Deaf man wins business award

This year's Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs has been won by a man whose company provides video conferencing for deaf people.

Andrew Thomson will use the money to expand his business, Sign-now.com ,is a web-based means of enabling deaf people to communicate with the hearing world.

Deaf woman and Provincial civil court Judge Donald Ingram

"I cannot pay the $150," the 34-year-old mother of four - who survives on a disability income - told the judge, speaking through an American sign language interpreter. (Click on link)

"It is unfair and I feel I have been discriminated against," she said. "I feel, as a deaf person, it is a slap in the face."

Provincial civil court Judge Donald Ingram briefly looked at Wood, who had become quite agitated, and then said: "I get your message. Anything else?"

Judge Ingram's background:
Judge Donald Ingram was born in Edmonton, and earned his bachelor of arts and law degrees from the University of Alberta in 1956. He articled under Garth Fryett and Douglas Matheson, and was admitted to the bar on May 29, 1957 in Calgary.

His career as a civil litigation lawyer began with the firm of Matheson and Company in Edmonton. He rose quickly to become a senior partner with expertise in the practice areas of criminal, corporate and administrative law.

He was appointed to the Edmonton civil claims division of the Alberta provincial court in January 2000.

You can reason, but you can't hide the facts

Reasoning is the cognitive Cognition is a concept used in different ways by different disciplines, but is generally accepted to mean the process of awareness or thought. The meaning of the word "reason" overlaps to a large extent with "rationality" and the adjective of reason in philosophical contexts is normally "rational", not "reasonable" for beliefs, conclusions, actions or feelings.

Moral reasoning is individual or collective practical reasoning about what, morally, one ought to do. How do we sort out which moral considerations are most relevant?

The concept that is is called "begging the question in logic", which is the Latin name petitio principii, is an informal fallacy found in many attempts at logical arguments. Such an argument is valid in the sense in which logicians use that term, yet provides no reason at all to believe its conclusion. Often people will use "logic" and "argument from analogy" (relating things to novel other situations) to prove their case.

We can look around the facts and in our own minds, we reason differently.

Today is my 5th Wedding Anniversary.

:)

I am happily married and my wife is the most wonderful woman.

Speaking of Ignorance, Deaf & Blind Schools in Ohio

Last year, State of Ohio was discussing merging their two campuses. Alumni are fighting a plan to create a single campus for the state schools for the deaf and the blind, saying mingling their student bodies will create safety and social problems. Even when their educational programs would remain separate?

Currently, there are about 12 schools in the United States teach blind students and deaf students on the same campus and so far their have been no major problems. They are not without problems but problems that leads to learning and getting rid of ignorance.

Is fear of merging due to ignorance? Will this compromise deaf students' self-esteem and conviction that deafness is not a handicap?

There's a deaf culture in a way that there's not a blind culture?

Students who may be ignorant could lead to teasing and bullying if the Ohio State School for the Blind and Ohio School for the Deaf share facilities such as a gym and cafeteria?

What happened to living in the "society" along with "other cultures"? There's should be an education of how to live with "other" cultures in the society including people with disabilities. National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID) is one example of being part of the hearing culture as one of 8 colleges of Rochester Institute of Technology. Many students, both hearing and deaf faced one of their major issues was diversity and culture on campus. In 1968, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf was established and joined educational forces as one of the colleges of RIT. NTID supports 1,200 students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Two Worlds Together documentary brings to light the cross-cultural barriers that occur when deaf and hearing students co-exist on one campus. Discussions with both deaf and hearing first-year students after the film will focus on your reactions and thoughts about your role in this unique setting. Strategies and resources for bridging communication gaps will also be shared.

In the past few years, the phrase "disabled people" have been changed "people with disabilities". A disability is a body function is impaired compare to the usual normal healthy abilities of a body and within a body, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment mental illness, and various types of chronic disease (like mulitiple scleorsis).

Its a tough and confusing world out there but once you take the time to understand the basic concept of cultural's point of view of the word "disability", you will know (hopefully) know what they are talking about.

World of Ignorance

What does it really mean? World of ignorance. We know we can maintain our integrity only by admitting our ignorance; and that very ignorance will encourage us to search for better understanding carefully.

