Jump to: Skip to main content Friend's Websites Computer Games for the Blind Talking with People Online Movies, TV and More Bookks and Authors I Like Interesting Places on the Net Music I Like
Links to:
On this page, you will find many fun things to do, sites to go to, and even computer games for the blind, plus lots more.
Here is a growing list of sites that my friends, both in person and on the Net, have put together, in no particular order. These are people I know from a long time ago, grew up with, or even met through the Internet. Check them out.
If you're looking for love or more friends, then try eHarmony. Note, if you are interested in online dating, appropriate caution should be taken. Online dating isn't for everyone, but it can be a great way to meet people. I've met several people in person on here, including the artist above, who are great folks to have for friends. eHarmony uses a unique profiling system to help match you with people that you really will get along with, and perhaps more. They're not just another dating site with classifieds of, "Date me!", but one that has a set structure of communication even after you get a match.
AudioGames.net is a site that provides helpful hints, tips and tricks, and even cheat codes, or ways to quickly obtain items or master a game, for many of the games listed below, and more. They also have articles on accessible gaming, and lots more. I could easily spend an hour on here wihtout knowing. Check it out!
You will get much more enjoyment out of the games listed on this page if you have a multichannel sound card, or if you have a sound card that can allow you to listen to several sounds at once. Many of the games listed here are ones to be played either with earphones or on a stereo sound card system. This is because many times, there may be five, six, or more sounds going at once, and likely, these are necessary to ensure your enjoyment of the game. Note that unless otherwise stated, the games mentioned here are available in demonstration versions, or try before you buy. Some demos have a time limit, and others do not, so read the fine print carefully. Finally, many of these games do not require the use of a screen reader. In other words, before you play them, you will need to unload your screen reader since the game is self voicing. Enjoy.
Adora Entertainment is another producer of accessible games for the blind. In late summer, Adora bought ESP Softworks and acquired many of ESP's games and game development. In other words, you can find a lot of games listed on this site, and a few that are being developed. Check them out.
All inPlay, is a neat gaming site on the Net. They have two games, poker and crazy 8's, which you can play if you are blind or sighted. The great thing about this site is that the blind and sighted play at the same table, and you don't know who is what. The site has a 15 day free trial, before you commit to the service. The cost of the service does not in any way get you more cards or chips to play with. A screen reader is recommended to play this game, or you can play without one and use the site's generic screen reader. Read more at the site.
Bavisoft has two accessible full featured games: Grissly Gulch Western Extravaganza and Chillingham. Both are self voicing and use the same simple 5-key interface. You can also hear reviews of these games, some of which were originally broadcasted on ACB Radio's Main Menu.
BSC Games, has already created three games that have taken the blind community by storm. They are: Troopanum (a space adventure game), Pipe, and Hunter, along with other free games. In most cases the games are self voicing. Check them out.
Blind Software.com is the place to get various programs and applications for your computer, such as multimedia players, database software, and more. Blind Software and BSC Games are under the same company.
GMA Games has several self voicing games for the blind user, including: Shades of Doom, Loan Wolf (screen reader required), and Trek 2000. The new game is called GMA Tank Commander. You can download a demo and try it for free. The download is approximately 50 MB in size, so its not recommended for modem users. Read more about all the games on their site.
Jim Kitchen's Windows and DOS Games. Jim Kitchen has written many free games. Some of them include: Life, a numbers game, a car racing game, golf, a casino game, and more. Personally, I don't think that some of these games are as fun as the other games on this site, but they are entertaining, and any games that are written with the blind in mind, and that are free, deserve mentioning. Some games require that a screen reader be used and others do not.
L-Works have quite a few games for the blind. Most are low cost ones, but some are free games. A few of the games found here are: Super Liam, Sphere (an improved version of Pong), Lock Pick, and others.
