Temperature JOKES.

You know.. when people joke about the temperatures in the winter time, there's no better place than New York State Mountains that has survived it all. So here it is:

For people who live in Upstate New York - (The Adirondacks!)

When the temperature is:

70* above zero:
we're all perfect, camping, sunbathing, and playing.
BUT... what happens when the temperature is:

60* above zero:
Floridians turn on the heat.
People in Upstate New York plant gardens.

50* above zero:
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
(but does that state also quake from the shivers?)
People in Upstate New York sunbathe.

40* above zero:
Italian & English cars won't start.
People in Upstate New York drive with the windows down.
Dogs drool over the highways.

32* above zero:
Distilled water freezes.
The water in Lake George gets thicker. (Lake George Jellos)

20* above zero:
Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats, and Sun Glasses.
People in Upstate New York throw on a flannel shirt. Chop wood.

15* above zero:
New York City landlords finally turn up the heat. The rats complained to them.
People in the Adirondack Mountains have the last cookout on the grill before it gets "cold".

Zero degrees (0*):
All people in Miami die. Most of the Cubans runs for Cuba as much as they can!
People in Upstate New York just close the windows.

10* below zero:
Californians fly away (migrate) to Mexico.
People in Upstate New York get out their winter coats, hats, boots, gloves, and ski.

25* below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates. Porn theaters are frozen.
The Girl Scouts in Upstate New York are selling cookies door to door.

40* below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air. Obama runs for his WARM BUNKER!
People in Upstate New York let their dogs sleep indoors. (give them a bone).

100* below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. (we're not telling where his new stash is!)
Folks in The New York State Adirondacks get upset because they can't start their Mini-Van and Smart (Hybirds) Cars.

460* below zero (absolute zero on the Kelvin scale):
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Upstate New York start saying ..."Cold'nuff fer ya?"

500* below zero:
Hell freezes over. Satan complains to God that he can't get his Pilot light to work.
Upstate New York public schools will open 2 hours late. (Ya gotta be kidding to ride in the subway after this!)

And if anyone else says there's an ice age coming again, Throw them a snow ball for me!

Bashing the Birds time!

G'day Everyone!

Before anyone knows that Sunday will pass all day in excitement and then yer in front of the TV. Hopefully, closed captioning will be working and the game will go off without a hitch. Tomorrow at 6pm EST, The Pittsburgh Steelers will be taking on the Arizona Cardinals. I do hope Pittsburgh will BASH the Cardinals very hard and send them back home with a final grade of: "From a 'PROVE IT' team to a 'FAILED GAME' ". The game will be NBC TV. (as Bob W said).
So get ready to RUMBLE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA!!

By the way, Pittsburgh is in luck, cold air is sweeping into Tampa, Florida. So bundle up. This is SNOW TIME for the Steelers! They THRIVE in the cold! The Cardinals will NOT! whoo hoo! Game on!

Meanwhile, Penn State University just got their latest football schedule out. Needless to say, it is not a very challenge of a schedule. But I will talk about it in a later post. Same time, GU Bisons are about to release next season's schedule too. Will it be a good year for Bisons? OR will it be a bad one? We'll soon find out.

So, stay warm and happy out there. The terrible towels will take to the stands. Black and Gold will fill the seats. Pittsburgh, it's time to PLAY FOOTBALL!

Semper FI!

Deaf Schools in many states closing?

G'day Everyone.

There is a shock wave that is ripping through the deaf communities across the United States of America.

If it wasn't the first warning that our deaf clubs were closing their doors due to low memberships, then it went ignored.

If it wasn't the 2nd warning that State Governments were starting to limit Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) money and that OVR was trying to convince their deaf clients, the deaf students, to go to the community colleges in state in favor of mainstream education rather than going to NTID, Gallaudet, or CSUN, then it went ignored. Some said "No worries, State money will bounce back later".

But now, SHOULD THE DEAF COMMUNITY BE CONCERNED WHEN DEAF SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING!? HELL YES! It's amazing that the state governments would turn on the deaf community and take their deaf schools from them and say "We got no money to support you. Your parents have to make arrangements to send you to public or private mainstream schools.".

That is the state taking away support of deaf education and forcing deaf students to adapt to hearing classes. They do this because they want to save TAXPAYER dollars.

But what about other disabled people who depend on state services as well? Could their funds be threatened too? Yep.

I hate to say it, We all have to be concerned. We have to be organized and active. We have to help these deaf schools stay open. We have to convince the states that a DEAF EDUCATION IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS EDUCATION FOR THE HEARING SCHOOLS. Some deaf students thrive better when they are around their own peers. Some deaf students don't mind mainstream either.

Given the last 30 years, Deaf Education and mainstream education have gotten better. But, state government should focus on stopping the political lawmakers from loading up pork barrel projects or pet projects being attached to state bills.

In the last 100 years of our nation's congress, too many personal pork barrel projects and pet projects have been attached by law makers in hopes of being re-elected to their position every year by their voters if the voters see what benefits pork/pet projects can do for them.

What happens when our State and Federal government really does go broke when a lawmaker's act of hiding a pet project in a bill finally gets passed and then it's law and then the pet project is found but too late. Everything shuts down. Every social services goes kaput. That lawmaker might run for his dear life because he bankrupted the government.

No federal or state act of injecting a stimulus into budgets isn't going to help because we are already in a massive economic failure started ex-president Bush. Bush knowingly has created this mess and isn't ashamed for it. He tried to stop it and failed. Obama will fail too. Governors know this because states could lose a lot of Federal dollars that are not going to help the States.

So what do we do? Deaf Schools alumni are already facing financial crisis of their own as well. We, the deaf community, must convince the state governors that there are pork barrel projects, that law makers voted on in the past bills, can and must be cancelled. In these economic times, there are more public services that are importantly needed, including helping deaf schools and handicapped individuals, than pet/personal projects that lawmakers want to use tax payer money for.

We must call for an end to irresponsible waste of taxpayer dollars from Federal and State Governments. Every President and Governors want this. It's time we tell our State and congressional political people that it's time to act being responsible. If those long time political people in their offices (whom some should take last year's election as a warning that many long time people were VOTED out of their offices, they could be NEXT this year!), don't see last year's election, they could find themselves in the unemployment lines in the next fall elections.

Time to get together. Time to call for action. Time to save our deaf schools. We have a reason to act now.

Semper Fi!

Sean Forbes ROCKS!

G'day Everyone!

Hey, James Byrne found something on the 'net today. It was on CNN. com. Here's the link:
http://ypwr.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/25/sean-forbes/

I read that blog post and whoa! SALUTE to Steve Forbes. He really rocks! Look at his Internet web page: http://www.d-pan.com/index.html

Gotta hand it to this young man. D-PAN is going to rock the deaf community with MUSIC we can see and hear.

Congrats again to Steve Forbes. Rock on!

Semper FI.

The Snowy Impeachment in Illinois

G'day Everyone.

Can you say "Impeachment"? Yes, for the Gov. Blagojevich it is impeachment this week. His own Illinois senate is deciding his very fate after Gov. Blagojevich tried to sell Obama's seat. Since he is out making media rounds, I hate to say it, that man is out of control and an embarrassment to his state. He may not think his impeachment trial is fair, but you know what? If he refuses to defend himself at that senate trial, his political days are at an end.

At the same time, I do give an approval to the lawmaker in congress for coming up with the idea that a constitutional amendment is definitely needed to prevent state governors from making appointments of people to congress for the state's vacant seat. We do need to have special elections in which the people of the state can vote clearly and truthfully of WHO they want, not what the state governor wants in congress. So will this important amendment pass in congress? One should hope so given to the fact that we have had some *circus shows* in NY and Illinois about state governors on appointment of certain people for the congressional seats. Let's hope other state governors do themselves a favor: call for an immediate special election so that it becomes the normal process rather than special appointments.

However, I will say one thing clearly for the NY state itself. New York State ought to be happy that Hillary "the carpet baggier" Clinton has left her congressional seat to become our State Department Representative. Hillary's departure from Congress means that Congress can get back into a more FORMAL state of business now that the former first lady Clinton is no longer there. But will Congress work better now? It would have to be seen in the next few weeks.

In less than a few days, there's going to be a rumble in Florida. Super Bowl Sunday. Get ready folks. Bird feathers will FLY! Chicken wings, in honor of the cardinals, will be going like HOT CAKES to be eaten on STEEL plates. Yes, the Steelers are going to POUND those Arizona Cardinals from a "prove it" state to a "HAS BEEN AND FAILED" bird state.
Remember Sunday, February 1st, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Arizona Cardinals. One best pig skin game of the year!

till next post: Semper FI!

Gone to war and won, Job hunting, prevalent scammers.

G'day Everyone!

Sorry that I've been off for the last few days. I've been in a "war" with a friend who is really low functioning. I didn't realize that she was until I made the mistake of giving her my email address during one of the many relay calls that she did on me. My email account got overwhelmed. I bitched, pleaded, ranted, and said a lot of legal threats. I did that in both email and during one of the many relay call in which I kept telling these operators that I wasn't accepting ANY relay calls if it's from this specific person. Finally, I had some victory in which I took some drastic actions. It's not pretty and I'm not going to say of what I did. But I should say it finally created PEACE in my house. The phone is back to normal and my mom isn't bitching any more (big whew) and my email, after massive dumping into a zip drive to save for evidence, is back to normal. The only regret now is going back to snail mail. Won't be fun, but it's better and low tech of a way to go.

Meanwhile, I realize that a lot of us are job hunting out there. In many places, people are hurting. Companies are still laying off people and shedding jobs. Two major stores, which I've just heard awhile back, Circuit City and Office Depot are closing their stores. It's sad that they're leaving the area. But a store that ceases operations completely is concerning why they're giving up so easy in this economic times.

I was talking to a long time friend of mine, who's about to graduate from Gallaudet University this spring, on my VP. He and I had spoken about becoming roommates since he mentioned that he wanted to stay in the DC area. But then he revealed that during the semester break between fall and spring, his good old daddy used some political influence and got my friend a State Job! I was SHOCKED. I think many of us want a "daddy warbucks" that could wield some political influence into a state government job in order to get their kid a job with the state.
Some of you ask, "what state are you talking about?". Unfortunately, I must protect my friend and refuse to answer that. But I know many of us wish that our parents would have this kind if influence to help us find a job in these trying times.

We're all networking together, attending job fairs, and trying to nail down any employment that we can find out there despite this economic recession going on.

On the wind up note, as Robert Goodwin often wrote in his past posts about scammers on the AOL, here we get another report from my friend, James Byrne: http://jimb1962.blogspot.com/

My dear readers, please beware. Don't store your passwords on any messenger programs on your computer. The less people that store passwords on their computer, the more successful we can defeat these hackers.

Have a nice week! Semper FI!

Wow! What a day!

G'day Everyone!

Yesterday was one for the history books. Obama became our President and he's now hard at work to try to stabilize the country. For Ex-President Bush? I wish the door slapped his fanny on the way out. He's going to feel like every other American out there. He'll see what he's really done in 8 years and then spend time muttering "I wish I did this, that, these, those..". He's got a mile long of regrets. The biggest regret? He didn't get Osama Bin Laden.

From start to end, Obama was formal and graceful through out the day. He's got a lot of things to do and hopefully the first 100 days will be his BEST days.

Hearing of what happened to Senator Ted Kennedy, I send him wishes that he recovers well and considers the fact that it's time to retire.

Will our country get better? I hope and pray so!

Enjoy the rest of the week! Semper FI!

Personally Speaking.

G'day Everyone.

As I'm watching the history unfold on CNN and CNN.com, a lot of things are happening out there. It's going to be an interesting day as it happens. The end of the Bush era and the beginning of Obama era.

But some how, Obama did it the right way, civil rights by the vote. The American vote that got fed up with Bush and the Republican party. Not mass rallies, not marches, not speaking like a "I have a dream" stuff. But Obama is a person. who's gotten the biggest job in the nation's history, has a job of providing civil rights for everyone in a legal way that he can do. It won't be easy for him. The nation's High Court will make it tough.

Just as a teacher back in High School told me this: "If Martin Luther King wanted civil rights for his "people", he should have used the courts and sued for it.". Much more of an effort to do than holding marches and demanding stuff to be given to them by force.

I read a lot about Martin Luther King when I was young. There's a lot of things I will disagree about MLK. Especially of WHY the past congress of long ago made his life (MLK's) into a Federal Holiday.
Some of the gay community are using MLK as a way to pave for civil rights for themselves. I wouldn't do it that way. But if some mis-understand my position, like those that do on facebook, then I apologize to them. Especially to an old friend, who I just found him to be gay and loyal to MLK very much. I feel bad that he did not give friendship a chance to reconnect and get to know each other again. But we fought about MLK and ended before we ever re-learned that we were classmates back in High School. So to my once and former friend, if you are reading this, God bless in whatever you do. Prolly won't come to the 35th High School reunion later.

Today, our nation will be taken in a new direction. A new idea. A new resurgence. A new rebuilding of our economic times. Civil rights are going to play a role in this nation. Maybe in this time, Proposition 8 that was passed some time ago out west, could eventually get over turned. Will many of the states grant same sex marriage in Obama's time? I don't know.
It was kind of interesting. Bush, who made it an election promise to insure that marriage between a man and woman become Federal Law, never took to put his anti-gay marriage status into a constitutional amendment in the last 4 years. Thankfully, Bush was too focused on the war on Terror. As Bush leaves into history, so will all the things he's done.

Obama is no MLK. I hope we all realize that. His first 100 days starting at the moment he is sworn in will be watched very much closely. It will set the tone of his time just as it did for Bush 8 years ago.

President Obama, good wishes. Ex-president Bush, enjoy retirement if you will.

Semper FI.

Football and 48 hours.

G'day Everyone!

Well, the special events this week are kicking off. I should say they have kicked off indeed. It started with Football. Way out in the desert state of Arizona, two birds got into a major fight. It was the WORST fight I ever saw. In the end, the Arizona Cardinals have cheated their way again and are heading to the Super Bowl.
Good game? No. It became the LAST game for head coach Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. Reid should have pulled McNabb sooner and put in a QB on the field who can THINK, PLAN, AND REACT to what he's seeing on the field. Many of the Eagles players could be headed for the unemployment line as well. Most of them were BONE HEADED on that field. Just review the game highlights and you'll see it. Enjoy the NFC award Cardinals. In two weeks, you'll face a WORSE situation that you'll wish you didn't face.

What worse situation could the Cardinals face? Lo and behold, they had hoped the mighty Baltimore Ravens would peck the Pittsburgh Steelers to the death so that we could call it a "BIRD FIGHT II, The Super Bowl Match". Unfortunately, the Ravens did not fare well in the sub-zero cold and snow that the Pittsburgh Steelers THRIVE and LOVE. Their lines of both Offense and Defense were STRONG. How strong? So strong, that a Raven flew right into a STEEL BLOCK. That player had to be carted off the field. *bash* crumple. The Baltimore Ravens gave it all they had. In the end, the flock of Ravens flew back to their Baltimore nest, wounded, where they'll hatch new plans for next season.
Pittsburgh Steelers wins the AFC Championship. With that, they send a message to the Cardinals: "See the Ravens? Yer next on the Steel plate!".
In two weeks: Super Bowl match up: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Arizona Cardinals. This will be the final end of the Cardinals. They will be PLUCKED featherless by the Steelers. I can't wait!
GO STEELERS!

In the next 48 hours, our nation will be watching history being made. Most of us will be watching history changing our nation from the comforts our home. But for the millions of people that will jam themselves on the nation's mall and freezing their buns off, they better be warm in whatever they can wear because they will be a LONG time outside.
For Obama, he is enjoying the hours before his time comes. For Bush, his term to expire can't come much faster. Even when Bush stood there and bragged "what a 'good' President he is". History will judge Bush. That we can be sure of Bush being judged through and through.
Obama's first 100 days will be important.
So tomorrow, tune in to your favorite TV or Internet news source or radio. Tomorrow will be change of power, change of Presidents. Obama is sworn in and Bush flies away for good.
Lastly, I wish Obama well. Especially for America.

Semper FI

The Importance of the (Deaf) patient and selecting the (Deaf) patient advocate

G'day Everyone.

Early last December, we started on some topics "The Importance of" series. Most of these are medical related.

For a refresher of what I wrote:
http://thedeafsherlock.blogspot.com/2008/12/interpreters-in-hospitals-on-mandatory.html

http://thedeafsherlock.blogspot.com/2008/12/importance-of-living-will-and-health.html

http://thedeafsherlock.blogspot.com/2008/12/importance-of-hospital-visitation.html

Today's post is about being the Deaf patient and selecting the right Deaf patient advocate.

Being a Deaf patient in a hospital is very important. You are going to be the one STUCK in bed (some times, depending on what the procedure it is). It's not fun. It can be a scary and frightening situation. Unless you prepare yourself ahead of time, the road to recovery can be a challenge. Even for a DEAF patient.

So, let's get prepared for this.

First: the living will. What is a living will? I know I covered this in importance of Living wills and health care proxy post. But this makes it clear:
http://www.alllaw.com/articles/wills_and_trusts/article7.asp

It also leads you to a few sites that you can make a living will for free and have it printed out on your printer. Just be sure to have a lawyer to look it over and then have it notarized. The living will is important for the patient because if you tell someone how you want to be cared for, especially you are not going to fully recover from something of a serious situation, then you want it known how you want to peacefully pass on from this life.

Once you have it done and notarized, keep one to give to the hospital, one to give to your doctor, one for your family, and one to give to the (Deaf) Patient Advocate. As long as you make it clear of your final wishes, you are giving authority to the (Deaf) Patient Advocate to carry out that wish. It doesn't make it really as for anyone. But you need to choose the RIGHT Deaf Patient Advocate.

So, let me share a few suggestions as I understand from this website:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/living-wills/HA00014,

It's all about choosing the (deaf) patient advocate. Remember, these are suggestions.

I'm not going to go over the entire web page from that site, but to be clear about a few things.
In choosing a (Deaf) Patient Advocate, here are some guide lines that I can understand of:

1. Choose the (deaf) patient advocate as some one who's NOT a family member. It may be the wise choice but remember, you want some you trust that will carry out your wishes for you. You can be sure that not only your family members know what's going on, but the burden is put on the (deaf) patient advocate. How many times have I seen and an End-of-life decision get ignored when the deaf patient wants to die and the family doesn't? Ergo, choose someone OUTSIDE your family. Someone who doesn't live in your house.

2. Don't choose your doctor. That leads to conflicts of ethics and controversy situations. Your doctor needs to focus on trying to help you, not going against your wishes.

3. When choosing the (deaf) Patient Advocate, it must be someone you can TRUST and are comfortable with. You want someone who shares your medical philosophy and care. I would also suggest that it should be a person who lives with-in your area or with-in the state that can be contacted. That way if the (deaf) patient advocate is needed in person, they can get there quickly as possible.

4. Choose a person who is a rational, mature and calm person in a crisis. This is going to be very important. If a (deaf) Patient Advocate is someone who is short-tempered, emotional, and has a tendency to push people to try to get others to get something done immediately, then you better keep looking. You want the BEST ADVOCATE you can have to represent you.

5. Have at least 2 (deaf) Patient Advocates selected. The reason why I said that is because if one is not available for help, the other person can step in for you. Very important that both, current Patient Advocate and the back-up patient advocates, work together.

When you have chosen your (deaf) patient advocate, you need to make the time to sit down and go over your medical history with your advocate. DO THIS IN ADVANCE OF GOING TO THE HOSPITAL! Do go over your advanced directives and see if your (Deaf) Patient Advocate representative has any personal objections to your wishes. Make sure he understands them (your medical related choices) clearly and morally. *You both must be on the same level*. Make sure your doctor and hospital knows who your (deaf) patient advocate is as well as your family and friends.

Make sure your (deaf) patient advocate is well aware about the ADA laws and that you both (The deaf patient and the deaf patient advocate) have a right to see that an interpreter is present for meetings with the doctors. But do have pen and paper ready at times when you do not have an interpreter. Communication is important!

Most importantly, make sure your (deaf) patient advocate buys a NOTE BOOK and takes NOTES! The role of the patient advocate is not only to take care of the deaf patient, but takes notes like an observer of what's going on around the patient and in the room. With the (deaf) patient in bed to focus on getting better, the (deaf) patient advocate represents the patient outside the bed. Remember, the notebook is going to be very important to document information. Information that will later be important for the lawyer to use should something go wrong with the (deaf) patient.

Also, I want to say something clear. (Deaf) Patient Advocates, please remember this: You are representing the (deaf) patient. You are the one that is being the communicator for the patient. Your actions can be reflected right back to the patient. So in saying this, I ask that you be kind, be gentle, and BE PATIENT. Of course, the doctors and nurses are busy! They have other patients as well. But if you are patient for them, then they will see you being worthy patient advocate representative and will diligently work with you. Take time to listen and you'll learn as much as the patient learns.
*BUT* I must warn you. Any type of threat or getting angry with the hospital staff can and will end your right to represent the (deaf) patient then and there. It can also be used against you in court as well.
So please, your job as a (deaf) patient advocate is an important role. As long as you say mature and kind words, you'll be respected. So will your patient as well.

I hope this helps for all patients and their advocates.

Semper FI.

Bitter cold football weekend coming!

G'day and COLD to everyone!

Today is one of those teeth chattering day of the year as the cold air sweeps in for a few days. I hate it. I used to enjoy the cold when I was younger, but now I do not. Yick. So stay warm out there.

As the weekend is about to happen, the pigskin weekend will go on as well. The football will be a *HOT* item. How hot do we mean? First, the NFC Championship game takes place in the desert state of Arizona. There is going to be a BIRD FIGHT. Eagles vs Cardinals at 3pm on FOX. Feathers will be falling all over the place. Only ONE BIRD is going to win. Expect the Cardinals to die in the beak of the Eagles. Eagles to win! They're lucky. They get to play in a temperature controlled stadium.

But tune in at 6:30pm on CBS for the bitterest cold game of all of the year. THE ICE FOOTBALL GAME, as I would think to be, will happen on the worst day of the year. Thousands of *DIE HARD* pigskin fans will try to bundle up and stay warm to watch two of the most BITTER teams to take the fields. The Baltimore Ravens will try to fly and circle the field in hopes of picking off an upset victory from the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the Steelers may have other ideas of employing some high tech BIRD Swatters and slamming the ravens to the ground. Expect the Steelers to survive the fight for the right to go to the BIG GAME!

Meanwhile: The famous Quarterback of University of Southern California must have felt that his *INCREDIBLE* (not) win over PSU in the Rose Bowl game should be his launching point to enter the NFL football draft. Will that be enough for him to attract a decent team? Unfortunately, this young man should be staying with USC and help his team to get back into competition and BEAT the Florida gators and take back the national champions home to USC. Unfortunately, this young man will find the NFL to be much rougher than he's experienced with the PSU defense. I wish him luck.

Also: There has been talk about Eric Holder, the man who investigated the HMB incidents on the campus of Gallaudet University. Holder is the Attorney General nominee for the Obama Administration. Holder's incidents go deeper than the GU incident. I hope Congress votes NAY in the nomination of Eric Holder.

