[Nfb-krafters-korner] {Spam?} Fw: OT-[theblindperspective] June 2016 Newsletter
Annely Rose
annely53r at yahoo.com
Thu Jun 2 05:15:32 UTC 2016
Hi Everyone,
I am forwarding this to you all because Lindy has a great article in it. The newsletter is in an attachment as well as in the body of the email. I don't know if the attachment will forward, but that's okay. Enjoy!
Annely
--- On Tue, 5/31/16, Blind Perspective <theblindperspective at gmail.com> wrote:
> From: Blind Perspective <theblindperspective at gmail.com>
> Subject: [theblindperspective] June 2016 Newsletter
> To: theblindperspective at groups.io
> Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2016, 6:27 PM
>
>
>
>
>
> Welcome to The Blind Perspective
> Newsletter
>
> June 2016
> Volume 2 Issue 6
>
> Table of ContentsGreetings from the Editor
> Movers &
> Shakers
> International Perspective
> Healthy Living
> Have I Got A Story For
> You
> The Braille Highway
> Kaleidoscope of Krafts
> Spencer’s
> Spotlight
> Computer Tech 101
> The Rotating Trio; The WindBag
> Cooking
> Concoctions
> Riddle
> Brain Buster
>
> Navigation
> The Blind Perspective Newsletter has been produced in
> such a manner that
> makes it easier to stroll through the articles. If you are
> using JAWS, System
> Access, NVDA, or Window Eyes, press the letter H to move
> through the headings.
> If you are wanting to skip back simply press the shift key +
> the letter H. For
> MAC users, press Control Option Command plus the letter H
> and to go backwards
> through the articles press Control Option Command shift plus
> the letter H.
> If you have any trouble reading this copy you can go to
> Click
> Here it will take
> You to the read the current newsletter
> Greetings from the EditorBy Karen Santiago
> Hello readers, and
> welcome to our June edition of The Blind Perspective. We are
> just at the
> midpoint of 2016. Where has the time gone! I hope the first
> half of the year has
> been filled with good health, happiness, and laughter. May
> the second half of
> 2016 continue in this fashion.
> Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers, vader,
> Baba, Pai, papa, otac, banketi, abba, apa, athair, babbo,
> pater, tata, patri,
> papá, and pappa.
> Here are a few quotes I thought to share with you about
> dads:
> “Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good
> you shaved
> today, you have to do it again tomorrow.” Reed Markham
> “His heritage to his
> children wasn't words or possessions, but an unspoken
> treasure, the treasure of
> his example as a man and a father.” Will Rogers Jr.
> “It is a wise father that
> knows his own child.” William Shakespeare
> Again, wishing all the dads a very
> Happy Father’s Day!
> At a Glance:
> Bookshare, Hungary, Trust, Books, Embossers, Smelly Socks
> & Frames, Sonar, Passwords, Chess, and the Cooking,
> Riddle, and Brain
> Teaser!
>
> Movers & ShakersBookshare
> by Karen Santiago
> karen at theblindperspective
>
> I had the pleasure of recently interviewing Allison
> Hilliker who works
> for Benetech, which is located in Palo Alto, California. She
> works remotely as a
> customer support contractor for Bookshare, a division of
> Benetech. Her job is to
> handle the tech support for Bookshare. Some of her
> responsibilities include
> answering the phone, replying to emails, writing help
> articles for the website,
> and performing accessibility tests. A major part of her job
> is helping and
> teaching people how to use the website. She will assist
> members in searching,
> downloading, and reading books. In addition, Allison will
> inform members about
> which devices work with Bookshare, and help members get the
> books in the format
> they want.
> Jim Fruchterman, a former rocket scientist, founded
> Benetech, a
> non profit technology company. Its mission is to create
> innovative and effective
> technology applications for unmet social needs. Benetech’s
> four major areas of
> focus are Human Rights, Global Literacy, Environment, and
> Benetech
> Labs.
> Within the area of Global Literacy there are four main
> programs;
> Bookshare, The Diagram Center (helping to come up with
> standards of technology
> to make different graphics more accessible, Route 66
> Literacy (a web based
> program designed to teach struggling readers), and Born
> Accessible (resources
> for publishers to make their content accessible from the
> ground
> up).
> Bookshare was launched in 2002, and is the world’s largest
> online
> library of accessible books. Bookshare is legally able to
> make accessible
> digital books for any person with a qualifying disability,
> due to an exception
> in copyright law (the chafee Amendment). One of the
> following disabilities need
> to be verified in order to become a member of Bookshare;
> print disability
> (blindness or low vision), learning disability that affects
> reading (dyslexia),
> or physical impairment that prevents one from holding books
> and/or turning
> pages.
> In 2007 Benetech received an award from the US Department of
> Education
> Office of Special Education Programs. This funding was to
> expand Bookshare and
> to provide the service free of charge for US students.
> Because, and since
> receiving this governmental funding membership has grown
> exponentially. In
> addition, their book collection has significantly expanded
> as
> well.
> Bookshare’s major source of funding is from the Department
> of
> Education. Other funding sources include donations, other
> grants/awards, and
> membership fees. Benetech recently receive money from
> google.org to make more
> books available internationally.
> Bookshare has developed partnerships with
> publishers. This means that many publishers now provide
> electronic versions of
> their books. Which in turn, enables Bookshare to make them
> readily available on
> their site. This certainly cuts down the time to scan and
> proofread books.
> However, Bookshare still accepts volunteer scans, as well as
> some in house
> scans. Bookshare will take books that are scanned by
> volunteers as long as they
> meet the quality guidelines, which are found on their
> website. They feel that if
> someone took the time to scan a book, and the quality is
> good then there would
> probably be others interested in reading it.
> If you are interested in
> volunteering for Bookshare whether you like to scan books or
> proofread, check
> out the volunteer link on their website. If you do not
> qualify for free
> membership, you can earn credit toward your subscription by
> volunteering.
> Bookshare has over 403,000 books in their library, and
> it’s
> constantly growing. Their collection of books include just
> about everything;
> picture books, early readers, romance, hobbies, New York
> Times best sellers,
> biographies, mysteries, newspapers, periodicals, and many
> many more. They also
> have a wide variety of text books in many subjects and for
> various grades,
> including some at the college level. Students may request a
> textbook. Bookshare
> will then try to get the book from the publisher if
> possible. If not, they will
> purchase, scan, proofread, and make it available on the
> site. Although most of
> their books are in English, they do have many books in other
> languages such as;
> French, Spanish, and Arabic, just to name a few.
> Books are made available
> through an exception to US copyright laws. This means that
> different books will
> be available depending on the country you live in. So once
> you enter in your
> location, the site in turns filters out things that are not
> available in your
> region. Again, this is because the copyright exception only
> applies to those
> living in the United States. However, if a publisher gives
> Bookshare permission
> to provide their book internationally, then they will do
> that. Allison stated
> that not all, but most publishers do give Bookshare
> worldwide access to their
> books.
