Insurance? Do you have Insurance?

G'day Everyone!

I was reading this article about a man with a medical condition and having a lack of insurance:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/04/25/cancer.windsor/index.html

When you read it, some of us have to wonder of just how lucky most of us in the deaf community are out there. On the aveage, we're supported through the Federal Government of SSI or SSD and we do get Medicaid or Medicare. However, that Medicare is broken up into several parts.

Medicare Part A is your hospital coverage. Medicare Part B is your outpatient coverage (doctor's office). I tried to find what Medicare Part C covers. Medicare Part D covers your prescriptions.

But, the main fact is: It doesn't matter if we are hearing or deaf. Did you know that at least (nearly) 50 MILLION people don't have ANY health insurance? (as it was said in the CNN article). That's like 1/4 of the population of USA when you think of it.

In many of the days of Senator Hillary (carpetbagger) Clinton (whatever they be in her husband's White House days or at present) had said so many times: " I will institute Universal Health Care Coverage for everyone!". I watched C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 days when congress voted on her proposals and ultimately shot it down.

But now, in the present time: How many people need to die due to the lack of life saving drugs or life saving surgery or treatments just because they lack health insurance to cover it? How do we help save our lives over something that needs to be taken care of? Do we just go to the hospital and say "help me and I'll pay later"? It's just a wonder.

I've heard of horror stories from several people in my life how some people get denied for treatment by their insurance company and then have to end up paying for it out of pocket. I am even listening to what has been happening to a friend of mine who's been in the hospital since December 25, 2007. I can't tell you all of what's gone on for him. But he's had it rough in his hospital stay. I am concerned of how much his hospital bill will be after the insurance pays some part of it.

Some times, we're not meant to live with pain. Some times we are. Is it worth having health insurance? It depends on the kind of company you choose to protect your health. Only you can determine which insurance is best for you.

But remember this, you only get one life to live. There's only one unique person around. That's you. How you choose to live is your life. Hospitals, love them or hate them, they are there to help you when you need it. But for something that's life threatening and can't be put off, get it done.

Some day, we all might have good health insurance. But until the days of insurance companies start weighing the cost of life vs profit, we all might not have health insurance yet.

Until then, I bid you a God bless and good health always.

Semper FI.

The Justice System.

G'day Everyone.

I was watching CNN yesterday and watching how the Sean Bell case unfolded. It's ugly and horrible. It's tragic. The justice system is bad enough in trying to protect cops from the public judgement. Even the ex-cops too. Will the Federal judgement be better? It might not.

Some times, I feel like the justice system is stacked against people. Whatever they be innocent or guilty. It doesn't matter if you are a hearing or deaf person, it can be down right scary experience in court. Prosecutors have only one thing on their mind and they will do everything they can to get it: a conviction against the defending person. Prosecutors, who get convictions, feel like they win the fight and the right to insure they put people away for life. But, sometimes, they get real bitter after a loss and try again, even if to try lesser charges. They want to win at all costs. Even if means to politically destroy themselves. (and some do just that).

Which in one point that is going on in my own family presently. My nephew is in one hell of a huge trouble. In late May, he will be facing a court hearing. I hope his own lawyer will defend him very well. But, one thing that I hope he will do. Trial by jury of peers. It'll be his only hope to prevent a judge from saying he's either guilty or not. I would rather the jury to say the verdict instead of a judge. It will bind the judge and only to deliver the final sentence.

Judges are not perfect. Nor is a prosecutor. But in the end of life, we all will face the greatest court of all where there's no appeal available. THE PERFECT JUDGE. PERFECT JUSTICE.

JESUS CHRIST!

Hebrews 9:27: "At the appointed time, man is to die, but after this: The judgement". (KJV).

But in the present time, pray for our justice system. Sometimes, a great political power corrupts a human being.

Semper FI.

Political Battle scars left behind.

G'day Everyone!

What a mess in the days after the PA Primary Election day. Battle scars have been given to a lot of people. It's worse. Some of the political incumbents have been tossed out of their offices. Namely some of those who voted FOR TOLLING I-80! (cheers!). I do want to say that I'm sad that I voted for Obama. But unfortunately, his whole "small towns bitterness" remarks backfired on him and what he said should have been said "SORRY" at once for it. It just didn't help him at all. So now Hillary Clinton is still in the running and there's still more elections to happen down the road. What happens if there's no clear winner? I don't want to think about it.

