Braille

Braille /ˈbreɪl/ is a tactile writing system used by people who are blind or visually impaired. It is traditionally written with embossed paper. Braille-users can read computer screens and other electronic supports thanks to refreshable braille displays. They can write braille with the original slate and stylus or type it on a braille writer, such as a portable braille note-taker, or on a computer that prints with a braille embosser.

Braille is named after its creator, Frenchman Louis Braille, who lost his eyesight due to a childhood accident. In 1824, at the age of 15, Braille developed his code for the French alphabet as an improvement on night writing. He published his system, which subsequently included musical notation, in 1829. The second revision, published in 1837, was the first binary form of writing developed in the modern era.

Braille characters are small rectangular blocks called cells that contain tiny palpable bumps called raised dots. The number and arrangement of these dots distinguish one character from another. Since the various braille alphabets originated as transcription codes of printed writing systems, the mappings (sets of character designations) vary from language to language. Furthermore, in English Braille there are three levels of encoding: Grade 1 - a letter-by-letter transcription used for basic literacy; Grade 2 - an addition of abbreviations and contractions; and Grade 3 - various non-standardized personal shorthands.

Braille Patterns

In Unicode, braille is represented in a block called Braille Patterns (U+2800..U+28FF). The block contains all 256 possible patterns of an 8-dot braille cell, thereby including the complete 6-dot cell range.

Symbols, not letters

In Unicode the braille characters are not defined into any script. That is, the patterns are available as symbols, without connection to an alphabetic letter or a number. This is because the same symbol can be used in multiple scripts, e.g. as a Latin character, a Vietnamese character, a Chinese character and a digit. For example: although U+2813 ⠓ BRAILLE PATTERN DOTS-125 represents the letter "H" in basic braille, its Unicode definition makes no reference to "H", and it is just as valid representing Korean ᄐ t-, or Japanese り ri.

For this reason – a dot-pattern is not a letter – Unicode declares that, strictly speaking, braille patterns are 'symbols', not 'letters'. The General Property is "So" (Symbol, other), not "Lo" (Letter, other). Beyond that declaration, however, braille is treated as a script in multiple places. E.g., the character property "Script" for the 256 braille code points is ISO 15924 "Brai", for braille. This way, searching users and programs are led to the right place.

Braille (album)

Braille is the fifth album from Json. Lamp Mode Recordings released the project on June 18, 2013.

Reception

Specifying in a four and a half star review by New Release Tuesday, Mark Ryan realizes, "Json, along with Spec have created a near perfect album." Mark Sherwood, indicating for Cross Rhythms in a nine out of ten review, replies, "the Iowa-based rapper delivers another powerful set." Signaling in a three and a half star review by The Christian Manifesto, Calvin Moore recognizes, "Braille is a return to form for him." In a 9.6 out of ten review by Justin Morden from Jam the Hype, responds, "With Braille, Json has released one of the best Christian Hip-Hop albums of the year."

Tracks

Charts

References

Roller coaster

A roller coaster is an amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained a patent regarding roller coasters on January 20, 1885, which were made out of wood, but this patent is considerably later than the "Russian mountains" described below. In essence a specialized railroad system, a roller coaster consists of a track that rises in designed patterns, sometimes with one or more inversions (such as vertical loops) that briefly turn the rider upside down. The track does not necessarily have to be a complete circuit, as shuttle roller coasters demonstrate. Most roller coasters have multiple cars in which passengers sit and are restrained. Two or more cars hooked together are called a train. Some roller coasters, notably wild mouse roller coasters, run with single cars.

History

Russian mountain

The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from the so-called "Russian Mountains", which were specially-constructed hills of ice, located in an area that would later become St. Petersburg. Built in the 17th century, the slides were built to a height of between 21 and 24 m (70 and 80 feet), consisted of a 50 degree drop, and were reinforced by wooden supports.

Rollercoaster (B*Witched song)

"Rollercoaster" is a song recorded by Irish pop girl group B*Witched for their debut album, B*Witched (1998). It was written by group members Lindsay Armaou, Edele Lynch, Keavy Lynch and Sinead O'Carroll along with Ray "Madman" Hedges, Martin Brannigan and Tracey Ackerman, who also served as producer for the song.

On 29 September 1998, the group released "Rollercoaster" as their second single from the album, following "C'est la Vie" four months earlier. The track peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart in October 1998 for two weeks.

Track listings

Charts and certifications

References

External links

Rollercoaster (Australian festival)

Rollercoaster is an annual Australian music festival held at the western foreshore (Hall Park) at Mandurah in December. The festival mainly features modern rock music.

The first festival was held in 2005 with approximately 9,700 patrons, with between 8,500 and 9,000 people attending in 2007. The headliners for the 2007 concert were originally The Black Keys (the first international act to perform at Rollercoaster) however the band had to withdraw due to a family member's illness and they were replaced by You Am I.

The largest musical festival however was the 'Mandurah Festival' held in January, 1994 for which the headlining act was INXS, who drew an attendance of 12,000 people.

Artist lineups by year (incomplete)

The Living End, Gyroscope, Spiderbait, End of Fashion, Karnivool, Kisschasy, Cowtown, The Fuzz

Grinspoon, Frenzal Rhomb, The Butterfly Effect, Gyroscope, Downsyde, Behind Crimson Eyes, Cowtown, Birds of Tokyo

Hilltop Hoods, You Am I, Shihad, Kisschasy, Jebediah, Birds of Tokyo, Ash Grunwald, Sneaky Weasel Gang