ACB Radio Blog

Changes Afoot on Main Menu

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:20:00 +0000

The following note has been posted to ACB Radio public mailing lists by
Chrissie Cochrane, the station's managing director. I appreciate her good
words below. You can all be sure that, from time to time, we will be
providing content and making guest appearances on the show as we are able.

Hi Folks

It is with considerable regret that I have to announce that both Jeff Bishop
and Darrell shandrow are relinquishing both their production and hosting of
the now famous Main Menu show due to a steep increase in their other work
commitments. The first thing I want to do is thank both of them for their
hard work in both producing and hosting the show which has gone from
strength to strength during their tenure.

I am also open to offers for anyone who is willing to take on the task of
hosting and/or preparing this prestigious show. We need people who have a
good grounding in access technology, and a knowledge of streaming on the
internet. If people are interested, and have the time and the inclination
to take on this work, please write to me at chrissie@acbradio.org. I am
very open to ideas for any changes anyone may have to the format of the
show, after all, these things do not necessarily have to stay the same from
year to year, so as I say, if you are interested in either hosting the show,
or wish to be involved in its production, please write to me at
chrissie@acbradio.org.

This is a chance for someone to make a name for themselves in the access
technology field, as during Jeff and Darrell's time with the show, the
listener figures have been increasing steadily, but don't let that put you
off. Of course they will be a hard double act to follow though I'm sure
there are people out there who have ideas and would like to see them put
into reality.

So, if you're interested, please write to me at chrissie@acbradio.org and
let's start yet another era of first-class Main Menu shows.

Chrissie

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of July 16 - The Icon and Our Panel of Experts

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

Coming up on this week's Main Menu Live, we bring you two hours of brand new content. In the first hour, Marc Mulcahy from LevelStar tells us all about the Icon accessible pocket mobile manager and portable notetaker. We welcome your questions by e-mail to mainmenu@acbradio.org prior to the broadcast, or by way of calls and MSN (Windows Live Messenger) chats during the show. In the second hour, we bring you our panel of experts to discuss all things technology from a blindness perspective with emphasis on the recently concluded summer conventions. On this show, Jeff and I will be joined by Don Barrett, Randy Knapp, Debbie Hazelton and Caroline Congdon.

Jeff and I would also like to let all of you know that this episode represents our final appearances as host and co-host of Main Menu. We're all going to connect and have a great time, so this is the show you will not want to miss!

Here is how to participate in the show:
The number to call into the show is 866-400-5333.
You may email your questions to: mainmenu@acbradio.org
You may also interact with the show via MSN (Windows Live) Messenger. The MSN Messenger ID to add is: mainmenu@acbradio.org

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is: main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com
Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:
Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

For this next week, only the Main Menu Live podcast feed will be updated.

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.
Follow this link to listen to the show:
http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Our best wishes to all our loyal Main Menu listeners,

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

ACB 2008 Convention Archives and Podcast Now Complete and Ready for Your Listening Pleasure

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:13:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

All of the convention general sessions, the candidates forum and the banquet
are now available on-demand at
http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=66
They are also available on the convention podcast, which you can access
manually at
http://www.acbradio.org/conventions
or in your RSS/podcast receiver of choice at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/acbconventions

Please note that, as a result of a short power outage at the convention, our
recording of Thursday's general session is still incomplete. The outage
occurred at approximately 56 minutes through our broadcast, during the
discussion of the proposed amendment to section G of article 4 of the ACB
constitution. We are currently in liaison with the sound technicians at the
convention, who have a complete recording of this session, and we therefore
hope to be able to offer a complete archive in the near future; a message
will be posted to these lists when it becomes available.

As always, if you encounter any problems accessing the convention archives,
please don't hesitate to E-Mail me at
matthew (at) thehorspools.com
and I will endeavour to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

Regards,
Matthew Horspool,
Archives Manager,
ACB Radio:
Where Your Listening Is Our Business

Convention coverage continues on ACB Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:13:00 +0000

Hello,

We've passed the midpoint of our convention coverage, but there's stil
plenty to hear.

