DeafCartoon.com

Bragg on Bragg autographed DVD available at Deaf West Showcase!

2010-08-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

(copy of press release from DawnSignPress)

Autographed copies of Bernard Bragg’s newly released DVD Bragg on Bragg will be available from DawnSignPress at Deaf West Theatre’s debut of “Bernard Bragg: World Stage.”

Renowned actor, mime, and storyteller, Bernard Bragg, will perform a new show, about the mistakes, misadventures, and accidents that take place while performing, and how these can apply to life too!

SHOW DATES: September 23, 24, 25 @ 8pm; September 26 @ 2pm

TICKETS: $20 adult, $10 children under age 13. Purchase at door.
Cash only. Email alfie.lumabas@gmail.com to reserve your seats.

For information about the Deaf West Fall Showcase, go to
www.deafwest.org.

Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity!

Baldo, Acculturation and Deafhood

2010-07-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

(click to enlarge)

Greetings, folks! I think this comic strip above is applicable to our deaf community and the issue of deafhood. My friend Don Grushkin had posted it on his Facebook page and it has been generating a great deal of comments since yesterday. Yes, this is the same Don Grushkin that Mike McConnell dissed, mocked and misconstrued in some ways in one of his blogs.

A bit about Baldo: it was created by two Latino cartoonists, Hector D. Cantu and Carlos Castellanos, who are fellow Americans like you and me. Cantu was previously Production Director at Quick in Dallas, TX, and Managing Editor at award-winning Hispanic Business magazine in Santa Barbara, CA. He wrote articles for the Los Angeles Times Magazine and Hollywood Reporter. Castellanos, a free-lance illustrator since 1981, lives in south Florida with his wife and family. According to their website, the premise of the strip is Baldo "is a teenager who lives between the influences of his U.S. and Latin American cultures. And while the strip has a strong father figure, there is no mom."

I can relate to this comic strip in a few ways: I came from a multi-cultural background. My father, a Latino, was born in Europe to an U.S. diplomat and a Chilean socialite and daughter of a senator. My mother is a full American of Irish-English heritage. My stepfather, likewise a full American, is a third generation of Swedish and Italian immigrants. I grew up in a hearing family, being the only one who is deaf. Cantu remarks on his website,"Growing up Latino in the United States can be a great experience....it can be hard. It can be an exciting experience. It can be rewarding. It can be funny. We hope that through Baldo we can share some of the humorous part with people everywhere."

The same can be said for my experience growing up as Deaf in a multi-cultural family. It is quite very complex. I know three languages - English, ASL and Spanish. My life has been one big interesting experience for me that I hope to convey through my comic strips and art. I see myself as living in two worlds, one deaf and the other hearing. In regards to the issue brought up in this comic strip, I see myself as somewhat acculturated. I am not all "Deaf Power, ASL only, no-speak Deafhood with the capital 'D'." I can speak and lipread a little, but I prefer to sign in ASL, the language that I feel comfortable communicating in. I have deaf, hard of hearing and hearing friends that I hang out with. I am tolerant of various aspects of our Deaf Culture. I see ourselves as one big Family. Aren't we?

Folks, where do you see yourself as - acculturated or assimilated?

P.S. - I have just joined Facebook. If you'd like to visit my page and become my friend, you can click on this link here. Other news: I will be going to Las Vegas this week for DeafNation Expo, so if you're going there, see you there!

New DVD “Bragg on Bragg“ available from DawnSignPress

2010-07-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

(copy of press release from DawnSignPress)

Legendary Deaf performer Bernard Bragg shares a lifetime of performances, experiences, and memories in this newly released DVD, Bragg on Bragg!

With a mixture of classic-to-modern video clips and Bragg’s insightful narration, we are offered a special window into his life. This DVD is filled with rare clips, life experiences, and performances to delight those who already cherish Bragg’s work, and enlighten new generations.

The “bonus features” section contains select clips of Bernard Bragg from his interview on San Francisco TV KQED in 1959 to a “must see” clip entitled Counting Deaf People.

Bernard Bragg has amazed, delighted, and endeared himself to decades of audiences from one end of the globe to the other. Actor, mime, educator, playwright, poet, writer, and key figure in the founding of the National Theatre of the Deaf, Bernard Bragg has done it all!

Item # 9206K Price - $29.95
DVD - 88 minutes (with English subtitles)
PLUS 29 minutes of bonus features!

Experience the amazing talents and the legacy of this multifaceted artist!

The DVD will debut at DeafNation World Expo in Las Vegas, NV (July 18-23). Stop by our booth and get your copy, or go to our website at www.dawnsign.com and purchase it online.

8 Ways to be Deaf Published!

2010-07-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

(press release by Adrean Clark)

Dear family and friends --

I am happy to announce the publication of my first comic book, 8 Ways to be Deaf. The 52-pages full-color comic also is one of the first ebooks featuring Deaf characters. In the story, a lowly gas station attendant meets the girl of his dreams -- but she's Deaf, and he's his own worst enemy! Can Paul get past himself to win her?

A free download of 8 Ways to be Deaf is available at http://8ways.adreanaline.com

Please forward this email on. I am excited about this project after months of work and hope you will all enjoy the story.

Thank you for your support!

Adrean

Don't Forget Matt Hamill's Fight this Saturday!

2010-06-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder to y'all that Matt "The Hammer" Hamill will be fighting Keith Jardine this Saturday, June 19 at 9pm ET/PT on on the live finale of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz. For more information on this upcoming, exciting fight, read the press release here. I have had the pleasure of meeting Matt Hamill in person at DeafNation Expo in Pomona, California last month, and boy, he was awesome! He was quite very friendly to me and he was very kind to fans and kids who mobbed him for his photo and autograph. He happens to be a friend of one of my best friends (he was a RIT graduate), so I was fortunate to be introduced to him. Let's root for him this Saturday!!

DawnSignPress has very exciting news for you!

2010-06-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

(press release by DawnSignPress - www.dawnsign.com)

As of July 15th, we will be releasing a new version of the teacher’s classroom materials CD to be included in every Signing Naturally Units 1-6 Teacher’s Curriculum.

