Shepherdized!

The Bar

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:28:32 GMT

It occurs to me that I never posted here that I passed the Bar. So, uhm, I passed the Bar! Yay/!

I really cannot tell you all how surprised I was by this. Especially after not* passing the much sorter, orders-of-magnitude simpler MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam). I'm ethical enough to practice law in some states, but not, apparently, in VA. I retake the MPRE on Nov. 7.

I do not know another person who passed the Bar and had to retake the MPRE. I really don't know a single one. Moral of the story: Don't take it with a whiny guide dog (don't know what her problem was that day; she was perfect during the Bar) mere days after the Bar exam itself. Take it in school, like you're supposed to.

But, uhm, yes! I passed the bar!

I also am renting a wonderful house and loving life.

Post-bar

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:44:37 GMT

I haven't updated since the Bar, but truly, there's not much to tell. The most interesting thing was probably that the stupid trackpad of the computer I used for the Bar kept putting me at random points in my essay answers. Fortunately, because my Dell is so messed up, I compulsively press control-s after eveyr sentence I type. Had I not done this, I would have lost most of an answer (which, honestly, probably deserved to be lost anyway).

In a panic, proctor and I called the IT guy at "the firm," who came up with the incredibly high-tech idea of taping cardboard over the track pad. This worked.

In case you were wondering, the MBE is about 260 braille pages. The MPRE is about 118, but the pages are smaller. I wonder if it's possible to rub your fingerprints off with enough braille reading without a break.

But basically, all the administrative aspects of the exam went well. You all know about my earlier dialogue with the Board. But I'm convinced that the next person who takes this exam will have a much easier time than I had. The Board now understands that JAWS is not a word-processor. I really do think my initial letter was clear, but I think the accommodations person was initially interested in having me use their tried-and-true methods. I really do think it will be better for the next person. I so hope that "next person" isn't me.

Went to look at a rental house in F'burg last week. Couldn't go inside because it was flea-infested. They promise they're going to fix this. If they do...this house is quite nice, and I might try to get it.

That's about it. Have been reading lots of books and geting ready for Morristown/Boston trip. I haven't been this excited to go anywhere in a really long time.

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:13:54 GMT

Still studying for the bar. Have made some 1582 flash cards. off to make more.

If I had anything to say...

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:13:32 GMT

Somebody just friended me, and that reminded me that I exist in this webspace. I really have nothing to say. Have been studying for the Bar for the last three or four weeks (which feel like years). Have mostly recovered from unpleasant and productivity-diminishing bout with the crud. Only have cell signal outside, or when standing in front of the washing machine.

Glaze has been randomly peeing, but we figured out it only happened at dinner time, and taking her out just before she eats puts a stop to it. Yani had to go to the dermatologist for another skin infection (that dermatologist saved my partnership with my dog, seriously; and she did a whole lot of stuff for Yan and only charged me like $128, which is a lot less than I had to pay for the other vet to tell me I'd just have to "wait and see" about Glaze peeing).

I am having disturbing dreams about studying for the bar. I think my subconscious knows I'm too scared to dream about the actual bar. So I dream that JFW is reading some bar review thing to me and I can't understand a word. Or I'm taking the mock multistate exam they sent me (in Braille--go Bar/Bri!), and I get so distracted that I can only finish 15 of the 200 questions.

Also, some practical advice: If you steal an apple while it is on the tree, that is not larceny, because the apple is part of the tree, which has its roots in soil and is therefore real property. But if you wait for that apple to fall on the ground, it is personal property, not real property, and taking it is larceny.

That is all.

Writer's Block: Close Call

Fri, 22 May 2009 10:29:07 GMT

Also, you know, I graduated from law school and stuff (which...might have been another type of cclose call, and which probably deserves its own post).

Accidents happen all the time, and often we walk away miraculously uninjured. What has been your closest call with avoiding serious harm in an accident?

View 503 Answers

Had to be back when I was in math grad school and they were doing construction near the math building. They were blasting rock between our building and another. Whenever they were ready to blast, there would be a warning horn. Because of where my office was located, and because mathematicians are just a little insane, people would hear the warning horn an drun into our office (I shared it with three other grad students) to watch the people with the dynamite.

One morning, I got an almost frantic call from one of the department secretaries. The dynamite had shattered our office window. My desk had been right in front of the window, and some of my stuff was destroyed. But fortunately, *none* of us were in the office, and no passers-by had been lured in by the siren ssong of the warning horn.