The next few weeks, I think many of us will either start to use rail and bus services because the gas prices are going higher. It's getting ugly on the streets. Sometimes, I want to thank God that I'm not in the Virginia area where I'd have to drive to work every day. But will the high gas prices force people to park their cars and take the metro systems? I say: BREAK OUT THE BICYCLES! Let's become what China was before they started production of more cars than bikes they had! If more people rode their bikes to work on nice sunny days, they'd get a better health benefit out of it! Sad to say, I do miss the DC Metro system. I love the tube! :-)

Meanwhile, another worry is happening. I'm hearing that some food prices are not only going up but limiting to how many people can buy. It should be a concern for all of us.

So how will the political candidates address these issues including housing situation too? Blame it all on Bush? That depends on how far to do just that. So be thinking of how well our economics are doing here in the USA. Will it get bad or worse or better? As we are about to turn into May 2008, we will see how life happens here.

Till next time, Semper FI.

Another day in PA, Overthrow Carter, soon June 08!

G'day Everyone!

After a horrible morning, I finally had to complain to every political candidate office that kept hitting my phone at home. All them, begging for a vote, even up to the last minute. They ought to know that just one call to a lawyer (as I told them) will result in a court action that would tie up their needed funds to keep their political machines running. So nice of them when their managers picked up the phone and started to profusely make apologies. Too little, too late, I told them. They blamed their computer soft wares for making all the calls. I told the poor guy: "then fire the person who doesn't keep a sharp watch on the computer system!".

So, finally went to vote today. But do I want to reveal who I voted for? Watch the results for yourself on www.cnn.com . By the time most results come in, you'll see who's in the lead in all of this political mess. *hint: I certainly didn't vote on the republican side at all. I'm disgusted with them already!!*

One of the former Presidents of USA that we used to love: Jimmy Carter. Some times I question WHY he went to Israel and WHY he had to salute the terrorist Arafat on his grave and WHY he's trying to play "peacemaker" with Hamas and Israel? A terrorist group of Hamas will never accept Israel at all. Former President Carter has prolly gone senile. That's what old age has done to him. Don't expect God to give him a GOLD PEACE award if he gets hamas to lay down their arms. A terrorist group never changes it's spots since the day they picked up the gun.

Soon, it will be June 2008! Lots of events to happen. From the Deaf Bilingual Conference, to NTID's 40th Reunion, to Deaf Baptist Fellowship of America. (www.DBFA.net ) Make your choices for summer fun!

Semper FI!

PA Election Daze!

G'day Everyone!

Well, it's finally here. The PA Primary Daze. The elections that brings out the best and the WORST of people. My phone has been bombarded with calls from elected people by so many times, I've let the phone ring and the answering machine picks it up. It's amazing how they politically rant about the place.

WHO will YOU VOTE FOR, they shout. VOTE FOR : (insert your candidate here).

At times I'm asked: Are you for OBAMA? Then yer against the first American woman wanna be president: Hillary Clinton. (oh please! Like I want that carpet bagger lady to lead this country!).

Are you for HILLARY? Then yer racist against Obama! The great African American is just coming into his first historical prime in being the first President ever! Social Justice!

Are you for McCain? Then may all the Swift Boaters for "TRUTH" strike you down!

At all these responses, I felt that I had to tell them this as I shouted into the phone: "I'm NOT GOING TO SAY WHO I WILL VOTE FOR UNTIL I GET TO THE BALLOT BOX!!".

So who I'm voting for? Till I hit the ballot box.

But one thing should concern us all in PA. Governor Ed Rendell should NOT consider putting tolls on the I-80!! If he ever finds a way to do it, not only it will discourage businesses from being set up in the northern PA tier area, but it will most certainly bring about a landslide of a future NEW GOVERNOR'S election for sure!

So for all of you, my readers in State of PA, I ask you to vote honestly and fairly. Remember, the power of the vote is what will change every political person's life in both the Local, State, and National offices! ROCK THE VOTE!

Semper FI

PSC again, RLM/Berke fight, and back in the saddle

G'day Everyone!