So stay safe this weekend. Enjoy it warmly.

Semper FI

RIP of my favorite actors, few days before DC lockdown.

G'day Everyone.

A few people have been asking me why I haven't posted in the last few days. I'm already aware that my free counter has been "broken". I plan to replace it with something new soon. I'm also working on another "Importance of" post as well.

Sadly to say this: two of my favorite actors have passed away recently. Ricardo Montalbán, the actor who starred in movies like "Fantasy Island" (loved tatoo saying "Da plane, boss, Da plane!"), James Bond movie: "The Man with the Golden Gun", and arch enemy of James T. Kirk as "Kahn" in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn". He did several other movies as well. We will miss you, Ricardo! Semper FI SALUTE!

The other actor that passed away is Patrick McGoohan. He's the famous BBC series star of the 1960's show "The Prisoner" series. (Not only it's on video, but it's in comic books too).
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/14/obit.mcgoohan/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
We will miss him too! Salute!

Meanwhile: I'm handing out some important suggestions for my DC area readers.
As you know, the Inauguration Days are just about to hit the DC area, Security in DC is going to go VERY HIGH. If you are living in DC area, you may want to get out of the area till after the Inauguration Days happen. From what I got told that when the Inauguration happens, some of the bridges on the VA side of DC will be closed off and locked down. Access into DC can only come from MD side by car. Getting into DC? Better take the bus, metro, or bike. BIKE? IN THE COLD? yep. But, I just wouldn't want to be around DC despite history is about to happen.

If you are Gallaudet University student and you missed the announcement: http://www.gallaudet.edu/x5335.xml
in other words, the dorms are open NOW!! So it is very advisable that you get to the Gallaudet University campus ASAP. If you wait until January 20th, you are very much going to be OUT OF LUCK! That's when Security will be at it's highest state. A lot of people will be in down town DC. Traffic will be restricted. So good luck trying to get to the campus on the 20th of January.

What's worse than that? Try not being able to use your sidekick, cell phone, because thousands of people will be trying to use theirs during the inauguration event.
I've been invited to come down to DC and watch from the ground floor of history. But I declined. I'm not going to sit outside and freeze my butt apart for it. Instead, I'll be happy to watch it right on TV and on the 'net as well.

In the last few days, history is about to change in America. Bush is out, Obama is in, and hopefully, life will become much more normal than these post 9/11 days. But it won't be so fast to happen. It will take time.

One of the most biggest events to happen in Illinois soon is the impeachment trial of Gov. Blagovitch. I've been watching this CRAZY governor for some time. He's gotten so much lucky that his replacement for Obama's seat, Ronald Burris, is going to be seated. But Blagovitch says that he intends to go down fighting the impeachment. I think this poor Governor is about to face a bitter end soon. When it does, he'll find himself among the rest of the unemployment crowd.

So, till next post, in which I'll be working on my other one, Semper FI.

Shocking Snowball Sunday!

G'day Everyone!

Last night, I was snowed in and watched the two football games going on. If you watched the first game of the weekend, you had a real game going on. Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans, two good rival teams. Both played HARD, TOUGH, AND WANT TO WIN football game. In the end, it was the Ravens that are heading to the next level. For Tennessee, they got a rest time now. But I give them a salute for a good job they did. Played their best game.

Anyone want to be a coach for the Carolina Panthers? That's going to be the sense among the panther fans right now. Had the coach of the Panthers pulled their normal QB out of the game early and put in the back-up QB, they might have saved themselves from an embarrassment of a game. From the moment of the first strike by the panthers in the first quarter, the cardinals went on a NO MERCY, OVERKILL THE SCORE situation. It's no wonder they had to be protected by the police when they left the stadium hours later. It was an embarrassment way for the Arizona Cardinals to win. My advice for the Cardinals for next season when they play the panthers? Better show some mercy because panthers will be in a very angry mood.

Today is the big SHOCKING SNOWBALL SUNDAY!! The REAL game begins today. It's going to be very interesting as both of these games are in the COLD spots! If you are a fan and going to these games today, BUNDLE UP! Be warm! Yer going to need it!

Today's games: Philadelphia Eagles vs. NY Giants 1pm on Fox. Since this game is more to the north and east of Pittsburgh and in New Jersey, expect it to be cold and snow there. The Giants may try to club the Eagles, but I believe Eagles will ring that liberty bell LOUD in the stadium. Get ready to cover your ears!!

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh, 4:45pm on CBS. This one has a classic THUNDER and LIGHTNING game! You'll hear Steel THUNDER but be amazed at Charger Lightning. But I say the SOUND OF THUNDER and whirl of the TERRIBLE TOWELS (which may help keep the snow away) may win this game today!

So far, my predictions in the first 2 games have broke me at 1-1. :-) Let's see how I do today.

Meanwhile, it's ONE WEEK LEFT for our INFAMOUS BUSHIE BOY!! President Bush has just one week to enjoy his last times in the White House. He'll be packing up and getting ready to move as President-Elect Obama moves in. But I'm advising my deaf friends to please be careful in DC area on January 18-19-20-21. A lot of heavy security is expected. So if you don't want to be in DC during that time, that would be a good time to take a vacation ya know? For GU Students, Get back on campus before the 20th. It's going to be rough getting in to the campus.

Finally and long at last, Robert Goodwin is home from the rehab. You can check his blog about his stay in : http://rsgeo007.blogspot.com/
However, I'm going to be posting a future article that everyone needs to know about of being a patient advocate. I know I did some, but I'm going to make a THROUGH posting so that everyone does be well prepared for any thing.
I apologize to Robert that I could not come down during his time in hospital/rehab. Lately, I fell on ice yesterday while snow blowing. It is NOT a pleasant feeling of being hurt. I'm limping but not badly. Still gotta go back out and blow the rest of the snow away today.

So till next post.. SEMPER FI

Rocket Night in DC, The Day after the Finale Bowl game.

G'day Everyone!

Are you all refreshed and clean from the last weekend that let you dry out from New Year's Eve party? Well, I'm pretty sure you are. NYE weekend was a long one. But now that we are back to just the weekends as normal, this is your chance tonight to party before Washington, DC begins it's lock down days starting on the next weekend before Obama gets sworn in.
Tonight's DPHH (Deaf Professional Happy Hour) is at Rocket Bar, 717 7th St NW, Washington, DC, DC 20001. This is in the HEART of Chinatown! Here's their web page to it: http://www.rocketbardc.com/ Enjoy and party easy!

Meanwhile, most of us have opened the newspapers / web page news and turned to the sports section to see the final bowl game of the college football season has been played. The Florida Gators have been the Oklahoma Sooners. It means things will go quiet in college football, right? WRONG! Now, it cranks up more controversy for the BCS and it will last for a while.
The BCS, which has picked who was the better team for national title, will get hammered more often of the need for a REAL college football play-off system. Almost every college football team in the nation, with a better win-loss record than the least likely team does deserve a better chance to be chosen for the national title. Also, I must add in my 2 cents here: JoePA must go!

We still got NFL games going on. TV this weekend:
SATURDAY: Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans, 4:30pm on CBS. My pick: Go Ravens!
Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers, 8:15pm on Fox. My pick: Claw the Red Birds!!
SUNDAY: you are going to love this one. PA vs NY! Philadelphia Eagles at NY Giants 1pm on Fox. My pick: Eagles will bring in the liberty bell and GONG the Giants out of play-offs! Go EAGLES!
The best of the best games will be happening in Pittsburgh, Pa! San Diego Chargers will try to bring their "Electric SHOCK" team and try to MELT the Pittsburgh Steelers. SD Chargers at Pittsburgh, 4:45pm on CBS. My pick: The chargers will be hit by a steel beam and get stung in their face by the thousands of fans waving their yellow TERRIBLE TOWELS! Also, there is a snow storm in the forecast this weekend. So this is going to get VERY interesting. Snow ball game in Pittsburgh!

So whatever you are doing this weekend start it off with your local DPHH if you have one. If not, just enjoy a quiet friday night and relax before the football games begin.

Semper FI!

Deaf Anthology's post of the Deaf Sherlock.

G'day Everyone!

As I get back into the swing of things, I thought that I would start off with kind word to my fellow blogger, Deaf Anthology (Gary Fitts). He gets a MAJOR SALUTE for his post spin of the deaf Sherlock. http://deafanthology.blogspot.com/2009/01/deaf-anthology-158-deaf-sherlock-holmes.html
Only two things. Gary, you should have cleared it with me first before you posted. Second, I don't smoke either. I detest pipes. But kind of like blowing soap bubbles. *pop* smile.
Above all, the post was a good spin on the tale of the deaf Sherlock.

Meanwhile, Jamie Berke did write a good and important article in her Deafness.about.com earlier: http://deafness.about.com/b/2008/12/26/how-many-cases-before-hospitals-get-the-message.htm
Importantly to say, a cart machine is NO SUBSTITUTE for a real life Interpreter for the deaf! Cart machines are devices that do not do a deaf patient justice in the hospitals. Expect Robert Goodwin to write about his hospital and rehabilitation experiences in a future post on his own site soon. But just the same, if hospitals don't get their act together soon, too many dead deaf patients will soon make it mandatory for them and I don't think they'd like to see that either!

