Sterling Creations

www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2497278,00.asp . . That’s the same body that <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2476015,00.asp> re-defined broadband in 2015 to mean a minimum download speed of 25Mbps -up from the former defining speed, a measly 4Mbps (they also went from 1Mbps upload to 3Mbps upload as part of the change). . <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2476015,00.asp> www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2476015,00.asp . . The FCC is also pushing <http://www.pcmag.com/news/343380/fcc-oks-broadband-subsidy-for-low-income-f amilies> subsidies for low-income families to get high-speed Internet. <http://www.pcmag.com/news/343380/fcc-oks-broadband-subsidy-for-low-income-f amilies> www.pcmag.com/news/343380/fcc-oks-broadband-subsidy-for-low-income-fa milies . Obviously the FCC is doing what it can to increase speeds for everyone, <https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160122/05203433402/senators-whine-about -fccs-25-mbps-broadband-standard-insist-nobody-needs-that-much-bandwidth.sht ml> despite pushback from senators who want to see lower speeds qualify as broadband- . <https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160122/05203433402/senators-whine-about -fccs-25-mbps-broadband-standard-insist-nobody-needs-that-much-bandwidth.sht ml> www.techdirt.com/articles/20160122/05203433402/senators-whine-about- fccs-25-mbps-broadband-standard-insist-nobody-needs-that-much-bandwidth.shtm l . . . mostly because it makes the country look bad to have so many households that don’t have Internet that’s up to that standard. Competition is helping even more. Local ISPs (and some unique players, like <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2499831,00.asp> Google) have pushed the big-name companies to raise speeds while keeping costs affordable. . <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2499831,00.asp> www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2499831,00.asp . . At least one ISP, Verizon FiOS-one of the few fiber-to-the-home-only players-increased its minimum speed from 25 to 50Mbps. There are entire cities now that can claim they’ve got <http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/310861/if-you-want-gigabit-internet-mo ve-here> gigabit Internet status-ISPs there offer connections of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps)-that’s 1,000 times better than 1Mbps speed, and 40 times what the FCC even defines as broadband for the United States. . <http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/310861/if-you-want-gigabit-internet-mo ve-here> www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/310861/if-you-want-gigabit-internet-mov e-here . . They’re doing this with a mix of technology, mostly fiber optic lines (Google tends to use "dark fiber" that is already in place in big cities but going unused) and in some areas with increased speeds via cable connections. In fact, with the DOCSIS 3.0 standard that most cable companies use on their equipment it’s entirely possible to have gigabit Internet with a lot of work; the newer DOCSIS 3.1 standard makes it even easier for cable providers to make the jump, without as much tinkering. Comcast-the biggest ISP in the US-has already started <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2498789,00.asp> rolling out DOCSIS 3.1 in select areas. . <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2498789,00.asp> www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2498789,00.asp . . . The new tech could take speeds as high as <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2479953,00.asp> 2Gbps (don’t expect that without paying a hefty price tag). . But despite the competition and the claims, the average speeds in the US are not even close to the averages seen in many other nations. We typically fall well behind around 120 nations. . Plus, just because a big-name ISP or even a tiny local provider says you’re getting a certain level of throughput, can you be sure you’re getting what you pay for? . Every year, PCMag examines the <http://www.pcmag.com/fastest-isps/> Fastest ISPs in the United States and Canada with data provided by our readers. . <http://www.pcmag.com/fastest-isps> www.pcmag.com/fastest-isps . . To measure it, we use the industry leading tool: Speedtest. Put your connection to the test right now-click Begin Test on this page. . <http://www.pcmag.com/speedtest?utm_source=et&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign= speedtest-survey> www.pcmag.com/speedtest?utm_source=et&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=s