October 31, 2006

Fright Fest

Despite my best efforts, I was not invited to any Halloween parties featuring women in fishnet stockings. Which means I'm sitting here at my computer, trying to distract myself from my own feelings of inadequacy. Which means that I just wasted appropriately eight minutes of my life watching this. A warning: the video's refrain of "Killer!" has completely invaded my brain, occupied it, and set up a puppet government. Then I wasted another ten minutes watching this, and I felt a little better about life.

Happy Halloween.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:29 PM | Comments (0)

October 30, 2006

Welcome, N00bs!

I've noticed an ever-so-slight uptick in traffic to this site, some of which is probably due to Bethany Broadwell's mention of me in a recent article about blogging that appeared in Quest magazine. Thanks for the mention, Bethany. But with new readers always comes a bit of performance anxiety. I feel like I need to be particularly clever and witty--at least for a few days--or else newcomers will shrug and click their way to some distant corner of the internets, never to return. And we all know that my sense of self-worth is intrinsically tied to the number of hits I get each day.

New readers will also quickly learn that I post links to stories about research into neural implants with annoying frequency. Oh, and I tend to post glowing reviews of any concert involving a band that has a hot female lead singer. I'm sure veteran readers can offer more comments regarding my assorted blogging idiosyncrasies.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:46 PM | Comments (2)

October 29, 2006

Pocketbook Matters

The Strib is currently running a series profiling people who are struggling with debt and looking for ways to stabilize their financial circumstances. The profile of the young woman in her 30s who is racking up credit card debt on clothes and eating out was the most familiar to me. Until a few years ago, I had similar issues with money. If I wanted something I couldn't afford, I would charge it, figuring that whatever amount I was spending wouldn't make much difference to the amount of debt I had already accumulated. But then I finally got serious about managing my finances. I stopped charging things I couldn't pay off at the end of the month, I refinanced my existing debt through my credit union at a much lower interest rate, I started making serious contributions to an emergency fund, and I'm using Quicken to keep track of my cash flow. I'm also a sucker for personal finance blogs.

My generation's money issues have a few root causes. First, our schools do a terrible job when it comes to teaching basic financial literacy. Most kids come out of high school not knowing a thing about managing credit, living within a budget, or the minor miracle of compounding interest. And then these same kids are targeted by credit card companies as soon as they step foot on a college campus. If I had received a little more education on some of the predatory practices of credit card companies (like suddenly raising interest rates after a missed payment), I might have exercised some restraint in my spending habits.

The rampant consumerism in our culture is a contributing factor. Particularly in my demographic (young urban dwellers), there's a certain amount of pressure to maintain a certain standard of living. It's awkward to admit that you can't afford to eat out with your friends or take that weekend trip to Vegas. We all want to live large, but that's just not sustainable on salaries of $30 or $40K.

I wince when I hear friends telling me about how they spent money they don't have. Many of us are likely to be in debt for decades to come, refusing to learn from the mistakes we've made.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 01:26 PM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2006

Sticks And Stones

In the wake of the initial hulaballo surrounding Michael J. Fox's television ad in support of stem cell research, a conservative friend (yes, I actually have a couple) repeated the Limbaugh line about how Fox had deliberately refrained from taking his meds to appear more impaired. I reacted much more strongly than I typically do when I have a political disagreement with someone. I think it's the implications raised in the statements of Limbaugh and his ilk on this issue. They want to have it both ways: Fox is a victim of his condition and being exploited by others as well as someone who is using his condition as a means to get what he wants.

This is the duality that conservatives possess in their regard of people with disabilities (when they think about us at all). We're either pitiable victims (this got a lot of play during the Schiavo fracas) or we're uppity cripples who are being just a little too in-your-face with our gimpiness to get "special treatment" (especially when "special treatment" involves civil rights or access to health care). Since conservatives seem to have some sort of aversion to simply arguing with a person with a disability on the merits of the issue (maybe because they're afraid we'll start crying or something--I don't know), they resort to characterizing them as victims or manipulators.

