You see, I really blame capitalism itself. In this particular instance, voice recognition technology for writers, it is the system that has failed. Yes, competition is a splendid thing. And there has been quite a bit of the latter in this field. And where has it gotten us?  ”Us” being disabled writers. The technology has advanced splendidly. The market narrowly. Oh, it’s a boring story, but I seem to be specializing in boring stories these days. So bear with me, if you wish, or don’t Read more [...]

I tell people that I believe in the Urban Project. And this is true enough. It is true enough for me to eternally delight in San Francisco. And, in fact, that delight has geographically expanded. It has had to. Enjoying the center of town is quite difficult. In fact, the very concept of center has shifted. Banking. High-tech corporate headquarters. Those things that used to center our center, well, they just aren’t there anymore. They aren’t there anymore than the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange. Read more [...]

Spoiler alert. I am about to vent about a very first-world problem. Which is a way of saying that this “problem” is shared by absolutely minuscule numbers of persons around the world. Although, truth be told, we are an extremely vocal minority. Writers mouth off and kvetch like no oppressed minority ever has. So, if you have something better to do, like sort out your sock drawer, you might want to move on. OK? I warned you. I can’t find a publisher. I have done, or think I have done, all Read more [...]

Everyone seems to have had a go at Leanora, first Beethoven, then Giuseppe Verdi. I was making this little joke on the brink of Il Trovatore, having brunch with my opera composer friend Stephen. And the other little joke, not that it was intended as funny, more a light observation, involved seating. Normally I roll my wheelchair into a space in row S. But not this time. Suggest we get to the Opera House early, I told Stephen. I explained about the transfer from wheelchair to the conventional seat. Read more [...]

Let me first report, with something bordering on joy, that this has been a good bladder day. Close on the heels of which I must admit that it is, as always, a bad Apple Dictate day. The word in the above line, bladder, being first recognized by the supposed voice recognition engine as “latter.” As in the latter day Saints. Which go marching in, or probably not, because those marchers are distinctly not white, and the latter day variety distantly are. And incredibly, there was yet another voice Read more [...]

One thing about living with so pervasive and persistent a thing as lifelong paralysis…you tell yourself, nothing more. This thing that you have and is already bad enough, will do. You don’t want another malady. In fact, you won’t put up with another malady. In reality, you know you may have to endure something else, but still the magical thinking bends in the direction of this is it. I have had my measure of bad karma. No more will come my way. Wrong. Because what you forget is time’s Read more [...]