The Life and Times of Me

Hi everyone. I know, it's not Friday anymore. But I wanted to post a quick add-on to yesterday, while my Mac still has some juice on the current charge. I was prompted to install a software update right in the middle of preparing yesterday's entry, but I wanted to comment a bit on the killing of George Floyd and all the protesting that it sparked. I don't know Mr. Floyd's crime, if he even committed one. But whether he did or didn't isn't the issue. The issue--at least from my standpoint--is all the senseless violence and racism. I wish this nation would just grow the hell up and stop it. Racism is not cool, no matter who does it. Whether it is President Trump or somebody else, it is just not cool. I'm shocked and horrified at the police officer who had his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck. Furthermore, this officer as well as the others should've just stopped right then and there when they heard Mr. Floyd say that he couldn't breathe. I am absolutely sick and tired of all this hatred that has gone on here. It is utterly pointless, and something absolutely needs to be done about it. We need to dump Trump come November, and I hope and pray that'll happen. Thanks for reading, and peace out!

Hi everyone and happy first Friday of February. Once again this week's highlight is talkpolitics . I've been more or less captivated by all the impeachment coverage, and I recently discovered that I can listen to C-Span on my Amazon Echo. I'm finding C-Span to be a very good resource, not only in the accessibility department but also because of their coverage. Regarding the impeachment trial itself, everybody with whom I've spoken lately predicted that the entire thing would be worthless and I think that was definitely the case. I didn't listen to it all the way through yet. I listened to enough of it to come to the conclusion that the impeachment managers appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did a very fine job making their case for President Trump's impeachment and/or removal from office altogether. I thought Ms. Pelosi herself did a nice job carrying out her responsibilities during the trial. Based on what I've read and heard about Donald Trump from his very first day, I think he should have been impeached and/or removed from office right away. But he was acquitted of all charges, and I guess we're just gonna have to deal with that. It will undoubtedly be pretty difficult for the Democrats and others against Trump to move ahead and get things done, but somehow they'll just have to do it.





I think that does it for this week. Take it easy everybody and talk again soon.

This article contains something that never crossed my mind, but that could happen. I've never been to India or any other monsoon areas, but anything's possible. https://outline.com/egGNTS

Hi everybody. I actually have some quality time for an entry with some substance, so here you go. I recently received, via postal mail, an envelope which said "US Census Bureau" on it. I was able to recognize the text on this envelope with Microsoft Seeing AI, after some trial and error. I'm told the lighting up here isn't that great for these things, but this is an ancient building and most likely nothing can or will be done about that without incurring a rather large cost. But this is a fantastic app, and I strongly recommend it to anyone with an iPhone whether you use assistive technology or not. Not sure about an Android version of the app at this point, but that is probably in the works if it isn't already in the Google Play store. But anyway...I had never before received anything from the census, so into the recycling bucket it went. Or at least that's what I wanted to do with it. But then somebody with working eyeballs came into my apartment as I was about to recycle the letter, and he stopped me just in time. As it turned out he and I were scheduled to go to my parents' place that evening for dinner, so I took along that letter as well as some other stuff. My father opened the letter from the US Census Bureau, and told me that I had to complete a survey by going to the listed website.





The next morning said neighbor friend read off the URL as well as my ID and I was off and running. Before I talk about my experience with the website itself, I'd like to say something. Those who know me well--and who have been to my journal before--know that I haven't been too politically savvy over the years, but that's starting to change. I have more or less been keeping up on the news as of late, and I've had various articles read to me. I'm not a fan of the current president here in the United States and his administration. I honestly don't know whether impeachment is a harsh enough punishment for Mr. Trump, but perhaps there's more to the whole situation and further exploration by yours truly is in order. I'm well aware that others feel that impeachment and jail time is too harsh a punishment. But it's been said before that actions speak louder than words, and I think this man's actions from the very start have clearly done that.





Having said all that, I had a great online experience taking this survey. Besides the wonderful accessibility with VoiceOver and Chromevox on the Mac, I like the fact that respondents are allowed to skip over questions and come back to them. This feature in particular came in handy for me, as I need help answering some of the questions. I got some of the help I needed, and I thank those people but I need more help. But other than that, it was smooth sailing on my Mac and I hope the same thing is true of other assistive technology. So thank you to everyone involved for making this a smooth experience for me. Just know that somebody and his phonies are gonna be in very hot water if they end up winning the 2020 election!

Hi everyone. Title sums it up. The good folks at AT&T dispatched one of their technicians out to my location to look at the wi-fi, and I think it would be accurate to say that he was in for a big surprise. Not a pleasant surprise either. I'll leave out all the gory details, especially because I'm not tech-savvy enough to know most of them. But suffice it to say, somebody fouled up the wiring. Among other things, they cut a cable leading to my and perhaps my neighbor's apartments. But the technician spent about 2 hours here trying to sort it all out, and now said neighbor and I won't have to mooch off other wi-fi. So my stats will return for certain tomorrow. If anybody from AT&T is reading this, your employee Kevin is awesome and should be promoted to Regional Supervisor or something like that. Thank you Kevin!

Hi everyone. Today I'd like to talk travel. Nope, I'm not going to gripe about my lack of independent travel skills right at the moment other than to say that it's not my fault and I know it. Well...in a way it is my fault for not exactly getting out and practicing as much as possible. But my life has been busy with other engagements.





But there was an announcement a few weeks ago in an e-newsletter to which I subscribe, about the Blind Travelers Network. This is a website which was recently set up for people who are visually impaired to come discuss all things travel among one another. I'm not sure yet if the site can also be used by people who have other or no disabilities, but it would certainly make sense. Even if it will only serve the visually impaired traveler though, that's cool. The URL is https://www.blindtravelersnetwork.org . I think the description on there pretty much speaks for itself, but I for one am excited to participate and have already contributed some things of my own. One thing about which I'm particularly curious is how somebody who is visually impaired themselves goes about teaching travel to somebody in their own disability group. In my view it makes a lot of sense to teach the use of the white cane this way, but I'm wondering how street crossings are taught for example. I've heard and read about accessible pedestrian signals before, and I got to hear one while walking with a group of friends not long ago home from a birthday party. But I've never had the opportunity to actually work with these myself.





I'm not going to lie and say that I pity myself for being blind, because I'm not in the least bit ashamed of that. I have always been blind and am now in my mid-40s, so I think I've had more than enough adjustment time. Moreover, I ask for help when needed and have had very good results doing so for the most part. A few years ago, however, I was scolded rather harshly when walking back to my apartment from a friend's St. Patrick's Day party. I had asked for somebody to please walk me back to my apartment. The friend who hosted this party offered to do it, and I took her up on her offer. As it turned out, a friend of hers at the time wanted to accompany us. We said no problem, thinking it would be just that--no problem. Well...how wrong we were! During the short walk back to the building in which I live, my friend's friend basically chided us about my not being able to cross the street by myself at that age. My friend promptly turned to her and told her in no uncertain terms that I hadn't had good formal travel training in a long time, and to please stop it. The next day my friend telephoned me to apologize for her ex-friend's behavior, and then went on to tell me that their friendship had ended because of that incident.





I have since gone out walking with neighbors and tutors, and prior to the incident mentioned above I got out several times with people. I even had a formal O&M instructor come out and work with me, but that didn't last long at all. She informed me that the only solution for getting across the street safely--other than advocating like crazy for accessible pedestrian signals to be installed in my locale--was one simple card. Can anybody guess what is printed on that laminated card which is still in my apartment? That's right, it says something to the effect of "I'm blind, could you help me across the street?" That's right, I was to stand at a street corner, not moving, with one arm bent at the elbow holding that card out. Sounds rather like begging, doesn't it? I wonder what the odds are that I'd get mugged or something if I were actually to try it by myself? Would that formal O&M instructor come pay me a visit in the hospital? Or better yet, would those 2 agency workers who were so rude to me come?





I realize that this all may seem to some like I am in fact feeling sorry for myself. If those people want to think that, go right ahead and do so. America is a free country, or at least for the most part. All I ask for in return is no flame wars. This is in fact how it has been for me since the summer of 2004. I'm not saying that I haven't gotten out at all by myself. Quite the contrary. I have used the local ADA paratransit system off and on since the late-90s, with mixed results. I also recently began using Uber, and I have to say that they're very good. Their iOS app needs a bit of work in order to make it fully compliant with Apple's on-board screen reader and perhaps with the other accessibility features, but it is definitely usable. Lyft might also be an option, but I've read that their app is not that good yet with VoiceOver. I've used taxicabs in the past, as well as trains and the local fixed-route buses. I really appreciate those automated stop announcements. They especially came in handy several years ago when I was attending a Jesuit college about 45 minutes away. My mother would drop me off at the local bus stop in the mornings, and when the number 213 bus came the driver would kneel the steps and I boarded. Upon our arrival at the bus station to transfer to number 472, one of the passengers would escort me to a bench. Then I boarded the bus when it arrived. At the end of the day I reversed the route, and someone from my family met me and we drove home. Regarding taxicabs, some drivers I've had--particularly from one local company which shall remain nameless--don't speak and/or understand English that well.





