Sunday, February 24, 2008

Free At Last! DEBT Free At Last Thank God I am DEBT Free at last!

Yesterday I sent off my final payment for my student loan - I feel so ridiculous with these things. I went to university for only one year and it has taken me nearly 5 years to pay off the bill.

While Im happy that Im debt free surely there has got to be a better way to complete a college education without having to go into serious debt to do so. This is almost as expensive as buying a house. While not everyone should complete a degree - it is however becoming increasingly more difficult for those who are ready for university to complete their degrees. Often they run out of money before completing their degrees and end up working factory jobs for several years paying off the bills before being able to return, some simply never return despite their longing and desire to return and finish what was started.

Its also becoming easier for those NOT ready for college level course-work to enter college, this doesnt add up, this doesnt make sense.

I wish the government could step in and put a cap on the price tag of a college education for certain universities where tuition has increased dramatically - this can be done for state colleges, but not so for private universities which receive their funding from private donations (often from ridiculously rich alumni and tuition paid by the families of trust fund students).

What also bugs me is the fact that many students entering college are shying away from the educational field primarily because when they sit down and do the math they realize they cannot effectively be independent upon graduation because the educational system does not pay teachers well enough despite the heavy burden placed on them and the overwhelming amout of paperwork and student track reports required for each individual student. Teaching is no longer the main job of being a teacher, its now more of a side requirement with paperwork taking up the majority of the time spent at work. Alot of would-be educators are now considering options such as law-school, management positions at certain buisnesses, or even blue collar factory work, simply because for the amount of hours worked, it pays better.

I myself, have given much consideration of entering the educational field to work with deaf/hoh students, but I may also want to teach at post-secondary level institutions. At that level I can teach and share information with students who are willing to learn. I have also considered mass communication and media relations as an option given my love for the written word.

No matter which route I am led to take - I do hope to complete a bachelor's degree as well as obtaining a master's degree.

But before all of that can take place - there is one thing left to do - I have to buy me a new truck! ;)

Friday, February 22, 2008

Photography

As some of you know I am interested in photography and wouldnt mind doing it for a living if I could. I have posted alot of these photos on chats and some included in emails, but this is a collection of my personal favorites. Some are taken with a point and shoot camera, and the others were taken with a Sony DSC H7 camera which is a step down from a full on dSLR but is a step beyond your typical point and shoot. The Sony allows more control, but also has a fully automatic setting as well as a fully manual setting too. Please enjoy the photos.

* = taken with a point and shoot (Pentax Optio)
** = taken with Sony DSC-H7 (Cyber-shot)

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Friday, February 15, 2008

Darren Hayes: Casey Video (Full Length)

I know I am late posting this but I have been incredibly busy as of late, but for those of you interested in it - here is the latest video from Darren Hayes titled Casey and it is the 4th single released from his album 'This Delicate Thing We've Made'. This single is being labelled as Darren's new sound and here it is:

Lyrics:
Casey

By Darren Hayes and Peter Vitesse

Driving in your car with the windows down and a beat up stereo.
Struggle with this town because you love to hate it but hate to let it go.
And we’re all alone and so tired of being underrated.
So don’t take me home because I feel alive when you come and save me.
A yellow car speeding down the south side freeway
We’ll rewrite this movie, make it end like we want it to.

And Casey when you go.
Can you come and find me? Want to be beside you when you leave this town.
I’ll be waving goodbye pretending not to cry. I want to be someone.
If you take me away all the pain will change into a memory of when we were amazing.

1989
Summer had hit but it was not moving.
What is it with this town?
Every time we win it just feels like losing.
And we were never going to fit in.
I was a mixed up kid and you were my sanity in a yellow car.
We don’t even have to go far.
Because that song you’re playing sounds like peace on the radio.

And Casey when you go.
Can you come and find me? Want to be beside you when you leave this town.
I’ll be waving goodbye pretending not to cry. I want to be someone.
If you take me away all the pain will change into a memory of when we were amazing.
I know things will change but Casey stay the same.
Take me away.
We don’t have to go far.

Casey when you go.
Can you come and find me? Want to be beside you when you leave this town.
I’ll be waving goodbye pretending not to cry. I want to be someone.
If you take me away all the pain will change into a memory of when we were,
Of when we were.
Casey when you go.
Can you come and find me? Want to be beside you when you leave this town.
I’ll be waving goodbye pretending not to cry. I want to be someone.
If you take me away all the pain will change into a memory of when we were amazing.

Driving in your car with the windows down and a beat up stereo.
I wanna, I’m gonna, I want to be someone.
I wanna, I’m gonna, I want to be someone.
I will run to you.
I will come to you.
I will run to you.
I will come to you.
She’s coming to get me.
She’s coming to rescue me.
Coming through the sky like a satellite, like a radio wave, a meteorite.

