[nfb-talk] nfb-talk Digest, Vol 10, Issue 3

Pat Gormley kk3f at msn.com
Mon Mar 2 02:59:33 UTC 2009


In certain parts of the world particularly in the more radical Muslim 
countries blind babies are routinely either left to die like in Ancient Rome 
or they're aborted.Another unique situation I find myself in is in Western 
Maryland where I now live, every blind person that is employed up here works 
at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.  While bism is a fairly 
progressive shop, it's very sad to me that  very few blind people are 
working outside that place and aren't trying to improve their situations in 
the process.  I have a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management and 
development and I may be forced to work there because I can't find anything 
in the mainstream up here and I'm also very concerned that the monotony of 
work normally associated with such places would have an adverse effect on my 
normally even keeled personality.  As far as artificial vision is concerned, 
my eyes are so underdeveloped as a result of my rlf birth, that would have 
no benefit to me whatsoever.  It wouldn't be very practical since there is 
so little eye to work with and there was a lot of damage between my eyes and 
where they join the brain that nothing likt that would work.  Most babies 
become blind after birth rather than before birth anyway.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org>
To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 9:19 PM
Subject: nfb-talk Digest, Vol 10, Issue 3


> Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Proposal and predictions (David Andrews)
>   2. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to Participate in the
>      National Federation of the Blind Motor City March for
>      Independence (Freeh, Jessica)
>   3. Re: Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the  Blind (Tanna S.)
>   4. Re: Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the  Blind (tribble)
>   5. nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions (Alex)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:00:17 -0600
> From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions
> To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID: <auto-000090965075 at mailfront2.g2host.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> John:
>
> You make an interesting point about people wishing they were dead if
> they went blind in the face of our successes.  I think the reason is
> that they see each successful blind person as an exception to their
> pre-conceived notions.  That way, if you are the exception it doesn't
> challenge how they really feel;.
>
> Also, when I talked about artificial vision, I said "useful
> artificial vision."  We have it of sorts today, but I mean vision
> that is the same as or similar to that experienced by a fully sighted
> person.  Today the resolution is so bad that it has to be regarded as
> an experiment.
>
> Dave
>
> At 10:44 AM 3/1/2009, you wrote:
>>We're getting off the topic of the original proposal so it's a good
>>thing somebody changed the subject line. But I would like to point
>>out that it's not particularly relevant that people think blindness
>>is horrible when it comes to the proposal that the NFB start
>>providing adaptive equipment. The idea that blindness is horrible
>>and that we're helpless are related but not identical. And while
>>supplying adaptive equipment may not help dispel the idea that being
>>blind is horrible, it might help dispel the idea that we're helpless.
>>
>>Anyway, back to what you're saying...
>>
>>I probably have told the story about how several of my friends
>>insist that if they went blind, they'd kill themselves. I ask them
>>how they can think that when they see me clearly happy and
>>successful. But they say I can handle it. To some degree they are
>>complimenting my toughness but it's also partially that they see me
>>as a total nerd. It's not so bad for a nerd to be blind but if
>>you're a normal human being, it's horrible.
>>
>>Anyway, in spite of all my efforts to convince them otherwise, they
>>insist that they'd kill themselves. And I'm talking about 2 groups
>>of friends. One group are people I work with and the other is people
>>I run with. They both know me really well and never the less think
>>that suicide would be a valid option if they go blind.
>>
>>I also would not dispute the idea that parents would probably abort
>>a fetus if they were warned in advance that it would be blind. I
>>suspect that probably has already happened. If it hasn't, it's
>>probably only because there's no way to detect it.
>>
>>The final point I'd like to make is that I think people are
>>underestimating how soon we'll have artificial vision.  It' funny I
>>got into an argument on this list about Ray Kurswail's predictions
>>which I think are unrealistically optimistic. But we already have
>>rudimentary artificial vision. It doesn't take a great deal of
>>imagination to picture improvements that would give people effective
>>artificial vision.
