"Social Media Levels the Playing Field" by Anne

This is Anne. I love what she has to say about Twitter and Social Media.

"I'm Getting Nuttin' For Christmas" ASL Interpretation

Here's a song I've never heard or seen before! This was uploaded by lama7578 on YouTube. I'm sure Santa will leave something for the kid. :-) Coal?  nahhh.......... Lyrics are below the video.

I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

I broke my bat on Johnny's head;
Somebody snitched on me.
I hid a frog in sister's bed;
Somebody snitched on me.

I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug;
I made Tommy eat a bug;
Bought some gum with a penny slug;
Somebody snitched on me.

CHORUS
Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

I put a tack on teacher's chair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I tied a knot in Suzy's hair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I did a dance on Mommy's plant.
Climbed a tree and tore my pants.
Filled that sugar bowl with ants;
Somebody snitched on me.

CHORUS
Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

So you better be good whatever you do
'Cause if you're bad, I'm warning you,
You'll get nuttin' for Christmas.

Vacation

Here we go. Happy Holidays, Everyone.



Winterfest 2011 - Ocean City, Maryland from Ocean City Events on Vimeo.

"God Speaking" Interpreted by Michael Scott

I thought this was beautifully interpreted by Michael Scott. It thrills me when I see churches, musicians and others include interpreters in their services and performances. When you allow them to be visual, you are showing that you respect the Deaf in your community, and you welcome them .

Have you ever had a love that

Set your spirit free
Have you ever watched a sunrise and
Felt you could not breathe
What if it's Him
What if it's God speaking

Have you ever cried a tear that
You could not explain
Have you ever met a stranger
Who already knew your name
What if it's Him
What if it's God speaking

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us
Get our attention to prove He is enough
He'll do and He'll use
Whatever He wants to
To tell us "I love you"
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/mandisa/god_speaking.html ]
Have you ever lost a loved one
Who you thought should still be here
Do you know what it feels like
To be tangled up in fear
What if He's somehow involved
What if He's speaking through it all

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us
Get our attention to prove He is enough
He'll do and He'll use
Whatever He wants to
To tell us "I love you"

His ways are higher
His ways are better
Though sometimes strange
What could be stranger
Than God in a manger

Who knows how He'll get a hold of us
Get our attention to prove He is enough
Who knows how He'll get a hold of you
Get your attention to prove He is enough
He'll do and He'll use
Whatever He wants to
To tell us "I love you"

God is speaking
"I love you"

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/mandisa/#share

"The Night Before Christmas" Told by Keith Wann

The children LOVED this version of  "The Night Before Christmas". We hooked the computer up to a projector today and watched it with the lights off, just like a movie. They laughed about Mr. Wann calling the police on Santa.

"JOY"

This is Angela interpreting "JOY" by the Newsboys.
Lyrics are below the video.



You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, And I like it
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it

If life is water, I was dry as Tuscon dirt
If it's a gamble, I'd already lost my shirt
If it's a journey, I was dazed without a clue
I flipped a 'U' back to the first love I ever knew

CHORUS
You give me joy that's unspeakable
And I like it, And I like it
Your love for me is irresistible
I can't fight it, I can't fight it
You carried the cross and took my shame
I believe it, I believe it
You shine Your light of amazing grace
I recieve it, I receive it

If life's a battle, the invasion is complete
If it's a rhythm, I have found the perfect beat
If it's a renaissance, I've got a new birthday
The world don't give it
And the world can't take it away

CHORUS

I'm bowed and broken, everything's new
All that I need, You're like water to seed
And how Your love, rights everything wrong
And in my weakness
You're ever stronger, You're pulling me back
Where I belong

CHORUS

The Hallelujah Chorus Creatively Performed in Quinhagak, Alaska

Hallelujah Chorus creatively put together by the 5th grade students of Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat  in  Quinhagak, Alaska. Love this!!

A Wonderful Opportunity for the New Year

I have been kindly asked by my son's Second Grade teacher if I would be interested in coming to the school during Helen Keller week in January to do a presentation about Deafness, Hearing Loss and Sign Language. I will not only be visiting her class, but seven others as well.

This is such a wonderful opportunity to educate young hearing children about etiquette when speaking to a Deaf person, or with a grandparent who may be losing their hearing. It is also an opportunity to teach them how sign the phrase, "Hi, Friend, play?" on the occasion they might meet a Deaf child at the park.

