[bookshare-discuss] Fw: Just A Reminder

From: "Bob Acosta" <boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:40:34 -0800
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Shiela & Bob Wilhite 
To: Bob Acosta 
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 9:11 AM
Subject: Just A Reminder


      Just a reminder:

       

      Wednesday, February 18th is the launch date for Accessible World’s new 
discussion group, “A WORLD VIEW OF HISTORY”. . 

       

      Today, there are thousands of history books available in all formats from 
NLS, Bookshare, RFB&D, AUDIBLE and other commercial providers. They are 
available day or night at the touch of a computer key.  “A WORLD VIEW OF 
HISTORY” helps you cope with this abundance by providing a virtual room in 
which you can discuss ONE selected book each month AS WELL AS get titles of 
OTHER interesting books to read. We have an excellent title to start off with 
and some very promising selections for future months. 

       

      A World View of History will be held at 6:00p.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. 
Mountain, 8:00 p.m.  Central, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, and elsewhere in the world on 
Thursday, 1:00 GMT time. Thereafter, the group will meet at the same time on 
the third Wednesday of every month and will be facilitated by Don Queen.
      Contact: (Email:  queens@xxxxxxxxxxx).

       

      The reading choice for the first meeting is: "1491: New Revelations of the
      Americas before Columbus" by Charles C Mann 
      Since it’s publication in 2005, this bestseller written by a 
prize-winning author received the U.S. National Academy of Sciences’ Keck award 
for the best book of the year. The author in a very readable format compiles 
decades of scientific and historic research to dispute some of the most 
cherished theories of academia about the pre-Columbian Americas. 

       

      For example, in ReviewsOfBooks.comit is stated,

       “In 1491, Charles C. Mann challenges the conventional wisdom that the 
Americas were sparsely populated continents teeming with wildlife before the 
Europeans arrived on its shores. Using recent archaeological and 
anthropological research, he shows how the western hemisphere probably held 
more people than Europe with Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, having more 
people than any European city in 1491. He lists the mathematical and scientific 
accomplishments of the Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs, and shows how the Indian 
tribes of North America were populous and had already removed much of the 
wilderness to suit their own needs. What the Europeans brought were diseases 
such as small pox and hepatitis that decimated up to 90% of some native 
populations. By the time explorers reached central North America, the forests 
had regrown and the populations of animals such as the buffalo exploded in the 
absence of the native tribes. 1491 might force a rethinking of pre-European 
history in the Americas and has received mostly positive reviews. The 
Washington Post says, “"Mann's 1491 vividly compels us to re-examine how we 
teach the ancient history of the Americas and how we live with the 
environmental consequences of colonization."” 

       

       

      Listen to the author on the link below speaking in an interview with John 
Ydstie of NPR’s “All things considered” (7 minutes).  Note: be sure to hear the 
two additional segments under “more from the interview” which are linked 
separately. 

       http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4805434

       

      See below as to where you can get this book in alternate formats and how 
to join the discussion group on February 18th.

       
      "1491: New Revelations of the
      Americas before Columbus" by Charles C Mann, Knopf, 2005, 
       ISBN-10:1400032059. ISBN-13:9781400032051.
       
      While we could only find sound recordings in abridged format through 
Audible.com and commercial tapes; complete unabridged books are available in
      alternate format to eligible members from the list below.
       
      National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS): 
NLS
      Downloadable Audio Book and Magazine Service - DB61198
      NLS Book Number: RC 611982006 (3 cassettes)
      Bookshare.org - Electronic Text in DAISY, HTML and BRF formats.
      Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D Book Number:  HN236.  - 
Sound Recording.)
       

      Here's the info you need to join others online from your home, office, or 
wherever you and your computer, an Internet connection, a sound card speakers 
and a microphone happen to be at the time of the event. Everyone worldwide is 
welcome. NO PASSWORD IS REQUIRED AND the entire event is FREE!

       

      Approximately 20 minutes prior to the event start time, go to A World 
View of History at:

       

      http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf0c95f474b43

       

      or, alternatively, select A World View of History Room at:  
http://www.accessibleworld.org.

       

      If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online 
conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to 
download and then run.  A link to the software is available on every entry 
screen to the Accessible World rooms.

       

      Media Contacts:

       

      Robert Acosta, Events Coordinator

      Accessible World

      818-998-0044

      Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx 

      Web: 

       http://www.helpinghands4theblind.org
[bookshare-discuss] Fw: Just A Reminder

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