The Jottings of Jessie Lorenz

NBC Sports and Universal Sports to Broadcast 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Highlights

GE To Be Presenting Sponsor of NBC Sports and Universal Sports’ Broadcast of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. and NEW YORK– NBC Sports and Universal Sports announced today the multiplatform broadcast coverage of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games presented by GE. Coverage on NBC Sports will include a one-hour program recapping the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, March 13 (1-2 p.m. ET) and a two-hour highlights program on Saturday, April 10 (3-5 p.m. ET).

In addition to the coverage on NBC Sports, Universal Sports will broadcast a nightly two-hour show for nine straight nights dedicated to the daily competition of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games starting on Monday, March 15 at 6 p.m. ET (re-air at 11 p.m. ET) and continuing nightly through Tuesday, March 23.

Additionally, UniversalSports.com will offer on-demand re-airs of the Universal Sports television coverage, plus full-length event “rewinds.”

The official site of the U.S. Paralympic Team, www.usparalympics.org, will also offer daily video and news highlights of the competition from Vancouver.

“The extensive coverage on NBC Sports and Universal Sports helps to raise the awareness of the Paralympics by telling the stories of these remarkable athletes, and demonstrates NBC Universal’s commitment to the Olympic movement in the United States,” said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics.

The Paralympic Winter Games is an elite sporting event for accomplished athletic champions spanning five different physical disability groups. Emphasizing the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality, the Paralympic Winter Games showcase participants' athletic achievements rather than their physical disability in five sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, sled hockey and wheelchair curling. In Vancouver, a total of 600 athletes from approximately 40 countries will compete in these five sports.

Paralympic Broadcast Schedule on NBC Sports and Universal Sports:
(Note: All listed times are E.T.)

NBC Sports
Opening Ceremony highlights – Saturday, March 13, 1-2 p.m.
Paralympics recap – Saturday, April 10, 3-5 p.m.

Universal Sports
Monday, March 15 – Tuesday March 23, 7 p.m. (re-air at 11 p.m.)

Life through the lens of Asperger's Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:08:00 +0000

I have been reading House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Jacob, the oldest child in this book is diagnosed with Asperger's. The book tells the story of his life, including his incarsoration as a young adult. The story is fiction based loosly on fact.
Many people with Asperger's say they feel like they were born on The Wrong Planet
After reading this book I found myself asking, "Just what is normal after all?"

The American Psychiatric Association recently unveiled a plan to drop Asperger's disorder as a diagnosis in the DSM5, and the decision is getting mixed reviews from
people with the condition.

People With Asperger's Assess Their Place On The Autism Spectrum
Asperger's Diary | Psychology Today

Kaiser State Health Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:29:00 +0000

Statehealthfacts.org has recently added new and updated data on Demographics and the Economy, Health Status, Medicaid & CHIP, Medicare, Managed Care & Health Insurance, and HIV/AIDS. You can view a list of all recent updates at
Kaiser State Health Facts

What motivates you?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:51:00 +0000

After I harnessed Nacho up this morning he picked up his Jolly Ball and headed for the door.
I decided to let him take it to work. I carried the ball in my right hand and we played tug-ball on our way to the subway station. Dog and handler had a lot of fun!
Nacho was an unusually attentive worker this morning ignoring other dogs, babies and people who overtly flirt with him. Being a Seeing Eye Dog is a hard job.
Today Nacho reminded me that Work needs to be fun. Thanks Big N.

National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:19:00 +0000

This month, the National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights (NCRCR) launched a nationwide contest entitled 'What Does Equality Mean to You?'. The contest urges young people across the country to enter into dialogue on civil rights. "Equality has meant different things to different people, and those meanings have changed over time." said Marianne Engelman Lado, NCRCR Board Member. "We invite America's young people to share their perspectives and tell us what equality means to them."

