[stylist] Running blind

Tue Mar 10 23:47:19 UTC 2009

Hi writers, thought I'd key in a few words about what I have experienced
running blind, while using a cane. I have, still do run around my
neighborhood. Not as much as I once did; once it was for exercise and I
would go for miles. Now it is to the bus stop or home. And I know several
other Nebraskan's who run outdoors on a regular basis. And you all know
about my trips to Turkey, well, we get those students running in the first
week. And in saying all this, there is some system and smarts put into it
before you just blindly charge into the void. For example, TP143 has Patty
running in the last scene. If you think about it this way- she has been
using the cane for 28 days, and all of those excursions started from that
training building and so she was very familiar with the area that she was
plunging off into. Granted, the reader doesn't know where all Miss Patty was
bound for, and one can not really speculate if she kept up that run into
those unknown territories. Though, I do and have run down some unfamiliar
sidewalks and when I do, it is at a slower rate, one that I know that I have
the reaction time to handle.

I share this with you because we of all people need to know all we can about
how some of our brothers and sisters can and do perform tasks in life that
may be thought cannot be done or done safely by the blind. 

So, before I run on too long, I'll sign off for now.

Robert Leslie Newman 
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Angela fowler
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 8:34 AM
To: 'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual
BlindnessChallenge: The Reality Show

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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