> As stated above, Bookshare is free to US students with a
> qualifying
> disability. The definition of a student is very broad. It
> does not mean just
> students attending school from kindergarten through twelfth
> grade. Those
> attending college, grad school, disability training
> programs, guide dog schools,
> the Hadley school, and adult continuing education programs
> may also be
> considered as a student.
> For people who do not qualify as a US student or who
> live outside of the United States membership is still
> available. The yearly
> membership fee is $50.00. There is a onetime set up fee of
> $25.00, to help
> process proof of disability paperwork. Bookshare accepts
> credit card payments,
> either online or via phone.
> Signing up is quite easy on their very accessible
> website. Just go to the site (address at the end of this
> article), and click
> onto the sign uplink. Then choose individual membership
> type, and complete the
> online form. Then your next step is to provide proof of your
> disability.
> Information about this, and all aspects of the application
> are explained on the
> site. Completing this application process should take just
> about five minutes.
> Once Bookshare receives your proof of disability form, it
> usually takes about a
> week to complete your membership.
> Once you become a member you are allowed
> 100 downloads per month. However, if you need to download
> more you can email a
> request to Bookshare. There are several different ways to
> read the books. Since
> the books are electronic, there are both book text and audio
> options for all
> books. You can listen to the books or read them in print
> from your computer or
> tablet screen. In addition, you can read them in braille by
> embossing them or
> reading from a refreshable braille display. Recently
> launched was the UEB
> (Unified English Braille) option for their BRF braille
> books.
> There are
> several different file formats available other than the BRF
> braille ready
> format. There is Daisy text only, Daisy with images, or
> Daisy audio. MP3 format
> is also available, and can be played on any MP3 device, such
> as the digital
> player from NLs.
> There are several ways to read the books. FS Reader and Web
> Reader (able to open through your web browser), are two
> options. Allison says
> that one of the most popular ways to read their books is on
> iDevices using
> various apps. Voice dream reader (paid), Spotlight Text
> (paid), and Capti (free)
> are other options to read books. For android users there is
> a version of Voice
> Dream Reader and a free app available for you; Go Read.
> Bookshare has their own
> app; Read2Go. You can search for books, download them, and
> read them all from
> within this app. Bookshare books also work with some
> assistive technology
> devices such as Victor Reader Stream, Book Sense, and
> Braille Note Takers.
> Depending on which reading tool you use, it will determine
> the synthetic voice
> that reads the book.
> Bookshare currently has over 400,000 members. So check
> out the website and become Bookshare’s newest member at bookshare.org
>
> International PerspectiveBy Karen Santiago as told
> by Zoltan; from
> Hungary
> karen at theblindperspective
>
> I had the pleasure of interviewing Zoltan, a
> university student from the
> country of Hungary. This is a relatively small country with
> the size of 93,000
> square kilometers (35,907 square miles). It is located in
> East-Central Europe,
> and is bordered by the following countries: Austria,
> Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania,
> Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. It has a population of 10
> million people.
> However, the population is decreasing due to people
> immigrating
> abroad.
> Zoltan was born in Budapest, and currently lives in the
> outskirts of
> the city with his parents. He was born three months
> premature and was blind at
> birth due to retinopathy of prematurity.
> School:
> Zoltan attended the only state school for the blind which is
>
> located in Budapest. This residential school started
> operating in 1826. It
> provides services to 250 blind students from the ages of 3 -
> 22.
> The school
> for the blind consists of; Kindergarten, Primary School, a
> rehabilitation
> center, and a vocational training program. When Zoltan
> started at the age of 6
> he attended what was known as preschool. Now a days grade
> one is considered
> kindergarten. Young children are in a smaller building which
> gives them a better
> sense of safety and security. Then the students move on to
> grade 2 and enter
> into the primary school building. Zoltan did not reside at
> the school. Instead
> he took public transportation for 45 minutes to and from
> school each day. He was
> taught braille as soon as he started school. He knew how to
> read and write the
> braille alphabet by the time he completed preschool. He then
> went on to the
> primary school. He started to learn orientation and mobility
> skills in grade 5.
> He learned cane skills, and routes only limited to within
> the school
> grounds.
> Students are provided opportunities to play a musical
> instrument and
> or sing in the choir. Sport activities that are provided
> include; goal ball,
> swimming, judo, tandem bike riding, and canoeing. Zoltan
> learned judo and how to
> play the piano.
> Mainstream students receive assistance from traveling
> teachers from the school for the blind. They teach everyday
> skills, and help
> them. However, the teachers are not properly trained to
> assist students with
> disabilities. They are not aware of all the needs of a blind
> student.
> Furthermore, the mainstream schools are usually not equipped
> properly or
> supported financially. Integration & inclusion exists in
> Hungary however
> there is much room and need for improvement.
> Unfortunately, there is no
> secondary school for the blind in Hungary. However, after
> completion of grade 8,
> students may choose to continue on to a public high school
> or to a special
> vocational training program. Here, students can learn such
> skills as pottery,
> weaving, and computers.
> Zoltan decided to attend his local neighborhood high
> school. He was the
> only blind student, and the first one the school has ever
> had. His mom, who is
> very supportive, persuaded Zoltan’s mobility teacher to
> teach him the way to his
> new school early. Therefore, Zoltan was able to navigate
> himself to his
> school.
> Zoltan explained that since he was the first, and only blind
> student
> the school ever had, it was a very difficult time for him.
> Most of the teachers
> did not know how to deal, handle, and assist him. There were
> some teachers who
> tried to accommodate him, yet there were others that would
> hand him printed test
> and tell him to complete it. He did have a traveling
> assistant teacher, however,
> she only visited the school once a week.
> Zoltan was taught keyboard skills
> from grade 5 on at the school for the blind. He requested
> and was granted money
> from the government in order to purchase a laptop. Due to
> the high cost of
> screen readers, Zoltan was unable to receive any monetary
> support for that. He
> did state that most blind people, if not all find
> alternative ways of obtaining
> screen readers. He added that many people are very thankful
> for NVDA (NonVisual
> Desktop Access), since it is a free screen reader.
> University:
> Zoltan
> attends the Eötvös Lorànd University located in Budapest.
> He completed his
> Bachelors degree in English. This programs usually takes 3
> years, however,
> students with disabilities are given more time. It took
> Zoltan 4 years to
> complete. He is currently in his second year of obtaining
> his Master’s degree.
> He will complete his courses sometime next year, and plans
> to be an English
> teacher.
> Part of obtaining a degree to become an English teacher is
> passing a
> written and oral proficiency exam. When Zoltan first took
> the written exam it
> was not blind friendly, and he unfortunately did not pass.
> On his second try,
> the examiner decided to read the questions to him. This time
> Zoltan passed both
> his written and oral exams. The next part to complete is
> teaching practices.