It was really unusual that none of us were in the office at that particular time. But given our habit of ignoring the horn, it was certainly a good thing!

Fri, 08 May 2009 01:12:40 GMT

I have completed all degree requirements. Assuming I did not utterly bomb an exam or two.

Will be sending my Bar app off tomorrow. Yes, it should have been done before now. But every time I tried, I became physically ill. Once I get to a deadline, however, that doesn't happen. So it's pretty much ready to go.

Have to have picture taken (for said Bar app) tomorrow. Have ginormous bruise on head. Was playing with Glaze when the wall ran into me. OMG it hurts.

Had to be fingerprinted yesterday (for Bar app). J had planned to take me on Friday. I, jokingly, told J I would call to see when this could be done: "Maybe they don't finngerprint on Fridays." (And I *was* kidding when I said that. I think I was getting the police confused with catholicism or something.) Sure enough, no fingerprints on Fridays! So we went in and did it yesterday.

Had to print up credit report four times (for Bar app), partly due to my own ineptitude, partly due to my printer running out of paper *one page* before the end (but this was OK, since it gave me an excuse to go to the law school bookstore, which sells not only computer paper, but also chocolate!).

Had incredibly funny convo with both my sisters on facebook last night (instead of doing the Bar app). It reminded me of when we were younger. Now we are all in different states. (We also have two brothers, but they don't seem to get involved in these things.)

Baltimore

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:08:15 GMT

Too tired for more than bullet points, so:

Symposium was really good. Obama's disability policy guy, EEOC commissioner, ADA lawyers, MA assistant Attorney General, and keynote from founder of Autism Self Advocacy Network (I think). Hope I eventually become inspired to write more, because I have lots and lots of thoughts about the symposium.
Yani simultaneously impresses me beyond words with her guiding and finds new ways to remind me that I'm far from the perfect handler. I didn't think I was judgmental before, but I think Yani will pretty much put me in my place.
Met up with two friends from undergrad and their three-year-old son. Wow, but that kid is smart! He said his current favorite number was infinity, and his previous favorite number was a googolplex (that doesn't look right...need to check spelling). He can count by twos, fives, and even nines. He can read. He's a baby math nerd, and if I could have a child like that, I might want to actually do it.
It's interesting when someone who met you when you were 17 feels the urge to reminisce: "You were oh-so-smart, but young. Terribly young. I thought, here's this kid from this unbelievably small town, and she's going to this good school...I don't see how she can make it. But if anybody could, she could." (This, I'm pretty sure, was meant to be a compliment.)
Amtrak has a "Special Handling Department," and I'm apparently supposed to tell them I'm blind and have a dog beforehand. Except, they can't require that and be in compliance with the law.
I'm not the only 3l who still needs to finish my bar aplication.
I have issues with feeling like I'm some kind of poser, and I've somehow managed to convince all these people that I'm competent, and there's a certain fear that it's all going to come crumbling down around my ears. This is nothing new, but it's particularly intense right now.
It's nice to have a dog who helps you pack by fetching her toys.

What Big Cat Are You?

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:56:43 GMT

You Are a Lynx

You are a quiet observer of the world around you. Your wisdom comes from listening carefully.
You've always been extra sensitive and aware. And it's made it difficult for you to fit in.

You see past people's outward personas. You are able to penetrate a stranger's soul.
What you've learned about people is both beautiful and ugly. And you keep these secrets to yourself.

What Big Cat Are You?

Allow Everyone Access to Ebooks

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:31:39 GMT

The link below will take you to a petition to urge the Authors Guild not to object to the text-to-speech feature in the Amazon Kindle 2. The Kindle 2 had the capability to read all the books in the Amazon store aloud. That's currently over 245,000 bookks! But the Authors Guild objected, claiming this infringed copyrights and that Amazon was producing audiobooks without a license. Not all authors agree with this position; many think the Guild is rather extremist. And, legally, there's some question as to whether what Amazon creates is, in fact, a copy. In three months, Amazon's Kindle store added as many new books as Bookshare did in several years. The menus on the Kindle are currently not accessible to totally blind people, but that could change. When it does, for the first time in history, we will have mainstream access to books that are produced for everybody else. Please consider adding your name to the over 3000 signatures.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/We-Want-To-Read

Atta Girl, Kelly!