This new version CD still contains all the current Signing Naturally Units 1-6 teacher’s files such as:

Complete PowerPoint presentation for Units 1-6
Printable file of all materials for Units 1-6, including the PowerPoint presentation

And in addition we added:

a PowerPoint file that includes a complete set of answers for the student homework from Units 1-6

PLUS the new CD includes the following:

Scanned PDF file of the Level 1 Teacher’ s Curriculum for Units 7-12
Video of the dialogues and narratives found in the Cumulative Review for Units 7-12

In essence, for teachers who purchase the new version of Signing Naturally Units 1-6 Teacher’s Curriculum we are supplying everything you need for classroom teaching.

With the release of this new CD version, DawnSignPress has decided to discontinue the original Signing Naturally Level 1 Teacher’s Curriculum, effective immediately. The Signing Naturally Level 1 Student sets are still available for ordering.

For those teachers who already own Signing Naturally Units 1-6 Teacher’s Curriculum and want the new CD, contact our home office to purchase the CD for a minimal cost of $9.95 (including shipping).

If you have any questions regarding this information, don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service Department – VP (866) 904-9045 or Voice (858) 625-0600.

Uncle Toms of Today

2010-05-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

Political Cartoon of the Week

This Other Irish Deaf Cartoonist pokes fun at Mike McConnell's post "Deafhood? No Thanks."
(Click on the picture to enlarge.)

For those of you who aren't familiar with the work by hearing cartoonist Tom Tomorrow, see his website, This Modern World.

I'm Just A Bill Named AB2072

2010-05-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Political Cartoon of the Week

New Schoolhouse Rock Song:

A Broadway Play Starring Mike McConnell and Cast

I'M JUST A BILL NAMED AB2072

I'm just a bill
Named AB2072
People still
Argue about me all day
Yes, I'm only a bill
And I'm sitting here in the California State Senate
Well, its a long, long journey
To the hill
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

I'm just a bill
People still
Argue about me all day
But when I'm a law someday
I will
Make big changes in people's lives
Such as drilling holes in babies' heads
And sending deaf children off to oral schools
Where they will learn to keep down their hands,
Not to sign,
Not to wave like those ASL fools,
But to speak and sit still
It'll be just like in the old days

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
Named AB 2072
Waiting for the Governor to sign
Me, just me
So I can make big changes in people's lives
You'll thank me one day
People still
Argue about me all day
But I know I'll be a law someday
It'll be back to the old days
At least I hope and pray I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

The World's Dumbest Deafies I Know: Part 2

2010-05-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Ever watch that Undateable show on VH1? Doesn't every guy make a dumb mistake at least once in his life in trying to impress women? I know, I've made plenty of dumb mistakes myself, too! But this guy takes the cake. Ladies, using the ratings system that Ellen Rakieten and Anne Coyle set in their book, how would you rate this guy? (Click on the picture to enlarge.)

The World's Dumbest Deafies I Know: Part 1

2010-05-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

I created this comic strip last year and left it laying around. I found it while rummaging through my boxes and decided to post it just now. If you have any story about any deafie you know who did a very dumb thing, you are welcome to submit it to me. Just please keep the person's name anonymous. Thank you! (Click on the picture to enlarge.)

Letter from Chris Browne

2010-05-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hi fans! I thought I'd share with you this following email I received from Chris Browne, creator of Hagar the Horrible. Surprisingly, he happens to know Matt Daigle, "that deaf cartoonist." He and his wife lives in Sioux Falls. Matt, I envy you...but what the heck, I've met a lot of famous cartoonists here in California anyway! LOL
(I've already just replied by telling Chris that I know Matt from RIT.)

D
----------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Dan!

I love your note! I'm running out the door now but I will follow the link later and check it out.

There is a large culture of deaf people here in Sioux Falls and I intend to learn ASL in lessons or on DVD (trying to learn it from books has not worked for me. I am wondering if you know or have met deaf cartoonist Matt Daigle? I like his work a lot and he has a charming actress wife Kay and beautiful baby. They lived here in Sioux Falls but I believe they moved to California as soon as I moved to town (nothing personal I hope!)

Here is my most recent email address for Matt- he's talented and you guys might hit it off! email@mattdaigle.com

Very best wishes,

Chris Browne

- Show quoted text -

On May 11, 2010, at 1:54 AM, D. McClintock wrote:

Dear Mr. Browne,

I thought I'd write you a note and just say hi. I would like to
introduce my blog, www.deafcartoon.com. I had just posted a political
cartoon on the issue of VRS (video relay service), and I had used your
character Hagar the Horrible as well as Matt Groening's character
Homer Simpson, the Dagwood character and Lucy from Peanuts in this
cartoon. In the deaf world there was a rumor swirling around about how
FCC was supposedly cutting rates and how that would cause video relay
services to go bankrupt (see www.deafread.com). So I created this
cartoon to make a joke about what would happen if VRS was to be cut
today. Hope you don't mind...I happen to love Hagar the Horrible, ever
since I was a little child. I am sure many deaf people similarly love
your comic strip, too, that your father created (God bless his soul).
Just so you know (and so your friend Hagar won't go chasing after me
with his sword!). Keep up the great work that you're doing. Thank you
and have a pleasant day,

Dan McClintock
deaf cartoonist,
member of Southern California Cartoonists Society, San Diego branch
www.deafcartoon.com

http://www.chrisbrowne2.blogspot.com/

http://www.thehistorylesson.blogspot.com/

The Great Deaf Dictator: Part 2

2010-05-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Night of the Riots - La Noche de los Disturbios
(English and Spanish subtitles - los subtítulos ingleses y españoles)

THE SCHOOL OF INTERPRETERS

In those days in Sordia there were no captions or sign language interpreters on television.

En esos días en Sordia no había los subtítulos o los intérpretes de la lenguaje de señas en la televisión.

If VRS were to be cut today...