Participants can submit either a written entry or a visual image such as a drawing, cartoon or photograph. The contest will run until April 12, 2010. Contest winners will receive prizes including a $500 cash award, and a trip for two to New York City. Entries will be judged by Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, comedian Margaret Cho, Congressman Keith Ellison (MN), Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY), and Benjamin Todd Jealous - President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). For contest details, please visit the website:
National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights

Finance's Next Opportunity: Social Investing -

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:32:00 +0000

For those who wish to be ahead of the curve:

Finance's Next Opportunity: Social Investing - The Conversation - Harvard Business Review

Find Free Tax Prep Help

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:03:00 +0000

Need help filing your taxes?
United Way and the IRS VITA program can help people file their taxes for free. Income guidelines apply- so read this information carefully to be sure you qualify.

Earn It! Keep It! Save It! - San Francisco County

Free Screenreader

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:49:00 +0000

This is the completely free screenreader from
ScreenReader.net: freedom for blind and Visually impaired people

Not a bad product particularly when you consider it is fre.

Wouldn't be my choice for use at work or in an educational setting, however products like Thunder help shrink the old digital divide.

Muni Raises Fares, Cuts Service Amid Vocal Protests - KCBS

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:59:00 +0000

MUNI fare increase hearing was amazing
yesterday. Overflow rooms; an actual ground swell of people with disabilities, youth and seniors testifying; and we've still got real problems.
Those who were very poor before the econamy tanked are even worse off now.
Less opportunity for work, higher perscription drug, elecgtric and food costs and the largest cuts to social service programs than we've seen in a lifetime.
A 10% service reduction doesn't solve MUNI's fiscal problems.
$10 a month in the pockets of seniors and people with disabilities goes more than a long way, it helps an ever growing number of people who are financially literally unable to feed and care for themselves.
This problem has gradually gotten worse and worse with reductions in social supports. Finally, people are yelling about it

Muni Raises Fares, Cuts Service Amid Vocal Protests - KCBS

MUNI Budget cuts- Don't forget to attend the hearing Friday, 9 a.m. SF City Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:13:00 +0000

IOC orders blogger to take down video - International Business Times -

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:52:00 +0000

IOC orders blogger to take down video - International Business Times -

Who is a journalist these days? The Lines have blurred.
I agreed to follow the following guidelines before traveling to Beijing to compete in the Paralympics.
By the time the Paralympics came to Beijing the USA press had pretty much split.
As a result, Blogs and Facebook were particularly meaningful for supporters back home.
I kept a blog while in China. It was blocked behind China's Firewall.
I had to post to blogger through Ping.fm due to the firewall.
***
IPC Blogging Guidelines for Persons Accredited
at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Like the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IPC considers blogging,
in accordance with these Guidelines, as a legitimate form of personal
expression and not as a form of journalism. Therefore, the IPC does not
consider that blogs by Accredited Persons, in accordance with these
Guidelines, will compromise Chapter 4.1. of the Accreditation and Sport
Entries at the Paralympic Games User’s Guide which states that “Only those
persons accredited as media may act as journalists, reporters or in any other
media capacity”.

Additionally, accredited persons at the Games must abide by the IPC
Handbook and related guidelines.

1. Definition of a Blog

A blog is a type of website where entries are made (such as in a journal or
diary), usually displayed in a reverse chronological order.

2. Personal Information

It is required that, when Accredited Persons at the Games post any
Paralympic Content, it be confined solely to their own personal Paralympic-
related experience. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, blogs of
Accredited Persons should take the form of a diary or journal and, in any
event, should not contain any interviews with, or stories about, other
Accredited Persons.

Accredited Persons should not disclose any information that is confidential
or private in relation to any third party including, without limitation,
information which may compromise the security, staging and organization of
the Games and, where relevant, the accredited persons’ respective team or
the privacy of any other Accredited Person.

In any event, blogs of Accredited Persons containing Paralympic Content
should at all times conform to the Paralympic values and the Paralympic
Spirit as contained in the IPC Handbook, and be dignified and in good taste.

3. No Sound or Moving Images of the Games

The dissemination of moving images of the Games through any media,
including display on the Internet, is a part of the IPC’s intellectual property
rights. No sound or moving images (including sequences of still photographs
which simulate moving images) of any Paralympic events, including sporting
action, Opening, Closing and Medal Ceremonies or other activities which
occur within any zone which requires an Paralympic Identity and
Accreditation Card (PIAC) or ticket for entry - eg, competition and practice
venues, Paralympic Village, Main Press Centre - (“Accredited Zones”) may
be made available, whether on a live or delayed basis, regardless of source.

