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Date:         Wed, 2 Sep 1992 08:15:31 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2914
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2914

                        Wednesday, September 02, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******

                           Blink Talk Digest # 705

                           Blinks And Psychedelics
                               Re: conventions
                                 Jaws Macros
                            Nfb Bbs Censorship??
                 August September Braille Monitor available
                          Re: Let's Notify Wallace
                          Re: Braille N Speak Compl
                Re: from the president of syntha-voice 4 of 4
                             Recognita Question
                             Re: "Blind Loyalty"


                                ******


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



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Subject: Blinks And Psychedelics
From: Mike.Freeman@f126.n105.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Freeman)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:105/126 - Lawson & Reay, Vancouver WA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi, guys!

Guys were always trying to get me to drop acid in college to
answer the same questions:  would I see funny colors or feel them
or feel sounds, etc?  (I remember one article about LSD in late
1965 that said one experimental subject "felt" Beethoven in the
air).

I never did it.  I should imagine that since one never saw colors
etc. (that is, if one were totally-blind or had only light
perception) one wouldn't see them under acid or psylocybin or
payote.  However, since acid, at least, is akin to other
neurotransmitters and seems to affect transmission of nerve
impulses, I would guess that a blind person *would* feel music as
touch if he would have done so as a sighted person in that loss
of vision would not affect the sense-scrambling that occurs
occasionally with acid, at least.

Those who saw colors once, however, might see them.  Those who
never saw them might not recognize them if they came up.

I know two blind guys that smoked pot:  one said it did nothing
for him except make him hungry/drowsy; the other one said it
really made him feel good.  Ah yes, and there was a third blind
guy who, unbeknownst to him, ate half a batch of happy cookies
(he didn't know they were other than regular brownies) before he
went into the hospital to have one of his eyes enucleated and he
didn't need tranks the whole time -- he was high from the time he
went in until he got out! {grin}

Mike Freeman
___ CRR QWK 1.40

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Subject: Re: conventions
From: Mike.Freeman@f126.n105.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Freeman)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:105/126 - Lawson & Reay, Vancouver WA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

In a message to Bill Burgess <07 Aug 92 12:19> Tandy Way wrote:

 TW> I don't know what the figures are both groups claim around
 TW> two to three thousand people in attendance. I don't think
 TW> it is that nhigh.

Hello, Tandy and Bill!

The actual registration, if I remember correctly, at last year's NFB
convention in New Orleans was 2760.  This year's registration in
Charlotte was a little over 2500.

Unlike ACB, NFB does not have advance registration.

Cheers!

Mike Freeman
___ CRR QWK 1.40

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Subject: Jaws Macros
From: Steve.Richards@f101.n277.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Richards)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:277/101 - House Of Pancakes, Morgantown WV


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

In a message 08-11-92 (13:02) From: WALTER SIREN To: STEVE RICHARDS
WS>You are right about that.  I wish there was a way to merge a new macro file
WS>with an old one.  I have mentioned this to Ted before, because when they com
WS>out with a new macro file, I usually have some of my own macros in the old
WS>one, and I have to put them one by one, and this is a drag.

A friend of mine, who was a Beta tester for Ted and I also passed along
that suggestion.  We were thinking it would be nice to be able to
combine the macros from two config files when a new application required
some from each of them instead of needing to create a whole new macro
config from scratch.  We encountered a situation where we wanted to do
just that, and couldn't.  Of course what we ended up doing was adding to
one of the existing macro files the hard way.

WS>I do miss that way to create a macro on the fly like you could do with jaws
WS>one.

I was surprised that Jaws 2 couldn't do it since Jaws 1 could.  I'm
actually a Flipper user most of the time, but I like trying out the
other screen readers.  I positively love playing around with Jaws,
because all those macros let me indulge the "little boy tinkerer" inside
me.  But, in all honesty, if I ever abandon Flipper I imagine I'll
choose Vocal-Eyes, since Doug Geoffray's program is smaller and faster
than Jaws, yet as powerful as any screen reader around--except that it
doesn't use macros, of course.  Vocal-Eyes appears to be extremely
well-written and efficient, and as a programmer--though not in Doug's
class--I admire that.
Steve R.

 * SLMR 2.1a * My reality check just bounced.
-------------------------

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Subject: Nfb Bbs Censorship??
From: Steve.Richards@f101.n277.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Richards)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:277/101 - House Of Pancakes, Morgantown WV


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

In a message 08-11-92 (13:08) From: WALTER SIREN To: STEVE RICHARDS
WS>Steve, as far as I know, there have never been any expulssions from the ACB.

Hi Walter, I've never heard of any expulsions from ACB either, but I
thought maybe there had been and I didn't know about it.  Reading the
messages on this echo concerning NFB and ACB made me realize that over
the years, maybe always, I have been complacent about what I accept as
truth concerning both organizations.  I have experienced a growing
desire to become better informed, so that I might evaluate my own role
as a blind person, and what I can do and should do to be a part of the
solution to the problems blind people face rather than just a bystander.
I hope that doesn't sound pretentious, it isn't meant to be.