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "RyanO" <ryano218 at comcast.net>
>>To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:50 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions
>>
>>
>>>David, I fully agree with you on your prediction about synthetic
>>>vision. I've said before that society will come up with a "cure for
>>>blindness" long before it joins us in our belief that it is
>>>respectable to be blind. I heard a radio commercial the other day
>>>with a cheesy rendition of, "What a Wonderful World," in the
>>>background. The announcer asked parents to imagine how terrible it
>>>would be to raise a child without sight. The fact that a commercial
>>>like this can be aired in the mainstream today in a hypersensitive
>>>culture of political correctness speaks volumes.
>>>
>>>Of course, world events may take us down a much darker path than
>>>the one that leads to artificial vision. I firmly believe that
>>>circumstances could lead us to a point when it would be a common
>>>societal practice to abort embryos that are deemed "defective" by
>>>doctors. We may even hit a point where our countries cannot
>>>economically sustain programs for the disabled. Some have accused
>>>me of holding an extreme view on this futuristic vision, but I
>>>sincerely believe that it is possible. War and economic collapse
>>>often drive people into extreme behavior.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>RyanO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>
>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.5/1978 - Release Date:
>>03/01/09 07:04:00
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:14:14 -0600
> From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org> (by way of David Andrews
> <dandrews at visi.com>)
> Subject: [nfb-talk] Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to
> Participate in the National Federation of the Blind Motor City March
> for Independence
> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
> Message-ID: <auto-000090966105 at mailfront2.g2host.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>
>
>
> CONTACT:
>
> Chris
> Danielsen
>
>
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> (410) 659-9314, ext. 2330
>
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
> Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to Participate in the
>  National Federation of the Blind Motor City March for Independence
>
>
>
> Alliance President & CEO Dave McCurdy to Speak at Event
>
>
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (February 27, 2009): The National Federation of
> the Blind (NFB) announced today that the Alliance of Automobile
> Manufacturers, a coalition of eleven major automakers, will
> participate in the NFB's third annual March for Independence.  The
> Motor City March for Independence will take place on the morning of
> July 6, 2009, as part of the convention of the National Federation of
> the Blind that is to be held in Detroit.  Over a thousand blind
> citizens from across the nation will march to raise money to benefit
> blind people all over the United States and to raise awareness about
> the capabilities of blind people.
>
>
>
> Dave McCurdy, President of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers,
> said: "Alliance members support organizations, such as the National
> Federation of the Blind, that are doing important work to ensure the
> health and safety of drivers, pedestrians, and others who use
> America's roadways.  I'm pleased the organization is supporting
> Detroit by choosing it as the location for this event.  Although ours
> is a global industry, automakers have many historical ties to this area."
>
>
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
> said: "We are pleased to have the Alliance of Automobile
> Manufacturers in this year's March for Independence.  It is
> particularly fitting that at our Motor City March we will be joined
> by the organization that represents the most innovative and
> influential car manufacturers in the world."
>
>
>
> The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
> (<http://www.autoalliance.org/>www.autoalliance.org) represents
> eleven car and light truck manufacturers, including BMW Group,
> Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, General Motors,
> Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota, and
> Volkswagen.  It represents the common interests of its members and
> provides a forum to enable them to advance public policies that meet
> consumer and societal needs for clean, sustainable, safe, efficient,
> and affordable personal transportation.
>
>
>
> For more information about the March for Independence, including how
> to participate and how to sponsor a marcher, visit
> <http://www.marchforindependence.org/>www.marchforindependence.org.
> To learn more about the National Federation of the Blind, please
> visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.
