[guide.chat] Matilda magazine for you to raed who do not get it enjoy it
- From: "Carol O'Connor" <missbossyboots33@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "guide Chat List" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:01:19 +0100
This is the Matilda Ziegler Magazine
Weekly Edition for July 25, 2011
Address:
20 Thorndal Circle
Darien, CT 06820
Local Phone: 203-604-8601
Toll Free: 877-424-5481
Website: www.matildaziegler.com
Email: editor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ross Hammond, Editor
Table of Contents
Letter from the Editor
Feature Writer Terri Winaught - History of the Negro Leagues: Part 3
- The Homestead Grays
Feature Writer Ann Chiappetta - Sparks, Nevada: Golden Past, Diamond
future
Feature Writer Alena Roberts - Blio Reader Continues to Disappoint
Blind Users
Feature Writer John Christie - Blind Students Gain Confidence at Surf
Camp
Feature Writer Lynne Tatum - Updates and a Changing World
Feature Writer Steven Famiglietti - "LEEP" 2011
News - Testing Done on Quiet Electric Cars
Health and Science - Vaccines from Space: Another Shuttle Legacy
Reader's Forum
Recipe of the Week - Apricot Chicken Pasta
Special Notices - New Listings
Pen Pals - New Listings
Special Notices - Previous Listings
Pen Pals - Previous Listings
You may skip to a new article or section at any time by using your
browser or word processor's Find or Search function to look for the
### symbol. For entries within a section of the magazine, search for
the ## symbol.
Letter from the Editor
Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a nice weekend and were able to escape from the
oppressive heat. As for me, I chose to march right into it. I spent
some time with friends down in Virginia Beach this past weekend and
when I arrived on Friday morning, the temperature was 105 with the
heat index between 115 and 120. Needless to say, we did most of our
activities inside that day. The following day we went to the beach,
when it was a significantly cooler 100 degrees. This also happened to
be a day when I foolishly decided to remove my sandals as we made our
way across the sand to the water. About halfway to our spot, I decided
that I was most likely on fire, and it would be best to simply not
look down and see the flames. My feet literally sizzled when I could
finally get them to the water for relief.
There are no announcements for this week and it's business as usual.
We've got a great line-up of articles, so I hope you enjoy browsing
through them.
Take care, and as always, thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Ross Hammond, Editor
###
Feature Writer Terri Winaught - History of the Negro Leagues: Part 3
- The Homestead Grays
In 1900, a group of African-American men who loved baseball got
together and formed a team which would become the Homestead Grays in
1912. In 1900 however, this new team was called the Germantown, PA
Blue Ribbons Industrial Team. These young men had no way to know that
they had founded a team that would become one of the greatest
franchises in the history of Negro National League.
For ten years, The Blue Ribbons were considered mediocre, but they
always managed to put a team together and played against very talented
Sandlot clubs. After team managers retired in 1910, the Blue Ribbons
reorganized and changed their name to the Murdock Grays.
The 1912 team that became the Homestead Grays--Homestead being a
community near Pittsburgh-- was formed by Cumberland Posey and played
continuously for 38 seasons. Because the Grays were such a winning
team, they drew large crowds and had fun doing what they loved.
Although the Grays joined the American Negro League in 1929, that
league lasted only one season, which resulted in the Grays becoming an
independent team again for another three years. In 1932, Posey founded
the East-West League, which folded before completing their first
season, and led to the Grays entering the Negro National League in
1935.
From 1937 to 1945, the Homestead Grays won 9 consecutive league
pennants with the help of future Hall of Famers "Cool" Papa Bell, Josh
Gibson, Judy Johnson, Buck Leonard and Martin Dihigo, originally a
great player with the New York Cubans.
A pitcher considered the best or "Ace" Pitcher for the Grays was
Smokey Joe Williams. This pitching powerhouse once struck out 27
batters in a 12 inning game.
During World War II, the Grays played ball in Pittsburgh's Forbes
Field--where the Pirates also played-- and Washington, D.C.'s Griffith
Stadium. Because the Washington Senators (D.C.'s white team) played so
badly that they were "in the Cellar," the Grays always outdrew the
Senators when the former team was on the road.
When the Negro National League collapsed after the 1948 season, the
Homestead grays struggled to remain an independent ball club, which
lasted another two years until they disbanded in 1950.
Along with the Hall of Famers and other greats already mentioned, Sam
Bankhead gained notoriety for becoming the first black Minor League
manager in 1951.
To honor the Grays' legacy, the Homestead Highlevel Bridge, which
crosses the Monongahela River and connects Homestead to Pittsburgh,
was renamed the Homestead Grays Bridge on July 11, 2002. From 2006 to
2009, the Pittsburgh Pirates and several other teams played 7 games in
which they honored Negro League baseball by wearing Homestead Grays
uniforms.
Material for this article came from www.nlbpa.com (Negro League
Baseball Players Association), and www.en.wikipedia.org.
###
Feature Writer Ann Chiappetta - Sparks, Nevada: Golden Past, Diamond
future
July 8-16 heralded the American Council of the Blind's National 50th
Anniversary Conference. It took place at John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel,
Business Center, and Casino in Sparks, Nevada. Our guest roster
exceeded 1000 registered guests, 200 of those being guide dog users.
I attended as a first-time national conventioneer, taking the
opportunity to bring along my husband and 16 year old daughter and
making it our annual vacation.
Before attending the conference, however, we flew into Sacramento
airport and drove the remaining two hours to Reno so my husband and
daughter could see the spectacular Sierra Nevada snow capped mountains
and Lake Tahoe. We also stopped at the Donner Pass rest stop and
visited the memorial dedicated to the thousands of Chinese immigrants
who risked their lives, mostly against their will, to blast through
the mountains to lay down railroad ties during our westward expansion.
