Out-Of-Sight News and Views


Issue #10
October 1, 2013

Table Of Contents (Click on the link to jump to the specific article)



Greetings from Our President
Navigation
Word on the Street
Guess Who Took another Trip around the Sun
Life is What You Make It
Bookshelf - 3 Selections
Play Ball - Beep Ball a Big Hit for the Blind
The Latest in Research - The Brain Depends on Vision to Hear
Golf Anyone? - Golf Tournament for Blind Veterans
Flick, Swipe, and Tap - iOS 7 for iDevices
Healthy Choice, Healthy Living - Exercising at Home
How Much Do You Know? - Random Facts
In the News - WalMart to Go
Things I have learned - Reflections
Brand New App - BARD Mobile
And Survey Says
Thanks to Everyone - Another Successful Fall Auction
The Recipe Box - Broccoli Salad
Dear Betty Blunt
Think Tank
Did You Know? - More Random Tidbits
Words to Live By
A Round of Applause
Oosabelle’s List
What is happening on Out-Of-Sight

Greetings from Our President



It is hard to believe that another month has passed by. The summer has flown by so quickly and we are into the fall season with thankfully much cooler weather. There has been a lot of exciting things taking place. Many of our members just concluded a Uno tournament that was truly enjoyed by those who participated.

On the 21st of September, we had our sixth annual fund raising auction. It was another successful auction enjoyed by all. I want to personally thank everyone that participated in the auction by donating items, bidding on items, or just being there to enjoy the fellowship of friends.

It is because of the generosity of many individuals through their financial support, talent, and time that Out-Of-Sight is the wonderful place that it is where people from all over the world can meet, chat, play games and enjoy many other kinds of events while forging friendships that will last a lifetime.

As you read through this issue, I am sure you will again find it informative and entertaining, because the News Letter contributors have worked hard to prepare and find articles that will be of an interest and benefit to all of us.

And as always, if you want to see anything else included in this type of format, write an email to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

Best regards,
Lee Richards

Navigation



To navigate quickly to the different articles in this newsletter using JAWS, System Access, or Window Eyes, press the letter H to move through the headings. For MAC users, press Control Option Command plus the letter H.
Also, you can press enter on the Table of Contents links to jump directly to that specific article.

Word on the Street



Congratulations to Cynthia and Bernard as they celebrate their 2nd wedding anniversary on October 19th! Way to go!

Got any news for us? We would love to hear what is going on in your world, so please keep us up to date and write to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

We look forward to sharing your news with our extended family, here on Out-Of-Sight!

Guess Who Just Took Another Trip Around the Sun?



Help us celebrate our October birthdays:


Please help us build our birthday list, by sending your Username, first and last name, date of birth, (year optional), and where you live, to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

Our Out-Of-Sight Superstar


By Roger Khouri

Editor’s Note:
Thanks to everyone who wrote in with your suggestions about who should be our Member of the Month for October! There were several names put forth, and it was a difficult decision as all of the candidates are members who deserve this recognition! Unfortunately, only one member each month can be the recipient of this honor. Keep those submissions coming, because we recognize a member for each month. So, without further ado:

Congratulations to Karen Santiago for becoming our October Member of the Month! Now, here is a bit more about our friend, Karen.

OK, so what is the first thing you think about when you hear the name Dragon Queen? Does it have something to do with a fire breathing monster? Well, when we think about this title being applied to Karen, it could not be farther from the truth. Dragon Queen is the screen name that Karen uses on Out-Of-Sight. For those of you who have been in her games, or chit chatted with her, you would all agree that she has a warm and friendly personality. Yet, how the heck did she get such a deadly reputation of being thought of as a dragon? Well, folks used to joke with her that she would draw out her claws, because she was out spoken. Quote, Okay, watch out folks, here comes the dragon end quote, could often be heard when Karen stood firm and would not waver on issues and topics that she felt strongly about. It was not that she was a monster, but rather, that she was not afraid to speak her mind and that she would not easily be shaken away. This strong personality is something that she has tried to impart on her two daughters, so that they will grow up to be strong women. In fact, Karen calls them dragons in training.

Karen became a member of Out-Of-Sight about one and a half years ago, after reading a notice about the site in the Blind Post Ads. She innocently dropped into a game of Zilch, and she has never looked back. She quickly developed the reputation of taking wild gambles on the dice rolls in Zilch, which at times, paid off. In fact, she was nick-named the Rocket, because she would shoot up in a split second and take the lead to win the game. Her strategies bore fruit, allowing her to be inducted into the hallowed graces of the Zilch Wall of Fame. Our chief engineer, also known as the mighty Zilch Tank from Plantation, Florida, Alan Dicey, had to fireproof the Zilch Wall of Fame so as to be able to withstand the Dragon Queens fiery breath. She never even thought of herself as a game host, but the love of the game catapulted her front and center, to host it, and to host many other games on Out-Of-Sight as well.

She is a kid at heart who likes to have fun. Yet, she will keep her official age on the hush, hush. She will only admit to being 32 years old, and that is her story so do not try to get the truth out of her (remember, all of that stuff about the claws coming out? Or, that she has a fiery dragon breath?). LOL! She is divorced with two teenaged daughters, and these ladies live together in a lovely home. Karen was born and raised in Buffalo, New York until age eight, and then her family moved to Massachusetts. Karen now lives in Worcester, Massachusetts. She graduated from college with a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and loves kids. She spent much of her life either working for, or running her own day care. She called her day care, Karen for Kids.

As a fully sighted person, Karen was an avid golfer and a catcher on a softball team. Yet, because of difficulties with her vision, Karen was forced to give up many of her favorite activities, and it was a tough time trying to adjust. In 2003, she stopped driving a car. In 2007, she lost all of her vision from Glaucoma. It took her a long time to come to terms with her vision loss, because she was in denial. She felt compelled to stop working at a day care, because she could not do it in the way she wanted. So, with so much to overcome in her life, the dragon did not surrender, and tried to forge ahead despite the challenges that weighed her down. For the first time in her life, Karen was away from her children. She took a two week course to learn JAWS and the computer as a blind person. Also, she began to enroll in the Hadley School for the Blinds courses to keep busy and to learn new things. To assist with getting around, she took mobility lessons as well. Slowly but surely, the dragon was rising up and defeating her foes, including those ones from within.