I thought Fox's response to Limbaugh's attack was elegantly plainspoken, making it clear he is neither. But Rush and his followers will continue to believe otherwise for no other reason than because they can't conceive of an effective political message that doesn't rely on victimization or manipulation.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:07 PM | Comments (0)

October 27, 2006

Always Connected

I'm digging my new BlackBerry. I was sitting in a waiting room this morning and I used it to check my e-mail and send one response. If it wasn't for my disability, the thing would probably be in my hand all the time and I'd be one of those annoying people who is constantly checking it during meetings. But it will come in handy during those times when I'm offsite for meetings or out of town. Let's see...cell phone, iPod, BlackBerry...I think my accessorizing is complete.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:23 PM | Comments (1)

October 26, 2006

Underwhelming

I downloaded Firefox 2.0 because all the kool kids were telling me to do so. I think a designation such as 1.75 might have been more appropriate. The tabs have been spiffed up a little bit.  The scroll bar changes color when you click on it. I guess there's a spell-check function, too. Exciting stuff. To be fair, the upgrade was a cinch and all my extensions seem to be functional. And even a slightly upgraded Firefox is better than any version of Internet Explorer. I might become more impressed with this new iteration once I start playing with the recommended tweaks.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:11 PM | Comments (0)

October 25, 2006

Flash Fiction

Wired magazine asked several well-known SF and fantasy authors to create six-word short stories.  Many are quite clever. My favorite is from Joss Whedon:

Gown removed carelessly. Head, less so.

And here's mine:

Aliens conquer. Humanity is better off.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:12 PM | Comments (2)

October 24, 2006

Going Down Fighting

The GOP seems to be testing a new strategy in a last-ditch effort to keep the reins of power from slipping out of their fingers. The strategy: gimp bullying. First, they go after Michael J. Fox. But apparently not satisfied with making derogatory remarks on right-leaning message boards, they've decided to make the attacks more personal. After a debate between Wyoming congressional candidates, the Republican incumbent, Barbara Cubin, threatened to slap the Libertarian candidate, who happens to use a wheelchair. The threat came following the Libertarian's criticism of Cubin for accepting donations from a PAC associated with disgraced House leader Tom DeLay. The only thing that apparently prevented Cubin from following through on her threat was the fact her opponent uses a wheelchair.

How magnanimous of her. And how uncharacteristic for a Republican to walk away from a fight rigged in her favor.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:42 PM | Comments (2)

Keeping It Simple

I just had another idea for a Halloween costume. I could hang a sign around my neck that says:

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:06 PM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2006

Critic At Large: Small Gods

I finished Small Gods some time ago, but I'm only getting to posting my thoughts on it now. As I noted earlier, this is my first taste of Pratchett's Discworld series. I've always shied away from these books because, well, there are so many and it seemed like I would have to start at the very beginning to get any sense of what was going on. But then a friend lent me a few volumes and encouraged me to start with Small Gods. I had no idea Pratchett was this funny. I don't usually laugh out loud while reading, but I did while reading about the exploits of god-turned-tortoise Om and his only sincerely faithful acolyte, Brutha.

Pratchett pokes a great deal of fun at organized religion and its instruments of power (especially those instruments that are shiny with sharp edges), but his satire is never didactic or cruel. His sharp sense of pacing lets him toss in extended asides without losing the thread of the main story. I particularly enjoyed Death's cameo appearances and I plan on seeking out the books where he, er, it is the main character. But I now understand why Pratchett's books are so prone to being shoplifted.

I'm currently working my way through King Dork. After that, I'm not sure. Perhaps some nonfiction. Both Fiasco and the Tiptree biography look compelling. And I'm also eager to read S.M. Stirling's Dies the Fire.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)

October 22, 2006

Ad Hominem

Michael J. Fox, the actor and prominent advocate for stem cell research,  recently filmed an ad for Claire McCaskill, the Democratic Senate candidate.  It's a simple, straightforward ad criticizing incumbent Senator Jim Talent for his refusal to fund scientific research that could lead to cures for millions of people, including Fox (he has Parkinson's Disease).  Predictably, the right-wing blogosphere is viciously attacking Fox for lending his support to McKasskil, and many of their slings and arrows are directed at Fox's disability.  Here are a few sample comments from the conservative FreeRepublic site:

Fox could care less about anybody else in his desparate [sic] effort to
save his own bacon. If anybody has seen the South Park episode about
Christoper Reeves eating fetuses to regain his ability to walk, that
pretty much sums it up.

Would it be in poor form if I wished him to choke on his drool?

