How to play the Google guitar

The Washington Post has an article on how to play chords on the Google guitar
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/play-les-pauls-google-doodle-with-these-guitar-chords/2011/06/09/AGygMCNH_blog.html

also, the Google Les Paul guitar will be archived with other notable Google Doodles
http://www.google.com/logos/

As I mentioned in a post from yesterday, you can also play notes by typing words into the first edit field. I like the sound of "flying dragons," Richard Thompson's last name, and this line from an e.e. cummings poem: "What if a much of a witch of a wind."

My new hearing aid is purple

Yesterday I went to one of the audiologists at Boston Medical Center to get fitted for my new hearing aid.

While my hearing loss is only categorized as "moderate," we all agree that hearing loss of any sort which interferes with localization for a blind person is significant. Also, I miss a lot of what people say if there is a background noise, like the TV, or running water, or the dishwasher, or another conversation, or one of those annoying people who crinkle bags or play with a beeping device while someone on a panel is speaking. Still, it's pretty clear from things the audiologists say that a lot of people opt to not get hearing aids.

Of course, one reason why a lot of people probably go without hearing aids is that they cost $1400, and health insurance tends not to cover any of the cost.
This also explains why I keep hearing TV commercials for cheap hearing aids, including
the Lee Majors bionic hearing aid commercial
https://www.getleemajorsbionicear.com/default.aspx?mid=884417&a=115739&s=CD5447-&ClickID=06_39223192_13f64784-3245-4b31-b363-79c695df8e13

Anyway, for $1400 you get a digital hearing aid with a computer chip wich is programmed according to your particular loss of hearing and a hearing aid which is shaped to your particular ear shape. You also get to choose a number of options. I wanted a hearing aid with a volume control, since I am also sensitive to noise, so I chose one with a rocker switch on the outside. I also chose the sort of hearing aid which fits over the outside of the ear, which is basically two pieces, the little microphone/volume switch part which goes outside the ear and the speaker part which nestles closer to the inside of the ear. Plus, I got to choose to have it in purple (second color choice: silver). There was a catalogue for a company called Resound which had one hearing aid called "Leaf," which was leaf green, but, sadly, it wasn't available in the kind of hearing device I needed.

The fitting part involved taking a kind of pink putty/clay which was used to take an impression of the inside of my left ear, after the audiologist put in a tiny cotton ball with a string on it, which I promptly dubbed the "ear tampon." Once the putty stuff has hardened, the audiologist pops it out and the impression, along with the specifics of your order, is sent off to the hearing aid company.

So I now have one more appt. for the medical extravaganza on June 30, when I see the otolaryngologist, the audiologist (twice--once for a hearing test and once for the hearing aid), the rheumotologist, the neurologist, and the radiology dept for a mammogram. After this, I will come home and have ice cream. Maybe even ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.

Webinars of book reviews on assistive technology, producing Daisy, Android apps

From the EASI announcement list

Webinar Book Review Free Webinar:
Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice
Presenter: Sheryl Bergstahler, Ph.D. DO-IT, University of Washington
Tuesday June 14, 11 AM Pacific, Noon Mountain, 1 PM Central, 2 PM Eastern
This presentation will provide an overview of the history of universal design,
back to its origins in architecture and product development. The presenter
will share examples of applications of universal design in higher education - to
technology, instruction, services, and physical spaces. She will also discuss
various approaches that have been taken to apply universal design to learning
environments, with a focus on practical applications that instructors can employ to make their courses more welcoming and accessible to all students.
The Webinar is based on the book: Universal Design in Higher Education: From
Principles to Practice edited by Sheryl Burgstahler which is accessible at Bookshare.

Free Webinar: Book Review: Managing the Assistive Technology Process: The
Nontech Guide for Disability Service Providers.
Presenter James Bailey, MS, Adaptive Technology Adviser, University of Oregon.
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