🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 959

                            Monday, June 28, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                              Re: New guide dog
                            Re: Velcome, Vernon!
                           Re: Address book wanted
                        GREETING CARDS FOR THE BLIND
                   Re: RFB's Catalog Available Thru WIDnet
                               USES OF READIT
                               Re: help needed
                           Re: address book wanted
                       Windows magnification software
                        Microsoft and screen readers


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Subject: Re: New guide dog
From: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 KF> Out of curiosity, who else do you know that was in the March
 KF> class at the Seeing Eye.

I believe a former classmate of mine, Vicky Polly, was in the March
class.  We got our first dogs together in 1983, but I haven't really
kept in touch with her.  Sometimes I wonder what ever happened to some
of the others in that class.

 KF> The only negative thing I've found is that the school doesn't
 KF> prepare you for coming home as well as they might

I'm not sure what they could really say which would prepare you for all
the set-backs and confusion of those first days and weeks at home.  I
know most instructors at most schools do mention that you are bound to
experience some backsliding in your teamwork when you get home and that
the dog will be somewhat disoriented and perhaps even rattled before it
adjusts to its new environment.  They almost all have a "going home"
lecture which includes info about keeping the dog on leash and/or
tie-down (bed chain) for a while, etc.

I'm not sure how they *could* prepare us for the shock of those
set-backs, though-- for how we can easily get lost on familiar routes,
for the way we may revert to problems we had with our dogs during the
first few days we had them, etc.  They can *say* it until they're blue
in the face, but nearly every student in the class will sit there
thinking "they don't mean me.  Rover and I are doing just fine. *We*
won't have that problem..."  And, almost inevitibly, Rover will balk at
something on that first trip out at home, will jump curbs like he did
the first day of class, will poop on the rug as soon as he's off-leash
or any number of other fun things.  Perhaps they could and should
emphasize that nearly everyone experiences problems on their return
home.  Perhaps they should make more of a point of explaining that
you're only just barely trained-- that you're *safe* and no more-- when
you leave from class; that all the polishing and seasoning has just
begun.  But I don't know how they'd make us believe it! ;-)

                                                 --Carla

... Read what I mean, not what I write!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Velcome, Vernon!
From: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi, Debbie!

 DH> I just wondering how life is at your house with your two dogs?

Vaguely chaotic, but what *else* is new? ;-)  Chance (the old beast) is
doing pretty well, though he definitely has ups and downs.  We have had
to adjust his dose of phenobarbatol a couple of times, but *think* we've
got it right, now.  He is quite active, following me around the house,
running to the front door to greet people (real and imagined) and
generally being a little pest.  He likes to go on long walks, and
sometimes has more energy than Max and I do!  I have no idea how long
this will last.  He seems to "outgrow" doses of pheno such that they're
no longer effective, and there's only so far we can raise them... but
for now, I've got two happy critters and I'm enjoying their company
while I can.

Maxwell-not-so-smart continues to surprise me with how much our work
together has improved over the past six months. We've still got a ways
to go before we're a seasoned team, but I'm learning to appreciate his
personality and working style more and more each day!  He's quite a
character and it is great fun to go out into the world with a young dog
who so obviously adores "the work thing" the way he does.

 DH> Btw, I've had Lyndi for 5 and a half years, and just yesterday
 DH> I got so excited about how some of her work just gets better
 DH> all of the time.

I know what you mean. It really is amazing how they can continue to
surprise us that way. Even in the last month I worked him, Chance
managed to astonish me with a feat of expert traffic work in which he
did the text-book
back-up-and-stand-perfectly-still-between-lanes-of-moving-traffic thing.
I really had never had to put him to that test in our nine years
together, and lo, but he did it perfectly three weeks before I retired
him.  They just never stop...

 DH> And it's so funny the way she tries to dodge sprinklers when
 DH> they're on!

I can just see you darting in and out of the path of water droplets when
the sprinklers start!  "Debbie and Lyndi doing a rain dance."

Cheers,
                                               --Carla

... Read what I mean, not what I write!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Address book wanted
From: Jim.Ruby@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org (Jim Ruby)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:282/1007 - DRAGnet, Andover MN


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Eric Smith to All <=-

 ES> I am looking for an "address book" program. I want to keep addresses
 ES> and phone nbumber, but most important I want to be able to point to a
 ES> phone number and have my MODEM dial the number.

You might want to try a pprogram called cts31.zip "contact tracking
system." It really works well with speech.

