Sam Genensky liked watching baseball, birds and women — not necessarily in that order. So it might have come as a surprise to those who never met him that Mr. Genensky was legally blind.

A RAND Corp. mathematician who had been left almost sightless by an accident in infancy, Mr. Genensky developed a system for projecting magnified text on video screens that has helped millions of the partially sighted people around the world to read.

“The technology had a dramatic impact,” says Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind. “Up until then, people with low vision had no alternatives, except perhaps magnifying glasses, and they were clunky.”

Mr. Genensky, who died June 26 at age 81, always resisted being treated as sightless, even though his 20-1,000 vision in his one functioning eye made him blind by law. That didn’t stop him from being a fan of the impressionists, even if he had to view canvasses one piece at a time and mentally reassemble them.

At RAND in Santa Monica, Calif., he programmed early computers, and modeled fluid dynamics and spontaneous combustion. But he continued to be dogged by his limited vision that made reading into a neck-craning chore. He described the way he read as “nosing.”

The problem was that programs were geared toward the totally blind. The Veterans Administration offered white-cane training and guide dogs to servicemen blinded in World War II. But despite the fact that the majority of the legally blind have at least a limited capacity to see, there was little help for those whose vision was severely impaired but could be improved with technology.

“People seem to want blind people to conform to the image of blind men, even if the person can see,” Mr. Genensky told the Los Angeles Times in 1971.

His answer, constructed with the help of a team of RAND scientists and engineers, was Randsight, the prototype for systems that project large text on a video screen. Randsight presented text 31 times its original size when he first demonstrated it at a convention of the American Academy of Optometry in Los Angeles in 1968. A Reader’s Digest feature in 1971 dubbed it “Sam Genensky’s Marvelous Seeing Machine,” and generated thousands of inquiries from around the world.

Mr. Genensky declined to patent the invention to encourage other companies to develop and manufacture video magnification systems. He said he could read 130 words a minute with his system, slow for a sighted adult, but a near-miracle for many of the legally blind.

Says American Federation for the Blind President Carl Augusto, “Sam was responsible for really bringing low vision into the mainstream.”

The video systems were one of an array of solutions offered at the Los Angeles-based Center for the Partially Sighted, which Mr. Genensky founded with federal grants in 1978. The center continues to offer technology, as well as psychological counseling.

Mr. Genensky himself used a pair of “monster binoculars” for reading signs, a footlong spyglass for attending the ballet or sporting events, and an odd-looking compound lens mounted on glasses for walking the streets and “even girl-watching,” as he once said.

He traveled internationally to raise funds and bring attention to the cause of the partially sighted, and did some counseling himself. Teenagers sometimes resisted help.

“They say, ‘I don’t want to use that. It looks funny!’” Mr. Genensky told the Los Angeles Times in 1990. “I say, ‘I’m going to give you my ‘it’s fun to be different’ lecture.”

To address another possible source of embarrassment, he developed what became a California state standard for lavatory signage, a large triangle for the men’s room, a circle for the ladies.

As a result of cataract surgery in the early 1990s, Mr. Genensky’s vision improved dramatically for a time, and he was stunned to realize that his wife was a redhead, not a brunette, as he’d thought. But the improvement was temporary, and in recent years he’d had to dust off his Braille-reading skills.

Paul Baran, a scientist who worked on the team that developed the original Randsight device, says the project came about almost on a whim. “Low vision was not a subject RAND was interested in,” says Mr. Baran. “We just thought Sam was a great guy.”

Here is a picture of the first fish I caught from my boat. It was approx. 20″ long and probably weighed 4 1/2 -5lbs. I sent him back out into the lake with love and blessings!

Catfish from Old Hickory Lake

On behalf of the entire staff of GW Micro, it is with deep
sadness that we must announce the passing away of Clarence
Whaley on Saturday morning, June 14.  To read his obituary
please go to 

http://www.crawfordservices.com/index.cfm

choose the Obituaries link and search for Whaley.

