Archive: July 2003
Search Queries
I’m not very bright yet about what all the statistics mean for the website, but I always enjoy the Search Query report, which shows what phrase people were searching for when they found this site. The top two search phrases are “Geburtsanzeige” (which means “birth announcement” in German) and “low ceilings”. In general, all the [...]
Always the Last to Know
This morning I drove by the high school and saw the marching band lined up to practice.
I have trouble understanding American high school schedules. The summer before my oldest child’s freshman year, I probably got the newsletter from the high school but didn’t understand how important it was to study it.
The next summer we moved, [...]
Monsoon
The glorious annual monsoon has arrived in Colorado.
After an abnormally cool June, we’ve had (like pretty much everybody else in the continental US) an abnormally hot July (tomatoes? in July? in Colorado?).
I went out this afternoon just after the rain and it was 65 degrees F; check out this temperature chart for the day (2 [...]
USOC sued for Discrimination
USOC unfair to disabled, athletes say.
Related: Company alleges contract for marketing of athletes was broken.
This will be interesting to watch.
Bertolt Brecht
In the dark times / will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing / about the dark times.
I’m very intrigued by this Bertolt Brecht quote - I need to go to the library and see if I can find the source/context.
ADA turns 13
Tomorrow is the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act by President Bush Senior.
The ADA Home Page
National Council on Disability’s annual report National Disability Policy: A Progress Report
State Budget Cuts Hurting Disabled
Most Accessible Town?
The National Association on Disability is sponsoring the third annual Accessible America Award.
It’s All Good
In January I could not walk, I could not raise myself to a sitting position from a lying position, I could not roll over in bed by myself. I can now walk short distances on crutches, can transfer from wheelchair to car/bed/toilet, and am much less fatigued.
Pretty darn good.
How Much Independence?
Drowning highlights old debate among blind
The original news story: Girl, 7, drowns during outing for blind youths
Tall
Used crutches all day at work for the first time since before Christmas. Best comment: “Wow! I’d forgotten you were so tall!”
I had, too, honey. It’s weird.
Blueberries
My daughter and I went grocery shopping today. I’ve been waiting for blueberries to come into season - you know, get past the point where 17 blueberries in one layer in a cute little box cost $4.99. Cool, there’s a mountain of strawberries, with price tags for blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants. But all I [...]
Product Design
Can I just complain about rotten product design? I’m staying in this hotel, and because I’ve been an idiot and packed linen, I’m ironing. Or maybe I should say that I’m trying to iron. This Proctor-Silex iron has two idiotic controls.
One is a toggle switch (left/right), which has a little cloud icon on one [...]
Trip Thoughts
Thank you, United Airlines. In four trips on and off planes on an aisle chair, I was not slammed into anything once. I was permitted to transfer to and from the aisle chair the way I wanted to. I found that outragous flirting with the aisle chair guys helped with this.
United also did not damage [...]
Using a Cane 101
(In response to a question about how to use a cane posted on the Braintalk multiple sclerosis forum
Use a cane opposite the affected side. When you stand straight with your arms hanging at your sides, the top of the cane should come to the crease of your wrist, no higher. If it’s too tall, [...]
More on Fashion
From the Washington Post: The Easy-to-Wear Collections - Active Seniors Are Hard-pressed to Find Clothes That Accommodate Age and Disability but Are a Cut Above a Muumuu.
Forward into the Past
I went back to my hometown this weekend, thanks to Judy M, who organized a reunion of people who were kids in Reston in the late 60s and early 70s.
In 1965, Reston was revolutionary - a planned community with townhouses in the middle of the woods, high density housing surrounded by acres of common space. [...]
Disability in the Comics
Luann has had Zane, a wheelchair-using character, for a while. Until now, he’s been pretty much a token crip (just like everyone else, except in a wheelchair), but this past week, the strip has begun addressing wheelchair stereotypes:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
I think I identify the most with Wednesday.
Thank you, Dorothea
Dorothea Salo’s blog Caveat Lector is not just very engaging in itself, it’s a gateway to so much useful and interesting material. Today’s browse got me the slant hack (some aspect of which brought Opera down), the RNIB’s inaccessible redesign, more tips on good web design, information on how Googlebot works, and some food [...]
And the Living is Easy
Still working on the wireless problem - I’ve moved everything pretty much back to where it was and upgraded the firmware on the wireless access point, and now I’m worse off than before - the computer has trouble even finding my access point. I did get a really long Ethernet cable, though, so that’s easing [...]
WMD
Find Weapons of Mass Destruction.
It’s not a Beauty Pageant
I’ve just put up the all redesigned Ms. Wheelchair America website. If anybody sees any problems with it, please let me know.
It is now hot. In June we had no 90 degree days, some sort of record. It was 97 yesterday and is supposed to be 95 today. It sucks, having to choose between picking [...]
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