Karen excelled at Hadley, becoming their student of the year for 2010. Her first course was entitled, Finding Employment, and she highly recommends it. Learning Excel and Braille from Hadley opened up opportunities for Karen. The Braille made her more independent, making her life at home easier to manage by organizing things. She volunteered for Horizons for two hours a week, and read her first Braille book to young children. In 2011, she was an intern at Easter Seals, and then was hired on. Ever since, Karen has worked there as a Development Assistant and event planner for Massachusetts. In that same year, she also got her first guide dog, Sheila.

Her friends say that Karen lives like a sighted person. They say that she still lives like she can see, because she tries to do things like she did things in the past with sight. People think she can see more than she actually does, because of how independent they see her. She is an outdoor person, enjoying reading, exercising, walking, fishing, and lounging on the patio. Above all, she loves to kid around, and meet new people. Originally, she was a very skeptical person, thinking that she would never be able to decipher Braille. She has become a lover of reading Braille, and a strong advocate in getting others to learn it. As a result, she feels her calling is to teach others Braille, especially children.

You can catch Karen on the site in one of the many games she hosts such as, Zilch, Slogans, Alphabet Soup, and the Not So Newlywed, Newlywed Game. Making the games fun and exciting are important to Karen for ensuring that folks enjoy themselves. She recently gave a presentation about drawing with Braille, and she plans to give a presentation about making holiday pictures using Braille.

On behalf of our members, thanks very much to Karen for being so open in sharing a bit about herself. I found her easy to talk to in preparing for this article, and she was an inspiring person to write about. Congratulations Karen, for being selected as Our Shining Superstar for October!

If you would like to send Karen a message of congratulations, or recommend someone for our November Member of the Month, please write to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

We look forward to your suggestions in selecting our next Out-Of-Sight Superstar!

Life is What You Make It


A Combat Wounded Warrior Turns His Disability into a Way to Help Others
By Mike Malarsie

My name is Mike Malarsie, and, all things considered, I am still a pretty new member of the blind community. I am about to turn 26 in October, married with three kids, run a website and podcast, and since losing my vision have become quite the nerd.

I am originally from New Mexico and while growing up planned only on joining the military and serving with the best men and women this country can produce. I have four sisters and spent my life being the very opposite of them. I was outside all the time being a typical rowdy youth. I loved exploring, being a little dangerous, and anything extreme or hazardous was a passion. Typical boy.

This all led me to join the United States Air Force as a member of the Tactical Air Control Party or just TACP. In a nutshell a TACP works as a member of a two man team embedded with Army ground maneuver units who call in airstrikes on enemy targets from the front lines. They call this close air support or CAS. This job was a perfect fit for me and one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I breezed through Air Force basic training in six and a half weeks and found myself at Hurlburt Field in Florida to go through the TACP technical training. This was four months of the hardest and most difficult training I had ever endured. Weapons training, small unit tactics, foot and vehicle navigation, radio communications, and every aspect of close air support. It was intense, non stop, and out of a class of 44 only 10 graduated.

From there I went to Washington State to go through survival school then got assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Riley Kansas. Over the next two years I would go through countless field training exercises, spend hours at bombing ranges, parachute out of airplanes, rappel out of helicopters, and direct air strikes. It was all a dream come true.

In December of 2009 Senior Airman Brad Smith and I deployed to Afghanistan to support the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson Colorado. Within a few days we were going out on about 10 foot patrols every week. We met locals, ate their food, learned their culture, and exchanged fire with the Taliban and other insurgents. On January 3rd, 2010, Brad and I went out with 11 soldiers from 3rd Platoon to investigate some suspicious activity in a small town a few kilometers away from our strongpoint. I was third in the formation, and when crossing a small bridge into the town, the soldier leading the patrol stepped on an improvised explosive device, (IED) buried in the road. The IED detonated, killing the two soldiers in front of me immediately. The blast hit me directly in the face and neck and threw me off the small bridge into the water below.

I was looking over my left shoulder and was turning my head back to the front when the IED detonated. The next thing I knew I was in total darkness and under water. I struggled to get myself out. I was disoriented and could not tell which way was up or down. I very clearly remember making my peace thinking I was going to drown.

Immediately after, I felt a hand grab the back of my body armor and pull me out. The next thing I was aware of was the medic leaning over me telling me to lie still while he patched up the worst of my wounds. My eyes were destroyed, jaw shattered, perforated eardrum, skull fractures, traumatic brain injury, and a lot of shrapnel damage to my face and neck. He told me they had a helicopter on the way to pull me out and told me to lie still.

I was in and out of consciousness but I clearly remember the yelling and heavy exchange of fire. We had walked right into an ambush and were now taking enemy fire from three directions. I tried to find my M4 to return fire but the IED had blown it out of my hands. Still trying to help I started handing out my full magazines to the others as they ran out of their own ammo. I would later be awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, which personally I do not think I deserve. All I was trying to do was help my guys. Nobody does those sorts of things for medals, it is only the love of the guy next to you, and a medal is the last thing that would come to mind.

The next thing I remember was a second explosion. This one was farther away but I felt the concussion and debris land around me. I blacked out right after and the last thing I remember was a strap being pulled tight over my chest on the helicopter. I would wake up about a week later in Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, in Washington DC, and the first clear memory I have was the doctor kneeling in front of my bed, telling me that I was going to be permanently blind. Shrapnel from the blast had destroyed my left eye, and the concussion had torn the retina on my right eye.

Immediately after, my dad told me that the IED that blinded me had killed Sergeant Joshua Lengstorf and Private John Dion. Josh was the soldier who stepped on the first IED and it threw him forward into the town we had been approaching.

After the medic, Specialist Brian Bowman, pulled me out of the water, he and my teammate Brad went forward into the town, under enemy fire, to retrieve Joshs body. As they brought him back across the bridge, a trigger man remotely detonated a second IED that killed them both immediately. When it all died down we had lost four men and had a total of six wounded. Brad had called in air support from nearby Kandahar, and a few years later his widow and daughter, Chloe, would be presented with the Silver Star with Valor for his actions. Chloe was only a month and a half old when Brad was killed.