Clarence worked with us at GW Micro for almost 10 years,
serving as Sales Manager and also Director of Training.  He
worked at many trade shows, gave many presentations both in
the US and abroad, trained many people in the use of
Window-Eyes, the Braille Sense and Voice Sense notetakers
plus other products.  Clarence was always ready to explain
how to do a certain task in an easy-going manner that no one
else could match.  Clarence always made people feel
comfortable and at-ease and they had confidence in his
abilities.

Clarence loved his Seeing Eye dogs and they assisted him
wherever he traveled.  He was active in the music business
and enjoyed many types of songs although I am certain his
favorite was the music from his hometown - Nashville,
Tennessee.

For those of you who wish to express your feelings, thoughts
and memories of Clarence, we encourage you to
write something here about Clarence to help others remember him
and know him a little better.  This could be anything from a
phone conversation to an in-depth training session.
Clarence was very active and he touched a lot of lives with
his service.

Clarence is survived by his wife Dranda as well as other
family members.  Please keep them in your thoughts and
prayers as they work through this time of grief and
mourning.  He was a well-loved member of the GW Micro family
and we will truly miss him.

Sincerely,

Dan, Doug and the entire GW Micro staff

Eugene Alton Jackson, 74, was born January 30, 1933 in Haskell, Okla. and passed away Feb. 4, 2007 in Nashville.He was married to Janette L. Jackson of Huttig, Arkansas on June 26, 1954. To this union was born two children: Mrs. Darla Hughes of Murfreesboro and Jana Jackson of Brentwood.

Rev. Jackson responded to the call to preach at 19 and continued to faithfully proclaim the message of salvation as long as his physical strength would permit. In addition to his immediate family and near relatives, he leaves a host of friends who will miss the warmth of his friendship.

His first pastorate was New Hope Assembly Of God in Monticello, Ark. with his wife Janet at his side. After pastoring a short time, they went on the evangelistic field, preaching wherever the doors opened.

In 1959 he accepted the pastorate of First Assembly Of God in Milan, Tenn. where he stayed until accepting a position of leadership with the Tennessee District of the Assemblies of God as District Youth and Christian Education Director/Secretary-Treasurer.

While continuing as Secretary-treasurer for the District, he had a vision for a church in Hendersonville, which he pioneered in 1968.

His ministry at the Hendersonville Assembly of God extended far beyond the walls of his church. He became recognized in the greater Nashville area due to his late-night TV program, “The New Life Hour,” and a daily radio broadcast, “Christ Is the Answer.”

In 1977 he was elected as Tennessee District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, where his passion and vision to win the lost was ignited in the hearts of many ministers across the state. While serving as District Superintendent, he also served on various boards within his denomination, including Hillcrest Children’s Home and Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

In 1998, the General Council of the Assemblies of God looked to this pastor with a heart for young preachers to serve as one of the Executive Presbyters of the organization.

In 1983, he had a vision for Cornerstone Church and personally financed the church plant that is now flourishing and reaching multitudes with the Gospel. After retiring from his work with the Tennessee District, he became the pastor of Middle Tennessee Assembly in 2005, where he served until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Janet; two daughters and one son-in-law, Darla and Brian Hughes of Murfreesboro, and Jana Jackson of Brentwood; two grandchildren, Brianna and Brad Hughes; one brother, Jay Jackson and his wife Jean, and son, Jay D. Jackson.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8, and 2 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at the Cornerstone Church.

Funeral services are 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at the Cornerstone Church with Rev. Eddie Turner, Rev. Bobby Johnson and Rev. Don Brankel officiating.

Active pallbearers are Randall McCarty, Ron Woods, Gary Green, Larry Vine, Barry Culberson and Todd Alexander. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Tennessee District Board of Assemblies of God.

Entombment service will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 10, at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Camp Jackson, c/o Tennessee District, PO Box 358, Madison, TN 37115.

Published: Wednesday, 02/07/07

I guess I’ll start with this: Life is really good!

I’ve been traveling a lot with work and creating special moments with the people I love while I work. It really doesn’t get much better. We are even being treated like royalty wherever we go. Just ask Jana about our stay in Chattanooga and the incredible dinner at Porter’s. (We got in without a reservation… They must’ve recognized us. GRIN!)

