Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Taking the Road

Wonderful article on taking F.A. Hayek’s Road.

Extremely valid points on government intervention and centeral planning being the real underlying causes for the financial crisus.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Sunday, November 23, 2008

An Apple A Day?

I have been studying and reading up on VoiceOver, the built in screen reader for Apple’s Leopard OS, and I am hopeful that this will be another blow in the battle for reasonable prices for adaptive equipment, particularly in the realm of screen reader software. JAWS costs from $900 to $1100, and even the outstanding and much more reasonably priced System Access is still $499. This is quite reasonable in the field, but the question in my mind is- just how good does a screen reader need to be to make up the difference between free and $499 or $1100? I would suggest good, but not amazingly good. Apple’s VoiceOver is, however, excellent. One can use a large number of braille displays right out of the box, and VO seems to work with the majority of programs needed on a computer very well. VO also seems to have the backing of Apple to become even better. As VO progresses I strongly question the ability of At company’s to continually improve their products to the point where hundreds of dollars are justified, rather then simply buying an Apple.

Granted all of this is probably still years in the future, but if things progress as they have been I wonder if it isn’t a matter of five years as opposed to ten or fifteen. I certainly hope so.

I follow with the iced coffee…

Apple’s Accessibility Site

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Braille and podcasting

Well I am finally useing my refreshable Braille display again. I have let my Braille lapse, particularly over the past few months, and am attempting to gain regular useage again through the use of the display- the thought being that some use daily, no matter how small, is better then none. I am fairly pleased, and hope to continue the use. I will post updates here weekly as to how much I use the display to determine how the experiment progresses.

I am also learning how to create a podcast. Anyone who knows me knows I am passionate about adaptive technology, and thus through the suggestion of a friend I have determined to give producing a podcast a go. The focus will mostly focus on AT, though anything related to blindness or my wims may be included. I hope it will provide another point of view in a field (that of podcasts related to blindness) which seems to be rather empty of regular updates. The excellent work of the folks at Serotalk being a pleasant exception to this rule.

Also I found this article on what Christian inclusivness looks like. Good stuff.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Blue Environmentalism

A couple of great articles on blue environmentalism, here and here.

Also an excellent speech on the importance of basing environmentalism on science rather then religion.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Prop 8 Protest video

Linked to this article is some of the coverage of the prop 8 protest. One of the reporters note alot of anger and hatred on both sides. Oh? I noticed alot of anger and hatred alright, but only on one side. Disagreeing with a lifestyle choice and useing one's constitutional right to proclaim that disagreement does not constitute hatred and anger regardless of what the media proclaims.

I follow with the iced coffee...

On Free Markets

A great quote from Milton Friedman in this article about how some don't like free markets because free markets give people what they want rather then what some group thinks they should want.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Pruning the Party

An outstanding article about the need for Republicans to reclaim their roots.

Also some excellent thoughts on what went wrong with the Republicans over the past few years here.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Monday, November 10, 2008

Free Trade Thoughts

Some good thoughts on free trade from Cato.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

A Prayer for Election Day

Below is my prayer, both for today and everyday where the government is concerned. Although it is written for parliament the jist is proper for any government.

Almighty God, by whom alone kings reign and princes decree justice, and from whom alone cometh all counsel, wisdom, and understanding; We, thine unworthy servants, here gathered together in thy Name, do most humbly beseech thee to send down thy heavenly wisdom from above, to direct and guide us in all our consultations; and grant that, we having thy fear always before our eyes, and laying aside all private interests, prejudices, and partial affections, the result of all our counsels may be the glory of thy blessed name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, the safety, honor, and happiness of the Queen, the public welfare, peace, and tranquillity of the realm, and the uniting and knitting together of the hearts of all persons and estates within the same, in true Christian love and charity one toward another, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Monday, November 3, 2008

Thoughts on Greed

Outstanding thoughts from Milton Friedman on greed.

I follow with the iced coffee...

Apple verses PC

Found these great commercials and wanted to share them.

Anti-Mac
Mac verses PC

I follow with the iced coffee...