I'm still feeling the side affects from the cold and that's going to be with me a while. I missed out on a lot of things that I could have commented on. But that's ok. Life goes on.

Meanwhile, Berke and Robert Mason have finally resolved their battle.
http://berkeoutspoken.blogspot.com/2008/04/hatchet-finally-buried-with-rlm.html
Even after hearing from a few friends, who reported the massive BLOW UP at the ASL dinner, of how things went. It's amazing that all 3 of them (berke, Goodwin, and Mason) are not sitting in a DC jail cell now and begging Sherlock to drive down and bail them out. One user reportedly told me that several hearing patrons wanted the manager to call the DC police! Me thinks Berke, her friend, and RLM better watch their step at the next ASL dinner (prolly all the restaurant are on alert already for the infamous 3). WOW! What a war! (lovely popcorn).

Please, let's take ACT TWO: Presidential Search Committee, get your act together! As I've heard that Gallaudet University is finally starting it's search for their next President to replace Davila, I have a huge hope that this process works THIS TIME! I think the BOTs of Gallaudet have been read the riot act and I'm sure they want nothing to go wrong this time. I hope they will take a page from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Do a careful search, involve the community, faculty, staff, alumni, and ignore the provost wanting the job! I am in hopes that everything will work better. But President Davila should stay out of the process least he invokes trouble again.

Finally, being back in the saddle again. I'm glad to be back working on my blog. I'm not up to full strength yet. But takes time. However, I would formally ask that my readers to please pray for my friend, Harold Tritt. Harold Tritt has been in a DC hospital for nearly 4 months now. He's been through a lot of medical issues. But please pray that the sooner he can start his rehabilitation, the sooner he can start getting back into life again. Thank you.

So, for now till later: Semper FI.

P.S. To my readers in PA: Please VOTE on Tuesday, April 22, 2008! I don't care who you vote, but vote DEMOCRATIC! Your vote matters! Please get out and ROCK that BALLOT BOX! VOTE!

The RETURN of Sherlock and Defending Berke

G'day Everyone!

I'm sure my enemies have been praying and rumoring that I've died while I've been sick lately. Unfortunately, I'm going to disappoint them all and tell them: NICE TRY BUT NO DICE!

Being sick is no fun. Being sick with a dangerous cold? Absolutely NO FUN! How about being sick, laying in bed, and refusing to go to the hospital? You might say it was faith! Faith it was.

So now, I'm back.. and ANGRY!

I recently got alerted to Robert Mason's post about his rant on Jamie Berke and the CIs.
First, I'm going to say this: Not ever CI devices will allow a deaf person to hear on the phone like a normal person. Some CIs are still using the older models that don't allow the phone to be used, but hear just like everyone else. RLM, CIs are improving every year. Eventually, a CI device just might be able to allow deaf people to use the phones like everyone else has a built in telecoil in their hearing aids.

Second: RLM, I am ashamed of you of attacking Jamie Berke. It's like you attacking the entire CI people itself. You should be attacking parents who are putting CIs on the defenseless deaf babies and attacking AGBell for promoting the CI and not allowing CI users to learn ASL. THINK ABOUT IT!

Third: CIs, like hearing aids, are medical devices. They're designed to help a deaf person to hear. If you want to call CI "luxury items", then wouldn't hearing aids also fall into "luxury items" too? I don't think so. If hearing aids can help a deaf person to hear, then so can CIs.

Fourth: Not every health insurance and medicare would pay for such devices. It's debated on a case by case basis. But how did Jamie afford for it? I'm not going to ask. It's not our business to know. She's got CI. She got it so that she could do her job. To be able to communicate with hearing people and hear everyday sounds. Thats' her own PPOV (Personal point of view).
Jamie wanted the CI. She read on the Pros and cons about it. She understood the risks of it. She went for it, even if she surprised everyone else close to her.

Fifth: RLM, Lay off on Jamie's deafness.about.com stuff. If she wants to change it's title, she can ask her managers at About.com for a new title. Its her professional work with the deaf community.

If you got a problem with Jamie Berke, you ought to be personally talking to her in a e-mail-to-email way. But attacking her in a blog? You are just putting yourself into a position of being dragged into court and answering a variety of charges and being forced to answer for it.

This isn't any fun, RLM. Jamie's being serious. I'm defending her as her friend and fellow blogger.

I'm done defending for now. I'm back in my blog seat and getting healthy again. I missed a lot of good stuff. I would say that if I had a wish for where this 2 week flu would go, I have a pretty good idea where it should go.

So hats off to you, Jamie. I'm proud you got your CI!!

Semper FI!

update: Jamie Berke just posted this on her blog: http://berkeoutspoken.blogspot.com/2008/04/cease-and-desist-letter-to-robert-mason.html

I support her Cease and Desist message to Robert Mason. RLM, you better be listening because Sherlock supports Jamie!
SEMPER FI!

Personal post

G'day Everyone:

I haven't posted much lately because I am on enforced bed rest. I finally crawled out of bed to get at this computer so I could do something. I promised to crawl right back to bed and get better.

I am very seriously sick with the flu (a 2 week cold) which the medicines are not working very well. I've had several serious respiratory distress episodes that have lead to some "Out of Body" experiences. My doctor had demanded that I go to the hospital to be watched over. But I refused and acknowledged those risks which might include death. I rather be dying in my own bed instead of some hospital that could make a fast buck off my body.

I have been following several issues in the blog world lately. I'd love to comment on those but being sick, I have chosen not to. When I'm fully well and fully functioning, I will comment on something.

I am going to invite someone to be my Watson for me to take care of my blog while I'm laid up.

I will be watching the pope arrive in the USA today. It will be interesting.

For now: Semper FI.

Personal note to my enemies: I know you are in hopes that I will die soon. But remember this: when you die, you will have your day in court too. Court of God. NO lawyers, just you, me and God. The verdict won't be pretty. Think about it. Reconsider your own actions. My OBEs have taught me that.

Put out the Olympic Flame! Lady Di's Jury verdict.

G'day Everyone!

I'm down a bit with a cold but got to go on a bit. While it was a good weekend for myself, one has to wonder of all the PRE-olympic events that are going on out there. The famed "Olympic Torch" which is suppose to call for attention of the host country's upcoming games. China some how, won that right years ago to host the Olympics.
But now, it's threatens Tibet! Is this the way they are "cleaning up" in preparations to host the games? How much genocide takes place before the world notices.

What was the International Olympic Committee thinking of awarding China the games years ago? http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/06/beijing.ioc.ap/index.html.
Make no mistake. China's right to host the Olympics will be an error of decision for the IOC for ages to come.
If you have read the CNN news today, protesters that support Tibet are doing everything they can to disrupt the torch relay run, even if it means to put out the flame at every way possible. I'm amazed at this. What happens when this Olympic torch visits the USA? I don't think I want to know, but I would be in favor of the USA to consider a boycott of the Olympics. China isn't our "most favored nation" despite everything that China has done to USA in the past. Whatever happens in China this summer, will be interesting.
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Meanwhile, it's a sad to know that the Lady Di's (Princess Diana) jury made it decision. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/07/diana.verdict/index.html
Some of us might live with this decision had it come sooner. But justice isn't always fair. It doesn't heal any of the hurt. Those with the camera, who chase people to get a sensational picture, have gotten away with it again. Will this verdict put an end and let Princess Diana rest? It may happen. But for those involved in it all I have a message for them. Sleep carefully. God's watching. He'll call you to His own HIGH COURT to answer the charges against you. When it happens, you won't have a snowball's chance in hell of being found "NOT GUILTY". God's judgement is swift and pure.

Lady DI, my sweet lady, be at rest. God's just judgement will be fair for you upon others.

Semper Fi, Lady DI.

Links for you all!

G'day Everyone!

I'm about to leave for my trip today. But before I do that, I was going through some e-mail.
I had to post some LINKS (web pages) for everyone to look at. Enjoy!

Hey! You in DC Metro area! Yes YOU! Do you own a bike, helmet, water bottle? Got nothing to do on, Sunday, April 6th, 2008? Then check out: http://www.dvelo.com/?s=events&eventid=150. There's a cherry blossom bike ride happening from Gallaudet University! You got this Saturday (april 5th) to drag that bike out of it's winter hibernation and get it ready to go! Have fun! Check out the web page for info on the bike ride.