2010-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Political cartoon of the week

AB2072 Cartoon

2010-05-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

Political Cartoon of the Week

MORE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN OUR LIVES

The Great Deaf Dictator

2010-05-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

A new comic strip debut
(English subtitles for the Español-impaired)

YOUR NEW LEADER FOR SORDIA

A POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Wednesday, May 5, (censored)

LA CIUDAD DE CLERC, Sordia - Three days of coup d'etats in a series sweeped over a small country of Sordia in South America, which population is 80% hearing-impaired. When political unrest followed after the tumbling economy, riots, widespread looting, and a crime surge that sent fear and worry into the hearts of Sordian citizens, the first coup d'etat was achieved by Benito Oralini and the Oralists, who immediately instituted a fascist order. Oralini's government was quickly, however, overthrown the following next day by Fido Audio and the extreme-left Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Audist Socialist Society. Yet Audi's rule lasted only until the next sunrise, when El Sordo and the Sordian Independent Party seized control of the government. Right away upon the first day in his office, El Sordo declared emergency martial law and ordered his troops to squash the riots, arrest all the looters, and establish stability in the poverty-stricken country of 5 million people. The people of Sordia cheered and welcomed in what would eventually became the world's longest rule by El Sordo, whom they call the "Great Leader."

Un terremoto político en Sur América

Tres días de golpes de estado en una serie barrida en un pequeño país de Sordia en Sur América, que es del 80% de la población con impedimentos auditivos. Cuando la agitación política seguida después de caer la economía, disturbios, saqueos y un aumento de la delincuencia que envió miedo y preocupación en los corazones de los ciudadanos Sordian, el primer golpe de estado fue alcanzado por Benito Oralini y los Oralistas, quienes inmediatamente estableció un fascista solicitud. El gobierno de Oralini fue rápidamente, sin embargo, derrocado al día siguiente de Fido Audio por la extrema izquierda marxista-leninista-maoísta la Sociedad Socialista Audista. Sin embargo, la regla de Audi sólo duró hasta el amanecer siguiente, cuando El Sordo y el Partido Independiente Sordian tomó el control del gobierno. De inmediato el primer día en su oficina, El Sordo declaró la ley marcial de emergencia y ordenó a sus tropas para aplastar los disturbios, arrestar a todos los saqueadores y la estabilidad en el país asolado por la pobreza de 5 millones de personas. El pueblo de Sordia animó y dio la bienvenida en lo que eventualmente se convirtió en la regla más largo del mundo por El Sordo, a quien llaman el "Gran Caudillo".

Hand Alphabet Charts

2010-05-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Kendra recently informed me today that Howard Koblenz reprinted our hand alphabet designs without our permission on his Facebook page, Hand Alphabet Charts. But rather than confronting him about it, she decided to post her comments there letting the readers know where our hand alphabet designs can be found, as well as to give credit where it is due. So I will do the same thing here: you can find my and her designs in form of rubber stamps by going to her website, ASLstamp.com. Scroll down and click on Alphabets. There you'll find mine, titled cartoon fingerspelling set (3101-J). You can also find many of my other designs that I did for Kendra during the years she and I were together. I encourage you to buy many stamps from her as her business is faltering a little and she could use your support. Thank you!

We artists do not appreciate being ripped off. We would greatly appreciate being asked for our permission for using our artworks. This time, however, we are letting Howard Koblenz go with a warning: don't ever do this again - if you reprint any one of my artworks without my permission, you risk incurring my Irish-Chilean wrath! (Shaking my fist!)

Asides from this news, I would like to announce that I have agreed to do business with three companies in designing T-shirts for them. Some of the T-shirt designs may incorporate the same hand alphabet designs that I did for ASLstamp.com. When the T-shirts come out, I will post a release here. Keep your eyes peeled open for coming announcements!

DawnSignPress presents A to Z: ABC Stories in ASL

2010-05-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

This announcement that I received from DawnSignPress is not related to cartoons but is nonetheless related to arts so I decided to post their release here. DawnSignPress publishes educational books with wonderful illustrations by various deaf artists and cartoonists. You can find information on this new product by going to this link, http://www.dawnsign.com/shopping/Detail.cfm?ProductID=265.

----------------------------------------

DAWNSIGNPRESS IS PROUD TO PRESENT

A TO Z: ABC STORIES IN ASL

A Beautiful Collection of Stories

26 amazing stories told in ASL by 6 gifted performers:
•Ben Bahan

•Ben Jarashow

•Linsay Darnall, Jr.

•Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales

•CJ Jones

•Brian J. Morrison

Ben Bahan, Professor of ASL and Deaf Studies at Gallaudet University provides a detailed explanation of the basic principles for creating an ABC story. This DVD is a valuable resource for storytellers, teachers, and students.

Visit us at http://www.dawnsign.com/ to see our complete line of quality products!

Free Comic Book Day

2010-05-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

Free Comic Book Day was last Saturday, May 1. Every year on May 1 is Free Comic Book Day, which honors cartoonists and comic book artists all around the United States. You can find some of my old comic strips, which are re-printed with my permission by Adrean Clark in a pdf format and can be downloaded from her website, http://www.adreanaline.com/. Funny, Adrean is the only cartoonist whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting in person...the other cartoonists who are featured in that booklet - Maureen Klusza, Matt Daigle, Kendra Harness - I know them well. Maureen (nicknamed Moe) and I attended the same art classes for 5 years at NTID and RIT. Matt, I know him from RIT plus we are from the same state where I was born, Massachusetts. Kendra...she was my first girlfriend whom I knew way back from MSSD. (She and I remain friends to this day.) Nevertheless, I hope to meet Adrean one day in person. Asides from this, I send my congratulations to all those featured cartoonist, Moe, Matt, Kendra and Adrean! I hope we'll see more deaf cartoonists featured on next year's Free Comic Book Day! To view more of their artworks, you are invited to visit their websites or blogs by clicking on the links that I provided in the list on the right. Cheers!