The author who wrote about Hellen Keller explained Hellen's struggled in this world for her as a deaf and blind individual who was trying to live her life in this world. In this world, Judgemental is one of many obstacles that many with Disabled have faced over the years such as discrimination, attitudes and especially, ignorance.

Another issue is bias. Bias is a term used to describe a tendency or preference towards a particular perspective and ideology. A bias could lead one to accept or deny the truth that is often very "one-sided" while ignoring the other.

What is this thing called knowledge anyway? What is this thing called ignorance? Can we know anything with one hundred percent certainty?

This quote come to mind:

The pleasures of ignorance are as great, in their way, as the pleasures of knowledge. ~Aldous Huxley

And this quote:

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument. ~William G. McAdoo

Our society is saturated with ignorance. I like this quote, It is a mistake always to contemplate the good and ignore the evil, because by making people neglectful it lets in disaster. There is a dangerous optimism of ignorance and indifference. Helen Keller

Helen Keller was a pioneer of education for the deaf and blind and an open advocate for women's rights. She is best known for overcoming her own challenges with being deaf and blind and advocating better educational and working conditions for the seeing and hearing disabled. She even received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work on educational and working rights for the deaf and blind around the world. Her name and likeness repeatedly crop up in everything from children's picture books to episodes of South Park. Banal jokes about Keller and her disabilities are common among schoolchildren and on the Internet.

With ALL disabilities, the world is full of ignorance and only handful of the world truly understands what people with disabilities really go through in their lives.

Author William Gibson who wrote about Helen Keller dies at 94

He wrote a true story of the deaf-blind Helen Keller's rescue from a world of ignorance, has died. More Story

Happy Thanksgiving and Thoughts

I grew up in Duxbury, MA which is part of Plymouth Colony. Pilgrims and Thanksgiving started by the Puritans, who were "The Separatists" in England in the 16th century. These are the founders of our country for whom immigration to America constituted withdrawal from the mother church. The Puritans reached North America with the English settlers who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It remained the dominant religious force in New England throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. It was the Puritans who started "Thanksgiving". In 1620 one of the separatist congregations sailed for New England on the Mayflower.

The Puritans were interested in establishing a degree of separation of church and state because they had been persecuted by the English government and wanted to ensure their own freedom of religion in Massachusetts Bay. They also disagreed with the Catholic/Anglican idea that the church should be should be universal, encompassing every member of the community. This implied a division between the institutions of society (government) and the institutions of the church.

What have I learned.... Trust was essential in our Government.

I saw a party that I have respected for years have lost their reputation. Jesus Christ, whom many Republicans claim to follow, however they are either hot or cold toward Him, because a "lukewarm" commitment makes Him want to vomit. In essence, Republican conservatives have become "lukewarm" on life, on marriage, on limited government, on parental rights in educating and raising children, on faith, on family and on freedom. In this day and age with many a so-called “true” Christians languishing in lukewarm faith formalism where spiritual-filled gifts are used for self-served purposes rather than God's glory.

The Republican Party even referred themselves as "God's Own Party," indicating unswerving commitment to faith, family and freedom. Before we condemn the so called conservatives that are similar to Scribes and Pharisees of the bible for their failures, we all must be sure that we are not overlooking our own spiritual shortcomings. Do any of our personal habits that we are ashamed of that we need to change?

An honest Christian with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with them very quickly. They could wonder why they are not making progress in their Christian lives. Often some members of the party are blinded by their own self-arrogant that effectively blocks out any possible effort for them to see the truth. Think of Joe the Plumber-and you see the core of the Republican Party but they won't or don't or can't because they are blinded by idealism.

If the Republican Party want people to see them with approval when they are displaying that Jesus is infinitely valuable to them, but they dare not make the opinion of others the measure of their faithfulness. They may be blind and resistant to truth because I am seeing discrimination, wrong attitudes, ignorance, stereotyping, and alienation.

We need to change idealism of the conservatives. They have adopted about how things "should be done" which often gets challenged by the way things are in reality.

