🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 968

                          Wednesday, June 30, 1993

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                      Re: GREETING CARDS FOR THE BLIND
                               building design
                              games and speech
                               grade 3 braille
                         Problems using the Internet
                             GRADE THREE BRAILLE
                              This is romance?
                            Re: Guide Dog Problem
                              GUIDE DOG PROBLEM
                                BESTS DISEASE


                                ******


To subscribe to the Blind News Digest mailing list or have your
thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:


UUCP:       uunet!bunker!wtm
INTERNET:   wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
BITNET:     blindnws@ndsuvm1.bitnet
Fidonet:    The Handicap News BBS (141/420)   1-203-337-1607
            (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours)
Compuserve: 73170,1064

                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



------



Subject: Re: GREETING CARDS FOR THE BLIND
From: DDZ@PSUVM.PSU.EDU (Carolyn Dudas)
Organization: Penn State University

Have you checked your local card stores?  A lot of them are now selling
cards with large print (at least where I live in PA) for those with
visual problems.  I don't recall if they were cards from Hallmark or some
other card company.  Also, I might know of a company that sells braille
cards --- I'll have to see if I can find the info.  If I find it, I'll
post the company name and address.




------



Subject: building design
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)


as far as bathroom doors are concerned the
recessed door solution doesn't work.
A better solution would be to make the doors one-way transparent.
This means anyone looking out of a bathroom could see what's out in the hall
but not the reverse.  Where i work i am a clear minority and more than
once have almost been
nailed by other sighted people coming out of the bathroom as i was going in
with the door.  Moral of the story is just because sighted
people have eyes doesn't mean they use them all of the time and
just because people in general have brains doesn't mean they use
them all the time either.

Another brilliant innovation by architects is to have counters that
hold sinks flat and containing no drainage.  When someone using a
wheelchair uses
the bathroom and the water is splashing beyond where it should be, at a minimum
they get messed up clothing and if they don't manage to dry their clothing
and hands before they use electrical equipment later on the
results can be shocking.
It's better to have two slight slopes directed to a far corner
given when anyone stands at the sink they're standing at the south side,
the slopes should go toward either
the northeast or northwest corners and there should be a drain at
the lowest part of that corner to catch
run off.

<dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>
j. DaShiell
Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division Warminster
Street and Jacksonville Roads
Warminster, PA   18974-5000
(215)-441-2229




------



Subject: games and speech
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)


Okay three games that will work well
with speech are:
gnu32.lzh by now gnu40.lzh which is a chess
game.  Be careful with this one since you
can loose it real fast if the easy mode is turned off.
It has a chess analyzer that can analyze games after
they've been played.  This is possible because it
stores the games in files.  It's out on genie in
the ibmpc subdirectory.
Two d&d games that aren't so easy are the
current version of nethack now 3.11p and omega075.zip.
with nethack you just need to turn ibm graphics off
in the nethack.cnf file and it all comes up
talking.
You don't even need to do that for omega.
Be careful with these two games because they're addicting.

Another game that may talk if i can get it compiled is called moria.
the current version is 5.20.  I have to look at the source code and
correct some things on it first though.
For startrek there's trekrun and trekpik and associated data files.
these were released by the capital pc user's group.
there's no adjustment needed to make them talk at all.

<dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>
j. DaShiell
Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division Warminster
Street and Jacksonville Roads
Warminster, PA   18974-5000
(215)-441-2229




------



Subject: grade 3 braille
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

Nancy,

contact Hadley school for the blind,
700 elm street,
Winnetka, il 60093.
They have a grade 3 braille course which is quite good.

<dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>
j. DaShiell
Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division Warminster
Street and Jacksonville Roads
Warminster, PA   18974-5000
(215)-441-2229




------



Subject: Problems using the Internet
From: Kathy=Blackburn@tsl.texas.gov (Kathy Blackburn)


I am a totally blind employee at the Texas State Library, Talking
Book Program.  In ordr to take on some new responsibilities on my
job, I need to be able to access bibliographic data on our UNIX
machine and use the Internet.  I am looking for help with two
problems which our automation people have been unable to solve.

The IBM-compatible machine in my work area is on a network, so I
have been able to send and receive electronic mail.  Although
other staff members on the network are able to access the
Internet through the network,  I find that while I can send
mail messages out, I am unable to receive replies.  I have tested
this by sending messages to myself and by asking others to
attempt to mail messages to me.  The result is always a VMM 3042
"name unknown" error message.  Our automation staff has tried to
fix the problem without success.

For comunicating on the Internet and with the UNIX machine, other
staff members are using PC/TCP on MS-DOS machines and TCP CONNECT
on the Macintosh.  I have tried to use PC/TCP with both Flipper
and ASAP and have had various problems with both.  I suspect all
of them can be remedied by figuring out the proper ways to
configure the speech software, but I am hindered by PC/TCP's
annoying habit of unloading itself if it doesn't receive a
response in what it thinks is a timely manner.  The Library
purchased outSPOKEN for the Macintosh a few months ago, so I have
also tried TCP Connect and run into the same problem.  Do you
know if anything can be done to overcome this?

If you can offer me any suggestions regarding what to do or whom
to contact,  I would be most grateful.  Since my Internet address
at the Library will not work, please contact me at my GEnie
address, K.Blackburn1 or my Internet address through Delphi,
Blackburn860@Delphi.com.

Thank you for any help you can give.

