I'm back!  What can I say?  I miss writing and unleashing my thoughts into the public domain.  Right now I have some downtime, so this is a good time as any to start writing series of blogs.  The first one has to do with an article I posted earlier today on my Facebook page which pretty much has to do with health care--a subject that we've all become too familiar with.  Without getting into the blame game, I doubt many of you are familiar that a particular group that has suffered as a result.  If you think I'm referring to women, then you'd be wrong.  It's the disabled children.  In my home state, which is Florida, these poor kids, with medical conditions, are living in an old-folks home.  If you're thinking in that head of yours, "Wait a minute! What?  Disabled kids in nursing homes?!"  Yes, I know.  They--obviously--do not belong.  Attached is a link of a extremely good editorial by Frank Grimm, a Miami Herald columnist.  He sheds excellent light on this subject matter.  Click here to read the article.  And do me a favor?  After you are done reading it, please forward the article to anyone who will have strong feelings about this.  Perhaps, they'll have a talk with their congressperson in their district to follow-up because this type of practice, while inhumane, ought to be made illegal.  
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It has been a thrill watching Marlee Matlin on Celebrity Apprentice.  She's done a terrific job completing her tasks, including when she was in the boardroom talking to Donald Trump.  Just how far will she go in the competition?  Amy Efron, a Deaf blogger, prognosticated Marlee will win top spot.   Click here to read her blog post.  She did a great job of connecting the dots.

On a side note, what do you make of Marlee's charity of choice? Don't get me wrong, Starkey Hearing Foundation is a wonderful charity, but I'm wondering if Marlee could have allocated the money to a different organization?  I, along with my readership, will be very interested in hearing your reactions.
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"Once again the supreme court of the bushites (both of them) is showing that corporations are better than people. I'm limited to what I can give but they aren't and they aren't really even people. Nothing in the Constitution gives corporations the same rights as a person.  And a corporation is not a person.  If it were then when it breaks the law it would have to stop doing business just as I would if I broke the law and went to jail" ~ an anonymous commentator wrote in a comment thread at http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/2232.

In my opinion, this commentator made an excellent point.  Alito, Kennedy, Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas--nominated to the bench by Republican presidents--are responsible for the terrible precedent in Citizen United vs  FEC.  It's terrible because their decision did away with nearly everything we had in federal campaign finance law.  For instance, Corporations are now free to advertise an unlimited number of misleading ads, which you have no doubt seen in the last election cycle.  We will, unfortunately, be bombarded with even more come 2012.  After all, American corporations and Wall Street would love nothing more than take back the White House and be in control of the bicameral legislature in Washington, D.C.

Presently, there's very little we can do to limit Corporations' influence unless we pass a constitutional amendment overturning Citizen United.  It's an ambitious and lofty goal, but if "we, the people" want to stay in charge of our government, then this what needs to happen. 

To further illustrate how Corporations in charge of our democracy is a terrible idea, please watch the 8-minute video below.  (Closed-captioned is provided).  It does a fine job of explaining in simple terms of the mess our country now finds itself in.
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One small peak at The Daily Post was all it took for me to come up with an idea of what to blog about next and that is: "what can't you say 'no' to?"  An easy question!  It's those highly caloric foods designed to make you go "yummy!" and a freaking computer, no less. 

Every two hours I always look for something delicious to eat and gladly head over to Cold Stone Creamery, one of the most heavenly ice cream places on earth.  But I've managed to stayed away because with frequent visits I'll consume too much sugar, turning my belly into a balloon-like shape body. 

Chocolates is another food I constantly have difficulty saying "no" to.  Just the other day when I walked into Walgreens, Easter candies were stocked in the candy section.  One BIG glance at them was all it took for me to go on a shopping spree and then a candy binge.  Crap! By noon tomorrow I'll be at the gym running on a treadmill burning of those darn extra calories.

The other thing I have difficulty saying "no" is to a computer. Like a person with OCD, I compulsively check in with Facebook and Twitter to read status updates from my friends and those I blindly follow.  It's entertaining--and at times instructive--knowing what others think, say, or feel on whatever weighs heavily on their minds. 

There you have it.  Candies, ice cream, and a computer are some of the things I have trouble when using that one word.   Now off I go to raid the fridge to satisfy my sweet tooth. 
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I became inspired to blog about a British golfer's response in an interview I saw on television.  (FYI: I only caught glimpse of it at the end.) The British golfer said something that caught my attention. He was asked why Americans are more fascinated with the British royal wedding than British people. His response --in not so many words-- was that the British people are just not into it. 

Fascinating, isn't it?  Then why the heck are Americans into it?  Is it because there isn't an equivalent one in our home country?  However, there are certain families who have received a certain amount of "royalty" like fame.  Remember the Kennedys? Paris Hilton?  (Does Donald Trump's family count?)  And let's not forget the Clintons.

