks that are measured with sensors that resemble earbuds. The technology hasn’t been tested with actual wheelchairs, but it could be a promising replacement for older (and less sanitary) sip-and-puff interfaces.

Sooner or later, wheelchairs with one of these newfangled controls will have to hit the consumer market and it will be interesting to see which one will achieve success first. The brain interface is still the holy grail, but its development seems to be proceeding in fits and starts. It’s encouraging to see that researchers are still throwing other things at the wall to see what sticks.

The odds of one’s monitor and computer failing within 24 hours of each other are probably rather slim. Nevertheless, I managed to get beat over the head with those odds over the weekend. The monitor failed Sunday, so I went out the next day to buy a new one. After I brought it home, I discovered that my computer wouldn’t power on. That necessitated a trip to the local repair shop to get the power supply replaced. Of course, these events transpired after I had already spent a significant amount on upgrade parts that are due to arrive later this week. I may have to get a seasonal job as a department store elf just to pay off my credit card bill. I’m sure Santa could use a little diversity on his staff and perhaps I can help the kids explain away their past bad behavior when Santa makes his standard annual inquiry.

I guess I can take some consolation in the fact that my new monitor looks pretty spectacular. The fishnets practically leap off the screen.

Happy Thanksgiving to my readers. I hope the turkey isn’t too dry and the mashed potatoes aren’t too lumpy. As always, thanks for continuing to read and respond to my digital ramblings. Given all the other diversions available on the Web, it’s gratifying to know that people still find this site worthy of their time.

Do you like Star Trek? Gots lots of free time over the holiday weekend? Then you might want to check out WatchTrek, which offers every episode of every Trek series that ever aired. I’m watching “Where No Man Has Gone Before” and the quality seems decent enough. I might even subject myself to a few Voyager episodes just to see if Seven of Nine still gets me all hot and bothered. The site itself has a fly-by-night feel and it probably won’t be long before the lawyers start circling, so get your fill while you can. If only Netflix would get its act together and make these episodes available legitimately so that I wouldn’t have to feel so dirty.