It was warm and dry, and I drank at least twice as much water than
normal due to the arid climate. I certainly did not miss the humidity
over on the east coast, though. My guide dog also drank more, but she
tolerated the changes with her usual stoic common sense that only a
dog can possess.
I attended only a handful of events during the eight day event--a bit
overwhelmed by the cost of, variety, and size of the Conference. There
is just too much to list here, but suffice it to say that I had my
choice of breakout sessions, social events, general sessions, and
tours and trips outside the hotel proper. Some events were included in
the registration, some weren't.
The vendor hall was my favorite, however, and I spent hours strolling
the tables, greeting old friends, making new connections, and spending
cash on different items. My favorite find was a dog tag Brailed with
"good dog" on it for my guide's collar.
Next year the ACB Conference is in Louisville, Kentucky, and I plan
on attending and hope I'll be able to manage my time better to take
part in more events.
To find out more about the American Council of the Blind, go to:
www.acb.org
Have any of you been to conferences so far this year? Tell us about
them in the Reader's Forum.
###
Feature Writer Alena Roberts - Blio Reader Continues to Disappoint
Blind Users
Last week I downloaded the new Blio Reader for my iPhone. I was
excited, since I knew that this app was partly created by the NFB,
which in my mind meant it was going to be completely accessible and
user friendly for the blind. I'm sad to report, though, that this
isn't the case. The Blio Reader has some nice features, but at this
point I don't see a compelling reason to use it instead of iBooks.
I'll start with my complaints about the app and then move on to what
the app does have to offer.
My first major complaint is that there is no tutorial in the app to
help VoiceOver users learn to use it. Many apps do not come with a
tutorial, but since this app was supposed to have us in mind, a simple
one should have been included.
My second complaint is that the Blio bookstore has no free titles.
The app comes with two books, but it would be nice to be able to test
out downloading one myself without shelling out money. They do offer a
feature that allows a user to download a book from Google's free books
and then import them, but that requires more technical skill than I'm
guessing most users have. The Blio bookstore sells books that are free
in other apps, so I see no reason why I should spend money for them.
Finally, navigating while reading can only be done by character or by
word, which means if I want to reread a part of a page, getting there
will be quite tedious.
With some of the major drawbacks aside, here are the features that
might attract users to choose this reader. First is the option to
purchase other high quality TTS voices to read the books. If the book
is TTS enabled, you can read the book without having to swipe every
time you need to turn the page. The second major feature is that it is
compatible with Braille displays, which increases the number of books
available to Braille readers. Finally, there are multiple visual
settings which will be helpful to people with low vision.
So, while this reader does have its advantages, and it's always nice
to see new products and services available to the blind community,
there are several drawbacks which may immediately alienate some
potential users that could have been easily fixed before its release.
Here is another review for Blio by Darrell Shandrow from Blind Access
Journal
http://blindaccessjournal.com/2011/07/new-blio-for-ios-app-a-brief-demo/
You can also find a demo and review at the end of this Serotalk
podcast.
http://serotalk.com/2011/07/19/serotalk-podcast-72-what-can-i-do-for-you-lately/
###
Feature Writer John Christie - Blind Students Gain Confidence at Surf
Camp
From Monday July 18, 2011 to Wednesday July 20, 2011, the eleventh
annual Surf Camp was held at Mission Point and South Mission Beach
Jetty in San Diego, California. Ocean Experience Surf School and
Braille Institute have paired up for the past eleven years to make
this camp possible.
The purpose of the program is to let the visually impaired student
know the thrill of surfing. The students learned the step by step
procedure of how to surf by using adaptive equipment and exploring the
fundamentals of surfing including balance, training on the Indo Board,
paddling progression, the "pop up," catching waves, water safety, and
oceanography.
"The lessons essentially bring together the adaptive skills we teach
in our program," said Katie Wischmeyer, youth services manager at
Braille Institute San Diego. "Knowing this, the instructors at Ocean
Experience are great at ensuring all steps are done to make the surf
camp accessible to our young surfers."
Through the Ocean Experience's surf training program, students walk
away with a new found sense of confidence. "Our young students love
any activity that is both educational and fun," said Wischmeyer.
"Couple that with this surf camp, and the resulting experience
encompasses what we at Braille Institute wish for all our students:
Independence."
Braille Institute also has other activities which help students adapt
to a sighted world. These annual events include white-water rafting,
camping, and jet skiing. Braille Institute also has a car rally in
August where a blind person with directions teams up with a driver to
navigate them to the finish line.
The Surf Camp that Braille Institute and Ocean Experience Surf School
have started is an excellent program for the visually impaired and
blind students. The program gives the students confidence and lets
them have fun as well. It also reinforces with the sighted community
that with the right training and the proper adaptations, the blind can
overcome barriers and do many things that the sighted world thought
they couldn't do.
This partnership between the two organizations is doing a great job
changing the perception of the public in regards to what the blind can
and cannot do. Hopefully, other blindness agencies will follow in
their footsteps.
The Braille Institute's Surf Camp runs from 9 am to 1 pm for three
days in the middle of July. For more information on the Braille
Institute surf camp, please email Lanette Jorgensen, at
LanetteJ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or call (619) 225-2317.