>
>
>
>
>
> ###
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
> is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
> people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives
> through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
> encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading
> force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's
> blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the
> Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in
> the United States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 18:47:26 -0600
> From: "Tanna S."<tshoyo at neb.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the
> Blind
> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> Message-ID: <967D163C8C6848E69B88CE4254F6CCBE at HomePC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=response
>
> I found it a challenge to educate the sighted people when I was looking 
> for
> a job.  I also think that it takes doing things such as volunteering to 
> show
> them what we can do for a prospective employer.  I'm pleased to report 
> that
> I'm working full-time for the State of Nebraska as a case aid.  I got my
> foot in the door by volunteering.  As of last Friday, I completed my six
> month probation.
> Tanna Shoyo
> Lincoln, NE
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "RyanO" <ryano218 at comcast.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 2:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the Blind
>
>
>> Great point, Chris. I couldn't get a broadcasting internship because
>> employers kept telling me they couldn't accommodate my accessibility
>> needs. Not only do we have to educate the sighted public, but we have to
>> figure out the adaptation issues.
>>
>>
>> RyanO
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>> _______________________________________
>> No viruses found in this incoming message
>> Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.6.4
>> http://www.iolo.com
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________
> No viruses found in this outgoing message
> Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.6.4
> http://www.iolo.com
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:26:27 -0600
> From: "tribble" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the
> Blind
> To: <tshoyo at neb.rr.com>, "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID: <B3B2846C0E6D4235B983621DC7AAAA66 at bassclef>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> congratulations on getting your position.
> I think volunteering is a good thing, not just for the cause you are
> volunteering for, but for the experience you get that might go well on a
> resum?.
> Good luck in your job.
> --le
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tanna S." <tshoyo at neb.rr.com>
> To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 6:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the Blind
>
>
> I found it a challenge to educate the sighted people when I was looking 
> for
> a job.  I also think that it takes doing things such as volunteering to 
> show
> them what we can do for a prospective employer.  I'm pleased to report 
> that
> I'm working full-time for the State of Nebraska as a case aid.  I got my
> foot in the door by volunteering.  As of last Friday, I completed my six
> month probation.
> Tanna Shoyo
> Lincoln, NE
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "RyanO" <ryano218 at comcast.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 2:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the Blind
>
>
>> Great point, Chris. I couldn't get a broadcasting internship because
>> employers kept telling me they couldn't accommodate my accessibility
>> needs. Not only do we have to educate the sighted public, but we have to
>> figure out the adaptation issues.
>>
>>
>> RyanO
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>> _______________________________________
>> No viruses found in this incoming message
>> Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.6.4
>> http://www.iolo.com
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________
> No viruses found in this outgoing message
> Scanned by iolo AntiVirus 1.5.6.4
> http://www.iolo.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:19:49 -0600
> From: Alex <heyitslu at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nfb-talk] nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions
> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> Message-ID:
> <a94252460903011819r7708307l6169a1c0be90226f at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On 3/1/09, nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org <nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org> 
> wrote:
>> Send nfb-talk mailing list submissions to
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> nfb-talk-request at nfbnet.org
>>
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>> nfb-talk-owner at nfbnet.org
>>
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of nfb-talk digest..."
>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>    1. Braille Books Needed! (Carrie Gilmer)
>>    2. Re: Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the   Blind
>>       (David Andrews)
>>    3. Re: Proposal and predictions (RyanO)
>>    4. Deadline Coming for Writing Contest! (Robert Newman)
>>    5. Re: The Kindle Swindle (John G. Heim)
>>    6. Re: Proposal and predictions (John G. Heim)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:26:00 -0600
>> From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com> (by way of David
>> Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Braille Books Needed!
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Message-ID: <auto-000090908402 at mailfront2.g2host.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>>
>> Greetings All,
>>
>> Everyone knows by now we are celebrating as never before: The year of
>> Braille! At convention we will have our annual Braille Book Flea
>> Market. No where else can blind kids go into a "store" and browse for
>> books to their hearts delight, and get them shipped home to their
>> front doors. The room is electric with their excitement every year. I
>> am asking all members and friends to please help make book choices
>> available like never before.
>>
>> Donate a new book to the flea market! You can buy a book from
>> National Braille Press.org or Seedlings.org and send it to the
>> address Peggy Chong will post in the near future. Or maybe you have
>> an embosser and want to make a book, we'll take that too!
>>
>> Last year we had a dire need for good books for teenagers, 13-18.
>> Girls wanted Love Stories and Mysteries, Guys wanted Sci Fi and
>> action adventure. Don't forget the Classics like the Count of Monte
>> Cristo or The Three Musketeers or new hot ones like the Twilight
>> series. Nothing replaces a good ol' hard copy to curl up with and for
>> building reading speed. We had books for teenagers but many were very
>> old or the titles were more like textbook topics than leisure
>> reading. Not to say they were not appreciated, but I think you know
>> what I mean.
>>
>> We will take books for any age. The touch and feel early board books
>> can be easily adapted by adding sticky Braille by many members. Have
>> it be a chapter project!
>>
>> Help us make this the Best Flea Market ever by giving every kid a
>> great choice of new and gently used books to choose from!
>>
>> Flea Market book questions should be directed to Peggy Chong at:
>> <mailto:peggychong at eathlink.net>peggychong at earthlink.net.
>>
>> Thank you One and All!
>>
>> Reading is Fundamental and Braille Readers Are Indeed Leaders!
>>
>> Carrie Gilmer, President
>> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>> A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
>> NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
>> Home Phone: 763-784-8590
>> <mailto:carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
>> www.nfb.org/nopbc
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:41:11 -0600
>> From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal to Decrease Unemployment Among the
>> Blind
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <auto-000087689584 at mailfront1.g2host.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>>
>> John:  You are right -- there just isn't one answer to the
>> unemployment problem.  It will take lots of things done by lots of
>> people and organizations.  There isn't a magic answer.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> And ... a prediction by me -- I think one of the main barriers is the
>> negative attitudes of sighted persons.  It is my prediction that
>> many, if not most of future blind persons will have useful artificial
>> vision before we overcome those barriers to a sizable degree.  The
>> only way seems to be one person at a time, and some people are
>> predisposed to be influenced while others aren't.  I think usable
>> artificial vision is many years away, not in my life time, but still
>> closer then overcoming attitudinal barriers.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> At 02:11 PM 2/28/2009, you wrote:
>>>In my opinion, it's not really relevant that Eddy's idea won't solve
>>>all of the problems faced by blind people. Nothing is going to do
>>>that. People keeps saying "The real problm is this or that". Yeah,
>>>maybe. But so what? The only true way to judge Eddy's idea is on
>>>whether it will help and if it's worth the money and effort.
>>>
>>>I also think it's irrelevant that purchasing adaptive equipment
>>>should be the responsibility of DVR agencies. Yeah, maybe. But we're
>>>still looking at a 70% unemployment rate. Again, the only thing I'd
>>>consider important about this aspect is if it could be shown that
>>>DVR agencies will be less likely to do their part if the NFB does it for
>>> them.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>>Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.5/1977 - Release Date:
>>>02/28/09 17:21:00
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:50:13 -0700
>> From: "RyanO" <ryano218 at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <598DD8760D0A493988B7E52A9F9C5C32 at osentows7ff6f7>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=response
>>
>> David, I fully agree with you on your prediction about synthetic vision.
>> I've said before that society will come up with a "cure for blindness" 
>> long
>> before it joins us in our belief that it is respectable to be blind. I 
>> heard
>> a radio commercial the other day with a cheesy rendition of, "What a
>> Wonderful World," in the background. The announcer asked parents to 
>> imagine
>> how terrible it would be to raise a child without sight. The fact that a
>> commercial like this can be aired in the mainstream today in a
>> hypersensitive culture of political correctness speaks volumes.
>>
>> Of course, world events may take us down a much darker path than the one
>> that leads to artificial vision. I firmly believe that circumstances 
>> could
>> lead us to a point when it would be a common societal practice to abort
>> embryos that are deemed "defective" by doctors. We may even hit a point
>> where our countries cannot economically sustain programs for the 
>> disabled.