peedtest-survey . . Visit as often as you like. Share it with friends. The more, the merrier. . We’ll use that data to compare and contrast not only download speed but also factor in upload speed in a formula we call the PCMag Internet Speed Index: a quantifiable number that directly pits ISP to ISP. We’ll look at it nationwide, state by state, and in some cases even at the local level. Either way, should your ISP get enough tests into the mix, we’ll see where it stands. . So what are you waiting for? Take the Speedtest! Get the information you need, and provide us with the data to help your fellow PCMag readers in the future. . Want a look at recent test results? Read 2015’s <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2490651,00.asp> Fastest ISPs in the U.S. . www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2490651,00.asp . . Here’s a sampling: . No ISP shows improvement quite like <https://www.midcocomm.com/> Midcontinent Communications (Midco). The North Central-U.S.-based ISP is in its second year as our fastest ISP for the nation with a stunning index of 84.6. That’s the kind of number we see in Asian countries, and it’s a major improvement for Midco, which last year had an index of 46.8. If you live in the Dakotas, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, you need Midcontinent Communications. Some of its locations already have <http://www.midcogig.com/ > Gigabit service; Midco says Gigabit over cable (using <http://www.speedtest.net/articles/what-is-docsis/> DOCSIS 3.1 modems) is coming in some areas areas by 2016. . www.midco.com/ . . . Next on the list-and the top "major ISPs" with multi-state services-is the old stalwart of fiber-to-the home (FttH) deployment in the U.S., <http://www.verizon.com/home/fios/> Verizon FiOS. www.verizon.com/home/fios/ This year it once again improved its PCMag Speed Index, shooting up to 42.7 from last year’s 32.8. And as noted before, FiOS has made speed improvements every single year since 2010. (FiOS also remains the top rated ISP with PCMag readers for its <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2c2817%2c2484348%2c00.asp> service and reliability, having earned our Readers’ Choice award this year, and indeed, every year for a full decade.) . FiOS is certainly fast, but its lead on the major cable-based operators is not vast. Comcast-the largest cable company (by revenue) and therefore largest Internet provider with service in 40 states-isn’t always well loved. But its <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2456278,00.asp> Xfinity brand for broadband service is undeniably fast, with an index of 38.9. Plus, Xfinity sports a faster average download speed (46.1 Mbps vs. Verizon FiOS’s 42.9). FiOS’s almost symmetrical upload speed (41.7 Mbps) is what keeps its PCMag Speed Index ahead of Xfinity. . . You can also read about the Fastest ISPs in <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2496102,00.asp> Canada, . Fastest ISPs 2015: Canada | PCMag.com www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2496102,00.asp . . <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2487795,00.asp> Mexico, . Fastest ISPs 2015: Mexico | PCMag.com . www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2487795,00.asp . . Fastest ISPs 2015: Australia P CMag.com . and <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2489753,00.asp> Australia, . www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2489753,00.asp . . or about the <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2496100,00.asp> Best ISPs for Gaming for 2015. * www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2496100,00.asp ]]>

www.hongkiat.com/blog/tech-life-hacks/ from Hacks You Should In this compilation, we want to share with you 99 of our favorite tech life hacks. You might have heard of some of them, especially when it comes to keyboard shortcuts and handy online tools and websites, but it doesn’t hurt to know more of them. 1. To quickly change the case (upper vs. lower) of text in Microsoft Word, highlight the phrase, then hit Shift + F3. Changes cycle through all lowercase, first letter capitalized, and all in uppercase. Here is a related article: " 200 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts" www.hongkiat.com/blog/100-keyboard-shortcuts-windows/ 2. . To get quick summaries of articles online, get and use the Chrome extension <https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tldr/giepilabiomhlcmlefmbfkgeoccf hhhc?hl=en> TLDR. The plugin shows you the gist of the article so you can figure out if you want to read the whole thing. ( Get the plugin here: <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/google-chrome-extensions-designers/> www.hongkiat.com/blog/google-chrome-extensions-designers/ 3. To re-open an accidentally closed browser tab, use Ctrl / Cmd + Shift + T. 4. To et a tough-to-crack password, use non-English characters on your keyboard. 