4. Still Pictures

As a general rule, blogs by Accredited Persons containing Paralympic
Content must not include any still picture taken within Accredited Zones at
the Games. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Accredited Persons may feature

still pictures taken of themselves within Accredited Zones provided that
such pictures do not contain any sporting action of the Games or the
Opening, Closing or Medal Ceremonies of the Games. It is the Accredited
Persons’ responsibility to obtain the consent of other persons appearing in
any pictures which may featured in accordance with this Section.

5. Paralympic Marks

The Paralympic Symbol, the word “Paralympic” and other Paralympic
related words, including, but not limited to “Paralympic Games”,
“Paralympics” and “Paralympic Team(s)” and designs (the “Paralympic
Marks”) may be used solely for editorial purposes in conjunction with
Paralympic Content. Under no circumstances may the Paralympic Marks be
associated with any third party or any third party’s products or services in
any way that may give the impression that such third party or such third
party’s products or services have an official relationship with the IPC, the
Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games,
any National Paralympic Committee and/or the Paralympic Movement.

6. Advertising and Sponsorship

As a general rule, Accredited Persons must not include any commercial
reference in connection with any Paralympic Content posted on their blogs.
Specifically, this means that no advertising and/or sponsorship may be visible
on screen at the same time as Paralympic Content. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, advertising and/or sponsorship on the screen at the same time as
Paralympic Content is allowed only if it is an IPC Partner or a partner of the
respective NPC or Organizing Committee. Subject to the foregoing, any
advertising and/or sponsorship must not be intrusive (i.e. no pop-ups nor
expandable banners) and, in any event, must not take up more than 15 % of
the screen at any given time. In addition, the websites of BOCOG, other
Organizing Committees and the National Paralympic Committees, as well as
the websites of the official broadcast rights holders of the Games, may
contain advertising and sponsorship as permitted by the IPC.

Accredited Persons may not post Paralympic Content on the websites of
third parties, and should take all reasonable steps to stop third parties from
doing so, if there is any association being made between such third parties
or other advertising and/or sponsorship and, on the other hand, the
Paralympic Content.

7. No Exclusivity

Accredited Persons should not enter into any exclusive agreement with any
company with respect to the posting of any Paralympic Content. In this
regards, please also see the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Eligibility Code
that states:

• “I agree that all photographs and moving images taken by me at the
Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, including those of athletes competing within
any Paralympic venues, shall be used solely for personal and non-commercial
purposes, unless prior written consent is obtained from the IPC.”

• “I am agreeing to not allowing my image and/or name in relation to my
sport performance(s) during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games to be
exploited by third parties for commercial purposes without prior approval by
the IPC”.

8. Domain Names/URLs/Page Naming

Domain Names including the word “Paralympic” or “Paralympics” or similar
are not permitted (eg, [myname]paralympic.com would not be permitted
while [myname].com/paralympic would be allowed but only during the period
in which these Guidelines are applicable).

9. Links

In order to facilitate access to pertinent Paralympic information, Accredited
Persons posting Paralympic content pursuant to these guidelines are
encouraged to “link” their blogs to various official Paralympic websites
including, where relevant, the website of the accredited persons’ respective
Paralympic Team or NPC. Useful addresses include: www.paralympic.org –
the official website of the International Paralympic Committee,
www.paralympicsport.tv and www.beijing2008.com – the official website of
the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

10. Liability

It is brought to your attention that, when Accredited Persons choose to go
public with their opinions on a blog, they are responsible for their
commentary. Bloggers can be held personally liable for any commentary
deemed to be defamatory, obscene or proprietary. In essence, bloggers

post their blogs at their own risk and they should make it clear that the views
expressed are their own.