Today on ACB Radio Mainstream, we will be covering the Wednesday general
session. The broadcast is set to begin at 12:15 Universal, that's 8:15 am
US Eastern time. The meeting will be called to order at 8:30 Eastern, and
the first half-hour or so will consist of formalities, announcements and ACB
business. From 9 we will hear from the executive director of the National
Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, then we will
turn to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Entertainment is then the order
of the day, with the major focus being on books. We'll hear from the
National Library Service and The Library of Congress, and then after the
break, at 10:45 we'll hear from talking book narrator Mitzi Friedlander.
Next is a presentation on digital television, specifically on The Digital TV
Converter Box Program. Finally will be a presentation by Mike Calvo of
Serotek about the Accessibility Is A Right Foundation.

If you are unable to hear our session broadcast live, you can catch one of
the repeats which begin at 17 hours Universal (1 pm Eastern) and run till
tomorrow's broadcast begins.

To listen to the general sessions, visit http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream

We will also have continuing coverage from the exhibit hall on ACB Radio
Interactive from 15 Universal (11 am Eastern), including the somewhat
mysterious sounding Spin the Dolphin contest. Tune into the coverage for
more info on that one.

And don't forget that Dog Club Radio from Guide Dog Users Inc continues this
evening at 23 hours Universal (7 pm Eastern) on ACB Radio World
(http://www.acbradio.org/world).

We hope you are enjoying our coverage and we look forward to bringing you
today's coverage and having you with us on ACB Radio, the voice of the blind
community.

Friends in Art Showcase to Air on ACB Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:43:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

Once again, ACB Radio is proud to provide exclusive live coverage of the
Friends in Art showcase from the ACB Convention. Join Chrissie Cochrane and
a team of ACB Radio broadcasters as they bring you a night of performances
by blind and vision impaired performers, live on stage at the convention in
Louisville Kentucky. The broadcast will get underway at or around 23:45
Universal, that's 7:45 pm US Eastern, and will probably run for something
like 3 hours.

We have set up a separate stream for this year's showcase. You will be able
to listen from the acbradio.org website or by clicking one of the following
links:

Broadband stream for Winamp: http://acbradio.org/special.pls
Broadband stream for Real Player: http://acbradio.org/special.ram
Broadband stream for Windows Media player: http://acbradio.org/special.wax
Broadband stream for other players: http://acbradio.org/special.m3u

Modem stream for Winamp: http://acbradio.org/special-low.pls
Modem stream for Real PLayer: http://acbradio.org/special-low.ram
Modem stream for Windows Media PLayer: http://acbradio.org/special-low.wax
Modem stream for other players: http://acbradio.org/special-low.m3u

We hope you are enjoying our convention broadcasts and look forward to you
joining us for the Friends in Art Showcase, only on ACB Radio.

It's another fascinating day at the ACB convention on ACB Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

We're gearing up for our Tuesday coverage of the 47th ACB Convention on ACB
Radio, and what a day it is.

We kick off at 12:15 Universal, 8:15 am Eastern, with the Tuesday General
session. Highlights include the latest on the Accessible Money case, an
update from Bookshare, and a presentation on the available of accessible
recreation equipment. Also this morning will be a speech from Hon. Ben
Chandler, US House of Representatives, and presentation of ACB scholarships
which I always enjoy listening to.

Our live broadcast will finish some time after 16 Universal (Noon Eastern),
with our session replays starting at 17 Universal (1 pm Eastern) and running
until tomorrow morning's broadcast.

ACB Radio Interactive fires up its stream from the exhibit hall at 15 hours
Universal (11 am Eastern) today for another 6 hours of interviews, comment,
music and colour from the convention in Kentucky.

Tonight you will have two choices of live content, in addition to the
general session replays. on ACB Radio World, we will again have Dog Club
Radio from Guide Dog Users inc from 23 to 03:30 Universal (7 pm to 11:30 pm
Eastern). We thank GDUI for this content and you will also be able to hear
them tomorrow and Thursday nights.