5. To proofread a long essay, paste your article in <https://translate.google.com/> Google Translate and listen to it. This makes it easier to pick up mistakes, and the tool itself can help you pick up minor typos. Visit Google Translate here; <https://translate.google.com/> translate.google.com/ (note from Dan: I could not get the "listen button" to start any audio of the information I pasted in to the edit field. However, I was able to translate into most any language and here it with my screenreading software. My wife said Google Translator changed the document I inserted to Spanish or whatever I requested.) 1. 6. Run your writing or document past <http://www.polishmywriting.com/> PolishMyWriting.comto clear typos, grammar mistakes and get help with writing styles. From the WebSite: " Instructions: paste or compose a document below. Click Check Writing to get feedback on your writing. Click an underlined spelling error, grammar suggestion, or style suggestion to see more." <http://www.polishmywriting.com/> www.polishmywriting.com/ 7. If you save your Powerpoint presentation in .PPS instead of .PPT, your file goes into slideshow mode when you open it. 8. Want to charge your phone faster? Put it in Airplane Mode. (Editor’s note: We did a small experiment on this and found the difference to be only 3 minutes, but technically, it’s still "faster".) 9. Search for a domain name across multiple TLDs and how much they cost via www.iwantmyname.com Related article: " Generic TLDs & How They Change The Web" <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/generic-tlds/> www.hongkiat.com/blog/generic-tlds/ 10. Have a lot of files stored in various cloud storage services? For an easy and secure way to manage all of them from the same spot, use Otixo.com 11. Want a quick way to unfreeze a frozen phone? Plug it into its charger. 12. Hitting the Spacebar scrolls down a web page; hitting the Spacebar + Shift lets you scroll back up. 13. Attach bread clips to each cable or power cord, then label the clips with a pen or marker to reflect which cable is which. 14. Keep a list of numbers of your credit card companies or hotlines to cancel your cards quickly, in case you lose your wallet or phone. You can do this on paper on in an email. 15. Store some emergency cash in between the small space of your phone and its phone case, just in case. 1. 16. Someone needs to use your iPhone to make a call? Use Siri from the lock screen to make the call. The person has no access to any other app on your phone this way.17. Got yet another call from a telemarketer? Press the volume down button to quickly mute the ringer. 18. Your best search mate for college assignments is not google.com. Use <http://scholar.google.com/> scholar.google.com instead. Try adding "PDF" to find downloadable copies. 19. Laptop batteries can last longer if you charge them up to only 80% instead of the full 100%. Check out this related article: " 10 Tips to Conserve Smartphone Battery Life" <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/conserve-smartphone-battery-life/> www.hongkiat.com/blog/conserve-smartphone-battery-life/ 20. If you can’t remember the title of a song but you know the melody or lyrics to it, hum/sing it on <http://www.midomi.com/> Midomi to get the title. www.midomi.com/ 21. When booking flights or hotels online, clear cookies before you start looking, or shop in Incognito mode, for lower prices. 22. The best background music to work to with minimal disruption is video game soundtracks. 23. Want to play Tetris on Mac? On Terminal, type Emacs then press Enter. Press Esc + X, type tetris and Enter. Use the arrow keys to move and rotate your Tetris blocks. 24. to find the solution to one of your many computer troubleshooting issues, add "Solved" to sift through the results. 25. Use <http://selfcontrolapp.com/> SelfControl to block social network sites for a period of time. Cool app, ironic name. ( <http://selfcontrolapp.com/> selfcontrolapp.com/ Here is a five step guide to a complete tech detox <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/tech-detox/> www.hongkiat.com/blog/tech-detox/ 26. For an equal split of sound of your tunes when sharing your headphones with a friend, turn on the Mono audio option on your phone. 27. Shave a few bucks off your groceries, by using <http://lozo.com/> Lozo to find discount coupons for the stuff you need. 28. Saving an Excel file as an .XLSB will shrink the size by half or 75%. 29. Someone’s incessant morning alarm is going off but the owner is refusing to get up and turn it off? Call the phone to turn it off for them. 30. If you buy a product on Amazon, and there is a price drop within 7 days, you can get a refund on the price difference. 31. To prevent sending emails to the wrong person, write your email first, and write your recipient last. 32. If your printer is out of black ink, change the font color to #010101 for 99% grey. 33. The best type of music to work to is a video game soundtrack because they are designed to not mess with your focus. 34. Find yourself in a hotel without your charger? Check the TV for a USB plugin. 35. The <https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=SG&hl=en-GB&v=3p4MZJsexEs> Bohemian Rhapsody is the perfect music piece to test headphones and speakers to because of the range of highs and lows. 36. Have an old cassette case lying around? Don’t chuck it out, use it as a holder or stand for your mobile phone. 37. Want a quick way to turn part of a YouTube video into a GIF? Add "GIF" after "www." and before "youtube" in the URL of the video .( Here is a related article. 7 YouTube Tricks You Probably Don’t Know – Hongkiat 37. To paste copied text without the formatting, use Cmd / Ctrl + Shift + V. 38. In Chrome, click Cmd / Ctrl + Shift + Del to quickly access the "Clear Browsing Data" Window. 39. To find sample tests for a looming exam, search "site:edu [subject] exam". ( 41. Can’t watch YouTube videos that have been age restricted but don’t want to sign in to do so? In the URL, delete the "watch?v=" and replace it with "v/". 42. To bypass a website block by your school or office, use <https://translate.google.com/> Google Translate as a proxy by pasting the url of the site into it. (Related: Here is a related article. 9 Ways To Access Blocked Websites www.hongkiat.com/blog/alternative-ways-to-access-blocked-websites/ 43. Make a small knot at either side of the earphone to identify left or right side of the earphones. 44. In the iPhone Calculator app, swipe left or right to delete the last number. 45. If you live near a stadium or a hall that hosts public venues, set Google Alerts for the location to avoid being "surprised" by sudden traffic congestion. 46. Take pictures of important notices, receipts, invitations, business cards, shopping lists for easy access. Never lose your paper trail again. 47. If you need to remember the time for something, make a miss call to any number to get a (very precise) timestamp. 48. Want to surprise someone at the airport but don’t know their arrival time or flight number? Google where they’re flying from and to, and the airline they are on e.g. Singapore Airlines Singapore to London. You’ll get all the info you need. 49. Set important lists e.g. schedule, events, shopping list, errands, as the wallpaper for your phone. 50. If you hit Shift + Volume up / down on Mac, a sound is emitted indicating the intensity of the volume. 51. The easiest way to crank up your smartphone’s speaker volume is using an empty cup. 52. Take a picture of business cards people hand you, just in case you lose it. 53. Bounce batteries to see if their are good or bad. The higher they bounce, the lower the charge they have in them. Here’s a cool <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZywsCbWEun8> video illustrating that. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZywsCbWEun8> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZywsCbWEun8 54. This one’s for developers who wonder what technologies and services are running under the hood in websites. Dissect a site with <http://builtwith.com/> BuiltWith.com. 55. Send notes that will self-destruct after it is read or after a specific number of days, via <https://privnote.com/> privnote.com. 56. Need sound clips? Check out <http://www.downloadfreesound.com/news/> downloadfreesound.com for very specific sound bits. 57. To delete files or folders quickly without dragging it to the trash bin, just use Shift + Del . 58. Smallpdf is a fun place where PDFs go to be converted to and from other formats such as JPG, PPT, Word and Excel. They also unlock, split and merge PDFs. Visit there site here. <https://smallpdf.com/> smallpdf.com/ Here is a related article. 80 Tools to Master PDF <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/mastering-pdf-80-free-tools-tips-and-resources /> www.hongkiat.com/blog/mastering-pdf-80-free-tools-tips-and-resources/ 59. Have a lot of tabs open on Chrome? Use Cmd + 1, 2, 3 to go to specific tabs based on their position, or use Cmd + Tab to just cycle through the tabs. 60. Tap on K to pause a Youtube video, no matter where you click last in the same page. 61. To scroll sideways or horizontally on a web page, press down on Shift then scroll on your mouse. 