Archive: January 2004
A Good Sign
I joined a new choir (no grass growing under me!), and had to stop by the director’s house to pick up music. She’s giving me directions to the house, and ends with “…it’s the one with the small gray porch and the wheelchair ramp.”
Wheelchair ramp! Sure enough, she’s got a nice little ramp. I asked [...]
Jerks on the Loose
On the way home from work today I sang along with the Roches’ Jerks on the Loose (several times, very loud). I feel better, somehow.
Keep on Doing What You Do/Jerks on the Loose
Nobody round here knows what happened to you
No one will ask you to explain
You have your arm around a drastic measure
All of your [...]
Cantabile, Adieu
I dropped out of choir today. On the whole, the board and the membership are very nice, well meaning people who want to do the right thing in finding a wheelchair-accessible rehearsal location, but in the last two weeks there have been several more rounds of concern that we’re moving too fast, that people will [...]
Minimalist Wheelchairs
Another good article from Mark Smith of WheelchairJunkie: Minimalist Mania: Differentiating among today’s ultra-high-end manual chairs.
Unread Books
Cera writes about unread books. Years ago, I got a book on how to reduce clutter, and under “Books”, it said something about all the unread books people have, and how this is clutter.
I have no unread books. When I acquire a book, I read it. Then I put it on the bookshelf. Later, maybe [...]
Headlines
‘I just want to be included’ — After compiling a mixed record in making the disabled feel welcome, religious institutions are reaching out — “I would caution against teaching someone how to deal with the disabled. People need to acknowledge the disabled … and deal with the person.”
Multiple Sclerosis Not as Progressive or Disabling as [...]
Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell
Elizabeth Pfohl Campbell died this month, at the age of 101. I was privileged to know her. She was the sister of one of my first choir directors, James Christian Pfohl, a founder of WETA, the first public television station in the nation’s capital, a founder of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, where I [...]
Graduate Assistantship
misbehaving.net: graduate assistantship opening - researching underrepresentation of women in IT.
Ashes
I always thought Tuesday was a good night for choir rehearsal. It makes for a long day, of course, going to work, rushing home to get dinner on the table, driving back to Boulder to practice, but not so late in the week that it’s not manageable.
In fact, choir rehearsal always gave me a real [...]
Handicapped Parking Patrol
Lo and behold, my town has one! But $50 is a ridiculously small fine. How many people are going to read that, and think, “Wow! It really is no big deal to park in handicapped permit space!”?
Two people argue with Handicapped Parking Patrol volunteer Kay Laate on Friday as she writes a ticket behind the [...]
You’re Welcome
Welcome to the Campaign To Restore “You’re Welcome” To Ordinary Conversation (CTRYWTOC).
Yesterday at the bank, I overheard a teller and customer say “Thank you” to each other twice each. The teller started to say “Thank you” a third time, then realised how stupid it would sound and kind of petered out.
Our entire society has forgotten [...]
Primary Excitement
The first presidential primary in the nation, as we all know, takes place in Washington DC tomorrow.
But it doesn’t matter, because the votes of the 600,000 US citizens who live in the District of Columbia aren’t counted anyway.
Washington, DC, Uses Presidential Primary as ‘Attention-Getter’
Midwives
Alice Bailes attended the home birth of my second child, and Marsha Jackson attended the home birth of my third child.
Their words are like songs and prayers.
Singing
Study confirms that sopranos really are hard to understand.
I’m having a serious “Well, duh!” moment here. I’m not a professional singer, but I have studied voice, and was taught (by several different teachers) to modify vowels when moving up in the range. Why is this news?
Fear of Falling
Fear of falling is aimed at senior citizens, but is good reading for anyone whose balance or mobility is less than optimal.
While the advice on making your home environment safer is good, I’d like to see some emphasis on safer public environments as well (slippery marble/tile floors in department stores and other public buildings spring [...]
Are we there yet?
Copied straight from Simon Willison, ’cause it’s so great:
extreme programming, noun
A method of software development that combines all the charm of backseat driving with all the efficiency of a marital squabble.
Restaurant
Wheelchair user, looking for a restaurant that’s accessible?
In the UK, check out yourlevelbest.com.
In the US, try Wired on Wheels.
And the Winner is …
Phoenix.
Phoenix was awarded $25,000 and declared the winner of the Accessible America 2003 Contest.
Alexandria, Virginia came in second, Austin and Bloomington tied for third.
From the Cambridge Chronicle: Access prize eludes city.
Celebrity Sickness
Any celebrity who experiences a disabling injury or chronic illness has a tough row to hoe. I suspect it is a mistake to assume that a celebrity’s public revelations about his/her disease, treatment, prognosis and attitude bear much, if any relationship, to the truth. Montel Williams, Teri Garr and others have been criticized roundly for [...]
Praise
Thanks to Patricia #2 for this very kind mention. Her work is well worth checking out!
Attack of the big noisy bugs
Out of the Frying Pan posted a link to Kill a Rat, and 100 other things to do this year:
17 Go and see the locusts. 2004 is the year that the 17-year locust emerges across the United States. Millions of them - they’re actually a type of cicada - will make a loud, creepy buzzing [...]
Good Closing
The pet store (as in, “store that sells live animals”, not “store that sells food and supplies for pets”) in the local mall is closing. I am sorry for the proprietors, but this is a Good Thing. If you want to sell puppies, get into the breeding business, don’t market them like bottles of soda.
Why [...]
Happy New Year
Once upon a time, it was customary to call on friends (”call on” = “visit”) on New Year’s Day.
I’m having fun going around leaving New Year’s greetings in the blogs I regularly read.
I wish you all a shiny New Year.
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