Also a big shout out to my Margarita buddies from Talladega. That was an incredibly special evening for me and I want you all to know that I am so blessed to have you in my life.

I never dreamed that we would have a live concert up in the executive suite of the Comfort Inn. Umm Umm Umm! Ladies, you can serenade me anytime, anyplace, anywhere!

Memorial Day was fun! I did drink a little too much tequila on an empty stomach, but I enjoyed being with my family and Jacob’s friends.

I must go for now. The “Queen” needs to get some work done so she can go stay at a luxury hotel & spa for 3 nights.

I know you’re thinking, “How does she do it?” 

Well, thank God I am the Queen!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

As soon as I crossed into Georgia, memories from the last seven years of my life flooded in and much to my surprise, there were no bad memories, no negative thoughts, no sadness, no anger, and no regrets… only LOVE!

I ended up having a wonderful time visiting with old friends, making new friends, and creating lots of new memories.
I now realize that Atlanta is still a safe haven for me, a place for healing and experiencing friendship and unconditional love.
Look out Hotlanta… I’ll be back!!!

I switched to Firefox last year and I love it. I didn’t realize how much until I started creating my new website. I discovered that my pages look fine in Firefox and messed up in IE.
(Thanks Peter!)
I had to re-write several pages to make them look consistent in both IE and Firefox. Why? I’m no super-geek, but to me, code is code… good or bad. If my code is good enough for Firefox, it should be good enough for IE. NOT!

And let’s not even get into the problems with IE 7. I know… I’m running a beta version, but it’s a sad, poor, pitiful excuse of a Firefox look-a-like.
Once again I say “Thank God for Open Source”.

I’ve finally tapped back into my music, never thought I’d see all my life hobbies and loves come to an almost combined area but they have, I’ve finally found me Praise God and I love it. I’ve gotten back into my music and I’ve always been one to find the good stuff even though it’s off-beat as all get-out, if it moves it’s me. Miri Ben-Ari, the Hi Hop Violinist (don’t laugh too hard until you give it a chance) has floored me this crazy Monday night. I’m cranking this as I write this ramble and I’m totally amazed. I never thought hip hop and classical would even fit, but she makes it fit. She’s cute too but that’s beside the point, the kid’s got it. Some tracks are pretty good most of them are just awesome. The stuff on here with her and Anthony Hamilton soars, it’s too sweet. It’s not a bad album. I just snagged this one from Napster and thank goodness it’s on the hard drive or I’d wear a hole in this one, it’s definitely gonna get some strong work play from me within the next few days.

Now, for the serious side before I close out for the night. (This is addicting I could get used to doing this. I may have to create my own after a while. And, plus this one is accessible as heck, way to go yet again, Queen Buffy. Folks need to sit up and pay attention.) Anyway, my life’s journey has taught me a lot, as well as strengthened me, helping me to grow and shaping me into the person I am now. God knew what He was doing even when I didn’t. As I sit here on this chilly Monday night in Montgomery and open up the writing avenue I haven’t touched in years I realize, life isn’t just about the money you make. It helps pay the bills but that ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s the friends you make along the way, the people that you touch, and that touch you throughout this road that make it the best, strongest and brightest it can ever be.

If you ever stop to wonder why isn’t this happening or why isn’t this going the way I want it to go, stop and think. Have you done anything to make it happen? Step out, step up, and swing. If you miss, at least you can say you at least gave it your best shot but do it, don’t hold back. A dream becomes a reality when you wake up and live it. It stays a dream, a fantasy, when you hide it, tuck it away, and just keep telling yourself, I wish. Make I wish, I will. The ride may look scary but man, when you get on that thing it’s the coolest ride you’ve ever been on, break out and move up. Ok I’ll shut up now.

Good night y’all, from way down South. Keep an eye out, you may see me again, from time to time with technology spatterings, life in general, books, music, whatever. Since we’re letting our hair down y’all get to see a side of me that I’ve recently started seeing and he ain’t half bad. I owe some of that to friends that have seen me on my way up, and out. Catch y’all next time.