Atlas Signs - New Blog

2010-05-05T13:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I have decided to separate my prose from my cartoon posts. From now on I will be posting articles, essays and commentaries in my other blog, Atlas Signs. The focus of Atlas Signs will be deaf news around the world, travel stories, philosophy, politics and more. I am going to build DeafCartoon.com into more of an online deaf cartoons magazine. In the near future you'll see not only my new comic strips but interviews with other deaf cartoonists, announcements and news relating to Deaf Arts. For those of you who would like to share links to new deaf cartoon pages, you are welcome to do so here. I will be posting my new email address soon. My previous, deafcartoon@gmail.com, will be closed due to phishing attacks that stubbornly persist despite my attempts to stop them. You'll see more changes and improvements on this blog as time progresses. Thank you all for your patronage!

Two Pierced Ears: Todd Silvestri and I

2010-05-04T00:43:00.000-07:00

A Short Memoir

Greetings, folks! I just got back from the weekend in Los Angeles, where I went to attend DeafNation Expo in Pomona. I was shocked and saddened to learn that my old friend and MSSD classmate Todd Silvestri had passed away. As I had mentioned in my comment there, he and I were on the same wrestling team way back in '78-'79. He was one of the coolest guys I knew at MSSD. If you happened to be a 90-pounds weakling wearing nerd clothes, guaranteed you'll get picked on at MSSD. MSSD in my old days wasn't for the faint-hearted...there were always arrogant alpha-male jocks you'd run into who'd take sadistic pleasures in picking on little people. Todd was indeed an alpha-male jock allright, but he was never in my memory ever arrogant or mean towards anyone. He was always polite and respectful to everyone. Of course, with his good looks he'd get many girls. He got along well with everybody and he was well liked. I had the pleasure of getting to know him when we were in algebra class (one of my worst classes with teacher Jeff Dieter...I was one of his biggest F students, believe it or not!).

When I learned about his tragic death, I was brought back to my memory of one incident that involved he and I. It was '80 or '81 and he was sporting an earring on his left ear. We were in class one day and I noticed his earring. I asked him how he got the earring and he explained to me how he pierced it himself. Back then very few boys wore earrings. There was only one punk student at MSSD and that was one girl named Nancy. (Remember her? Her Mohawk haircut and leather outfit?) The punk fad hadn't yet caught on at MSSD, where most students wore preppie clothes. The only exception was when several football players shaved their heads and sported Mohawks to show how macho they were. (Funny, wasn't it?) I was so impressed by the gutsy thing Todd did so a few years later when I enrolled at CSUN, I pierced my own left ear. It didn't hurt much and I wore earrings often during the early '80s when I was into punk/new wave fashion. Now I don't wear an earring anymore because I kept losing them, but believe it nor not, the hole in my earlobe is still open. Nowadays you see teenagers wearing more rings and pins on their ears, noses, chins, nipples and belly buttons. Ah, as the famous folk singer Bob Dylan said, time's a-changing! I'm now in forties and I wear normal fashion like everybody else my age...but next time I put on an earring, I'll do it in honor of my old friend and classmate, Todd Silvestri. I am proud to have been on the same wrestling team with him and I am also proud as well of his great achievements and what he did for MSSD and Gallaudet. God bless him, wherever his soul is. Once again...my dearest and deepest condolences to his younger brother Toselli and family!

UN: "Reconstruction must be a reality for the disabled"

2010-04-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sent by World Federation of the Deaf - Spanish/English translations provided below

-----------------------------------------

Dear all,

I am sending a UN press release in Spanish and English for your information (below). Please see that your efforts on tv captioning and sign language information are supported by the UN Expert Committee.

Kind regards,
Laura Pajunen
Development Officer
World Federation of the Deaf
PO Box 65, 00401
Helsinki Finland
Tel: +358 9 5803 537
Mobile: (sms/voice): +358 400 175 877
Fax: +358 9 5803

572 16th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf
18 - 24 July 2011
Durban, South Africa
www.wfd2011.com

______________________________________________________________________________________

Chile/Terremoto: “La reconstrucción debe convertirse en realidad para los discapacitados”, afirma comité de expertos de la ONU

GINEBRA (14 de abril de 2010) – El Comité de Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad exhortó al gobierno chileno y a la comunidad internacional a incluir en sus planes de reconstrucción, como prioridad, las necesidades de los discapacitados, incluidas la accesibilidad a espacios públicos, información, comunicaciones, transporte, productos y servicios.

“La reconstrucción en las áreas más afectadas por los devastadores terremoto y tsunami también debe convertirse en realidad para los discapacitados”, dijo el actual presidente del Comité, Ronald McCallum, destacando que “una encuesta reciente indica que aproximadamente 12,9% de la población chilena tiene discapacidad, y muchas de las personas en las áreas afectadas tienen algún tipo de discapacidad”.

En una declaración reciente*, los doce miembros del Comité de la ONU también recomendaron que las medidas de ayuda tomen en cuenta las necesidades especiales de personas con distintos tipos de discapacidad, considerando en particular los procedimientos de alerta, evacuación, información y comunicaciones.

“Se debe prestar la misma atención al lenguaje de signos y la subtitulación de videos de información pública sobre la situación de emergencia”, observó el grupo de expertos, “en conformidad con la Convención sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad**”.

El Comité enfatizó la necesidad urgente de enfocarse en la habilitación y rehabilitación de los discapacitados, incluida la atención post-traumática del estrés. También pidieron “apoyo especial para la reconstrucción de sus domicilios, en áreas urbanas o rurales, y de los sitios de asociaciones que reciben a las personas con discapacidad y centros que los atienden, que hayan sido destruidos o dañados”.

Al tiempo de reconocer los esfuerzos del gobierno chileno en esta situación de emergencia, el Comité hizo notar que “Chile debe tomar todas las medidas necesarias para garantizar la protección y la seguridad de las personas con discapacidad en situación de riesgo, incluidos los conflictos armados, las emergencias humanitarias y los desastres naturales”, como Estado Parte de la Convención sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad.

El Comité es el órgano de expertos independientes que monitorea la Convención sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad, que ha sido aprobada por 140 países. La Convención fue adoptada el 13 de diciembre de 2006 por la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas y entró en vigencia el 3 de mayo de 2008.