> Zoltan recently completed his English teaching practice, and
> said that it was
> very positive. His mentor was very understanding,
> accommodating, supportive, and
> empathetic, which made for a wonderful experience. Come
> September, Zoltan will
> be doing his next teaching practice at the Hungarian Chinese
> Bilingual School.
> After that he will need to complete his long teaching
> practice in both English
> and Hungarian. Finally, he will need to complete his
> teaching portfolio, and
> write his thesis. Zoltan has a very positive attitude, and
> is optimistic in one
> day finding employment as an English teacher.
> Braille:
> *Braille is not seen very much in the public in Hungary.
> There is braille on some doors and in some elevators of
> public
> building.
> *There are no braille menus available from restaurants.
> *Zoltan
> is unaware of any companies that provide their documents in
> a braille
> format.
> *Zoltan just recently visited the National Parliament
> located within
> the city. On the outside of the building is a tactile map
> with braille labeling.
> Although this discovery pleased Zoltan he was quite
> disappointed. For he
> explained that there were several spelling mistakes made in
> the braille
> translation.
> Transportation:
> *There is no separate transportation system for people
> with disabilities. However, is you have your disability card
> issued by the
> government, then you can ride the buses and trams for free.
> *Riding the train
> within Budapest is free for blind individuals and their
> personal care assistant.
> If traveling outside of Budapest, you can purchase tickets
> at a significantly
> reduced rate.
> *There are very few tactile strips at street corners. In
> addition, there are very few audio pedestrian signals at
> crosswalks.
> *At most
> major bus stops there are display panels which tell you what
> bus is coming, and
> when. Zoltan also has this separate remote device that can
> give him the same
> information.
> Guide Dog Schools:
> *Zoltan said that there are at least two guide dog
> schools in Hungary. There is no cost to the blind individual
> for the dog. There
> is no allowance or other financial aid given to guide dog
> users for such things
> as food and veterinary expenses. The waiting list for these
> guide schools are
> very long.
> *Guide dogs are able to access all public buildings and
> public
> modes of transportation.
> Reading Services:
> *free access to braille and audible books if you are
> a member of the Association for the Disabled.
> *Hungarian Electronic Library:
> not specifically for the blind, has thousands of full-text
> works in the
> humanities and social sciences.
> Benefits:
> Disability Pension; once a doctor has “proven” that you
> have
> a disability then you are eligible to receive a monthly
> check from the
> government. Zoltan said that the monetary support is
> minimal, and not enough to
> live on alone.
> Organization:
> Association for the disabled; The Hungarian Federation
> of the Blind and Partly Sighted
> *Audio library
> *store with assistive
> devices
> *may subsidize cost of equipment
> *I T assistance
> The
> Association has other sub organizations that teach mobility
> and braille to
> adults
> Final Thoughts:
> *Zoltan believes that generally blind people are
> underestimated in Hungary.
> *He said that things have come a long way, but
> there is still much more need for improvements. Such things
> that he would like
> to see improve are; more braille in the public, tactile
> strips at street
> corners, and more support from the government.
> *He feels strongly about the
> need to educate and train the teachers about working,
> supporting, and
> understanding students with disabilities. In addition, he
> feels that children
> should be taught at a young age about different disabilities
> and what they could
> do to assist those with a disability.
> *Zoltan feels that as a blind person,
> you need to be confident in yourself, polite, communicative,
> and willing to ask
> for help when needed, but without being demanding. If you
> are able to do these
> things, then people will be more likely to engage in
> conversation and assist
> you.
> Part Two:
> I also had the pleasure of conducting a short interview with
>
> Ildi, a friend and fellow University student of Zoltan. She
> too, lives in
> Budapest and her blindness was caused by too much oxygen
> given at birth.
> Ildi
> attended the same school for the blind through grade eight.
> Her mom had called
> several local high schools and many said that they could not
> accommodate a blind
> student. However, she did attend a Catholic high school. She
> and another blind
> boy attended this school at the same time, and were the
> first blind students.
> Ildi had a very positive experience during her high school
> years, and excelled
> as the top student throughout her four years there.
> She continued on to a
> local college where she received her Bachelors degree in
> English Studies. Ildy
> stated the Association for the disabled; The Hungarian
> Federation of the Blind
> and Partly Sighted does offer to its members, monetary
> support for learning
> devices. She now attends the same University as Zoltan and
> is working toward her
> Master’s degrees in English and Adult Education.
> Ildi treats blindness not as
> an illness, but as an acceptable fact. She notices that
> there are many people
> who feel sorry for her, and other who just do not know how
> to treat a blind
> person. She, like Zoltan believes that educating people both
> young and old about
> accepting and assisting people with all types of
> disabilities needs to happen.
>
> Healthy LivingBy Lawrence MacLellan
> lawrence at theblindperspective
>
> Hello everybody. This month I would like to chat
> about trust, as in
> having faith in others and especially in yourself. Being
> able to go places,
> participating in local events and feeling safe enough to go
> for a walk is very
> important for overall good health.
> Let me tell you about a friend that really
> did trust in humanity and I guess if there was a Guinness
> Book record for trust
> , then I think that he would win.
> Here in the province of Saskatchewan we
> host one of the largest outdoor country music concerts in
> the world and it is
> called “ Craven Country Jamboree” which brings in the
> top names in country
> music. This concert is held outside, attracting thousands of
> people from all
> over North America and the music continues for 3 or 4 days.
> My friend books
> his holidays so he can attend. Well here’s where the story
> gets interesting. He
> starts out by catching a bus in the city that takes him out
> into the country
> where the concert is held. This he does by himself and the
> only company he has
> is his white cane. When he arrives he gets off the bus and
> starts heading to the
> sound of the music. There isn’t anybody there that is
> going to meet him and he
> gets the last bus back each night only to return the next
> day to enjoy the best
> in country music.
> At this point you may be thinking, what about if he needs
> to go to the bathroom or would like something to eat. How
> about tripping over
> people, bumping into someone who may have had too much to
> drink? There could be
> hundreds of problems that could show up for my friend but it
> doesn’t stop
> him.
> I did ask him how do you do it and his answer was that he
> trusted in
> people. He said that people take care of him, they usually
> ask him if he needs
> any help and he ends up spending time with real good people
> and makes a few
> friends along the way.
> He said that when you trust in people things turn out
> good and when you don’t trust in people then the wrong
> kinds of people show up
> in your life. I certainly subscribe to his theory. The news
> is full of terrible
> things and it can be very easy to not trust but by doing so,
> are we attracting
> the wrong people in our lives?
> I am not suggesting that you find the most
> dangerous part of the city and walk the streets at 4 in the
> morning. What I am
> saying is that if you are afraid to go to the local store in
> the middle of the
> afternoon or to simply go for a walk in your neighbourhood
> then I think there’s
> a problem.
> Ask yourself, am I afraid? What am I afraid of? What’s
> going to
> happen if I go outside? There are lots of blind people that
> have no problems
> participating in their community and I would say “ keep up
> the good work”
> because you are showing the rest of the world that blind
> people can live a good
> and healthy life and your community will admire you for
> that.