11. Responsibility and Further Restrictions

BOCOG, the National Paralympic Committees, the International Federations
and other entities present at the Games (eg, media and sponsors) are in
charge of ensuring that their respective delegations (i.e. those persons to
whom they grant accreditation to the Games) are informed of the content of
these Guidelines and agree to fully comply with them. The above-mentioned
entities may also impose upon their respective delegations more restrictive
blogging guidelines relating to the Games.

Letters to the International Herald Tribune - Respect for Disabled Athletes - NYTimes.com

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:33:00 +0000

"The two Games ought to be combined into one four-week long event..."
Letters to the International Herald Tribune - Respect for Disabled Athletes - NYTimes.com: "The two Games ought to be combined into one four-week long event"

Searching for Saddam: A five-part series on how social networking led to the capture the Iraqi dictator. - By Chris Wilson - Slate Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:29:00 +0000

Wow!
Searching for Saddam: A five-part series on how social networking led to the capture the Iraqi dictator. - By Chris Wilson - Slate Magazine

Meta Conversations

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:16:00 +0000

I just heard
this Great TBOOK program on aging
The speaker articulated something I have been thinking about, the meta-data or meta-conversations we have with one another. I've noticed that when I feel happy and smile at people they often reflect that back to me.
On a primal level our lymbic systems are reflexivly drawn to happy people. Sounds logical?
Science proves it.
I recently read the following Harvard Business Review article by Daniel Goleman on emotional intelligence and leadership.

Social Intelligence and the Biology of Leadership - Harvard Business Review
"The authors describe how the brain's mirror neurons enable a person to reproduce the emotions she detects in others and, thereby, have an instant sense of shared experience. Other social neurons include spindle cells, which allow people to quickly choose the best way to respond to someone, and oscillators, which synchronize people's physical movements."

Not only do we respond to the emotions of others, we also remember them in meta-terms.
As my friend Will's Facebook status said last week, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~WRS"

This statement is more than just sound advise.

(The second half of the TBOOK Radeo Program linked to above is about Dogs and American culture. Worth a listen.)

Today I learned that I was born in the year of the Horse

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:32:00 +0000

Zodiac Origin - There are many legends to explain the beginning of the 12 Zodiac animal signs, in order, they are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The rat was given the task of inviting the animals to report to the Jade Emperor for a banquet to be selected for the zodiac signs.

The cat and the rat were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. They decided to cross the river by hopping on the back of the ox. The ox agreed. The rat thought, in order to win, must do something, it pushed the cat into the river. Because of this the cat has never forgiven the rat and hates the water as well. After the ox had crossed the river, the rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first, and it claimed first place in the competition.

The strong ox was named the 2nd animal in the zodiac. After the ox, came the tiger, explaining to the Jade Emperor how difficult to cross the river, with powerful strength, it made to shore against the heavy currents, was named the 3rd animal in the cycle.

Rabbit arrived with a thumping sound from a distance, explained how it crossed the river by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble way, almost lost the race but lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. It became the 4th animal in the zodiac cycle.

The dragon came flying in the 5th place. Jade Emperor was curious why a strong and flying creature should fail to reach first. The mighty dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth and he saw a little helpless rabbit clinging onto a log so he gave a puff of breath to the poor creature to land on the shore. The Emperor was very pleased and added the dragon into the zodiac cycle. Then the horse appeared with a galloping sound. Hidden on the horse’s hoof is the snake, whose sudden appearance gave the horse a fright, thus making it fall back and giving the snake the 6th spot, while the horse placed 7th.

Then the sheep, monkey and rooster came to the shore. They helped each other to get to where they are. The rooster spotted craft and took the other two animals with it. Together, the goat and the monkey cleared the weeds, tugged and pulled and finally got the raft to the shore. The Emperor was very pleased with their combined effort and named the goat as the 8th creature, the monkey the 9th and the rooster the 10th.

The 11th animal is the dog. Although he was supposed to be the best swimmer amongst the rest, as he needed a good bath after a long spell and the fresh water in the river was too big a temptation. For that, he almost didn’t make it to finish line.