If you have a PAC Mate and are looking for games to play, then check one or more of these out:
MSN Messenger. Yes, this page would not be complete unless we paid tribute to the wonders of MSN Messenger. Someone turned me onto this program in the summer of 2001and now, I love it! It's a great way to chat with friends online, or even as I did several times that summer, meet with other classmates regarding a project we were working on. This was significant because the other members of my group and I were located in different areas around the university I go to. And, many times, it was easier to meet online, than it was for everyone to go to a cenral location. Anyway, if you'd like my MSN screen name, then email me and I'll gladly send it to you. Incidentally, if you are looking for scripts for MSN Messenger for JAWS for Windows, then go to the JFW Lite Downloadable Programs and scripts page, and look for a link that says something like, "MSN Messenger Scripts." Note that in JAWS versions 4.5 and above, the MSN scripts are included. I have trouble thinking of how I got by, before these wonderful scripts.
Yahoo Instant Messenger. On this page you can download the latest version of Yahoo Messenger, Yahoo's instant messaging program. I used this for a long time, and unless it has changed (which is likely), Yahoo's IM is very accessible and you really don't need any adaptations for it. If you want scripts though, then refer to the JFW Lite page above, and once it comes up, search for a "Yahoo Messenger" link.
For The People and Audio Tips are two sites for voice chatting. Voice chat is where you talk instead of type. Read more and join for free at the sites. Perhaps we'll chat someday, :)
VIP Conduit is an audio chat site that offers fun, learning, and paid memberships that offer even more fun and learning.
Listen to a Movie is a site where you can listen to many popular movies and TV shows. This site plays the content in a separate window and the audio is of a lower quality than you might be used to. You cannot download any of these movies; you can only play them on the site. There is a wide selection of content.
Right before the Christmas break, NFB Newsline announced that TV listings are now available! I have used these listings and find them very easy to navigate. In fact, I've switched from looking up the listings online to using Newsline to find out what's on. If you're not a Newsline subscriber, now would be a great time to join this free service. When you do subscribe, then be sure to read the instructions for using the TV listings section.
I've started using a different site for my TV listings called Zap2It. In addition to information on all sorts of TV shows and movies, you can get free TV listings. If you want to customize what channels appear and how many, you will have to register for a free account, but its worth it, especially if you have a Cable or Satellite system with hundreds of channels. I'm very satisfied with it. The listings appear in table form, which includes the show's name, a time, and description of the particular episode. Very nice.
Over the past year or two, I've seen many documentaries about 9/11/2001, but none as detailed and thorough as Inside 9/11 from the National Geographic Channel. If you like the TV version, then you can buy the program on either video or DVD from this site. You can also view a clip, see timelines, and get other interesting information about that fateful day. May we never forget how our world changed on that day.
DVD Audio Extractor is a program that you can use to either play DVD's or just pull the audio from the DVD. You might want to pull the audio say for instance, if you are blind and don't really care about the video, or if you wanted to listen to your favorite movie or concert when on a long bus, car, or plane trip. The program is shareware and has a 30-day evaluation period before you decide to purchase it.
The Challenge of the Superfriends website is dedicated to the show of the same name which aired from September, 1978, to September, 1979. Though it only ran for one season, it was an awesome show which mixed great characters, both good and evil, with complex plots, technology, sci-fi, and other interesting elements. If you're a fan of the show or want to read about he origins of Superman, Batt Man, and even Lex Luthor, then check this site out. Incidentally, you can purchase this show on DVD through Amazon.
My favorite TV sitcom of all time is finally coming out on DVD. Order your copy now for the first season of The Cosby Show from Amazon.com. Better late than never. Its about time this TV show made it to dVD! As the other season for this show are released, I'll put links to them here.
The Cosby Show - Season 2 is now out on DVD. Order it from Amazon.
In honor of "The cosby Show" on DVD, check out one of the most comprehensive sites about this show at TV Tome: The Cosby Show TV Series.
TV Guide has a big presence online. You can get TV listings, information about shows or channels, and more.
