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The history of the white cane as a mobility aid for blind individuals dates back centuries, but its modern form began to take shape in the early 20th century. Before that, blind individuals often relied on walking sticks or the assistance of sighted guides, but there was no standardized cane specifically designed for their use. In the early 1900s, James Biggs, a British photographer who lost his sight due to an accident, is credited with one of the first recorded instances of painting his cane white. He did this to make himself more visible to motorists, as the rise of automobiles made street navigation increasingly hazardous. Around the same time, in France, Guilly Herbemont also advocated for white canes, formally introducing them in 1931 as a safety measure for blind pedestrians. In the United States, the movement gained traction in the 1930s when Lions Clubs began distributing white canes as a way to increase awareness of blind pedestrians. By the 1940s, the use of white canes expanded significantly due to World War II veterans returning home with vision loss. Dr. Richard Hoover, often called the father of the modern white cane, developed the long cane technique at the Avon Old Farms Army Convalescent Hospital in Connecticut. His design, a lightweight, extended cane, allowed for better detection of obstacles and safe navigation. The 1960s saw legislative advancements recognizing the white cane as a symbol of blindness and mobility. Many countries, including the U.S., established laws granting blind individuals the right-of-way in traffic. Over time, the white cane evolved with materials like aluminum and carbon fiber, improving durability and functionality. Today, it remains a critical tool, with variations such as folding canes, support canes, and canes with electronic sensors enhancing navigation for blind individuals worldwide.

Title: The Kaiju Preservation Society Available on BARD Commercial production Author: John Scalzi Narration: Will Wheaton Duration: about 10 hourS Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction Kaijus are monsters from Japanese pop culture. Godzilla is the most famous of them, but Americans already knows other famous Kaiju maybe without realizing it. Pacific Rim movies and Cloverfield introduce these monster in our side of the planet. They are staple of Japanese nerd culture and it comes as no surprise that the book itself is filled with nerd references that will please the inner-nerd of the reader, a little bit what Ready Player One has done in the past. Nuclear explosions reveal a passage-way to an alternate Earth populated by Kaiju. The Preservation Society helps prevent these monster from crossing over to our Earth. The book is relatively short with some decent character building but is missing detailed descriptions of an alternate Earth and more importantly, Kaiju descriptions . It isn’t really an issue for those who know a bit about these kind of monster but for newcomers, it could be a bit opaque. Action wise, the book is moving fast, you won’t get bored even at the beginning when the whole concept takes a little while to be introduced. The climax of the book, which represents the last quarter of the material, is unfortunately predicable. The audiobook would be the perfect pop culture infused book to go through if the narration wasn’t so cringy to listen to. Will Wheaton is overly enthusiastic while reading and over the top overall; I found myself cringing and hating his performance more than a few times. I moved on because the story was my cup of tea but Wheaton’s work almost made me give it up. A better narrator, like Porter, would have worked better. All in all with the exception of the narration, the book is an enjoyable light sci-fi read that does a good job entertaining while also using the Kaiju lore. Godzilla relationship to nuclear science is well integrated and explained and obscures plots from other Kaiju movies. For example the Cloverfield monster, the little companions wreaking havoc throughout New York, is actually well explained in the audiobook. There is violence, of course but relatively mild compared to what you could expect from this kind of book. No sex whatsoever which makes the book adapted for a young audience. You can count on chapters duration going from 10 to 15 minutes, short enough for a quick read before going to bed or during a quick trip on public transit. There has been talk of a movie adaptation of the book and it is not really a surprise considering the book’s linearity and straightforward-storyline. I will expect some amazing visuals if the project goes through.

What your mobility trainer will teach you about your white cane will end up being very different compared to how you will actually use it. Swinging your cane opposite the foot stepped forward is almost impossible to do without making the whole process very awkward. Keeping the handle of your white cane right in front of your belly button also feels strange. Your hand will move right or left depending on how you handle the cane. All of this is not too important overall. However, what is true and remains true ever since I learned to use the white cane, is how wide the cane needs to swing. It has to swing a slightly wider range than your shoulder width.

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