Christianity is still true and meaningful, it must not only save but serve FIRST out of love. When we trivialize the Scriptures, we reduce God’s Commandments of our Christian Life to formulas (legalism), or we rationalize away the demands (liberalism), or we fabricate a list of things (agenda) we are going to do for God (moralism), all three (legalism, liberalism and moralism) replaces God’s grace and need for Jesus Christ. If we allow ourselves to the bondage to a corruption of nature (i.e., legalism, liberalism and moralism), then we are not free as the Bible defines it.

Legalistic: Conservatives will make rules that will make them feel very safe by imposing standards on others. If they are not following their formula of legalistic beliefs, then they are not true Americans.

Liberalistic: Some will rationalize that certain rules, regulations, laws in the Bible do not apply today, they can interpret incorrectly that we do not need to follow such rules, regulations and laws. This can lead to wrong concept of true liberalism.

Moralistic: Those who follows their resolutions according to their understanding of the Scriptures that being radical and focusing on agendas to accomplish God’s will, they will impose on others even though they do not believe with their interpretations.

A good quote:

Divisions and separations are most objectionable in religion. They weaken the cause of true Christianity ...But before we blame people for them, we must be careful that we lay the blame where it is deserved. False doctrine and heresy are even worse than schism. If people separate themselves from teaching that is positively false and unscriptural, they ought to be praised rather than reproved. In such cases separation is a virtue and not a sin. J.C. RYLE

There are religions teach that God is all justice while others say that God is all love. People become arrogant like the philosophers who have their own concepts, views, ideas and theories of what the world can be or should be. When we conceive ourselves to be honest seekers who cannot accept such myths (or truth) that we are in a state of dangerous self-deception which is a grave situation. Our flaw, blunder or shall I frankly say our sin is to follow what we are born with and ignore what we can be born-again with. It is not the Bible but rather the Spirit of God within us leads us to better understanding of the Living Word. If a spiritually dead person tries to read the Bible, is the Bible working for them? Jesus did not promise any of us that consistent Christian living would be easy!

I can become a heretic if I do not know what the bible say about faith and Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 that he is to "be diligent to present himself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth". I believe Paul's advise is to me and I should take very this seriously that the true meaning of a Christian. True Christians knows that not everyone is willing to be a Christian. I can't be like a Pharisee to make sure they don't break God's "rules".

I have said it before and I will say it again, I have learned that democracy does not give me any real power at all because in God's providence, He allowed democracy to basically swamps each of us Christians among non-believers.

Christian Grace is about loving other people that we have the freedom to do so but at the same time, respect how they practice their beliefs. A Christian life in this world should be different from the world, being in the world but not of the world. A humbled Christian is a Christian with flaws which humbles them that is more useful to God than hypocrite action that puffs them up. Charles Elliot said it nicely, "Hypocrites we are: but we are on the way to liberation even from our own hypocrisy". James 1:26 says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."

Lately, many conservative Christian leaders are hypocrites and they are no help to the people of America.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says U.S. automakers need a new business model to better compete

Buffett is Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and arguably the greatest investor of all time.

Resting with a bad cold...

will be back posting when I am better.

Local News: Library

I love libraries and I usually support them. I will support $25M bond issue in May (From the Columbus Dispatch)

The bonds are to help to upgrade and expand facilities at the main library and the Lane Road branch. Based on the average residential property value in Upper Arlington, the new bond issue would cost the owner of a $300,000 home $100 to $105 per year.

The first reading of the legislation to place the bond issue on the ballot is scheduled to come before council on Nov. 24, with the second and third readings scheduled for Dec. 8 and Jan. 12.

Rankings:
Population of 25K , # 3 UPPER ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, Upper Arlington, Ohio
Population of 500K # 1 COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY, Columbus, Ohio
Top Ten Libraries in Each Population Category

One wondered how the deaf could communicate despite missing one of the most important senses – hearing

A NEWER PERSPECTIVE I realized that there are so many things that regular people can do to help people with disabilities.

Men and Depression

Reading one blogger about men and depression prompted me to post the blog.

I am dealing with my own depression mostly caused by Multiple Sclerosis(MS)since MS damages the myelin and nerve fibers deep within the brain. If MS damages areas of the brain that are involved in emotional expression and control, a variety of behavioral changes can result, including depression. There are some evidence that the interferon medication that I am taking may trigger or worsen depression.