I'm very excited with the interest so many teachers have shown when it comes to deafness and Sign Language lately. It is thrilling to see hearing schools wanting to learn more and welcoming us to come and share with the children.

What a great way to start the new year!

"White Christmas" Signed by LaRonda

I love the beautiful expression of this Deaf woman. This is delightful! The video was uploaded by Lzupp on YouTube. Of the 4 seasons, snow is her favorite. She doesn't see much snow where she lives now and she misses it. This is what she is telling us at the beginning of the video before she begins signing "White Christmas".

"Amazing Grace" Interpreted by Mercedes Waldman

This is a gorgeous interpretation and performance. Mercedes Waldman is deaf.

The Numbers

Here is the link to test your numbers. This is what I struggle with the most - anything mathematical. This is a wonderful tool to practice with.

http://asl.bz/

The number, fifteen always makes me think someone is beckoning me to come closer. :-)

Bruno Mars' "Grenade" interpreted by kmklined

This interpretation by kmklined is FANTASTIC. There are no captions, but I could follow well enough with her expressive performance to catch the meaning well enough. The lyrics can be found below the video.

Bruno Mars - Grenade Lyrics

Artist: Bruno Mars

Album: Doo-Wops & Hooligans

• Songwriters: (undetermined) Brown, (undetermined) Kelly, Philip Lawrence Ii, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, (undetermined) Wyatt

Easy come, easy go, that's just how you live
Oh take, take, take it all but you never give
Should've known you was trouble from the first kiss
Had your eyes wide open, why were they open?

Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
'Cause what you don't understand is

I'd catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on the blade for ya
I'd jump in front of a train for ya
You know I'd do anything for ya

I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for ya, baby
But you won't do the same

No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue, beat me till I'm numb
Tell the devil I said, hey, when you get back to where you're from
Bad women, bad women, that's just what you are, yeah
You smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car

Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
'Cause what you don't understand is

I'd catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on the blade for ya
I'd jump in front of a train for ya
You know I'd do anything for ya

I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for ya, baby
But you won't do the same

If my body was on fire
Ooh, you'd watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me, you're a liar
'Cause you never ever, ever did, baby

But darling, I'd still catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on the blade for ya
I'd jump in front of a train for ya
You know I'd do anything for ya

I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same

No, you won't do the same
You wouldn't do the same
Ooh, you never do the same
Oh no, no, no

Test Your Finger Spelling

I found this surfing one day. I can't wait to share this with my students. You can replay the word, or you can slow it down. This is great for those of us who need to practice our receptive skills in reading finger spelling. This will help children improve their own reading skills, as well.

://asl.ms/

Good luck and have fun!

"Christmas Shoes" interpreted by Dustin Smith

I enjoy the interpreted videos that this young man uploads on YouTube as skydiversmith. It's time for Christmas music, don't you agree?



http://www.youtube.com/user/skydiversmith

The Christmas Shoes lyrics

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
[- From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/newsong-lyrics/the-christmas-shoes-lyrics.html -]
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out 
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about
http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/newsong-lyrics/the-christmas-shoes-lyrics.html

"All These Things That I've Done" interpreted by Jooshbro

This young man is has unbelievable creative ideas. I loved this. He goes by Jooshbro on YouTube. I wonder what he will come up with in the future? Lyrics are below the video.


Writer: BRANDON FLOWERS 

When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on 
I want to stand up, I want to let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I want to shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand 

Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no 

Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out 

And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be 

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down 

I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down 

Over and again, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on

Give the Gift of Communication this Christmas

This is a VERY good deal for a very good phone. Give the gift of communication to a loved one this Christmas. If you've lost year hearing, but not your voice, this is a wonderful phone for you. Your family would love to hear your voice, and you would love seeing what your family has to say. I loved my Cap Tel landline, before my IPhone came along. Now I use the Cap Tel Iphone App. There's an app for Android and Blackberry as well. There is also the Hamilton Web Cap Tel you can access via computer. That was my favorite app when my eyes were giving me a hard time. This option would be GREAT for folks with vision difficulties.
No, I do not get paid to tell you how much I love this company and their gadgets. :-) The Cap Tel Relay services and apps are FREE.

