Icy Sidewalks Hard To Navigate In Power Chair

Winter weather has arrived, my first post-stroke winter without a car. I can bundle up to deal with cold temperatures, but modest snow can leave me stranded at home or looking for alternate routes.

I frequently take the sidewalk along Olive (above) from 16th to 14th to reach transit options. I passed over the ice you see but it was very rough, not easy on my power chair. If we’d have had more snow I couldn’t have gotten through this way.

I’ll learn which sidewalks get cleared and which do not, altering my route to avoid problem areas.

— Steve Patterson

A Century of Crown Candy Kitchen

This year one of my favorite St. Louis places will turn 100 years old.

Crown Candy Kitchen was opened in 1913 by Harry Karandzieff and his best friend Pete Jugaloff. They brought their confectionary skills from Greece, along with a dream of providing a friendly family environment to enjoy their delicious creations.

I still recall my first trip to Crown Candy Kitchen in the fall of 1990. It was dark and  and I was intimidated by the neighborhood. The former 14th Street Pedestrian Mall seemed abandoned, although I’d soon learn numerous businesses were still there.

That first visit Andy Karandzieff, one of three brothers, was working behind the counter. Most of the time when I visit Andy is behind the counter, making the malts and Sundaes.

Sadly, last October one of Andy’s older brothers, Mike, died of cancer. Andy & Tommy continue the family business.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: Reduce Gun Violence Via Mental Health Access

Last week readers voted on a timely but controversial topic: reducing gun violence.

Q: What can/should be done to reduce gun violence? (Up to 3)

1. Address access to mental health services 66 [24%]
2. Ban some types of guns but protect the 2nd amendment 62 [22.55%]
3. Regulate access to ammunition 48 [17.45%]
4. Allow concealed-carry everywhere 20 [7.27%]
5. Ban all guns 19 [6.91%]
6. Require licensed gun owners to prove guns are stored locked up 19 [6.91%]
7. Censor violent TV shows & video games 13 [4.73%]
8. Fortify schools and workplaces 10 [3.64%]
9. Allow open-carry everywhere 9 [3.27%]
10. Other: 5 [1.82%]
11. Unsure/no answer 4 [1.45%]

The legislators who push guns are the very same ones that cut access to mental heath services. You can’t have it both ways, access to mental health treatment must be at least as easy as access to a gun.

In researching this I learned something about the intent of 2nd Amendment from former Chief Justice Warren E Burger:

We see that the need for a state militia was the predicate of the “right” guaranteed; in short, it was declared “necessary” in order to have a state military force to protect the security of the state. That Second Amendment clause must be read as though the word “because” was the opening word of the guarantee. Today, of course, the “state militia” serves a very different purpose. A huge national defense establishment has taken over the role of the militia of 200 years ago.

Some have exploited these ancient concerns, blurring sporting guns — rifles, shotguns and even machine pistols — with all firearms, including what are now called “Saturday night specials.” There is, of course, a great difference between sporting guns and handguns. Some regulation of handguns has long been accepted as imperative; laws relating to “concealed weapons” are common. That we may be “over-regulated” in some areas of life has never held us back from more regulation of automobiles, airplanes, motorboats and “concealed weapons.”  (Source — full piece highly recommended) 

I don’t know the answer to reducing gun violence but the NRA’s solution of more guns everywhere isn’t the type of society I want to live in.

— Steve Patterson

Hello Twenty-Thirteen

Most will say “two thousand (and) thirteen”, as I’m sure I’ll say a few times.

This comes as a surprise to some observers of English usage. From 2001 to 2009, it made sense to use the longer “two thousand” version of year names. The template was actually set way back in 1968, when Stanley Kubrick’s movie “2001” was marketed as “two thousand and one,” not “twenty oh one”—despite the precedent of pronouncing 1901 as “nineteen oh one” (or “nineteen aught one” if you want to sound particularly old-timey). (Boston Globe)

But I ask that everyone stop with “two thousand” and say “twenty.” But no matter how you pronounce it, have a great 2013!

— Steve Patterson