Interpreter Issues

By Jimactor

Summary: I did not want to talk negative about interpreters as I want to express my feeling about interpreters.

Please Save Wyoming School for the Deaf Building

 Note:  FB receieved an email from Deaf person asking for help. We should share this with you. Hope you can help. Read on:

Do you guys have any ideas of what the local deaf community could to to fight against the School District to keep the Wyoming School for the Deaf building open?  Or perhaps you might know of people who would be able to help us take action?

This was the email I just sent out a few minutes ago to a lot of people that could possibly take action (hopefully!):

I just wanted to let you all know that there is still a chance that we CAN save the Wyoming School for the Deaf building from being torn down!  We need to take action.  Write letters to the editor and express your opinions and concerns about the building, pester the school district, etc.  Get your friends and/or families involved!

I myself cannot write a letter to the editor since I work for the Star Tribune and employees cannot write letters.  So it is up to you guys to write the letters.  You can send letters to
Casper Star Tribune
Letters Editor
170 Star Lane
Casper, WY 82609

or email your letters to the editor at: daniel.sandoval@trib.com

Or, you can send your letters to me and I can take them directly to the editor.  Whichever works best for you.

Keep passing around those petitions.  There is NO good reason for the building to be torn down.  So if you want to see the building saved, take action!  Spread the word and fight against the demolition.  There are even many who are working for the school district that want to keep the building up and are against the school district’s plans of tearing down buildings and replacing them, and just wasting money.

I’ll do all I can to help keep the building up, but you guys can help out too.  It’d be great if we all can work together and get the school district to change their plans.  I know we can do this.

I’ll keep sending out any more information when I know more, and doing what I can.  I can help with petitions outside work, etc.

Here’s some contact info for the school district if you guys want to send letters:
Superintendent: Jim Lowham
supt@ncsd.k12.wy.us

Central Services Facility
970 N. Glenn Road
Casper, WY 82601

There is no reason to let the school district win.  They just want to waste money by rebuilding every school in the district when it’s not even necessary.  Lets fight them and keep the WSD building open.  The WSD building is still being used on a daily basis; people are constantly coming by to use the library/resource center or the offices, and the building is still in great shape.  Pineview Elementary was condemned, the WSD was not.  And the WSD building is a unique building design, and it was built to last many, many years.  Let’s save it!

Also, I am still trying to work on the WSD Archives website.  I am having issues with the current host server, so I am looking for another host for the website.  I will let you know as soon as I can of the new web address.

Maybe you can be of help too, I don’t know.  I just want to get as many people involved as possible to save the building.  Hopefully you’ll have some ideas or people that could really help.

Hasan Aga and a Deaf-mute

Hasan Aga and a Deaf-mute from the palace (images 9 & 10) -According to the description of the plates, Hasan Aga was an English eunuch, born Samson Rowlie in Great Yarmouth (Norfolk County). He was captured off Algiers sometime before 1580, and ended up Uluj Hasan’s treasurer. His clothes are described as silver and mauve brocade with a golden sash, covered by a caftan of scarlet broadcloth lined with blue. This is f. 47r in the MS. The deaf-mute (dilsiz) was one of the sultan’s most trusted servants. Yes, they were deliberately made deaf and mute. He is seen on f. 50r.

 

From http://livingpast.com/turkp.html

First Deaf Doctors, Scientists, Dentists, in the history

By FB

How many Deaf doctors, scientists, and dentists do we have in the world? Many! There are about six Deaf doctors living in Rochester, New York. See the story at

http://fookembug.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/deaf-doctors/#comments

We are aware that we have many more “first” Deaf doctors, scientists, etc in the history. Please feel free to provide the name of Deaf people so we can keep Deaf history alive. Enjoy reading.

After graduating in 1983, Dr. Pachciarz was chief resident in pathology for five years. She completed a fellowship in transfusion medicine and blood banking, and was laboratory director of a small county laboratory. She is currently a hospital pathologist and director of the blood transfusion service at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/physicians/biography_244.html

When Zazove received his M.D. in 1978, he became one of the first deaf physicians in the United States. He then completed a residency in Family Practice at the University of Utah and hung out his shingle. After eight successful years in private practice, he accepted a position at the University of Michigan Medical School.

http://www.michdhh.org/profiles/zazove_phil.html

Robert Grant Aitken, American Astronomer 1864-1951

He discovered 3,000 double star system. He wrote “Double Star Measures”. A crater on the moon is named after him.

Guillaume Amontons, French Physicist 1663-1705

One of the first scientists to study absoulte temperature. He developed some of the first barometers and thermometers.

George K. Andree, American Dentist xxxx – xxxx

He was one of first deaf persons to earn degree in the dental profession.

Raymond T. Atwood, American Bacteriologist xxxx – xxxx

He focused on the production of vitamins and antibodies.

Kreigh B. Ayers, American Chemist xxxx – xxxx

He was one of first deaf chemists hired by Goodyear in World War I.

Donald L. Ballantyne, American Professor of Experimental Surgery 1922 – xxxx

He was known authority on transplantation techniques. He was first Deaf Professor of Experimental Surgery and Director of the Microsurgical Research and Training Laboratories.

Lewis H. Babbitt, American Herpetologist xxxx – xxxx

He was a curator for the Worcester Natural History Society. He traveled and gave lectures about repitiles at schools across the nation.

Frederick A.P. Barnard, American Scientist / Educator 1809-1889

He established an astronomical observatory at University of Alabama. He was president of Columbia College

Ruth Fulton Benedict, American Anthropoligist 1887 – 1948

As an anthropologist, she studied visual aspects of culture (pottery, costumes, dance, etc) of Indian tribes.

Charles Bonnet, Swiss Naturalist 1720 – 1793

He was one of the founding fathers of modern biology. He made a great discovery of reproduction without fertilization in aphids (parthenogenesis).

Annie Jump Cannon, American Astronomer 1863 – 1941

She was the “Dean of Women Astronomers.” She classified 1/3 of a million stars.

Harold J. Conn, American Bacteriologist 1886 – 1975

He discovered that soil bacteria increassed while soil is frozen instead of decreasing as expected.

Sir John Warchup Cornforth, British Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 1917 – xxxx

His work was focus on steriod synthesis. He discovered the basic reaction for the synthesis. He solved the mystery of the nature of enzyme catalysis. He won the Nobel Prize in 1975 for his work with cholesterol.

George T. Dougherty, American Metallurgist 1860 – 1938

He was a steel chemist.

Tilly Edinger, American Paleoneurologist (formerly Johanna Gabrielle Ottelie) 1897 – 1967

She studied fossils in Germany and America. She brought two diverse areas of paleontology and neurology together.

Thomas Alva Edison, American Inventor 1847 – 1931

The greatest American inventor. His patents included the phonograph and improvements in the light bulb.

Anders Gustaf Ekeberg, Swedish Chemist 1767 – 1813

He discovered tantalum (metal) in 1802. Tantalum is #73 on the Periodic Table in chemistry.

Robert J. Farquharson, American Civil War Surgeon 1824 – 1884

He was appionted by Andrew Johnson as surgeon during the Civil War, Fourth Tennessee Infantry. He later founded the Academy of Sciences which he was President in Iowa.

Sir John Ambrose Fleming, British Electrical Scientist 1849 – 1945

He served as consultant to Thomas Edison’s company in London. He developed the rectifier (electric valve). It is known as diode vacuum tube in the United States.

John Goodricke, British Astronomer 1764 – 1786

He discovered the variation of CEPHEI and other binary stars thus laying the foundation of modern measurements of the Universe.

Wilson H. Grabill, American Statistician 1912 – 1983

He used pioneering methodoloy that help produce the first ten-year census report on in 1940.

Anthony A. Hajna, American Bacteriologist 1907 – 1992

He became one of the nation’s authoriatative scientists in enteric bacteriology. His developmenet of a medium for isolating typhoid bacteria became recognized.

Olaf Hassel, Norwegian Astronomer 1898 – 1972

He discovered the comet and a nova. The comet was named after him.

Oliver Heaviside, British Electrical Scientist 1850 – 1925

He did much work with telephone signal transmission. The Kennely-Heaviside layer in the Earth’s atmosphere is named for him.

Dr. Frank P. Hockman, American Physician 1935 – xxxx

One of the first deaf physicians in the United States.

Regina Olson Hughes, Scientific Illustrator 1895 – 1993

She illustrated many flower species that scientists collected from all over the world. She was only deaf artist to have solo exhibiton at the Smithsonian Institution. She was honored by having two different new species named for her.

Dr. David James, American Mathematician 1950 – xxxx

He is an associate professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Donald J. Kidd, Canadian Geologist 1922 – 1966

He was first person to receive doctoral degree in Canada. He conducted research in geology. He was an instructor at Gallaudet College.

Alfred Kroeber, American Anthropologist

His meticulous work with Ishi, a Yahi was highlighted. His work was shown in movie called “The Last of His Tribe.” He was deaf in one ear.

Henrietta Swan Leavitt, American Astronomer 1868 – 1921

She discovered many Cepheids in the magellanic Clouds. She was considered for the Nobel Prize for her discovery of the period-luminostiy relationship but she had died of cancer.

Leo Lesquereux, American Paleobotanist 1806 – 1889

He was one of great founders of fossil botany in North America. He classified and named fossils. He described over 900 species of mosses.

James H. Logan, American Microscopist 1843 – 1917

He acquired a patent for an improvement in the microscope. He donated some species to schools as well as Gallaudet College.

James C. Marsters, American Dentist / Inventor 1924 – xxxx

His dental practice was in california. He was one of three people who worked on the development of a modem for the TTY.

Gerald M. McCarthy, American Entomologist 1858 – 1915

He was state bontanist in NC until 1893. He built a laboratory to analyze the quality of drinking water.

Thomas Meehan, American Botatanist 1826 – 1901

He was “Dean of American Horticulture.” He was honored by having a plant species named for him.

Fielding Bradford Meek, American Geologist 1817 – 1895

His discovery of fossils was exceptional.

Gideon E. Moore, American Chemist 1842 – 1895

He was well-known chemist who was willing to donate his time to make some valuable contributions to the science, especially in the line of mineral analyses.

Dr. Charles Henri Nicolle, French Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine 1866 – 1936

His study of typhus outbreak led to a breakthrough in medicine. He found that body lice were carriers of the disease

Dr. Wyn Owston, British Physician (formerly Ethal Sharrad) 1919 – xxxx

She served as a doctor during World War I. She set up new clinics in North Wales. She continued to work in family planning until her retirement in 1984.

Einer Rosenkjar, American Civil Engineer xxxx – xxxx

He designed the bridges along the Pan-American route in the Canal zone during the World War II. He also designed many freeways, parkways, and bridges in Los Angles, Calilfornia.

Charlotte Angas Scott, British Mathematician 1858 – 1931

She was first deaf woman to be dean of a Mathematics department. She inspired many women in mathematics over the years.

Nansie Sharpless, American Biochemist 1932 – 1987

She broke the barrier down in workforce in chemistry for students with disabilities. She worked on long-term effects of L-Dopa treatments for Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Helen Taussig, American Pediatric Cardiologist

She was involved with Dr. Alfred Blalock in his research with “blue babies”.

Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky, Russian Rocket Pioneer 1857 – 1935

He was the “Father of Astronautics.” He designed air ships and rockets. A crater was named after him on the moon.

Robert H. Weitbrecht, American Physicist 1920 – 1983

He was one of three people who helped to invent a telephone modem for the TTY.

http://www.rit.edu/~comets/deafscientistsnew.htm#W

USPS Holiday Shipping Calendar

Want to make sure your cards and packages arrive by December 25th? Check U.S. Postal Services holiday deadlines (shippingdates.pdf), listed by destination and mail type, to see when you need to drop your cheer in the mail.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

The FB Editors

Logic and the English language

Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language?

Let’s face it

English is a stupid language.

There is no egg in the eggplant

No ham in the hamburger

And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.

English muffins were not invented in England.

French fries were not invented in France.

We sometimes take English for granted

But if we examine its paradoxes we find that

Quicksand takes you down slowly

Boxing rings are square

And a guinea pig is neither from

Guinea nor is it a pig

If writers write, how come fingers don’t fing.

If the plural of tooth is teeth

Shouldn’t the plural of phone booth be phone beeth

If the teacher taught,

Why didn’t the preacher praught.

If a vegetarian eats vegetables

What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?

Why do people recite at a play

Yet play at a recital?

Park on driveways and

Drive on parkways

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy

Of a language where a house can burn up as

It burns down

And in which you fill in a form

By filling it out

And a bell is only heard once it goes!

English was invented by people, not computers

And it reflects the creativity of the human race

(Which of course isn’t a race at all)

That is why

When the stars are out they are visible

But when the lights are out they are invisible

And why it is that when I wind up my watch

It starts

But when I wind up this observation

It ends.

-unknown

The History of Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.

The earliest Thanksgiving events were held in the British Colonies, at present day Berkeley Plantation in Virginia in 1619 and at Plymouth in present day Massachusetts in 1621.