As I absorbed all of this news, I knew that I would not let being blind slow me down or stop me from reaching my goals. Those four names, Brad, Brian, Josh, and John became my new reason to live. I wanted to honor them through my life, that they had saved, and I have never use my blindness as an excuse not to try something since. It did not take me long to realize that blindness is only a disability if we let it be one.

I blew threw blind rehab in California, where I started to learn the power that technology can give someone who is blind. I absorbed it like a sponge and loved it. Mobility, living skills, computers, and everything else I learned were all steps to freedom that I took enthusiastically.

I met a young lady named Jesse during my recovery. She was the widow of Joshua Lengstorf, the soldier who stepped on the IED that blinded me. She, and 15 month old daughter Kadence, had come to visit with Brad’s wife Tiffany. In just a few days I knew there was something special about her that caught my attention and I invited her to come back and visit again after their week long visit. I never believed in love at first sight, especially for a blind person, until it happened to me. I went out on a limb with the invitation. Fortunately for me, she was experiencing the same feelings. As the months passed the relationship grew, and we have now been married for three years and have three amazing children.

Over the next three years, new family in tow, I would go through countless surgeries and appointments before I would retire. It was during this time, with mostly nothing but waiting at home, that I decided to turn my new love of technology into a resource for others. I had purchased a mac computer, and struggled to learn it. I could not find help anywhere, and after getting a handle on it I started my own website. That is when, How to be Blind was born.

It grew from a few videos on YouTube, to its own website and podcast. It started off as something to pass the time, and turned into the hobby that kept me sane. It grew from just me using the built in microphone, to a whole panel of hosts and hundreds of dollars worth of gear. We have a roundtable show, now called All in Access that we publish every other week. There are a lot of tutorials for Mac and iOS on the site and those led to a second show called To the Point, which are short instructional recordings aimed to help people get the most out of their assistive technology. The shows are partly sponsored by Audible, but mostly paid for out of my pocket. How to be Blind became a way to share what I learned, as well as what our listeners know. The interaction from our readers and listeners has made every minute and dollar worth it. I know people are learning new things and enjoy the work we do. I have loved every minute of being able to help others accomplish their goals through technology.

I have learned to embrace my blindness. It has opened doors that never would have opened any other way. I have been snowboarding, scuba diving, public speaking, helping charities, meeting politicians, and was even given a mortgage free home by an organization called Operation Finally Home. All of these things have been talked about on the website and podcast. We love talking about opportunities that are out there and love to encourage people to get out and try new things.

How to be Blind is a small way for the other hosts and me to share our knowledge and passions with others. it is a small way to give back and help others and we are grateful for our listeners, readers, and other organizations, like Out-Of- Sight, that help us make every show better and reach more people. If you are interested in checking out what we have been doing, you can visit www.htb2.com, and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/howtobeblind. We are always growing and using the feedback from our audience to pack every show with useful information, the best applications, and great stories from the blind and visually impaired community. When you check us out we encourage you to share your thoughts and comments for others to learn from and enjoy.

We want to say thank you, from everyone involved with How to be Blind, to Out-Of-Sight for featuring me and How to be Blind in this newsletter. I only recently discovered what Out-Of-Sight does, and I love it! Keep up the great work and I cannot wait to get more involved!

The Book Shelf - 3 Selections



Do you love to curl up with a good book? Been meaning to read that best seller? Here are three of our book club selections. They are to be read for our next book club meeting, which will be held, Friday, October 18, at 8:00 PM eastern, in the Library. See you there!

Book #1: Joyland


DB 76799
Author Stephen King
Reading Time: 11 hours, 7 minutes
Read by Ray Childs
Mystery and Detective Stories
Supernatural and Horror Fiction
Bestsellers

1973. Heartbroken New Hampshire college student, Devon, takes a summer job at a North Carolina amusement park. He is intrigued by tales of the ghost of a murdered girl and by a young neighbor and her ill son. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 2013.

Book #2 and 3: Show No Mercy and Take No Prisoners


DB 71343
Author Cindy Gerard
Reading Time: 15 hours, 39 minutes
Read by Mare Trevathan
Suspense Fiction
Romance

First two novels featuring the Black Ops, Inc., elite mercenary team. In No Mercy, a bombing reunites an ex-hostage with her rescuer. In RITA, award-winning Take No Prisoners, an ex-operative seduces a Vegas blackjack dealer to find a criminal. Strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, and some violence. 2008.

Play Ball - Beep Ball a Big Hit for the Blind


Submitted by Roger Khouri
By Pia Hallenberg
The Spokesman - September 5, 2013

At a scrimmage last September, team captain and coach Troy Leeberg, takes a swing at a beeping softball, at Franklin Park. Quote, Keep your eye on the ball. End Quote. That has got to be one of the most frequently yelled instructions from a baseball coach to a team practicing for a big game. But it does not quite work for Troy Leeberg, the coach, manager, president Quote, and the everything else. End Quote. of the Spokane Pride Beep Baseball Team.

Quote, I am statutorily blind, End Quote, Leeberg said with a chuckle, Quote. and most of my players are blind. They may see light, but they cannot see any objects. End Quote.

Beep baseball is baseball for blind people, and on Saturday the Spokane Pride Beep Baseball Team is taking on the Seattle South King Sluggers at Franklin Park at 2:30 p.m. It is the first time a game like this is hosted in Spokane, Leeberg said. Quote, No, it is really not that hard to coach, End Quote, Leeberg said. Quote. There are some obstacles but we work around them. It is fun. End Quote.

There are six players on a team and to make sure no one has even a slight advantage, everyone is blindfolded. A game has six innings and the batter gets four strikes instead of three. To make things a little easier, the ball emits a beeping sound. Quote. The pitcher pulls a little pin out of the ball and that starts the > beeping, End Quote, Leeberg said, explaining that there is a sighted spotter in the outfield who yells out which of six zones the ball is headed toward. There are only first and third base and they, too, omit a buzzing sound making it easier for players to head in the right direction.

