Gratitude 9/30/2012

I managed to miss a few days on the old "let's be grateful for what we have" gratitude posts. Doesn't mean that I wasn't a grateful as I should be, just less diligent at recognizing it publicly.

So, today...

I had a chance to help my youngest daughter getting ready for church after a semi-late night at the Homecoming Dance - her last one as she is a senior. Inching closer to that empty nest and still not sure that I'm ready for it.

Yesterday, I hit the double trifecta - I saw all three of my daughters and all three of the grandkids in the same day - without a family reunion. It's nice to have the whole family close enough that random encounters can happen. It's also nice that we're just far enough that we can't just "drop in" and annoy the kids. For that, we need to exert a bit of effort.

Sometimes I am grateful for things that I have no control over. Such as my wife, who sought some counseling from her pastor over an issue of a friend, getting some peace and perspective on what happens next - and, with it, the best night of sleep she's had in a while. So, thank you to Pastor Shane.

I am also grateful that I can help in ways that will never show in any profit line.  A young runner thanked me for advice I gave her a year ago.  It was a simple thing on running downhill but it helped her in a cross country race this week and she was gracious (as is her entire family - finer people are hard to find) afterwards.

As always, if you wish to express gratitude, you are more than welcome to in the comments.  The usual rules of decorum prevail, though.

Reversing Aging? Scientists are getting closer.

Reversing aging?  Appearently scientists are getting ever closer to the foundation of youth. They may have found a way to reverse the aging process in muscles - if it works, I'll be able to open jars again without resorting to cheap tricks or modestly expensive kitchens tools. Researchers have found a key protein that affects the way the body recovers strength and flexibility.  When injected into mice, the scientists limited loss of muscle mass and agility.  The hope is that the treatment will eventually be transferable to humans.

h/t Instapundit

ADA Compliance lawsuit closes restuarant. Adios, Fords Burgers.

A 50 year old burger joint in California gets sued by a lawyer over ADA compliance issues.  The owners don't have money to upgrade the entire restaurant so they're shutting down.  The issue that forced the ADA compliance problem was counter tops that were too tall to meet the standard in the 50 year old building the restuarant was located. Sadly, the ADA  (Americans with Disabilities Act) is subject to enormous abuses which diminishes the good it can accomplish.  Unfortunately, when lawyers can initiate lawsuits on their own behalf to provide for the enforcement of the ADA, there is a natural tendency for some (a small minority, really) lawyers to enrich themselves while claiming good intentions.

ADA compliance is also notoriously hard to manage because of the complexity of the regulations and the lack to trained people to help businesses identify and correct issues prior to the lawsuit.

ADA Compliance Surveys

If you have access to an ADA compliance consultant, I urge you to meet with them regularly to protect yourselves.  A good consultant will analyze your building, generate a report and, in many cases, follow up with you and your facilities maintenance personnel to ensure that you are in ADA compliance.

In the State of California, you can locate ADA Compliance inspectors at the CASp website.  CASp stands for Certified Access Specialist, a voluntary certification program.

Gratitude on September 26, 2012

First, it is always a pleasant thing to wake up - though I don't ever recall the opposite. Second, a dog to fetch the paper.  I should be grateful though he does it for remuneration -dog treats. Also, a dog that doesn't care that he has been fetching the same paper for the last four years since we cancelled our subscription to the local propoganda arm.

I am grateful I have work today.  The self-employed will understand; we never know where the next job is coming from, how much it will pay and how long it lasts.  Today, I have work.  Tomorrow, I'll hustle.