Source:
http://surf.transworld.net/1000134456/news/ocean-experience-to-teach-visually-impaired/
###
Feature Writer Lynne Tatum - Updates and a Changing World
Previously, I casually wrote about the fun of being a computer
software and hardware instructor at our Computer Center. Little did I
know that I would be laid off in the coming months. We sat in shock as
our director made the dreaded announcement. I then faced six weeks to
ponder the daunting prospect of not having full-time employment after
working there for almost eleven years. To be perfectly honest, I
believe I emotionally and mentally slipped down the rabbit hole for a
bit as my powers of concentration became strangely fragmented. Having
no choice, I stoically continued to teach and perform. Given a bit of
a reprieve, I was kept on through the month of July. From there on,
I'll be hired as an adjunct on an as-needed basis. Firmly believing
that when one door closes, another opens, I've inquired about offering
beginning guitar lessons at a well-known volunteer establishment, but
am also exploring several professional opportunities as monthly
expenses wait for no one.
Readers will recall that my mother has been living in a temporary
apartment since a fire in the kitchen forced her and my niece out in
January. I'm happy to report that they are back in their old place and
she is quite pleased. In addition to replacing and repairing items
damaged in the fire, the maintenance staff painted and put new doors
on her closets. Closets are at a premium here in New York. My mom and
niece have four, plus a large, shelved area for linen. How we salivate
for even one more here.
Very recently I wrote how joyous it is to wake up to the beautiful
sound of birdsong. On a hot-as-Hades Friday, we awoke to the
irritating sound of what I, in my sleep fog, thought was drilling
being done on some rental space below us. Sadly, it turned out to be
the awful sound of an electric saw cutting down the trees and shrubs
on our deck. Stunned into immobility, I emerged from my stupor to call
our Building Superintendent, who contacted me later that evening to
assure me that all would be replanted. Our trees and foliage had died
and were filled with wasp nests. We eagerly await the day the birds
return and merrily sing once more.
I've also truly learned what it is to be the leader of a small
ensemble. We've had a pianist change, taken promo photos, and added
and subtracted songs--and to say nothing of the fun of scheduling
rehearsals. We've even written what we think is some snappy patter to
be spoken between tunes. That was unexpectedly fun, causing me to
explore the idea of writing a stand-up routine. In times like this, no
option is dismissed.
###
Feature Writer Steven Famiglietti - "LEEP" 2011
Last week, I was once again involved with "LEEP" 2011, which is run
by Oak Hill each year. "LEEP" stands for Low Vision/Blind Educational
Employment Program. Students must be legally blind, between the ages
of 15 to 21, possess good daily living skills, and be able to self
medicate if necessary to attend.
This year, we had eight students attending, along with myself and
Karin Agritelly. We stayed at the University of Hartford in their Hawk
Hall dormitory for the week. Everyone arrived on Sunday and departed
on the following Saturday morning.
On Sunday, students had the chance to get to know one another as they
set up their dorm rooms, make door decorations, and eat pizza and
snacks. Monday, the group traveled to Guiding Eyes for the Blind in
New York, where we took a tour of their campus, had lunch, an
orientation to their guide dogs, and finally, each student had the
chance to take a walk with a dog and trainer.
Tuesday, we traveled to the New England Assistive Technology Center
at Oak Hill for a day of technology. First, the group met with the
staff of Silver Lining Technologies for a demonstration of computer
technology and the iPhone. Next, the group participated in an
interactive demonstration of the iPad. For most, it was their first
experience with the iPad and they loved it! Finally, everyone made
tactile hand prints during an art therapy session.
Wednesday, everyone traveled to New York City on the Mega bus. During
our visit, we went to and toured the Wax Museum. Everyone enjoyed
taking photos with all of the celebrities on display and we were all
fascinated with the new 4D movie demonstration where we not only saw
the movie, but experienced special effects such as getting wet when a
rain scene was shown or getting hit with wind when it was windy. This
was the highlight of the week for the group.
Thursday, the group met with some Oak Hill Human Resources staff and
had an interactive discussion about resume writing, job searching, and
best practices for interviewing. We then traveled to the Library for
the Blind where we learned about the new digital book players and how
to download books from the National Library Service website.
As our week came to an end on Friday, we traveled to a local TV
station and experienced a taping of a local news show, and then
traveled to the CT Radio Information Service for a tour of their
facility. On Friday evening, we all had a great time drumming with
exotic instruments, which was a great way to have a finale. The next
morning, we all packed up and departed.
During all of our activities, we don't provide individual sighted
guides and we don't allow our students to have staff do things for
them that they can do for themselves. Some of the goals of our program
are to teach students to practice self advocacy as they experience
transitioning from high school to employment or high school to
college. All in all, I think the students had a good time and came
away with many new experiences.
###
News - Testing Done on Quiet Electric Cars
It's been brought up in this magazine before that electric cars may
be so quiet when running that they may be undetectable to a visually
impaired pedestrian. While this sentiment was held as a truth, tests
have now been done to confirm its validity, and with predictable
conflicting results.
With gas prices as high as they are, electric cars are becoming more
and more attractive to drivers looking to save some money, especially
drivers in a city environment. Without a classic gasoline or diesel
motor, there is no combustion or exhaust noise, making the electric
cars supposedly quieter by comparison. This is something that has
worried advocacy groups in many countries and has led to, in some
cases, legislation requiring electric cars to produce some sort of
prominent audible noise while operating.
So, as a result, studies have been performed to see just how quiet
these new electric cars are. In one experiment, the noises generated
by cars with gasoline and electric engines were compared as they
performed multiple maneuvers at varying speeds. The study shows that
at low speed--roughly 5 miles per hour--electric cars are only one
decibel quieter than their gasoline counterparts. When speeds
increased to about 12 miles per hour, they sounded nearly
identical--with both exhibiting prominent tire noise. With this study,
they concluded that there was not any significant noise difference
between the two to suggest that a pedestrian would be able to clearly
differentiate between the two types of vehicles.
