A character of Jack Thompson was made using the character creation tool in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon and was posted online for everyone to create and use in the game. While some people might consider this an honour, Jack doesn’t seem too keen on the idea.
TRIPIL recently completed a survey of most of the polling places in Washington County (141 of 180, as provided by the Board of Elections). Surveys were done by a variety of staff people. Nonetheless, the results, which are terrible, are the subject of an article in the Observer-Reporter this weekend. It’s the front page of the Sunday paper.
From the Observer Reporter
by Barbara Miller
A group of activists for the disabled surveyed 75 percent of Washington County’s 185 polling places and determined more than half of them are not accessible to voters who use wheelchairs or walkers.
Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living tackled Washington in advance of the Nov. 7 general election, and intends to do a similar survey of Greene County before the 2007 primary.
TRIPIL members estimated that about one-third of the polls they deemed inaccessible could be made accessible with minor renovations.
But the group’s survey indicates that 45 polling places are “very inaccessible” and could not be modified before Election Day.
“It doesn’t cost that much to put a bloody, blooming ramp in a front stoop,” said Bob Romero, 55, membership director for TRIPIL, who was born without arms.
One of the aims of the Help America Vote Act was to make the voting process more accessible to the disabled. Even while Washington County hoped to retain its punch-card voting system, it planned to purchase 185 touch-screen devices with headsets to allow the blind to vote.
The county learned late last year that punch cards were going the way of the dinosaur and decided to take advantage of federal HAVA grants to purchase 700 Diebold TSx touch-screen devices so all voters could use them. The devices made their debut in the May 16 primary.
Larry Spahr, county elections director, who completed a survey of polling places required annually by the state, deemed 177 of the county’s polling places accessible to the disabled and elderly, many more than TRIPIL later counted.
Spahr learned of TRIPIL’s project over the summer and said he encouraged members to assess polls from their perspective and submit a report.
But identifying problems won’t automatically result in a substitution.
“There are some areas that we’re limited to the structures that are available,” Spahr said.
Cathy Ennis, spokeswoman for the Department of State in Harrisburg, said the official survey conducted by elections offices is required if counties request reimbursement for improvements made to polling places to make them more accessible.
In addition to voting with an alternative ballot, disabled voters can request reassignment to a more accessible poll, Spahr said.
“We are not advocating absentee voting,” said Mike Matthews, 25, who worked on the polling-place survey and met with Spahr about the results. “We miss those who are handing out campaign literature at the polls, and we want people to make their presence visible.”
Matthews has cerebral palsy and does not use special equipment to get around. He has accompanied his uncle, Thomas Matthews Jr., who uses a wheelchair, to the polls for many years.
“At times, it has deterred him from voting,” Matthews said of his uncle.
Among the features TRIPIL looked for — the same as listed on the state survey — were designated parking for disabled voters, a route from a parking space that is at least 36 inches wide, curb cuts or curb ramps, gentle slopes, ramps with handrails and barrier-free routes from entrances to voting machines.
Standard door knobs, according to a state survey form, are not considered acceptable, as are thresholds or door sills one-half inch or greater.
“The churches in Donora, Mother of Mary, help us,” Romero said, calling the path to the polling places in the Mon Valley borough “brutal.”
Romero and Matthews plan to present their data to the county commissioners because taxpayers’ money is used to rent polling places that are not public buildings. The rent varies, Spahr said. Some landlords ask that the county cover utility bills. Others request reimbursement for janitorial services. Spahr estimated the average rent at $60.
While he did not have information about every site listed by TRIPIL, Spahr said although the room used for voting at the Iceoplex in Cecil Township can be reached by descending a staircase, there is second entrance at ground level.
Linell Mankey, librarian at the Chartiers-Houston Community Library since January, agreed with TRIPIL’s assessment that the library has no designated parking for the disabled, and that the doors are “cumbersome.” Although not listed on the TRIPIL survey, Mankey said the library’s lot is gravel, not paved.
The library has been used as a polling place for years.
“They have a valid point,” Mankey said of the survey. “It’s not something you think about unless it affects you.
“We are actively pursuing grants to get doors that are handicapped-accessible, just for convenience. Our doors are energy inefficient. We want doors that really seal.”
Matthews is looking forward to conducting a similar survey in Greene and Fayette counties.
“I’m passionate about getting people to vote,” he said. “Too many issues affect us on the state and federal level for us not to vote.”
While not advocating any candidate or party, TRIPIL is encouraging its 200-plus members to go to the polls Nov. 7 through a mail and phone effort.
“We want them to go like everybody else,” Romero said. “We want equal access to voting like every other American. I don’t want our colleagues to be isolated. Not everyone has power chairs.”
From thesimpsons.com you can create your own treehouse of horror trailer. The site is done in flash so all you have to do is follow the directions provided to create your own masterpiece. It’s pretty much drag and drop and fillling in some text with cool transitions. Check it out!
from darren murph at engadget
Ever since these newfangled RFID e-passports hit the mainstream, understandable concerns have frequently surfaced regarding the security (or lack thereof) involved. The Dutch version has already been cracked, Germans can clone theirs, and Ireland’s doesn’t even have a protective sheath to keep its data safe from unauthorized readers; now it appears that you have one more reason to stick with the ole laminated paper version, as security researchers have released “proof-of-contact code that they say enables an attacker to read the passport number, date of birth, and passport expiration date.” The flaw was unveiled by Adam Laurie — a well-respected watchman of Bluetooth security weaknesses — in his “Bugtraq” newsletter, but no specifics were reported regarding how evildoers could extract such precious information and subsequently steal your identity. Nevertheless, those RFID-shielding manufacturers must be licking their chops right about now, and rightfully so.
