Section508.gov Overview

Content
The web site seems to primarily be an overview of "what is section 508" which covers the federal standard for web accessibility. There are several useful resources under "Accessibility Forum" and "FAQ" but these actually leave the Section 508 site and go to different sites. At first glance, this appears to be an informative site for people to understand what Section 508 is, but does not provide a lot of guidance on how to meet the section 508 standard.

There are some interesting pages such as the AT (Assistive Technology) Showcase that shows pictures and description of many of the devices used by various disabled users. Seeing braille printers, ergonomic keyboards, or a TTY machine can be the first look for many web designers, although details and video of these items in action aren't available.

Design
The site's design is a good example of a simple and highly accessible web site, although it is very spare and won't win any awards for visual appearance. It is simple and straight to the point. All links are simple text links, the logo is the only image. A 'site controls' box appears at the top right of each page, allowing changes to the font and text size.

Future?
The site has information on training and upcoming events, however the last event listed is January 2009. Hopefully the 'novelty' of Section 508 isn't falling off and making this site obselete. If anything, a greater push is necessary to ensure that web sites continue to be developed with universal accessibility in mind.

Science Day - Eclipses and the Sun

With all the news today about the total eclipse in India -- apparently the longest total eclipse of this century (Can't beleive I missed it!)-- I thought I would try to clarify some lingering questions about eclipses.... which of course led to more and more questions about space, the sun, solar radiation, etc.

Solar vs Lunar Eclipse
First, I heard the news announcer emphasize that this was a 'solar eclipse'. Since I know an eclipse involves the shadow falling on the earth when the moon comes between us (assuming you are on this earth with me) and the sun... what is the distinction between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse.
Simply enough: a lunar eclipse refers to an eclipse or a shadow falling across of the moon, while a solar eclipse involves an eclipse where the sun's light is blocked out. (Quote: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, and the Earth's shadow obscures the moon or a portion of it. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or a portion of the Sun. )

Apparently lunar eclipses are only eclipses when there is a full moon and the shadow of the earth falls across the moon. (Because otherwise everything that wouldn't be a full moon or new moon would be an eclipse, wouldn't it?) This would happen monthly, except that the moon's orbit is slightly different than the earth's orbit around the sun (off by 5 degrees).

Another interesting note: when there is a total solar eclipse, you can see the sun's corona, or a white ring which appears to glow around the perimiter of the moon. I had heard that before, and assumed it was a phenomena as part of the outer edge of the sun peeked around or as light bled around the moon. But what I didn't know was that the 'corona' is an actual outer layer of the sun, and it is considered a 'scientific mystery.' Why? Because apparently the corona burns hotter, 200-300 TIMES hotter than on the surface of the sun! And scientists don't know why.

I even found one article that said that "the "earth in effect floats in the corona." Really? Does that have to do with the sun spots causing solar flares and damaging equipment? Does that have to do with the aurora borealis (I know those are 'solar winds' but is it related?) Does this mean the earth is actually enveloped in some 'sun-haze' or is it just we are within the range of the sun effects (like the sun is an ocean and the earth is on a sort of shore). Does this make sense?

Anyway, food for thought. I won't go new age-y and mention the article I found on corona's that migrane sufferers can sometimes see around living things....


References: http://www.moonconnection.com/lunar_vs_solar.phtml
-- http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Mystery-of-Sun-039-s-Corona-Deepens-Even-Further-80417.shtml
-- http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/1999/aug/11/eclipse.uknews4
-- http://www.migraine-aura.org/content/e27891/e27265/e26585/e48971/e49016/index_en.html

And a year later...

I can't believe how most of my posts were crafts and sewing projects. That was over a year's worth of info and doesn't really show much about how I actually spent my time.

I'm considering changing the blog to cover more everyday things... researching the foods we eat, origins of meals, etc. I don't know how that long will last as I don't have a huge repetoire of meals that I prepare, so I'll have to cover other topics as well, but I guess I should worry about regular posting before that even becomes an issue.

