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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Two Wheelchair Wedding

This is absolutely beautiful. Read it, watch it - just be warned, you will suddenly find the room very, very dusty. (Hat tip: Serach)

Baseball at 90% of the speed of light

A lot of readers of this blog may also know about the webcomic called xkcd.com.

[If you have never read their comics go there now and don't stop until you have read them all. Make sure you read the mouse-over (place your mouse over the comic and a small text box will come up) It is usually funnier and compliments the comic strip.]

Anyhow, for those xkcd lovers and those who love sports will appreciate their second post on the new what-if blog. The question is What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light? For the long answer go there. For the short answer, the batter would advance to first and be considered "hit by pitch".

Sunday, July 01, 2012

A Plea For Help

Received via e-mail from a young woman who endured horrible sexual abuse, and has been working incredibly hard (and been reasonably successful) at overcoming the demons of her past while creating a successful life and future for herself. But successful therapy requires a lot of hard work - and paying the therapists and all the others who work so hard alongside the person.


What is it about psychotherapy that makes people turn their backs? Yes, I know there's no money for anything. And sure, I can throw myself to the mercy of a sliding scale fee clinic with no experience dealing with DID, just as I'm starting to make progress.

But seriously, we have a community organization for everything. Cancer? We have you covered-kids of courage, chai lifeline, RCCS. In prison? Nationwide campaigns to help you out. No money for food? Masbia, tomchei shabbos, oneg shabbos. Developmental delays? Hasc, Bais Ezra, otzar. Physical illness? Bikur cholim from every group, and then they take care of you with all the equipment you need-I'm losing track of names of organizations, but people will bring you hospital beds, commodes, rolling bedside tables, crutches, wheelchairs. You name it.

Have an out of the ordinary mental illness? They won't even return emails. I am nearly at the point of embarrassing myself and my family and standing on a street corner begging. At least beggars on the street get your loose change.

Please, if you're reading this, it means I trust you completely. Spread my story without my name. I can't deal with the guilt anymore. My father is writing out checks on pay checks he hasn't gotten yet for some of my treatment, part of my treatment team hasn't been paid since before my first hospitalization this year.

The address where people can send money (the story includes a wonderful, anonymous person who has agreed to have the therapy fund money mailed to his house so it can be funneled in the right direction):
Keren Zichron Gedalyahu
C/O M. Keller
566 East 8th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11218