I always have to tell a little something about the exhibit because I think it rocks. I’ve seen it 3 times. But while she worked there, I spent the day at Teaism near the museum.  (See next post).

Today, we’re on our way! It promises to be a very exciting (and fun) trip. And of course we had to start it off right…airport slot machines! The worst odds in Vegas. Okay, we actually stopped to tie my shoe but wow, the glitz and flashing lights hit you right upon landing. It’s 1am and the place is hoppin’. I think I might like Las Vegas.

Mile-High High-Roller? (Renee with Slot Machine)

I haven’t managed to add any more dialogue to my screenplay short (or work on the alternative I have in mind), nor have I been very good about keeping up with my podcasts.  Day in Washington hasn’t had a meaningful update in some time and I completely missed a hearing and will now have to reconstruct it from the webcast alone (something that is not easily done).  And Unleaded – Fuel for Writers hasn’t had a post from me in weeks.  Renee has been attempting single-handedly to keep up with the daily schedule of casts.

So mostly, this update is a reminder of everything I have to get caught up on! 

From the Rolling Stone interview with William Gibson:

You made your name as a science-fiction writer, but in your last two novels you’ve moved squarely into the present. Have you lost interest in the future?

It has to do with the nature of the present. If one had gone to talk to a publisher in 1977 with a scenario for a science-fiction novel that was in effect the scenario for the year 2007, nobody would buy anything like it. It’s too complex, with too many huge sci-fi tropes: global warming; the lethal, sexually transmitted immune-system disease; the United States, attacked by crazy terrorists, invading the wrong country. Any one of these would have been more than adequate for a science-fiction novel. But if you suggested doing them all and presenting that as an imaginary future, they’d not only show you the door, they’d probably call security.

www.dayalmohamed.com/dayinwashington

Eventually it will also be listed as:  www.dayinwashington.com  (but we’re not there yet).

Audio File: Day in Washington #2 – Hate Crimes

SHOW NOTES

- Introduction, Date of Podcast

- Hate Crimes and People with Disabilities

- Current Legislation regarding Hate Crimes:

1 . Hate Crime Statistics Improvement Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.1164.IH]
2 . Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Enforcement Act (Introduced in House)[H.R.2217.IH]
3 . Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House)[H.R.1592.RFS]
4 . Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (Introduced in Senate)[S.1105.IS]
5 . Hate Crimes Against the Homeless Statistics Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.2216.IH]
6 . David’s Law (Introduced in House)[H.R.254.IH]
7. Youth Crime Deterrence Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)[H.R.1806.IH]

- Mailbag: Bizarre things people say

- Disclaimer

Please note that the music on this podcast, Sedona, was provided by 2012 ( http://www.twentytwelverecords.com) and is available at http://www.podsafemusicnetwork.com.

Audio File:  Day in Washington #1 – Medicare Waiting Period

 Show Notes…

- Introduction, Date of Podcast

- The Medicare Waiting Period

- Commonwealth Fund Report (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/Hayes_toosickworktoosoonMedicare_1021.pdf?section=4039)

- Rep. Gene Green’s Legislation (http://thomas.loc.gov/home/gpoxmlc110/h154_ih.xml)

- Mailbag:  Bizarre things people say

- Disclaimer

Please note that the music on this podcast, Sedona, was provided by 2012 ( http://www.twentytwelverecords.com) and is available at http://www.podsafemusicnetwork.com.

The term “podcast” is a portmanteau word (see previous post) ; a combination of “iPod” and “broadcast.” It is an audio (or video) digital file that is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable mp3 players (like iPods) or computers.  Basically, people subscribe to the podcast and ’episodes’ are then downloaded automatically to their computer as they become available. 

I thoroughly enjoy blogging, but more than once have lamented the fact that the amount of space available on a web log page for commentary is limited based on the fact that most people aren’t comfortable reading long posts on-screen.  Podcasting seems like an excellent addition for other more detailed subject matter.

It is my hope to start a regular (hopefully weekly) ”i on Washington” disability podcast and with the encouragement of CVS supporters (http://www.cvswriters.com) Renee and I also plan a second series to cover in more depth writing advice, comments and interviews; “Unleaded – Fuel for Writers.”  So far, we are in the midst of Tee Morris’ (http://www.teemorris.com) and Evo Terra’s (http://www.sliceofscifi.com/) ”Podcasting for Dummies”  (Hey, we met the writers so don’t feel so lame for reading an actual “dummies” book).  And, not one for wasting time, we’re already playing with microphones and testing out scripts.