I'm overwhelmed by the compassion and empathy evident in these and other enlightened remarks.  But the sad fact is that even if the Democrats assume majorities in the House and/or Senate, they will still not have veto-proof majorities to pass stem cell legislation.  The best that can be hoped for is that states and the private sector fill the funding gap until we have an administration that is not beholden to reactionary, hypocritical moralists.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2006

Beautiful People

Somebody out there needs to invite me to a Halloween party.  To be specific, a Halloween party where I have a better than even chance of chatting up a costumed woman in fishnet stockings.  I'm not picky; it could be a devil in fishnets, Little Red Riding Hood in fishnets, a fairy princess in fishnets.  You get the idea.  Now, make it so.  If someone comes through on this, I'll totally shave my head to lend an air of authenticity to my Professor X costume.  That is all.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 02:17 PM | Comments (1)

October 20, 2006

Voice Of Reason

This is going to be short because I'm expecting company soon.  Keith Olbermann is quickly becoming one of my favorite critics of the Bush administration.  His style can be a tad theatrical, but he still comes across as more passionate and outraged than many Democratic leaders.  His commentary on Bush's suspension of habeas corpus for noncitizens is especially good and worth viewing. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:43 PM | Comments (1)

October 19, 2006

Purity Test

The Washington Post has a great write-up on deaf culture and identity politics in the context of the ongoing protests at Gallaudet.  Many students are arguing that the woman in line to become the college's next president isn't "deaf enough".  They want to ensure that Gallaudet remains a place where deaf culture continues to flourish, free from the influences of the hearing world. 

I don't pretend to have a full appreciation of the nuances of the debate, but I admire the passion and conviction of those students.  They are willing to risk arrest in their efforts to define themselves and their collective.  The disability community could sometimes use a dose of that pride and self-assuredness.  We spend a lot of time explaining what we are not--sick, helpless, unemployable, heroic--but disproving negatives can be a wearying business.  But the vast range of disability experiences make finding a common identity nearly impossible.  Then again, the situation at Gallaudet seems to suggest that the deaf have the same problem. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:56 PM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2006

Hey Hey, Ho Ho...

Over at Slate, they're wondering how the deaf students at Gallaudet carry on with their protests.  Answer: pretty much like anyone else.  There are speeches, chants, drums, and, of course, T-shirts.  Now, I'm not citing this article to make fun of it; not exactly.  People with disabilities who do community outreach like to tell able-bodied audiences that there are no stupid questions.  The only way we can get people to quit being so fumblingly awkward around us is to be open and encouraging with even the most basic inquiries.  Still, I'm amused by the stranger-in-a-strange-land tone of articles like this.  If Slate editors thinks deaf people are exotic, they should check out places like Berkeley or UW-Whitewater; gimps of all flavors are thick as flies on these campuses.  Guaranteed to blow their minds.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)

October 17, 2006

Didn't Need To See That

Here I am, minding my own business, casually surfing the web in search of blogging inspiration, when I click on the feed for Warren Ellis' blog.  Now, Warren posts some weird esoterica, but this is...well...gah!  I'm not sure what creeps me out more, the dude's missing skin or his rampant backne.  I just know I'm going have some kind of nightmare where that thing on his back sprouts teeth and chases me through empty city streets as it screams at me to come back and finish my piano lesson. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:33 PM | Comments (1)

October 16, 2006

Taking The Long View

I like to think about the impermanence of things; both on a personal and more macro level.  Friends come and go, as do fashion trends, languages, nation-states, and even geological epochs.  Nothing last forever, probably not even the human race.  The New Scientist examines what would happen to the planet if humans suddenly disappeared.  After 100,000 years or so, very few traces of our existence would remain.  I find this notion strangely comforting.  We are a narcissistic species and it wouldn't kill us to take a moment now and then to contemplate the universe's unmistakable apathy regarding our continued presence. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:12 PM | Comments (1)

October 15, 2006

Chattering Classes

The Disability Studies blog has just posted its first Disability Blog Carnival, a comprehensive recap of must-read entries from disability-themed blogs around the world (disclaimer: it does include a link to my humble blog).  If you want to know what's on the minds of the gimperati (and I'm expecting royalties from everyone who uses that word in the future), this is the place to go.  Kudos to those who put in the time and effort to assemble a truly impressive array of links. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:03 PM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2006

Tools Of Power

October is turning into a disastrous month for Republicans.  The charnel house that is Iraq, ongoing corruption and sex scandals, and now the latest salvo: a new book called Tempting Faith, penned by former Bush administration official David Kuo, charges that Bush and his advisors have exploited evangelical Christians for political gain without demonstrating any real commitment to the issues that are important to many evangelicals (e.g. banning abortion and gay marriage).  Kuo writes:

National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then
were dismissed behind their backs and described as ‘ridiculous,’ ‘out
of control,’ and just plain ‘goofy'.

