[stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show

Mon Mar 9 13:34:27 UTC 2009

Well, at least not after only 14 days travel experience Lol. 
-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of James Canaday M.A. N6YR
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 10:14 PM
To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual Blindness
Challenge: The Reality Show

robert,
are you watching too much reality tv these days?

it was a very good way of presenting the skills of blindness.   but I 
didn't think it was safe to run with a cane.
jc

Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 08:44 PM 3/8/2009, you wrote:
>Fellow writers: Check out this latest THOUGHT PROVOKER. It is one of my 
>favorites.
>
>RE:  The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show
>
>Here is my 143rd THOUGHT PROVOKER. It is a reality show. Fully sighted 
>contestants agree to forgo their sight and learn blindness skills. 
>There are challenges, winners and losers. Have a read and tell us what 
>you think; is there value in this shows concept? If you have not read 
>the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall that I collect responses and post 
>them upon my web site for all the WWW to read and learn from and that URL
is-
>Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish to
>receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, 
>at- newmanrl at cox.net
>
>
>
>
>THOUGHT PROVOKER 143
>The Virtual Blindness Challenge:
>The Reality Show
>
>"Welcome to The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show!  (On 
>screen a tall dark-haired man stands, long white cane in one hand, 
>cordless microphone in the other.) This is Final Challenge Day of week 
>four, the final test. In today's challenge our remaining two students 
>will have their final faceoff. The one to successfully complete their 
>challenge assignment first will win the grand prize of $10,000. Will it 
>be Patty Hartman, twenty-six-years old, a single mother, and 
>unemployed?" (The screen shows a petit blonde woman with a black 
>sleepshade strapped snuggly over her eyes and upper face. She stands 
>smiling; a long white cane as tall as she rests easily at her side.)
>
>The MC steps around to the second student. "Or will it be Simon Brown, 
>32, married, a recent veteran of the Iraq War, soon to enter college." 
>(The screen fills with a well-built young man with a dark, suntanned, 
>skin tone; standing at military ease, a long white cane as tall as his 
>eyebrows in the crook of an elbow.  His facial expression below the 
>black of the sleepshade shows the nonchalance of confidence.)
>
>"But before we show highlights of Patty's and Simon's progress to date, 
>allow me to set the stage.  Twenty-eight days ago twelve fully sighted 
>participants began the Virtual Blindness Challenge. All agreed to wear 
>sleepshades, were given the same tools, and taught the same blindness 
>skill-sets. Ten have been eliminated. The judging is simple--if you 
>don't excel, you are cut. This challenge is to find the best."
>
>  "Let us take a quick review of Patty's journey in virtual blindness 
>from that first day, up to this Final Challenge."
>
>The first scene: Patty is pulling on her sleepshade, a look on her face 
>that may have said, "I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, but I'm 
>committed, I doing this!" Second: the first cane travel lesson; a 
>hesitant step, uncoordinated probing and swinging of the cane. Third: 
>learning Braille; writing with a Braille slate and stylus; fingers 
>reading a thick Braille magazine. Fourth: pouring water from a large 
>pitcher into a small glass; Fifth: frosting a cake. Sixth: threading a 
>needle with a wire-loop needle threader; using a sewing machine. 
>Seventh: seated at a computer, the screen showing what she is typing 
>and a synthesized voice enunciating what she keys in. "Blindness is 
>doable." Eighth: drilling a board with an electric hand drill.
>
>The MC extends the microphone toward her. "Patty, how are you feeling 
>about your blindness skills?  Ready for this Final Challenge?"
>
>"You bet, Ross, I'm very ready. Just in the past week my ability to 
>pick-up on echo location has come in strong and now on travel, I can fly!"
>
>"Now here is Simon's journey in virtual blindness."
>
>First scene: Simon, face showing quiet self-confidence slips his 
>sleepshade down over his eyes. Second: cane held steady in his strong 
>grip, he explores a staircase. Third: inserting a sheet of paper into a 
>Braille slate; reading a Braille label on a can of soup. Fourth: 
>checking meat on a hot charcoal grill. Fifth: threading a 
>self-threading needle; hand-sewing a button onto a man's shirt. Sixth: 
>keying into a laptop, its screen showing a familiar logo, and from the 
>speakers we hear, "Google." Seventh: Cutting with a circular saw; sanding a
newly built picnic table.
>
>  "Simon, how are you doing? Up for the final cut; ready to take the 
>grand prize home?"
>
>"Yes, sir.  That's affirmative.  And Ross, you once compared this 
>challenge to military boot camp. I would say, yes, in that both are a 
>form of preparation, of training the mind, and training muscle memory. 
>But the game is different; war can kill you, blindness will not. Life 
>goes on and you just use alternative methods to be successful."
>
>The camera focuses on the MC handing each of them a Brailled sheet. 
>"Though the day has just begun, you two have much to do. Here are your 
>last challenge instructions. Read your challenge and do your best!  
>We'll be waiting here at the finish line with the grand prizes-winner 
>takes all! And the clock starts now!"
>
>The camera zooms to both contestants, seated, intense faces, fingers 
>reading their instructions.
>
>The camera follows as both contestants walk down the front steps. Simon 
>turns right, long strides carrying him swiftly south. Patty turns left, 
>north, her shorter stride quickening, moving into a trot, cane flashing 
>in the early morning sun, she begins to run.
>
>
>
>Robert Leslie Newman
>Email- newmanrl at cox.net
>THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
>Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
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