I hope you enjoyed the video!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day

Wow, another Valentine's Day has come and gone and while you're wondering if I received any flowers the answer is no I did not. But dont worry, I dont feel like Im missing out on anything. I had flowers sent to my daughter today at her school and the smile on her face when she sees those is enough of a Valentine's gift for me.

Now for my honest opinion - Valentine's Day is overrated. Its not that I hate it or that I dont believe in true love, its just the fact that you have all these people who have their love and they are sent flowers, chocolates and what have you not, then you have those who dont get anything and they would just like to know that someone cares. So what did I do for Valentine's Day besides giving some flowers to my daughter?

I gave my time to some Tornado victims here in the state who have nothing. How? I went to Wal-Mart and loaded my shopping cart with all sorts of clothes, toys, baby essentials such as diapers, bottles, formulas, clothes, etc. My friend Erica who was with me nearly flipped when she saw the total. I told her the total price isnt what matters, its the fact that your'e giving something to someone who needs it is more important. Yeah I had orginally planned on keeping that hard earned money for myself to use for a down payment on a new truck but I decided, nah, someone needs it worse than I do. So I took my loaded down cart to the front of the store where a National Gaurdsman was waiting beside an 18-wheeler trailer to load the items. I told him load everything up. And I took my empty shopping cart back to the cart corral.

But you know what, although my pockets and my truck were empty, my heart felt full of joy knowing that the items were going to be used by someone who needed them. This is what Valentine's Day should be about. Giving something of yourself to a worthwhile cause, not the biggest balloons or the fanciest bouquet of flowers. You dont have to necessarily donate to a recent cause. You can do something by going and visiting a shut-in in your community or offering some of your time for a neighbor who needs help completing a project. Just anything - it lets someone know that someone no matter how small that somone - that somebody else cares. You dont have to be famous or have deep pockets to do this. This is something anyone can do.

Dont have neighbors or a lover? Then donate your time to animals by helping at an animal shelter or purchasing needed items for them to use such as food, blankets, crates etc. Im a big animal lover especially for Labrador Retrievers. If you have a really heart for a specific breed or animal then donate some of your time or change to a rescue that specializes in that, your helping an animal in need.

So to all of my friends out there - I hope your having a wonderful Valentine's Day and if you're feeling left out remember that at least I care so you can't say that no one cares!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Update: Bob's House ASL Superbowl Ad

The ad is ready for viewing on YouTube.com, but I have it here so you can view it directly:


Also the NAD (National Association of the Deaf) has released this statement showing its support for the Ad as well as PepsiCo and EnAble:
NAD Salutes PepsiCo for its Super Bowl Ad in ASL
Posted February 1, 2008

To refer others to this page, please use:
http://www.nad.org/NADSalutesPepsiCoSuperBowlAd

Much excitement among deaf people worldwide has been generated by the forthcoming PepsiCo commercial, “Bob’s House,” to be aired during the pre-game portion of Super Bowl Sunday. The 60-second ad, based on a long-standing joke in the American deaf community, is presented in American Sign Language (ASL) without sound – to catch the attention of millions of viewers in an otherwise boisterous pre-game environment. The ad also displays captions so the dialogue can be understood by viewers who do not sign.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) applauds PepsiCo’s employee network, EnAble, for its efforts in “creating an inclusive environment for people of different abilities.” This ad, created by and featuring PepsiCo employees, showcases people who know and use American Sign Language. The NAD salutes PepsiCo for giving this “performance with a purpose” the biggest stage possible – Super Bowl Sunday.

Numerous news outlets have carried stories about the forthcoming PepsiCo ad, in addition to preliminary ad and behind-the-scenes footage featured on the company website, also picked up on by individual blogsites within the deaf community. With response to the ad being overwhelmingly positive, the NAD anticipates an outpouring of affirmative feedback once the ad is broadcast.

“Commercials that are broadcast on Super Bowl Sunday are among the most widely viewed spots of the year,” notes NAD President Bobbie Beth Scoggins. “We are enthusiastic about this ad, and know that it will raise the bar with regard to enhanced public awareness about the American deaf community, its rich culture, and American Sign Language.”

She adds, “I encourage everyone who sees the ad to contact PepsiCo at this link and thank them for this clever and entertaining commercial. This is one way to show our appreciation for the tremendous step taken by PepsiCo and EnAble to increase awareness about inclusion and diversity by showcasing its ad entirely in American Sign Language.” Messages of appreciation may be sent to PepsiCo by e-mail at the link above or by mail to 700 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, NY 10577.


Have a good Super Sunday!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Snow falls and more tidbits from this week...