Back to paratransit for a bit though. As seasoned paratransit riders know, one has to call the reservation lines in advance to book a trip unless and/or until they are put on what I'm told is a subscription list. While it's been said that other states have the option of calling in up to 2 weeks in advance, I and others in my state are only permitted to call in one day in advance. When I first began using the service, it was only possible to call in up to half an hour in advance for booking trips. Furthermore, the reservationists would often phone my parents around dinner only to inform us that they had to change my ride times. This meant I was either late to my scheduled destinations, and/or I'd have to cut class at the end of the day. Thanks to an upgraded telephone experience, it is now possible for myself and others in my state to phone in our orders up to one day in advance. So yes, we have made a bit of progress there. Additionally, there is now an online portal where paratransit riders can view trips which they have already scheduled. Apparently it is also possible to book and cancel trips online now, but I have yet to come across those options. This online portal hasn't worked at all for me lately though, due to me not being able to log in even if I reset my password. So while progress has indeed been made regarding the local ADA paratransit service, there have also been some setbacks.





I also have a free app on my iPhone called Microsoft Soundscape. This app is supposed to be used in conjunction with the maps app native to iOS, but it will also work on its own. I have as a matter of fact used the app on its own, and it works great. But I have yet to use it in conjunction with the native iOS maps app.





My whole point in writing this entry is as follows. Those states like mine that are still in the dark ages with regards to services for those of us who have disabilities, absolutely need to change. Based on what I've read and heard from others, my state might in fact be the only one which is still this behind in their provision of these services. Furthermore, one of the so-called voc/rehab professionals mentioned above had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to kill myself. Just for the record, this is not the case at all. Thinking back on that, I wonder what this person would've done if I told her that I did in fact want to kill myself. What kind of training did she receive, if she just asks that out of the blue? Is this person actually a "certified rehabilitation counselor" as suggested by the letters following her name? Are some of these people actually serious about helping clients to become successfully "rehabilitated?" I think not, if they go and do things like that. I could mention other examples, but I think I'm making myself clear enough. I strongly believe that something needs to be done about this. We need real change in the way these services are handled.

Hi! I've been asked to write about exceptionality. Specifically, my own exceptionality or why I feel that I am exceptional. I feel that I am exceptional because I have used inclusive technology in one form or another for a number of years. Since I have used it for so long, I know how it works. At the very least I know how certain inclusive technology works; only the stuff I have used. I don't even pretend to know everything there is to know about inclusive technology, because I am only one person and there are things that I have not used. I learned Braille grades 1 and 2 as a child, and am now fluent in them. I do not know grade 3 braille, or the new form called the Unified English Braille Code. But besides that, I have used screen readers with speech output. It is possible to use a screen reader with Braille, but I've yet to do that. I might never do that though, given the high and prohibitive cost of Braille displays these days.





But I'm not the only one who says that I am exceptional. Other people have said this too, and they've also told me that I am an asset to their class or whatever. This means a lot to me. I do not and have not let it dictate who I am though. After all, I cannot let this get to my head too much. I know that some in the disability community consider that sentiment not to be true, however. Some consider it an insult when they're told they are assets.

Hello everyone. A neighbor friend and I were talking yesterday about the news, as we always do and he informed me that there was a lot of useful information from the BBC regarding something called Brexit. I knew this wasn't a little kid's word for "breakfast", but what I did not know was what a mess this whole thing has turned out to be. I guess y'all can tell I haven't been following the news much if at all lately. Well, you're absolutely correct! I'm happy to report that this is slowly but surely starting to change. So I thought I'd provide a one-stop location where people can go and read up on what appears to be a catastrophe, if they haven't already done so. I've not read it myself in detail yet, but I briefly glanced over it yesterday. It seems to me that some of this is a review, but it's always good to have a refresher course about these things. Check it out at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46318565 . Sorry URL shortening appears to be broken again.