Quote. It is all about mobility, about running out there and doing it the best way you can, End Quote, Leeberg said. One player is blind and hearing impaired but doing great, Leeberg said. Another player is blind and does not have a lot of independent mobility. Quote. We are teaching her how to be much more independent out on the field, End Quote, Leeberg said. Spokane Pride Beep Baseball got started last year in April, and Leeberg said the team is still getting organized, waiting for its nonprofit 501c3 registration to be finalized.

At Saturdays game, the team will be selling team hats and shirts, as well as hotdogs and snacks, as a fundraiser.

Quote. It will be fun End Quote, Leeberg said. Quote. The whole thing about sport for the blind is helping people feel independent and that is what we are trying to do. End Quote.

The Latest Research - The Brain Depends on Vision to hear


Submitted by Roger Khouri

University of Utah bioengineers discovered our understanding of language may depend more heavily on vision than previously thought: under the right conditions, what you see can override what you hear. These findings suggest artificial hearing devices and speech-recognition software could benefit from a camera, not just a microphone.

Quote. For the first time, we were able to link the auditory signal in the brain to what a person said they heard when what they actually heard was something different. We found vision is influencing the hearing part of the brain to change your perception of reality -and you can not turn off the illusion, End Quote, says the new studys first author, Elliot Smith, a bioengineering and neuroscience graduate student at the University of Utah. Quote. People think there is this tight coupling between physical > phenomena in the world around us and what we experience subjectively, and that is not the case. End Quote. The brain considers both sight and sound when processing speech. However, if the two are slightly different, visual cues dominate sound. This phenomenon is named the McGurk effect for Scottish cognitive psychologist Harry McGurk, who pioneered studies on the link between hearing and vision in speech perception in the 1970s. The McGurk effect has been observed for decades. However, its origin has been elusive.

In the new study, which appears in the journal PLOS ONE, the University of Utah team pinpointed the source of the McGurk effect by recording and analyzing brain signals in the temporal cortex, the region of the brain that typically processes sound. Working with University of Utah bioengineer Bradley Greger and neurosurgeon Paul House, Smith recorded electrical signals from the brain surfaces of four severely epileptic adults, two male, two female, from Utah and Idaho. House placed three button-sized electrodes on the left, right or both brain hemispheres of each test subject, depending on where each patient's seizures were thought to originate. The experiment was done on volunteers with severe epilepsy who were undergoing surgery to treat their epilepsy.

These four test subjects were then asked to watch and listen to videos focused on a person's mouth as they said the syllables Quote. ba, End Quote, Quote. va, End Quote, Quote. ga End Quote, and Quote. tha. End Quote. Depending on which of three different videos were being watched, the patients had one of three possible experiences as they watched the syllables being mouthed: The motion of the mouth matched the sound. For example, the video showed Quote. ba End Quote. and the audio sound also was Quote ba, End Quote.so the patients saw and heard Quote. ba. End Quote. The motion of the mouth obviously did not match the corresponding sound, like a badly dubbed movie. For example, the video showed Quote. ga. End Quote. but the audio was Quote. tha, End Quote, so the patients perceived this disconnect and correctly heard Quote. tha. End Quote. The motion of the mouth only was mismatched slightly with the corresponding sound. For example, the video showed Quote. ba. End Quote. but the audio was Quote, va, End Quote, and patients heard Quote. ba. End Quote. even though the sound really was Quote. va. End Quote. This demonstrates the McGurk effect -- vision overriding hearing.

By measuring the electrical signals in the brain while each video was being watched, Smith and Greger could pinpoint whether auditory or visual brain signals were being used to identify the syllable in each video. When the syllable being mouthed matched the sound or didn't match at all, brain activity increased in correlation to the sound being watched. However, when the McGurk effect video was viewed, the activity pattern changed to resemble what the person saw, not what they heard. Statistical analyses confirmed the effect in all test subjects.

Quote. We have shown neural signals in the brain that should be driven by sound are being overridden by visual cues that say, Hear this! End Quote. says Greger. Quote, Your brain is essentially ignoring the physics of sound in the ear and following what is happening through your vision. End Quote.

Greger was senior author of the study as an assistant professor of bioengineering at the University of Utah. He recently took a faculty position at Arizona State University. The new findings could help researchers understand what drives language processing in humans, especially in a developing infant brain trying to connect sounds and lip movement to learn language. These findings also may help researchers sort out how language processing goes wrong when visual and auditory inputs are not integrated correctly, such as in dyslexia, Greger says.

Golf Anyone? Golf Tournament for Blind Veterans


Submitted by Debi Chatfield
By Hans Petersen, Veterans Affairs Staff Writer

Quote, Golf gives people a great sense of accomplishment and sense of self. End Quote. That is the opinion of legally blind Air Force Veteran Jack Rupert who should know. He is one of more than 200 Veterans who are in Iowa City this week for the National Veterans TEE Tournament,
Quote, I have played golf off and on for 25 years, End Quote, the Minnesota native said. Quote. Let me tell you something, it is wonderful. End Quote.

More than 240 Veterans, many of whom are visually impaired like Rupert, will enjoy a week of golf, horseback riding, kayaking, horseshoes and most important camaraderie. The independence of playing an individual sport such as golf appealed to Rupert, who despite being deemed legally blind in 2009, maintains a very active life balancing golf, wood working and leather working. Quote, It is perfect for people who are trying to get out and be independent, End Quote, he said. Being at the TEE tournament is an inspiration for Rupert, who will meet a number of Veterans overcoming a wide range of medical conditions. Quote, Events like this provide a lot of inspiration. To see other Veterans who are worse off than I am competing and being active. I figure if they can do it then I can do it, End Quote, he said. Quote, Let me tell you something, it is wonderful. End Quote.

Previously a local program, this VA national event provides legally blind and eligible disabled Veterans an opportunity to develop new skills and strengthen their self-esteem through adaptive golf and bowling events. Each year, the TEE Tournament uses a therapeutic format to promote rehabilitation, fellowship and camaraderie among participants. It gives eligible Veterans an opportunity to participate in therapeutic adaptive sporting activities which demonstrate that having a visual or physical disability need not be an obstacle to an active, rewarding life.

