Posthuman Blues

Human Studies Show Feasibility of Brain-Machine Interfaces

"According to Turner, while the most obvious application of such technology would be a robot arm for a quadriplegic, he and his colleagues are planning other devices as well. One would be a neurally controlled electric wheelchair, and another a neurally operated keyboard, whose output could include either text or speech. Such devices could help both paralyzed people and those who have lost speech capabilities because of stroke or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease)."

As usual, the prevailing medical paradigm insists we help the disabled and leave the non-handicapped alone. While we should be making every possible effort to assist amputees and paralysis victims, there's no reason -- other than a mystical but politically prudent fear of "playing God" -- we can't upgrade everyone.

Bush Allows Gays to Be Fired for Being Gay

"Despite President Bush's pledge that homosexuals 'ought to have the same rights' as all other people, his Administration this week ruled that homosexuals can now be fired from the federal workforce because of their sexual orientation."

Seriously: Is this a surprise? (I think the team at EroTech should promptly send W. one of their incipient LoveLumps just to make the man squirm . . .)