(*) Declaración sobre Chile por el Comité de Naciones Unidas sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9960&LangID=S

(**) La Convención sobre los derechos de las personas con discapacidad: http://www.ohchr.org/SP/HRBodies/CRPD/Documents/disabilities-convention.htm

-------------------------------------------

Chile/Earthquake: “Reconstruction must also become a reality for the disabled,” says UN expert’s committee

GENEVA (14 April 2010) – The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities called on the Chilean government and the international community to include in the reconstruction plans -as a matter of priority- the needs of persons with disabilities, including accessibility to physical space, information, communications, transportation, products and services.

“Reconstruction in the areas affected by the devastating February earthquake and tsunami must also become a reality for the disabled,” said the current Committee’s chairperson, Ronald McCallum, noting that “a recent survey shows that an estimated 12.9% of the Chilean population has disabilities, and many in the affected areas were persons with various forms of disabilities.”

In a recent statement*, the 12-member UN Committee also recommended that relief measures take into account the special needs of persons with different forms of disabilities, in particular, in warning procedures, evacuation, information and communications.

“Equal attention shall be given to sign language and video captioning of public information regarding the emergency situation,” noted the UN expert body, “in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities**”

The Committee stressed the urgent need to focus on the habilitation and rehabilitation of the disabled, including post-traumatic stress care. They also called for “special support in rebuilding their homes, whether in urban or rural areas and those sites that host associations of persons with disabilities and centers that serve them, which have been destroyed or damaged.”

While recognizing the efforts of the Chilean government in this emergency situation, the UN body noted that “Chile must take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters,” as a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Committee is the body of independent experts monitoring the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which so far has been endorsed by 140 countries. The Convention was adopted on 13 December 2006 by the UN General Assembly, and entered into force on 3 May 2008.

(*) Statement on Chile by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9960&LangID=E

(**) The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/Convention.aspx

German Deaf Comics

2010-03-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

English translation provided by D. McClintock, editor.

Correction note: In my post "Polish Deaf Comics" I made an error of saying Luzka Szoz-Ciechaka was CODA. Let me clarify that she is deaf. My apology for a misunderstanding of Polish (how embarassing!). I have just corrected my post "Polish Deaf Comics."

Greetings, folks! I'd like to introduce two German deaf cartoonists, Paul Dinkel and Lucas Kollien. Their artworks can be found at http://www.taubenschlag.de/Karikaturen. Taubenschlag.de is a popular German deaf website.

Paul Dinkel

Paul Dinkel is one of two well-known deaf German cartoonists. He was born on January 9, 1961 as the first of 3 children in Haßfurt. His parents, Karl and Klara, are deaf. From 1967 to 1976 he attended a school for the deaf in Wuerzburg and received a Quali-Abschluß (certificate of qualifications) there.

He trained as a toolmaker from 1976 to 1980 at a company called VDM. Later he continued his training at a vocational rehabilitation center for the hearing impaired in Nuremberg. After his associating examination he was placed at a company named Allmilmö Furniture Work as a machine worker.

His interest in art education began when he was young. He received good marks for his work and it was when he thought of becoming a painter, a restorer or the like. Because of his weak German at that time he was not able to go to the hearing part-time vocational school. He occupied himself nonetheless with studies in art. He learned how to paint oil and painted numerous pictures - mostly in colored pencils - particularly in natural landscapes and female shapes. When someone asked him in the year 1986 whether he was ready to draw the sign language textbooks by the publisher the district federation of the Deaf Lower Franconia, he readily obliged. He illustrated 2 volumes of the books. Later he worked with other fellow draftsmen in Munich doing illustrations for the sign language textbooks.
In the meantime he developed an interest in cartooning drawing and would eagerly draw comic strips out of fun. Feeling more confident of himself, he decided to market his comic strips. Sometimes h was asked to draw "the merry pictures" for his friends or other people. In March 2001 he went to a community college in Darmstadt to study as a Diplom-Karikaturist (master caricaturist) and Comiczeichner (comic book artist) Darmstadt. After one year of studies he successfully completed his thesis with excellent marks.

In the year 2004 Paul Dinkel sold his first book, Das Buch der besten Gehörlosenwitze (the book of the best deaf jokes). He sold 500 copies.

Paul Dinkel is married to his friend Petra (since 1991) and they have a hearing son, who was born in 1993.
Among his hobbies are soccer and chess.

For inquiries or more information on the books he is selling, go to his website:

http://www.pdinkel.de/

"Nooo...I certainly do not have money...he...just look...

he has C.I.!" (cochlear implant)

"We believe...their son is not mentally normal."

"It's a bummer...I have to prepare for amputation of my hands...

that's why I'm using toespells..."

And this one I like...(Pablo Picasso is one of my favorite artists, my Chilean side of my family goes all the way back to Spain, and "Picasso" happens to be my frat nickname.) - D.

"Hello, my friend, Monsieur Picasso...I have a deaf patient here

that I think would be of interest to you..."

Lucas Kollien

Another of two famous deaf cartoonists in Germany, he became an artist at age 3. He discovered his graphic talent at "the desk of his parents, where papers, ball-point pens, lead and felt-tip pens lay about everywhere." He has put out a book of cartoons with another deaf artist named Rudolph Werner. (It is not clear what title is. The editor has not yet received a response after he emailed Mr. Kollien.)

(This is DST allright!...editor)

"Hello, I Dummy!" "...and I dummy interpreter!"

Got comics or cartoon you'd like to share or you would like me to review?

Email Dan at deafcartoon@gmail.com!

The World of Deaf Humor

2010-03-21T22:49:00.000-07:00

I found this webpage that I thought you'd find interesting! Samples of deaf cartoons around the world.

http://www.theinterpretersfriend.org/misc/humr/world-of-deaf.html

ASOCH Thanks Volunteers

2010-03-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

Letter by Assocation of the Deaf of Chile (English translation provided below)

Estimados amigos y amigas

Ante la presencia de mas de 100 socios de la Asociación de Sordos de Chile, el presidente Nelson Weitzel hizo entrega en una simple y emotiva ceremonia de la “Medalla al Mérito” a los 8 integrantes de la “Caravana Solidaria Fuerza Sordos”, esta medalla, es un reconocimiento mínimo a estos jovenes que portergaron sus familias, sus estudios, sus trabajos por ir en ayuda a sus semenjantes, donde comieron mal y durmieron peor incluso fueron victimas de robo, pero el objetivo con mucho orgullo se logro, durante el evento se mostraron fotografías de las actividades realizadas de ayuda en el sur, también contaron sus experiencias y algunas muy conmovedoras, y solo por nombrar algunas les cuento:

a) Situación de sordo con discapacidad física, postrado hace diez años en cama por no tener silla de ruedas, además años atrás se cayó y se quebró la dentadura.

b) Sordo duerme en su pequeño automóvil porque maremoto se llevo su casa.

c) Señorita sorda de Dichato (único sordo de Dichato) quien sueña con ir a la educación superior pero no tiene apoyo ni orientación necesaria para postular a un proyecto que le financie interprete.

d) Se asistió también a la familia de un niño con Síndrome de Down
Todo esto y mucho más sin contar con las desgracias materiales en la que perdieron todas sus pertenencias.

Estos antecedentes fueron puesto a disposición de SENADIS para que se haga parte y de las instrucciones necesarias para asistencia y coordinación con las Municipalidades para que sus asistentes sociales y representantes del SENADIS regional se preocupen de asistir y entregar los recursos necesarios, como sillas de rueda, transporte y asistencia dental, orientación para postulación proyectos, etc. etc.

El SENADIS quien formo comité de emergencias esta muy agradecido por la información suministrada (catastro de las Personas Sordas de la Región, quienes son, donde están, que necesitan, etc.).

Estamos aun a la espera del “informe oficial y final” de esta caravana para darlo a conocer, se entregara también la información a la D.O.S. quienes están muy comprometidos y preocupados por las Personas con Discapacidad.

Por otra parte la Asociación de Sordos de Chile seguirá con su campaña de sensibilización para el logro de interpretes y subtitulados en TV. “Lengua de Señas Cuestión de Derechos”, queremos aclarar puesto que han llegado algunas cartas diciendo que hay que darle tiempo al Presidente Sebastian Piñera, primero la Asociación de Sordos de Chile es apolítica, no estamos contra los gobiernos, al contrario, los gobiernos son nuestros aliados y apoyo, segundo, el Gobierno de la Presidenta Bachelet firmo y ratifico la Convención por los Derechos Humanos de las Personas con Discapacidad y la Ley 20.422, Normas de Inclusión y Accesibilidad para las Personas con Discapacidad, ahora el Gobierno del presidente Sebastian Piñera será el encargado de hacerla cumplir, pero es responsabilidad de las Organizaciones de Discapacidad hacerse participe y decir estamos presentes, la campaña esta enfocada a la opinión publica y canales de TV, para su toma conciencia y reacción positiva.

Volviendo al tema de la “Solidaridad”, estamos a la espera que se reúnan las organizaciones que impulsaron la “Caravana Solidaria” (CAISO, UNIVERSO, CRESOR, ACHIELS y ASOCH), para determinar los pasos a seguir, en nuestra institución tenemos una sala llena de ropa y alimentos no perecibles que han llegado después de haber salido la caravana, es esta a disposición de los organizadores para hacerla llegar al sur, quienes dejaron una red y la ayuda puede ser enviada a las sedes de sordos del sur y distribuido por ellos mismos.

Un cordial saludos y muchas gracias

Gustavo Vergara

Secretario General
Asociacion de Sordos de Chile
Ayuda Solidaria Sordos del Sur
Banco Estado de Chile - http://www.bancoestado.cl/
Código Swift Banco BECHCLRM (para depositos internacionales)
Código Sucursal Plaza Egaña: 345
Sucursal Banco: Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago
Numero de Cuenta: 00102385813
Beneficiario: Asociación de Sordomudos de Chile
RUT: 82.658.100-K
Dirección: Avenida José Pedro Alessandri 1251, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
Mail: asoch.chile@gmail.com

Dear friends,

In the presence of 100 members of the Association of the Deaf of Chile, President Nelson Weitzel delivered medals in a simple one and touching ceremony of the “Medal to the Merit” to 8 members of the “Caravana Solidaria Fuerza Sordos”. This medal is a minimum recognition of these young people who sacrificed their time with their families, their studies, their work to go to help fellow human beings, where they ate bad and slept badly. Even (more unfortunate off) were robbery victims. But the objective is more (restoring) pride than (seeking or gaining) profits. During the event photographies were taken of the activities of relief in the South. Also they related (for the audience) their experiences and some (stories are) very stirring. To name a few stories:

a) Situation of deaf person with physical incapacity, bed-bound for ten years without access to a wheelchair, in addition years back he fell and his set of teeth became broken.
b) Deaf person who lives in his small car because his house was run down by a tidal wave.
c) Deaf young lady of Dichato (unique deaf person of Dichato) who dreams about going to an university but does not have support nor direction necessary to postulate to a project that finances interpreting.
d) She also assisted the family of a boy with Syndrome of Down All this and much more without counting on the material misfortunes in which they lost all properties.

These antecedents (backgrounds) were put at the disposal of SENADIS so that it is part and of the necessary instructions for attendance and coordination with the Municipalities so that their social and representing assistants of the regional SENADIS attend to their concerns and to give the necessary resources, like wheelchairs, transportations and dental care, direction for projects that are under petition, etc. etc. SENADIS, a committee of emergencies that I formed is thankful for information provided (registry of the deaf people of the region, who are, where they are, that needs, etc.).

We are hoping to present the "final official report" on behalf of this caravan. The information to the DOS that we are anxious and worried about the People with Disability would also be given .

