[NFBMT] a world to dream about or to rant about- free of the graphic rabbit hunt

Sun Aug 25 02:19:39 UTC 2019

Rickj, 
I didn’t have the computer on yesterday. 
I took a walk in the afternoon, sure was good to do it again.
The park is better managed than it was a few years ago.
Glad the kids are in school this also helps when walking around.
Now it is Saturday evening, got the instant pot up and going working with wifi. 
We had a friend over to help us out.
Apple can be very challenging. 
It is hard to believe next weekend is labor day weekend
We know we will be home, and I will put something together for the special day. 
As I read messages, I am sure I will find yours. 

Dar 
Every Saint has a past, 
Every sinner has a future, Sent from my iPad

> On Aug 23, 2019, at 1:18 PM, Rik James via NFBMT <nfbmt at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Thanks , Joy. For your response, your opinion, your commiseration, and your
> suggestions.
> I imagine everyone who has read my post so far, have understood to some
> degree what I was driving at.
> It is just a way to feel at a certain moment on a certain day. But those
> moments pile up.
> I am not necessarily trying to make a point about my own personal
> challenges, although they are a part of it.
> I was not just wanting to be off at the gate and whining. But perhaps that
> is how the list members will read it.
> But actually, my post was to invite others to share how they are doing, and
> to respond to my fantasy dream.
> I see a wide 
> 
> I don't know. Maybe no one else will respond. Everyone is pretty busy. Or,
> they are still wrestling with their draft, to be posted soon.
> It could be that this list is less populated, and less participated in than
> I was supposing.
> It could well be that it is Friday. And everyone has their TGIF shirts on.
> Ha ha.
> 
> I sense there is great diversity in our community, all across Montana and
> across the nation, when it comes to how much they like to do battle, or
> always be learning the next new bag of tricks, when it comes to technology
> and access to our everyday world, online or just around the house, or up the
> street.
> Distractions, a shortage of time, and many factors exist.
> 
> BTW, I belong to one of the blind discussion groups. I posted pretty much
> this very same post.
> And you know what? As of about 30 minutes ago there were well over 30
> responses. Lots of interesting points were made. And that is what I was
> hoping would happen. That people would speak up and share things from their
> perspective.
> 
> Okay. Off to the races. 
> There is work to be done.
> A radio show to produce. And what not.
> Thanks,
> Rik
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of BRESLAUERS via NFBMT
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 7:48 AM
> To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: BRESLAUERS <breslauerj at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] a world to dream about or to rant about- free of the
> graphic rabbit hunt
> 
> I absolutely commiserate with you.  But time marches on.  I do know people
> who just don't use technology, especially computer technology.  A flip phone
> is as far as they will go, and that not without kicking and screaming.
> 
> I don't know if your cell phone has speech capability, but if it does, it
> might be worth turning on and learning how to use it.
> 
> Other touch screens are more tricky.  There is computer software out there
> for those with low vision, but there does come a point when low vision isn't
> very helpful and some other more reliable means needs to be found.  I know
> there is a combination software that uses low vision access as well as JAWS
> access, so you can use whichever one works best in the situation in which
> you find yourself.  The thing that I think is frustrating is if you have to
> use some sort of program that doesn't have a text or a speech workaround.  I
> understand why the DOS days are gone, but I really enjoyed them.  Windows is
> much more flexible and customizable, and of course they have to make a
> living so they have to change it up every few months to come up with a newer
> and more improved version.  Sometimes that works, most times it doesn't.  I
> vaguely remember a joke about Microsoft that if it were a car, every time
> they came up with an update, instead of improving the car, they "improve"
> the road.
> 
> They say that you can use AIRA in some situations to read what is on your
> computer screen when it won't talk or when it freezes up.  The first five
> minutes of every call is free.  So you can call 25 times a day if you want
> to, and as long as your call is under five minutes, it is free.  Maybe that
> would be helpful in situations where the computer freezes up or won't talk.
> Another workaround for that might be KNFB Reader.  I myself haven't figured
> out how to use it very successfully, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.
> Another trick is to turn on Narrator or NVDA when JAWS freezes up.  If all
