February 28, 2007

Bird Brain

So now pigeons are getting neural implants. Great. You know, twenty years from now my personal care will be provided by a genetically modified orangutan who, despite having the IQ of your average Best Buy sales associate, cannot grasp the fact that it's not cool to groom me while I'm in a meeting. On the plus side, I'll be able to telepathically sic my flock of pigeon lackeys on said orangutan when she has one of her all-too-frequent episodes of misplaced mating urges.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:33 PM | Comments (2)

February 27, 2007

Mush!

I have tickets to see Ira Glass' This American Life show at the Orpheum tomorrow night. Another snow storm is also supposed to wallop the area at about the same time. I'm not too worried about getting there, but the walk home could be interesting. Maybe I can figure out a way to rig a snow plow to the front of my chair. Or perhaps Ira and Sarah Vowell will give me a push through the snow drifts on our way to the afterparty.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:22 PM | Comments (1)

February 26, 2007

"But He's So Well-Adjusted..."

Minnesota Public Radio has an interview with Emily Rapp, whose book Poster Child details her life with a congenital disability. In the interview, Rapp says, "I had to be super-normal to be accepted as normal." I can so relate. While I was naturally inclined to like school when I was a kid, I was also motivated to do well so that I could go to college, get a job, and do all the "normal" things that were expected of my peers. By doing all those things, I thought I could minimize my disability in the eyes of others and not be thought of as different or unusual. I came to the slow realization that I couldn't spend my whole life trying to pass as some personification of American male normalcy, but I'm probably still dealing with the remnants of that way of thinking.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:27 PM | Comments (1)

February 25, 2007

Music From The Underground

I'm a big fan of trip-hop, the musical style characterized by torchy female vocalists, multi-layered soundtracks, and heavy use of sampling. Think Portishead, Morcheeba, or Hooverphonic. Thanks to Metafilter, I discovered Splashdown, a Boston-based band with a similar sound whose major debut LP was never released by its record label. Which is a shame, because they're actually quite good. Their entire catalog is available in MP3 format here and I have a fast-developing crush on the lead singer. Wouldn't it be great if the internets one day made the RIAA and its spawn irrelevant? We're already seeing artists release their music to fans via alternative channels like MySpace. And the slow death of digital rights management will gradually make more music available to more people at a lower cost. Besides, most acts make their big money from touring.

The other day, I was thinking how cool it would have been to have had the internet when I was a kid. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart, but it's a hopelessly hick town. I listened to the same crappy Top 40 radio that everyone else listened to because that was available. The only books I read were the ones I could find at the crappy WaldenBooks in the mall. If the Web had been around back then, I might have more quickly evolved into the hip, urbane, sophisticated adult I am today. And I might have found other like-minded souls who shared my obsessions. Maybe I would have even scored the occasional date. Kids these days have it so good. Everyone has the opportunity to find their social niche within an accepting social community.

As for me, I turned out okay, but it was sometimes a lonely journey.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 03:46 PM | Comments (1)

February 24, 2007

Time Waster

One of the little pleasures of living where I do is the panoramic view afforded to me during snow and rain storms. Right now, the world outside is all gauzy with snow. I'm stocked up on reading and viewing material, as I don't anticipate I'll be venturing out much this weekend. Before I leave you, here is a little web-based amusement that you might enjoy. It gives a twisted meaning to the phrase "puppet government". Thanks to my dear friend Rose for pointing this out to me.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:57 PM | Comments (2)

February 23, 2007

Come Undone

It gets so tiresome being proven right all the time. When Michelle Bachmann was elected, I told friends, "She'll say something utterly stupid in the first six months of her incumbency." I needn't have been so generous in my allotment of time. Bachmann, in a recent interview with a St. Cloud newspaper, revealed that she possessed knowledge of an agreement that would see Iran partition Iraq and set up some sort of terrorist mini-state in the western part of what used to be Iraq. Which doesn't make a lot of sense, seeing as how Iran is Shi'a and western Iraq is predominantly Sunni and the two sects are in the midst of slaughtering each other's adherents across much of Iraq.

