Author: stevekuusisto

Poet, Essayist, Blogger, Journalist, Memoirist, Disability Rights Advocate, Public Speaker, Professor, Syracuse University

Random Thoughts

I was watching "Meet the Press" today and a group of Democratic strategists squared off against their Republican counterparts. They were talking about the ’08 election and what emerged most distinctly for me was a curious sense that both parties are looking for a way to run on the status quo but without saying so. What this means is that what will "really happen" is that we will stay in Iraq for a long time to come. We will likely continue to privatize every single governmental program we can think of. We will fail the nation on health care reform. We will do these things while pretending it’s the other guys fault.

I wish I felt better about this political season. I said earlier on this blog that I think the wrong guy from "Law and Order" is talking about running. I want Jack McCoy in the White House. And I think "Ice T" should be the VP.

It’s hard these days to remember, but even Nixon played the piano and had some occasional charm. Who amongst these candidates has a little charm? I’d like to see all these candidates play the bongos like Richard Feinman and recite improv poetry instead of having more of these dishwater dull debates.

A guide dog can dream can’t he?

S.K.

Why Ask Why?

When I was a teenager I wanted very much to join the Navy. There was a problem though: the Navy didn’t have any proven need for blind sailors. I was genuinely disappointed by this and so I took up anorexia and by the time I went to college I weighed 102 pounds. On the bright side, I was a very fast 102 pounds and I was able to outpace a University of New Hampshire hockey player in a long distance run. On the dark side, I ran faster than the hockey player but I also ran into a fence. 

Nowadays I counsel everyone I meet to avoid the kind of behavior I once engaged in. But I still have these wild moments. I climb on top of rickety chairs to reach an upper shelf just because I thrill inwardly to the possibility of something orthopedic and dreadful. Women like to call this kind of behavior "testosterone poisoning" but they have it too.

I don’t know what I will do today that will be reckless, but it’s sure to be self evident to others. "Look Mommy, that man over there is trying to catch a bumble bee with his arm pit!"

Or something like that.

S.K.

Must See TV

UPDATE to post below:

[with]tv: a television channel of, by, and for people with disabilities….and everyone else

Here is a link to this brand new blog as well as a request to sign this guest book
as a show of support.  (Tell ’em the Kuusisto’s sent you!)  But there
is more to be done.  We encourage you to continue following links to
learn more. 

Join us in this effort won’t you?  Help us spread the word…

Happy Blogging!

~ Connie

Original post:

Once again, we need to thank Scott Lissner, ADA Coordinator at The Ohio State University for passing this along to us.  (Scott, I don’t suppose we could talk you into being a contributor to this blog could we?)

Are you someone who lives with a disability?  Are you a friend or family member of someone who lives with a disability?  Do you or have you ever provided service to a person with a disability?  The chances are very good that your answer is YES to any or all of these questions. 

Since I can say YES to any or all of these questions the following letter, forwarded to us by Scott, caught my attention.  I decided to write to Mr. Howard Renensland and ask for permission to copy his letter in a post on our blog.  My inquiry was answered with in a couple of hours and to my delight, we had a warm exchange and well, who knows where this might lead.  I’m hoping it will pique your curiosity as it did mine because Howard and his team (including Scott Rains of the Rolling Rains Report!) are looking to spread the word and garner support.  I’ve got a few ideas already.  Steve and I are ready to roll up our sleeves.  How ’bout some of the rest of you?  You know who you are!  Monica, Scott, Lance, Penny, Kay, Amanda, David, Kathryn, Ed (of Project 3000), Bill , Rod , Georgia…Georgia, you need a blog…

Oh, I could go on and on but for now, I’d like to introduce to you Mr. Howard Renensland…

~ Connie

http://www.with-tv.com/
From: Howard Renensland Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 9:32 AM
Subject: [with]tv

May 23, 2007

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Howard Renensland, CEO & Founder of [with]tv, a television channel of, by, and for people with disabilities…and everyone else.

On August 13, 1984 a wonderful event took place. My daughter Victoria, a person with a disability, was born. Watching her grow over the past 23 years and advocating with her for her inclusion has helped me to understand that the single most debilitating factor that limits people with disabilities is not their disability, but their image in and access to mainstream media, where their needs and participation as consumers and employees are almost totally absent and neglected. When profiled, they remain objects of extreme pity or extreme inspiration for those without disabilities. This image is not one of their choosing, but it is what sticks in the minds of the people. As long as others define you, you do not exist.