62. Pressing down on Cmd then scrolling on your mouse, zooms in or out of the web page you’re on. 63. Click on a link with your mouse’s scroll button to open it in another browser tab. 64. Have a lot of tabs open? Click on a browser tab with your mouse’s scroll button to quickly close tabs you don’t need. 65. Install multiple applications at once with the help of <https://ninite.com/> Ninite. It’s the ultimate time-saver. <http://www.ninite.com> www.ninite.com 66. On Mac, Ctrl + Click works the same way as a right-click on the mouse. 67. Don’t want your searches on Google to be location-based? Then go to <http://google.com/ncr> google.com/ncr. NCR stands for "no country redirect". 68. Turn your handwriting into a font with MyScriptFont <http://www.myscriptfont.com/> www.myscriptfont.com/ 69. In Excel, to highlight the whole row (horizontal) use Shift + Spacebar, and to highlight the whole column (vertical), use Control + Spacebar. 70. Many tech companies have a status page that lets you know of their services are down. For instance, here are the links to go to for the status pages for <https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/> Apple and <https://developers.facebook.com/status/> Facebook. Apple <https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/> www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/ and Facebook <https://developers.facebook.com/status/> developers.facebook.com/status/ 71. The <https://www.youtube.com/user/AudioLibraryEN> Youtube Audio Library has music you can download and put into any of your YouTube videos. <https://www.youtube.com/user/AudioLibraryEN> www.youtube.com/user/AudioLibraryEN 72. Stay ahead of important dates like game, movie and album releases, major events and more with the help of <https://forekast.com/> Forekast. forekast.com/?assume_time_zone=true 73. Need a mirror fast? Turn on your smartphone’s front-facing camera, like you would when you take a selfie. 74. Don’t know which smartphone to buy? Use this <http://www.productchart.com/smartphones/> ProductChart to help you narrow down your choices based on your preferences. www.productchart.com/smartphones/ 75. Shop with <https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/honey/bmnlcjabgnpnenekpadlanbbkoo imhnj?hl=en-US> Honey to get the best coupons collected and applied to every online purchase you make. chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/honey/bmnlcjabgnpnenekpadlanbbkooi mhnj?hl=en-US 76. Want to insert a new key into your keyring? Use a coin to keep the ring apart and slot in your new key. 77. Don’t throw away the box your smartphone came in. They are great, sturdy storage spaces to store charging cables and earphones you want to keep with you while travelling. 78. To make sure someone isn’t giving you a fake number, read the number back to them incorrectly and see if they correct you. If they do correct you, then it’s the right number. 79. Stumped by a math problem? Get the <https://photomath.net/en/> PhotoMath app and scan the math problem with your phone and the app will solve it for you. photomath.net/en/ 80. Put an emergency contact number and a name on your lock screen, in case you lose your phone. 81. Use crocodile clips to organize, separate and keep your cables within reach. 82. For quick dictionary meanings use google "define: [your search term]". 83. Learned a new word but not sure how to use it? Google the word then refine the search results to "News" to see the word in practical use. 84. If you see an attir e on TV and want to own the same attire, this site www. WornOnTV.net <http://wornontv.net/> helps you to easily find the clothes they were wearing 85. To download a Youtube video, insert "ss", after www. and before youtube.com. 86. When playing a mobile game, the easiest way to stop ads is to play it in Airplane Mode. 87. For smarter search results, use <http://www.wolframalpha.com/> WolframAlpha.com. www.WolframAlpha.com <file:///C:UsersdanDesktoptech%20tipsdan’s%20tips2016july%202016july %204-8%202016www.WolframAlpha.com> 88. View, Edit or annotate PDF documents online via www. <http://www.pdfescape.com/> PDFEscape.com. 89. With <http://marker.to/#what> Marker.to you can highlight parts of a webpage with "yellow marker", then share the annotated page with friends with a link. marker.to/#what 90. Write, edit, print and share complete music sheets with <http://www.noteflight.com/> Noteflight. It’s also a great collaborative tool used in music classes. www.noteflight.com/login 91. Darker wallpaper or themes can help save 6%-8% of battery life for smartphones with AMOLED screens. 