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:28:37 GMT

Disney recently re-released Atta Girl, Kelly! to commemorate The Seeing eye's 80th anniversary. (The link takes you to a page on TSE's site with some photos of memos and things from TSE's archives, and an audio greeting from Disney to TSE grads. I have to try WebVisum on the memos to see if it will actually OCR them for me.) The movie is only available to Disney movie club members...and eBay shoppers. I got mine today.

I saw it a few years ago, but it seems especially relevant now, and not just because my dog is from TSE. The movie is about a German Shepherd who was a bit goofy as a pup. She became the guide for an attorney who had a major case of second-dog syndrome.

Uhm.

That's kinda my life. (Except the attorney was a guy, and also, he was an attorney.)

I was teary-eyed while watching it. There's also a TSE featurette at the end.

The dog who played Kelly while she as guiding became a TSE breeder.

Keurig deal!

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:27:03 GMT

Skip this if you don't care abou tK-cups.

Amazon has two boxes of Timothy's Perfectly Pumpkin K-cups for $12. Each box has 24 K-cups, so you're getting the K-cups for$0.25 each. This is part of their Friday sale.

They also have, for $21.00, two boxes of Timothy's Sugar Bush Maple, which some other web site says is a seasonal item. I'm drinking this right now, and it's good. You can get those for $17.85 if you "subscribe and save." You can schedule the shipments as infrequently as every six months. You can also cancel before you receive the second shpment.

Wish They All Could Be California Guides

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:07:03 GMT

[Sorry 'bout that title. But it's late, and why am I awake? Also, squonk, should "All" be capitalized up there?]

The California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind has posted an open letter to out-of-state schools, suggesting they need to make sure their instructors who train in California are licensed:

...California law requires guide dog instructors to be licensed. An instructor "means a person who instructs blind persons in the use of guide dogs or who engages in the business of training, selling, hiring, or supplying guide dogs for the blind."

It followed this up with a fact sheet on out-of-state instruction, which says that an unlicensed instructor can conduct follow-up, as long as no "instruction" occurs: "...a home interview or verbal assessment of the day-to-day activities of a guide dog team would not be prohibited."

What's wrong with this? Well, first, the statute doesn't actually *define* "training." It does provide a minimal list of what a trained guide dog should be able to do. I suppose they are relying on the definition of "instructor," which refers to guide dogs and instruction in their use. But is follow-up instruction in the use of a dog? Other key terms seem not to be defined with the precision my 1L summer employer would have expected of me.

A friend suggested that the Board's action might not be a bad thing, since it could lead to common training standards. To which I say, I don't want Gov. Schwarzenegger (or any single governor, for that matter) and his appointees having anything to do with setting standards for guide-dog schools.

But surely the members of this board are carefully chosen, right?

According to the Board's web site:

The Guide Dog Board has seven members. One member represents the Director of the Department of Rehabilitation. The other six are Governor appointees, two of whom must be blind persons who use guide dogs.

The statute authorizing the Board says:

The board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor. One member shall be the Director of Rehabilitation or his or her designated representative. The remaining members shall be persons who have shown a particular interest in dealing with the problems of the blind, and at least two of them shall be blind persons who use guide dogs.

The emphasis is mine.

Strategic deletion there. Which might explain this.

When asked about naming his Nanny to the Board, Gov. Schwarzenegger didn't mention that she had "a particular interest in dealing with the problems of the blind" (how about problematic blind people?):

"She expressed an interest in serving the people of California like many other Californians do," said Schwarzenegger's spokesman, Aaron McLear. "The governor wants those interested in serving to have that opportunity."

Apologies if you're on the CA Guide Dog Board and you found this through Google. It's nothing personal. It's just...you are probably not as qualified as the people at my school, or the International Guide Dog Federation, to regulate the standards by which I was trained.

Perhaps we could all feel better about this if we had more information. If you really are on the California State Board, feel free to comment here (or, if you choose, in a more public forum).

At Ruby Tuesday

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:43:04 GMT

[J and leadinglabbie are
finishing an early dinner. Both chose the salad bar, necessitating a walk through much of the restaurant.]

L: I don't know what paralegals make but--

[Stranger approaches table. J will later observe that he is wearing a shirt that suggests he is affiliated with a fairly well-recognized division of the university.]

Stranger: Excuse me, but how much do you feed your puppy under the table?