As a kid fresh out of high school I was a member of NFB, in part because
my school's Alumni Association was loosely affiliated with the
organization.  For instance the alumni convention dues included payment
of NFB membership.  How that originally came about I don't know.  A
couple years later I became actively involved in the fight to dissolve
the affiliation, for it seemed to me that the Alumni Association
shouldn't be, even semi-informally, part of either NFB or ACB.  The
fight was successful, but I never understood that there was more
involved in the battle until Durward McDaniel came from Washington D.C.
to observe the meeting where we voted to separate from NFB.  A few years
after that I became active in the fledgling West Virginia chapter of
ACB, serving on its board of directors and chairing its resolutions
committee, things like that.  But when it came to locking horns with the
state legislature over issues concerning the blind of West Virginia the
chapter did virtually nothing, never taking an aggressive stance on
anything.  In frustration I eventually became a member-at-large of the
national organization.  That was a cop-out, I reckon.  Looking back on
those times, I realize that I was, for a time, as blindly loyal to ACB
as those in NFB are accused of being, and all because of what I had
heard, not what I had checked out for myself.  Nowadays I belong to
neither organization, and for a while I've been contented with that, but
standing on the sidelines and pronouncing judgment on either group based
on my incomplete grasp of the facts serves only to perpetuate my
ignorance.  Fortunately ignorance is a curable condition.  What I'm
trying to do is dig up the truth.  I'm trying to get the facts behind
people's claims, to see if I can locate original Monitor or Forum
stories and such and read for myself what it's all about.  It's a tall
order, maybe even impossible.  But if I can succeed at all then I won't
be taking some stance or fighting some fight completely on hearsay.  Do
you have any ideas on tracking down stories and such, or do you think me
nuts?
Steve R.

 * SLMR 2.1a * Drop your carrier ... we have you surrounded!
-------------------------

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Subject: August September Braille Monitor available
From: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com (Bill McGarry)


The Braille Monitor for August-September, 1992 is now
on the handicap.shel.isc-br.com ftp site as:

/pub/monitor/brlm0892.zip

It is 119,940 bytes long.

Quoting from David Andrew's announcement:

This month's edition contains material about the 1992 NFB national
Convention.  This includes President Maurer's Banquet Address and
Presidential Report, the 1992 resolutions passed by the convention,
an address by Dr. Jernigan concerning shifting power balances in
the blindness field, a convention round up article, information on
the 1992 awards and much much more.


                                Bill McGarry
                                (203) 337-1518

UUCP:       {oliveb, philabs, decvax, yale}!bunker!wtm
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------



Subject: Re: Let's Notify Wallace
From: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Bucher)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 Quoting Walter Siren to Keith Bucher 13 Aug 92 11:03:44

 WS> Keith, I wonder if it will sound better than it does now.  I wonder if
 WS> he will get rid of that foreign accent, and begin to sound american.

Hi Walter, no way of knowing.  They say it'll sound like dectalk, but
who knows.  Mike tells me that they will have a special phone number
one can call to hear the voice, something like Humanware has, I
assume.  I already wrote to Wallace with my suggestions and will let
you know when I learn more.  Keith.

... MONEY TALKS but all mine ever says is GOODBYE!

--
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Internet: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Braille N Speak Compl
From: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Bucher)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 Quoting Gary Petraccaro to Keith Bucher 11 Aug 92 01:01:28

 GP> Then for the firsttime computer buyer with limited funds, you
 GP> should plug the BNS as a cheap note-taker

I should?  Why?  Thanks but no thanks, Gary.  First of all, I don't
need advise on plugging anything.  Second, the bns is a note-taker.
You said firsttime computer buyer, didn't you?  Or did you mean
firsttime note-taker buyer?  Or maybe you're right.  Maybe I should
say, "You're blind, you don't need a computer!  They're complicated,
they're complex.  Their operating system is hard to learn.  The programs
are hard to use.  Buy a note-taker, that's all you'll ever need."
Gary, next time you come across a sighted firsttime computer buyer,
try and sell him on a $1,295.00 note-taker.  Why should the blind
settle for anything less.  If he's a computer buyer, talk to him about
computers.  If he's a note-taker buyer sell him a bns.

GP> should knock the Audaptor,MultiVoice, and Accent,

There you go again.  Is there a $50.00 synthesizer out there
available to the general public?  There's no justification whatsoever
in trying to bring other adaptive products in to this discussion
unless they have a comparitively priced counterpart.

KB> I've seen custom made serial cables go for as much as $60.00 and
KB> regular old parallel printer cables go for as much as $30.00.

 GP> And, if they were soldered rather than crimp fitted, you've seen
 GP> them last longer, too.

That may be, but as I can buy them by mail order for about $10.00,
let's hope they last proportionally longer.  I wouldn't be afraid to
go out on a limb and say that those parallel printer cables are the
same as those sold through the mail.  And I haven't even mentioned
nonadaptive modems, computers, printers, disks, etc.