>> Some have accused me of holding an extreme view on this futuristic 
>> vision,
>> but I sincerely believe that it is possible. War and economic collapse 
>> often
>> drive people into extreme behavior.
>>
>>
>>
>> RyanO
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:20:26 -0600
>> From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net> (by way of David Andrews
>> <dandrews at visi.com>)
>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Deadline Coming for Writing Contest!
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Message-ID: <auto-000087708740 at mailfront1.g2host.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>>
>> This is a notice for all you writers. I've asked that this message be
>> placed in everyone's inbox, because writers can be found everywhere.
>>
>> Respectfully yours, Robert Leslie Newman, NFB Writers' Division
>> President  (See you in Braille)
>>
>> NFB Writers' Division Writing contests For Both Youth And Adults
>>
>> The Division wants to give you a heads-up. For all you writers, youth
>> or adult, beware there is less than a month left before the deadline
>> to submissions of poetry and/or fiction short stories for our annual
>> writing contests. The opening date has come and gone, but  the
>> closing date (Post Marked) of April 1st is coming soon.  See all
>> requirements below:
>>
>> Youth Writing Contest
>>
>> The NFB Writers' Division is hosting a Youth Writing Contest to
>> promote Braille literacy and excellence in creative writing. Entries
>> will be judged on creativity and quality of Braille. We are looking
>> for creative writing, in the form of fiction and poetry. There is no
>> charge for entering.
>>
>> This is a contest for students who use Braille. Entries must Be
>> submitted in hand embossed Braille, either on a slate and stylus or
>> on a Braille writer. No computer Braille entries will be considered.
>> Submissions must be Brailled by the entrant. Elementary students
>> (K-5) may submit contracted Braille, uncontracted Braille, or an
>> acceptable combination of the two. Students in higher grades will be
>> expected to submit stories or poetry in contracted Braille.
>>
>> There are six categories, as follows: Elementary Fiction; Elementary
>> Poetry; Middle School Fiction; Middle School Poetry; High School
>> Fiction; High School Poetry. Elementary is K-5. Middle School is 6-8.
>> High School is 9-12.
>>
>> The contest began back on January first, and will end postmarked date
>> April first. There will be three cash prizes for each of the six
>> categories. First prize per contest is $25. Second prize is $15 and
>> third prize is $5. Submissions for fiction may not exceed one
>> thousand words. Poetry may not exceed twenty lines. Authors may
>> submit multiple entries and all work must be original and unpublished.
>>
>> Each entrant must provide an identical print copy for possible 
>> publication.
>>
>> Entries must be accompanied by a cover sheet containing entrant's
>> information: Name, address, phone, email, title of the entry, school
>> and grade of entrant. Winners will be announced at our division
>> meeting during the July 2009 NFB National convention held in Detroit,
>> Michigan.
>>
>> Send to Fred Wurtzel, 1212 N Foster, Lansing Michigan, 48912.
>>
>> Adult Writing Contest
>>
>> The NFB Writers' Division's writing contest for short fiction and
>> poetry for adults has also been open since January 1st, and will also
>> be closing Post Marked April 1st.    Prizes for adults are higher
>> then for youth - Top prize for each contest is $100, second $50, and
>> third $25. Winners of this contest will also be announced at our
>> division meeting in Detroit.
>>
>> Fiction: short stories can be up to 3,000 words and can be of any
>> genre. All work must be original and previously unpublished. If you
>> wish to submit- You are required to send a cover sheet with title of
>> all entries, name, address, phone and email (if available). A second
>> requirement , is please have your documents double spaced and if you
>> are sending it hardcopy, it cannot be handwritten. The cost for
>> submission of a single story is $5.00. You can send either a check or
>> money order made out to the NFB Writers' Division.