> For those that
> are having a little trouble, I would challenge you to start
> slowly trusting in
> people. Start with baby steps. Be careful and be smart about
> it. It could be as
> simple as going for a walk around the block. You could call
> a friend and have
> them meet you at a coffee shop or even pick a certain corner
> to meet and you
> know if you don’t show up they will come find you. Carry
> your phone with you and
> if you have G P S then that should help you to feel a little
> safer.
> With all
> my articles I suggest that you start out slow and keep
> adding to it. You never
> know, if you like country music then some day you may end up
> at Craven’s country
> jamboree.
> Trust in the first step you take.
>
> Have I Got A Story For YouBy Carla Jo Bratton
> carlajo at theblindperspective
>
> Hello again fellow book lovers,
> This month I have three very different
> books for your consideration. A high octane thriller, a
> First in a series
> glimpse at the past and a short hilarious beach or backyard
> giggle book. So, on
> into summer, lemonade and great books!
> Pretty Girls
> Written by Karin Slaughter
> DB 82937
> Reading time: 13
> hours and 52 minutes
> Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.
> More than twenty years
> ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished
> without a trace. The two
> women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not
> be more different.
> Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta
> millionaire. Lydia, a single
> mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But
> neither has
> recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared
> loss—a devastating
> wound that’s cruelly ripped open when Claire’s husband
> is killed.
> The
> disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a
> middle-aged man, almost a
> quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a
> wary truce, the
> surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth,
> unearthing the secrets
> that destroyed their family all those years ago and
> uncovering the possibility
> of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
> My comments;
> I
> have read every single book, short story or random article
> written by Karin
> Slaughter. I love her stuff. Be warned: Her books are not
> for the faint of
> heart. She gets gritty, dirty, bloody and she will keep you
> hanging until the
> last twist of the knife.The Swans of Fifth Avenue
> Written by Melanie
> Benjamin
> DB 02787
> Reading time: 10 hours and 22 minutes
> The New York
> Times best-selling author of The Aviator's Wife returns
> with a triumphant new
> novel about New York's "Swans" of the 1950s -
> and the scandalous,
> headline-making, and enthralling friendship between literary
> legend Truman
> Capote and peerless socialite Babe Paley.
> Of all the glamorous stars of New
> York high society, none blazes brighter than Babe Paley. Her
> flawless face
> regularly graces the pages of Vogue, and she is celebrated
> and adored for her
> ineffable style and exquisite taste, especially among her
> friends - the alluring
> socialite Swans Slim Keith, C. Z. Guest, Gloria Guinness,
> and Pamela Churchill.
> By all appearances, Babe has it all: money, beauty, glamour,
> jewels, influential
> friends, a prestigious husband, and gorgeous homes. But
> beneath this elegantly
> composed exterior dwells a passionate woman - a woman
> desperately longing for
> true love and connection.
> Enter Truman Capote. This diminutive, golden-haired
> genius with a larger-than-life personality explodes onto the
> scene, setting Babe
> and her circle of Swans aflutter. Through Babe, Truman gains
> an unlikely entrée
> into the enviable lives of Manhattan's elite along with
> unparalleled access to
> the scandal and gossip of Babe's powerful circle. Sure
> of the loyalty of the man
> she calls "True Heart", Babe never imagines the
> destruction Truman will leave in
> his wake. But once a storyteller, always a storyteller -
> even when the stories
> aren't his to tell.
> Truman's fame is at its peak when such notable
> celebrities as Frank and Mia Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, and
> Rose Kennedy converge
> on his glittering Black and White Ball. But all too soon,
> he'll ignite a
> literary scandal whose repercussions echo through the years.
> The Swans of Fifth
> Avenue will seduce and startle listeners as it opens the
> door onto one of
> America's most sumptuous eras.
> My comments;
> This is a girl book. I am
> fascinated by this time period in New York and all of these
> characters. I
> thoroughly enjoyed this first in a series and can’t wait
> for book two!
> I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
> Written by Amy
> Sedaris
> DB 65319
> Reading time; 3 hours and 42 minutes
> Are you lacking
> direction in how to whip up a swanky soiree for lumberjacks?
> A dinner party for
> white-collar workers? A festive gathering for the grieving?
> Don't despair. Take
> a cue from entertaining expert Amy Sedaris and host an
> unforgettable fete that
> will have your guests raving.
> No matter the style or size of the gathering,
> from the straightforward to the bizarre, I Like You provides
> jackpot recipes and
> solid advice laced with Amy's blisteringly funny take on
> entertaining and
> everything it takes to pull off a party with extraordinary
> flair.
> You don't
> even need to be a host or hostess to benefit; Amy offers
> tips for guests, too!
> Readers will discover unique dishes to serve alcoholics
> (Broiled Frozen Chicken
> Wings with Applesauce), the secret to a successful
> children's party (a half-hour
> time limit, games included), and much, much more!
> My comments;
> Male,
> female, no matter what! This book is funny! Just hard down
> roll on the floor
> laughing! A great group listen too.
> Until sunny July, Happy reading!
>
> The Braille HighwayBy Nat Armeni
> nat at theblindperspective
>
> Hello and happy June (the midway point of 2016) to
> you! I have a
> homebased braille production company. With this in mind, I
> am going to write
> about some of the braille embossers I use.
> As always, I am going to place
> excerpts of 2 emails I have received and feel worthy of
> sharing with you. The
> first email had no name associated with it so I will refer
> to this one as
> mystery person:
> “I think you should concentrate on more positive things.
> You
> should be thankful that there are companies willing to sell
> specialized items
> for the blind.”
> Well mystery writer, I am thankful but I also think such
> companies should have the end user in mind and make some
> appropriate
> accommodations.
> The second email I am sharing is from Gail in
> Florida:
> “I totally
> agree with your last article. And even for things that
> aren’t bought from a
> blindness product organization should have a text (braille
> would be nice but
> there’s that perfect world wish again) downloadable
> manual. Here’s my latest
> gripe. Blindness products are so outrageously expensive.
> Even those of us who
> are working can’t afford this stuff. I realize it’s the
> supply and demand thing.
> But, for example, if we could purchase a braille note taker
> for the same price
> as a sighted person could get a lap top, wouldn’t the
> vendors sell more of
> them?”
> Gail, that would be wonderful but as you alluded to good old
> supply
> and demand just would not make it financially doable. As the
> Movers and Shakers
> article mentioned in the May issue, if Braigo makes braille
> embossers become a
> reality we can buy one for $500.00. Would that be great, or
> what?
> A reminder
> that if you want to share your opinion on something you have
> read in this
> article or have something constructive to say you can email
> me at the address
> mentioned above. Hey you never know you just may read part
> of your email in the
> Braille Highway.
> I have used for both private, and commercial use 3
> different embossers.
