Real surprised about having problems with TaylerInfoMedia's "Fomdi.com" for the search of locating captioned first-run films at selected theatres.
When came to South Florida last March 2009. I was in somewhat a mood for first-run film viewing. I typed "Fort Lauderdale, FL". Guess what?
No captioned films in Fort Lauderdale area. I decide to check out captioned films in Miami area. Guess what? The list of captioned film availability found for Fort Lauderdale area. Whoa!
If not for my deterative thinking, I would never find out about such theatre in Fort Lauderdale screening the captioned first-run films in the first place.
I went to New York City (NY) for a major event last week. I checked out the Fomdi.com to see if there were any captioned films shown in NYC. Guess what? Nope!
I recalled from my personal experience dealing with the Fomdi.com back to last March 2009. I figured out instantly and typed "Newark, NJ". Good enough that there were several captioned films being shown in NYC like J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" film being shown at the Regal Lincoln Square 12 theatre on Friday morning at 10:05am. Just one film screening for "Star Trek" at that same theatre and no following showtime later that weekend.
I ended up viewed "Wolverine: Origin of X-Men" film with RWC (rear windows captioning), not my original choice for "Star Trek" film. I managed to watch the full Star Trek film without captions. Of course, I wouldn't pay for the non-captioned film at all. Just sneaked in as usual.
Why not? Who (the deaf) want to pay for any film without captions? That is my own personal protest against the movie theatres for not showing other films without captions or pigeonhole us into watching particular film without much customer choices for other film viewings.
I hopefully will view "Star Trek" film with open captions at the Regal Cypress theatre this weekend. I wonder about other deaf people being not resourceful as I am. They would eventually find out that there are no captioned films being shown in their area or travel destination.
I always am very grateful to Tayler for the creation of FOMDI.com and thank him all the hard works for serving the deaf community at large. My heart go to Tayler and the DeafRead. :)
Please share your personal experience dealing with the Fomdi.com and help Tayler to improve and finesse the search engine for captioned films being shown somewhere. Thanks.
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
Thursday, May 14, 2009
HOORAY FOR AFA! OPEN LETTER TO REP. CULLEN
OPEN LETTER TO REP. DAVID CULLEN -
Dear Rep. David Cullen,
I am writing you a letter of concern and expression about your public quote to the media publications on the issue of cochlear implant and societal functions of deaf people at large within the behalf of the Audism Free America.
Being a profoundly deaf person, I do find your quote - "This bill will help deaf children to function very well in the society at large, get the job and be part of the society at large" to be reprehensible and irresponsible and untruthful.
Since you are an elected statewide official. You have a responsibility of giving the balanced and accurate fact about the majority of deaf individuals as a productive members of the society, hold the job with paid salaries, pay taxes and participate in the public activities.
The recent passage of your legislation is much a reminder of the eugenics movement during the Progressive Era to cleanse and purify the so-called undesirables. Your legislation will leave very costly incentives saddled with long-term financial disaster for the state of Wisconsin and compromise the health insurance industry from delivering the real necessity of health needs.
For your information, every of us, human beings have our physical flaws. That makes our humanity real unique and vibrant for the real diversity of human race, instead of being the cookie cutter to correct the human imperfection.
If not for deaf people in existence, we would not have the finessed electric light bulb, movie camera, space travel, the Fifth Symphony, the birth of Internet, the creation of telephone/ telegram and other more amazing inventions all done by deaf people.
Thomas Alva Edison, the legendary American inventor, deaf himself. Edison often said that he was real proud to be deaf and blessed to be deaf. So Edison could focus on his countless inventions. He did cup his left ear for the portrait photography with big grin. Edison's works were much part of "conductive deafness" which led to the creation of the world's first phonograph machine.
Could you imagine that we would not have any cinematic experience on the silver screen or on our home entertainment player?
Dear Rep. David Cullen,
I am writing you a letter of concern and expression about your public quote to the media publications on the issue of cochlear implant and societal functions of deaf people at large within the behalf of the Audism Free America.
Being a profoundly deaf person, I do find your quote - "This bill will help deaf children to function very well in the society at large, get the job and be part of the society at large" to be reprehensible and irresponsible and untruthful.
Since you are an elected statewide official. You have a responsibility of giving the balanced and accurate fact about the majority of deaf individuals as a productive members of the society, hold the job with paid salaries, pay taxes and participate in the public activities.