Just as the Jade Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little pig who got hungry during the race and stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After the nap, the pig continued the race and was name the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle. The cat finished too late (13th) to win any place in the calendar and vowed to be the enemy of the rat for evermore.
» The 12 Chinese zodiac animals II ShangNing.net

Stan Gets It?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:39:00 +0000

I like this SouthPark clip.
We live in a world in which racism and other forms of bias continue to affect us.
How can we best prepare children to meet the challenges and reap the benefits of the increasingly diverse world they will inherit? We can raise children to celebrate and value diversity and to be proud of themselves and their family traditions. We can teach children to respect and value people regardless of the color of their skin, their physical abilities, or the language they speak.
My own experience has taught me that the people who, "Get it," the best are those who recognize that they probably will never really get it.

Stan Gets It? - Clips - South Park Studios

3DTV Will Make You Go Blind

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:09:00 +0000

Now it's my turn to weigh in on the buzz around 3DTV and blindness.
People fear blindness.
Fear rather than science is why news stories like these often get top billing.
A need for more research, particularly in children, is certainly needed, and that said, there is a lot more hype here than science.
Science has shown us that our brains are very adaptible. The likelyhood of Developing permanent vision loss from 3DTV is doubtable.
Your brain will learn the difference between visual data with 3D glasses on and will adjust your visual perception when you have them off. I've had my brain studied in an FMRI machine and I learned a lot from that experience. Like many folks with vision loss my visual cortex lights up when I read and write braille.
This doesn't mean that my brain is special- it simply means that our brains are smart enough to wire themselves for optimal performance.

ThoughI am in favor of building a stronger political base of people with disabilities, I just don't see this one panning out. :)
Take it from me, being blind isn't so bad. Being blind is also not about darkness and light.
The fact is, when you close your eyes or put on a blindfold you are not, "putting yourself in my shues."
My brain has learned to respond to the environment around me in ways that maximize my ability to take in information in various forms.
Your brain does this as well.

I am humbled by this amazing computer, the gray one that lives between our ears.

BOL Podcast- 3D Will Make You Go Blind

I love watching our female athletes win

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:55:00 +0000

I must admit, I was a little annoyed with all the press coverage of Lindsey's hurt knee.
Even so, I love watching our ladies win! Go Team USA!

Breaking News

Wholesale App Store- Is there an ap for that?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:08:00 +0000

Wow, according to this article there are 75 million iPhone users and the App store has 99.4% of the mobile software market.

Carriers, Manufacturers Buddy Up for a Wholesale App Store | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

Chinese New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:41:00 +0000

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese Lunar calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival, similar to Valentine’s day in the West. Chinese New Year's Eve is called Chúxī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions.
Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. In western world Chinese New Year is becoming a more popular event for cerebration in many contries and communities.
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will range from pigs, to ducks, to chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

Chinese New Year

It's all about the journey!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:47:00 +0000

I love telling people about Mobility International USA (MIUSA) because my 1998 trip to Costa Rica changed how I think about myself. It was great!
I love MIUSA! I have been involved with the organization since 1998 when I traveled to Costa Rica for an exchange trip with a group of young people with disabilities.
We lived in Costa Rica for 31 days. While I was there I was expected to do a job to help my MIUSA group function better.
I was the attendant for a woman who couldn't walk. Her name is Kerri.
Kerri and I lived with a Costa Rican family. You know what Kerri's job was? She was my guide.
Sometimes we went out together without anyone else and the Costa Ricans would literally just flock around us and lift her wheelchair off of curbs and up onto the sidewalk on the other side. (Yes, they let us out alone. LOL)
Next someone else would guide me back over to my friend. Talk about an amazing adventure.
Another time my deaf friend and I went to buy a deck of playing cards. Between my limited spanish, my friend's gestures and quite a lot of busseling about we managed to purchase playing cards. It took us over 30 minutes to communicate effectivly with the store clerk.
My friend Frank and I put braille on the deck of cards.
Later that night our friend Julie beat everyone at 5 card draw.

My Costa Rica exchange was Tons of fun. I made life-long friends.
+We all got to practice our Spanish!

Another Costa Rica Exchange trip is planned for summer 2010. Please encourage cool young people to apply!