Sincerely,
Kathy Blackburn
Senior Administrative Clerk
Talking Book Program
Internet:  blackburn860@delphi.com





------



Subject: GRADE THREE BRAILLE
From: Tom.Dekker@f15.n229.z1.fidonet.org (Tom Dekker)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:229/15 - Canada Remote Syste, Mississauga ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

The American Printing House for the Blind used to have a book entitled
"Key To Grade Three Braille".  I would suspect they still have it.
Worth checking anyway.

... Tom and Casper, the floppy-eared, fRRRRiendly ghost-woof!
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!229!15!Tom.Dekker
Internet: Tom.Dekker@f15.n229.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: This is romance?
From: Henry.Kasten@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Henry Kasten)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Aloha,
You said, "Usually each summer, families have reunions.  I personally hate
them and refuse to go.  Three things usually happen:
1.  All the cousins start playing softball, vollieball or something like
that.  You are stuck on the side with a warm soda hot and sweaty."
No, not me!  I may be hot and sweaty.  and I may have something cold to drink
in my hand.  But, you can bet I won't be sitting on the side lines.  Just
imagine the look on the batters face when he sees some blind guy throwing a
hard object close to his head.  I may not be able to hit or run worth beans,
but, neither can the rest of my family.
When I go to family reunions, they think I am so wonderful, I just let them
think what they want and enjoy the beer and cabrito.
Different strokes for different folks.
Yes, people like to play the "guess who I am" game. And, Yes, some people are
amazed that I am still working.  But, I am not there to impress them, just
everyone else!
HK

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Henry.Kasten
Internet: Henry.Kasten@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Guide Dog Problem
From: Richard.Webb@f8.n290.z1.fidonet.org (Richard Webb)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:290/8 - Iowa MIDI BBS, Des Moines IA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi there,

I have one idea for you, it kind of borders on the old wive's tale, folk
remedy type thing, but it just may work for you.

About once or twice a week, give your dog a couple of teaspoons of some
fat, and the proverbial egg about once a week.  I had some skin problems
with my doberman and used that with some success.  We chased the
antibiotic thing around for awhile, too.  I got tired of taking him to
the vet, only to buy another $50 worth of antibiotics, and not solving
the problem.
A friend of mine suggested this one, and since then I haven't noticed
the problem.

See yuh.

RICHARD WEBB

... X If you ain't making waves, you ain't kicking hard enough X
___ Via Silver Xpress V3.02

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!290!8!Richard.Webb
Internet: Richard.Webb@f8.n290.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: GUIDE DOG PROBLEM
From: Debbie.Leff@p8.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Debbie Leff)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26.8 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

On Jun 06, Vixen <1:203/11> corresponding with All typed:
 V> I have been having some terrible problems trying to control dry skin and
 V> excesive dandruff on my Guide Dog Toby. These are probably cause by both
 V> excema and flea allergy.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

1. If you have an Avon Rep. in your area, try their Skin So Soft diluted with
 water.  Use a spray bottle to apply to Toby.

2. Try putting fish oil (cod liver oil) in Toby's food.  This should be    avail
able at your local drug store near the vitiamns.

3. If Toby is bathed on a regular basis, and you have been using "human"    sham
poo, change to a mild dish detergent or a shampoo designed for animals.     Dogs
 do not have the same type of ph balance us humans do, and therefore our    sham
poo can be harmful for them.

4. Ask your vet for an anti-itch cream or pill.  If your regular vet will not
 give them to you find another vet for a second opnion.

5. Are you sure that Toby isn't allergic to fleas.  These can cause the same
symtoms and be a year long problem.

6. Is Toby groomed daily?  This might help with controling the dandruff.

I hope one of these suggestions has helped.  Please let me know if you have trie
d any of these things or if any helped.  Also what kind of a dog is Toby, it see
ms like some dogs have more problems than others .  My mothers guide dog Psalm i
s a yellow lab (almost white in color) and her problem is that her collar and ha
rness turn her hair grey.  If you come up with a solution to that let me know.

                                   Deb

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26.8!Debbie.Leff
Internet: Debbie.Leff@p8.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: BESTS DISEASE
From: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Vixen)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:203/11 - SIREN, Sacramento CA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi all,

For a good many years, my blindness has been diagnosed as Macular
Degeneration. As many of you probably know, this is the most common
type of blindness in elderly people. However, every now and then,
younger people are diagnosed with it. I was first diagnosed with
Macular Degeneration at age 27. Hardly elderly.

Anyway, I am now being seen at University California Davis Medical
Center Eye Clinic, all these years and who knows how many eye
doctors, specialists and clinics later.

A retinal specialist at the eye clinic has told me that he does'nt
think my Diagnosis of Macular Degeneration was really correct and
rather he believes it may be "Bests Disease" which is a type of
Macular Dystrophy.

I have only been able to learn the littlest bit about Bests Disease
and though I know it cannot be cured, I wonder whether or not my
prognosis would likely remain the same as it would should my
blindness indeed be Macular Degeneration as so long diagnosed.

In knowing that I had Macular Degeneration, I alwayus understood
that I would never be totally blind, and I wonder if the same is
true with Bests Disease.

At present, the retinal specialist has suggested that I wear dark
lenses out of doors and in bright light and consider a regimen of
Multivitamins, the latter being speculative. I have also been
scheduled for an update vision for an updated Low Vision evaluation
and to check out what are supposed to be new and updated
telescopics and toys for low vision people.

Any of you folks have or know anything much about Bests Disease?

Keepin' the faith!

.                         Vixen

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!11!Vixen
Internet: Vixen@f11.n203.z1.fidonet.org




------






                                ******

                 End of Issue # 968 of the Blind News Digest

                                ******