Kuo also writes that Karl Rove referred to evangelical leaders as "the nuts."

The notion that Republican elites cynically pander to religious conservatives--while giving them little in the way of substantive policy or political victories--is not new.  Thomas Frank posited a similar thesis in his book What's the Matter with Kansas?  And at least some evangelicals are beginning to reconsider their allegiance to the GOP.  In some ways, the Republicans' much vaunted Southern Strategy--which has relied heavily on appeals to traditional moral values (not to mention xenophobia)--may now be fomenting an ideological civil war within the party.  The big-business, monied classes of the Republican Party have never had much patience for the fire-and-brimstone fervor of their evangelical brethren.  If November 7th goes badly for them (a distinct possibility), those tensions will bubble to the surface and the knives will come out. 

Of course, Democrats have their own internecine conflicts, but we are more suited to tolerating ideological dissent within our ranks.  Remember Will Roger's eminently quotable line: "I am not a member of any organized party — I am a Democrat."  The Republicans' insistence on identifying itself as the party of conservative Christianity may lead to its downfall as much as it contributed to its ascendancy. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:08 PM | Comments (1)

October 13, 2006

Patron Of The Arts

I finally realized that I'm at a point in life where I can afford season tickets to something, so I bought a package to the new Guthrie Theater.  I figured it would be a shame not to take advantage of such a great venue that's so close to home.  When I toured the new theater during last summer's open house, the accessibility seemed generally good and I'm looking forward to seeing actual productions there.  My first play is Lost in Yonkers, which seemed like an oddly traditional choice for the opening season of the new theater, but then again, I suppose one could say the same for The Merchant of Venice. 

There's a tangerine sky outside my window at the moment.  it seems to have chased away the gray sheets of clouds that were lurking about earlier.  Somehow, it's a fitting denouement to my hectic week. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:35 PM | Comments (1)

October 12, 2006

People Power

Good news.  The Ouch! podcast will be returning for future episodes.  I guess the eighty or ninety fake signatures I entered on that on-line petition carried some weight. 

The knives at the back of my eyes are telling me it's time to get off the computer.  I promise I'll be more charming and engaging tomorrow. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)

October 11, 2006

Behind The Driver's Wheel

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that UPS violated the ADA when it prohibited deaf workers from driving UPS delivery trucks.  The court found that UPS couldn't offer a compelling reason for issuing a blanket prohibition against deaf drivers, especially since other delivery services use deaf drivers and no state disallows a deaf person from obtaining a regular driver's license.  UPS may appeal, but this decision is a clear victory for the deaf community and for the ADA.  Too often, employers cite "safety concerns" as a reason for not hiring people with disabilities.  But in most instances, those "safety concerns" have their roots in long-standing misconceptions about living with a disability. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2006

Kickin' It Old Skool

By now, you're probably tired of seeing yet another entry devoted to brain-machine interfaces and all the fun things you can do with them.  But this is my blog and I can post whatever I bloody well please, so here's a story about a kid who was able to play Space Invaders with his brain.  The article doesn't mention whether this technology is compatible with Asteroids or Centipede. 

I actually have a fond association with Space Invaders.  Way back in 1981, I had just had spinal fusion surgery and was experiencing some painful post-op sciatica; painful enough to make it difficult to sit up in my wheelchair.  In an effort to distract me from the pain, I was brought to rec room that had one of those newfangled Atari systems.  My dad and I started playing Space Invaders and before I knew it, I had been sitting up in my chair for two or three hours straight. 

