David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (10/31/90)
Index Number: 11410
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Last week I said that I would make NEWSLINE for the BLind available to my fellow
BBSers for a while. I am doing so. For those of you who don't know about it,
NEWSLINE is a telephone service of the New Mexico Commission for the Blind which
allows us to read a daily newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, via the telephone.
All you need is a touch tone phone. You can read what you want, when you want.
The telephone number is 505-247-1112. You will of course have to pay for any
long distance call. Once you are connected, you will be asked for your
identification number. Enter the number 5555. You will then be asked for your
Security Number. Enter 1990. We normally assign the ID number and the security
number is the last four digits of the person's phone number.
You will then hear a menu of sections of the paper. You can make your choice at
any time.
Once you are reading a story, your choices are as follows:
pressing one will start the story over again,
pressing two will immediately jump you to the next story in that category,
pressing three will jump you back ten seconds,
and pressing four will move you ahead ten seconds.
Finally, pressing the pound sign, (to the right of the zero) will exit that
category taking you back to the main menu.
The categories are as follows: 10 local news, 11 state news, 12 national news,
13 world news, 14 sports, 15 business news, 16 TV listings, 17 movie listings,
18 area events, 19 entertainment news, 20 weather, 21 horoscopes, 22 editorials,
23 columnists, 24 obituaries, 25 food store ads, 26 department store ads, 27
drug and sundry ads, 28 corrections, 29 Sunday Magazine (Parade), 30 features,
31 Travel section, 32 comics, 33 Business outlook (weekly supplement), and 34
Vista (supplement about hispanic topics).
Most of the categories change daily however the ads are left until they are out
of date. In addition, the sunday magazine, travel, business outlook and Vista
are left the whole week. We also occasionally use category 35 for special
supplements etc., but you will be notified of such by an opening message if we
do.
I will leave the ID and security number up through November. You are free to
use it as much as you can afford. I only ask two things. First, I would
appreciate knowing what you think. Any comments would be appreciated.
Secondly, if you like it, cajole people in your area to adopt this service. I
think it offers more then most reading services, and I would like to see it
spread.
If you ultimately want to subscribe, there is a charge of $8.50 for out-of-state
people. This is because we get our money from the New Mexico legislature, so
out of staters have to carry their own weight. This figure is what it would
cost to subscribe to the daily paper in print.
The paper is usually fully recorded by noon during the week, usually it is
mostly done by 11:00. It takes us until 2:00 or so on Sunday.
Happy reading and let me know if you have any questions etc. My work number is
505-841-8863.
David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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Internet: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgDavid.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) (12/01/90)
Index Number: 12104
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
DM> Why did you accept this model, rather than the Michigan one?
DM> Isn't yours the one they use in Minnesota?
Daveed, I answered this question at length on CompuServe, but for otherb
benefit, here goes again. Yes, we are using the same software as the people in
Minnesota, not the Michigan system. We went through the state procurement
process here in New Mexico and Minnesota won. There were a number of reasons.
Their price was considerably better, the system is easier for the end-user to
change and the people involved were more flexible and willing to work with us.
David Andrews
... Your Sound Alternative
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