Bachmann really should stick to her strengths--like demonizing the gay community and non-Christians--and not trouble her pretty, carefully coiffed little head with matters of foreign policy. Such wild-eyed conspiracy theorizing does not suit an alumnus of the great Oral Roberts University.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:55 PM | Comments (0)

February 22, 2007

Disability Carnival #9

Welcome to Disability Blog Carnival #9. I guess that makes me your carnie (although I feel compelled to point out that I have more teetth and smell a lot better than your typical carnie). The theme for this particular collection is "employment". Let's get started. Remember to keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.

David at Growing Up with a Disability describes the typical workday of Chris, who is employed full-time as a mail clerk. And Wheelchair Dancer considers and declines an opportunity to show some skin.

Both Seahorse and Wheelchair Princess blog about the difficulties of finding work that is both fulfilling and flexible. And meanwhile, over at One Smoot Short of a Bridge, we are reminded that discrimination can be found in the most innocuous practices (like background checks). Interroblog writes about discrimination from a more institutional perspective.

Disgruntled Ladye blogs about the clueless reactions she receives from work colleagues who make assumptions about her medical condition. Speaking of clueless, Wheelie Catholic had a recent encounter with a child and her woefully uninformed mother.

The proprietor of BlindConfidential writes about his new radio gig, the first show of which will focus on web accessibility. And NPR rock star Stephen Kuusisto meditates on the cultural role of the uppity gimp (my words, not his).

Dave at Chewing the Fat explains why he loves working in the disability field. Kestrell begins the first part of her series on disability and participatory culture.

Simi Linton of Disability Culture Watch reviews the bestseller The Memory Keeper's Daughter. And finally, Manxome writes a moving eulogy to her uncle.

Many of the blogs cited here are new to the scene, so let their authors know you like and want to see more of their work. I want to thank everyone who submitted as well as Penny for giving me the opportunity to host. And don't forget to keep visiting this site to read all about the sordid goings-on here at The 19th Floor.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:42 PM | Comments (4)

February 21, 2007

Some Things Are Worth The Wait

Thursday's Disability Carnival should be posted sometime before 8:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. I don't think the taxpayers of Minnesota would appreciate me working on it while I'm on the clock. Your patience is appreciated.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:20 PM | Comments (0)

February 20, 2007

Hang-Ups

Nearly four hundred years have passed since Puritans settled our shores, but we're still burdened with their legacy of sexual neuroses. Librarians are reluctant to stock The Higher Power of Lucky, a book that won the prestigious Newberry Award for children's literature, because the word "scrotum" appears in the first sentence. Of course, our delicate sensibilities can just as easily be corrupted by terminology for the female anatomy. A Florida theater changed its marquee to read "The Hoohah Monologues" after receiving complaints from local parents who lacked the maturity or parenting skills to respond to curious inquiries from their children about the meaning of the word "vagina".

I can't help but marvel that most American adults don't resort to the oblique phrase "down there" when referring to their genitalia. Credit sex ed in public schools and the Internet for keeping the forces of ignorance and prudishness at bay.

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

February 19, 2007

Learned Member Of The Academy

Congratulations to my brother, who recently turned in the final version of his doctoral thesis. While my degree is technically a "juris doctorate", I've never pretended that it required the same amount of time and tireless work that a Ph.D. does. My brother has truly earned the right to be addressed as Dr. Siegel. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must continue my search for a gently used corduroy blazer with elbow patches to present him as a gift.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:41 PM | Comments (1)

February 18, 2007

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

The Village Voice tells the story of Larry Seiler, a thirtysomething man with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities who, more than anything, wants a long-term romantic relationship. The article recounts in explicit detail his sexual encounters with women (many of them ill-advised), the despondency and loneliness that sent him to spend his limited income on pornography and strippers, and his desperate yearning to be accepted by able-bodied women. It's one of the better pieces I've read regarding the challenges people with disabilities face when searching for romance.