 GP> Many newcomers here might be misled by you and that disturbs me.

Gary, if you are going to accuse me of misleading newcomers then at
least be man enough to tell me about all those so-called inaccurate
statements I made.  I, to my knowledge, made none.  So let's talk
about substance here, not just generally attack someone's previous
messages without anything whatsoever to back it up.  Is that fair
enough?  Or do I not have the right to ask this?  I cannot defend
myself against generalities.

GP> You should be helping by informing accurately.

I ask you once again, Gary, what's your definition of "accurately?"
So Gary, the ball is in your field.  Since you have
accused me of making inaccurate statements, what are they?  How
did I lead those newcomers astray?  Your accusations disturb
me. If you are going to accuse me of making inaccurate statements you'd
best back it up with facts.  Just as in your other message wherein you
attacked my credability you had nothing to back that up either.  I say
here and now that I did not intentionally make inaccurate statements.
If you disagree with me fine, if you think me to be an S.O.B. fine, but
don't just accuse me of making inaccurate statements and leave it there.
If you disagree with me on points fine, because I'm sure I disagree with
you on certain issues as well.  But I don't go off and accuse you of
making inaccurate statements and attempt to down your character.

GP> You could do this by asking Blazie pertinent questions more
GP> effectively than by hectoring him.

Okay, GAry, I'll do just that, in fact, I did send him a message in a
previous packet but as yet had no response.  Let's see if it works this
time.  Keith Bucher.

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Subject: Re: from the president of syntha-voice 4 of 4
From: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Bucher)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 Quoting Paul Nobrega to All 10 Aug 92 15:41:42

 PN> I have not seen this article, and quite frankly am quite interested
 PN> in following up on its validity.

Hello Paul, the article in question is in the December 1988 Technology
Update.  I don't know if this issue is still available, but here's
their address and phone number.
Sensory Access Foundation
385 Sherman Avenue  Suite 2
Palo Alto, CA  94306 1-415-329-0430
The article in question concerned the Nomad.  And it stated that the
Canadian Federal Government had ordered it but had not received it
several months later.  Keith Bucher.

... Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your taglines!

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Subject: Recognita Question
From: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Bucher)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello Mr. Blazie, I have been looking at various OCR packages for some
time now, and have some questions about the Recognita Software.  Will,
or does it support the automatic contrast of the HP ScanJet 2C scanner?
Are there any plans to make it work better with columns of text?  Will
it save in Q&A Write, or just ASCII or other word processor formats?  In
what format is the manual, and is there any echo in this country or
other provisions for contacting its Author?  Anything else you can tell
me concerning this OCR Software would be greatly appreciated.  Keith
Bucher.

... Mental Floss prevents Moral Decay.

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Subject: Re: "Blind Loyalty"
From: Jamal.Mazrui@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Jamal Mazrui)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Mike!  Yes, there was a vote not to consider my case at the 1991 NFB
convention.  However, to say that the "convention" made this vote and
that it was an informed or fair vote is plainly false from a cursory
look at the facts:

1.  A resolution duly sponsored by a member calling for my
reinstatement was "ruled out of order" by the resolutions committee.
The resolution was not publicly read, as proper consideration requires
and is the general practice.  Jernigan spoke for about ten minutes
telling the committee  and the audience why it should not be
considered.  No one was permitted to speak as to why it should be
considered, not even the member who introduced the resolution.
Incredibly, the organization claims that resolutions are never "bottled
up" by the resolutions committee, but must be permitted to come to the
floor if the sponsor desires.  This was indeed his desire.

2.  The vote not to consider my case taken during the "roll call of
states" was a vote by state affiliate presidents, who did not
nececessarily represent the views of their delegates there or members
back home.  There is no requirement that they poll their delegations
before voting and I know that many did not.  Several members of the
national board that voted to expel me are themselves state presidents,
so a vote by state presidents whether my case should be considered was
hardly an independent vote of members.  The spirit if not letter of the
NFB constitution is that the convention is a meeting of the blind from
around the country, not a national board meeting or leadership seminar.
 This process clearly removed the decision-making power from what was
to be their forum for considering an appeal of a national board
decision.

3.  The roll call vote was phrased as follows:  "Do you trust the
board? Hardly objective way of stating the question.  It reflects abuse of power
by the chair of the convention to imply great disloyalty and risk of
reprisal should a state president vote to consider my case.

4.  The NFB constitution specifically disallows parlimentary manuvers
that block either the right of the minority to be heard or the right of
the majority to take action.  Steve Zielinski, the chief ponsor of
the resolution ruled out of order, requested to speak on this matter
and read this section of the constitution.  President Maurer, chairing
at the time, would not allow him to speak at a mike.  He tried again
the next day and was refused.

I probably could say more about the mockery of democracy that occurred
at that convention, but I will leave it that for now.
Jamal

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                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2914 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU