Audiobook – Educated: A Memoir
By Tara Westover
Everyone has a story. I enjoy reading memoirs because it is always a long, hard look into someone else’s unique life. This memoir is striking.
Tara Westover is the youngest of seven children. The family lives on a mountain in Idaho. It is remote, sparsely populated, no telephone, no schooling. The government is the enemy, the medical world is the enemy. Y2K is approaching and that will surely be the end of the world – unless you are prepared. Even the youngest work the junk yard, finding what they need for survival, and for their livelihood.
There is recklessness beyond words, numerous near-death experiences, accidents that defy survival, and love that looks like anything but.
Where they come from and what they achieve in a world of chaos is unfathomable. This is Tara’s story. Be prepared to wallow in the muck, wander fearlessly, experience physical and mental torture, and search for love.
This book leaves me with a lot of questions and a lot of food for thought. For instance, I would like to hear from the medical community about how people (yes more than one in this family) can experience brutality, suffer brain injuries and other severe medical injuries, yet can survive, with no medical attention, and even return to normal living, or at least what is normal for them. I would like to hear from psychologists and sociologists to explain how people can live in the type of environment that was described and emerge financially successful. Three of the seven children were reported to succeed educationally at the doctoral level without any educational foundation whatsoever, while four of the children remained uneducated and immersed in the lifestyle of their upbringing. Perhaps I just want to hear from other readers!
Be warned, all who enter. This is not an easy story to read.
GIVEAWAY: Braille Books
I have braille books to give away. All of the books I am offering are UEB (Unified English Braille), all used but in excellent condition.
I am restricting this round of giveaway books to US addresses only. I will be mailing them “Free Matter” and I am not sure how international mail works with Free Matter at this point. My apologies to my international friends.
So, to my US friends, all you need do is fill in the Request Form below with your name, your email address, and which book or books you would like. Your comments are also welcome. If you are first to request, I will contact you by email and ask for your mailing address privately. It is that simple. So, on to the list of braille books to give away:
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The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution – in one volume
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Club CSI: The Case of the Digital Deception – 2 volumes
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Conundrum – a puzzle magazine (word search, Sudoku, etc.)
Update: These books have all found new homes.
Listen to This
What is NLS and How Do I Sign Up
I have been getting a lot of questions through email and facebook about the National Library Service. So here is some information to help you understand and get started. And for those of you who would like to sit back and just listen to me speak about the National Library Service, click on the audio player. For your reading pleasure, the full transcript follows below.
First of all, the National Library Service – also known as the NLS, is a branch of the Library of Congress. They were created for the blind and physically handicapped with the mission “that all may read.” It is a FREE library service for all eligible Americans.
There are 2 main parts to the National Library Service:
First, there is BARD, B-A-R-D. BARD is an acronym for Braille and Audio Reading Download. As a member of the NLS, you can go to the password-protected BARD website and download audiobooks. They have a huge collection, including current bestsellers and magazines, and they add to the collection continually. All of their books are always instantly available. There is no return; keep them forever. Download as many as you like, whenever you like; there are no limits. No charges, no fees, no limits, no string attached! Through BARD, you can also download digital braille books in what is known as the BRF, or– braille ready format. Your computer or device cannot read these files as they are, so they will be blank to you UNLESS you have a braille display. But a braille display is a story for another day. So if you do not have a braille display, you will not be able to download braille reading material from BARD – or anywhere, for that matter.
But, do not fret! You can get physical braille books through the NLS.
The NLS will hook you up with your state’s Talking Books Library. The Talking Books Library will send you braille books in the mail at no cost to you. They will ask that you return those books and they will send return mailers. They give you lots of time. Some local Talking Book Libraries offer digital downloads, some offer videos on DVD or download, and all offer audiobooks on specially designed digital cartridges that you get through the mail.