L: Uh...nothing. She doesn't get to eat anything here. [Internally: Please don't be a PETA nut; I couldn't deal with that today.]

S: How old is she?

L [wanting him to go away]: Three.

S: My wife thought she was a puppy. I said that couldn't be right. I really like Shepherds. But myself, I have wolves. The one I have now...I got him from Florida, and he's over 3/4 wolf. He's at least as tall as this table.

J and L: ???

S: Where was she trained?

L: The Seeing Eye, in New Jersey.

S: That's great. I'm some big important person with the Lions Club, and we just bought one for this man nearby who...got blind.

J and L: ???

S [to J]: Are you Mom?

J and L: No.

S: Just a friend?

J and L: Yes.

S: Wow! Then you're doing a great job too!

[L pretends to find her almost empty plate an object of great interest.]

J: It's not much of a job to sit here, smoke a cigarette, and drink a beer.

s: ???

Kindle 2

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:01:09 GMT

How many years have people with print disabilities been working together to make Bookshare what it is? How many titles are currently on Bookshare? Why does something like the following have to be inaccessible?

At Amazon, weve always been obsessed with selection, and we know that even the best reading device would be useless without the books you want to read. Today, the Kindle Store has more than 230,000 books, including 103 of the 110 New York Times Best Sellers, plus top newspapers, magazines, and blogs. We added over 40,000 new titles in just the last three months. Our vision for Kindle is to have every book ever printed, in any language, all available in under 60 seconds.

This new Kindle talks, I guess, but I'm assuming the order process isn't accessible. I'd be ecstatic to be wrong.

Oh no! We're all doomed!

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:01:09 GMT

This new model can reach speeds up to 47mph before the gas engine kicks in. This...is unsettling for me as a blind traveler. (BTW, my super dog just saved me from a hybrid the other day.) I'm all for environmentally progressive transportation. But if this thing doesn't make any noise...

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2.5-liter Atkinson four-cylinder
155 horsepower
Pricing to start at around $27,000
Ford is set to make a lot of green impact with its latest gasoline-electric
effort,
the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. A true, five-adult mid-size hybrid sedan.
While the powertrain is based on the Ford Escape Hybrid crossover, it has
been completely
updated. A 155-horsepower 2.5-liter Atkinson four-cylinder, a permanent
magnet electric
motor, and a CVT automatic, are all tied to a smaller, lighter
nickel-metal-hydride
battery pack.
The result is an impressive 41 miles-per-gallon in the city and 36 on the
highway.
That's better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid, while less miserly than the new
Toyota
Prius Hybrid.
Plus, while the Escape Hybrid can run on electric power alone to about 20
miles-per-hour,
the Fusion Hybrid can reach an outstanding 47 miles-per-hour before the gas
engine
cuts in. The Fusion Hybrid can also go up to 700 miles on a single tank of
gas.
The cutting-edge SmartGauge interface with an EcoGuide LCD display gives
feedback
on driving habits, and helps drivers learn which techniques deliver higher
fuel economy.
Other green features include a climate control system that minimizes engine
use,
and special eco-friendly cloth seating.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid will start at around $27,000. That's a $3,000 premium
over
a gas-powered Fusion. Sales will start in April.

Dogs

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:50:34 GMT

Each of my dogs distinguished herself today:

Yani made eyes at John Grisham, who apparently thought she was quite something.

Glaze ate almost a whole bag of Pecan Sandies.

Service Dog's vest removed when he gained weight

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 05:35:10 GMT

Wow. But, you know, I remember people from this school being somewhat stand-offish when I contacted them a few years ago. I was working on a brochure for the place where I worked about service dogs in taxis. I didn't really feel I could adequately address the issue without talking to some non-guide-dog organizations. emerge and others will be happy to know that CCI was very helpful and sent me lots of literature. This other school, though..."not many of our clients use taxis." Uh, OK.

Aaaanyway, the article below can be found at:

http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=9716940&nav=menu132_2

Be sure to read to the school rep's quote at the end, which I'll leave outside the cut.

8 On Your Side helps disabled woman with service dog

Posted: Jan 22, 2009 03:01 PM EST

Updated: Jan 22, 2009 03:30 PM EST

By

Chris Williams

QUAD CITIES -- A Quad Cities woman may be a step closer to regaining her freedom thanks to an 8 On Your Side investigation. For her, freedom means venturing out without being harrassed by those who don't understand her disability. 8 On Your Side Reporter Chris Williams has the story that may change the way you look at the disabled and their service dogs .