The recent passage of your legislation is much a reminder of the eugenics movement during the Progressive Era to cleanse and purify the so-called undesirables. Your legislation will leave very costly incentives saddled with long-term financial disaster for the state of Wisconsin and compromise the health insurance industry from delivering the real necessity of health needs.
For your information, every of us, human beings have our physical flaws. That makes our humanity real unique and vibrant for the real diversity of human race, instead of being the cookie cutter to correct the human imperfection.
If not for deaf people in existence, we would not have the finessed electric light bulb, movie camera, space travel, the Fifth Symphony, the birth of Internet, the creation of telephone/ telegram and other more amazing inventions all done by deaf people.
Thomas Alva Edison, the legendary American inventor, deaf himself. Edison often said that he was real proud to be deaf and blessed to be deaf. So Edison could focus on his countless inventions. He did cup his left ear for the portrait photography with big grin. Edison's works were much part of "conductive deafness" which led to the creation of the world's first phonograph machine.
Could you imagine that we would not have any cinematic experience on the silver screen or on our home entertainment player?
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the "Father of Theoretical Astronautics", deaf and self-taught himself. His theoretical works on physics matter and mathematics contributed to the possibility of space travel for the future generation. The Russian/USSR people had the monument to pay the endless respect for Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and thanked him for his great contribution to the humankind.
Could you imagine that the deaf individual paved the way for the possibility of space travel decades earlier?
Ludwig Beethoven, the composer of the "Fifth Symphony", latened deaf himself and composed most beautiful and soothing music. Beethoven doesn't let his physical flaw stopped him from doing his love of life and contributed to the cultural significance of our own humanity.
If not for Alexander Graham Bell and Samuel Morse' own deaf wives, we would not have the telephone or telegraph for greater modern communication devices. Both wives made great difference in their husbands' desires to bring humanity closer to the possibilities of communication over lands and seas.
The birth and creation of the Internet would be not possible without deaf individuals being involved in the infancy stage of the most revolutionized communication network ever. Vincent Cerf played the pivotal role in the creation of the Internet. The Gallaudet College students had been dispatched to the Department of Defense's research units in the late 1950s and 1960s which lend to the patchworks of communication development unit known later as the Internet in the late 1960s.
There are millions of deaf individuals' thankless contribution to the society at large. If not for the existence of sign language, the scuba divers would not have the underwater communication techniques with hands communication.
I could go further on more contributions made by deaf people to the humankind. We are more than being burdensome to the society at large and lift our human possibilities to the enrichment of daily human lives.
Please issue the public apology to the Deaf America for misrepresenting the facts about deaf people in general as soon as possible before June 1, 2009.
Thanks for your time and consideration reading this open letter to you and the state legislature of Wisconsin.
Respectfully yours,
Robert L. Mason
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Deaf America - L'Chaim, U.S. Flag Burning Not Illegal At All!
L'Chaim, popular vlogger on the DeafRead and DVTV, needs to realize the constitutional fact on the freedom of expression of burning (desecrating) the U.S. flag under the U.S. Constitution's "First Amendment" is pure legal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._Johnson
The U.S. Supreme Court declared that the citizens have the right whatever they do with our U.S. flag in 1989. The U.S. Congress tried to pass the law to forbade the U.S. flag burning, but never had successfully doing it. THANK GOD!
Deaf people need to understand that the U.S. flag is just a piece of cloth, not something sacred.
FLK50 deaf vlogger have my personal admiration for being gutsy and non-conformist. *waving hands to him*
Patriotism is really the overrated stuff anyway.
Most important of all is to be patriotic is to pay fair share of taxes based on progressive income level, be a law-abiding citizen, treat citizens with respect, support the public school system and other institutions, ex. public library and other things. Not stuff money in hidden tax
havens, etc.
Patriotism and collectivism mentality could blind us to the destructive means of our own democracy.
The GOP (Republicans) were the real hypocrites whose called for the flag burning amendment to the U.S. Constitution while their own party candidate's own wife, Barbara Bush wore her blouse with the U.S. flag symbol anyway at the 1988 Republican convention. Her own husband was the Vice President George W. Bush at that time. Bush Sr. was also a former chief of the CIA.
According to the U.S. flag code, no one is allowed to disrespect the U.S. flag in any way like wearing the U.S. flag as something decor. http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html
I used to be the flag person at the WV School for the Deaf in Romney, WV. I was selected by David West, WVSD Junior/High School principal when I was a freshman. At first, I sneered at such request and dismissed that kind of ridiculous task of putting and removing the U.S. flag every morning and after the school. The principal begged and begged me.