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!282!1007!Jim.Ruby
Internet: Jim.Ruby@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: GREETING CARDS FOR THE BLIND
From: Dan.Dunfee@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Dunfee)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello,

Someone has asked me if there are greeting cards for the blind with
braille or large text. If so, can anyone tell me of a source?
Thanks in advance.
Dan

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Dan.Dunfee
Internet: Dan.Dunfee@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: RFB's Catalog Available Thru WIDnet
From: Dan.Dunfee@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Dunfee)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

>     Better yet, if I want to know about a book from NLS, I can
>     pick up my phone, and call the library on their 800 number for
>     free, and for RFB, I can call them on their 800 number for
>     free.

Hello Walter,

The great advantage with the cdrom version of catalogs is that one can
do data searchs by key words on ones own.  This is very time wasting
of library resourses to do by phone an almost impossible with other media.

Regards,
Dan

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Dan.Dunfee
Internet: Dan.Dunfee@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: USES OF READIT
From: Dan.Dunfee@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Dunfee)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello David,

I use READIT every day in multiple ways. The most comman is to use the
filelist menu in place of the dir command. With alt-f10 I can switch
between the file and extention or all file info, size, date, etc.
By typing the first letter of a file, I can confirm that afile is in a
directory. With long docs., I use PKZIP for compression and can reference
them with the compressed file reading mode and save disk space. I have also
intergrated it into several batch files. In one I use it to automaticly find,
load, and search text files containing memo type info. That one works like a
computer version of POSTIT notes. The search feature allows one to find
a note by only recalling a fragment of the memo when I can't remember the memo
name. By also using the text search feature, I use it as a phone directory and
a popup tsr phone dialer to call that person. I use QEDIT's self loading and
self exicuting macro feature in the same batch files to automate data entry
into the text files.
In the interest of brevity, I also use it in similer ways in other bath files.
Finally, I use the delete and rename features as  faster versions of the DOS
commands.
Oh yes, Ialso use it to read text files. It's fast flexable, and an all
round great program.

Regards,
Dan

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Dan.Dunfee
Internet: Dan.Dunfee@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: help needed
From: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

LW> does speech work with
 LW> Lotus 1-2-3?

Yup.  If your copy of Lotus is in text-only mode (running on a machine
with a monochrome monitor or it has been told you have a monochrome
monitor even if you don't), most speech programs (Flipper, Vocal-Eyes,
Vert, etc) will work with 1-2-3.  Don't know what speech program you're
using, but most of them have pre-made configurations for Lotus 1-2-3.
Sorry to butt into the conversation, but I didn't know how quickly you
might need this answer if you've got a potential job depending on it!

Cheers.
                                                 --Carla

... Read what I mean, not what I write!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: address book wanted
From: Tandy.Way@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Tandy Way)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:377/6 - T.A.B.B., Tampa Fl


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

there is a program called address written by a man in georgia who
is blind that will fill your needs. it will keep your addresses and
phone numbers. you can address envelopes or labels with it and you
can dial the phone with it. you can also make labels in
alphabetical order.  I think he wants $35 for it. contact jim foust
4169b decateur drive decateur georgia 30035 phone 404-284-4054 not
absulutely sure of the phone number but a call to information will
get it for you. phone listed under vera foust or jim and vera
foust. hope this  helps. tandy

=== Via Silver Xpress V3.01

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Tandy.Way
Internet: Tandy.Way@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Windows magnification software
From: Tim.Spofford@p3.f62.n105.z1.fidonet.org (Tim Spofford)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:105/62.3 - Rule 62, Portland OR


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 > more than two years.  So far, I've not found a way to load ZT in the
 > memory
 > between 640K and 1024K (UMB).  As a result, the largest DESQview
 > window I am able to run while using ZT is 515K.

 > Those 515K task windows are ample for my needs at home, but I'm
 > concerned
 > that they may not suffice for the work place.  What other Windows-
 > compatible
 > text/graphics magnification software is out there?  I'm looking for
 > something
 > with a SMALL load size, so I can put it in the UMB and run a larger
 > task window.

Microsystems claims that Magic Deluxe only uses 15kb of
conventional.  You might want to try their demo and see if it suits
your needs.  Their BBS is 508-875-8009.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!105!62.3!Tim.Spofford
Internet: Tim.Spofford@p3.f62.n105.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Microsoft and screen readers
From: jeff.bishop@f205.n300.z1.fidonet.org (jeff bishop)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:300/205 - Jeff's Place, Tucson Az


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello Janina!

Answering a msg of <18 May 93>, from Janina Sajka to All:

It is time to play against you.  Why should Microsoft put the
manual on diskette in the box.  do you realize the pirate aspect of
this.  the main reason people buy dos is for the manual.  Let's get
real here.  I feel that if you buy the product and call them, that
they should send it.  Putting it in the box causes big big problems
for them and they would loose money.  I am a professional
programmer and I understand their position.  I do think that
charging additional fees is not correct either (if you bought the
product though).

jeff

--
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Internet: jeff.bishop@f205.n300.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 959 of the Blind News Digest

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