Once again, ACB Radio is proud to be able to provide coverage of the Friends
in Art showcase from the ACB Convention. This year we will be setting up a
special stream to host this event. The broadcast will begin some time
around 23:45 Universal (7:45 pm Eastern). Links will be posted to the list
and appear on the acbradio.org website later in the day, so watch this
space.

We hope you will find something of interest today on our coverage and look
forward to you continuing to listen to ACB Radio, the voice of the Blind
community.

Slight schedule change to Mainstream coverage of the convention

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:24:00 +0000

Hello,

We have decided to make a small change to our convention schedule for
Mainstream. Our coverage of sessions will now start at 12:15 Universal,
that's 8:15 am Eastern, rather than 15 minutes earlier. We felt that
starting so early was somewhat unnecessary and that people could hear 15
minutes more of the previous session instead.
Don't forget that today's session, which was very interesting, will start
airing from 17 Universal (1 pm Eastern) and run until 12:15 GMT tomorrow
(8:15 am Eastern), at which point we go live with tomorrow's session.

To listen, visit: http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream

ACB 2008 Convention Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:08:00 +0000

This year we are proud to present our 2008 ACB National Convention podcast covering all the general sessions, the candidates' forum and the banquet. Please visit http://www.acbradio.org/conventions to manually download these files or add http://feeds.feedburner.com/acbconventions to your favorite RSS reader or podcatching software to automatically download the files in their intended podcast form.

Once again, we at ACB Radio innovate when it comes to providing consumer organization summer convention coverage in the online connected blind community. We hope you are enjoying our broadcasts and are finding the information helpful.

ACB Radio 2008 Convention Coverage Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:11:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

We're gearing up for another great year of ACB Convention coverage! In addition to exhibit hall coverage on our Interactive stream and complete live broadcasts of the general sessions on Mainstream, we will also be featuring the Friends in Art Showcase and lots of content from Guide Dog Users, Inc. All times listed are approximate and are subject to change with little or no notice.

We start with our exhibit hall coverage on ACB Radio Interactive. Review our schedule below and visit http://interactive.acbradio.org to listen live:

Saturday: 17 to 21 GMT (1 pm to 5 pm Eastern)
Sunday: 13 to 21 GMT (9 am to 5 pm Eastern)
Monday: 15 to 21 GMT (11 am to 5 pm Eastern)
Tuesday: 15 to 21 GMT (11 am to 5 pm Eastern)
Wednesday: 15 to 21 GMT (11 am to 5 pm Eastern)
Thursday: 13 to 17 GMT (9 am to 1 pm Eastern)

We begin our general session coverage on Sunday evening. Please see http://acb.org/convention/prog2008.html for the official agenda. It all happens on ACB Radio Mainstream. Review the schedule below and visit http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8 to listen live.

Sunday 22:30 GMT (6:30 pm Eastern): Sunday general session
Monday 3 GMT (11 pm Eastern): Sunday session replays
Monday 12 GMT (8 am Eastern): Monday general session
Monday 17 GMT (1 pm Eastern): Monday session replays
Tuesday 12 GMT (8 am Eastern): Tuesday general session
Tuesday 17 GMT (1 pm Eastern): Tuesday session replays
Wednesday 12 GMT (8 am Eastern): Wednesday general session
Wednesday 17 GMT (1 pm Eastern): Wednesday session replays
Thursday 12 GMT (8 am Eastern): Thursday general session
Thursday 17 GMT (1 pm Eastern): Thursday session replays
Thursday 22:45 GMT (6:45 pm Eastern): Candidates' Forum
Friday 2:00 GMT (10:00 pm US Eastern): Thursday general session plus candidates' forum replays
Friday 12 GMT (8 am Eastern): Friday morning general session
Friday 17 GMT (1 pm Eastern): Friday afternoon general session
Friday 21:30 GMT (5:30 pm Eastern): Friday general session replays
Friday 23:00 GMT (7:00 pm Eastern): ACB Annual Banquet
Saturday 2:00 GMT (10:00 pm Eastern): Friday sessions plus banquet replays
Sunday midnight GMT (8 pm Eastern): Entire convention replays

The Friends in Art showcase is scheduled to begin at 8 pm Eastern (midnight GMT). We will probably begin our
broadcast at 23:45 GMT (7:45 pm Eastern). Please stay tuned for listening details.