Thanks to Blue for the tip.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:38 PM | Comments (0)

February 17, 2007

A Confederacy Of Dunces

I'm beginning to agree with Democratic strategists who argue that the party should simply cede the Deep South to the Republicans and concentrate on building a winning coalition that spans the other three-fourths of nation. It seems that I come across a few news items every week that make me wonder if the Union really did gain anything by winning the Civil War. Case in point: the Georgia legislator who distributed a memo to his colleagues claiming that the science behind evolution and the Big Bang theory is actually part of a millenia-old plot authored by Jewish Pharisees.

How perfect. Here you have anti-Semitism, scientific illiteracy, and plain ol' buffoonery wrapped up in a pretty box with a Confederate-flag bow perched on top. Is it possible for a Southerner to behave in a more cartoonish manner? Now, I realize one shouldn't make generalizations. Without a doubt, there are many progressive-minded, rational people residing in the South. But they seem to be outnumbered by a populace that jubilantly glorifies ignorance and fear. Perhaps if we let the region languish as a political backwater for a decade or two, its citizens might eventually come to their senses and decide that they really do want to be participants in a twenty-first century society.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 01:05 PM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2007

A Modest Proposal

I took the day off from work to attend a symposium sponsored by the U of M's Journal of Law and Inequality to celebrate its 25th year of publication. The guest speakers discussed topics such as institutional racism, genetic profiling, international human rights, and disability discrimination in the workplace. I briefly chatted with a professor from Syracuse University's Burton Blatt Institute, a policy think tank dedicated to disability issues. Syracuse's commitment to disability rights is impressive; its law school offers a certification program in disability law and policy.

Every time I visit the University, I get a hankering to enter the world of academia. Getting paid for teaching, writing, and thinking has a deep appeal for me. And Minnesota, for all the leadership it provides in the realm of disability policy, really should be doing something similar to what Syracuse is undertaking. I'm sure I could make a compelling case for a disability studies program to the dean of one of the four law schools around here. All I have to do is line up a donor to provide the first couple million in operational costs. That shouldn't be too difficult.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:56 PM | Comments (1)

February 15, 2007

So Say We All

According to the rumors, Battlestar Galactica is going to be renewed for a fourth season. And at only thirteen episodes, it should be a leaner, meaner season. The show is still one of the best justifications for owning a television, but the engine of the storyline does sometimes seem like it's sputtering in neutral. Fewer episodes should mean a tighter focus on plot and a more sustained sense of momentum towards a climax and denouement, as well as less reliance on day-in-the-life types of episodes (which, by pure coincidence, happens to be the title of the next episode). If--as the promos keep promising--Earth is going to be introduced at the end of the current season, the show's writers are going to need to pull out a few tricks to maintain viewer interest through a fourth and possible fifth seasons. I'm anxious to see how they pull it off.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:49 PM | Comments (1)

February 14, 2007

Love Conquers All

It would be easy for a journalist to descend into mawkishness when writing about the recent marriage between a pretty Midwestern woman and a soldier who was severely burned by an Iraqi suicide bomber, but this article from the London Times manages to remain matter-of-fact. The reporter has enough sense to get out of the way and let the couple tell their story. Here's the photo that accompanies the piece.

And congratulations to my sister and her boyfriend, who just announced their engagement. I knew that one of my siblings would fall off the bandwagon of singlehood eventually. So, it looks like I'll be needing a date for sometime in January 2009. I mean, if you're not busy or anything. It's totally cool if you can't go. I'll totally understand. But I just thought, y'know, it might be fun.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:20 PM | Comments (0)

February 13, 2007

Yikes!

