Alan,

Although I was lucky enough to sometimes get the help I needed, there were 
just as many times when I was completely on my own and had to rely on my 
wits to figure things out.  I certainly don't begrudge anyone whatever 
assistance they get, and I'll gratefully accept any help that comes my way, 
but I certainly don't expect that help will always be there.  In fact, I 
generally expect that I'll have to solve my own problems, which is pretty 
much the case for everyone regardless of disabilities, real or perceived. 
I'm not always successful, but I've often done better than I thought I 
would, and done better than some other people thought I would.  In the long 
run, that's how it is for us all.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 17:33
Subject: Re: TS-990 Review


> Good afternoon all.
>
> I have often wondered whether those of us who went thru college back in 
> the
> days before  the ADA, office of handicapped students, and any number of
> other entities that were supposed to help blind students in college, were
> actually better off in the long run, not relying on anything or anyone,
> other than ourselves.  When I was a student at MIT, there was nothing
> special for handicapped students in general, or blind students more
> specifically.  In addition, for the entire time I was a student at MIT, I
> didn't have a single book in accessible format.  I relied %100 on readers
> and my notes.  I was totally on my own there, and managed to graduate in 3
> years time with a straight A (5.0) average.  I am not saying this to pat
> myself on the back, I say it only as an example of what those of us that
> were on our own could accomplish.  When I graduated, I was still on my own
> to land a good job.  I actually had multiple job offers, solely on the
> recommendations of my professors, and my records.
>
> As time has passed, and all manner of assistance for the handicapped 
> student
> and job seekers have grown, I have heard all sorts of complaints along the
> lines of whatgot us on this trail.  Perhaps I don't recall any whining and
> complaining was because there was no one, and no forum, to complain or 
> whine
> to.  I could be totally wrong of course, but I think that I was better off
> having to fend for myself.  I remember my folks dropping me off at my dorm
> the evening before classes began, and I had never even been to MIT to 
> learn
> the campus, or anything else for that matter.  My folks dropped me off and
> said, keep in touch.  Literally, that was it.  Now I understand that blind
> students often arrive on campus early so that they can familiarize
> themselves with the layout, as well as offices and programs specifically 
> to
> aid handicapped students in all sorts of ways.  I am thinking that having
> these crutches to ease the pain thru college, leaves the student without 
> the
> skills necessary to function on their own.  I had never heard of the ACB 
> or
> NFB for 20 odd years after graduation as an aerospace engineers in 1972. 
> I
> didn't need them when I was off to college, or when seeking a good job, 
> and
> I am glad of it.  I remember a professor in fluid mechanics responding to 
> a
> student complaining about the difficulty of an exam, saying, "Steel 
> tempers
> in fire."  He was correct.
>
> Just my 2 cents.
>
> Best 73
>
>
> Alan R. Downing
> Phoenix, AZ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of DAN REID
> Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 1:56 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>
> I'm sorry you feel that way.  I don't belong to any Councils or =
> Federations.  I work full time and support my wife and three children =
> and pay the gas for my transportation to and from work.  Stop feeling =
> sorry for yourself and get off your backside and stop living off Social =
> Security.  That isn't what it was meant for. If you can't find a job for =
> yourself, then create one.
>
> Happy hunting,
> Dan
>
>  ----- Original Message -----=20
>  From: Michael Thurman<mailto:[log in to unmask]>=20
>  To: =
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>=20
>  Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 11:25 AM
>  Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>
>
>  can someone please explain to me why it costs 8000 bucks to get =3D
>  accessibility?!?!?! I was like  I will get this radio  now  I feel =
> like =3D
>  only rich people get accessibility. I do no thane tha kind of money =
> and =3D
>  I do not see how half of you  do being blind. I certainly do not have =
> =3D
>  anywa y to get tha kind of cash being screwed by social insecurity.. =
> =3D
>  Nobody is going to hire a blind guy in this economy and those jobs tha =
> =3D
>  were out there dried up years ago for us.  and the NFB has done =
> nothing =3D
>  to help the citation. in fact i think they made it worse. no company =
> =3D
>  will risk lawsuits by hiring a blind person when there are so many =3D
>  sighted applicants. Even if I could get a job, transportation costs =
> =3D
>  alone would  eat up most of what I would make.
>  On Jul 14, 2013, at 4:38 PM, "Alan R. Downing" =
> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
>  > Hello Butch, as I mentioned to you on the land line, I have decided =
> to =3D
>  get a
>  > 990, but I still want to wait a few more months before spending the =
> 8 =3D
>  grand.
>  > I will also talk to Rob Sherwood and Ken Long, who are testing it in =
> =3D
>  the
>  > lab, and writing a comprehensive review on it. Have you checked the =
> TX =3D
>  power
>  > limit to see how close it holds to the desired power level?  The =3D
>  ability to
>  > set a hard limit on output power is especially useful for those who =
> =3D
>  run very
>  > large amps, and don't want to exceed the 1500 watt legal limit..
>  >=3D20
>  > Best 73
>  >=3D20
>  >=3D20
>  > Alan R. Downing
>  > Phoenix, AZ
>  >=3D20
>  > -----Original Message-----
>  > From: For blind ham radio operators =3D
>  [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>  > On Behalf Of Butch Bussen
>  > Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 12:05 PM
>  > To: =
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>  > Subject: Re: TS-990 Review
>  >=3D20
>  > Yep, a very good review.  I've had my 990 for a couple months and =
> I=3D20
>  > learned some tricks I had overlooked.
>  > 73
>  > Butch
>  > WA0VJR
>  > Node 3148
>  > Wallace, ks.
>  >=3D20
>  >=3D20
>  > On Sun, 14 Jul 2013, Curtis Delzer=3D20
>  > wrote:
>  >=3D20
>  >> well you've certainly done it!
>  >> terrific review and comprehensive as well.  were you able to =
> install
>  >> v1.03 of the firmware while you had the radio?
>  >> that adds a couple things significant for enthusiastic and =
> fantastic
>  >> operating;  AGC improvement, and seamless full break in CW without
>  >> the clicks and thumps of earlier firmware.
>  >> again, thanks again!
>  >>=3D20
>  >> At 02:57 AM 07/14/13, you wrote:
>  >>> Hi All,
>  >>>=3D20
>  >>> The accessibility review, and audio demos,  of the flagship =
> Kenwood
>  > TS-990
>  >>> is at:
>  >>>=3D20
>  >>>=3D20
>  > =3D
>  =
> http://active-elements.org/2013/07/14/kenwood-ts-990-accessibility-review=
> <http://active-elements.org/2013/07/14/kenwood-ts-990-accessibility-revie=
> w>-=3D
>  3/
>  >>>=3D20
>  >>> Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID
>  >>>=3D20
>  >>> Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with =3D
>  disabilities
>  >>>=3D20
>  >>> www.active-elements.org<http://www.active-elements.org/>
>  >>>=3D20
>  >>> For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals
>  >>=3D20
>  >>=3D20
>