If you are blind or don't want to look directly at your TV in order to know what's going on, there may be an answer for you. Descriptive Video Services (or DVS), is a service that inserts descriptions of the visual aspects of what is happening on a show, in the natural pauses of the show. For many years, they have produced described movies, with these descriptions inserted in them. The movies are blockbuster films, such as "Jurassic Park," "The Fugitive," and "Life is Beautiful," along with over 200 others. In April of 2002, the major network and cable broadcast entities, such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and others were required to have at least 50 hours a month of these described TV programming on their channels, as long as they were in the top 25 markets across the country. So, if you live in one of these top markets, then it is likely that you can watch this described TV. While I don't necessarily agree with the idea of mandating this service, because it would be easy for the people in charge to value entertainment descriptions over need-to-know ones, such as weather bulletins, and other information that can scroll across or appear on one's TV screen; it's an idea who's time may have come. If you would like to know when your show will be on in the descriptive version then go to a listing of audio Described TV shows and find out. Incidentally, if you would like to learn more about DVS, or find out which movies have been described, then go to the DVS website, or see a complete DVS home video list.
In November of 2002, the mandate for described TV shows was overturned, although there may still be some TV shows that are described. Check the DVS site to learn more.
For fans of Descriptive Videos, the same people who brought the videos to you are bringing, slowly, described DVD's. Read more about the growing collection of Accessible DVDs.
"Munich" was released on May 9 on DVD. All versions of the DVD have a descriptive track for blind and visually impaired audiences. Thanks to those distributors and companies that are making this service possible and here's hoping that more DVD's will be released with description.
Have you ever heard of a movie critic who is blind? If not, then check out Blindside Reviews. On this site, you will find reviews for current movies, listings of radio and newspapers where these reviews can be either heard or read, and more. I especially enjoyed his Fun page. By the way, these reviews are published and distributed around the U.S. and even in a few places worldwide.
Have you wanted to see first rate films in mainstream theaters, but haven't been able to because they weren't described? Well, now you can, thanks to Mopix, from the Media Access Group at WGBH. The Mopix system allows you to borrow a wireless headset and listen to the same quality of descriptions you have come to expect from DVS, be piped into the headset in the movie you're watching. There are many locations of Mopix equipped theaters around the country, and growing all the time. I must say that I've seen several feature films with Mopix description, including, "Ray", "Friday Night Lights", and "The Incredibles." Visit the Mopix site and read about this exciting new service.
If you have an AMC movie theatre in your area of the U.S. that has a DVS or Closed Captioned auditorium, but you don't know what films are shown or when, then check out the AMC Theatre listing of DVS/Closed Captioned Films and showtimes. The theatres range from Atlanta to Washington D.C., and all points in between. The movie listings change weekly so check back often.
Included in this section are websites of authors or books that I really have enjoyed.
J.D. Robb, a pin name for Nora Roberts, is an author that I've really gotten into. Robb writes futureistic crime novels. Visit the official J.D. Robb website or check out the J.D. Robb book list. This page lists the catelog of paperback, hard cover, and audio recordings of Robb's books along with ordering options.
The Beast in the Garden is the title of a book I just read that deals with man and nature. The true story explores the good and bad consequences when wildlife comes into our towns. It takes place in Boulder, Colorado, in the late eighties to early nineties. This site has lots of information, including: numerous audio interviews with the book's author that you can listen to, an excerpt of the book, reviews, and much more. Though this book is graphic at times, it's very thought provoking.
John Grisham is an author that has produced best selling novels for around a decade. Now, you can visit the John Grisham website, and read more about the book, the man, and many other things. Check it out.
Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite legal fiction authors. Some say that she is, "the female John Grisham," if that tells you anything. Lisa has written around 8 books to date. On this site, you can: read clips of her books (including ones she is currently working on); see which sites Lisa likes and where she's gotten her information; watch Lisa on her "Lisacam"; and much more.
Perri O'Shaughnessy is a new author that I've started to read. She writes legal thrillers. Visit her site and read about her books, order them online, read the FAQ section, and more.
Ken Follett, is one of my favorite authors. He writes suspense fiction. Some of his famous novels are: On Wings of Eagles, The Key to Rebecca, and Eye of the Needle. There are other things on this site to do as well, so check it out.
Left Behind, is one of the most successful Christian fiction novel series ever. In case you haven't heard of it, the Left Behind series is based on the primace that those that have accepted Christ as their savior, have been raptured or taken to Heaven. The series follows the lives of a group of people, who were not believers before the rapture, but become afterward, as they live their lives during the Tribulation. At this writing, book 11 of 12 has been released, with many (including me) eagerly anticipating the release of book 12 next spring. On this website you can: read more about the series, send an electronic greeting card to someone who may not be a believer, and much more. There's even information about a dramatic audio series that has been and is still being produced for the Left Behind books.