I was taking a look at my site statistics and I saw that someone had arrived at the blog via the search phrase "Mark Siegel death". I've heard rumors that there's a contract out on my head (ever since I challenged that coward Stephen Hawking to a fight to the death in orbital space, he's really had it in for me). Perhaps someone out there is looking for details on the bounty. It's possible I could be misreading the intent of the search phrase. Maybe this person is seeking out kindred souls who share a deep and abiding loathing of me and my writings.

Either way, I'd better sign up my nurses for refresher kung fu classes.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:41 PM | Comments (3)

February 12, 2007

Biological Weapon

Whenever I start to question my own abilities as a writer, something comes to my attention that assures me there are far, far worse hacks out there abusing their word processors. Today, my solace comes in the form of a biting review of the latest issue of the Spiderman: Reign comic book series. The review is quite good; it's the source material that had me shaking my head and chuckling. In this particular issue, it is revealed that Mary Jane (Spidey's wife) eventually dies because...how to put this delicately...she has been slowly irradiated by her husband's mutant spunk. Exactly how stoned was this writer when he came up with a plot point so utterly ridiculous that it would make a twelve-year-old snicker in disbelief? And he's getting paid for putting such drivel to paper.

So much for solace. Now, I'm just depressed and discouraged.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:27 PM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2007

Critic At Large: The End Of Faith

Sometimes, when I disclose to people that I'm an atheist, I feel like I might as well be telling people that I was abducted by aliens or that I'm the long-lost descendant of the Russian czar. Those statements would probably garner the same amount of mistrustful incredulity. "You're an atheist? Really? So you, like, don't believe in anything?"

Sam Harris, the author of The End of Faith, probably can relate. His book sets forth a carefully reasoned yet stirring critique of belief in God. Faith is a volatile and frequently lethal mix of people's most irrational hopes and deepest fears--particularly the fear of death. The unprovable assertions of religious dogma provide the foundations of an irrational and exclusionary certitude of belief that can motivate people to commit unspeakable acts like the Inquisition or suicide bombings. Harris has especially harsh words for religious "moderates", whom he accuses of cherry-picking the tenets of faith they choose to follow while ignoring the the harsher sectarian pronouncements of their chosen tradition. To Harris, the willingness of moderates to devise some sort of compromise between ancient tradition and their rational natures (while simultaneously tolerating the more fundamentalist beliefs of others) is to surrender humanity to a bleak future of ignorance and strife.

As you might guess, I find myself in almost complete agreement with Harris. I do find his efforts to propose a science of consciousness as a way of rationally experiencing the mystical aspects of the universe a little strained. Consciousness seems like such a subjective experience as to elude objective study and explanation. But that's preferable to sitting by and watching the world consume itself in paroxysms of religious-inspired violence. Like Harris, I firmly believe that people can lead good and ethical lives without reliance on fairy tales that were scribbled down by profoundly ignorant men thousands of years ago. Towards the end of the book, Harris writes:

Clearly, it must be possible to live ethically--with a genuine concern for the happiness of other sentient beings--without presuming to know things about which we are patently ignorant. Consider it: every person you have ever met, every person you will pass in the street today, is going to die. Living long enough, each will suffer the loss of his friends and family. All are going to lose everything they love in this world. Why would one want to be anything but kind to them in the meantime?

That passage resonates with me. We need not look to the supernatural to marvel at our existence and to feel compelled to do right by one another. It gives me hope to see that the number of nonreligious Americans is slowly rising, even though the media still seems to be inclined to treat nonbelievers with contempt.

Next up is most likely Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, which has been sitting on my shelf for too long.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:21 PM | Comments (1)

Critic At Large: The End Of Faith

Sometimes, when I disclose to people that I'm an atheist, I feel like I might as well be telling people that I was abducted by aliens or that I'm the long-lost descendant of the Russian czar. Those statements would probably garner the same amount of mistrustful incredulity. "You're an atheist? Really? So you, like, don't believe in anything?"