In another test, though, ten visually impaired participants were
asked to listen to audio recordings--to simulate them standing on a
curb at an intersection--to see when they could hear the electric
vehicle. They found that in semi-rural areas, the risk posed by
electric cars was 1.4 times greater than conventional cars and 1.3
times greater in urban areas. Across the board, they found that
electric cars were much more difficult to detect when pulling away
from a stop.
The Department of Transport's main concern is protecting the public
from hazards, but currently, even though electric cars may pose a
potential risk, there are still so few people with electric cars that
any sort of regulatory action will surely be delayed.
What are your thoughts about electric cars and what, if any,
regulatory action needs to take place to protect visually impaired
citizens? Do you think more testing needs to be done to come to a
concrete conclusion? Let us know in the Reader's Forum.
Source:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/quiet-electric-cars-pose-no-danger-to-visually-impaired-2319557.html
###
Health and Science - Vaccines from Space: Another Shuttle Legacy
With the space shuttle missions now over for the foreseeable future,
many are looking back on the achievements of the program. Aside from
advancing our knowledge of our planet, solar system, and universe, the
space shuttle missions also gave researchers a unique opportunity to
study certain diseases as well.
Biotech firms like Astrogenetix discovered that when they removed
gravity from the equation, bacteria is able to grow at a much faster
pace. Specifically, they studied the bacteria responsible for the
food-borne illness salmonella, and MRSA, the deadly infection that
comes from staph bacteria that is largely resistant to the antibiotics
normally used to treat staph infections. In the past three years,
different batches of the two bacteria were taken up into space a dozen
times.
Now, if you're like me, you're probably thinking that the rapid
growth of deadly bacteria inside of a metal box floating around the
planet might not be the best idea, or perhaps the safest situation for
the astronauts. However, that concern aside, this method of growing
bacteria was hugely advantageous. By growing the bacteria at an
exceptionally rapid rate, researchers were able to begin to understand
how they grow and what specific genes are responsible for their growth
and spread. This also allowed them to extract DNA in much larger
quantities, which gave even more insight into what makes these things
tick. With an increased knowledge of their reproduction, advances in
vaccine creation will come at a much faster pace.
Many people, including great minds like Carl Sagan, believed that the
space shuttle was largely an unimpressive waste of money and space
travel--a very advanced, very expensive space delivery vessel. While
it is true that the shuttle was used frequently for re-supply missions
and not for exploration, the fact that it helped aid in the
understanding of many other things, both on this planet and floating
in the infinite ether around it, while it made its delivery runs
speaks to the versatility of the missions that took place. They were
never for a singular purpose. To say anything less is to marginalize
what was accomplished and what can now be accomplished in the future
with the knowledge and experience gained from the missions that took
place. We may not stand and watch men and women riding explosions into
the sky any time soon, but whatever the future may bring in that
respect will be due to their efforts.
Source:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/health/space-shuttle-may-have-planted-seed-for-mrsa-salmonella-vaccines/284
###
Reader's Forum
For your convenience, all Reader's Forum submissions are separated by
the ## symbol.
In response to Contributor Valerie Moreno - Sound Reasoning, Marie
wrote:
Oh, my yes! Valerie's article hit a good chord. When I was small, my
parents had a cuckoo clock--until I tried to give the cuckoo a bath
and ruined it. I got whipped for that. There was no more cuckoo clock
after that--until my mother got one from a blind friend after my
father's death. When she passed away, I got it. It was a genuine Black
Forest clock and played "Emperor's Waltz" on the hour. I don't
remember if it went off on the half hour. Then, in 2000, I bought a
battery-operated one from Speak to Me, which played twelve different
tunes and cuckoos, and it is nice. I still have it to this day.
Let us not forget the numerous talking toys and musical toys I had as
a child. If I only had some of those, they would be antiques today!
And, starting in 1980, all kinds of talking clocks and such, through
the years. Now, I also have a mantel clock which chimes or plays music
if I choose either mode. Three other clocks talk, one of which is an
atomic talking clock, and there is a clock on my cell phone which
speaks, too. Since no alarm clock can wake me (I don't use them
anyway) I have a vibrating clock, but if I am in a very deep sleep,
that won't do. Most of the time, though, I wake up on my own, or my
cat pats me, because she is hungry. That gets me up for sure.
I am addicted to talking devices--my Victor talks, my digital talking
book player from the library talks, of course. My desktop and laptop
computers talk, too. I don't know what I would do without speech!
##
In response to Contributor Valerie Moreno - Sound Reasoning, William
wrote:
I am writing in regards to Valerie Moreno's article on the talking
clocks. We have them all over the house--4 alarm clocks, a calculator,
we even have a talking glucose meter now and everything. The biggest
thing I enjoy strictly for pleasure is our bird clock. It is hard to
keep animals in an apartment, and that bird clock hangs on the wall,
and when he gets in trouble I just go buy him some new batteries. If I
had the money and the room, I would have them all over the house. I
jokingly tell them I have everything that talks, even the talking
wife. Thank you for your articles. The talking clocks are the best
thing they ever did for us blind people.
##
In response to Feature Writer Alena Roberts - Will Braille Ever Be
Affordable?, Bill wrote:
I have to say right on. Braille is horribly expensive. I was at the
ACB convention in Reno last week and the rep from Humanware was there
demonstrating the Apex. When I asked him what we are paying for when
we purchase this device he said the Braille display. When I asked him
about establishing a payment plan he said that the company is too
small and the interest would be very high. We are really getting the
shaft. Some way has to be invented to make technical Braille cheaper
to produce.
##
In response to Feature Writer Lynne Tatum - Sir Paul, Here We Come,
Chela wrote:
Here is a note I wrote about a concert I recently went to.