This year we'll also be taking a feed from Guide Dog Users Inc. and their daily broadcasts. This will be run on ACB Radio World, Sunday to Thursday from 23 GMT to 03:30 GMT, that's 7 pm to 11:30 pm Eastern. Here is an excerpt from one of their Emails which explains the programming further:
This will be our third year broadcasting the GDUI events and other material from the summer convention. Our broadcasts include replay of the daily events and workshops, interviews with special guests of interest in the guide dog community, listener interaction through call-in and email and special reports from throughout the convention. Visit http://www.acbradio.org/world to listen.

We are looking forward to bringing the blind community another year of fantastic ACB Convention coverage! We thank you for listening.

Best wishes,

Darrell Shandrow
ACB Radio Co-Webmaster

ACB Radio Set To Cover The 2008 Convention

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:06:00 +0000

This year's ACB convention begins this weekend, and ACB Radio will again air
the sessions on our mainstream channel, as well as broadcasting from the
exhibit hall on ACB Radio Interactive.
The first general session takes place Sunday night, but our coverage begins
Saturday on ACB Radio Interactive from the exhibit hall, where our team of
broadcasters will conduct interviews with exhibitors and convention
participants, and share their observations.
Be listening for the coverage Saturday from 17 to 21 UTC. Point your browser
to http://interactive.acbradio.org and hear what's happening as it happens.
We also plan to have extensive coverage from the exhibit hall Sunday as we
gear up for Mainstream's coverage of the convention.
The first general session begins at 7 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday night.
We'll keep you up-to-date on convention programming on the air, in the pages
of the ACB Radio Blog and on the ACB mailing lists.
The convention program and other details can be found on the web at
http://www.acb.org/convention/index.html

Update: Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 25 - Window-Eyes 7.0 Fully Disclosed

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:42:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

Coming up on this week's Main Menu Live, we dedicate the two hour episode to
talk all about Window-Eyes 7.0. Doug and Aaron from GW Micro will be with
us as well as many beta testers from the Window-Eyes private beta team. We
will discuss the product and the many scripts that will be available on GW
Micro's Scripting Central web site found at:

http://www.gwmicro.com/Script_Central/

We had Doug and Aaron on Main Menu in the past and it is time to bring them
back to discuss the product and to get feedback from private beta users and
scripters on the new version. Jamal Mazrui has written a significant amount
of scripts for the 7.0 product and he will be here to talk about the many
things he has developed. I will discuss the newest refinements to the
Winamp scripts that will be available including features that could replace
the ACB Radio Tuner for Winamp users that use Window-Eyes as well as much
improved access to the Auto-Tagging capabilities of Winamp. Aaron and Doug
will talk all about the GW Toolkit scripting library, the AutoComplete
script, the progress indicator script, the VirtualView script, the Weather
or Not script, and much much more.

As of this writing, we are happy to report that Window-Eyes 7.0 Public Beta
1 is available at the following link:

http://www.gwmicro.com/beta

Here is how to participate in the show:

The number to call into the show is 866-400-5333.
You may email your questions to: mainmenu@acbradio.org
You may also interact with the show via MSN (Windows Live) Messenger. The
MSN Messenger ID to add is: mainmenu@acbradio.org

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the
topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the
Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is:
main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com

Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu
Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

For this next week, only the Main Menu Live podcast feed will be updated.

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific,
and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream
channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 25 - Window-Eyes 7.0 Fully Disclosed

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:04:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

http://www.gwmicro.com/Script_Central/

As of this writing, Window-Eyes 7.0 is not publically available, but you
will be able to see it at the conventions this summer.

Here is how to participate in the show:

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the
topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the
Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is:
main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com

Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu
Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

For this next week, only the Main Menu Live podcast feed will be updated.