Guess what? I let other junior high students put and take down the U.S. and West Virginia flag which they wanted to do the flag duties very much than I was. Why didn't the school do the interview and choose the right flag person with much passion and patriotism? The school always choose the male student to be the flag person. *rolling eyes with disbelief*
I often let the U.S. and West Virginia flag got real wet during the rainstorm or forgot to take the flag after the school. I was pretty busy doing other things. No big deal for me! The houseparents and teachers often came to me and pointed out the window for the flag got wet or snowed. The U.S. and WV flags need to be washed sometimes anyway.
I just shrugged my shoulder and said "Someone else was supposed to take care of both flags, not me. The school frequently reminded me that I was an official flag person. I never asked for this time-wasting flag duty.
The entire school KNEW that I was an atheist, leftist and communist sympathizer during the Reagan Era (the 80s). They hoped to change me for who and what I was all about. I just love to snub people that way. I never was for the communist ideals anyway. I was never a pure leftist. I always love to throw people off the balance with non-conformist views and broaden their minds to the fullest extent of democratic stuff.
In the end, I never changed my leopard spots anyway all my entire life. Just let people do their own things. Life is too short to worry over little things.
We need to understand that our country is not really perfect at all or best country in the world. Same thing with the Deaf America, too.
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
We Need More Tim Rikkers in Our Deaf Community
The Audism Free America (AFA) recently posted Tim Rikker's letter to the Wisconsin Legislature as proof of "postive-enchanced deaf activism", instead of being politically and socially passive. http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2009/05/response-to-wisc-bill-and-cullens.html
We really could get the Wisconsin health insurance industry on our side to rally against the Governor of Wisconsin to sign off the legislation as part of state government's social engineering to re-construct the so-called uptoian society.
We could ask the Wisconsin health insurance industry to fly some AFA members and other deaf individuals to the state captiol of Wisconsin to ask Governor (whatever his name is) NOT to sign the bill.
That is not a matter of choice at all. That is the real Nazi social engineering to create the perfect society. The whole humankind history will prove otherwise.
The Wisconsin policymakers and state governor need to realize that is not really a cost-effective method for long-term finanical cost-savings. More costly than letting the natural aspect of human physical flaws as greater reminder for us that no one could play the "God".
Still longing to see the open letter from the Audism Free America, Deaf Bilingual Coaltion, National Association of the Deaf and other state associations of the deaf.
We could send the direct message to the state and national Democratic party leaders and coordinators that we will not forget and forgive if the Democrats are more supportive of the government social engineering to re-construct the deaf community at large for the sake of AUDISM.
We also could get state and national Republicans to rally against the state and national government's overreaching incentives to force the health insurance industry and impose costly and impractical solutions in name of unproven long-term finanical consquences and questionable human ethics.
Let's set up the meeting with the Governor of Wisconsin and his staff. We have to play real smart by reaching out to the lower level staffers of Governor's office to get his attention.
We need to be politically active by siding with the health insurance industry to rally against the recent Wisconsin legislature's misguided intentions.
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
We really could get the Wisconsin health insurance industry on our side to rally against the Governor of Wisconsin to sign off the legislation as part of state government's social engineering to re-construct the so-called uptoian society.
We could ask the Wisconsin health insurance industry to fly some AFA members and other deaf individuals to the state captiol of Wisconsin to ask Governor (whatever his name is) NOT to sign the bill.
That is not a matter of choice at all. That is the real Nazi social engineering to create the perfect society. The whole humankind history will prove otherwise.
The Wisconsin policymakers and state governor need to realize that is not really a cost-effective method for long-term finanical cost-savings. More costly than letting the natural aspect of human physical flaws as greater reminder for us that no one could play the "God".
Still longing to see the open letter from the Audism Free America, Deaf Bilingual Coaltion, National Association of the Deaf and other state associations of the deaf.
We could send the direct message to the state and national Democratic party leaders and coordinators that we will not forget and forgive if the Democrats are more supportive of the government social engineering to re-construct the deaf community at large for the sake of AUDISM.
We also could get state and national Republicans to rally against the state and national government's overreaching incentives to force the health insurance industry and impose costly and impractical solutions in name of unproven long-term finanical consquences and questionable human ethics.