U.S./Costa Rica: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
on Disability Rights Leadership Exchange Program
June 16 - July 1, 2010
San Jose, Costa Rica!

Check out the web site:— Mobility International USA - MIUSA

The Atlantic Online | June 2009 | What Makes Us Happy? | Joshua Wolf Shenk

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:55:00 +0000

Most psychology preoccupies itself with mapping the heavens of health in sharp contrast to the underworld of illness. “Social anxiety disorder” is distinguished from shyness. Depression is defined as errors in cognition. Vaillant’s work, in contrast, creates a refreshing conversation about health and illness as weather patterns in a common space. “Much of what is labeled mental illness,” Vaillant writes, “simply reflects our ‘unwise’ deployment of defense mechanisms. If we use defenses well, we are deemed mentally healthy, conscientious, funny, creative, and altruistic. If we use them badly, the psychiatrist diagnoses us ill, our neighbors label us unpleasant, and society brands us immoral.”

The Atlantic Online | June 2009 | What Makes Us Happy? | Joshua Wolf Shenk

Great Budget Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:21:00 +0000

Budgets are about values and choices. And this one offers voters a particularly stark choice.

http://californiabudgetbites.org/

Landmark collaboration with blind community -- Major League Baseball agrees to make all websites accessible to people with visual impairments

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:42:00 +0000

FANS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS GAIN ENHANCED ACCESS TO MLB.COM

NEW YORK, February 11, 2010 – Baseball fans with visual impairments will benefit from the implementation of functional improvements to MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and all 30 individual Club sites as a result of a joint collaboration between MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the American Council of the Blind, Bay State Council of the Blind and California Council of the Blind. All three organizations applaud this fan initiative taken by MLBAM.

“MLBAM has undertaken groundbreaking work to make its web sites accessible and has assumed a strong leadership position among sports, media and entertainment properties in doing so,” said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind. “We certainly urge similar sites to make this level of commitment in following MLBAM’s lead.”

As part of its initiative, MLB.com launched an accessible media center for its MLB.com Gameday Audio™ subscribers, offering features such as volume control, ability to choose the home or away feed and access to archived games. Additionally, MLB.com has ensured that fans with visual impairments can continue to participate in the annual online voting programs associated with the All-Star Game and will be providing an accessibility page on its site detailing information on accessibility, usability tips and customer service resources. As it continues to deliver technological innovations for following baseball games, MLB.com will make additional accessibility enhancements available to fans with visual impairments.

Brian Charlson, a Boston baseball fan and Director of Computer Training Services at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts, described how MLB.com’s accessibility efforts have improved his enjoyment of the game: “As a member of the blind community, the kind of changes MLB.com was willing to make on its web sites keeps me coming back for more. It shows how much can be done when people with disabilities find willing partners. For example, with the changes in Gameday Audio, I find myself enjoying switching back and forth between the home and away broadcasters the same way my sighted friends do. And knowing my votes were counted in this year’s All-Star balloting made listening to the game much more meaningful. I’m excited about what MLB.com has done and about its commitment to further improvements.”

MLB.com utilized guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The web content accessibility guidelines are of particular benefit to blind baseball fans who use a screen reader, through which information on a page is read aloud, or magnification technology on their computers and who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.

About MLBAM
Established in June 2000 following a unanimous vote by the 30 Major League Baseball club owners to centralize all of Baseball’s Internet operations, MLB Advanced Media LP (MLBAM) is the interactive media and internet company of Major League Baseball. MLBAM manages the official league site, www.MLB.com,and each of the 30 individual Club sites to create the most comprehensive Major League Baseball resource on the Internet. MLB.com offers fans the most complete baseball information and interactivity on the web, including up-to-date statistics, game previews and summaries, extensive historical information, online ticket sales, baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles, fantasy games, live full-game video webcasts and on-demand highlights, live and archived audio broadcasts of every game, Gameday pitch-by-pitch application, around-the-clock hosted and specialty video programming and complete blogging capabilities. MLB.com offers more live events on the Internet than any other website in the world.

Defending Our Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Jessie) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:47:00 +0000

Defending Our Freedom