With a new year, it seems appropriate to offer a History of New Years.
Do you ever say to yourself, "There's nothing on the Web that interests me; I'm bored." If so, then check out Bored.com for fun stuff to do when you are bored.
City Data has all sorts of information on many different cities and towns in the U.S., such as cost of living, weather, education, crime rates, maps, etc. A great source for someone looking to move, the traveler looking for something to do, or anyone interested in a particular location.
Being the chocolate lover, or more accurately chocoholic, that I am, I was pleased to come across this site on the history of chocolate. This is only one page of a larger site dedicated to the all consuming food group of chocolate, how to eat it, its origins, ways of preparing it, etc.
Biography.com is not only the Biography Channel's official site, but a site where you can see who's biography is featured on a particular day. Or, where you can look up a date and see who was born on that date. For example, I share my birthday with George Michael, the 80's pop star.
Have you ever wanted to see African wildlife but can't afford the trip there? Here's a possible solution. Its a wildlife webcam that allows you to see and hear wildlife as they drink from a nearby pond. Check out the African Wildlife Webcam run by National Geographic. The best times to view the wildlife are between 8pm and 5am Central time. Though the wild cam is now offline, it will be back in August. You can sign up for newsletters on this site which will keep you updated on the wild cam and more.
One of my coworkers and his friends have put up a page of several remixes, techno, and similar kinds of music. If you're a fan of this type of music, then check out Venture Deep. My coworker goes by the name of "Timco."
Word Reference is a site that allows you to get definitions for, and translate, words and phrases in 4 different languages. In addition to English, they have French, Spanish, and Italian. There is also a forum where you can exchange information with an international audience on definitions and translations of words and phrases.
Have you ever wondered what happened on this day in history? Well, MSN can help you answer that question with their MSN Encarta, On This Day In History.
The two following sites may need a disclaimer, such as: these sites are for entertainment purposes only. While you may not agree with the sites listed or their content, you won't be bored. Read on and you'll discover the reason for this disclaimer.
The Darwin Awards, is a site that honors those stupid people that remove themselves from the gene pool. For instance, the bus driver who, when his bus broke down in the middle of a wild tiger exhibit, and even when the signs said not to, got out of his bus and intended to fix it. However, the signs were right, and this unfortunate bus driver was consequently attacked by some of the tigers. This is a Darwin Award winner. Or, the man who wanted to look into a gas tank, so he used his lit ciggarette to be able to see in the tank, not realizing that the tank would explode; a Darwin AWard winner. If these stories bother you, remember my disclaimer?
Have you ever wondered how or why some laws were created? Well, DumbLaws.com attempts to answer those questions, or at least the why. After reading the material on this site, I have come to the conclusion that, there must have been a problem.
If you're a fan of old time radio shows, like Superman, The Lone Ranger, or others that were broadcasted on the early days of radio in the thirties, forties, and fifties, then check out Radio Lovers - Free Old Time Radio Shows. You can either listen to these shows on the site or download them to your computer. Note that if you're on a modem, the downloads might take awhile since many shows are half an hour in broadcast time.
Sports Radio 1310, The Ticket, has what they call "drops," or sound bites. These sound bites can be sound effects, bites of someone's conversation or what someone says, fake commercials, or other things., If you're a fan of The Ticket and their drops, then go to the Ticket Drops Page. You can either listen to or download the drops. Note that The Ticket is a Dallas station that specializes in "guy talk" as well as sports, so not all drops may be appropriate for younger listeners or those who might be easily offended. I have many of these drops on my computer and they can be quite funny to listen to.
If you really want to waste time and have fun doing it, go to Phone Spell. Yes, that's right, you can type in part or all of a phone number and see what weird and wacky strings of letters and numbers pop up. I would give an example here of what popped up for my home number, but then I'd have people calling me. So, just go there and type in a number and see what it spells. Its geared towards businesses that want easy to remember numbers, but it can also be a good time waster.
there's really no way to describe this except to say the following: certain people have created songs and short skits of synthesized speech. If you are, or think you might be a fan of this, then check out the Dec-Talk Sing Out page. Note that some content may not be suitable for all ages. It sure is funny though.