As I write this letter, there is no mainstream television channel in the world addressing the needs of and targeting people with disabilities as consumers, participants, and viewers. Today we correct that by creating [with]tv, an inclusive media outlet that defines all people by their talents and the quality of their stories, rather than by disability; a place where Victoria and everyone else with a disability can work in a universally designed workplace with a welcoming, inclusive workforce.

People with disabilities have a global need as individuals and as a community for access to information, employment, artistic expression and control of their image. [with]tv will provide all people with disabilities and their advocates a constant mainstream media voice where all issues important to the community can be explored and highlighted in news, information, reality, sport, dramatic and comedic programs. Furthermore, the need extends beyond people with disabilities. The disability community is a grossly underutilized source of talent and market-share for companies, making[with]tva win-win solution for individuals, society, and business.

Please be kind enough to visit our preliminary web site http://www.with-tv.com/. There you will find our Mission Statement and Statement of Purpose on our Home Page. Under Investor you will find our Business Plans Executive Summary, a copy of which I will attach here. You will also find our April Update, which will highlight our recent progress.

Howard Renensland         
President & Founder
[with]tv
P. O. Box 685                                       
Wilton, Connecticut, 06897                              
http://with-tv.com 
mailto:hrenensland@with-tv.com

Book Signing Update: Running for their Lives

Two years ago now Steve and I were each struggling with knee
injuries while training for a "Train to End Stroke" marathon.  Thanks
to many of you, we managed to raise a total of ten thousand dollars and
although disappointed to not be able to run 26.2 miles because of
complaining knees, we did each run and complete the Kona, Hawaii half
marathon. 

That’s how we met Karl Gruber.  He sold us sneakers.  Several pairs
as I recall.  Karl is an expert when it comes to sneakers, and for good
reason.  Having run 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise funds and awareness to fight Leukemia, he’s probably spent a small fortune on his own sneakers.Running

We’re pleased to inform you that Karl has written a book about his experience called "Running For Their Lives"

"The text tells the story of Gruber, a marathon runner from Hide-A-Way
Hills, Ohio, who left his home and job to travel across North America
and participated in fifty-two grueling marathons within fifty-two
weeks. Calling the tour a “Super Run for the Cure”, Gruber did it all
to raise money and awareness regarding leukemia research. From TV to
radio and print media interviews, Gruber worked tirelessly and
religiously to inspire as many people as he could in one of the most
amazing displays of heroism by an athlete."

Congratulations
Karl.  We’re proud to say we know ya.  What?  You say your first book
signing is on Sunday, May 13 from Noon to 5 PM at FrontRunner" (1344 W.
Lane Ave., Columbus, OH)?  OK.  See you then!

Connie and Steve

UPDATE 5/11/2007:  Karl has informed us his book signing has been postponed.  Hopefully he will keep us informed.
UPDATE 5/24/2007:  A new message from Karl:

The book signing of my book "Running For Their Lives" has officially been rescheduled for Sunday, June 3 from noon to 5PM. at FrontRunner on Lane Ave. in Upper Arlington (Ohio).  I really look forward to seeing any and all of you who can make it! Let your friends and family know, too!        "gotta Run!",     – Karl

 

The Book Blog

Bill Eichenberger, friend and book critic of the Columbus Dispatch, has started a new blog and we are proud to introduce it to you here on the Planet of the Blind.  According to Bill, his goal for The Book Blog

"is for the blog to be, in a modest way, all things to all book lovers.
And I hope the comment threads can give people in central Ohio (and farther
afield) a place to converse."

Visit his blog and the first thing you will learn is that

"Bill Eichenberger joined The Dispatch in
1985 and became the pop music critic in 1989, a position he held for
nine years until he replaced George Myers, Jr. (the original Dispatch
blogger) as the book critic in 1997.

Eichenberger contends that he added 50 points to his IQ the day he became book critic and insists
that “my worst interview with an author was still better than my best
interview with a musician.”

Eichenberger will blog about books — at least until Americans forsake the written word and give themselves over entirely to American Idol."

In one of his very first posts this month Bill asks the question "The future of book reviews?" and links to an article in which there is a quote by Maud Newton, who has been writing a literary blog since 2002.  Our readers know that Lance Mannion, besides being a literary blogger (among other things), is our friend and mentor and he says that Maud Newton is "To Be Read First Thing in the Morning".  Check his blogroll.  You’ll see.

Bill Eichenberger has done Steve the honor of reviewing both his books, in print  – in the Columbus Dispatch – and we are pleased to find this little way to "pay it forward". 

Gosh, and while I’m thinking of it, I’ve got to find a way to introduce Bill to ohdave of Into My Own.  Ohdave (yet another friend/literary blogger) has a weekly feature he calls "Sunday Reading" and he too was kind enough to review Steve’s book and to post some of his poetry. 

So Bill, meet Lance and ohdave.  Lance, meet Bill and ohdave.  ohdave, meet Bill and Lance.

There.  I think my work here is done for the day.

~ Connie

Majesty

I feel like changing the subject here this morning.  My dear husband bought for me over a year ago a gift certificate for two for a horseback trail ride in the Hocking Hills of Ohio and two days ago my dear friend Sharon and I finally went on our ride.  What can I say?  It was a picture perfect day.  We enjoyed our chatty guide, the scenery, and especially our mounts.  It’s been a long time since I’ve gone horseback riding.  I almost forgot how much I REALLY enjoy it.

I used to take lessons, first as a teenager then as an adult, but then life got in the way and well, need I say more?  I took dressage lessons.  Learned a few (very few) moves.  Learned to jump a few fences.  Learned what it feels like to fall off.  I was never really any good.  There is only so much you can accomplish on horseback with a once a week hour long lesson.  But I certainly learned to appreciate the sport. 

If you’ve never taken lessons and you’ve never tried to ask such a large animal to do something akin to "horse ballet" it might be hard to truly appreciate the following video clip.  But even if you haven’t, this clip is worth seeing.  Suffice it to say that this rider is working very hard to get his horse to do this using his hands, fingers, legs and pelvis.  But you’d never know it by looking at him.  Both rider and mount make it look so darn easy.  Watch this mare dance to music while her rider helps her to keep tempo.  Keep watching.  It only gets better!  To me this is pure majesty…  WOW.

Thanks for sharing the clip Sharon.

~ Connie

The Lance Mannion way

I have it on good authority that Lance Mannion writes his blog posts directly into his blogging software’s composition window as opposed to say, writing with WordPad or Word or Oingo Boingo or some other word processing program.  Lance you see is a white hot explosion of dendrites and dander; a viscous Vicount of Vituperation; a Free Falling Festschrifter…He’s a REAL blogger, not one of these amateur drive your grandma around the block in order to prove that you’ve passed your driving test kind of bloggers.  Nope.  Lance is big as Mt. Rushmore; big as all the dental floss in Montana.

Meanwhile I’m a little guy in "the blogosphere" and there’s no help for it.  I don’t think this comparative teensy-weensy-ness in the cyber Babylon has to do with the fact that I write about disability but rather that I am essentially a really small person.  I am officially five feet seven inches tall, but I’m really really small.  I’m smaller than P.T. Barnum’s Tom Thumb.  I’m smaller than Dick Cheney’s heart.  I’m smaller than Barry Bonds’ conscience; smaller than the book of rules for "scissors, rock, paper"…

I didn’t start out small.  I used to have an immense corpus both "in" and "outside" my essential postural entity.  But I shrank.  I spent too many years listening to American television and I got to the point where I actually believed that it was okay to show lurid tabloid stories over and over in lieu of real news. This insidious tabloidization of my psyche made me small.

I am prepared to say that after a decade of watching Law and Order and the local news I’m smaller than a hermit thrush. I am sadly not as musical as the hermit thrush but that’s another story.

I think Lance Mannion can both watch tv and remain "big".  He’s amazing.  But I’m "outing" myself.  I’m unable to maintain anything like a human scale largely because of the effects of everything from the Gong Show to the Star Trek re-runs that I find whenever I can’t sleep.

Okay.  Getting small while watching tv isn’t new.  But Lance, he actually gets bigger while watching the tube.  And there’s no "double entendre" here.  I don’t mean to suggest that he watches one of those nudist specialty channels like they have in New York, you know, where old celebrities sit around naked and talk about Italian football.

No, I mean Lance watches genuine big time tv and he’s still smart.

I once read Yeats’s book "A Vision" which is about spiritual forces in the evolving universe and I thought for a moment that I understood it.  But tv?  Look what it’s done to me!  I’m smaller than a raisin in Lapland.  Maybe after some good corrective post-television "time out" I will be large enough to explain why Neil Postman was not exactly right when he wrote Amusing Ourselves to Death and suggested that tv represents the end of critical thinking in America.  Look at Lance!  Look to Norway!  He’s big!  I wish I could multi-task like Lance!  But you know, when I watch tv I forget to chew.  I forget the name of the town I’m visiting.  I get so small while watching tv that I can sleep in one of my own shoes.  My shoe, by the way, smells like my freshman college dorm room.  More on that later.

S.K.