We began working this case in October when a woman called with a heartbreaking story. She relies on a service dog to be her ears, help
when she has a seizure and pick up objects she can't reach. But a decision by a former
volunteer with the organization that gave her the dog made it impossible for her to take the animal into public without being harrassed.

Janet Parker tried to keep the mood light with her Black Lab Coal. A lot
was riding on this trip to the East Moline Animal Clinic. Bad news today
could set her back months and deny the opportunity to regain her freedom.

"It tears my heart out if i don't have him", Janet told us through an
interpreter for the deaf.

Coal is Janet's ears. Without him her world is a freightening place
filled with muffled noises where even the most basic daily task can be
dangerous. Janet was born in Monmouth. At two weeks old a high fever stole her ability to
hear. Years later the violent hand of a man left Janet with injuries and seizures that would last a lifetime. Five and a half years ago the organization
"PAWS With A Cause" brought Coal into Janet's life restoring some of her freedoms. The
Michigan based non-profit provides service dogs to those in need. Their
canines wear blue vests to alert the public that, these are not your ordinary pets,
they're trained to work.

"PAWS With A Cause" also has strict rules regarding the care of dogs. In
2006 the woman in charge of Janet's case felt Coal's weight warranted removing the vest, esentially taking away his identity as a service dog.

I asked Janet, "What happens to you when you're in public and people don't know he's a service dog?"

She replied through an interpreter, "You can't go anywhere... no stores.. nothing."

Vet records show Coal's weight had ballooned to 93 pounds,13 pounds above the heaviest allowed. Over time, through diet, training and exercise Janet helped Coal slim down but she could not get the woman who took the vest to answer her calls.

"I had a lawyer", she told us. "He didn't do anything. I called Chicago... through the A.D.A... they didn't do anything. So I contacted
you, it says you help".

When you cannot hear, and speak clearly, communicating is nearly
impossible unless patience is practiced by those who listen. We listened to Janet's case and a solution seemed simple, yet she was unable to reach those who
could make a difference and restore her freedom through Coal's service.
We contacted the case worker who removed the vest only to learn she was no longer
with "PAWS With A Cause". We tracked down information for the
organziation and volunteers promised to look into the situation.

"I say thank you very, very much for helping me", Janet said. "It
finally feels like I have some success now."

3 months of calls, e-mails and faxing vet records brought us to this day at the East Moline Animal Clinic.

"His heart and lungs are just fine", Veterinarian, Doctor Holyl Bordner told Janet.

She Gave Coal a complete check up which involved a weigh in.

"In my examination of Coal today we found him to be 77 pounds... really
in good health", the Doctor reported.

She feel's the health of her patient has a direct impact on Janet's peace of mind, explaining, "I see him as being crucial to her well being."

"I've been nervous and let down so many times. I've just been sick over the whole ordeal, so I figured you were my last hope to help me", Janet
said to us.

Even with renewed hope, Janet knew the path to regaining her freedom was still an uphill climb. Armed with Coal's updated vet information, she
would have to prepare for the hardest test of all the next day, a recertification
test by a "PAWS" volunteer.

It's Julie Firlit's job to put Coal and Janet to the test. Armed with a video camera and clipboard, Julie watched every move and command. It
quickly becomes obvious Coal's skills aren't exactly up to "PAWS" specifications.

Eventually Coal shows discipline, especially when given the task of walking alongside Janet with another dog nearby.

"We just want to make sure they have a good working relationship", Volunteer Julie explained. "It's productive for her, and in an emergency
the dog would
be available to help her and that we've held up our bargain as well as encouraged her to hold up her end of the bargain as well."

Julie would not tell us what she'll recommend, "PAWS" headquarters will decide on the vest issue. It could take a month before Janet learn's
whether coal will get his vest back.

She says "PAWS" removes vests from dogs who become overweight because
those dogs typically have more health problems. The animals can cost $20,000 to raise and train. "PAWS" says, knowing they could lose the vests motivates
clients to keep their dog in shape.

A year ago today...

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:18:52 GMT

...I met my "flying eye dog." It hasn't been my easiest dog-handling year ever, but when it comes right down to it, I'm so, so lucky to have this wonderful little girl as my guide.