Hope to see you again soon, blog (because there are no other viewers at this time).

-D

UFO, The making of...

Since my big hang-up on finishing the quilt was the binding, I thought I would tell how I managed to get through it. Originally, I had planned to follow some instructions I had that had extra inches of the quilt backing folding around and binding the quilt edge. I had left several inches of backing and a bit less padding to allow for this, but the test with the potholder looked poor. Part of the problem was how thin the backing was... a simple muslin. So I ended up buying some 3/4" double fold binding. As mentioned, I read a few tutorials and tried it on a potholder and was pleased with the result, but I was concerned about the joining: I had to join two packages of binding tape as well as find out how to finish the end of the binding when they overlap.

There were plenty of tutorials about joining the binding. It was far simpler than I expected. So much so, that I am going to try to actually make binding for my next quilting project.

Once pinned, as shown in the picture, I machine stitched just inside the fold until I had only 12 inches left on one side. Then I had to address joining the binding. The joining of the binding on the quilt-- once the binding has gone all the way around and starts to overlap -- was a bit more complicated. I found several tutorials and write-ups on how to deal with it, but I couldn't quite understand them. I knew I could try to do it in action, but if I got so far as sewing on the binding and then screwing up the joining to the point I had to rip it all of again, I would risk throwing the whole thing out. Instead I found a video tutorial that was extremely helpful.

Quilt Binding: Joining Ends II . The video helped make the steps very clear, but her descriptions were most helpful. The only confusing part for me was shen she was marking the join point with a pin and mentioned something about the seam allowance. I thought she was suggested you needed to add a seam allowance for the join, but then decided I must have misunderstood as that doesn't make any sense. She did give other helpful hints, especially about not having to worry about the angle as the stitching would work out regardless of the angle of the two ends. That was extremely helpful, and as I was doing it, I actually came to understand why.

Final finishing, where the binding was joined to the back of the quilt, I did by hand. I had a used Threads magazine that details various hand stitches, so I followed instructions for the suggested stitches. It came out looking fantastic, and I felt cool having done some part of it by hand.

Final review: Quilting isn't so bad, especially as the painful memory of putting the peices together is well in the past. Funny that the binding was what took so long to finish the project, because it ended up being rather fun. I'll do another one for Catriona's bed so I can also try to make my own binding. After that, I'm guessing there may just be a t-shirt or memory quilt and that should do it for me.

UFO #2: An honest to goodness quilt

Years in the making. Actually it may be 5 years. I finished the quilt top, added the batting and backing and pinned it all together and then quit. I was intimidated by the binding. I tried one technique on a potholder and hated it so much I just stopped. I finally tackled it by buying some bias tape. I tried the bias tape on another potholder and it turned out so much better, so I finally tackled it.

And after I read everything I could get my hands on, I finally tackled it. I am impressed how well it turned out, especially after I gave up on it so long ago. It is like seeing it with new eyes. From practically a throw away, to something I don't "just like" but now really value. Cool beans. It is now on my daughter's bed, but I've decided to make another one for her so I can keep this one around my craft room... maybe having it in sight, it will help me spur on some other UFOs.

Humble Beginnings

I don't make new year's resolutions. Mostly because I know that if I really wanted to do something, I would do it and setting goals because it coincides with a momentous date on the calendar... well, it never quite provides the needed motivation for me. So, now that I have reached the momentous age of thirty-something and am responsible for another human life (2.5 years old and growing) how do I address those areas of my life that need work, but I have never quite gotten around to?

Don't get me wrong. It isn't like I haven't tried to make changes, but most of the things on my list fell into the category of important enough to do right and complicated enough that initial attempts took more time or energy than I was willing to give them. So why do I think the blog will work? I admit I'm a bit sceptical, but I'm hoping that by publicly posting my intentions, it will shame and/or remind me to addressing them. But most important I hope it will force me to think about them as I write about them.

A little more introspection could go a long way.