A friend of mine passed me info on Ubi Duo. (link: http://www.scommonline.com/) Now, I like that device and it would make job interviewing easier. Only question I ask is: Must the employer carry that or show the prospective deaf employee carry that? Something worth to discuss about. Go have a look at the Ubi Duo! Another question is.. can deaf/blind use ubi duo? (I sent an e-mail at them!).

This web page is meant to poke political fun. Micah, go see it. It doesn't have Obama in it, but then again.. poor Bush! http://jokelibrary.net/yyPictures/m/2008b.html. Some one had MORE time on their hands. Hey Nice tomato toss, Ms. Nancy Regan! It looks so much like www.jibjab.com !

Are you interested to take any summer classes at Gallaudet University?
http://cpso.gallaudet.edu/x10883.xml

Enjoy the weekend and the links.

Semper FI.

Personal time out.

G'day Everyone.

Some of you have been e-mailing me of WHY I haven't posted a blog in several days.
Well, I will tell you.

I'm dealing with some personal issues. The first issue is related to the past post that I did, My "Terrorism on the Road" article. One of the very people to be arrested happens to be my nephew. Which one? I'm not going to say. But it's greatly has had an impact on my entire family. This young man has made a huge mistake with with rotten friends and it will wind up to over shadow his sister's precious graduation from college party. A trial will happen in late May. So greatly, I have been walking outside and praying about his situation along with other things.

The second issue that has impacted me is of a friend of mine who has been in the hospital for a long time. In recent weeks, most of us have thought that he was coming around the curve and making strides to complete his road to recovery. He just got moved into a rehabilitation home.
But then, April 2nd, he had a major setback and was rushed to the hospital. As I last heard, he's in ICU and will have another surgery soon. So all of his friends and I are concerned and still praying for him.

Finally, as I'm taking a break from all the job searches and these issues, I'm spending the weekend with a friend of mine. It's also going to help me to finish a complicated post that I recently started working on. Next week, I will try to be back at my normal posting stuff.

For now, I am aware that the St. Mary School for the Deaf has had a protest still going on.

Gallaudet University is considering to start the quest again for the Next President (and prayerfully, we're all hope for a successful search without a problem or controversy.

So, enjoy the weekend. Becareful where the rain falls. God bless.

no pranking day and austim

G'day Everyone!

I wanted to prank today. But, after helping some friends through a very serious situation, I'm quite emotionally worn out. Which makes it possible for some friends to PRANK on me today. Oh man. Like I need enough on my plate.

So if you are out there, pranking on people, be careful, be safe, and be clean.

Lately, I'm reading and watching CNN.com and CNN(TV) about autism. I was amazed of how these people are. When I was growing up and was stuck in this school for disabled children, I knew a lot of kids that have austism. Some come up to me like I've got some "magnet" of attraction. Parents get curious and we end being friends and talk about austism and deafness. In fact, there are some children and adults out there who have both Austim and deafness.

Last week, I wanted to go out on a long walk to return a movie at blockbuster from my home. (yeah, I'm taking walks more now rather than driving my car). After dropping off the film, I hit the local grocery store. On my way out, I meet this austic kid. He shakes my hand and then before I knew it, he was kissing it. I was like to his grandfather: "Sir, is he..?" And he smiles at me and says "yep. He is ok. He has austim". I looked at him and he looks such a nice boy. I told his grandfather, "Is he about 10-12?". His grandfather says: "No, he's 22". That's when my jaw drops. Kid face, yet he's 22! His mom comes over and explains so much more. So we're there, chatting away in front of the store, talking about austim, deafness, and life in general. All this time, this kid hugs me. His mom said "That's amazing. He's never done that before to strangers". I told her "That's ok. For what God intends, God has a purpose for him". I bid them with a good bye and a blessing of a prayer. That person is etched in my mind.

Sometimes, I'm asking myself if there's going to be such a cure for austim some day? Will that happen? I don't know. But there is one thing that I do know. God creates special people that needs special care. I wish we could all live forever and take care of these austic people. Some grow up enough to have their own lives and live in a supervised setting.

So it's another part of my list of prayer for people when I take time to be alone and think above things. Just remember, People with Austim are people too.

Salute and Semper Fi and enjoy prank day.