Finally, the NLS provides a portable, fully accessible, digital player for you to use. It is a black machine, about 6 inches wide, 9 inches long, and less than 2 inches high. It has a white pull-out carry handle. On the top surface are a series of big,, color-coded buttons that are tactile which include white rewind and fast forward arrow-shaped buttons with a big green square PLAY/PAUSE button in between. There are 2 yellow arrow-shaped buttons on the right side for volume up and volume down. You can speed up the playback and slow it down. There is even a sleep button to automatically turn off the player at a given time, for those of us who like to listen to a good book while we fall asleep. Some models have a few additional buttons and features. A 2” by 4” green plastic digital cartridge contains the audio reading material and it slides into a slot at the front of the player. The whole thing is really easy to use. The rechargeable battery will play for an amazing 29 hours on one full charge. If you run out of charge, you can listen to the audiobook with the player plugged into an outlet and you can listen while the player charges.
By the way, the books you get from the NLS are encoded so that they will only play on their special player and on privately-owned players with special software easily installed. That is because all books are specially formatted and free just for members and not the general public. However, if you would like to listen to commercial audiobooks that you buy or borrow elsewhere, that also is possible.
The NLS not only provides the player, they also maintain it. If you ever have a problem – sticky buttons, weak battery, or whatever – just contact them and they will get you a free replacement. And fast, too!
So, who is eligible? From their website:
“Any resident of the United States or American citizen living abroad who is unable to read or use normal print materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical limitations may receive service through NLS. This includes those who are blind, have a visual disability that prevents them from reading normal print, or have a physical disability that keeps them from being able to hold a book.”
For more information about National Library Service, or to apply online, click on the link and fill out their online form:
NLS – Click here to get started
You can email the NLS at: nls@loc.gov.
Or call them at: 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) and follow the prompts.
Do it today! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!
If you know of others who might be interested in the National Library Service, click on the SHARE button below.
Click on COMMENTS below to ask any questions or leave a comment, or contact me on the form below. Either way, I will respond.
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Talk to me! I would love to hear from you.
9 Ways to Hold Things Close
When I want to see things, I hold them close, very close. Reading is possible if the letters are big enough and held close enough. But how long can I stay hunched over a book or a chart, or whatever? How long until my wrists and shoulders ache from holding up a heavy book or even a one-page instruction sheet? Not very long! It takes just minutes, sometimes just seconds, before my neck and especially my back start to ache unbearably. So I have found ways to hold things close, and at just the right height and angle.
So here are 9 ways I have found to hold things close.
I bought this Belkin cell phone stand in 2012 and I still use it frequently. I like to keep my phone propped up with speakerphone turned on, especially for group conversations. There are times when I use it to support my iPad for skype chats. It is very small, just 3” x 5”. It folds up compactly and is easy to carry with me. I don’t think this particular one is still available, but you get the idea.
2. Flexible Arm iPad stand
I use this for applying my makeup, and fixing my hair. I use an old iPad that is no longer supported by Apple and so I can’t download any of the newer software. It has become my grooming station. I use a magnifier app to help with makeup, and the camera to snap selfies that I then enlarge (a lot) to check out the results. With this iPad holder, I can move the arm up, down, this way or that – exactly where I need it with just a light touch.
3. Belkin Stage Tablet stand
The tablet can be moved up and down to almost any angle and the tablet is always held securely. I like to place the iPad parallel to the table. Then I hang just the camera end over the side. I can capture documents by photo or scan and send them to my computer for enlargement and manipulation. This stand is sturdy enough to easily hold my iPad Pro. It also supports my big whiteboard (16″ x 20″) while I write notes and reminders.
4. Bamboo Book Stand
I love bamboo because it is ecologically friendly. This book stand is super sturdy and holds even large or heavy books open so that the pages are flat. I prop this up to where it works best for me.
5. Bamboo Laptop desk
More bamboo, and still loving it.
This bamboo laptop desk can be placed over he lap when seated on a chair or couch, or even sitting up in bed. I love the look and feel of this, its versatility, and its small convenient drawer. It can be used as a flat table or angled in four different positions.
6. Portable “tabletop” desk
I call this my Tabletop Table because I use this versatile table on top of another table. I use it for close work, like drawing, or projects that will take me some time. With this, I have less bending forward to see what I am doing. I am more comfortable and I can work for longer periods of time. It sure saves my neck and back from aching. It has a large writing surface. This one measures 20″ x 12″ and there is a larger version also available. The legs can be extended in a choice of heights, bringing the material closer and closer to me as needed, and then the table can tilt to four different angles. This has become my favorite accessory.