Due to an unusually busy schedule this week I am going to do an entry covering this past week's events, so please bear with me.

SNOW FALLS:
Yeah, snow fell but not near the amount that the Pacific Northwest received, just enough here to cause old ladies to make a mad dash to the grocery store for milk and bread. Nothing major. As of this posting 90% of it has already melted. The places where it hasnt melted stay shaded throughout the day. And if that wasnt enough for you --- on Tuesday we had a major windstorm here with gusts up to 50 mph, or higher. There were mass power outtages and trees uprooted and blown across major highways. And sadly there were two fatalities in Arkansas from this windstorm. Tuesday morning it was 61 degrees, by that afternoon it was in the 40s. The next day it just got cold and rainy, and Thursday night it snowed for about 2 hours then quit. Then yesterday the sun was shining and it was a comfortable 51 degrees. Today it might possibly reach as much as 60 degrees, then on Monday it will be near 70! What? This is weird wacked out weather we are having!

OPEN CAPTIONS IN VLOGS:
As you know Im an avid reader and viewer of Seek Geo's blogs and vlogs. Me being raised in an all oral environment growing up I was never exposed to ASL and thus I am not fluent in it, but I am currently learning through ASL Pro.com, Lifeprint.com, and watching captioned and non-captioned vlogs on you tube and on Deaf Read.com.
But I have learned ALOT of signs from watching Geo, plus he's true to himself which is more entertaining than anything I could ever watch on TV. I have gotten to know him and he's a very fine true gentleman, and I am very fortunate to consider him one of my friends.

But when I heard about the comments on DeafRead.com about Geo having captions on his vlog, I was appalled. This very much reminded me of the ol' Crab Theory in Deaf Culture. Some Deaf want the Hearies to treat them with respect (I was raised that respect is EARNED not handed out) And want the Hearies to know more or better about the Deaf Culture. When someone like Geo - does this by providing captions to his vlogs so that ALL may enjoy and begins to build a bridge rather than a wall, he gets slammed for it. I dont understand it. Why? Because one person tries to make a positive influence in the world, some other deafies say "no no no!, that is not the deaf way! dont provide captions!" Im just absolutely speechless because 9 out of 10 times these are the same people who start having hissy fits when they are not provided open captions for theatre movies, TV shows, and whatnot. I am like - What is the difference?! Is there something Im not quite understanding? Is there something I am missing?

To sum this tidbit up - Geo - keep on keepin' on man! I love your vlogs and you've got my support no matter what is said.

COUPLE RETURNS DEAF CHILD TO ADOPTION AGENCY:
Disclaimer: There is no verifiable source of this as of yet, but this is alarming!

A couple who adopted a deaf child has cared for this child for one year. They had hoped the child could become a candidate for a CI (or Cochlear Implant) but was turned down for whatever reason, and hearing aids were ineffective. Upon learning that the adoptive mother had become pregnant, the couple decided to return the child to the adoption agency.

WTF????? Pardon my French, but this is beyond words and feeling. This is not a defective puppy you can just return to the pet shop for a refund (and thats a hot topic for me as well, but for another time), this is a PERSON a HUMAN BEING, one of Gods most amazing creations!

This shows to me that these people are very superficial and only desire for a perfect superficial child that has no defects. They raised and cared for this child for a year and decided that because she was deaf that they could no longer care for her but instead will conceive one on their own.

My main concern is for the little girl who was abandonded by her own family most likely because she is deaf, then taken in and then when the family found out she wouldnt be able to hear at all, they decided it could not be done at all. What about ASL? This girl may or may not have mental issues born out of this.

The realizes that she is not accepted because she's 'different', but this is something she cannot change, and it will become a vicious neverending cycle of self doubt and hatred. If I could I would take in the girl myself and love her and teach her that there are people out there that will love and accept her for who she is, not what she does or does not have. As a deaf/hoh mother of a hearing child I am just bound with disbelief that something like this could happen. But I guess the good thing is the girl wont be stuck with parents who resent her under the surface.

What I dont understand is, shallow hearing parents can adopt so easily, but yet deaf parents are usually warned against having children, I dont understand how this world can be filled with people whose hearts have become so hardened that they can treat their own kind with such disregard and wastefulness.

Once I am able to get a verifiable source on this I will post. But until then here are the known links to this tragedy:
DeafMomof3's Blog
Mishka Zena's Blog
The Deaf Edge
Beke Outspoke
alldeaf.com thread

That pretty much sums it up for the week - oh wait! I almost forgot, this month will be my final payment on my student loans which means in the next couple of months I hope to purchase a new truck. This will be my first major purchase so please wish me luck in finding what I am looking for in good condition! I will post updates on this as I go along!