Sam Harris, the author of The End of Faith, probably can relate. His book sets forth a carefully reasoned yet stirring critique of belief in God. Faith is a volatile and frequently lethal mix of people's most irrational hopes and deepest fears--particularly the fear of death. The unprovable assertions of religious dogma provide the foundations of an irrational and exclusionary certitude of belief that can motivate people to commit unspeakable acts like the Inquisition or suicide bombings. Harris has especially harsh words for religious "moderates", whom he accuses of cherry-picking the tenets of faith they choose to follow while ignoring the the harsher sectarian pronouncements of their chosen tradition. To Harris, the willingness of moderates to devise some sort of compromise between ancient tradition and their rational natures (while simultaneously tolerating the more fundamentalist beliefs of others) is to surrender humanity to a bleak future of ignorance and strife.

As you might guess, I find myself in almost complete agreement with Harris. I do find his efforts to propose a science of consciousness as a way of rationally experiencing the mystical aspects of the universe a little strained. Consciousness seems like such a subjective experience as to elude objective study and explanation. But that's preferable to sitting by and watching the world consume itself in paroxysms of religious-inspired violence. Like Harris, I firmly believe that people can lead good and ethical lives without reliance on fairy tales that were scribbled down by profoundly ignorant men thousands of years ago. Towards the end of the book, Harris writes:

Clearly, it must be possible to live ethically--with a genuine concern for the happiness of other sentient beings--without presuming to know things about which we are patently ignorant. Consider it: every person you have ever met, every person you will pass in the street today, is going to die. Living long enough, each will suffer the loss of his friends and family. All are going to lose everything they love in this world. Why would one want to be anything but kind to them in the meantime?

That passage resonates with me. We need not look to the supernatural to marvel at our existence and to feel compelled to do right by one another. It gives me hope to see that the number of nonreligious Americans is slowly rising, even though the media still seems to be inclined to treat nonbelievers with contempt.

Next up is most likely Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, which has been sitting on my shelf for too long.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:21 PM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2007

Solicitation

The latest Disability Carnival is up at Medical Humanities. And remember, I'll be hosting the next Carnival on February 22nd, the theme of which is "employment". Be sure to get me your entries by the 19th. I especially want to hear from new and undiscovered bloggers, so don't be shy.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:43 PM | Comments (0)

Boys' Night Out

I've had not one, but two man-dates tonight. The fellas, they just can't get enough of me. But all this male bonding has tuckered me out. Good night.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:12 AM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2007

Cultural Literacy

Here's a list of films every geek is supposed to see before they die. Care to guess how many I've seen? That's right, all of them. I'm willing to overlook the fact that the author left out Galaxy Quest, but the failure to include Close Encounters and Blade Runner is simply inexcusable, not to mention the absence of any films from the Forties or Fifties. Kids these days. No respect for the classics.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:14 PM | Comments (0)

February 07, 2007

Kabuki

I've been going through the first season of Rome on DVD and I can't help but compare our Senate's ongoing theater of the absurd to scenes of the Roman Senators in thrall to the sounds of their own voices while the Republic crumbles around them. I understand the Democrats' desire to use the nonbinding resolution criticizing the troop buildup in Iraq as the springboard for more confrontational sparrings with the administration in the future. But I have to at least partially agree with Armando at TalkLeft. Americans don't care about and aren't paying attention to the political fencing match in the Senate. But I think they are ready for a full-throated debate on the future of our involvement in Iraq. Democrats shouldn't be afraid to press the issue and force their colleagues on the other side of the aisle to engage in an open and honest dialog about the endgame of this debacle. Time is wasting and more people are dying every day.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)

February 06, 2007

Are You Having A Laugh?