7. Small Tablet Stand
My newest addition. This is a small tablet stand that I use to hold my smaller whiteboard which measures 11” x 14”. I keep it next to my computer. It makes jotting down notes or reminders easy-peasy. Plus, it is portable and adjustable and I can easily carry my whiteboard and stand from room to room as needed. This small tablet stand works great for me most of the time, and is one-quarter of the price (under $15) of the larger Belkin tablet stand I talked about above.
8. Recipe Holder
We used to call this a “Rube Goldberg” machine. It is a simple DIY, and one of my favorite things. It is a plastic (or wire) clothes hanger, like the ones you get free with purchase from department stores. Just clip your recipe to the hanger and hang in your kitchen work area from a cabinet knob or handle. If you don’t have a hanger with clips attached, how about using a couple of binder clips clamped onto a hanger you already have.
9. Arms
When you want to hold a person close, it is your arms that are most appreciated. Hugs, everyone!
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Talk to me! I would love to hear from you.
Summer Hat
SUMMER NEWSBOY STYLE HAT
How many hats will I crochet before I figure out what I really want? Answer: A lot!
I have tried a lot of patterns in the last month. I even created several hats to completion that were quickly frogged. I thought I wanted a floppy summer hat. I was wrong!
I do not think crochet and floppy summer hats go together. Each hat was much too heavy. Some of them looked cute, but the weight was too much.
So I turned my attention to newsboy hats: a simple hat with a visor. Every one I found seemed to also be more appropriate for winter, according to the yarn used and bulky stitches. So I found one pattern I liked best and modified it.
I made a simple hat using 100% cotton for its breathability and worked double crochet stitches for the hat itself to keep the hat light and airy. I added a visor brim with several rows of single crochet by first adding a braid around the base of the hat to give the hat a better fit as well as a more interesting edge. And voilà!
The longhand pattern can be found under the CROCHET tab on the menu at the top of this page, or just click HERE for the pattern.
Crochet with an Abacus
The abacus was invented in approximately 500 BC. It functioned as a counting device for centuries. It dates back to a time when written numbers did not yet exist. Merchants used the abacus to track inventory; farmers used them to count animals returning from the pasture. The abacus has evolved and been adapted by different civilizations and groups over the centuries. Essentially it is rows of stringed wire within a frame with a set number of movable beads on each row and column.
I have a Cranmer abacus. I took a course to understand its function and how to manipulate the beads. I am just nerdy enough to have enjoyed that course. But, the course is over and I have this nifty counting device at hand. I found the perfect use for it.
My abacus is my stitch counter. It also functions as my line-by-line stitch instructions. It keeps my place, counts my rows, and shows me my stitch pattern. It is handy, lightweight, practical, portable, and fits in the palm of my hand. It does not rely on electricity or batteries, devices, or apps. It is the handiest crochet accessory I have used yet, second only to the hook itself.
My Cranmer abacus measures 6 inches wide by 3 inches tall, and is held horizontally. The beads line up vertically in columns. It is divided by an upper row of only one bead in each column and is separated from the bottom section by a bar. The bottom section has four beads in each column. Since crochet is usually worked from right to left, my bead arrangements follow that same pattern.
I use the top section to count rows. Every time I complete a row, I move one bead from the top section down toward the separating bar. When a second row is complete, I move the 2nd bead from the right down. After I have completed 10 rows, I mark the 11th row by returning to the far right bead and now moving it to the up position away from the bar. My abacus has 13 columns. I use the last 3 column of the top row on the left to count sections or other pattern-specific things.
Now the stitches. For these, I use the beads in the bottom section.
If I am crocheting a single crochet across the row, I move 2 beads up toward the bar in each column all the way across to the left. Two beads is my bead code for single crochet.
If I am working a double crochet stitch across a row, I move 4 beads up to the bar across the row. Three beads is my code for half-double crochet.
If I am crocheting a pattern, I indicate the pattern with one bead up for a chain stitch (to create a space between stitches) , two beads up for a single crochet, 3 beads up for a half double crochet, four beads up for a double crochet, and so on. If my pattern is 2 single crochets, 1 chain, and 2 single crochets, I move 2 beads in the first column, 2 beads in the second column, 1 bead in the 3rd column, 2 beads in the 4th column, and 2 beads in the 5th column. I can see or feel at a glance what the pattern across the row will be. (Pictured below)
I can count my crochet rows and stitches until the cows come home!
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Talk to me! I would love to hear from you.
9 Ways to Get Free Books
So many choices! Books and magazines in various formats including print, ebooks, audiobooks, and braille. Selections cover every topic and genre imaginable – from current bestsellers to classics, fiction and nonfictioin. Take your pick!
This list is primarily for an American audience. Readers from other countries may find similar services with the help of a little googling and perseverance.
1. American Action Fund – Sign up to receive in the mail a free braille children’s book – one every month.
- Pictured: Screenshot of the American Action Fund website, and link.
2. BARD – Audiobooks and magazines ready for immediate download without limits or wait times from the National Library Services. Membership required.
3. Bookshare – eBooks galore and braille books in BRF, all ready for download. Currently there are 729,659 titles with more added all the time. Membership is free to students
4. National Library Services – Coordinates with local talking book libraries. Membership and eligibility required. A free digital audio player is provided that is fully accessible.
5. Project Gutenberg – Project Gutenberg offers over 59,000 free eBooks. Choose among free epub and Kindle eBooks, download them or read them online. You will find the world’s great literature here, with focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired.
6. ShareBraille – A free service from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults that facilitates the exchange of Braille books through an online community-run library.
7. SightExchange – An e-mail list for the free exchange of any blindness-related item. Braille books and magazines are frequently offered. Membership required, as well as requirement to share a minimum of one item per year.
8. YouTube – Complete audiobooks are just a listen away. Go to YouTube.com, or download the YouTube app to your device
9. Your local library – Many local libraries have print books and magazines and audiobooks to lend as well as ebooks and digital books available for download. Most public libraries also have videos and TV shows on CDs for circulation. Membership usually required and subject to local rules and regulations.
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Talk to me! I’d love to hear from you!
Audiobook: A Place For Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza
- Pictured: Book cover for A Place For Us, a New York Times bestseller. It shows a small silhouetted house against a large image of the moon in the night sky.
How does the loving relationship between a father and son go so awry?
Raffiq and Layla are Muslims born and raised in southern India. They have three children: two daughters Hadia and Huda, and their youngest child, a son Amar. While the family was still young, Raffiq moved them to California. There they struggled with keeping their traditions and values intact while somehow assimilating into American life. Notable was a particular struggle with how each member of the family coped with the events of 9/11 as they anticipated and feared religious persecution as a result.
The path of each member of the family was traced from birth to adulthood. Their trials and tribulations were explored. As the children grew to adulthood, each struggled with changes in relationships, new relationships, their beliefs, and their own experiences and understanding of their place in a changing world.
As Raffiq reflected upon his life – his childhood, his coming of age, marriage and parenthood, and wondered what he could have done differently, and bemoaned what he should have done differently, he wondered how he had affected the lives of his children. Because of his decisions and his influences, he wondered, “I brought them here. My wife and my children and my grandchildren. And I will leave them here And what will the world be like?” But what gnawed at his gut was his failed relationship with his only son.
I normally shy away from books with strong religious themes or an abundance of religious ritual. Yet this book was different. This book enlightened me. It introduced me to another world, another culture. Although I do not walk through my daily life in many the same ways, I was able to relate to every character.
If we all opened our minds and our hearts to other cultures, the world would be a better place. For sure. This book is a good starting point.
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This book is available as a free BARD download as well as a free Bookshare download for members.
Speak App for Android
This just in . . . A free app for android.
I received a message from a reader, Eyal, about the development of an app for android phones called Speak. Eyal states that this app is different because it is totally free, no purchase required, no subscription required.
I developed an app for Android only. There is currently no version for Apple.
It reads text caught on camera, identifies products by reading barcodes and detects objects and colors. It also reads pdf files and text from images stored on the device, and translates text.
The app is quite similar to Envision AI, if you know it, the main difference and my main incentive was to provide a free app. Envision AI costs 5$ a month, the subscription fee is completely justified since they use cloud services which are not free. I did the best I could with free technology for the benefit of those who cannot afford the cost.
Please take a look (if you have an Android phone) the link is below.
Legally Blind 