Let's set up the meeting with the Governor of Wisconsin and his staff. We have to play real smart by reaching out to the lower level staffers of Governor's office to get his attention.
We need to be politically active by siding with the health insurance industry to rally against the recent Wisconsin legislature's misguided intentions.
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
RLM VLOG ON CLARIFICATION ON DEAF ORALISTS/CI USERS
I am not trying to do the spin control what I write the blog posting earlier on the "Deaf U.S. Supreme Justice".
I personally embrace deaf oralists and deaf CI users at social scenes and personal friendships.
I strongly feel about the "symbolism" of normal deaf individuals without going through any human artificiality, ex. unworkable and abusive oral trainings for the sake of societal conformity and human vanity. Same thing with the hearing imperialists to remake the image of deaf people in their own expectations.
Let the hearing people taste their own medicine for what they done to us, deaf people over more than 100 years.
Note: This writing submittance is NOT the translation of the ASL vlog posting.
I usually write in English with different approach than in ASL signings heavily emphasis on visual means. Thanks.
RLM
Deaf U.S. Supreme Court Justice
After reading last Friday's news announcement (May 1st) about David Souter, the U.S. Supreme Court justice announced his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court this summer 2009.
Immediate thoughts about having someone deaf to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court right away after Souter's announcement.
Is the time for President Obama to nominate someone deaf, who is truly qualified and empathic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court? Definitely not "oral deaf" or deaf person with cochlear implant. I rather see someone culturally deaf person like Kelby Brick or Greg Hlibok to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Intentionally not to reject anyone deaf, who is an oralist or use cochlear implant. We must send out the clear message to the American people that the culturally deaf people DO EXIST!
What about Claudia Brown, deaf African American female attorney with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security? Not likely!
Kelby Brick would be the perfect fit to the U.S. Supreme Court from his past legal activities with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). He is currently with the HOVRS known as the 'Purple Team". Brick could be very passionate about laws being applied fairly to people in general.
Greg Hlibok with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) as a senior attorney. He is much an introverted type and usually keep his thoughts to himself. Not a bad quality at all.
President Barack Obama and his White House staff and the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee are under the great pressures of remaking the U.S. Supreme Court.
There are additional deaf attorneys across the United States -
http://www.deafattorneys.com/
Very encouraging message from the U.S. Senator, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Democrat - "Not necessarily someone with the robe to be nominated" (loosely figuratively phrased) - http://www.kansascity.com/437/story/1176264.html
Any Hispanic female deaf? Claudia Brown, deaf African American female attorney is from Jamaica which probably hurt her candidacy than being helpful. Her employment with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would leave nauseous stomach among the liberals.
Claudia Brown have not been frequently seen in deaf social circles so far in Washington, DC area as compared to Kelby Brick and Greg Hlibok.
We really need more female justices on the U.S. Supreme Court anyway to give the balance of perspective on the issues concerned the human sexes. That's what Ruth Ginsburg recently complained about lack of human understanding and sensitivity to the female issues - sex discrimination and forced strip-search for the 13 years old female teenager at school.
Kelby Brick would be not likely to give up his generous salary with the HOVRS and support his own immediate family, ex. children. Brick ought to take the lifetime opportunity to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Any deaf individual ought to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court?
www.deafattorneys.com for helpful guide to ponder and root for.
The recent rumors about nominating the lesbain attorney for the U.S. Supreme Court among the gay community.
Perhaps our next time for President Obama to nominate someone deaf to the U.S. Supreme Court? We better get prepare and ready for someone deaf to be groomed to be truly qualified to be nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court seat. We really need more deaf individuals in the top governement posts affecting the deaf lives.
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
Immediate thoughts about having someone deaf to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court right away after Souter's announcement.
Is the time for President Obama to nominate someone deaf, who is truly qualified and empathic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court? Definitely not "oral deaf" or deaf person with cochlear implant. I rather see someone culturally deaf person like Kelby Brick or Greg Hlibok to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Intentionally not to reject anyone deaf, who is an oralist or use cochlear implant. We must send out the clear message to the American people that the culturally deaf people DO EXIST!
What about Claudia Brown, deaf African American female attorney with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security? Not likely!
Kelby Brick would be the perfect fit to the U.S. Supreme Court from his past legal activities with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). He is currently with the HOVRS known as the 'Purple Team". Brick could be very passionate about laws being applied fairly to people in general.