> An embosser is a braille printer for lack of a better
> description. I have used,
> and am still using the following make: VersaPoint, ET, and
> the Express 100. I
> have to say that all 3 embossers are work horses. They are
> all noisy, dust
> making, braille producing machines.
> I started with my VersaPoint in the 90s
> for notes and personal documents. In the early part of 2000
> I bought my ET for
> my adventure into my homebased braille production business.
> The Express 100 came
> as the need arose.
> The VersaPoint is a single sided embosser which is
> pretty slow. It
> produces braille at approximately 25 characters per second.
> The maximum
> characters per line is 40 with 25 lines per page. This unit
> uses tractor feed
> braille paper. It has a braille intensity nob with 5
> settings. So one can adjust
> at what pressure the machine’s strikes the paper. If it is
> light weight paper I
> would use the lightest setting and as the paper’s
> thickness increased I would
> turn the knob to accommodate that. The VersaPoint has met my
> needs and is still
> a grate stand by embossing unit.
> The ET is an interpoint embosser. What
> interpoint means is that it can produce braille on both
> sides of the page. My ET
> has the single page feed feature, as well as tractor feed
> paper. If a customer
> wants a couple of lines of brailled texts on an already
> printed sheet I would be
> able to make them happy with the single sheet feature that I
> had added on to my
> unit when I purchased it. The ET can braille up to a maximum
> of 40 characters
> per line and 26 lines per standard braille paper. It can
> produce braille at 60
> characters per second on both sides.
> The major production embosser I have and
> use for big quick jobs is my Express 100. It is an
> interpoint unit. It has and
> braille impact intensity nob as well as it comes with a
> clear speech letting me
> know for a multi copy run at what copy number it is
> embossing, among many other
> settings and features. The express produces Brailled at 100
> characters per
> second on both sides. Since it is running so fast it has 2
> sets of tractor feeds
> one on both end of the embossing head to keep the paper
> straight. With the 2
> sets of tractor feeds you lose one page per production run.
> This would be the
> page on the end side of the embossing headthat would be left
> blank. With the
> Express 100 it can emboss a maximum of 44 characters per
> line and 26 lines per
> standard braille page.
> Keep in mind that there are many types of embossers
> offering different
> features and at differing price ranges. I am fortunate to
> have a local company
> that can fix and maintain my 3 units rather than having to
> transport them which
> would increase my costs.
> If you are in the market to buy a braille embosser
> there are many resources on the internet to review and
> compare. Make use of your
> favorite web browser and have fun researching and talk to
> people who already own
> or use an embosser. Finding out their likes and dislikes can
> assist you in your
> decision making.
> Have an awesome rest of the month of June and remember to
> stay on the dotted line of life!
>
> Kaleidoscope of KraftsBy Lindy van der Merwe
> lindy at theblindperspective
>
> `` Father's Day is celebrated around the world
> during the month of June.
> With this in mind, I went searching for easy projects for
> this month's article.
> Below is a craft I found at Free Kids Crafts which I could
> not resist sharing,
> and another one that is part of my origami collection.
> Smelly Socks Potpourri:
> Potpourri is a mixture of dried petals and
> spices that can be put in a sack and placed in a drawer or
> closet to make
> everything smell good. You can make your own by mixing dried
> flowers and spices
> and even a few drops of essential oils, or you can buy
> ready-made
> potpourri.
> For this easy craft, you will need the following:
> Socks -
> Printed or decorative socks will look great, or you might
> decide to recycle a
> sock or two that has lost its mate
> Potpourri
> Spoon
> Rubber
> band
> Matching ribbon or cord
> Instructions:
> 1. Use the spoon to fill your sock with the
> potpourri.
> 2. Work the potpourri down into the toe area of the sock.
> 3.
> Keep spooning in the potpourri until the sock is tightly
> filled.
> 4. Using the
> rubber band, close the sock tightly at the top.
> 5. Cover the rubber band with
> the ribbon or cord and tie it in a pretty bow.
> 6. Place in a drawer or let
> dad hang his sweet smelling sock in a cupboard.
> Alternatively, make a pair of
> socks to slip into shoes to freshen them up.
> Our second craft for this month is a folded picture
> frame. Photos taken
> in both landscape and portrait orientation can be mounted
> within this
> frame.
> A 4 x 6 photo should fit into this frame without it having
> to be cut,
> thus making it possible for a blind or visually impaired
> person to fold and
> mount the model independently.
> It is a quick and easy project that could
> provide the opportunity for sharing good times and creating
> good memories on
> father's day or for passing time on a rainy afternoon.
> Using origami or other
> colored paper will form an attractive pattern, making this
> photo frame even more
> eye-catching.
> To practice, use a4, legal copy or printer paper, or you
> could
> even recycle magazine pages.
> Instructions:
> Step 1; Place a rectangular piece of paper down on a
> hard, flat surface, with the short edges at the left and
> right and the long
> edges facing top and bottom.
> Step 2; Fold the left edge over to meet the
> right edge. Crease and unfold.
> Step 3; Fold both the left and right edges in
> to meet at the vertical crease line you have just folded.
> Crease well and
> unfold.
> Step 4; Fold the two top corners downwards toward the
> center,
> aligning the edges with the first vertical crease line you
> come to. Crease well
> and leave folded.
> Step 5; Fold the two bottom corners upwards toward the
> center, aligning the edges with the first vertical crease
> line you come to.
> Crease well and leave folded.
> *At this stage you will still have a flat piece
> of paper with 4 corners folded in. Your model will have two
> long edges top and
> bottom, two short edges left and right and the 4 diagonal
> sides where the
> corners have been folded in.
> Step 6; Fold the left edge toward the middle,
> stopping about a half inch from the center vertical crease
> line.
> *Even though
> you will not be placing your paper directly on the vertical
> center fold, you can
> still use this line as a guide to help you fold in the sides
> of your paper as
> straight as possible. Crease well and leave folded.
> Repeat with the right
> edge. Crease well and leave folded.
> Step 7; Turn your model over, like
> turning the page of a book. You will now have a rectangle
> with a smooth surface
> again. It should be positioned with the short sides at the
> top and
> bottom.
> Fold the top edge down to meet the bottom edge to form a
> horizontal
> center crease line. Crease and unfold.
> Step 8; Lastly, fold the top edge
> down, stopping about a half inch from the center horizontal
> crease line. Crease
> well and leave folded.
> Repeat with the bottom edge, folding it up and also
> stopping about a half inch from the horizontal center crease
> line. Crease well
> and leave folded.
> You will end up with a rectangular photo frame with 4
> corners. Tuck the 4 corners of your photo under the 4 flaps
> and display your
> photo in your new origami photo frame.
> For those who might not know, I became interested in
> origami aka paper
> folding around seven years ago. As I started to learn more
> about the craft, I
> decided to compile some text-only instructions for folding
> various
> objects.