The tournament, from September 9 to 12, is hosted by the Iowa City VA Medical Center, with support from community volunteers. The four-day clinic consists of the TEE Golf Tournament, kayaking, horseback riding, and other adaptive sports workshops. The National Veterans TEE Tournament sprang to life as the brainchild of several employees of the Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, along with two visually impaired Veterans from Iowa who were attending the 1993 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic. These visionaries got together and named the new event, Quote. The TEE Tournament, End Quote, an acronym standing for Training, Exposure and Experience. The first tournament was held in June 1994 in Nauvoo, Illinois, at the Great River Bend Golf Course. At this inaugural event, there were 36 legally blind Veterans from six Midwestern states. The event was moved to the Iowa City area in 1995 and has been held there ever since.

The event is now called the National Veterans TEE Tournament, and has expanded to include not only Veterans who are legally blind, but also amputees, those who use wheelchairs and Veterans with other disabilities. VA is committed to improving the quality of life for Veterans with disabilities.

Editor’s Note:
On a more local level, if you would like more information about this and other programs or benefits from the Veterans Administration, please join us every Tuesday at 7:30 PM central time, at:
www.BlindedVetsAndFriends.org

Flick, Swipe, and Tap - iOS 7 for iDevices


By Charles Rivard

Well, it is here, and a lot of you might already have made the switch. It has been big news in the technology world. As I begin typing this article, I have not gotten iOS 7 for my iPhone 5 because it has not been released yet. A lot of people are anxiously waiting, including me.

For those of you who have not updated your firmware yet, there are some things we can, and probably should, do before taking the plunge.
1. Be sure that your iDevice can use the new operating system. If your iPhone is a 3G, do not upgrade. The 4 will probably handle it, although it might do so slowly. For sure, the 4S and above will work well with it.

2. Now is a good time to go through your apps and, if there are not any that you do not use, delete them. There is not any harm if you delete apps by accident. You can re-download them from the Apple iTunes store. This is also a good way to delete any excess garbage associated with apps.

3. Update all apps on your phone before upgrading. There have been a number of updates to apps within the last few days, and they are probably updates that will now work with iOS 7.

4. After updating your apps, here is another very valuable app you might consider getting and using before upgrading. It costs $0.99 and is called iClean. You can get it from the iTunes store. In a nutshell, it resembles cleaner for your Windows PC. It will remove temporary files from your iDevice, and is Voice-Over friendly.

5. This is also a good time if you want to streamline your iDevice home screens, move apps and group them together into folders.

6. Once you’ve gotten your iDevice nice and neat, and the way you want it, the next step is critical! Back up everything onto your computer using iTunes. Also, if you use the service, back it up to iCloud. I do not use iCloud, because you must have an operating system higher than Windows XP.

7. Now, you are ready to upgrade. I know that this is going to be hard, but it might be a good idea to find out what others are experiencing, and what to be aware of, with the new OS. One very good source of podcasts, articles, comments and the like concerning anything Apple or iDevices from a blindness perspective is www.applevis.com

So, there is a lot to look forward to, I hope. How about if we do it together? This oughta be fun!

Send any comments or questions to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

Healthy Choice, Healthy Living - Exercising at Home


By Lawrence MacLellan

Hello everyone! This month, I will feature working out at home using Lifeline exercise cables, and, or free weights (dumb bells). There are a lot of benefits to weight training or resistance training. It is a well-known fact, that as you get older, it is very important that you keep your muscles strong and flexible. These strong and flexible muscles help keep you going all day long with your activities. It takes strength to go up and down stairs, bringing in your groceries, or even get out of a chair. Our daily routine depends on the strength of our muscles. It is proven that we live healthier and longer if our muscles are strong.

Weight training, also known as resistance training, is divided up into six body parts; chest, back, bicep, triceps, shoulders, and legs. It is a good idea to pick two or three exercises for each body part that you intend to work with in your training. If you are just beginning, it is important to keep the amount of repetitions for each exercise around 12, 15, or 20 at a time. It is best to start with lighter weights with more repetitions at first. As you progress, you may use a heavier weight and do fewer repetitions. But, remember, when beginning; use lighter weights and more repetitions.

How often should you engage in weight training? Try to work each muscle group at least twice a week. You do not want to over train, but twice a week is a good amount for each muscle group. When starting out, you can exercise each muscle group using one or two exercises, one time each. As you get stronger, you can increase that by doing 3 or 4 exercises for each body part, and even doing 3 or 4 sets, as well. Adding different exercises for each muscle group, along with more sets for each will lengthen the amount of time you spend working out. After a while, you may wish to split up your workout into different parts. For example, you could split up your workout into just back, chest, and shoulders one day, and then, another day would be biceps, triceps, and legs. After that, you would take a day to rest, and repeat the same schedule again. This way, each muscle group is exercised twice per week.

You may hear lots of different opinions about which workout is the best. What is most important is that you are doing the exercises correctly, and that you are having enough time to recover, so that you do not over train and injure yourself. When starting out, you may need some sighted assistance to learn the proper method for doing the exercises. I am also willing to help you with this step, so just let me know. A good rule of thumb is to stop, knowing you can do more. It is okay to be a little sore the next day after working out, but not so much that you are injured, or have over done it.

Now, let us talk about dumbbells and free weights. The great thing about dumb bells is that they are compact, and you can just start out with one pair. Then, as you progress, each month, purchase a new set at a heavier weight. Another great item to use in the home is a weight bench that has the capability to incline. Keep in mind that you do not need to purchase everything at once. There are plenty of exercises you can do in your home without all of the fancy equipment. Lifeline cables are another great item to use. They are like a bungee cord and are stretchy. These also can be purchased individually. You can purchase the handles first with one cable, and then, keep adding to your set. Each of the cables has different measures of resistance. You can put up to 3 cables on one set of handles. You may also buy a door attachment, which allows you to utilize the door hinges for more exercises. These cables are also very easy to take with you on a trip and pack nicely in your luggage. Lifeline provides a PDF file, which I will attach below, along with their website address. There is also a lot of information to be found on the internet.

Make sure that you stretch and warm up a bit before you begin your workout. And, again, start out with lighter weights with more repetitions, and work your way up to a heavier weight. Use your cables in combination with your dumb bells as well. Find a buddy to exercise with, and a suggestion would be to workout in the morning to start your day.

