Walter Mondale appears to be the likely replacement for Senator Wellstone on the ballot. With the election only a week away, it’s the sensible choice. Nearly every Minnesotan knows the Mondale name and he’s a respected political figure with a long history of service. He spoke at my law school commencement back in 1998 and I remember his speech having some good, progressive undertones. Nobody can ever replace Wellstone and his bold oratorical skills, but Mondale is a worthy successor. I’m debating whether to go to the memorial tonight. With twenty thousand people expected, I’m a bit hesitant. But perhaps I should still go as an unofficial representative of the disability community.
I still have a Wellstone bumper sticker on my car. I think I’ll just leave it. A reminder.
Back to work.
Peace,
Mark

A sad and tragic day for Minnesota. A few hours ago, Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash in Northern Minnesota, along with his wife, daughter, three staffers, and two pilots. I never had the opportunity to meet the Senator, but I admired his strong advocacy for special education and disability rights. He was the most prominent liberal voice in the Senate and I will deeply miss his presence. And, as crass as this may seem, I am wondering how this will affect what was a very close race against Norm Coleman. But for now, it’s time to grieve.
Peace,
Mark

Anybody read today’s Doonesbury? Pretty amusing, but now I feel a little insecure. Maybe I don’t have anything meaningful to say. Maybe I’m just stroking my own ego. Maybe…but I digress.
So internet radio has been saved, at least temporarily. Which means I won’t be deprived of my workplace entertainment anytime soon.
By the way, a federal judge just ruled that the ADA doesn’t apply to the Internet because it was never specified in the law. So if I go to my local Barnes & Noble, it has to be accessible. But if I go to their website and have a visual impairment, I’m outta luck. Never mind all this blather about the Web being a tool for everyone and opening doors and such. Yes, making accessible web pages takes time and money. But so does building a ramp.
Peace,
Mark

It seems that the Senate has refused to pass a bill that would save many small webcasters from folding. Beginning October 20, webcasters must begin paying exorbitant royalty fees to the record labels. The bill before the Senate would have delayed the onset of those fees, keeping many small webcasters in business. But the Senate’s failure to act means that Internet radio is in serious danger of becoming the same homogenized, sanitized, and commercialized wasteland that can be found on your car radio. Well, there’s still Kazaa…
Cashed my award check today. Those iPods look pretty cool…
Tom Tomorrow had this to say about all the media attention being given to blogging recently:
It’s like being interviewed about eating dinner or going to the movies or something–it’s a fine way to pass your time, but it’s not much more than that.
And he’s right. I’m pleased that this site gets some visits, but it ain’t no thang.
Peace,
Mark

Okay, some errata. First, who wants to see a picture of the face behind all this madness? Well, here you go:

Hey, stop screaming! You’ll shatter your monitor.
Want to start your very own foaming-at-the-mouth right-wing column? This place can get you started.
Well, this week should be interesting. One of my nurses took a tumble and it’s uncertain whether we’ll be able to fill her shifts. I have a relatively small staff and when something like this happens, I don’t have much in the way of backup. Hopefully, things will work out.
Peace,
Mark