> So far, two documents are available for download free of
> charge. If
> you like the picture frame I have shared above, you are more
> than welcome to
> download Accessible Origami - Volumes 1 and 2 by visiting bizviznet.com.net/
>
>
>
> Spencer's SpotlightBy Cheryl Spencer
> cheryl at theblindperspective
>
> Have you ever felt like a pin ball in your own house,
> hitting one wall,
> and bouncing off another wall? Oh boy, there are walls in my
> house that I swear
> move just so I will run smack into them. A few months ago I
> heard of a really
> neat gadget, it is Sonor Glasses by G-Technology Group.
> You know me by now
> and after hearing the pod cast on the Blindabilities app (a
> little plug for my
> friend, Pete Lane,) I got right on the phone and ordered a
> pair.
> There are
> several choices, since I have zero light perception, I
> ordered the darth Vader
> version, my words not theirs. For those who have some
> vision, there are lightly
> tinted, or even clear options available. You can even get
> prescription lens.
> Depending on the lens you choose, prices will vary.
> My friend told me they
> are very futuristic looking. Jordy, move over!
> Below is some information I
> got from their web site:
> * Recommended use: this device is not intended to
> replace the white cane but to be used in combination with
> the cane or guide
> dog
> *Intended for: head and chest protection from overhanging
> obstacles such
> as tree branches and low ceilings
> *Detection range: adjustable
> *User
> feedback: subtle vibration near the right temple
> *Lenses: available in clear,
> dark tint, photosensitive, and prescription
> *Battery: one rechargeable
> lithium-ion
> *Battery life per charge: 7-9 hours
> *Accessories: rechargeable
> battery, battery charger, ear locks, head strap
> *The glasses are made in the
> USA and are backed with an unconditional 1 year warranty and
> satisfaction
> guarantee
> SONAR GLASSES, by G-Technology Group, are designed to
> increase mobility
> independence for the blind and visually impaired. They
> complement the white cane
> and guide dog by detecting obstacles above waist level (such
> as tree limbs,
> signs, walls, people, low ceilings, etc.).
> SONAR GLASSES technology is based
> on echolocation, similar to the way bats navigate in the
> dark. The lasses emit
> sound waves and measure the time to receive sound reflected
> by nearby
> objects.
> These glasses were designed for the blind in mind. When
> Arman
> Ghodousi observed a blind man walking down the street and
> the cane was not able
> to alert him to a low hanging branch, he started to wonder.
> Ghodousi was working
> for a private company using sonor technology to see through
> walls and he thought
> this technology would be a great way of alerting blind
> people to obstacles not
> detected by the cane and or dog guide.
> Kudos to this group of individuals for
> creating something to help make our lives a little less
> stressful, bumpy, and
> bruisey; you know what I mean.
> Below is the contact information:
> For more information, or to place an
> order, please contact: Maggie McBride at 1-703-224-89851-703-224-8985
> mailto:mmcbride at g-technologygroup.com
> Their
> web address is www.g-disabilityproducts.com
>
>
> Computer Tech 101By Jim Morgan
> jim at theblindperspective
>
> As the 1984 hit by Rockwell and Michael Jackson says,
> “I always feel like
> somebody’s watching me and I have no privacy.” In this
> day and age, passwords
> are absolutely essential to keep people out of places they
> have absolutely no
> business being in. Based on a suggestion by one of those
> dictators we call
> editors, I thought we’d talk about passwords.
> The number one thing to
> remember about passwords is, as you might expect,
> REMEMBERING them. According to
> some statistics I’ve seen, the “administration” of
> forgotten passwords takes up
> approximately 56% of all Tech Support tickets. In fact,
> quite a few web sites
> have a specific link to click on if someone has forgotten
> their password. With
> that in mind, let me give a couple of facts about passwords
> as well as the
> “current” rule of thumb for creating them. When it comes
> to passwords, there are
> some that we use over and over again. Psychologists state
> that the average
> person has around 5 passwords that they use regularly. The
> passwords themselves
> may, and do in a lot of cases, change over the years, but
> the number is
> relatively static. The way I heard it; 5 is about the
> maximum that a person
> actively stores in their conscious memory although the
> subconscious is capable
> of quite a few more. As a general rule, you want to stay
> away from all numbers
> and actual words. I know that Personal Identification
> Numbers (PIN’s) are all
> numbers, but that’s a different thing. The reason for
> staying away from the
> above is that there are programs out there that try every
> combination of numbers
> and the contents of the current Webster’s New Collegiate
> Dictionary to sniff out
> passwords at VERY high speed.
> To put it another way, a 4 digit PIN has only
> 10,000 possible combinations and the dictionary will fit on
> the smallest of
> flash drives. However, a 6 – 8 character password, which
> is the most common
> length these days, is a minimum of 139,314,069,504, or 72 to
> the 6th power,
> possible combinations; see the difficulty there? In case
> you’re wondering where
> the 72 comes from, it is the 26 character alphabet times 2
> (capitals and
> lowercase since a lot of passwords are Case Sensitive),
> numbers 0 – 9, and the
> 10 special characters. That’s why a lot of sites nowadays
> have you enter
> combinations of letters and numbers and, even, a special
> character, like the %,
> as well as having at least one of the letters be
> capitalized. This defeats
> those, for want of a better term, “sniffers” since they
> can’t lock on a match
> with any efficiency or speed. In addition, some sites will
> only give you a small
> number of tries before locking you out until you get the
> site’s help to unlock
> it.
> Of course, the next big questions are when do I use a
> password and how do
> I keep track of them. As far as the when is concerned, most
> of the time, you’ll
> want to insert one but not necessarily every time. The
> question to ask yourself
> is if there is something here, be it the computer, a file, a
> backup disk, a
> flash drive, etc., that has something that only you should
> be able to get to.
> For example, anything that has your Social Security Number
> or bank account
> information is generally something to keep secured. However,
> if it’s not
> necessary, don’t put it in since it’s just one more
> thing to keep track of. I’ve
> have a couple of friends who, on more than one occasion,
> were locked out of
> their computer because they couldn’t remember the Windows
> password and they were
> the ONLY one who used said computer. Conversely, I have an
> acquaintance that has
> a laptop she takes all over and it has some sensitive
> documents that she gets to
> from the desktop. So, in that instance, a password is
> somewhat necessary. I will
> say that I have passwords on my Access databases that have
> any sensitive
> information, such as the banking information I mentioned
> earlier or any contact
> information for friends and family, but none on others, such
> as my Audio/Video
> Collection and Music databases. The bottom line is that,
> like a LOT of things,
> it’s up to you. Just remember one important fact; if you
> set up a password on
> your computer and you “lose” it, it can be VERY
> difficult to get back in.
> I
> have a database that I did years ago while at The Metris
> Corporation to track
> employee attrition. I’d kept the database even though the
> information tables
> were inaccessible because it had some other parts, such as
> Visual Basic code,
> that I wanted to keep and have as models for other
> databases. The database had a
> password on it while I was working on it and, for some
> reason, never got removed
> when I brought it home. Anyway, I wanted to get into it for
> something and
> couldn’t remember the !@#$% password. I went through the
> standard ones I might
> have used with no success nor was I able to ferret out the
> password looking at
> the actual file code. Fortunately, I got lucky and used
> variations on a logical
> password and happened to get it right. Needless to say, I
> removed said password
> ASAP so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it again.