As always, remember that your health is your responsibility, so please make one healthy choice at a time, and start building a stronger, leaner you!

To check out their website, go to:
www.LifeLineUSA.com

If you have any questions for Lawrence, or would like a certain topic covered, please write to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

Each month, an MP3 of this section will be available, so that you may keep an audio reference of the advice given by Lawrence in this section. Here is the download link:
Click Here to Download

How Much Do You Know - Random Facts


Submitted by Debi Chatfield

1. If you have 3 quarters, 4 dimes, and 4 pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar.

2. The numbers '172' can be found on the back of the U.S. $5 dollar bill in the bushes at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.

3. President Kennedy was the fastest random speaker in the world with upwards of 350 words per minute.

4. In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.

5. Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.

6. The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottles represents the number of varieties of pickles the company once had.

7. In the early days of the telephone, operators would pick up a call and use the phrase, quote, Well, are you there? End quote. It was not until 1895 that someone suggested answering the phone with the phrase "number please? End quote

8. The surface area of an average-sized brick is 79 cm squared.

9. According to suicide statistics, Monday is the favored day for self-destruction.

10. Cats sleep 16 to 18 hours per day.

11. The most common name in the world is Mohammed.

12. It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shaking and the 46th word from the last word is spear.

13. KaraOKe means empty orchestra in Japanese.

14. The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

15. The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C.

In the News: Wal-Mart to Go


Submitted by Mike Everett

The world’s largest brick and mortar retailer, Wal-Mart, is announcing its plans to test a same day delivery service in select markets called Wal-Mart To Go. The program, beginning now, will run through the holiday season and will be available in Northern Virginia (outside D.C.), Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and San Jose/San Francisco. During the test period, shoppers will be able to go online to shop for items like toys, electronics, sporting goods and other gifts, and then have them delivered to their address on the same day.

Wal-Mart is charging a $10 fee for an unlimited number of items, with no minimum purchase required, and is working with UPS to deliver the orders. To get started, users in the supported markets first visit www.walmart.com/togo and enter in their delivery address in order to create an account. They can then browse the Wal-Mart To Go selection of goods specific to their location – in other words, it is not the entire Wal-Mart online catalog that is becoming available. The eligible items will be priced the same as those in the local stores.

In fact, the items available are sourced from local stores for order fulfillment during this test. Customers can place orders up until noon in their time zone, and then choose 4-hour windows to take delivery that same day (i.e., 4-8 pm, 5-9 pm, and 6-10 pm). For returns, customers can choose to take the item back to the store, refuse delivery, or schedule the courier to retrieve the time. The test is an extension of the Wal-Mart To Go grocery delivery service first launched in San Jose/San Francisco in April 2010, but expands on that to offer general merchandise. The announcement comes at a time when several online retailers, big and small, are beginning to experiment with local same day delivery options.

For example, in August, eBay invited San Francisco residents to test a similar service called eBay Now. But more importantly, it comes at a time when Amazon has been pegged as considering a same day option as well. In July, Amazon CFO Tom Szkutak downplayed speculation on the matter, saying that the company does not see a way to do same day delivery on a broad scale economically. That does not mean it will not, of course, do it on a small scale. Even startups are attempting to tackle the same-day delivery market, with companies like Postmates, Shutl (in the UK), and Y Combinator-backed Instacart (founded by an ex-Amazon Supply Chain engineer) attempting to make same day delivery a possibility.

The launch dates for Wal-marts program are as follows:


Wal-Mart said the current cities were chosen based on where the retailer felt it could best fulfill orders using local stores. This is said to be a holiday test, and it does not have a particular end date at this point.

Wal-marts test is interesting, because it sees the retail giant leveraging its local stores, not distribution centers, as the source for its online orders. Of course, those plans could change in time if the system proved successful.

The company said that it decided to move to test this service following an a customer survey which asked respondents if they would consider a same day delivery option if it was available, and over half said they would use the feature monthly or even more frequently. The customers also said that electronics, toys, video games, movies, music, books and groceries would be those items that they wanted to order in this way the most.

Now Walmart is testing to see if customers’ stated interest equates with true demand. Quote, This is truly a test and meant for us to learn, end quote, explains Amy Lester, Wal-marts PR Director for its Global eCommerce operations. Quote, We will be constantly listening to our customers throughout the holiday test to better understand what they want, and we’ll use this feedback to determine our success. End quote

Check out Wal-Mart to Go at:
Click Here for WalMart To Go Website

Things I have Learned - Reflections


Submitted by Roger Khouri

Dear Out-Of-Sight Friends,
Here is a short list that I have recently received via email that I just had to share with you. There are a lot of nice thoughts and reflections for you to ponder. How many have you already learned, or are in the process of discovering? God Bless.

I have learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I have learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I have learned.... That just one person saying to me, You have made my day! makes my day.

I have learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I have learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I have learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I have learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I do not have the strength to help him in some other way.

I have learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I have learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold. and a heart to understand.

I have learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I have learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I have learned.... That we should be glad God does not give us everything we ask for.

I have learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I have learned.... That it is those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I have learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I have learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I have learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I have learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I have learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I have learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I have learned... That life is tough, but I am tougher.

I have learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I have learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I have learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I have learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I have learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I have learned.... That when you’re newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you are hooked for life.

I have learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I have learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Brand New App - BARD Mobile


Submitted by Debi Chatfield

We are excited to tell you that the BARD mobile iOS app is out! There are several things which we thought those of you interested in the app would want to know before you download it, and things you might want to do in order to ensure that you will be able to use the app right away without frustration.

BARD Mobile will work on any iOS device running iOS 4.3.3 or later. This includes the iPhone 3GS and all later iPhones, all iPads, and fourth generation or later iPod touches. If you have one of these devices, be sure it is running iOS 4.3.3 or later.

You cannot use a temporary password when logging onto BARD from the app, so be sure you have a working BARD username and permanent password before you attempt to log in with BARD Mobile. The app also will not work if you need to agree to the BARD pledge. If you have a temporary password, log into the BARD website at https://nlsbard.loc.gov to create a new password. And even if you have a working password, it is a good idea to log into the website and take the pledge if requested. Note that you can log into the BARD website using Safari on an iOS device if you like.