CapTel 800i Captioned TelephoneRequires phone service and high-speed Internet Hamilton Mobile CapTelAndroid™, BlackBerry® and iPhone®. Hamilton Web CapTelPC & Mac® Compatible	My Dad's hearing loss used to be a family frustration – especially during the Holidays. He just wouldn't answer the phone. Then we discovered Hamilton CapTel. Now our frustration is gone and my Dad answers every call with holiday cheer. The holidays have always been a special time for my dad and thanks to Hamilton CapTel, they still are. Click here to order on-line or call: 888-514-7933 **Order by December 15th and receive free shipping and delivery in time for the Holidays! Offer ends January 30, 2012.* Expedited shipping is available, additional fees may apply.
Copyright © 2011 Hamilton Relay. All rights reserved. • CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. • Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. • BlackBerry is a trademark of Research In Motion Limited • iPhone and Mac are trademarks of Apple, Inc.

What's the Difference Between Interpretation and Translation?

There seems to be confusion between the terms "interpretation" and "translation" when it comes to the ASL videos.

Translation is anything in written form, transcripts, books, etc. Books written in one language are translated into other languages.

*For writing, the term to use is "translation".

I was informed by Erica Camp that  " It is called transliteration from English to PSE (word for word)" 

*To express something word for word from English to Signed Exact English or PSE, the term is "transliteration".

The focus of interpretation is to express the meaning of something, such as the meaning of a song or the point of a conversation, not the just the verbal words.

*To convey the meaning of what is said, be it song, poetry, conversation, the term is "interpretation".

Did we confuse you further? No worries. Here's all you need to know:

If you're uploading signed videos, from a verbal language, go ahead and use the term "interpretation". After all, many of you are  "interpreters".  :-) The job of an interpreter is to... INTERPRET.

....just so you know.

Thank you, Erica, for educating us further on this confusing topic! :-)

Look! It's A Closed Caption App for Conversations!

A few days ago, I published a post "Closed Captions or Word Bubbles, Please". Ryan stopped by and left this under the comment section, "You're in luck. that is what we're working on! :-)". I went to the link he left and to my surprise, it's an app for conversations. At this point, it's for Android phones. For $0.99, it looks like it has very nice possibilities. I'm excited to see how far the technology of this will go in a few years and for this app or something similar to be available for all smart phones.

I'm going to be getting this app for my Iphone when it's available. Thank you, Ryan, for stopping by and sharing this link with us:   http://closedcapp.com/

"Where?"

There are no captions, the lyrics are below the video. This is such an excellent expression, interpretation of the song by Black Eyed Peas, "Where Is the Love". This is Kelly Greer performing for ASL Idol, Bloomsburg University.

"Where Is The Love?"

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA fightin'
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'
in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
Now ask yourself

Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love?

Sing wit me y'all:
One world, one world (We only got)
One world, one world (That's all we got)
One world, one world
And something's wrong wit it (Yeah)
Something's wrong wit it (Yeah)
Something's wrong wit the wo-wo-world, yeah
We only got
(One world, one world)
That's all we got
(One world, one world)

Thanks to princessa_2006 for adding these lyrics.Thanks to PS, Joel_1617, beadazzleu92 for correcting these lyrics.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blackeyedpeas/whereisthelove.html

My First Meeting

This first appeared on Liz's Deaf Blog this week. Liz kindly asked if I would like to be a guest writer for her blog. You can find the link to Liz's website below the post. Be sure to check her site out.

I recently attended a meeting with Hearing Loss Association of America, HLAA. We had real time captioning (CART) on the screen beside our speaker which made it possible for me to catch just about everything being said. I say "just about everything" because there were a few things I typed into my phone for future reference and when I looked away, I missed what was being said or captioned. The lecture was on the topic of Tinnitus, and the speaker was Dr. Jason C. Schmitt Au.D. Doctor of Audiology.

As soon as I was signed in, Nancy Kingsley who is the President, HLA Lancaster County and State Co-Dirctor, HLAA Pennsylvania asked if I needed her to sign for me. What a kind offer! We had CART (real time captioning) set up next to the podium so we could see what was being said, not just by Dr. Schmitt, but it also captioned questions from the audience. I wish more organizations would use this wonderful visual for gatherings, services and presentations. What a world of difference it made for someone who doesn't hear well, or at all!

I met kind and interesting people. Some had hearing aids, some had cochlear implants, some are deaf, some are not. I'm looking forward to the next meeting where we will be learning about how to use Bluetooth technology with our hearing aids. I wonder if it works for people who have cochlear implants as well?

It is wonderful to have found a place to meet with warm, open, supportive people sharing information and genuinely wanting to help others by being present and sharing their experience with deafness and/or hearing loss. If you've not attended one of these meetings as yet, I would encourage you to do so.