As the days are counting down to Bush's last days and Obama's first official day of being a president, many things are going to be happening. A warning to many of my readers in DC area, be careful where you are AT ALL TIMES! Especially for returning Gallaudet University Students! From what I hear a lot of roads and bridges will be closed as Obama gets sworn in and Bushie boy begins his departure. So please, be careful around DC. Don't drive. Just take the mass transit, bike, walk. Above all, avoid downtown DC for a while. I think that's going to be from January 19-21, 2009. Don't worry DC will get back to normal soon.

At the same time, be watching your local stores. Yes, there are some stores closing out there. I encourage you to go out and shop and see what specials you can buy before your favorite store closes. I heard Big Dogs stores are closing and I definitely want to go to one soon as I can. I'm a fan Big Dogs store. So look for the sales now before the stores close for good.

Enjoy the day. I hate ice storms. But stay warm out there!

Semper FI!

Funeral experience

G'day Everyone.

I've been off for a few days because of my uncle's funeral. Not only it was important to attend, but it was a relative that passed away. While attending, my memories went back to September 1995. My dad's funeral. It was just then I was totally shocked. Where was an interpreter for me? It was a chaos that time. But when I voiced it in my family, I was told of an assumption. That I could hear. That I could lipread. That I would be "compatible" with the rest of family and friends that are coming in for this funeral.

That triggered an outburst in me. Not everyone talks to me. From my cousins on down to my nieces and nephews, they never bother to text me, email me, or even take advantage of my sorenson VP. It's like avoiding the deaf relative. There are a FEW cousins who do try to reach out to me but only at events.

When I talked to a local funeral home director, I asked them a question. I said "If you were to know a relative related to the deceased was deaf, would you be willing to provide interpreters for the deaf ?" . The director said, "Yes. We take care of our clients and their family members. We try to meet their needs."

Some funeral homes that I've talked to said that they would not provide interpreters for the deaf and places the burden on grieving families to find local deaf ministries or interpreting agencies to provide services for their deaf family members. That is a shame.

When I recounted my experience from the 1995 funeral, it was very intense, very emotional.
So how does one expect me to be able to focus on my hearing and my lipreading skills while I'm crying so much? You can't expect me to do that. In effect, I missed out on "hearing" of what was going on around me. Even the old bastard priest's speech. If there was an interpreter for the deaf there for me, I would have thoroughly appreciated that person very much in that time.

I'm sure a lot of other deaf people would too if they were involved in a family funeral situation.
My cousins and my aunt had a lot to deal with. Everyone is supporting them as they allowed to.
But one thing should be most supported. Never ignore the deaf relative or the deaf sibling. They need support and compassion as well.

I already have a dream one day when my time comes. My sisters think I'll have a "hearing" funeral, but no. I will have a DEAF funeral. Sign Language will rule the day. From the wake to burial. It will all be signed. But not to piss off hearing relatives, there will be hearing interpreters for them. I believe in equal rights and equal access. That will be my example and testimony of my life: I was born deaf and will die deaf and PROUD to be deaf. They may not like that I'm ignoring my "hearing" traits. That's life.

Any how, I'm getting back into the swing of things. Robert Goodwin is about to come home soon to his Jamie. And I got another post to do too.

For now: Semper FI.

The day after new years.

G'day Everyone!

Well, most of us are on a EXTENDED weekend vacation time. But life is just getting back to normal in most places. Some are still coming out of their damn induced coma of NYE drinking and swearing NOT to do that in 2010 NYE.

But it's also the day after damn Rose Bowl. USC may have the bounty of Roses, but it's Penn State that takes home a bunch of DEAD and WILTED sets of ROSES for themselves. PSU failed to bring a successful conclusion to the season. USC team looks like they've injected themselves on drugs. Especially Speed and Steroids. It looked very suspecting as we watched the game. Should the BCS officials test the USC players to make sure they drug free won the game? HELL YES! At the same time, Joe Paterno (JoePa) had better hunker down and brace himself for a while. A lot of fans across the state might be e-mailing the PSU athletics dept and asking that they REVERSE the contract decision and tell Joe Pa to RETIRE and RETIRE NOW! 2009 should be the time a NEW Coach should be coming to the PSU. It should happen. It's basically time.

As the rest of the final college football games play and come to an end, it will never ease the continued controversy that there is a need for a play off system in the BCS one day. It will take a major event for the BCS to be embarrassed and then realize that they got NO CHOICE. I personally hope by 2014 there will be a play off system in place.

Meanwhile, get set out there. The NFL play offs are about to begin. I'm hope that the Eagles and Steelers will make their way through the play-offs and eventually win.

So, enjoy your weekend. It should be a nice one in some places. For me, I will be at the funeral for my uncle. The first of 2009. Hopefully the only one (knock on wood).

till next time, semper fi.