J was asking me how I felt on "dog day" last year. It was surprisingly difficult to articulate. When I got Glaze, on January 10, 2001, I had the sense that I was embarking ona huge adventure. This last time, it was more...dislocation than anything else. Was I really and truly about to start working with not-Glaze? I was nervous this time around in a way I wasn't the first time. But I was excited, too.

I told J that when I think "guide dog," there's a certain fundamental association with Glaze. I think it will always be that way. But Yani is the dog who will always make me smile.

Also, on January 7, 2001, I flew out to San Rafael for the first training experience. Wow, how the world has changed since then! There's no way on earth I could fly with so much stuff today.

Posted using TxtLJ

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:22:26 GMT

Have new shiny digital recorder. Plextalk PTP1. Anybody heard about it? I hadn't. Maybe eventually Stream competition but not yet. More later.

Wake

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:47:08 GMT

Is anybody reading the serial "Wake" in Analog? It begins with the November issue and features a blind fifteen-year-old math genius. She uses JAWS, posts on LJ and everything. I'm only a few minutes into it...but she's already leapt for joy at the prospect of experiencing vision. I need to read more before deciding how I feel about this. (Obviously, the author did some research. But he has her using a female voice with JAWS, and given the kind of computer user she's supposed to be, I find it unlikely that she'd be using Realspeak.) This will be published in four parts. I have a soft spot for blind math nerds (even fictional ones), so I reckon I'll read it all.

Yani is three!!!

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:32:55 GMT

My Yan-Yan is three years old. We've had our ups and downs, but we're going to make it. She and Glaze got yummy bones to chew today, and I think they will each get some extra canned food with dinner tonight. She's such a great little guide.

In other news, I now have some of these, and I can reuse K-cups with my Keurig. Very good. I just made 6 K-cups of baklava-flavored coffee. I should probably resist the urge to brew one until tomorrow--I do think I'm sufficiently caffeinated at this point.

Memage

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:27:17 GMT

Wow. This came close to making sense and stuff:

Haiku² for leadinglabbie
life and had a guide dog denied access woman wasn't allowed
@

Created by Grahame

Reloading produced:

prescribe it and now
it is so good to get it
to my immenser

There was also one about being behind and a paper...not that that has anything at all to do with my actual life...

And since I haven't done it yet,

January*: I’m here at Seeing eye.

February: Convo between my tax prof and me: [about an accident of Yani's]

March: Dear People Who Submit Articles to VJoLT: [and I ranted about improper citations]

April: Looks like my BrailleConnect is already here.

May: Sorry if this has already been posted. I haven't looked at the fpage in a while and don't know when I'm going to get to it...sigh. Anyway, Quinn Haberl,
for whom this guide-dog school for teens was going to be named, has withdrawn his support for the school.

June: Just got back from the firm retreat for summer associates.

July: I am managing to get some person's wifi signal for now, but basically, I have no internet where I'm staying.

August: I know where I'm working after graduation.

September: I was reading some back issues of the Braille Monitor (hey, it beats reading for class), ...

October: I have learned that sitting in front of my computer and chanting, "I need a paper topic, I need a paper topic, I need a paper topic..." yields surprisingly
few concrete results. [And I think it's really rude of my paper to show up in my attempt to procrastinate.]

November: “Well, this is the polling place, and there was a band playing, but of course, they just stopped as soon as I was able to call this number. But it's very
festive here, [band starts playing] -- there we go -- and this is very cool. Yanni wishes that she could vote, but she's only two, so she doesn't get to.
And that's all."

December: My username is one that I've had on various and sundry email lists and communities, for many years. And even though it feels somehow disloyal to Glaze (I'm
a dork, I know), I think I want to change it. [Update: I think I will keep it for a while longer.]

*The first entry for January was a meme.

Uhm, NFB?

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:01:03 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Public Relations Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org>cdanielsen@nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind
Comments on Saturday Night Live Segment

Largest Organization of the Blind Criticizes Attack on Blind Americans

Baltimore, Maryland (December 15, 2008): Chris
Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation
of the Blind, said: "The biggest problem faced by
blind people is not blindness itself, but the
stereotypes held by the general public about
blindness and blind people. The idea that blind
people are incapable of the simplest tasks and
are perpetually disoriented and befuddled is
absolutely wrong. This misconception contributes
to an unemployment rate among blind people that
stubbornly remains at 70 percent. That is why
the National Federation of the Blind is
disappointed that Saturday Night Live chose to
portray Governor Paterson in a comedy routine
that focused almost exclusively on his
blindness. Attacking the Governor because he is
blind is an attack on all blind Americansblind
children, blind adults, blind seniors, and newly
blinded veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan. The National Federation of the
Blind urges the producers of Saturday Night Live
to consider the serious negative impact that
misinformation and stereotypes have on blind
people before continuing in this unfortunate vein of humor."

