I read Judy Blume books just like all the other girls did, but I read them because all the girls did, not because she was a favorite writer. Still, those rites of passage, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” and “Forever” were significant milestones in my reading life. Now almost 70, Blume has been feeling the creative urge again and she has a new book out “Soupy Saturdays With the Pain & the Great One” and is on her first national tour in ten years. Booksellers are hopeful that her new book will spur sales in her back catalog, though her old books still sell quite well anyway. Blume started writing in the 1970s as a creative outlet, and a release from her boredom as a suburban housewife and mother. She says “writing changed my life and saved my life.” (Judy Blume’s weblog)

The typewriter art of Paul Smith, who passed away in June. His spastic cerebral palsy did not impede his artistry. (via Bifurcated Rivets)

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels would like to equip the city with motorcycle medics. The faster response time would allow medics to stabilize a patient quickly and await the arrival of an ambulance. As part of his 2008 budget proposal, Nickels has allocated $570,000 for a two-year pilot of four motorcycle medic units. The medics would be equipped with motorcycle airbag vests, reducing their own chance of injury. I used to laugh at my friend You Mon whenever he described his “personal airbag” idea, but he had something there because in addition to the motorcycle airbag vest, Wired has made mention of an Airbag Lifejacket designed for construction workers.

Food Network is here in the Seattle area this week casting for the next “The Next Food Network Star.” Actual chefs from restaurants I’ve eaten at actually showed up! I hope they realize this show has little to do with being a good chef, or even a celebrity chef.

The European Union had been extending Great Britain’s deadline for full conversion to the metric system, and now they’ve completely dropped the requirement, placating sticklers for the mile and pound. EU officials now say that Britain’s continued use of imperial measurements won’t impede trade, and thus there’s no reason for the strict change. But Britain is still further along than the U.S. in adopting the metric system for most products, packaged and bulk. And in 1963 the drachm, scruple, minim, chaldron, quarter, rod, pole and perch were retired.

Flat-panel TV maker Vizio seemed to come out of nowhere to take on big players like Sony, Samsung, and Sharp. Founder William Wang’s experience selling screens to Gateway Computers gave him a step up in leading the company to success. With only 85 corporate employees, Vizio’s strategy has been to sell their TVs primarily through wholesale club stores like Costco. Wang also strategized that although people may purchase an expensive set for their living room, they would likely buy cheaper models for other rooms. However they are building out their line to include higher end models. Recent sales figures place Vizio at the top North American flat-panel sellers. They’ve added Sears and Circuit City to their retailers.

René Bibaud’s official occupation is “Professional Rope Jumper.” The West Seattle resident performs with Cirque du Soleil and can often be found demonstrating her skills at local schools. Check out her dynamic routine on Youtube.

Madeleine L’Engle, who passed away on Thursday, was the commencement speaker for my graduation from Wellesley College in 1991. Most people don’t remember who spoke at their graduation, even fewer remember what they said. But for a student like me who loved books, loved writing, and always felt outside the mainstream, L’Engle was an ideal speaker, one to remember. I’ve re-read her speech several times over the last fifteen years and as I grow older I find new themes to relate to. She spoke from her experience as an underrated student, a mother, a career woman, a grandmother, and someone who has learned that to grow you have to take risks, to learn from mistakes. “Nothing that’s easy is really worth very much, and just because it’s difficult is no reason not to try.”

“If children are not introduced to music at an early age, I believe something fundamental is actually being taken from them.” -Luciano Pavarotti

Many cities have rolled out 311 for non-emergency calls, a companion number to 911 that hopefully reduces the burden of non-critical calls on the actual emergency lines. Baltimore’s police department was the first to roll out 311 in 1996 and the FCC approved its nationwide use in 1997. As part of its “On the Job” series, the San Francisco Chronicle paid a visit to the city’s 311 customer service representatives. San Francisco’s 311 went live in March and handles more than police calls, taking point on all manner of city service queries. About 6,000 calls come in per day, and a significant portion are about the MUNI bus service. The article of course has prime examples of those off-the-wall inquiries, like “how long does it take to build a cable car?” There’s a serial caller who takes great pride in reporting graffiti, several times a day. Some people call to ask what time it is.