I thought South Park was the only comedy that knew
how to play on the average person's discomfort and general cluelessness around
people with disabilities. But then I saw a recent episode of Ricky Gervais'
Extras. It was brilliant. One subplot highlights the media's manipulative use of
stories involving people with disabilities. Another thread looks at some of the
more uninformed reactions to the romantic partners of people with disabilities
("That's really nice of you," says the show's monumentally dense female lead to
a woman who reveals she's the fiancee of Warwick Davis, a British actor and
little person). Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant pull off the difficult task of using disability themes to poke fun at the main characters while avoiding any overtones of condescension or exploitation. It's reassuring to know that at least some in the media industry actually "get" disability issues. Some might argue that it would be nice to see disability-related comedy coming from people with disabilities themselves and I certainly agree with that sentiment. We need to keep working as a community to get our talent in front of and behind the camera. But in the meantime, I'm glad we have allies like Gervais and Merchant.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:07 PM | Comments (1)

February 05, 2007

Grand Theft Auto

While I'm always careful to ensure that my van is locked when left unattended, I don't spend much time worrying that it'll be jacked when I'm not looking. I guess I assume that car thieves and chop shops are more interested in Camrys and Pathfinders. Unfortunately for the UK parents of a boy with multiple disabilities, that assumption turned out to be false. Thieves brazenly stole the van while the family was at home and later torched it. Perhaps the publicity will help these poor people get a replacement vehicle, but all I can do is shake my head at the pointlessness of the whole thing.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)

February 04, 2007

Socializing

I visited a couple friends last night, both of whom have SMA. When you have more than two gimps in the same room, the atmosphere becomes something akin to a bunch of army buddies swapping war stories. We exchanged anecdotes regarding the eccentricities of past PCAs and nurses, remarked on the exorbitantly high prices of adapted minivans, and discussed when it's more appropriate to use "gimp" versus "cripple". There we all were, with our respective partners and/or care providers in attendance, whiling away an ordinary evening. But I wondered how ordinary we would seem to some passerby who happened to glance through the window.

I didn't have many friends with disabilities when I was growing up. I desperately wanted to assimilate with the able-bodied kids and not be clumped in with all the special-ed students in my school. When I think about the birthday parties I had as a kid, I don't remember inviting many peers with disabilities. Eventually, I got over myself, but some traces of guilt still remain for the way I may have ignored or mocked some of the kids with whom I grew up. And so when I was hanging out with my friends last night, I thought about how nice it would have been to have a circle of friends like this when I was struggling on a more daily basis with the insecurities of being a gimp in a world that is entirely too normal.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2007

Icebox

The next few days are going to be brutally cold around here. The kind of cold that seems almost nostalgic now. I rarely turn on the heat in my place because of the solar heat I receive through my many windows, but I turned it on last night. This kind of weather provokes a lot of griping about living here, but if this is the trade-off for all the things I love about Minnesota (glorious summers, quality health care, plenty of culture), I'll gladly grin and bear it.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

February 02, 2007

Behind The Times

After grazing some reviews of the new Vista OS, I remain underwhelmed. Aside from the fact that it has a shiny interface and...that's about it, isn't it? Not exactly a compelling reason to upgrade. I'm sure I'll be forced to upgrade at some point, but for now I'm happily chugging along in my XP-powered jalopy. We may be living in the waning days of OS relevancy, anyway. With so many web-based applications available to the average user, it may soon not matter what flavor of computer one is using. And perhaps we can then finally put an end to take Mac-vs-Windows-vs-Linux flame wars that have sucked up so much bandwidth and given so many geeks heartburn over the years.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:55 PM | Comments (0)

February 01, 2007

Dial It Down

I watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It's funny in a goofy, absurdist sort of way. Given the fact that the show is on an obscure cable channel late at night, I can easily forgive people for not recognizing a couple characters (the belligerent Mooninites) that are being used in a viral marketing campaign in several major American cities. I have a harder time understanding how an entire city can do the civic equivalent of shitting its pants over a what essentially are a bunch of Lite Brite displays. If the good people of Boston are freaked out by a tacky ad campaign, I fear that a real crisis might push the whole city into catatonia.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)