I find it a little disquieting to realize I haven't changed much since then. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:51 PM | Comments (1)

October 09, 2006

Joining The Club

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:10 PM | Comments (2)

October 08, 2006

Don't Stop Now

The disability-themed Ouch! podcast has reached the end of its pilot phase and there's an on-line petition to urge the BBC to continue production of the podcast.  It's easily one of the best-produced (not to mention funniest) disability-related podcasts, so give hosts Mat and Liz some love and sign the petition.  We have precious few voices on the major content sites on the web and we need to let the Beeb know that there is a sizable audience out there for news and entertainment by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.  It would be a shame to see this experiment die on the vine. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 03:33 PM | Comments (0)

October 07, 2006

Tough Guys

Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas is one of my favorite crime movies and nothing else he has done in the last decade or so has quite measured up to the raw energy and swagger of that film.  The Departed is a return to form for Scorsese and it's thrilling to watch.  A remake of the Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs (which is brilliant in its own right), The Departed is a celluloid rush of testosterone.  It has all the expected elements; cops, crooks, gritty urban settings, and scenes of sudden and shocking violence.  All of the main players bring a sense of authenticity to their roles (even if Leonardo DiCapprio still looks like he just took up shaving last week).  The only weak link, as you might expect, is the lead female role.  I never completely bought her character and some of the decisions she made.  It's as if she's there only to serve as a metaphorical tug-of-war rope between the two male leads.  Nevertheless, I'll likely add this film to my DVD library.

And have you seen the trailer for the film adaptation of Frank Miller's 300?  I almost squealed like a little kid when they played it in the theater.  It looks crazy good. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:18 PM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2006

Billions And Billions

I'm feeling contemplative on this Friday evening, so cue up Monty Python's "Galaxy Song" as I share with you a story about scientific estimates that there are likely billions of planets in our galaxy alone.  I wonder if the undiscovered denizens of these undiscovered worlds stop to think about the vastness of the universe.  I wonder if, after a moment, they shrug their shoulders (or tentacles or pseudopods or similarly analogous appendages) and switch on the television.  What if other intelligent species have similarly short attention spans and share our affections for fattening foods and movies with lots of explosions?  Should we find that depressing or reassuring? 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:40 PM | Comments (1)

October 05, 2006

I'm Your Biggest Fan

I'm going to yet another Neil Gaiman reading.  It's rather convenient to have a well-known author (at least well-known to obsessive geeks) living in your area.  I won't pester him for a photo this time, but maybe I can convince him that "Mark Siegel" would make a great name for the protagonist of his next book.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:49 PM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2006

Always The Critic

A long, long day, with meetings and presentations and obligatory social events, is coming to an end.  Attended a dinner where Steadman...what's-his-name...Oprah's boyfriend...was the keynote speaker.  Seemed like a nice guy, but corporate motivational-speak doesn't do much for me.  He went on about "overcoming your disability," which just rings false for me.  Again, do women "overcome" their gender?  Do people of color "overcome" their ethnicity?  Why is the burden on people with disabilities to "overcome" personal and institutional biases that we had no role in shaping or perpetuating? 

This is what happens when I'm overtired; I get crabby.  Good night. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 11:03 PM | Comments (2)

October 03, 2006

True To Form

It should be no surprise that, in these last few weeks leading up to the election, Republicans are spinning the Foley imbroglio into an indictment against the gay community.  The only way the GOP can minimize its losses on November 7 is to motivate its conservative base.  And nothing motivates the base like a little gay bashing.  Never mind that sexual orientation and sexual predation are two entirely different things.  Never mind that plenty of heterosexual men prey upon young girls.  The real crux of the Foley story is the failure of the Republican leadership to confront a pedophile in their midst when the first warning signs were brought to their attention, but the conservative echo chamber would rather plug their ears with their fingers and scream "faggot!" in the hopes that will somehow deflect attention from their inaction. 

This incident should be an instructive lesson for Democrats.  We were crushed in 1994 because our elected leaders had allowed themselves to be consumed with hubris and an unchecked desire for power.  When political fortunes do swing again in our favor, we progressives have to remain vigilant and not let our leaders make the same mistake twice. 

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:23 PM | Comments (1)

October 02, 2006

See You In The Funny Papers

I was crestfallen after reading that Aaron McGruder, creator of The Boondocks, would not be returning from his sabbatical to draw any more strips.  Others than Doonesbury, Boondocks is the only newspaper strip I enjoy on a regular basis.  As someone else noted, all the imaginative, clever strips (Far Side, Calvin & Hobbes) seem to flame out before their while fucking Garfield is still phoning it in every day.  At least Boondocks will continue in animated form on the Cartoon Network

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:01 PM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2006

Taking The Scenic Route

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:43 PM | Comments (0)