To find a meeting near you in the U.S.    http://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-chapters-and-state-organizations

To find similar meetings in the U.K., social groups in the Nottinghamshire Deaf Society go to: http://www.nottsdeaf.org.uk/acquired-deafness-project.html

Liz's Deaf Blog:  http://lizsdeafblog.blogspot.com/

"Silent Night"

This video is by Kmb32560. I like this interpretation, and so do my Saturday Students. They chose this version to learn for Christmas.

We Are Not Our Shells

Did they forget that God was unhappy with Miriam when she complained about her brother Moses (an Israeli) marrying an Ethiopian woman? God even issued a seven day consequence for her behaviour over this very issue (Numbers chapter 12). God created the shells that house our souls with many colors and variations. We are people, we are hearts, we are souls. That's what defines us, not our shells.
Kentucky church bans interracial marriage

By Eric Pfeiffer | The Sideshow 

Stella Harville and Ticha Chikuni in a November 2010 photo by Harville (AP)

A small Kentucky church has chosen to ban marriages and even some worship services for interracial couples. The Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church, located in Pike County, made the vote in response to a longtime member who is engaged to a man whose birthplace is in Zimbabwe.

Other pastoral leaders in the area were quick to denounce the church's vote. "It's not the spirit of the community in any way, shape or form," Randy Johnson, president of the Pike County Ministerial Association, told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The small congregation, which usually hosts about 40 members each Sunday, held the vote after longtime member Stella Harville, brought her fiancé Ticha Chikuni to church with her in June. The couple performed a song together at the church in which Chikuni sang "I Surrender All," while Harville played the piano.

Chikuni, 29, who works at Georgetown College, is black--and Harville, who was baptized at the church but is not an active member, is white. Dean Harville, Stella's father, said he was told by the church's former pastor Melvin Thompson that his daughter and her fiancé were not allowed to sing at the church again. However, Thompson recently stepped down and the church's new pastor, Stacy Stepp, said the couple was once again welcome to sing.

Stepp's decision prompted Thompson to put forth a recommendation saying that while all members are welcome at the church, it does not "condone" interracial marriage, and that any interracial couples would not be received as members or allowed to participate in worship services. The only exception? Funerals.

The Harville family has formally requested the congregation to reconsider the interracial ban, and Thompson has also said he would like to resolve the issue, the area CBS affiliate WYMT has reported.

A copy of the recommendation, obtained by WYMT, reads in part:

That the Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church does not condone interracial marriage. Parties of such marriages will not be received as members, nor will they be used in worship services and other church functions, with the exception being funerals. All are welcome to our public worship services. This recommendation is not intended to judge the salvation of anyone, but is intended to promote greater unity among the church body and the community we serve.

Members of the church held a vote on Thompson's proposed language, with nine voting in favor and six voting against. The other members in attendance chose not to vote.

Gawker notes that Pike County is 98 percent white and home to the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud.

The Harville family doesn't see Gulnare's new policy promoting anything like unity or civil peace. "They're the people who are supposed to comfort me in times like these," Stella Harville said.

And Stella's father was much more forceful in his denunciation of the interracial ban. "It sure ain't Christian," Dean Harville said. "It ain't nothing but the old devil working."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-marriage-150009470.html

Early Intervention: The Missing Link

My friend Karen posted this video on her FaceBook page. This should be in every Dr. office, hospital and audiologist's office.

Captions or Word Bubbles, Please

Hearing people assume I hear better than I do, Deaf people assume I can sign better than I do, yet I can do neither to the degree of their assumptions. The world would be much easier if everyone had captions or word bubbles above their heads.

My friend, Marilu agreed, then added, "And sound effects/captions, like Bat-man...Ka-blam...POW..."

Rudolf!

It's December. What better way to start the month off than with a delightful rendition of Rudolf? Thank you, Louis Sattler for sharing this adorable video interpreted by Love4Sign.

(Lyrics):
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer 
had a very shiny nose. 
And if you ever saw him, 
you would even say it glows. 

All of the other reindeer 
used to laugh and call him names. 
They never let poor Rudolph 
join in any reindeer games. 

Then one foggy Christmas Eve 
Santa came to say: 
"Rudolph with your nose so bright, 
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" 

Then all the reindeer loved him 
as they shouted out with glee, 
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, 
you'll go down in history! 

P.S. I don't own any of the music. No copyright infringement intended!!