As several of you may be aware, last year on a Facebook group, Smooth
Jazz Spot (smoothjazzspot.com), which is run by Ken Levinson, had a
discussion back in March about alternative ways of listening to
jazz--in particular, smooth jazz, since all the terrestrial radio
stations that were playing primarily smooth jazz owned by Clear
Channel decided to go rock style instead. Somehow in the middle of the
discussion, it shifted to who our favorite artists are and some of
them actually have links to their broadcasts like Dave Coz. I
mentioned Chris Botti as my top favorite and the owner told me that I
should contact him and tell him that his music inspires me to play. I
laughed at the thought of it and told Ken off the group in an email
how it couldn't be done and the website is not screen reader friendly,
not to mention when he had the amazon.com chat about his Live In
Boston CD, the chat wasn't accessible, either. I said, "Fat chance."
But it was Ken Levinson who really nudged me to go for it. He told me
to compose an email to him and then he'd give it to his friend who
also is Chris Botti's friend, saxophonist, Dave Coz. So I did, and
through a chain of multiple people, it made it through to Chris, who
then shared it with Archie Castillo, who invited me to one of the
concerts.
So my 26th birthday comes along and my mom and dad were telling me we
should go to Yoshi's instead because Chris Botti's concert this year
is expensive, almost $300 for two people to go. But I really wanted to
go--I was desperate and prayed that somehow Archie could offer me two
free complementary tickets the next day. So, April 7th comes along and
I get an email from Archie Castillo! Thank God for people like him! He
told me he had two tickets available for me under my name and that
they are free and would be available at will call at 6 PM.
The night of the concert, my mom helped me with my makeup and
straightened my hair with her curling/flat iron, which I'm afraid of,
by the way! Then I at 3 o'clock, called the box office to double check
if the tickets made it and they said yes. So I dressed up and was
wearing a silk black dress that went to the knees, my boots, a nice
necklace, and a nice black sweater. Mom loaned me the necklace and
sweater. My dad wore slacks and nice shirt.
Mom took a picture of us before we left. Thanks to dad's GPS we found
the Davies Symphony Hall and the Lighthouse for the Blind is across
the street. We got the tickets and decided to go grab dinner before
the doors opened.
After our meal, we go back to the Davies Symphony Hall and we snag a
parking spot. We went in and located our seats and we were 9 rows away
from the stage. But best thing of all, even though there was no flash
photography allowed, and cell phones had to be turned off, and no
recording, I snuck in my DS50 Digital Voice Recorder and no one knew.
Yes, call me a sly jazz cat but if there weren't going to be any
pictures, I figured capture it somehow. The audio turned out well, but
unfortunately, I just found out my recorder and its software is not
compatible with my version of Windows. It goes from XP to Vista, yuck!
So I'm praying I'll get an XP Desktop so I can load it on there
someday.
Chris was amazing. I dug every note he played, improv or not. That
was one night I'll never ever forget thanks to Chris Botti and Archie
and Dave Coz and Ken Levinson for a wonderful birthday gift for my
26th year. Virtual hugs one for each of you!
##
In response to Feature Writer Lynne Tatum - Sir Paul, Here We Come,
Roy wrote:
My favorite concert of all time was an Elton John concert I attended
in Nashville, TN in 1993.
I have been to nine Elton concerts and this was by far the best. It
was at the Grand Ole Oprey House and I was in the fifth row from the
front. And on stage was Elton, all by himself, no band or anything.
Just Elton on the piano, entertaining what seemed like only me for two
hours. He opened the show with "Tiny Dancer," which is my favorite
Elton song and he just seemed to get better from there. Thank you,
Elton, for such a wonderful show!
##
In response to Feature Writer Op Ed with Bob Branco - Appealing to
the Consumer Groups, Edward Zolotarevsky wrote:
All the best planning and training might not help. Most companies do
not hire disabled employees. For instance, I attended a job interview
that ended quickly. The interviewer told me that they already hired a
disabled employee. If I turned out a top job candidate, they would not
hire me. If a company has "equal opportunity employer" posted on their
front door, would the statement ensure employment of blind candidates?
If the answer is yes, why are so many blind people unemployed? If more
blind people should be hired, it's a question of civil rights.
Therefore, ADA should be amended to entitle the disabled to employment
rights equivalent to those of the able-bodied. Our disabilities do not
prevent us from performing our jobs. To our potential employers
disabled people are seen as not worth hiring.
##
In response to Op Ed with Bob Branco - Appealing to the Consumer
Groups, Bill wrote:
I say you're right on target asking the question why the unemployment
rate for the blind is still 70 percent after thirty years. I believe
and I said it before that the consumer groups are not doing enough to
educate employers as to our abilities. I believe a lot more work has
to be done on this issue. Right on, Mr. Branco.
##
In response to Feature Writer Alena Roberts - TV Speak by Codefactory
Comes to the US Market, Larry wrote:
I went blind in March, 2004 and five years ago I discovered audio
descriptive television. I discovered DVS by listening to my television
guide on NFB-Newsline on the phone. In February 2011, I changed my
cable company and got Verizon Fios. On installation day, the Verizon
tech said that Fios does not offer the SAP needed for the DVS. I was
told that it may be available in the summer. I called Fios in June and
was told it would not be available at all. I contacted the Verizon
president's office and the representative tried to help, but was not
able.
I then sent an e-mail to WGBH in Boston and in less than a week Mr.
Chris Clark solved the problem. I needed the help of my sighted reader
because you must use the cable menu on the screen.
It is a shame that we in the blind and visually impaired community
are still treated like second class cable subscribers who pay a first
class fee. I understand that the FCC is considering changing their
rules to rectify this atrocious wrong.