The BARD Mobile app allows you to download items from the Recently Added Books and Recently Added Magazines sections of the BARD site and from your wish list. So if there are books you know you are going to want to read right away, add them to your wish list. It is also easy to add books to your wish list from within BARD Mobile because when you browse the site either from within the app or from Safari on your iOS device, the Download link following every book title changes to an Add to Wish List link.

BARD Mobile must be open while books are downloading; if you switch to a different app, downloading will stop. Also, the screen must be unlocked throughout the download process.

We encourage you to take a look at the BARD Mobile user guide. You can find it at
Click Here for the BARD User Guide

The manual is also available in the app, in the Help section of the BARD Mobile bookshelf.
If you want to read braille books with BARD Mobile, you'll need a braille display. Be sure to read Section 7 of the user guide, as it explains how to configure your display and provides keystrokes that make reading braille a smooth experience.

If you have BARD books or magazines on your computer, you can use iTunes file sharing or Dropbox to load them into BARD Mobile. Load them as zip files; BARD Mobile will unpack them automatically. When you open a talking book or magazine that you have loaded in this way for the first time, be sure BARD Mobile has access to the Internet, as the app will need to download an authorization file from the BARD website. This step is not necessary for braille files.

This should be enough info to get you started. Enjoy the app!

And Survey Says


By Roger Khouri

We are featuring a new section in this newsletter, where you get to vote on a certain topic, and we will share the results in the next issue. So, here is your chance to be a part of the survey. So, listen up! Your first survey question is related to a recent decision concerning the blind.

Question: Iowa now issues gun permits to the blind. Do you agree with this decision?

Email your vote to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

Write in with either a yes or no vote. Look for the results of this survey from our members in the November News and Views.

Thanks to Everyone – A Successful Fall Auction



On Saturday, September 21st over 60 members piled into the Town Square to witness the debut of our We are the World Performance. This debut kicked off our annual Fall Auction, and was met with thunderous applause! People were amazed and moved at the work that went into this little pipe dream that was started several months ago. 101 participants sent their welcome greetings to the site, along with 29 of them singing lines from the fitting and heartfelt tune, We are the World. Thanks goes out to everyone who helped make this project an example of the love, friendship, and camaraderie found here on the site.

After the long awaited debut, members so graciously donated to the site, by bidding on the 95 auction items, and spent several hours laughing and cutting up with each other. The site made over a whopping, $5900, which will be kept safely in the bank, so that others down the road, in years to come, may enjoy the games, events, and presentations just as much as we do now! After the auction our 1st raffle was held, and brought in over $1,200 as well! John Horna was the winner of his choice of either an iPad Mini, or an iPod Touch. Lee Smiley and John Chatfield won a Logitech Wireless Headset. All totaled, the site brought in over $7,000! It was a super amazing day! Thanks go out to all of the donors and winners of the bids. Thanks for making this another successful auction, and thanks for continuing to make this an Out-Of-Sight place to be!

We thank the following companies for their generous donations.


So, please check out their websites:

AmbuTech
800.561.3340
www.AmbuTech.com
AmbuTech is a leading manufacturer and marketer of mobility canes and mobility aids for the blind and visually impaired. Since its inception in 1985, the company has grown to be the dominant supplier of these products in Europe and North America. AmbuTech distributes mobility products to over 50 countries around the world.

Canada Computers
905.946.9688
www.CanadaComputers.com
We are a company that specializes in computer retail. We know our computer systems, and we know what you need. However, we are more so a company that delivers these products to you with care and this is what will make your experience with us nothing short of the best. Over our 19 year history, we have established ourselves as a service, rather than an institution, that brings you the best products at the best value that the computer retail world can offer. With a large selection of items from every major brand in the business, our mission is to provide state-of-the-art goods with state-of-the-art service at nothing short of value. It is this mission that has nurtured our ever-increasing customer base, and maintained our leading role in the business.

Maxi-Aids
800.522.6294
www.MaxiAids.com
We understand our customers because we have many of the same needs you do. Maxi-Aids is owned and operated by individuals who are Deaf, Blind and Autistic. We also hold on-site training workshops for the blind in conjunction with certain organizations, offering the blind marketable skills that they can use to attain gainful employment. Maxi-Aids has been an established special-needs provider for over two decades. In that time, we have evolved into the world’s leading provider of adaptive products, products for independent living and products designed to enhance your lifestyle simply by making your every-day tasks easier. Look to Maxi-Aids when you’re in need of any special needs item. Why? Because we listen to the people who matter the most… our customers! We base our ever-growing, ever-changing line of products on what our customers need and want. Use the “Contact Us” option at the bottom of every web page to send us your ideas and suggestions. We love hearing from you! When you’re ready to place an order with us, you can do so through our website, by faxing or by calling our toll-free number. Friendly, knowledgeable customer service representatives are here to give you the quality and professional service you deserve. Our mission is to become your one source for all your independent product needs, by offering you the lowest prices on the largest selection of products, while giving you the best service! We have set our goals and standards high because of you… our loyal and dedicated customer. You deserve the very best!!!

Staples - London, Ontario Canada
877.360.8500
www.staples.ca
Staples is the world’s largest office products company and second largest internet retailer. For 26 years, Staples has served the needs of business customers and its vision is to provide every product businesses need to succeed. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples offers office supplies, technology products and services, facilities and break room supplies, furniture, copy and print services and a wide range of other product categories. With thousands of associates worldwide dedicated to making it easy for businesses of all sizes, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The company is headquartered outside Boston.

Thanks also go out to our site members who so generously donated items or their songs for the auction.


The list is in alphabetical order by first name.