> That’s the danger with
> passwords, unless you have a place to keep them.
> This brings me to the point
> of how to keep track of passwords. There are numerous ways
> including writing
> them down, keeping a file on the computer and, if you want
> to get real fancy,
> have a database or something like it. The one thing you
> SHOULDN’T do is trust
> your memory; especially if it’s an important password. I
> wouldn’t write them
> down and then just leave that lying around either. The whole
> point of a password
> is security. One method that is reasonably safe is writing
> the password in
> Braille. Let’s face it, not many people like us read and
> write in Braille; to
> say nothing of the sighted public. Still, you want to put
> such a list in a safe
> place so that you’ll know where it is and can get to it if
> you need it.
> I
> guess, in the end, when it comes to passwords, it all
> depends on you and your
> particular needs and personality. I have a database that I
> secured with a
> password that I use a LOT and it has all my needed secure
> information, including
> passwords and banking information, so that I can get to them
> quickly whenever
> they’re needed. More often than not, the one time you
> really need a password and
> can’t remember it, you need it somewhat quickly. But,
> whatever way you wish to
> do it, please be careful to not make it too obvious and
> NEVER use your banking
> PIN on the computer as a password since, if it ever gets
> cracked, you could be
> in a world of hurt. Anyway, that’s my “sermon” for
> this time; Happy Computing!
>
> The Rotating Trio: The WindBagBy BlowhHard
> blowhard at theblindperspective
> Chess
> Opponents That Almost Never Quit
> My last article gave the rules of chess in a very
> basic way, along with
> how and where you can get started. Let’s continue from
> there.
> Let’s say that
> you have at least begun working on the first correspondence
> course from Hadley.
> You’re getting an idea of how the game is played, but
> you’ve got a slight
> problem. You don’t know anyone who plays the game, or if
> you do, they aren’t
> available for a game when you are.
> There are ways around this. Some require
> modification, while others do not. Consider computer chess.
> Now, don’t jump to
> any conclusions, because it does not mean that you will
> never win a game. The
> chess computer programs or apps for iDevices can be set at
> different levels of
> skill to suit your needs, ranging from an extreme novice to
> a Grandmaster. And
> they can be operated by blind people if you get the right
> program, app, or
> both.
> My advice is to use a separate chess set, making the moves
> as you play.
> This is so that you can examine the situation without having
> to go over the
> board square by square using speech output from your chess
> opponent. So, if you
> move a pawn to E4, move it on your board, then enter it into
> the computer. If
> the computer announces that it is moving a pawn to E5, make
> that move on your
> board. Then figure out your next move and make it on your
> board, then enter it
> into the computer and wait for the response and execute it
> on your board, and so
> on.
> Let’s look at a couple of apps for iDevices first. Look
> for them in the
> app store. I won’t mention their cost, because it changes
> from time to time, but
> both of these are low cost, and well worth the money. First,
> let’s see what they
> have in common.
> Both are Voice-Over friendly. Both will announce the
> computer’s move. With both apps, you can choose to play
> White or Black. With
> either app, you can choose to play using a chess clock or
> not. This adds a whole
> new dimension to the game of chess. Both will offer tons of
> replay value because
> of the fact that no two games of chess are alike. Both play
> good chess. Moves
> are executed in the same way. You can move a finger around
> the board and when
> you touch a square, it will tell you what, if anything is on
> that square. It
> might say “E2, White pawn”. Anyway, you locate the piece
> you want to move and
> double tap on it. Now, find the square you want to move it
> to, and double tap on
> it. The app will announce its response. You can have both
> apps make the next
> move for either side. In essence, you can begin a game and
> tell the app to make
> the next move, and the next, and the next, until the game
> ends. You can watch
> the app play against itself. You can learn strategy this
> way. And, while I
> consider it cheating, you can have the app make the next
> move if you are stuck.
> Actually, this is also a good learning tool, because the way
> to get out of
> situations might not be obvious until you have the app
> actually work itself out
> of that situation. In a way, you are using the app to
> develop your skills by
> having it show you good logical chess play.
> Now for the differences between
> them.
> 1. Shredder Chess. Of the two that I will cover, this is my
> favorite
> because of some of the unique features. The skill range is
> much wider than the
> other app. With Shredder Chess, you can play against an
> opponent with a skill
> level of 850 ELO rating, which is a very new beginner of the
> game. Although the
> app always plays legal moves, it is very easily beaten by
> the majority of
> players at this level. At the other end of the scale, it has
> an ELO rating of
> 2,600. It will beat all but maybe the top 1 percent of the
> world’s players. This
> is Grandmaster level chess! Now, one very nice feature of
> this app is the
> ability to adjust its playing strength to yours. Let’s say
> that you set it at
> the lowest skill level, and you win. It will give you more
> of a challenge in the
> next game. It will do this until you lose. If you lose, it
> won’t play as well in
> the next game. Not only that, but it will keep a record of
> how you are doing. It
> will give you a suggested ELO rating so that if you’re
> talking about chess with
> friends, you can tell them that your approximate rating is
> 1,100. (Mine is
> currently 1,350, but I haven’t played in a while, so it
> might decrease after my
> next game due to rustiness.) You can also try to solve chess
> puzzles. The pieces
> are set up as if a game is in progress. Find the best move
> for whichever side is
> to move next. The app comes with 1,000 of these chess
> puzzles. You can have the
> app rate you based on how quickly you can figure these out,
> but I find that this
> is not doable using Voice-Over, because your time runs out
> while exploring the
> setup. Keep in mind that this app is actually for sighted
> people. You can have
> the app not rate you during puzzle solving, though, so you
> can still have a lot
> of fun figuring them out. About the only two things that you
> cannot do with this
> app is to set up a game in progress and continue from that
> point. You also
> cannot use this app to play against other people over the
> Internet using a chess
> server.
> 2. Chess-Wise Pro. This app is very similar to Shredder
> Chess,
> although it does not play as well. It is no slouch by any
> means though! It has
> three skill levels. The lowest level is one that might take
> a while to beat.
> Medium is quite a bit more difficult, and the top level will
> probably beat most
> people. The cost is lower, but it has fewer features,
> although some are unique,
> and Shredder Chess does not have them. You can play against
> other people over
> the Internet using FICS, which is an acronym for “free
> internet chess server”.
> The app is the “go between” during the game. When you
> enter your move, their app
> announces it and vice versa. Also, you can set up a game in
> progress and
> continue from that point.
> Chess for the personal computer.
> There are
> several, and good ones can be found at: www.shredderchess.com
> and you
> already know what those will be. (grin)
> Spoonbill Games offers a free chess
> program, and you should be able to find it using Google.