Depression remains taboo in many christian circles, but eventually some degree of depression reaches each person's life no matter how close they are to God. Well meaning, yet ignorant Christians will say things such as; Repent and ask forgiveness for your sin because real Christians don't get depressed and depression is a self discipline problem.

While it is true in the "Fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5 explains why we get depressed. Depression and despair is a lack of joy, which is part of the fruit of the Spirit. Inner conflict and fear is a lack of peace, which is also a part of the fruit of the Spirit. We may be experiencing personal problems such as dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and depression but all of us have to explore ALL aspect of the disease which should include spiritual along with medicine. Psychology and medicine have not really proven themselves capable of dealing effectively with the human mind and with mental and emotional processes. King David was a person who occasionally sought advice from human counselors, but he always turned to God for answers in the end. Reading Psalms shows that David was especially dependent on God alone when he struggled with personal problems or emotions. We all can be "theologically knowing while at the same time spiritually ignorant". We can have GREAT knowledge but if we don't have spiritual wisdom, our knowledge is worthless. Many Christians have spent their time correcting their faith symptoms rather than allowing the Holy Spirit lead their faith. Real faith knows only one way and willing to allow God lead us as He did with great faiths in the Scriptures. In one of Christ's parables (Matthew 13), Jesus is emphasizing that it is the Holy Spirit's conviction that God’s design for us is to be radically transform by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) allowing us to grown from within and it is our hope for this radical transformation is by the power of the Holy Spirit in His grace (Romans 15:13).

Christians should also realize that depression is REAL and should be dealt with in positive and honest approach. There are about 80 percent effective way of overcoming depression is through amino acid, vitamin, and mineral supplements. Depression is often caused by a deficiency in certain chemicals in the body. Depression may have abnormal levels of certain brain chemicals, including serotonin, acetylcholine, and catecholamines (such as dopamine).

Nutritional deficiencies are as follows:
Vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins, and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium. Omega-3 fatty acids,Vitamin C, 500 - 1000 mg,Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg, Melatonin, 2 - 5 mg and others.

I have been taking nutrition along with my medications to help control my depression that is usually caused by MS medication and other medications I am taking.

Other causes of depression are complex and involve a combination of biologic, genetic, and environmental factors.

Clinical depression was once considered a "woman's disease," more than 6 million men in the U.S. have at least one episode of major depression each year. Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of loss, anger, sadness, or frustration interfere with everyday life.

Depression in men often can be traced to cultural expectations. Men are supposed to be successful. They should rein in their emotions.They tend to deal with their symptoms with a macho attitude or by drinking alcohol which destroys much needed nutrients. Without proper nutrients, men can fall into deep depression.

Lacking nutrients usually means medication like prozac.

Men can find more information about this topic in: Men get depression

Christians can find out more information about this topic in: Christian Depression

Christian Support for Depression

Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew was introduced as the first of the 10 inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs on June 15, 1994 and for the first time, Columbus Crew is going to play the Championship game. The team won Eastern Conference Championship last Thursday against the Chicago Fire and the first MLS Cup berth in club history. Major League Soccer announced Tuesday that Crew head coach Sigi Schmid has been named the 2008 MLS Coach of the Year with 17-7-6 and shattered the club record for points in a season (57).

Other than Ohio State Buckeyes, Columbus Crew is getting more loyal fans and I pray that next year that more fans will be attending the home games.

Pictures of my 2 dogs and cats

Fired for deafness

From Massachuestts near Boston A former custodian with the Westboro public schools has filed suit against the town and his former supervisor, claiming he was fired because he is deaf. Mr. The former custodian also attended the required training but was not provided with either an interpreter or any closed captioning on the Sorenson VRS. As a result, Mr. Smith was required to sit throughout the six-hour training not understanding anything that was being taught or discussed.

Now, I would like to see the result of this situation once resolved.

When I was diagnosed, losing friends was part of reality

After being diagnosed with MS, coping with disabailities including MS and hearing-impairement, I have lost my own self-confidence. I even remembered their comments about my own confidence why they no longer want to be my friends, those comments affected my thinking in the past 6 years. It appears I became a pest to some.

I had similar problems in local churches and Christians.