On the other hand, the Association of the Deaf of Chile will follow through with its campaign of awareness for the benefits of interpreters and captions on TV. “Language of Signs - Question of Rights". We want to clarify since some letters have arrived saying that there is to give time to President Sebastian Piñera (that) first, the Association of the Deaf of Chile is nonpolitical - we are not against the governments - on the contrary, the governments are our allies and support. Second, the Government of President Bachelet signed and ratified the Convention by the Human rights of the People with Disability and Law 20,422, Norms of Inclusion and Accessibility for the People with Disability. Now the Government of President Sebastian Piñera will be the one in charge to fulfill it, but it is responsibility of the Organizations of (People with) Disability to participate and to say we are present. This campaign is focused to the public opinion and TV channels, for its taking positive feedback brings awareness. Returning to the subject of “Solidarity”, we are hoping the organizations who drove the “Caravan Solidarity” (CAISO, UNIVERSE, CRESOR, ACHIELS and ASOCH) will meet to determine the steps to follow. In our institution we have a full room of clothes and nonperishable food that have arrived after the caravan left. It is at the disposal of the organizers to deliver (the relief package) to the south, who left a network and the aid can be sent to relieve the deaf people of the south and distributed among themselves.

Warm greetings and thank you very much.

Gustavo Vergara
Secretary General
Association of the Deaf of Chile
Aid Solidarity for the Deaf of the South
State Bank of Chile - http://www.bancoestado.cl/
Swift Bank Code: BECHCLRM (for international deposits)
Branch Bank Code: 345
Branch Bank: Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago
Account Number: 00102385813
Beneficiary: Asociación de Sordomudos de Chile
RUT: 82.658.100-
Address: Avenida José Pedro Alessandri 1251, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile
Email: asoch.chile@gmail.com

Translation by D. McClintock - disclaimer: I translated this to my best of understanding of Spanish. If you see any error or correction that needs to be made, let me know. Gracias.

¡FELICIDADES!

Polish Deaf Comics

2010-03-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hola, readers! I would like to introduce Luska Gosia Szok-Ciechacka, Polish deaf cartoonist. She lives in Toruń, Brodnica, which is located in northern Poland. She describes herself as having "black hair and curls", likes to joke, dislikes designer clothes, and may not be a "famous millionaire" but certainly a "crazy artist." "I draw comics with passion, and sometimes I paint some pictures", comments Luska in her bio. Among crazy things she does is driving up the wall on a motorcycle and screaming from the top: "O, mój Boże!" (Oh, my God!"). Some of her comic strips are based on her growing up as a deaf person. "I live in the World of Silence, speech, and the Polish sign language," explains Luska on her blog, http://www.szok-art.blogspot.com/. According to data provided by the Polish Association of the Deaf (http://www.eud.eu/Poland-i-195.html) it is estimated there are about 100,000 hearing-impaired people in Poland and about half of them (500,000) use Polish Sign Language (PJM). Luska has kindly provided some of her best works that are translated in English for your enjoyment.

If you have a comic strip or cartoon you would like to share

or you would like me to review, email Dan at deafcartoon@gmail.com. Thank you!

VRS vs VRS Part II

2010-03-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

The competition gets fiercer!

MADeaf Presents VRS vs. VRS

2010-03-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

A new political comic strip! Pah!

Support Deaf Chile's Fight for Equal Access

2010-03-14T22:39:00.000-07:00

Folks, amigos y amigas, I came across this link and thought I'd share with you all. Enclosed in the letter that Gracias VRS received is a list of senators and representatives in Chile you can email to support our deaf Chilean friends' rights to captions and sign language interpreters on emergency broadcast news. ¡El sordos del mundo, unamos! Deaf of the world, unite!

http://graciasvrs.com/vrs-news/international-news-event/lets-start-a-letter-chain-to-help-our-deaf-chilean-brothers-and-sisters/

- Dan McClintock, great-grandson of Chilean Senator Luis Anibal Barrios Ugalde

Muy gracias to Gracias VRS!

illustration done by self (on Paint...not a terrific program but hey, I'm between places! You'll see new cartoons and illustrations coming up soon in the near future from me!)

Letter by World Federation of the Deaf

2010-03-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

WORLD FEDERATION OF THE DEAF PLEADS FOR DONATIONS TO HELP DEAF VICTIMS IN CHILE

March 12, 2010 - www.wfdeaf.org

(in English and Spanish - you may print this out and circulate or forward in an email - this will be soon posted on WFD's website)

Association of the Deaf People of Chile, ASOCH, is providing aid to support relief efforts of Deaf people in the most affected regions in Chile together with the WFD Regional Secretariat of South America after the devastating earthquake. According to ASOCH, no deaf death victims have been located so far, but there is an urgent need to supply aid and emergency relief to those victims who have been severely affected by the earthquake.

World Federation of the Deaf is deeply concerned that Deaf people are easily forgotten in emergency situations. After the earthquake, WFD was informed that there was serious lack of information provided in sign language in Chile. Deaf people must receive emergency relief whereas everyone else, but also Deaf people’s right to receive information in sign language in emergency situations must be specifically protected by authorities. Otherwise, Deaf people have no access to information, which results to isolation without knowing what is happening in immediate society or how to look for help nor having opportunity to protect for example from aftershocks or other consequences. World Federation of the Deaf has supported ASOCH’s efforts by sending a letter to the President of Chile to address the Government to better guarantee access to sign language information by authorities and public television also during emergencies.

In addition, World Federation of the Deaf pleads international donor agencies that provide international assistance not to forget Deaf people and people with disabilities from emergency relief and reconstruction efforts.

World Federation of the Deaf expresses its deepest sympathies to all Chileans and especially those families that have been affected by the massive earthquake which caused many deaths and other extensive damage. World Federation of the Deaf wishes strength and courage to reconstruction, which hopefully results to prompt recovery.

Association of the Deaf People of Chile, ASOCH, has created an account to help families of Deaf people who need help. To support Chilean Deaf victims, please make your donations directly to ASOCH account.

