And it was Mario Bros. -- which version, do not ask, I dunno.

It was New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

He played for 7 hours.

As you do!

Je-zus. Can't trust anyone. Maybe not even Reborn Coma Guys....

Reborn Coma Man’s Words May Be Bogus

The statements of a Belgian man believed to be in a coma for 23 years, but recently discovered to be conscious, are poignant, but experts say they may not be his words at all.

Rom Houben’s account of his ordeal, repeated in scores of news stories since appearing Saturday in Der Spiegel, appears to be delivered with assistance from an aide who helps guide his finger to letters on a flat computer keyboard. Called “facilitated communication,” that technique has been widely discredited, and is not considered scientifically valid.

“If facilitated communication is part of this, and it appears to be, then I don’t trust it,” said Arthur Caplan, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Bioethics. “I’m not saying the whole thing is a hoax, but somebody ought to be checking this in greater detail. Any time facilitated communication of any sort is involved, red flags fly.”

...

Houben has since proven able to answer yes-or-no questions with slight movements of his foot. It’s a tremendous accomplishment, and raises the chilling possibility that, as estimated by Coma Science Group leader Steven Laureys in a Monday New York Times story, as many as four in 10 people considered utterly comatose may be misdiagnosed. But the legitimacy of interviews given by Houben and his facilitator to Der Spiegel, and shown on video by the BBC, may not be as certain.

“I believe that he is sentient. They’ve shown that with MRI scans,” said James Randi, a prominent skeptic who during the 1990s investigated the use of facilitated communication for autistic children. But in the video, “You see this woman who’s not only holding his hand, but what she’s doing is directing his fingers and looking directly at the keyboard. She’s pressing down on the keyboard, pressing messages for him. He has nothing to do with it.”

Damn you, Reborn Coma Guy! I thought we had something.

But he can at least answer yes-or-no questions. Like Pike in ST:TOS.

Why don't they just ask him, "Were you conscious the last 23 years?"

Called “facilitated communication,” that technique has been widely discredited, and is not considered scientifically valid.

Oh, man! We learned that on Law & Order.

As my therapist once said, when I said much the same thing about a friend of mine, "Yes, but he's not you. Stop expecting people to think the way you do."

I am. BUT IT'S HARD.

Hee. Gosh, guys and gals have a communication disconnect!! I am a GENIUS. I must tell the world about this new thing I have discovered -- no one else KNOWS.

Has this been posted? The Side-Hug: Youth Group Puts Down Sinful "Front-Hugs" With Rap (VIDEO)

(Haven't watched the video yet.)

Christian youth groups finally have an alternative to normal, aka "front," hugs. As we all know, face to face embraces run the horrific risk of a clothed crotch graze. The Christian Side-Hug (or the CSH, as the kids call it) rids us of sin, as the only below the belt contact will be some good old-fashioned hip on hip action.

To help the side-hug fad sweep the nation, let us present this hardcore rap song. Yup, side-hugging has hit the streets. The group has as many emcees as the Wu-Tang Clan and as much power as a barbershop quartet.

the horrific risk of a clothed crotch graze

What about the gratuitous boobie squish? That's much more salacious and nefarious, IME.

We learned that on Law & Order.

But L&O lets you submit fMRIs as evidence, and Wired said that's only been considered once. So maybe...just maybe...they take liberties.

But Executive ADA Cutter is allowed to take liberties with me anytime.

Announcement: Trader Joe's has dark chocolate-covered caramels with sea salt. (They're with all the Christmas-themed sweet goodies.)

Analysis: I think I just had a religious experience.