> else fails, seek sighted assistance, which isn't always available.  Or cuss
> and punch holes in the wall and turn the computer off and back on, which is
> a last resort, and hope it talks then.  And then you either have to fix the
> holes in the walls or find somebody else who can.  And pay them.  Ugh, for
> the good old days.  Are they like any other good old days, better in memory
> than in reality?  Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away.  Joy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Rik James via NFBMT
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 12:51 AM
> To: Nfbmt at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Rik James <rixmix2009 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFBMT] a world to dream about or to rant about- free of the
> graphic rabbit hunt
> 
> I don't know but I wonder what any of you all might think.
> 
> 
> 
> I want to dream of a world that is free of this what I call the rabbit hunt.
> 
> The dogs are all barking. They are on the scent of a rabbit. But the rabbit
> has already gone down a hole. The rabbit is laughing at me. He knows I am
> still just looking for the mouse cursor.
> 
> Is this some strange joke, Rik, you ask? Well, sure. Sort of. But read on.
> And then join in, to find the rabbit scent.
> 
> 
> 
> I have days when it seems the first half hour is just dealing with the stuff
> that torments us so often, in the way of accessing information, when setting
> about to use a personal computer.
> 
> Now, some days, sure, I just get right to it. But Murphy's Law just may
> apply when I really just needed to get that one thing done, and whoopsie do.
> Here I am dealing with some thing that won't talk, or there is a freeze up,
> or a website that is so tethered with advertisement my head gets dizzy and
> my idea of fun is to just walk away, and stay away.
> 
> 
> 
> I wonder why. Back when Windows 95 came, it was like a revolution. There had
> been all of these DOS-based programs, we learned a bunch of keyboard
> shortcuts, hooked our printers up with cables, got these funny sounding
> modems to reach out on a phone line, to upload and download, and send the
> occasional fax to congress to ask for funding for the education of blind
> children. It wasn't easy. It was even slow. But doggone.
> 
> 
> 
> Pretty soon it was the mouse this, and the mouse that. The graphic user
> interface war was on. And it has not really relented, to my mind.
> 
> 
> 
> And sure, the internet boomed, it became such a big cash cow, they of course
> had to just populate all of the pages up with pop up advertisements.
> 
> 
> 
> And yes, of course malicious people got into the mess, too. And so we had to
> find the right way to protect ourselves, and hopefully with something that
> is also accessible to the environment in which we try and function
> confidently.
> 
> 
> 
> So many things, there used to be a few buttons and dials and switches.
> 
> Now, electronics. Touch screens, things that have no access to their display
> required to use them.
> 
> 
> 
> I just think what if?  Is it just being nostalgic?
> 
> Why can't we design our own world, free from all of this?
> 
> Why don't we just wean ourselves from this business of chasing our tail,
> trying to get access to the graphic ever changing with each new platform?
> 
> 
> 
> Now, I say all this, and I know it is pie in the sky.
> 
> I know that I can't just sit again with that world. Louis Braille had an
> idea. Do we have something that could last as long as his ideas?
> 
> 
> 
> Every device I have that does not have a screen seems to make me happy. It
> can be operated manually. No need to work around all of those mouse over
> things.
> 
> I find I just get some peace of mind from its simple and direct function.
> 
> 
> 
> Plus, there are those, in truth and reality, and I bet we all know some of
> them. They will never get the hang of some of all of this. And what are they
> left with? Just the feeling of being behind, and with little hope to catch
> up.
> 
> Catch up? Why, that would mean there was no need for each year or two to
> throw out the window the technology we just got to using fairly well! It is
> important to develop new products to sell, don't you know?
> 
> 
> 
> I have asked a few blind persons who are pretty well respected. I say,
> didn't they really mess things up when they came up with this whole touch
> screen idea?
> 
> Oh, no, no, they say. Those are actually quite a good thing.
> 
> I just lose my patience with them. I do okay. But I don't have to like it.
> 
> 
> 
> Am I just a crank?
> 
> Or is there a world of electrical engineers that we can reach out to and
> give us the pie in the sky of which I dream?
> 
> 
> 
> Please, discuss. Dream big. Or tell me I'm just out of order.
> 
> My rant phase is over. I hope I didn't upset or bore anyone too badly.
> 
> 
> 
> Rik James
> 
> Celebrating the universe, as best I can, within certain obvious parameters
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
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