Slowly, I'm learning how to use this second gen stream for the purposes I
wanted it. Basically, I wanted it for its online capabilities. If my
computer stopped working but the cable and router were in tact, I could
download books from BARD if I had to. I haven't attempted that yet because
there's no pressing reason and it's daunting. But one interesting thing,
when you use the second gen stream to download a book, it apparently opens
the zip file while downloading. It puts the book, ready to read, on your
online NLS bookshelf. You can then copy it to either an SD card, or
something else, like an NLS cartridge. There are also radio stations, but
although I chose a few, I haven't listened to them yet and I'm not sure I
remember how to get to them. And then there are the podcasts. I have to be
careful and not get too many, or I'll stop reading nonfiction books
altogether. I can get Democracy Now. It does seem to take a bit of time,
however. I can also get Intercepted, which I absolutely love. It is the
podcast from The Intercept and features Jeremy Scahill, whom I love, talking
with various people. I learned about it in an article I was reading where he
talked about interviewing Seymour Hersh. I listened to that episode this
morning. The episodes apparently appear on Wednesdays. I also have podcasts
from The Real News Network. It kept appearing in my inbox with episodes that
I couldn't access with the computer. They're short and I'm not interested in
all of them. There are a few more that I might look for, but again, if I get
too many, I'll never have the time or inclination to read nonfiction books.
Also, searching for individual titles means texting. With my poor memory and
bad tactual skills, I use the beginners' method, available on the second gen
stream, but it is very very slow. It is, however, how I found Democracy Now
and Intercepted. There's a Nation podcast, but I need to find out its exact
name.
Do keep your fingers crossed for me today. We're having a blizzard nd I'll
be in deep shit if the electricity goes out.
Miriam