>>
>> You have two choices for submission: First is the traditional method
>> of sending hardcopy and check, and if you do so, send it to Tom
>> Stevens address- 1203 S. Fairview Road, Columbia MO 65203. The second
>> method is to email your writing and cover letter to
>> <mailto:cthls at earthlink.net>cthls at earthlink.net And for payment for
>> electronic submissions check our web site and see if we have PayPal
>> by then URL
>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
>> Or, if you need to snail-mail the check, use Tom's address in choice one.
>>
>> Poetry: Entrants are invited to submit original poetry of up to 36
>> lines. If you wish to submit- You are required to send a cover sheet
>> with title of all entries, name, address, phone and email (if
>> available). A second requirement , is please have your documents
>> double spaced and if you are sending it hardcopy, it cannot be
>> handwritten. The cost is $5.00 for up to 3 poems and you can send
>> either a check or money order made out to the NFB Writers' Division.
>>
>> You have two choices for submission: First is the traditional method
>> of sending hardcopy and check, and if you do so, send it to Lori
>> Stayer, 2704 Beach Drive, Merrick NY 11566.
>>
>> The second method is to email your writing and cover letter to
>> <mailto:LoriStay at aol.com>LoriStay at aol.com And for payment for
>> electronic submissions check our web site and see if we have PayPal
>> by then URL
>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
>> Or, if you need to snail-mail the check, use Lori's address in choice 
>> one.
>>
>> President NFB Writers' Division
>> Robert Leslie Newman
>> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
>> Division Website-
>> <Http://www.nfb-writers-division.org>Http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 5
>> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:24:02 -0600
>> From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] The Kindle Swindle
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <490D6B6E2F3742DB91818B906693D18B at mcgee>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
>> reply-type=original
>>
>> The writers guild is having a problem getting into the 21st century. 
>> Their
>> argument, which at first glance makes sense, is that talking books are an
>> important revenue source for writers and will become even more important 
>> in
>> the future. It's not fair for that source of revenue to be denied them. 
>> But
>> we're not talking about giving away talking books for free. You still 
>> have
>> to buy the book. The only way authors are actually losing revenue would 
>> be
>> in the fairly rare cases where someone might buy both the print and the
>> talking books.
>>
>> The members of the writers guild need to wrap their minds around the fact
>> that in the 21st century, people are going to look upon buying a book 
>> like
>> they do buying any other license. When you buy a license, you expect to 
>> be
>> able to make copies in whatever media you need and to use the product in
>> whatever way works for you. You can't give somebody else a copy but you 
>> can
>> copy the licensed product unto any other media for your own use.
>>
>> The writers guild still thinks they're selling books, not licenses.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Brian Miller" <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu>
>> To: <mabullis at hotmail.com>; "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" 
>> <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 6:11 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] The Kindle Swindle
>>
>>
>>> How in the world can the Writer's Guilde make the case that a 
>>> syntehsized
>>> speech program constitutes a performance that would in essence require a
>>> mechanical reproduction lisence to play?
>>>
>>> This is really taking royalty protection to an absurd level.  One should
>>> pay
>>> for the access to the content, not the format of that content.  Is this
>>> really any different than someone taking a written copy and reading it
>>> aloud?
>>>
>>> Brian M
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Michael Bullis
>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:18 AM
>>> To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List'
>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] The Kindle Swindle
>>>
>>> This from today's New York Times.
>>> Mike Bullis
>>>
>>> OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR. The Kindle Swindle?.
>>>
>>> By ROY BLOUNT Jr.. Roy Blount Jr. is the author, most recently, of
>>> 'Alphabet
>>> Juice. BEING president of too many well-meaning organizations put my
>>> father
>>> into an early grave. The lesson in this was not lost on me. But now I am
>>> president of the Authors Guild, whose mission is to sustain book-writing
>>> as
>>> a viable occupation. This borders on quixotic, given all the new ways of
>>> not
>>> getting paid that new technology affords authors. A case in point:
>>> Amazon's
>>> Kindle 2, which was released yesterday.