###
Recipe of the Week - Apricot Chicken Pasta
Submitted by Dave Hutchins
Yield: 2 Servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
1/4 cup dried apricots, cut into thin strips
4-1/2 teaspoons sherry or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup uncooked bow tie pasta
1/4 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2-1/4 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 green onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, bring apricots and sherry to a boil. Reduce
heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes or until apricots are tender.
Cool.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large
skillet, saute mushrooms in oil until tender. Add garlic; saute 1
minute longer. Reduce heat to medium. Add the chicken, cream and soy
sauce; cook and stir for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat. Stir in the cheese, almonds, onion, salt,
pepper and apricots. Drain pasta; toss with chicken mixture.
Apricot Chicken Pasta published in Cooking for Two Summer 2007, p37
###
SPECIAL NOTICES - New Listings
I am looking for the aluminum clothing tags that can be penned or
sown in clothing. In the packages that can be bought there are so many
different ones that would not be used. The ones I am inquiring about
are just the basic colors such as: red, white, blue, etc. I don't need
the light colors or the plaids or stripes. If you have some of these
and do not use them please contact me by either telephone or email.
The phone no. is: 615-356-2521 and the email address is:
lois.simmons11@xxxxxxxxxxx
##
3rd ANNUAL ABILITY EXPLOSION SET TO BLAST OFF ON SOUTH BEACH
Wednesday-SUNDAY, OCT. 19-23. 2011
A weeklong showcase of the abilities of people with disabilities is
expected to blast off for EVERYONE at the third annual Ability
Explosion on sunny South Beach, FL beginning Wednesday, Oct. 19 with
events running through the 23rd.
"The purpose of the Ability Explosion is to gather all of us, and to
share and enjoy our experience together," says R.David New, the
event's organizer. "We also want to exhibit the vast and varied
abilities of people with disabilities, while providing viable
solutions for challenges, whether physical, visual, hearing or
intellectual."
"The Ability Explosion is a celebration like South Florida has never
seen: It's a way of fostering understanding while having fun,
Florida-style, at the same time!" says David, who is also chairman of
the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee. Many of the people
featured in the events have physical, visual, hearing or intellectual
disabilities.
It's the extraordinary series of educational, informative and
entertaining seminars and events from the world of arts, sports and
entertainment focusing solely on the abilities of people living with
disabilities!
Schedule: (events also run throughout the year promoting the October
series)
*American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be available upon
request.
10.19.2011
"Blast-off Celebration, Art Exhibition, Resource & Technology and
Children's Expo"
Miami Beach Convention Center, D
9:00am-5:00pm
10.20.2011
"Takin' it to the Streets"
Every corner of Miami Beach
8:00pm into the evening
10.20.2011
"Lights Out Miami" (A Dining in the dark experience)
Many restaurants throughout Miami. Check www.abilityexplosion.org for
more info.
10.21.2011
"Biz-Ability Luncheon" (Sponsored by the Miami Beach Chamber of
Commerce)
Morton's Steakhouse
11:30am
10.21.2011
"Comedy Explosion" (Featuring Judy Gold, Kyle Grooms and Lonni Brun)
The Colony Theater, Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
8:00pm
10.22.2011
"Ability Explosion 5k Run"
Ocean Drive at 10th street
7:30am
10.22.2011
"Wheelchair Basketball Event"
Scott Rakow Center
12:00pm
10.22.2011
"Benefit Cocktail Party and Accessible Fashion Show Extravaganza"
Location to be announced
7p.m.
10.23.2011
"Aquabilities Explosion- A Watersports Extravaganza!"
Shake-A-Leg Miami, 2620 South Bayshore Drive Coconut Grove, FL 33133
1-4p.m.
Media: For more information, please contact Paulina Casado
305.519.1595
Paulina Casado
Marketing and Fashion Show Director
Ability Explosion
Paulina@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.abilityexplosion.org
##
I'm looking for a TC105 Sony matic reel to reel 4 track for sale. If
you have one, please call Van McLean, at 919 832-7857
##
CCTV for sale. The brand is Bravo. It doesn't include a monitor but
it can be connected to any TV sets. It is in excellent condition and I
would like to sell it for $140 give or take. You can reach me at:
305-778-2864. I am sending this message from my friend's email.
##
GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE HOTLINE
The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) - the leader in
service animal policy & advocacy - has launched an innovative new
service. The NAGDU Education & Advocacy Hotline offers general
information about service animals under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as specific guidance concerning
restaurants, taxicabs, and health care facilities. In addition,
individuals facing discrimination have the ability to speak with a
special advocate trained to mediate access issues. Future plans for
the hotline include summaries of each of the state laws concerning
service animals, more industry specific information, and guidance in a
variety of languages, such as Mandarin and Arabic. The Hotline is
available anytime by calling, toll-free, 888-NAGDU411 (888-624-3841).
The NAGDU Education & Advocacy Hotline was created by a grant from
the National Federation of the Blind's (NFB) Imagination Fund, as well
as with contributions from the California and Florida Associations of
Guide Dog Users. The National Association of Guide Dog Users is a
strong and proud division of the NFB. NAGDU conducts public awareness
campaigns on issues of guide dog use, provides advocacy support for
guide dog handlers who face discrimination, supports sound policy and
effective legislation to protect the rights of service animal users,
offers educational programs to school and civic organizations, and
functions as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind.
For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users
and to support their work, you can visit their website at
HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG
Or send an email message to Info@xxxxxxxxx
##
Jason is selling a KNFB Reader Classic for $500. It includes two
batteries, two chargers, and a stand. He purchased it for $3000
approximately six years ago. Call 201-659-1680 and ask for his father
David.
###
PEN PALS - New Listings
I would like to talk with Jehovah's witnesses all around the world
for friendship either over the phone or by written correspondence. I
can be reached at the follow numbers
336-293-6982 and 336-258-7721: my address is as follows: 1448 West
Fourth Street, Apartment A, Winston-Salem, NC. 27101.