Greg Hlibok with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) as a senior attorney. He is much an introverted type and usually keep his thoughts to himself. Not a bad quality at all.
President Barack Obama and his White House staff and the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee are under the great pressures of remaking the U.S. Supreme Court.
There are additional deaf attorneys across the United States -
http://www.deafattorneys.com/
Very encouraging message from the U.S. Senator, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Democrat - "Not necessarily someone with the robe to be nominated" (loosely figuratively phrased) - http://www.kansascity.com/437/story/1176264.html
Any Hispanic female deaf? Claudia Brown, deaf African American female attorney is from Jamaica which probably hurt her candidacy than being helpful. Her employment with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would leave nauseous stomach among the liberals.
Claudia Brown have not been frequently seen in deaf social circles so far in Washington, DC area as compared to Kelby Brick and Greg Hlibok.
We really need more female justices on the U.S. Supreme Court anyway to give the balance of perspective on the issues concerned the human sexes. That's what Ruth Ginsburg recently complained about lack of human understanding and sensitivity to the female issues - sex discrimination and forced strip-search for the 13 years old female teenager at school.
Kelby Brick would be not likely to give up his generous salary with the HOVRS and support his own immediate family, ex. children. Brick ought to take the lifetime opportunity to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Any deaf individual ought to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court?
www.deafattorneys.com for helpful guide to ponder and root for.
The recent rumors about nominating the lesbain attorney for the U.S. Supreme Court among the gay community.
Perhaps our next time for President Obama to nominate someone deaf to the U.S. Supreme Court? We better get prepare and ready for someone deaf to be groomed to be truly qualified to be nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court seat. We really need more deaf individuals in the top governement posts affecting the deaf lives.
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
See That??? Any of You Could Do That By Yourself!
Often disappointed in lack of deaf activism among deaf individuals to make the real difference in our deaf lives. Seem that like too many of us rely and wait for various deaf organizations to DO SOMETHING.
Here is the link to the Metro Weekly article about the one guy do something on his own and expose what something is really not ... -
http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/?ak=4202
This guy exposed the well-known national organization about its deceptive practice with solicitation of donations.
Have the AGBell done such practice at the fundraising events like saying "We are collecting $$ to help the deaf people", etc.
Sure thing about other so-called cultural eradicators of deaf culture and deaf people from the medical industry to the CI manfacturers. That's what Dr. Don G of "Deafhood Discourses" have explored past quotes and sayings from doctors, etc on his vlog posting - 'Tools? Not A Tool? Please check out his vlog/blog posting - http://www.deafhooddiscourses.com/?p=232
The Deaf Pundit vlogged about her open letters to all deaf organizations about the troubling trends of entertainment industry for miscasting the images of cochlear implant surgery, etc. Please check out her vlog/blog posting - http://deafpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/open-letter-to-all-deaf-organizations/
Time is too precious for us to sit down and wait upon deaf organizations to do something. Either of you COULD DO SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN!
Let's have the DEAF ACTIVISM blossomed into real full action, not just TALK, TALK AND DISCUSS AND PONDER AND GASP. Do something!
Real sorry about not vlogging at this time. I wish that I could do that. :(
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
Here is the link to the Metro Weekly article about the one guy do something on his own and expose what something is really not ... -
http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/?ak=4202
This guy exposed the well-known national organization about its deceptive practice with solicitation of donations.
Have the AGBell done such practice at the fundraising events like saying "We are collecting $$ to help the deaf people", etc.
Sure thing about other so-called cultural eradicators of deaf culture and deaf people from the medical industry to the CI manfacturers. That's what Dr. Don G of "Deafhood Discourses" have explored past quotes and sayings from doctors, etc on his vlog posting - 'Tools? Not A Tool? Please check out his vlog/blog posting - http://www.deafhooddiscourses.com/?p=232
The Deaf Pundit vlogged about her open letters to all deaf organizations about the troubling trends of entertainment industry for miscasting the images of cochlear implant surgery, etc. Please check out her vlog/blog posting - http://deafpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/open-letter-to-all-deaf-organizations/
Time is too precious for us to sit down and wait upon deaf organizations to do something. Either of you COULD DO SOMETHING ON YOUR OWN!
Let's have the DEAF ACTIVISM blossomed into real full action, not just TALK, TALK AND DISCUSS AND PONDER AND GASP. Do something!
Real sorry about not vlogging at this time. I wish that I could do that. :(
ASLize yours,
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
RLMDEAF blog
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