>>>
>>> The Kindle 2 is a portable, wireless, paperback-size device onto which
>>> people can download a virtual library of digitalized titles. Amazon 
>>> sells
>>> these downloads, and where the books are under copyright, it pays
>>> royalties
>>> to the authors and publishers.
>>>
>>> Serves readers, pays writers: so far, so good. But there's another thing
>>> about Kindle 2 -- its heavily marketed text-to-speech function. Kindle 2
>>> can
>>> read books aloud. And Kindle 2 is not paying anyone for audio rights.
>>>
>>> True, you can already get software that will read aloud whatever is on
>>> your
>>> computer. But Kindle 2 is being sold specifically as a new, improved,
>>> multimedia version of books -- every title is an e-book and an audio 
>>> book
>>> rolled into one. And whereas e-books have yet to win mainstream
>>> enthusiasm,
>>> audio books are a billion-dollar market, and growing. Audio rights are 
>>> not
>>> generally packaged with e-book rights. They are more valuable than 
>>> e-book
>>> rights.
>>> Income
>>> from audio books helps not inconsiderably to keep authors, and 
>>> publishers,
>>> afloat.
>>>
>>> You may be thinking that no automated read-aloud function can compete 
>>> with
>>> the dulcet resonance of Jim Dale reading 'Harry Potter' or of authors,
>>> ahem,
>>> reading themselves. But the voices of Kindle 2 are quite listenable.
>>> There's
>>> even a male version and a female version. (A book by, say, Norman Mailer
>>> on
>>> Kindle 2 might do a brisk business among people wondering how his prose
>>> would sound in measured feminine tones.)
>>>
>>> And that sort of technology is improving all the time. I.B.M. has 
>>> patented
>>>
>>> a
>>> computerized voice that is said to be almost indistinguishable from 
>>> human
>>> ones.
>>> This voice is programmed to include 'ums,' 'ers' and sighs, to cough for
>>> attention, even to 'shhh' when interrupted. According to Andy Aaron, of
>>> I.B.M.'s Thomas J. Watson research group speech team: 'These sounds can 
>>> be
>>> incredibly subtle, even unnoticeable, but have a profound psychological
>>> effect. It can be extremely reassuring to have a more attentive-sounding
>>> voice.
>>>
>>> When I read that quotation, it hit me: Hey, I know Andy Aaron. Years 
>>> ago,
>>> he
>>> said he was working on some sort of voice simulation, and asked to work 
>>> my
>>> Southern accent into the mix. I don't remember whether we got around to
>>> that
>>> or not, and this new I.B.M. software is designed, at any rate, not for
>>> audio
>>> books but for computer help lines. So no part of my voice is competing
>>> with
>>> my own audio books yet. But people who want to keep on doing creative
>>> things
>>> for a living must be duly vigilant about any new means of transmitting
>>> their
>>> work.
>>>
>>> What the guild is asserting is that authors have a right to a fair share
>>> of
>>> the value that audio adds to Kindle 2's version of books. For this, the
>>> guild is being assailed. On the National Federation of the Blind's Web
>>> site,
>>> the guild is accused of arguing that it is illegal for blind people to 
>>> use
>>> 'readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not 
>>> available
>>> in
>>> alternative formats like Braille or audio.
>>>
>>> In fact, publishers, authors and American copyright laws have long
>>> provided
>>> for free audio availability to the blind and the guild is all for
>>> technologies that expand that availability. (The federation, though,
>>> points
>>> out that blind readers can't independently use the Kindle 2's visual,
>>> on-screen
>>> controls.)
>>> But that doesn't mean Amazon should be able, without copyright-holders'
>>> participation, to pass that service on to everyone.