Melody Edwards
##
Name: Aisha Chance
Email Address: aishachance@xxxxxxxxxxx
About Me: I am a visually impaired woman preparing to begin working
as a first-year special education teacher this fall.
##
Melissa Crockett
7175 53rd Street, Piellas Park, Florida 33781
missycrock@xxxxxxxxxxx
I am looking for a friend who is the same age as me, is local, and
who has a sense of humor.
##
Jessica.grant1984@xxxxxxxxx
My name is Jessica Grant. I live in Charleston South Carolina and I'm
looking to network with people in my area.
I'm really interested in making new friends in my local area.
I enjoy horseback riding, talking on the phone, going to the beach,
out to eat, and surfing the internet oh and going to church.
If interested in please send me an email we'll get things started
from there.
I would also like to know about some different things that I can get
involved here in Charleston SC
##
Twenty-one-year old Isaac Grunden enjoys music, movies, and meeting
new male and female friends. He also hopes to meet a woman he can
begin a relationship with. 951-330-6946
###
SPECIAL NOTICES - Previous Listings
Descriptive Videos
Now you can enjoy 200 different movies that have added information on
the sound track, that make it easier for visually challenged persons
to follow what is going on. Call Ken Mann at 972 530 2949 and receive
a print and cassette listing of the movies.
A one-time $25 gift lets you get started.
##
VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired5th Annual
Employment and Technology Institute
"Tech Smart: Technology for Employment Success"
7-Day Conference (Friday, July 22- Thursday, July 28, 2011)
Try something new, attain valuable skills, and open the door to your
success. Get Connected!
This 7-day employment and technology institute for adults (18+ years
of age) who are blind or visually impaired, offers workshops and
seminars by seasoned professionals, a Technology Expo with hands-on
demos of the latest in assistive technology for work readiness and
personal success, and an opportunity to relax and reflect at VISIONS
VCB. This 35 acre residential rehabilitation and training center in
Rockland County includes a private five acre lake, a ramped heated
swimming pool, indoor and outdoor sports, library, recreation lounges,
wireless internet connection and an adapted computer center.
Your gateway to workforce success includes the following workshops:
Assistive Technology at Work (i.e. AP spotlight, scanning tools,
etc.)
Apple and Windows Accessibility (i.e. the i's have it, Windows 7,
etc.)
Job Seekers Empowerment Tools
Benefits: "Why It Pays to Work"
Understanding the NYS CBVH Vocational Rehab System
What Employers Look for on Social Networks
What is the cost? (All costs below include lodging, meals and
transportation)
CBVH Sponsored: $200 for 7-day Institute
Non-sponsored: (suggested minimum individual contribution) $77.00
How Do I get there?
Roundtrip bus transportation will be provided fromVisions at Selis
Manor at
135 West 23rd Street, New York, NY, to VISIONS VCB and back.
For Registration online go to:
http://visionsinstitute2011.eventbrite.com For assistance or more
information, email VISIONS atinstitute@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or call (212)
625-1616, ext. 130.
##
For sale: Braille N Speak 640. New high capacity battery pack, new
high capacity AC-adaptor/charger, new memory chip, new flash ROM, new
double-speed chip, new carrying case , new serial cable, price
includes shipping and insurance. $450
Call Roger, 781-812-5303
##
For Sale: Old style manual Perkins Braille writer. I would like $500
for it. It's in great condition and works perfectly, but I no longer
use it enough to keep it around.
I am willing to ship it anywhere in the US free matter for the blind.
Please e-mail or call me after 6 Pm with any questions.
Thanks.
James Konechne
Email jakon22@xxxxxxxxx
Call 4109250707
##
I am Mahmood-Ul-Hassan. I am interested in finding clients and
organizations to provide them with technical support pertaining to
software utilized by the blind. I have expertise in using all the
important software. Furthermore, I can provide technical support in
trouble shooting all kinds of IT related problems. I have the facility
to call anywhere in America and Canada to my clients and can contact
anyone elsewhere via email/skype or if needed, via phone. I can speak
English very fluently. My fees will be quite reasonable. Please
contact me via email mhkhalil@xxxxxxxxx or via phone at 281-677-8478.
##
Hi all,
I have a brailleconnect40 for sale. It has 40 braille cells. It uses
Bluetooth and USB connectivity! In excellent condition!
It is about two years old. It has recently been checked by HumanWare
and has a new battery.
I am selling because I have two displays and I find I only need one.
Asking $1,500, plus shipping. I accept cashier's check, Paypal if you
add the 3% surcharge or send as a gift so I don't get charged the
surcharge and postal money orders.
Any questions please send to my email: coach11@xxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks,
Isaac
##
Hello,
I would like to purchase a Parrot Voice Mate in good working
condition. Thank you. Please contact me by email at
carollablady@xxxxxxx
Carol
##
I have a talk line primarily for visually impaired callers--I'm
trying to reach out to seniors & folks currently encountering vision
loss. I want to provide a supportive environment where people can
talk, share similar experiences & support each other.
Enjoy FREE chat rooms, Bulletin Boards (BB), podcasts, voice mail,
conferences & friendly "neighbor-to-neighbor conversation. Join our
growing group of visually impaired & sighted friends by becoming a
DailyConnection insomniac!
Call (231) 732-7141 & press Pound Sign (#) to skip to the Main Menu:
At the Main
Menu press 1 to select chat rooms then press 1 for the Welcome room
or press 3, 5, 7 or 9 & # for other rooms. At Main Menu press 2 then
follow the prompts to listen/post messages on a variety of BB(s). At
Main Menu press 3 for Voicemail options or press 4 to listen to
Podcasts. TJ's Sports Lodge & "Those Were The Days" senior room will
be coming soon!