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific,
and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream
channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 18 - Accessible Cell Phones and Serotek's Accessible Digital Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:51:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

Coming up on this week's Main Menu, our first hour is prerecorded and our second hour is live! In the first hour, Shane Jackson from the Blind World Podcast interviews a panel of experts discussing their experience with accessible cell phones. In the second hour, Mike Calvo, Matt Campbell and Ricky Enger from Serotek tell us all about the accessible digital lifestyle, the Summer Sizzle promotion and the upcoming release of System Access 3.0.

Here is how to participate in the show:

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

Coming Up on an Encore Edition of Main Menu

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:51:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

Due to some work obligations, we will not be presenting a new episode of Main Menu this week. Instead, we will replay the two hour Main Menu Live episode from February 27, 2008. Please accept our apologies and stay tuned for brand new content next week.

In the first hour, we are honored to hear from Jim Fruchterman, Benetech's President and CEO, talking with us all about Bookshare, NIMAC and other projects from a blindness perspective. In the second hour, Darcy and Holly join us to discuss Apple's new MacBook Air laptop computer from an accessibility point of view.

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the Main
Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is: main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com
Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

On the Next Marlaina

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:12:00 +0000

What a jam-packed show we have for you this evening!

We'll start off by listening to the voice of one of our beloved past
presidents, Reese Robrahn. Reese will give us an historical look back in
time regarding the formation of ACB, a bit of his own personal history as an
elected blind judge in Kansas, and share with us the great work he did for
ACB. I had the honor to call Reese my friend and to work with him in the
ACB National Office. He taught me a great deal, and it is a personal honor
to share his words with you. He was a great leader and a man of great
inspiration.

Then, help me welcome Ron Milliman, who'll have a surprise to announce to us
regarding the Monthly Monetary Support Program.

Following Ron, my good friend Brenda Dillon will join us to talk about the
second annual ACB Auction and picnic. Yes, I said picnic! I'm keen to find
out about that. Last year's auction was fantabulous, and I'm waiting to see
what's in store this year.

Finally, Linda Braithwaite will join us to share information on the Friends
in Art offering this year at convention. We all know and love the FIA
showcase, but FIA does that and much much more.

It's all happening on this week's Marlaina program.

The Marlaina show is heard on ACB Radio Mainstream.
It all starts on Sunday night at 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific, which is Monday
morning at 1 Universal. The program will replay for 24 hours, and of course,
is available via podcast from the ACB Radio replay page. As always, we'll
take your calls at our toll-free number, 866 666 7926.

Please click the link below on Sunday at 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific or Monday
at 1 Universal to listen.

As always, thank you so much for your continued support of my ACB Radio
work!

Marlaina

To listen to the show, just click this link
http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8&MMN_position=14:14

AFFORDABLE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS SEMINAR

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:37:00 +0000

AFFORDABLE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS SEMINAR - Panel discussions about accessible software solutions that are no cost or low cost (under $200). This is the fifth in our series of technology workshops which are free and open to the public.

Learn about products such as Apple's Leopard 10.5 with VoiceOver, System Access, Microsoft Accessibility tools and other options for screen magnification and screen reading systems

Friday June 6, 20:00 to 22:00 UTC, 4pm to 6pm Eastern, 1:00 to 3:00pm Pacific Standard Time at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco. You can also hear this seminar on ACB Radio World by visiting the following link:
http://radio.acb.org:8000/world

Quiet Cars on the Next Marlaina

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:34:00 +0000

The issue of quiet cars is very much in the news these days. And, it is an
issue which impacts all of us.
On the next Marlaina, I will be joined by Karen Gourgey, ACB New York, and
Debbie Kent Stein, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois.
These women have been working on the quiet car issue, and have joined
forces to move this issue along and keep it on the radar screens of those
who need to be aware of the potentially life-threatening impact these hybrid
vehicles can have on people who are blind.

This is such an important issue, I urge each and every listener to ACB Radio
to join me for this program, learn the facts and then what you can do. One
voice is power, many voices together are voices of empowerment with a chorus
of creating change.
The Marlaina show is heard on ACB Radio Mainstream.
It all starts on Sunday night at 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific, which is Monday
morning at 1 Universal. The program will replay for 24 hours, and of course,
is available via podcast from the ACB Radio replay page. As always, we'll
take your calls at our toll-free number, 866 666 7926.
Please either click the link below, or paste it into your browser directly
on Sunday at 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific or Monday at 1 Universal to listen.
As always, thank you so much for your continued support of my ACB Radio
work!
Marlaina
To listen to the show, just click this link or paste it into your browser
http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8&MMN_position=14:14

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 4 - Music

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:49:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

This week's Main Menu is all about downloading and listening to music on your computer. Presented by two music enthusiasts, Brian Hartgen and Anna Dresner, this programme demonstrates some of the ways in which you can access music services and software with a screen-reader.

First, you will hear about J-Tunes version 3.2 from T&T Consultancy, which links the JAWS screen-reader with the iTunes music management system from Apple. You will learn how to install and use the J-Tunes product including listening to on-line radio stations, subscribing to Podcasts, purchasing tracks and albums from the iTunes Music Store and much more.

You will also hear about purchasing and managing content from Amazon's MP3 store, EMusic and Napster. Find out how to use your screen-reader with these services. The discussion surrounding these services is not restricted to JAWS usage.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

Summer Sizzles with Serotek on ACB Radio!

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:21:00 +0000

Serotek's Accessible Digital Lifestyle is a hot topic and getting hotter. Here's your chance to add some sizzle to your life by participating in our online survey and enrolling to win a complete digital lifestyle makeover. Here's what you can win:

ASUS 8G 2 pound Netbook PC with 1 gigabyte of main memory and an 8 gigabyte hard drive fully
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Reminder: Coming Up on Main Menu in a Little Under 9 Hours - CAPTCHA!

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:23:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

This announcement represents a friendly reminder for all of you to listen to an important, two hour live Main Menu coming right up later today.

Coming up on an exciting two hour live program, we hear from a panel of technology industry experts all about CAPTCHA (visual verification) and other forms of visual authentication, accessibility challenges to existing visual verification systems, the balance between human rights and security, existing solutions for providing reasonable accomodations to visual authentication and emerging accessibility solutions.

We are proud to introduce an impressive panel of experts and their primary areas of focus:

* Matt May from the Adobe Systems Accessibility Team will discuss his 2005 W3C note on the inaccessibility of CAPTCHA.
* Luis von Ahn from ReCAPTCHA at Carnegie Mellon University will describe their accessible solution.
* Steve Dispensa from PhoneFactor will tell us all about an innovative, telephone based two-factor authentication system.

The accessibility of CAPTCHA (visual verification schemes on the web) and other similar forms of visual authentication is a topic of utmost importance to the blind, visually impaired and others with print reading disabilities. Real, universally accessible solutions are going to require significant amounts of effort, good will and out-of-the-box thinking. We encourage active participation by the blind community, members on all sides of the issue from the mainstream technology industry and those sighted people who care about what happens to us.

Here is how to participate in the show:

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

Coming up live on the next marlaina

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Sun, 25 May 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Hello folks!

I'm so glad to be back with you this memorial day weekend in the US. I've
been away for several weeks, but I plan to be here live for you right up to
the last Sunday in June, just before leaving for the ACB Convention in
Louisville. So, please come on back for these next few weeks and listen to
and talk with some very interesting guests.

And, speaking of interesting guests, the next marlaina program will happily
welcome two fascinating individuals, both of whom work very hard for ACB.
We will be discussing ACB's Committee on International Relations with Sandra
Sermons and Oral Miller, both of Washington, DC. In this day of
ever-shrinking distances, this Committee plays a vital role in making
international linkages, learning of issues faced by blind folks in other
countries, and making our international guests feel welcome at convention.
I'm looking forward to learning more about this Committee and what it may
have in store for us at the upcoming ACB Convention, July 5-12 in
Louisville.

The Marlaina show is heard on ACB Radio Mainstream.
It all starts on Sunday night at 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific, which is Monday
morning at 1 Universal. The program will replay for 24 hours, and of
course, is available via podcast from the ACB Radio replay page. As always,
we'll take your calls at our toll-free number, 866 666 7926.

Please save this message and either click the link below, or paste it into
your browser directly on Sunday at 9 PM Eastern, 6 Pacific or Monday at 1
Universal to listen.

Feel free to distribute this message to others whom you think may be
interested.

As always, thank you so much for your continued support of my ACB Radio
work!

Marlaina

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of May 28 - Current and Emerging Accessibility Solutions to Visual Verification

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:35:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

We are proud to introduce our panel of experts and their primary areas of focus:

There may be other surprise guests on this comprehensive episode, so it is definitely a show you will not want to miss!

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

It's The New Relationship Connection time, on ACB Radio Mainstream, tonight with Marilyn Volker!

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:31:00 +0000

Hi There,

We've reorganized to have a two-hour show time and to let me get some sleep
at an earlier hour. It's all happening on ACB Radio Mainstream, 1 to 3 UTC.
That's 9 PM EDT., 8 central, 7 mountain and 6 pacific. And, to kick off
this new time, I've got my long-time friend and mentor, sexologist Dr.
Marilyn Volker to spend at least the first hour with us.
Some of you have heard Marilyn on my shows and might remember her with me on
the Marlaina show. Marilyn is also the chair of my doctoral committee, and
continues to influence much of my thinking and direction.
She and I are also known for hilarious times as we've worked a lot together
over the years, and had many crazy adventures spending time getting lost,
laughing our heads off. So we hope you'll join us for a good time.

We'll talk about more of the barriers that get in the way of intimacy, and
some of the things the contribute to healthy relationships. We'll be taking
your questions and comments, so feel free to skype, call in, message or
email. Quite frankly, I feel a touch of a cold or something trying to get
me, and I need to stay healthy healthy healthy! I've got more calls for
work and need my strength! So bring your spirit, jump in, and help us all
have a great time. Marilyn has said she'll probably only be there for the
first hour, so in the second hour, we'll see what we want to talk about.
I've got some ideas and hope you will too!

skype: debbie_hazelton
Call in:
(if you don't need toll-free): 407 413-9336
(toll-free): 888 476-4616
msN: healinghands4u@bellsouth.net
email: dhazelton@acbradio.org

Hope to see you there!
And remember, as Marilyn says, "The most important place to feel
relationships is the space between the brain and the heart!"

All the best!
Debbie Hazelton:
Helping people feel better, one person at a time!

Blind Vine Announces New Shows at a New Time

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:52:00 +0000

Hello to All:

Many of you may have noticed that Blind Vine has been airing re-runs for
some time. I apologize for this, but too many things have been going on in
my life, as well as Marvelena's, and I just had to take a break. Also, the
airing time
for the original show was not successful, and that needed to be changed as
well. This took a little time and reorganization on the part of ACB Radio
staff, and I want to thank and acknowledge them publicly for helping out
with this.

Our first new program will air this coming Saturday on ACB Radio Mainstream,
1:00 PM Pacific, and 4:00 PM Eastern. We couldn't have a better kickoff for
a new season of shows than the ACB success with our currency litigation.
This will be featured in a discussion with ACB's Executive Director, Melanie
Brunson. We will also try to air relevant portions of the actual decision so
you can hear
what the court had to say and why they said it. It is some very fascinating
material.

Of course, we'll also have open telephone time for your comments and
questions.

So please join me on Saturday, May 24, at 1:00 PM Pacific time on ACB Radio
Mainstream. If you tune in a bit early, you may hear an older program. The
new
shows begin airing at 1:00 pacific.

Thank you.

Chris

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of May 21 - Replay A/V, Active To-Do List, The Onion Router and Pronto

noreply@blogger.com (Darrell) — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:08:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,

Coming up on an action packed one hour Main Menu:

* We hear from AccessWatch with a brief review of Applian's Replay A/V recording software.
* Chris Grabowski demonstrates and reviews Active To-Do List from Beiley Software.
* Cory Martin demonstrates and explains the use of The Onion Router (TOR) for anonymous web surfing and Internet access.
* Johanna Särkinen tells us all about Baum's new Pronto accessible PDA.

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the Main
Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is: main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com
Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team