92. To runs searches in Gmail more accurately, use quote marks "" with your keyword for example "invoice". ( Related: <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/gmail-advanced-search-ultimate-guide/> Gmail Advanced Search – Ultimate Guide) www.hongkiat.com/blog/gmail-advanced-search-ultimate-guide/ 93. Use has:attachment in Gmail search to list all emails that have attachments. 94. To get the time and weather of a city, just google "[location] time" or "[location] weather". Example "LA time" or "LA Weather". 95. <http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/> Do Nothing for 2 Minutes is a website that wants you to do nothing except stay calm, and listen to their wave music for 2 minutes. www.donothingfor2minutes.com/ 96. With TextExpander’s <http://snipplr.com/view/13743/> bit.ly script, found here: snipplr.com/view/13743/ you can shorten any URL in practically less than 1 second. 97. By using Dropbox’s <https://carousel.dropbox.com/> Carousel media gallery, you will be rewarded with 3GB additional storage space in Dropbox. (Note: This has been discontinued March 31, 2016). 98. To shoot Panorama photos on iOS in a different direction, simply tap on the arrow to switch from left to right, or right to left. (Related: <http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/iphone-more-tips-tricks/> 15 iPhone Tips & Tricks You Probably Don’t Know) 99. You can take a snapshot of video you are watching via VLC Media Player. Hit Shift + S on Windows, or Cmd + Alt + S on OS X. ]]>

It never fails. Just when you think everything in your home is running smoothly, a light bulb goes dim. Or maybe the troublesome bathroom faucet has started dripping again. And that railing on the basement staircase? It’s been shaky for a while now. Better see about getting it fixed. Not too long ago, you may not have thought twice about performing these home repairs yourself in your spare time. But with the onset of vision loss, such tasks may seem harder and less safe. It’s natural to feel unsure about acting as your own handyman, or woman. It may surprise you to learn that a great many people who are blind or visually impaired regularly complete such tasks safely and successfully, often without any assistance or special training. What’s required are some basic skills and the right tools, backed up by good measures of self-confidence and persistence. This section was designed with these needs in mind. Take things a step at a time and before long you’ll be ready to tackle many of the most common household repair jobs. Remember, even if you ultimately turn a repair job over to someone else, it’s always better to know about what should be done and how to go about it. That knowledge puts you in charge. In this section, first you’ll find an article on Your Tool Box and a listing of sources of home repair and wood working organizations, adapted tools, and accessible books . Then you’ll find tips on doing a variety of home repairs-be sure to check back regularly, as this list will be updated. If you find yourself in a fix, or have any home repair questions you need answered, visit our Home Repairs Message Board to find your answer. Top Five Reasons Why You Should “Do it Yourself” 1. Because you can. 2. Because it’s another opportunity to demonstrate to yourself and others that you can live an independent life with vision loss. 3. Because of the rewarding and empowering feeling of accomplishment it will give you. 4. Because it’s fun. 5. Because it saves money. *Your Toolbox: With the exception of projects that call for precise measurements, most everyday household repair jobs won’t require any special tools adapted for persons with vision loss. You can find just about everything you need at your local hardware store or home center. If you find that you do need some special tools, start your search at the Helpful Products page. http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/helpful-products/12 Basic Tools Screwdrivers, both straight slot and Phillips If you’ve done any home repairs at all, you’re familiar with both types of screwdrivers: . Straight slot drivers have flattened tips that fit into screws and bolts with a dash-shaped slot that runs along the head. . Phillips drivers have four-pointed tips that fit into screws and bolts with a plus sign-shaped slot at the head. . The tips of screwdrivers are numbered from 1 to 4, depending on the width and thickness of the tip. For most