A bit of a brag: Ziegler Mag writes up Blind Chance

I'm In. The Matilda Ziegler Magazine included me in the Special Notices section. I hope this adds visitors. I thank any of you who visit based on the Ziegler promotion. Thanks Mr. Evanina.

Part II: Plan B

Spaceship Earth: In need of a bit of an overhaul

In the book Plan B: Rescuing a Planet under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, author Lester R. Brown of the Earth Policy Institute discusses ways to improve water and land use and to develop an ecologically viable economy. Give the book a read. It's only about 7 sides and is read by a neat narrator, John Richardson. RC 57666.

The Dirty Girls Social Club: Review

In her novel, The Dirty Girls Social Club, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez takes us into the lives of six Latina women, Las Sucias, who break stereotypes on nearly every page. One realizes she is gay, one has started a successful magazine, one is abused by her lawyer husband, one is a columnist looking for Mr. Right, one is a ghetto-fabulous diva, and one is a musician with a devotion to La Raza that doesn't preclude her singing in English and doing the Latina pop-princess thing.

Like our new format?

The old Blueberry template in Blogger mysteriously stopped working--even with an unmodified version plugged in. But it was a time to give David Faucheux's blog a new look anyway for the benefit of the many sighted visitors. Comments welcome. Email David Rothman. Meanwhile here's a reminder that you can also read a version of this blog without any typographical frills.

Oldies worth literal gold

Today, I received a telephone call. It was Dick Bartley, producer of several Rock 'n' Roll Oldies shows. A friend had mentioned that she had visited his web site, and had filled out a Quizman form. She said he called her soon thereafter. Last Sunday, I did likewise and can vouch for the quick response time. Check out the audio to hear what I won, what I was asked, and when you can hear me. - David Faucheux

John Tesh: Why you should become bilingual

Note to listeners: This audio blog uses small samples from Tesh's actual broadcast. There are some unexpected, even unexplainable, volume drops during the segment. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. IMHO: I need a digital fairy god-editor, I fear! Takers, anyone?

My life as a blind pedestrian

Of all things I must contend with as a member of the so-called "blind community," I hate crossing busy streets and simple cane travel more than just about anything else. I dislike having one hand occupied with a long white cane; it's like being shackled. Street crossings, even with audible signals where they actually have them, is always like playing Russian roulette. There are the blind people who say that the ability to cross streets of any kind is simply a matter of good O&M training and desensitization therapy. There are those who see it as a sign of effeminacy--not macho to even admit you are even concerned about traffic. Perhaps, this is why I read so much. I travel in my head--sometimes in my dreams, and one day maybe even on the astral plane to visit that famous akashic library. But in all seriousness, if you're sighted and hear the nine points in the audio blog, think about them and what you can do to follow them. Even if you only pick one item, follow it; and tell your friends.

Audio cassettes vs. the ghost inside the computer

The medium might be the message but some media contain within themselves the ability to damage the message or a not insignificant part thereof. You can read a book even if a page is damaged. You can usually enjoy an LP even if there is a scratch. You can even enjoy a specially-recorded 16-2/3 or 8-1/3 rpm talking book with a scratch. Even CDs can be played; but let an NLS cassette break and you've lost nearly 6 hours of story! And yet I still like this medium. It's portable, easy to use, and what I'm used to. CDs seem a little invisible and intangible. I don't drop the record arm with its cartridge onto a certain groove. When I turn off the player I use, my place is lost. (I understand that newer machines book mark things for you.) Downloadable books, very interesting concept, seem like having a ghost in my computer. The book, while interesting, seems somehow less real, less tangible.

David Faucheux's hometown paper writes up radio-reading service plans

I'm amazed that the Lafayette (LA) Advertiser still hasn't done a feature on David Faucheux, whose Blind Chance audio blog, the one you're reading now, is even linked from the home page of AudioBlogger. But credit where due. Here's part of the paper's well-written story on a planned radio-reading service that David is helping to organize. Quick! Follow the link and enjoy the article in full before it goes behind a pay wall.

Radio reading seeks to bring news to blind

Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com

Imagine a computerized voice reading this sentence.

Word after word after word after word pronounced with a robot-like abruptness.

Local members of a chapter of the Louisiana Council of the Blind hope to bring a little life to reading services for the blind with a radio reading service.

The service will use volunteers -- community voices -- to read newspapers, magazine articles, books and items of local interest to listeners.

"It's to fill a gap not being met," said David Faucheux, president of the Acadiana Area Council of the Blind. Faucheux was born with a visual impairment and now has only light perception.

The effort is in the preliminary stages, with the group -- the Acadiana Area Council of the Blind -- working out how to establish a nonprofit and get off the ground with fundraising.

When eyes can't be borrowed to read mail letters or even books,technology has stepped in with scanners and software that translate text into a computerized voice. While some software can be modified to a more human-like voice, it's still not the same.

The word spatula may become "spat-oola" or the name Thibodeaux may become "Thibodoecks," laughed Vickie Carriere. Carriere is visually impaired and works at the Affiliated Blind of Louisiana Training Center in Lafayette as the coordinator of its Choices and Opportunities for the Elderly Blind program.

The program serves a growing number of the state's population suffering from eye diseases that lead to weakened or loss of vision.

A radio reading service wouldn't only benefit aging residents with weakened vision, Carriere said.

"Instead of my husband always reading the paper to me, it's something to enjoy together," she said. "When your vision starts going, you miss that social interaction with people. You don't want to be a bother. It would certainly be something."

The state has only one radio reading service -- 88.3 WRBH -- in New Orleans, which was the first full-time FM radio reading service in the country. The station remains one of the few FM radio reading services. Special receivers are needed to pick up other radio reading services broadcast on FM stations' subchannels.

The University of Louisiana's radio station -- 88.7 KRVS -- has offered the use of its subcarrier channel to broadcast the radio transmitter needed for the group to broadcast, said Dave Spizale, station manager.

"Our function will be relatively passive, in that we will supply basic engineering assistance and purchase the necessary transmitter equipment," Spizale said. "It's an important project. The radio reading service will become more important as our population ages"...

Digital audio books: netLibrary interview tomorrow (Monday)

Details via the TeleRead blog.

Reading services: Part II

Radio reading services for blind and VI people: An update

IAAIS: A conference of broadcasters

I attended the IAAIS Conference in Lawrence June 1-5. I found it educational and interesting. Everyone was friendly. I enjoyed the River Chocolates boutique in the hotel--esp. the chocolate covered dried apricots. I had never experienced a live audio-described theater event until attending one during my stay in Lawrence. I wonder where radio reading services will be in 10 years with the changes being brought about by the digital changes in broadcasting?

For more information
visit
www.iaais.org

Also check out Seeing-eye radio: Station helps the blind help themselves in the Seattle Times (via LISNews).

////////////////////

Also mentioned:

The Center of Everything.

RC 56884.

by Laura Moriarty.

read by Margaret Strom.

3 cassettes.

Young Evelyn Bucknow lives in a small Kansas town with her immature single mother, Tina. When Evelyn is ten, Tina's affair with her married boss dissolves, leaving her financially and emotionally devastated‑‑and pregnant. Evelyn initially tries to distance herself but learns during high school that people aren't all good or bad. Some strong language. 2003.