Or could it be that Americans are just simply fascinated with the extravaganza display of the wedding and the old-fashioned nature of the British institutions?  The soap opera of their lives?  The affairs?  And the jealously?

The right answer, of course, is "all the above."  But what if the level of American's fascination with the British royal family and the wedding--a myth?  A bit of a stretch, maybe?  After all, I have seen Princess Diana and Prince Charles's get married back when it was broadcast live on television.  But in my defense, I was too young to understand what the big hoopla was all about.

So when Prince Williams' wedding day arrives, I may tune in to watch the broadcast.  Or I may not.  All I know is I'm not really that into it. 

What about you?  Do you think Americans' fascination with the royal family a myth?  Or are they really that into it?
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When you stayed out late with your buddies only to watch the Miami Heat losing to Chicago Bulls; when you learn to write a sentence employing a subordinating style and then compare it to that of Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail knowing yours is just not as great but a start; when you work on your poker game and find it still takes a lifetime to master, especially when you feel bitterly disappointed you've been defeated; when you find the rich is still out to screw the middle class and doesn't care becomes self-evident; when you feel chilly and wrap yourself underneath the quilt trying to get a good night sleep; when you find yourself longing to contact that special someone you once connected with; when your only pleasure is a nice escape to a place you've never been; when the thought of doing one more chore in your hectic day becomes something you absolutely dread; then you tell yourself tomorrow is just another day.
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Thank U 01/24/2011
 
Here's an American Sign Language version of Alanis Morissett's first single "Thank U" from the fourth album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.  The lyric to the song is included in the video.


From Wikipedia:

Background and Writing
Morissette wrote "Thank U" after returning from a trip to India in 1997. The song expresses the heartfelt gratitude which she felt at the time. The lyrics, such as "thank you terror" and "thank you frailty," lend the song a sense lyrical reflection on cynicism, despair, personal triumph and hope.

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It's been six days since my last post and failed to meet the Post-A-Day Challenge.  It was bound to happen, I guess.  After all, it is time-consuming to come up with a topic, organize my thought--and oh my, the endless editing!  Therefore, I've decided to write a blog at least once a week.  If you were looking forward to my daily post, I'm very sorry to disappoint.  

Now on with my blog . . . . 

Is it still winter or what?!  This past Wednesday the temperature dipped in the 50's and stayed there for about two consecutive days.   It may seem silly pondering this thought since December was just around the corner, but if you have ever lived in South Florida as long as I have, then it is easy to forget.   Just try visualizing yourself stepping outside of a condo in the morning witnessing the bright blue skies, feeling the sun rays shinning in your face, and feeling the breeze of a mid 70's degree like weather day after day. 

Ahh, I can never get tired this weather except, well, the blistering heat during the summertime. 
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Learning American Sign Language (ASL) can be fun.  It is not just based on spelling words with hang signals, as most people dare presume.  ASL is an unique language complete with its own grammatical rules and syntax.  It's also a living language based on visual-gestural (i.e. using eyes/hands/face/body).   Moreover, it is the fourth most commonly used language in the United States.  Having said that, learning ASL is advantageous for several reasons. 

First, ASL will introduce you to a whole set of new friends and interesting people.  There's a little caveat you need to know though: you need to become courageous when accosting Deaf people.  And if they are anything like me, we welcome you into our community with open arms because we're thrilled - and honored- you've expressed an interest in communicating with us.  In turn, deaf people will introduce you to their signing community, which is a very cool thing to witness.

Secondly, are you a hearing parent who have deaf children and been advised that ASL will delay the development of spoken language?  The truth couldn't be further from the truth, and a myth that needs dispelling in its own right.  What ASL will do is it open you and your deaf child to a world of visual communication.  Something you both deserve, right?  The sooner you learn and teach your child ASL -at an early age, of course- the better it will be in the long run.
    
Finally, learning ASL can advance a person's career by become a sign language interpreter.  You can become a staff employee, a freelance independent contractor, or an agency interpreter.  Interpreter salaries range anywhere from $12 to $50 an hour or more or $10,000 to $50,000 or more annually.  It all depends on the geographical location, education, credentials, amount of experience, and what type of interpreter you are (i.e. staff, freelancer or agency interpreter).

Does this all sound good?  Well, I can only hope.  One good place to start is by contacting a community college or an adult education in your area.  Remember, once you start making friends with deaf people, they will help you along the way. 

Good luck!  
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I’ve decided I want to blog more often.  Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now.  I will be posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome, and wonderful.  Moreover, I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.

If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.

Update (1/24/11):  I'll be posting a blog once or twice a week instead of once a day.
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