Sound America, is a site that has parities of commercials and songs, as well as many other things. For instance, some of their parities include: the Smoker's Cruise, the School for Intercom Announcing, and many more. These will definitely make you laugh. You can download nearly everything on this site, although many of the downloads can be more than 200 K, so be sure you have either lots of time on a dial-up, or a high speed connection to the Net. Also, some content is not recommended for young kids.
Whit's End, from Adventures in Odyssey. This site has almost anything having to do with the famous children's, and some would argue adult, drama series, including but not limited to: the Odyssey Times, the Little Theater, Kyds Radio, the Soda Shop, and many more. You can even read about current and upcoming shows. Odyssey aired their 500th show in July, 2002, which is quite an accomplishment for a series that goes back to 1987.
Amusing and Useless Facts are things that no one can be without. After all, when at that party or other gathering, informing the people around you just how far a kangaroo can jump, or how much water an elephant can drink in one day, might take the conversation in an interesting direction. Plus, you never know when you might need to know such things. So check this site out, and learn all you ever wanted to know, and possibly even a few things that prove to be useful.
If you love the 80's, whether it be the shows, movies, news, music, etc., then check out The 80's Exchange: the eighties decade super site.
The International Jingle Collection has all kinds of jingles you can listen to or download, including those from TV shows, movies, and many more. Check them out.
In this section, you will find types of music and bands I like listening to. I must say before we begin that some of the bands listed here might have conflicting styles or views, but they're listed anyway. Also, I use the term "greatness" when talking about some of these bands. Greatness could be considered to be a step above great. I suppose that everyone may have their own definition of greatness, but mine is a band's legacy, the volume and quality of their music, and if they have overcome any major difficulties in their career, or if they have withstood the test of time.
Mark Burroughs Music is a site run by a blind musician who happens to work at the same place that I do. On this site, you can listen to samples of his music, read about what people have to say about it, and even buy his current album. You can also read about current and upcoming concerts.
I have discovered an acappella band known as The Coats. Visit their site and read more about them, and even purchase their albums.
Metallica's official site: Here's a heavy metal band that is true greatness, and that I have liked for a long time. They have kind of grown on me through the years, and now I'm as much of a fan as anyone. I especially like their 80's and 90's stuff, and have been disappointed by what I have heard of the newest St. Anger album, which is nothing like their 80's stuff. Don't waste your money. Instead, buy their re-issued live box set on DVD from 1993, or their 1999 live album with the San Francisco Symmphany, which is totally cool. Anyway, check their site out.
If you're wanting to legally download Metallica music and don't know where, then here are two suggestions.
Here's where we get into conflicting views, :) Petra is a Christian rock band I have also liked for a long time. They are greatness as well. I still remember my first Petra tape, "On Fire," and the first Petra CD, "Unseen Power," both of which I still have. There are several sites of note relating to Petra: the official Petra band site, A guide to Petra is a fan site that is well put together, and Petra Rocks My World is another cool fan site.
For fellow "pet Heads," or fans of Petra, the Petra Farewell DVD is out! Visit A Guide to Petra, and read all about this exciting release. You can even order it through this site, or better yet, buy it in stores. Let's show retailers, and Petra, how much we appreciate them! This DVd complements the CD of the same name that was released last November. In fact, it was recorded from the Franklin, TN, Petra concert on October 4.
John Schlitt is the long time lead singer for the Christian rock group Petra. He has also done some solo work. He has lots of information on his site about his work, with and apart from Petra, which includes: audio and video clips, interviews, some song downloads, and much, much more.
Carman World Outreach. Carman is a christian musician that is true greatness, for his songs and his stories that he puts to music. On this site, you can read about and purchase his albums, hear short audio clips of interviews in which he explains where the songs and stories come from, plus a whole lot more.
For the country and jazz fans, here are some link to some shows on ACB Radio Interactive:
Fill out my Feedback Form if you have any comments or suggestions on things to add.
Document last modified on: