from digg:
For those of you who’ve been nabbed coming home from Cuba, or have otherwise fallen into disrepute with U.S. travel authorities and found yourself on a no-fly list, there’s some good news out of the Ninth Circuit: You can challenge your no-fly status in federal court.
It looks as though we’re moving on the 31st. Thanks to everyone who has offered help (a complete list to follow). I hope people don’t flake out. If everyone comes through, I’m going to owe a lot of people (both favors and money). I can handle that and repay favors in-kind. When I’m done with some research online, I’m going to call U-Haul. I’ve packed some more boxes. This weekend we’re going to move a good deal of the furniture into the living room/1st floor. It’s starting to become very real.
We’re still packing. I’m starting to wish we could simply hire a moving service. However, this is not practical or a good use of resources. It’s wasteful. Thankfully, Steph is coordinating things. I’m too obsessed with work and the fiscal-end of the house purchase to be of much use. I’ll be happy when the whole thing is over. This is not an event to savor.
Offgrid until Monday. Working on packing. Might have to move our moving day till the 31st. Will find out tomorrow. I still hope we can find enough help. The 31st is a Sunday and a holiday weekend. We thank those of you that have already committed to helping.
I didn’t completely delete it. But I’m leaving my myspace page dormant. Their layout is just messy. Although, I really don’t like the new facebook style either. Having said that, it’s much better than myspace.
We’ve been having strategic planning sessions at work; they’ve been tedious, entertaining, frustrating, and enlightening. I suppose this is indicative of many things. We have a lot to work with.
The dreaded packing is beginning. My house is full of boxes. I think I have more boxes than I have possessions. A special thanks to “pretty Mike”, TRIPIL, the Gabby Inn and Steph’s employer, for donating boxes. Now the fun begins. The endless cataloging, packing, moving and discarding of our lives.
I haven’t moved in several years. At one point in my life I was moving every 6-9 months. I guess I’m overdue. We’ve lived in this house about 4 years. Still, moving is unpleasant, stressful and hard work.
I suppose it will all be worth it once we’re settled in. The new place is cute. I’m still a little upset that we have no yard and that the neighbors are so close. We were really hoping for something more isolated (that was a big draw of the two acre property we looked at). The new place, however, is much more updated and ‘visitable’. I feel we were picky enough and made a good choice.
Here we go.
Here’s to the screaming ones. The chair-throwers. The death-threat makers. The imperious gazers. The ones who see things differently — and will stare you down until you do, too. They’re not fond of rules, especially those outlined by the human-resources department on “treating your employees with respect.”
from digg:
Given its massive distribution network, IKEA’s new announcement to start producing affordable mass-market solar panels could pose a monumental shift in the accessibility and affordability of renewable energy technology.
From the Observer-Reporter
By Terri T. Johnson
Washington Councilman Matt Staniszewski steered his wheelchair too close to the sidewalk curb Friday afternoon and almost fell headfirst into a weed-filled ditch in front of 11 S. College St.
Reacting, he did what most in wheelchairs cannot do and slammed his feet on the ground to stabilize himself, thus preventing a nasty spill.
He had difficulty pushing the chair over a small lip in front of another office on South College Street where one part of the concrete sidewalk had heaved up. As he crossed busy Beau Street parallel to College Street, his face took on a decidedly panicked look as traffic whizzed past.
Maneuvering a wheelchair around the city as part of Washington’s Disability Awareness Day proved more diffcult than Staniszewski had expected.
Joined by members of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living, Staniszewski took a short training course from Michelle Brozinski, assistant deputy director at TRIPIL, who uses an electric wheelchair. Then, rather tentatively, Staniszewski began a slow roll down the East Beau Street sidewalk to College Street in a non-motorized model.
About 20 minutes later, he’d progressed as far as Citizens Library, two blocks away.
“My arms got tired,” he said, taking a short rest in the library parking lot.
“This was quite a challenge,” Staniszewski said, somewhat out of breath. “It definitely made me more aware of the need for proper planning for accessibility issues.”
Members of TRIPIL protested last month at the city’s police station, claiming they were unable to enter because of uneven ramps.
Sidewalks and entrances to businesses and offices must meet standards set by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. A few years ago, the city undertook a major renovation that included new sidewalks with curb cuts to accommodate those with disabilities.
However, Brozinski said not all cuts meet the requirements. Other curb cuts in the city are too steep, she claims. TRIPIL will be doing a survey of the curb cuts Aug. 15. Some driveway and alley crossings have lips, or heaved portions that impede wheels.
Brozinski said maneuvering in an electric chair is easier than moving in a manually operated one.
Staniszewski agreed, taking the second half of the tour in a motorized wheelchair. He added this was the first time he used a wheelchair and he has never needed to use crutches.
He hopes to establish a Commission for the Disabled.
Mayor Sonny Spossey said Thursday he is in the process of re-establishing the commission he first set up in 1984.
Michael Matthews of Washington has cerebral palsy and is a civil right specialist at TRIPIL. He does not require a wheelchair but experiences difficulty with steps and uneven pavement.
Churches are exempt from the ADA requirements, Matthews said.
“But we want to worship like anyone else,” he said, adding he even has difficulty opening doors in certain county-owned buildings with what he called “old-fashioned door handles.”
He is pleased the city is addressing the needs of those with handicaps.
“City officials need to react, not just to TRIPIL, but to the citizens of Washington. We pay taxes, too,” he said.
I’ll be posting more links and articles about disability awareness day in Washington. We had a great media turnout.
From WJPA:
Disability Awareness Day
Today has been proclaimed Disability Awareness Day in the city. This afternoon, representatives from TRIPIL–Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living–will tour sections of the city in both mechanical and electric wheelchairs. City Councilman Matt Staniszewski says it’s an effort to showcase the need for accessibility awareness. Mayor Sonny Spossey says a number of sidewalk improvements have been made over the last several years, thanks to the downtown revitalization project.
from digg:
There are a few different ways to create ringtones for your brand new, shiny iPhone. While some bystanders might find the playing of your favorite song annoying, it can quickly inform you to exactly who is calling without taking the phone out of your pocket, purse, or man-bag.
from digg:
NASA is considering flying a prototype plasma rocket engine designed by a former astronaut to the International Space Station for testing.
Tonight is the season premiere of Mythbusters. I don’t watch TV much, but this is one of my favorite shows. So, at least I know what I’m doing tonight, vegging out for a change.
I think I’m going to shut my myspace page in about a week. Updates will follow elsewhere. Facebook won.
Oh yeah, in case it’s not clear, I love my iPhone. It’s one of the best cells I’ve owned as far as reception and call quality. The basic business features (email, calendar, tasks, notes) are seamless too. The media player is, of course, superb. The ‘App Store’ is pretty awesome and has already sucked down $15 from me…and I’ll be buying more. Simply, much like the rest of Apple’s products, it’s wizardry. I’m obsessed with scratches and smudges…but that’s my issue. The phone is freaking great.
from digg:
A recent experiment performed by a team at the university used kites to create 10 kW of energy
—enough to power 10 homes. This is a not a major breakthrough in and of itself, but the researchers plan to build a larger version of the project called “Laddermill” that would create 50 kW of energy. They eventually want to build a 100 MW version…