home repair purposes, a 2 or a 3 tip is adequate. . Screwdriver handles come in differing shapes and sizes. Select the handle that best fits your hand. Tip: Try using a screwdriver with four or more exchangeable tips. The advantage is that you’ll have one tool to keep track of, instead of several. Hammers . There are many varieties of hammers on the market, from small lightweight “tack” hammers to heavy framing hammers. . Most have claws (straight or curved) opposite the hammer head, which are useful for pulling out nails and prying up boards. . For most home repair projects, a tack hammer and a standard 16-ounce hammer are most useful. Tip: Steel handles are preferable to wooden ones. Wooden handles can break if stressed. Also wooden handles can dry out, which can cause the hammer head to fly off during use. Pliers and Wrenches . A standard pair of pliers, or channellock pliers, and a set of adjustable crescent wrenches (that includes 8-, 10-, and 12-inch sizes) should be sufficient for your tool box. Tip: Vice grip pliers, which lock onto the object you’re working on and thereby serve as a third hand, are a nice addition to your tool box. Other Things to Keep Around . A wide assortment of screws, bolts, and nails, so you can be prepared for the unexpected. . Duct tape, which is good for holding objects in place so you can work with accuracy. . A can of spray-on lubricant (like WD-40) for loosening stuck hinges, dials, and gears. Safety First . When working on anything electrical-even something as simple as replacing a light bulb-be sure that the electricity is turned off and the bulb has cooled before you begin. . Explore the area around the project before you begin. Check over the work area visually and with your hands, giving objects a light touch. You will learn much and are not likely to injure yourself. . Select the tools and parts you think you will need in advance. Place items in a small open carrying box secured in a convenient location. Always put tools back in the box once you’ve finished using to them to avoid accidents and misplaced items. * Resources for Home Repair and Woodworking The following books on home repair are available through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/nls/ This is a program that provides books on cassettes and digital cartridges for free for eligible persons. To make it easy to find and request the books, you’ll find author, title, and call number below. . Lipinski, Edward R. A Season-By-Season Guide for Maintaining Your Home. RC 54745 . Jones, Peter. Indoor Home Repairs Made Easy. RC14420 . Kennedy, Terry. Fix It Before It Breaks Seasonal Checklist Guide to Home Maintenance. RC 59610 . Vandervort, Donald W. The Home Problem Solver: The Essential Homeowner’s Repair and Maintenance Manual. RC 52518 . Jackson, Albert. Popular Mechanics Complete Home How-To. RC 59731 Reader’s Digest has published a number of general home repair reference guides, as well as publications on specific topics. One that might prove helpful is The Reader’s Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual, published by the Reader’s Digest Association and recorded by Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic). https://www.learningally.org/ http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/essential-skills/information -for-veterans-coping-with-vision-loss/veterans-services-and-other-resources/ 1235 Community-based, Home Improvement, and Woodworking Groups . Many mid-sized and large communities have home improvement and woodworkers’ clubs comprised of individuals who have an interest in home repairs and woodworking projects. Some are focused on sharing information and techniques, while others are more social. These can be informative and enjoyable, depending on the willingness of members to describe their projects and techniques. They can be located by consulting Directory Assistance or inquiring at building supply outlets. . Tip: Most of the members of these organizations have little experience with persons who have limited or no vision. Individuals in these groups can, however, often be very helpful once they understand what a person with a visual impairment may need and what skills you possess. Being clear about what you may be able to see (if you have some residual vision) and the techniques you have already figured out for yourself is critical to getting the help and coaching you may need. Sources of Training . Some state and private rehabilitation centers, state schools for the blind, and Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Centers * http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/essential-skills/information -for-veterans-coping-with-vision-loss/veterans-services-and-other-resources/ 1235 . . offer training for blind and visually impaired persons using a woodworking shop as the teaching laboratory. For resources in your immediate area, you can check the AFB Directory of Services . http://www.visionaware.org/directory.aspx . In many parts of the country, you can hear a nationally syndicated call-in radio program called On the House . * http://www.onthehouse.com/sections/radioshow/ * . Hosts James and Morris Carey and their guest experts have extensive experience with home repair and construction projects. Callers inquire about a wide range of topics and the Carey brothers answer questions respectfully and with humor. The website contains a wide range of helpful tips for accomplishing simple to complex home repair and construction tasks . http://www.onthehouse.com/tips/ . Tip: Although this program is not specifically directed to persons with vision loss, the Carey Brothers try to understand the experience and skills callers have. Being clear with them about what you may be able to see (if you have vision) or the skills you have acquired if you have no vision will enable them to respond thoughtfully to your inquiry. . The American Council of the Blind hosts a web-based radio show called The Blind Handyman . * http://www.blindhandyman.com/ . . The hosts, who are blind, discuss a variety of home repair topics and sponsor the Blind Handyman Listserv . . . Woodworking for the Blind members have access to over 500 hours of recordings of fine woodworking magazines on a members-only website. * http://ww4b.org/ . Individual membership is open to all persons who are blind, visually impaired or physically handicapped. There is also an active listserv in which members exchange questions and suggestions regarding woodworking projects, techniques, and tools. _________________________ From the pages of Donna’s diary A visit to Halifax Just imagine my excitement when I made my trip to Halifax in May 2014. It was the first time for me traveling to this Eastern Canadian city; the capital of Nova Scotia. A city with lots of history and one that played such an important part in World War II as it served as one of the major Naval bases to the allied troops. Halifax also played a major role in trading during the 17th and 18th centuries; a triangular route between England, North America, and the West Indies. My flight to Halifax via Air Canada was very uneventful. I made sure before hand to alert the airline that I was a Blind traveler and Air Canada accommodated me all the way. The trip was a two hour one and upon landing I was met by my longtime childhood friend Ruth Robillard. Ruth and I had not seen each other for over 30 years so we had a lot to catch up on and boy did we catch up with Ruth making me a very sumptuous dinner. Halifax is a wonderful, friendly, and accessible city. People are very friendly, bus drivers are eager to help, and the Nova Scotians that I met were all very friendly and hospitable. Dining out turned out to be noticeably cheaper than in Toronto and the cuisine was simply fabulous. Most of all, the sea food was absolutely out of this world. The weather in late May was quite pleasant with fresh breezes drifting in from the Atlantic ocean, sunshine abounded, and sleeping at night was quite pleasant. I have to tell you that Halifax boasts a very friendly and accessible airport for those of us with vision loss. It is worth the while to check out. So why not plan a trip to lovely Halifax? Take the kids along for some very interesting historical adventures. Sample the fine dining and take advantage of those wonderful boat cruises around Halifax’s harbour. I’m Donna J. Jodhan enjoying my travels. To learn more about me, visit http://jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author/ On your next trip you could enrich your down time with some of my audio mysteries. Take them with you wherever you go! In the car, on the plane, on the bus or train, at the beach, anywhere! Affordable, portable, (computer or i device) and you could either purchase or Subscribe for unlimited access to my library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html and you can now take advantage of our free downloads here. If you enjoy podcasts then check out my weekly one called take another 5! From recipes to apps, and from mystery moment to tips for entrepreneur and scam alerts! Available for download at http://www.takeanother5.com and from iTunes and Google music play! Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan And like me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan]]>