Anders Gotenstedt
BC Starkson
Bernadine Mooney
Bob Tullis
Brenda Smith
Charles Rivard
Charlie Barnett
Charlie Richardson
Cheryl Spencer
Cynthia Owusu
Debbie Human
Debi Chatfield
Devon Wilkins
Ed Collin
Erika Santiago
Harrison Tu
Helena Short
Jennifer Newman
Jerry Hogan
John Horna
Jim Ashley
Karen Santiago
Kate Dolosa
Kathy Chevalier
Kaye Zimpher
Lee Richards
Lyn Schatz
Mark Dew
Marsha Richards
Nadeera Broome
Pam McCain
Patty Iorio
Rich De Steno
Roger Khouri
Ron Shamerhorn
Ronny Kimbrell
Suzy Barnes
Terra Peterson

And, thanks also to the winners of the bids for your generous donations of funds to the site.


List is in alphabetical order by first name:

Allison Hilliker
Brenda Green
Brenda Smith
Charlie Barnett
Charlie Richardson
Cheryl Spencer
Dan Kiely
Debi Chatfield
Della Lausch
Duncan Callum
Ed Collins
Fran Vitulla
Franklin Johnson
Jerry Hogan
Jim Ashley
John Horna
Kate Dolosa
Kathy Chevalier
Katie Chandler
Kaye Zimpher
Lee Richards
Lera Scott
Mark Dew
Mark Schiffmacher
Nat Armeni
Pamela
Patty Iorio
Roger Khouri
Ron Nurse
Ronny Kimbrell
Ryan Peach
Suzy Barnes
Tali Sarnetzky
Terra Peterson
Thom Spittle

The Recipe Box - Broccoli Salad


By Suzy Barnes

Ingredients:
1 large head, broccoli, broken into small flowerets
½ cup, chopped onion
8 to 10 slices, bacon, fried crisp and crumbled or 1 container of prepared bacon bits
1 cup, mayonnaise
1 tablespoon, sugar
2 to 3 tablespoons, vinegar
1 cup, green or red seedless grapes cut in half
½ cup, cheddar cheese
½ cup, toasted pecans or walnuts

Directions:
In a small bowl, mix sugar, vinegar, and mayonnaise. In larger bowl mix grapes, chopped onion, Cheddar cheese and broccoli flowerets. Pour mayonnaise dressing over broccoli mixture. Toss gently to mix. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Before serving sprinkle with bacon bits or crumbled bacon. Makes about 4 to 6 servings.

Alternatives:
Add raisins or Craisins instead of grapes.
Add half as much broccoli and replace with cauliflower.
Add 1/2 cups carrots (grated) to the recipe.

Note: Spread the pecans on a baking pan and place pan on center rack of oven. Roast at 250°, stirring occasionally, until they begin to brown and become aromatic, about 60 minutes.

Dear Betty Blunt



Please note:
This submission is not to be taken seriously. It is just for fun! If you would like to submit a question for Miss Betty Blunt to answer, please write to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

She may or may not answer your question seriously, and she may or may not give you the answer you were hoping for, but one thing is for sure, you will get a good laugh out of her witty, bold, and blunt advice. She will often make comments that we all wish we could say, but are just too afraid to make. So, send in your questions, and let us see if she can help you with your relationship issues. If you wish, your initials, city, and state will be altered to conceal your identity.

Dear Betty Blunt,
I am a neat and tidy person. Things that are out of place or messy bother me. So, when I am at my boyfriends place, or in his car, he has a lot of things just laying around and not put away. I have picked them up and tidied things, but, sure enough, they eventually just end up strone all over the place again. I do not want to be my boyfriends maid, and he does not seem to want to improve and we have clashed a few times over this issue. Do you have any suggestions?

Sincerely,
Suzana L. Dobisinski
Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Dear Miss Clean,
Plain and simple! Either break up, or accept it! You two are truly the odd couple! No way would I be picking up his dirty socks and clothes, and who knows what else all over the place! I have been in messy places like that, and you can barely even find a place to sit down! One time, I had to move clothes, the newspaper, and a half eaten bowl of cereal off the couch, in order just to find a place to sit down! I do not mind a sort of lived in look, but when your butt has to share a seat with a bowl of cereal, there is no hope for that type of person! Needless to say, I high tailed it out of there as fast as you can say, Bounty the quicker picker upper! Your only choices are to swap him out for Mister Clean, hire a cleaning crew, or get used to swimming in clutter. Personally I would throw Mister Garbage into the nearest dumpster and start clean!

Insincerely,
BB

Think Tank


By Rich De Steno and Roger Khouri

Thank you to everyone who submitted answers to last months brain teasers. Many of you were very close, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades! Just kidding! It is apparent that this month, many of you had your thinking caps on! So, congratulations go out to Allison Hilliker, Charles Rivard, Charlie Richardson, Suzy Barnes, and Roger Khouri for answering all three brain teasers correctly!

Applause also goes out to Pam Scott and Terry Scott for figuring out two of the three brain teasers! Way to go! And, let’s also give congratulations to Karen Santiago and Nancy Martin for answering one of the brainteasers! Fantastic!

Here are the September brain teasers and their answers:
1. I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?
Answer: The letter E.

2. What always runs but never walks, often murmurs, never talks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never eats?
Answer: A river.

3. Two men play five complete games of checkers. Each man wins the same number of games. There are no ties. How?
Answer: They did not play each other.

Now, for our super duper brain teasers for October! Can you solve these? Lets see who thinks they are smarter than a fifth grader!

1. What is in seasons, seconds, centuries and minutes but not in decades, years or days?

2. A farmer has seventeen sheep. All but nine of them die. How many sheep does he have left?

Please submit the answers to these brain teasers to:
newsletter@out-of-sight.net

We will let you know if you are correct, and if so, we will publish your name in the November newsletter. Have fun trying to solve these puzzles!

Did You Know? - More Random Tidbits


By Katie Chandler



Words to Live By


Submitted by Pam Scott

Courage is fear on its knees.
Author unknown

A Round of Applause



Thanks goes out to you, our extended family on Out-Of-Sight! You participate and spend your time getting to know one another on the site. Without you, there would be no need for programming, no need for special activities, and no need to even have a site. So, thank you very much! Thanks for making this community an Out of Sight place to be!

Oosabelle’s List



No, this is not Craig’s List, but it is the next best thing! If you have something to sell, or announce, send us your ad, and we will post it, as long as there is space available in the newsletter. Send your ads to:
Newsletter@out-of-sight.net