>>>
>>> The guild is also accused of wanting to profiteer off family bedtime
>>> rituals. A lawyer at the Electronic Frontier Foundation sarcastically
>>> warned
>>> that 'parents everywhere should be on the lookout for legal papers 
>>> haling
>>> them into court for reading to their kids.
>>>
>>> For the record: no, the Authors Guild does not expect royalties from
>>> anybody
>>> doing non-commercial performances of 'Goodnight Moon. If parents want to
>>> send their children off to bed with the voice of Kindle 2, however, it's
>>> another matter.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 6
>> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 10:44:35 -0600
>> From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions
>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <CF5E90CDD6B34A389D7C3CCC7E5B4071 at mcgee>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
>> reply-type=response
>>
>> We're getting off the topic of the original proposal so it's a good thing
>> somebody changed the subject line. But I would like to point out that 
>> it's
>> not particularly relevant that people think blindness is horrible when it
>> comes to the proposal that the NFB start providing adaptive equipment. 
>> The
>> idea that blindness is horrible and that we're helpless are related but 
>> not
>> identical. And while supplying adaptive equipment may not help dispel the
>> idea that being blind is horrible, it might help dispel the idea that 
>> we're
>> helpless.
>>
>> Anyway, back to what you're saying...
>>
>> I probably have told the story about how several of my friends insist 
>> that
>> if they went blind, they'd kill themselves. I ask them how they can think
>> that when they see me clearly happy and successful. But they say I can
>> handle it. To some degree they are complimenting my toughness but it's 
>> also
>> partially that they see me as a total nerd. It's not so bad for a nerd to 
>> be
>> blind but if you're a normal human being, it's horrible.
>>
>> Anyway, in spite of all my efforts to convince them otherwise, they 
>> insist
>> that they'd kill themselves. And I'm talking about 2 groups of friends. 
>> One
>> group are people I work with and the other is people I run with. They 
>> both
>> know me really well and never the less think that suicide would be a 
>> valid
>> option if they go blind.
>>
>> I also would not dispute the idea that parents would probably abort a 
>> fetus
>> if they were warned in advance that it would be blind. I suspect that
>> probably has already happened. If it hasn't, it's probably only because
>> there's no way to detect it.
>>
>> The final point I'd like to make is that I think people are 
>> underestimating
>> how soon we'll have artificial vision.  It' funny I got into an argument 
>> on
>> this list about Ray Kurswail's predictions which I think are 
>> unrealistically
>> optimistic. But we already have rudimentary artificial vision. It doesn't
>> take a great deal of imagination to picture improvements that would give
>> people effective artificial vision.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "RyanO" <ryano218 at comcast.net>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:50 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Proposal and predictions
>>
>>
>>> David, I fully agree with you on your prediction about synthetic vision.
>>> I've said before that society will come up with a "cure for blindness"
>>> long before it joins us in our belief that it is respectable to be 
>>> blind.
>>> I heard a radio commercial the other day with a cheesy rendition of, 
>>> "What
>>>
>>> a Wonderful World," in the background. The announcer asked parents to
>>> imagine how terrible it would be to raise a child without sight. The 
>>> fact
>>> that a commercial like this can be aired in the mainstream today in a
>>> hypersensitive culture of political correctness speaks volumes.
>>>
>>> Of course, world events may take us down a much darker path than the one
>>> that leads to artificial vision. I firmly believe that circumstances 
>>> could
>>>
>>> lead us to a point when it would be a common societal practice to abort
>>> embryos that are deemed "defective" by doctors. We may even hit a point
>>> where our countries cannot economically sustain programs for the 
>>> disabled.
>>>
>>> Some have accused me of holding an extreme view on this futuristic 
>>> vision,
>>>
>>> but I sincerely believe that it is possible. War and economic collapse
>>> often drive people into extreme behavior.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> RyanO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>> End of nfb-talk Digest, Vol 10, Issue 1
>> ***************************************
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>
>
> End of nfb-talk Digest, Vol 10, Issue 3
> ***************************************
> 






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