Okay, I didn't see the skit. But this reaction seems...a bit over the top to me, to put it mildly.

And yes, I do think this is different from the protests of the movie Blindness.

Thoughts?

Holy Accessible Firearms, Batman!

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:56:19 GMT

Rx: Will doctors be writing firearm prescriptions?
Company claims federal approval for 9-mm handgun as 'medical device'
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Posted: December 07, 2008
2:10 am Eastern

© 2008 WorldNetDaily

Palm Pistol

Arthritis? Carpal-tunnel syndrome? A hand injury? If so, a New Jersey company claims it has invented a firearm just for you and that it has received federal approval to market the 9-mm handgun as a "medical device," perhaps even with its cost reimbursable to seniors by Medicare.

Matthew Carmel, president of Constitution Arms in Maplewood, N.J., says the
Palm Pistol is designed to be fired by people who have disabling conditions that prevent them from holding a normal handgun and pulling the trigger.

"It's something that they need to assist them in daily living," Carmel, who hopes to manufacture the device, told New Scientist. Currently the Palm Pistol
is just at the patent stage.

"The justification for this would be no more or less for a walker or wheelchair, or any number of things that are medical devices," he said.

Carmel expects the handgun to become available in 2010. He estimates it will sell for approximately $300. "I've been getting a lot of calls," he said.

According to the website:

The Palm Pistol is an ergonomically innovative single-shot double-action only defensive firearm chambered in 9mm that may be fired using either hand without
regard to orientation of the stock. Suited for home defense, concealed carry or as a backup gun. It is also ideal for seniors, disabled or others who may have limited strength or manual dexterity. Using the thumb instead of the index finger for firing, it significantly reduces muzzle drift,
one of the principal causes of inaccurate targeting. Point and shoot couldn't be easier.

Constitution Arms reportedly claimed on a medical technology blog to have received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the handgun as a medical
device – specifically, a "daily activity assist device."

Constitution Arms has said the firm is now attempting to obtain a Durable Medical Code for the pistol which would allow doctors to prescribe it and qualified patients to receive reimbursement through Medicare and, possibly, private insurers.

A spokesman for FDA disputed Carmel's claim to New Scientist, saying, "At this time, there have been no formal designations of the Palm Pistol by the FDA as a medical device."

Carmel insists he received a notice of registration earlier this week for a Class I medical device, a category that includes walking aids. But Bill Maisel,
an expert with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said Carmel's documents from FDA fall short of the full approval he claims.

Even if the gun is recognized as a legitimate medical device, Carmel has little chance of getting Medicare to pay for it, said Kevin Schulman, an expert
on medical device regulation at North Carolina's Duke University Medical Center.

"Medicare does not cover everything that
FDA approves
," said Schulman. "The first question for Medicare is whether this would be potentially beneficial, and the answer seems to be obviously no. It's not implanted
in the body, but the obvious result of this thing could be."

Carmel is undeterred. Constitution Arms is currently taking refundable $25 deposits from those wishing to be among the first purchasers. Clear confirmation
the device has FDA approval, or better yet, Medicare approval, along with a growing escrow account of early buyers' deposits, should attract investors
Carmel seeks to the venture.

I...there are no words.

Here's a link to the article, which I reproduced in its entirety (but the article contains links and stuff).

What I'm not doing today

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:52:39 GMT

Well, I've postponed my T&E final until Monday. I just couldn't sleep last night (too much stress? Too many K-cups?), so it didn't make sense to go in and try to take this exam. I'm so glad that we schedule our finals here. Also, I just recently found this version of the UPC (which is a probate code, not a bar code) on a web site, together with lots of commentary. I think I need to spend some quality time with it before going in to that closed-book exam.

In other news, Yani is responding well to her allregy shots. Her coat already feels nicer.

I have a meeting in Richmond tomorrow--and I think I've managed to tick some people off, so it should be extra fun.