Xbox 360 - Dead Rising and Standard Definition TV (SDTV)
XBox 360
Through a rather pleasant turn of events, I found myself in possession of an XBox 360. Wasn’t in the market for a next-gen console, but I have been impressed by the demo’s and graphical capabilities as I perused electronics bigbox shops.
I wasn’t looking much at all, until I saw Dead Rising.
Dead Rising
I’ve been a longtime fan of zombie movies, particularly Dawn of the Dead. It takes place in a mall…outside of Pittsburgh. Perfect!
The game, from demos I saw, looked like everything I wanted. It boasts a fully interactive enviornment, a tight plot and YOU GET TO KILL ZOMBIES IN THE MALL!!!! I don’t feel like getting into details, others have…check out their opinions.
SDTV?
Before I received the console, or purchased the game… I heard terrible stories about playing the game on SDTV. Apparently the text is illegible on non-HDTV sets. Well, this made me very nervous since this was the main reason behind my wife and I wanting to play. Nonetheless, we ventured to EBgames and asked them. They replied it was small, and sometimes unreadable, but not a big deal. With apprehension, we bought the game
Upon getting home I was tempted to use the newer SDTV in our house, on the first floor. It’s flatscreen CRT, 16:9, has multiple component connections, and other ‘tweak modes’. Well, I decided to try the cheap Panasonic TV upstairs first. The TV is over 6 years old and was a mid-range set when sold. Oh yeah, it’s 27″.
So plugged in the Component video…and surprise..HIGHLY playable. The text sometimes requires me to sit up in bed (OMG NO!!!!) and lean forward…but it’s readable. I’m over 25…well over, and the TV isn’t HD or large… it works. Could it be better? Yes. Should Capcom issue a patch…probably…just for PR sake…but it’s not really absolutely necessary. It would be nice…but as picky as I am, I will live.
So, if you’re like me…and debating buying the game or console because you ‘only’ have SDTV…DO IT!!!
HAHAHAHAHA
In an interview with the Bucks County Courier Times, embattled Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has equated the war in Iraq with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” According to the paper, Santorum said that the United States has avoided terrorists attacks at home over the last five years because the “Eye of Mordor” has been focused on Iraq.
Scott Wade paints images on the heavy dust coating his rear window. Very Cool.
Google Inc. said Monday it’s buying No. 1 Internet video sharing Web site YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion in stock. The deal is regarded as a largely defensive one that leapfrogs Google into a leading role in a burgeoning Internet marketplace
Here’s something men are good at: dropping dead of heart disease. Every year, cardiovascular problems cause nearly half of U.S. male deaths–a third of them by complete surprise. Don’t follow that pack. Every year scientists discover new ways men can protect their hearts–from steps you can take to avoid problems, to drugs and gadgets…
Baader-Meinhof is the phenomenon where one happens upon some obscure piece of information
– often an unfamiliar word or name– and soon afterwards encounters the same subject again, often repeatedly. Anytime the phrase “That’s so weird, I just heard about that the other day” would be appropriate, the utterer is hip-deep in Baader-Meinhof.
The Moller M400 is the funky looking Skycar developed by Moller International Inc. and promised to be the next big thing for commuters tired of increasing traffic congestion. In order to relieve some debt pressure the company is putting a prototype up on eBay next week.
I’ve been too busy to post much and there’s much to say. I’m working with a Cingular 8125 and Xpress Mail, and other pushtechnology, new mac stuff, new work stuff, new tech stuff, pics of dogs, video etc… unfortunately, there isn’t time right now.
Ever since the last ADAPT action things have been busy with new staff @work, dr appointments, end-of-fiscal-year,winter prep…so I’m going to get a handle on some things, write down some blog ideas…and hopefully write this weekend.
from digg: A new study by the US Air Force has suggested a cheaper method of sending satellites (possibly missile weapons) into orbit. A ring of superconducting magnets would contain and propel a payload, accelerating it over a period of hours, before suddenly powering down the magnets and flinging the satellite into space at 23 times the speed of sound.
I thought this was interesting…so I snagged it from engadget.
from Engdget by Darren Murph
from digg and the NYTimes:
The U.S. government is seeking to develop a powerful ground-based laser weapon that would use beams of concentrated light to destroy enemy satellites in orbit. The largely secret project is part of a wide-ranging effort to develop space both defensive and offensive. The White House has recently sought to play down the issue of space arms.
I’m not sure how I feel about the post below . It seems a little elitist…and in a couple area, just incorrect. But it’s a pretty good primer I guess.
from digg:
“I have spent years studying the nuances of Japanese formal dining have learned many of the rules for eating sushi in a traditional restaurant. That said, there really are no absolute requirements, other than general politeness, there are certain behaviours that may make your dining experience more pleasant…”