> There is nothing,
> though, like just sitting at what looks like a regular chess
> board and playing a
> game against someone.
> The third option that we have is basically a chess set
> that has electronics built into it. Some of them are a
> pegboard type set, just
> like what you got from Hadley when you started learning.
> When making your move,
> you press down on the piece, take it out of the hole and
> move it to the desired
> square and press down there. Then, the machine will either
> beep or speak the
> response verbally. If it is a machine that has no speech
> output, when buying,
> see if you can actually use it for a couple of minutes, or
> ask someone that
> knows about the machine. It should give a different beep
> pattern if the square
> you are pressing on is the correct one or not. This will be
> how you determine
> the machine’s move.
> I have a chess computer that works a bit differently.
> There is a magnetic switch under each square. There is a
> strong magnet embedded
> in the bottom of each piece. When a square is occupied, the
> switch is raised.
> When you pick a piece up off the board, that switch is
> lowered. The machine
> knows that you are moving that piece. Place the piece on the
> square you are
> moving it to, and that switch is raised, so the machine
> knows where you moved it
> to. It will beep when it moves. You pick up one of its
> pieces and get either a
> single or double beep. The double beep is an error tone, so
> you know that it did
> not move that piece, so put it back where it was. Lift and
> replace pieces until
> you get a single beep. At the beginning of a game, you know
> that either a Knight
> or a pawn was moved. A pawn could be moved either one or two
> spaces. Listen for
> the beeps as you play.
> Some of these computerized chess sets have pressure
> sensitive surfaces. Pressing on the squares activates them.
> Because you cannot
> see the squares with your fingers, here’s a way that you
> can modify these sets.
> If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can
> have someone else do
> it.
> Let’s say that the board is 8 inches square. Each square
> measures one
> inch square. Buy a roll of strip magnet at Wal-Mart or any
> hobby and crafts
> store. This is the material that refrigerator magnets are
> made of. There is an
> adhesive backing. Use a Braille ruler for all measuring
> during this modification
> process. Cut the magnet into squares just under one inch in
> size, width and
> height. On the chessboard, there will be light emitting
> diodes either along the
> bottom row and left column, or there will be an LED in each
> corner of each
> square. Remove the paper from the back of each magnet square
> and press it onto
> the center of each of the 64 squares of the chessboard. This
> will leave a slight
> gap between the magnets so that you can distinguish them. If
> you want raised and
> lowered squares for easier identification, you can place a
> second square of
> magnet onto the black squares to make them higher. Now, cut
> another piece of
> strip magnet to cover the bottom of each of the 32 chess
> pieces. The pieces will
> now stick, magnetically, to the squares on the board, so you
> can examine the
> board position without fear of knocking the pieces off. All
> you have to do now
> is to mark the Black pieces for identification. That can be
> done by wrapping a
> twist tie around the neck of each Black piece. Set the men
> on their squares, and
> you’re ready to play.
> I hope this article has given you at least one more way
> of improving your chess skills, and now you can play
> anytime, anywhere.
> Oh,
> one more thing before I go; remember the title of the
> article saying that they
> “never quit”? Be sure to keep your batteries charged.
> Some chess computers do
> run on batteries that can go dead, although a good one will
> last for many many
> games. I have one that will run for a year or more before
> the batteries have to
> be replaced. And, if you know anything about an iDevice, you
> know what they do
> to a battery, so keep them charged.
> With that, I say, thanks for reading, and
> have fun!!
>
> Cooking ConcoctionsBy Maxine
> maxine at theblindperspective
>
> The weather is warming up in some areas, and
> beginning to cool off in
> others. But whatever your climate is, here is a tasty and
> healthy grilling
> recipe. And, if it is too cold where you live, I have added
> the microwave
> directions just for you!
> Barbecued Turkey Burgers
> Ingredients:
> 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
> 1 egg yolk
> 3/4 teaspoon
> salt
> 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
> 1 garlic clove, minced
> 1/3 cup finely
> chopped onion
> 1 tablespoon soy sauce
> 3 tablespoons cold water
> Pineapple
> slices, optional
> Tomato slices
> Bell pepper rings
> Any roll or bun to
> your liking, such as Kaiser or Sesame Rolls
> Grill Preparation:
> Charcoal grill; the coals should have an even layer
> of gray ashes
> Directions:
> In a bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg yolk, salt,
> pepper, cloves and chopped onion.
> Add soy sauce and water. Stir to combine
> well.
> Shape mixture into 4 even patties.
> Grill patties over prepared coals
> 3 to 4 minutes on each side until cooked to your liking.
> If you are using
> pineapple slices, put them on the grill at the same time,
> turning them over
> after 2 minutes.
> Place burgers on preheated buns.
> Dress It Up:
> Place a
> tomato slice, a pepper ring and/or a pineapple slice on each
> burger.
> Serve
> immediately
> Tips:
> Ground turkey is now available in most supermarkets. Choose
> the
> turkey that is not that finely ground, that gives you a
> juicier burger.
> You
> may grill the burgers with a slice of Cheddar or Mozzarella
> cheese, if desired.
> Microwave Directions:
> Ingredients:
> 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
> 1
> egg yolk
> 3/4 teaspoon salt
> 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
> 1 garlic clove,
> minced
> 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
> 3 tablespoons cold water
> 1
> tablespoon soy sauce
> Pineapple slices, optional
> Tomato slices
> Bell
> pepper rings
> Kaiser or Sesame rolls, or Hamburger buns
> Directions:
> If you have a browning dish, preheat it in the microwave
> oven.
> In a bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg yolk, salt, pepper
> and
> cloves. Add the onion and water.
> Combine well and form four patties.
> Brush
> the burgers with soy sauce on 1 side.
> Place burgers on micro-safe rack or
> preheated browning dish.
> Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
> Let rest for 1
> minute.
> Turn burgers over. Brush with remaining soy sauce.
> Microwave again
> on high for 1 to 2 minutes until cooked to your liking.
> Microwave the
> pineapple slices, if using, at the same time.
> Place burgers on preheated
> buns.
> Garnish with tomato and/or tomato slices and a pepper ring.
> Serve
> immediately with chips and carrot sticks, if desired.
> Makes 4 servings.
>
> RiddleBy Alex Smart
> alex at theblindperspective
>
> The more you take, them more you leave behind.
> What is it?
> Answer to May’s riddle:
> What is put on a table, cut, but never eaten?
> A deck of cards
>
> Brain BusterBy Alex Smart
> alex at theblindperspective
>
> In A Jam:
> The three letter word jam means both preserve and
> predicament. Think of a six letter word that means the same
> thing. What is the
> word?
> Answer to May’s brain buster
> Think of a word that contains the
> consecutive letters, p e n, in order. Change them to I n k,
> also in order, to
> get a different word. Neither word has anything to do with
> pen or ink. What are
> the two words?
> Open & Oink
>
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> Thank
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>
> THE END
> The Blind Perspective
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