In November, 2007, President George W. Bush will give a Thanksgiving address at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia.

In the United States, Thanksgiving is a four day weekend which usually marks a pause in school and college calendars. Many workers (78% in 2007) are given both Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays.

Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes facetiously referred to as “Turkey Day”). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. Often guests bring food items or help with cooking in the kitchen as part of a communal meal.

In keeping with the holiday theme of giving thanks, during the socializing or meal, people talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.

The Thanksgiving holiday was established as a national day of giving thanks and praise to God. The religious heritage of Thanksgiving continues in the tradition of saying grace at the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

The Thanksgiving season is also a time of generosity. People contribute food to annual Thanksgiving food drives and donate to charities.

You can check the rest of the story on Wikipedia website.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

The FB Editors

John Brewster Jr. : A Deaf Artist In Early America

One Shoe Off, 1807
John Brewster, Jr.

John Brewster Jr. (b. May 31, 1766 d. August 13, 1854) worked successfully as an itinerant portrait painter, especially of children, along the New England coast. He born deaf, he was one of eight children of Dr. John Brewster and Mary Durkee Brewster of Hampton, Connecticut. He was apparently taught at an early age to communicate through signs and symbols. He received instruction in painting from the Reverend Joseph Steward and in the 1790s, Brewster traveled through the American Northeast in search of portrait commissions, and worked successfully as an itinerant portrait painter. Advertisements placed by him in contemporary newspapers set his fees at fifteen dollars for standard portraits and five dollars for miniatures. His style of romanticized folk portraiture became a dominant style in rural New England. Brewster lived at a time when Deaf people were developing their own language, social institutions, and culture. He was one of the first students to attend the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut when it opened in 1817; he was 51 years old. The artist’s contributions to American culture are persuasively outlined in a companion book of the same title. Written by Dr. Harlan Lane of Northeastern University, the book provides the first major look at Brewster’s life and art as well as a glimpse into New England history and the distinctive culture of the Deaf in America. Copies of the book are available through internet, [Amazon.com]. Brewster died in Buxton, Maine at age eighty-eight leaving behind a legacy of more than 200 extant paintings. [Read more about John Brewster Jr.]

You know who I hate: Deaf People

Written by Bug

This guy hates Deaf people.

He got a gun! Who’s this guy behind his sheep mask? Does he want to kill us just because we are Deaf? In his blog, he wrote ” You know who I hate: Deaf People”. Nice name of topic, isn’t it? NOT! His message and the commenters’ messages can be found at http://www.killoggs.com/log/post/2597923 (see his message below in case he removes).

This person who wrote it, is an audist. He thinks we have no language and no life. I find this funny because most of us live in bilingual/bicultural society. We learned English and American Sign Language (or other sign language such as British, Japanese, Russian, etc.) because we can be allowed to evolve and develop naturally as we interacts with peers, Deaf/Hearing people, and the world.

I realize that many in the Deaf Culture and Community have had extremely negative experiences with audists like this guy with his sheep mask and that they who do not respect the heritage and language of the Deaf Culture. Why is that?

Audism is a term used to describe discrimination or stereotypes against deaf or hard of hearing people, for example by assuming that the cultural ways of hearing people are preferable or superior to those of deaf or signing culture, or that deaf people are somehow less capable than hearing people.

Here’s an example what Brandon ( http://www.killoggs.com )wrote:

You know who I hate: Deaf People

Deaf People piss me off. I mean, they’re basically retarded. And they act like you owe them something because their parent’s genes sucked, or mommy beat ‘em too hard, or the lead paint had just too much lead, or because daddy couldn’t stop stabbing their eardrums.

I’d rather talk with a can of beans freshly rolled across the rio grande than a deaf person. Learn English, you deaf motherfuckers.

Another thing that pisses me off: Deaf Culture. Your culture is based on a lack.

Some people might say that I’m being short-sighted, especially as someone who suffers from hearing loss. But when worst comes to worst, I’ll just talk inappropriately loud… In English. Not some deaf person yelling-honking noise.

In a perfect world, all infants would be administered a deaf-test. And then have their brains dashed out if they repeatedly failed it. That’s how you handle deaf people. Coddling is not the answer – braining is.

Reasons why ASL is fading?

By JFLMad

Summary: I notice that the topic about ‘Is ASL fading?’ is hot issue to discuss. This video is only my opinion and not intend to give the negatives against ASL. You can give your opinion here. (Agree or disagree)