I even had my own problems at work because I was struggling with my newly diagnosed MS while dealing with major problems at work. I am very thankful for my co-workers. Most of them, I worked with for 20 years or longer. They are family to me and they were there for me.

For past 6 years, I have met many very positive people who seemed to have taken charge of their disabilities and were actively searching for answers to their problems WHILE living very normal lives.

I have learned a great deal about my own Multple Sclerosis over the past 6 years ever since I was diagnosed in April 22, 2002. I got divorced within a year. While at the same time, during my own struggle with self-confidence, I have lost some friends especially to those who I admire and respect. I have not seen many of them for 5 years now. The best way to determine if a person is real friend is when you are alone. Looking back, I have learned that a real friend is someone who will help you through tough time and stand beside you through anything even if they dislike the choices you make but they will say they are happy for you and they are the one who will stick up for you will you need them.

I didn't gain my self-confidence back until one woman who came into my life after I got divorced. I kept thinking about how amazing God works in me which have made me stronger in heart and mind. He taught me to be humbled about my life.

It appears that after MS, that I have a "new" life with "new" friends. It was like I was starting all over with new relationships and new friends. Finding friends who truly accepts you will take time.

I have learned that MS has no significant effect on life expectancy and not all MS patients are alike. I like this quote I read somewhere by Frank Cousins, who survived more than twenty years after he was given just a few weeks to live, used to say, "Accept the diagnosis but don’t accept the verdict that comes with it." MS Society has a great slogan, "You have MS. MS doesn’t have you." Our adversaries have made our will strong and made our desires to live stronger which caused our determination to be strong. Regardless whether I am deaf or have Multiple Sclerosis or whatever else is affecting me, I should look on the positive side of my life. Attitude is important. Attitude towards cultures is important. Attitude towards life is important. Therefore, attitude about my own life is very very important.

I will be 50 years old in about 4 weeks and I have learned about human nature in my life. When interacting with people, we may be able to fool other people, and often, we do not realize this ourselves, we often fool ourselves. If we can learn to be honest with ourselves our conscience will prevent us from undertaking regrettable actions.

"Friendship doubles your joys, and divides your sorrows." ~ author unknown

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Friendship is neither a formality nor a mode: it is rather a life." ~ David Grayson

Remember, you know who your friends and close relatives are by noticing that they are with you for life regardless what happens.

Deaf Organization in Ohio Spotlight

Deaf Women of Ohio is a group of Deaf women who want to make a difference. The mission of Deaf Women of Ohio is to promote the interests of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind women, through education, leadership, empowerment and community support.

Its nice to have many different kinds of organizations for the deaf.

Sunday Deep Thoughts

It would be nice not to have any regrets. If I had no regrets, I would never grow. Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes. Self-centered desires affects our minds through deception and that we begin to justify and rationalize our right to possess what we desire. A Christian tries to act like a mature believer HOWEVER this Christian is really a child at heart because his/her life revolves around "what is good for me." Our hearts are like a garden and must be kept free from weeds and insects. This is not about faith in relation to "getting what you want" but faith in WHO and at HIS will. Our self-interest motives conduct even though it is part of our fallen nature, the cross is a symbol of the selfless, others-centered life of Christ.

It's All About Respect

I always love "history" that diplomacy in this world is being graceful towards others regardless how I think of them or how I feel about them. God constantly intervenes in our lives through providence. If you read the main stories in the Old Testament relating to God's providence, God providentially led Joseph, Ruth, Esther, Job and others to accomplish great things in His eternal plan. I believe God will do the same with President elect Obama. I have learned in our lives that God is adjusting our history according to His purposes. He knows what He's doing that we have to learn to trust His will, His power, and His timing when the time is right, and not until then. That's the essence of real faith.

I will join those who elected Obama as our President and give my 100 % support. I believe that we are called to render service and obedience as to submit to civil authority (1 Pet. 2:13–17 ; Matt. 22:21) even when they are run by sinners because the Government is God-ordained. Whoever is elected, I truly believe it is all part of God's plans.

Yesterday, I worked at a poll as one of Precinct Election Officials and it was busy in the morning. I like this picture I got from the Columbus Dispatch. I worked for 15 1/2 hours.