I would lead the charge if I didn't firmly believe that petitons are the world's biggest wastes of time.
Bruce -- Bruce Toews Skype ID: o.canada E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: DogRiver@xxxxxxxx LiveJournal: http://brucetola.livejournal.com Radio Show and Podcast: http://www.totw.net Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries): http://www.ogts.net Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com On Tue, 20 Mar 2007, David Allen wrote:
Hi Bruce and list: I've changed the subject line to hopefully better reflect the content.You are quite right. What about organising a petition to fix it? I feel sure this problem is big enough to demand a grass roots international effort. Will you lead the charge? I'd be happy to help encourage participation here.Cheers, Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Toews" <dogriver@xxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 1:56 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double TalkAgain, I'd just say that duplication of pre-existing efforts is a phenomenal waste. Those efforts should be channeled into makingmore available, not duplicating what has already been successfully and effectively done. As a former braille proofreader for CNIB, I can't tell you how disheartening it was to proofread a novel so it could be made available to Canadians, when someone living seventy miles to the south of me could easily download the book, already done, using Web Braille. Knowing how much a braille book costs to produce, to think that such an amount of money was being pumped into redoing something that had already been done when it would be better spent adding to what had been done was very sad. Bruce On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:39:31 -0600, "William Stephan" <wstephan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:> > Sandy, it was a poor choice of words, so I'll rephrase. > > > In that case Bruce, Canadians who are interested in a Bookshare-like> service ought to be putting political and economic pressure on whatever > cognizant agency exists in your country to bring this to fruition.> > > -----Original Message-----> .From: "Sandy Licht"<slicht@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .Sent: 3/18/07 11:05:51 PM > .To: "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, > "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk > . > .How would Bruce know that? He is just one Canadian, after all. > . > .At 09:32 AM 3/16/2007, William Stephan wrote: > .>If that's the Case Bruce, why haven't you Canadians developped a > .>service similar to Bookshare for yourselves? > .> > .> > .>-----Original Message----- > .>.From: "Bruce Toews"<DogRiver@xxxxxxxx> > .>.Sent: 3/15/07 4:17:28 PM > .>.To: "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .>.Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk > .>. > .>.It's not that simple. Canada does have similar provisions in its > copyright > .>.laws. > .>. > .>.Bruce > .>. > .>.-- > .>.Bruce Toews > .>.Skype ID: o.canada > .>.E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: DogRiver@xxxxxxxx > .>.LiveJournal: http://brucetola.livejournal.com > .>.Radio Show and Podcast: http://www.totw.net > .>.Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries): > http://www.ogts.net > .>.Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com > .>. > .>.On Thu, 15 Mar 2007, William Stephan wrote: > .>. > .>.> Bookshare exists because of a provision in US copyright law. I > .>guess if other nations built that sort of language into their > .>copyright laws, Bookshare or a similar entity would be able to > .>operate for the benefit of their citizens. > .>.> > .>.> -----Original Message----- > .>.> .From: "Richard Ring"<richard.ring@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .>.> .Sent: 3/15/07 2:17:15 PM > .>.> .To: "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .>.> .Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk > .>.> . > .>.> .I completely agree with you, but I think it's going to have to be > the > .>.> .result of some kind of International Copyright agreement. (more > stupid > .>.> .politics) > .>.> . > .>.> . > .>.> .-----Original Message----- > .>.> .From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > .>.> .[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bruce Toews > .>.> .Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 2:28 PM > .>.> .To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > .>.> .Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk > .>.> . > .>.> .All we need to do now is get Book Share available to non-Americans > so we > .>.> .can all read instead of being barred by politics. > .>.> . > .>.> .Bruce > .>.> .On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:15:47 -0400, "Fred Wurtzel" > .>.> .<f.wurtzel@xxxxxxxxxxx> said: > .>.> .> Hello, > .>.> .> > .>.> .> I, also have a similar history. I started with a Texas > Instruments > .>.> .> TI-994a> .>.> .> computer with speech then went to an Apple II plus. What we > have> now > .>.> .is > .>.> .> amazing and a blessing. The computer and Bookport along with > .>.> .Bookshare > .>.> .> is > .>.> .> an unbelievable combination to provide access to printed > material. I > .>.> .> can't > .>.> .> imagine what a difference this would have made for me in college > in > .>.> .the > .>.> .> early 70's just after the invention of the cassette tape. > .>.> .> > .>.> .> -----Original Message----- > .>.> .> From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > .>.> .> [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > .>.> .> On Behalf Of Cy Selfridge > .>.> .> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 2:50 PM > .>.> .> To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > .>.> .> Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk > .>.> .> > .>.> .> Hi folks, > .>.> .> Well, I gues I'll throw in my couple of cents worth here.> .>.> .> I concur with William and Crystal as I also have been around > this> .>.> .> synthetic > .>.> .> speech game for a considerable amount of years.> .>.> .> A long time ago about the only thing which talked was some of > the> DEC > .>.> .> terminals which would hook up to some IBM mainframes. They did > have > .>.> .very > .>.> .> good speech with a German accent and they also cost around > $8,000. > .>.> .> My wife and I were elated to find the Voltrax Type and Talk > .>.> .synthesizer > .>.> .> for > .>.> .> the old Apple II+ because it was only $350 or so. While it was > *very* > .>.> .> limited it was better than nothing.> .>.> .> Next I migrated up to an IBM compatible micro which was, I > think,> a > .>.> .286 > .>.> .> processor with a fantastic speed of about 4Khz. > .>.> .> On this wonderful piece of equipment I had a Symphonics 215 > speech > .>.> .board > .>.> .> and > .>.> .> it was, at best, miserable but it also was a lot better than > nothing. > .>.> .> What we have today with Eloquence, Double and Triple Talk along > with > .>.> .the > .>.> .> SAPI voicesis a true blessing. > .>.> .> I use the USB Triple Talk on my 3GHZ XP Home computer because I > can > .>.> .> listen > .>.> .> to JAWS and music independently of each other. When I request a > "Read > .>.> .> All"> .>.> .> command I get the new SAPI voice through the computer's > speakers.> Now, > .>.> .> how > .>.> .> can you complain about this? > .>.> .> Cy, the Ancient Okie... > .>.> .> > .>.> .> -----Original Message----- > .>.> .> From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > .>.> .> [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > .>.> .> On Behalf Of William Stephan > .>.> .> Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 12:34 PM > .>.> .> To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > .>.> .> Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk > .>.> .> > .>.> .> Crystal's right! > .>.> .> > .>.> .> Some of us who've been doing this for a while can still remember > when > .>.> .> synthetic speech sounded about like someone reading through a > kazoo. > .>.> .> > .>.> .> Since folks can apparently designate whatever speech engine they > want > .>.> .to > .>.> .> use > .>.> .> on a file-by-file basis, I'm not sure why which synthesizer is > used is > .>.> .> particularly significant in any case. > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> .> -----Original Message----- > .>.> .> .From: "Crystal French"<raincrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .>.> .> .Sent: 3/15/07 9:25:01 AM > .>.> .> .To: "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > .>.> .> .Subject: [bookport] In defense of Double Talk . > .>.> .> .For my two cents, I have no problem with Eloquence, or Double > Talk. > .>.> .> . > .>.> .> .I have lived enough years to remember only too well a time when > .>.> .access > .>.> .> to > .>.> .> .printed material was very limited. > .>.> .> . > .>.> .> .So, Eloquence and Double Talk sound like normal people to me. > .>.> .> .> .>.> .> .In fact, Perfect Paul and I have a very nice relationship, > thank> you > .>.> .> very> .>.> .> .much, and I am happy to hear that he will be continued in BP > II.> .>.> .> . > .>.> .> .Crystal > .>.> .> . > .>.> .> . > .>.> .> . > .>.> .> . > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> .> -- > .>.> .> No virus found in this incoming message. > .>.> .> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > .>.> .> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: > .>.> .> 3/15/2007 > .>.> .> 11:27 AM > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> .> -- > .>.> .> No virus found in this outgoing message. > .>.> .> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > .>.> .> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: > .>.> .> 3/15/2007 > .>.> .> 11:27 AM > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> .> -- > .>.> .> No virus found in this incoming message. > .>.> .> Checked by AVG Free Edition. > .>.> .> Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: > .>.> .> 3/15/2007 > .>.> .> 11:27 AM > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> .> > .>.> . > .>.> .-- > .>.> .Bruce Toews > .>.> .E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: dogriver@xxxxxxxx > .>.> .Website: http://www.ogts.net > .>.> .Radio Show and Podcast: http://www.totw.net > .>.> .Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com > .>.> . > .>.> . > .>.> . > .>.> > .>.> > .>.> > .>. > .>. > .> > .> > .> > .>-- > .>No virus found in this incoming message. > .>Checked by AVG Free Edition. > .>Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: > .>3/15/2007 11:27 AM > . > .Sandy Licht > . > .Jeremiah 29:11 - 14 A . > .11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are > .plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. > .12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me > .in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. 14 I will be found by > .you," says the Lord. > . > . > .> >-- Bruce Toews E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: dogriver@xxxxxxxx Website: http://www.ogts.net Radio Show and Podcast: http://www.totw.net Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com