Check the Main Board regularly for scheduled conference updates or
send an email requesting most current podcast listings. Recent
podcasts include: Old Time Radio, described movies & several audio
books. Drop in to listen/post to the Music BB. Share your interests,
hobbies & mailbox number by posting a message on the Friendship BB.
Visit our Peace, Love & Harmony Board for inspirational messages &
post uplifting music, poetry, biblical versus or similar items you
would like to share. We look forward to meeting you and sharing
friendly conversation!
TJ -
DailyConnection@xxxxxxxxxxx - (231) 732-7141
##
I have a friend who is looking for one of the following cell phones
that can be used with the KNFB reader software. Nokia model N86 or N82
or the N6220 Classic. If anyone has one they are willing to donate or
sell at a reasonable cost, call Bev Stravrom at 320-266-3330 or email
her at blondspt@xxxxxxx
Thank You.
James Cecil
##
I have an older version of the Reading Edge reading machine for sale
for $150.00. The machine works well. Please pay with money order or
cashier's checks-no personal checks, please.
If you are interested in this item, you can contact me by e-mail at
englandpenny@xxxxxxxxx
##
I am looking for either a lap top computer or Jaws 12, the speech
software. I will accept the best offer. Please email me at
branco182@xxxxxxxxxxx or call 508-994-4972.
Bob Branco
##
I am interested in having any of the following items donated, if
possible. I would like a Braille an speak 2000 with disk drive, a
laptop computer with Braille display, a Braille dictionary, and
Braille writer, along with Braille recipe books and Bible. I cannot
afford these items. If someone can donate these things they can reach
me at the following phone number, 336-464-5768. Thank you,
Chuck Leanza
##
Computers for the Blind
Here is your chance to have a powerful computer with software
allowing blind and visually challenged persons to be able to join
family and friends, doing what they are doing.
Each computer comes complete with monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers,
and all associated cables. It also comes with preloaded software.
Software includes: Open Office for word processing/book keeping, NVDA
screen reader, demo version of Window-Eyes (will function for 30
minutes before computer restart), and 60 day demo version of ZoomText.
For a donation of only $100, the Texas Center for the Visually
Challenged will send your newly refurbished computer right to your
door. As of this morning, they have sent over 4,100 computers to
visually impaired individuals. Computers can only be shipped to the
United States or Canada.
Call Lee Mann at 214 340 6328 for full information. Please pass this
information on to other people who may need an inexpensive, fully
accessible computer.
##
Horizons for the Blind, a Crystal Lake, Ill based not-for-profit
organization, announces the launch of directionsformeTM
(directionsforme.org), an exciting new Internet based service that
makes consumer packaging information available in an accessible online
format for people who are blind, visually impaired or simply have
trouble reading the increasingly small print on packages or labels.
There are limited resources, if any, for visually impaired consumers
to access this information. Many websites are not designed to be fully
or even partly accessible for text-to-speech screen readers, Braille
output devices, screen magnifiers and web-enabled cell phones.
This important information is often ignored because of the difficulty
in seeing it. Some of this information is of a convenient nature but
drug interaction and allergy warnings could be life threatening.
Gaining comprehensive access will foster self sufficiency and allow
consumers to lead more healthy and independent lives.
directionsforMeTM was designed specifically for the blind and
visually impaired consumer and employs innovative methods to simplify
the user experience.
Skip to Main Content: Allows you to bypass repetitive information
contained on each web page.
Subject Headings: Lets you go directly to the information you want
without wading through content you do not.
Formatting: After consulting and testing with actual users,
information on the directions site is set up in the most efficient and
understandable way possible.
The Directions website will address a glaring disconnect between
consumer product manufacturers and this underserved population.
The easy-to-use format makes directionsforMeTM appealing to a wide
range of consumers. With the amount of information on consumer
products increasing dramatically and the print size decreasing just as
significantly, many consumers, particularly the growing senior
population, are having trouble reading the information on packages and
labels.
Through a licensing agreement with Gladson, Directions features over
300,000 products in food, health and beauty and general merchandise
categories. It provides consumers a consistent, one-stop source for
preparation directions, nutrition facts, ingredients, allergy/drug
interaction warnings and more.
##
Books And Beyond is a show that plays on ACB Radio each weekend. It's
hosted by Bonnie Blose, and we talk to authors, editors, publishers
and other creative and interesting people. Sometimes the shows are
blindness related and sometimes they're not. All Books And Beyond
shows will be archived at www.accessibleworld.org on The Books And
Beyond archives page. You can still call 773-572-3166 and hear them on
the phone as they become available. For questions, email Nancy Lynn at
freespirit52@xxxxxxxxxxx
##
Having computer problems? Contact Adapt on Demand LLC
"Assistance is an E-mail away"
E-mail: adapt@xxxxxxxxx or call 816-200-1064 any time
A partial list of services would include consulting, help with iPhone
or Victor Stream, web site evaluation, purchasing advice, computer
training, spyware removal, and hardware and software support by phone
or E-mail on the honor system at $20 per incident.
If your concerns aren't resolved you will not be charged. The goal is
to help people first.
###
PEN PALS - Previous Listings
Hi, my name is Paul and I'm interested in baseball, music and
braille. My contact information is paul44zz@xxxxxxxxx
##
Join me on Facebook. We can chat about Books you have read, Classic
jazz, Oldies music, American or world history, general trivia, and
solve life's nagging problems. Please no Partisan politics or
religion.
Chuck Ayers
Join me at:
Facebook.com/chuck.ayers
Or email me at:
mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chuck Ayers
mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
###
END OF WEEKLY EDITION
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