In English:

Shared in common aid Deaf of the South

Banco Estado de Chile

Swift code Bank BECHCLRM (for international deposits)

Branch Code Egaña Place: 345

Branch Bank: Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago

number of Account: 00102385813

Beneficiary: Asociacion de Sordomudos de Chile

RUT: 82.658.100-K

Address: Jose Pedro Alessandri 1251, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

En Espagnol:

Ayuda Solidaria Sordos del Sur

Banco Estado de Chile

Código Swift Banco BECHCLRM (para depositos internacionales)

Código Sucursal Plaza Egaña: 345

Sucursal Banco: Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago

Numero de Cuenta: 00102385813

Beneficiario: Asociación de Sordomudos de Chile

RUT: 82.658.100-K Dirección: José Pedro Alessandri 1251, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

Read more about efforts to help Chilean Deaf people:

Efforts to help Chilean Deaf people

by Alexeis V. Estibill, Director of WFD Regional Secretariat for South America

To the 03:35 of the dawn of Saturday 27 of February, the center - South of Chile it was whipped by the fifth earthquake but hard of the world degree 8.8 it scales Reitch, followed by tsunami, that destroyed towns and whole cities, the following days were of chaos and terror, without energy, water, without combustible foods nor, I exercise and the rescatistas arrive at giving aid, the young people get ready like volunteers to the Red Cross, to greenspace, organizations of the Catholic church to take to foods and water, the TV channels initiate a aid campaign and many countries send field hospitals, humanitarian aid, and volunteers, have taken place but of 200 replicas of the earthquake some 6,9 degree 7,2 and Reitch scale.

Sunday 28 of February the community of deaf people I organize myself to join humanitarian aid for the deaf people of that region, all the week made preparations and it was a caravan of two cars and a truck of foods and water, has crossed 8 towns totally destroyed and they even follow in land, has but of 10 houses of destroyed deaf people 100%, but of 16 houses with serious damages, luckily there are no died deaf people, this caravan this composing by 7 deaf people and 1 interprets, with them also travels the Director of the South American Secretary of Deaf people of the WFD, Alexeis V. Estibill.

THE ASSOCIATION OF DEAF PEOPLE OF CHILE TO IT HAS CREATED AN ACCOUNT OF AID FOR THE FAMILIES OF DEAF PEOPLE ARE LOST ALL GOODS, THE ASOCH THANKS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AND GROUPINGS OF DEAF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP DOING I DEPOSIT IN THE ACCOUNT OF AID FOR THE DEAF VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE

Shared in common aid Deaf of the South

Bank Been of Chile

Swift code Bank BECHCLRM (for international deposits)

Branch Code Egaña Place: 345

Branch Bank: Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago

number of Account: 00102385813

Beneficiary: Asociacion de Sordomudos of Chile

RUT: 82.658.100-K

Address: Jose Pedro Alessandri 1251, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

For further information: www.asoch.cl

A las 03:35 de la madrugada del sabado 27 de febrero, el centro – sur de Chile fue azotado por el quinto terremoto mas fuerte del mundo grado 8,8 escala Reitch, seguido por un tsunami, que destruyo pueblos y ciudades enteras, los dias siguientes fueron de caos y terror, sin energia, sin agua, sin alimentos ni combustibles, el ejercito y los rescatistas llegan a prestar ayuda, los jovenes se alistan como voluntarios en la cruz roja, a greenspace, a organizaciones de la iglesia catolica para llevar alimentos y agua, los canales de TV inician una campaña de ayuda y muchos paises envian hospitales de campaña, ayuda humanitaria, y voluntarios, se han producido mas de 200 replicas del terremoto algunas grado 6,9 y 7,2 escala Reitch.

El domingo 28 de febrero la comunidad de sordos se organizo para juntar ayuda humanitaria para los sordos de esa region, toda la semana hicieron preparativos y partio una caravana de dos automoviles y un camion de alimentos y agua, han recorrido 8 pueblos totalmente destruido y aun siguen en terreno, hay mas de 10 casas de sordos 100% destruidas, mas de 16 casas con graves daños, afortunadamente no hay sordos muertos, esta caravana esta compuesta por 7 sordos y 1 interprete, con ellos viaja tambien el Director de la Secretaria Sudamericana de Sordos de la WFD, Alexeis V. Estibill.

LA ASOCIACION DE SORDOS DE CHILE HA ABIERTO UNA CUENTA DE AYUDA PARA LAS FAMILIAS DE SORDOS QUE HAN PERDIDO TODOS SUS BIENES, LA ASOCH AGRADECE A TODAS LAS PERSONAS Y AGRUPACIONES DE SORDOS QUE QUIERAN AYUDAR HACIENDO UN DEPOSITO EN LA CUENTA DE AYUDA PARA LOS SORDOS VICTIMAS DEL TERREMOTO

Ayuda Solidaria Sordos del Sur

Banco Estado de Chile

Código Swift Banco BECHCLRM (para depositos internacionales)

Código Sucursal Plaza Egaña: 345

Sucursal Banco: Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago

Numero de Cuenta: 00102385813

Beneficiario: Asociación de Sordomudos de Chile

RUT: 82.658.100-K

Dirección: José Pedro Alessandri 1251, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile

www.asoch.cl

Three strong earthquakes hit Chile

2010-03-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Geological Survey reported three strong earthquakes just hit Chile today. The first earthquake that hit this morning measured a 6.9-magnitude. The second earthquake came 16 minutes later and it measured 6.7. A third came 27 minutes later and measured at 6.0.

I got this just from Gustavo Vergara, who reported the same thing: El Servicio de Geología corrigió las magnitudes de las recientes réplicas. De acuerdo con la última información entregada, la más fuerte, registrada a las 11.39 horas fue de 6,9 en la escala de Richter, mientras que la segunda y la tercera fueron de 6,7 y 6,0 a las 11.55 y 12.06 respectivamente.

All this happened when Chile received its new President today, Sebastian Piñera. The newly elected President promised changes in the country's emergency system and continuing the relief efforts that were started under the previous administration of outgoing President Michelle Bachelet. Let's see if Piñera will think of the deaf Chilean community and ensure that equal access - captions and sign language interpreters - will be provided on TV. I will keep you updated on the progress of this issue in Chile.

ASOCH recently, finally updated its website. You may now view it at http://www.asoch.cl/. Keep your donations coming! Let's pray that all our deaf friends in Chile are safe and allright! Viva Chile ! Viva Sordos!

"Fuerza Sordos"

2010-03-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

Letter by ASOCH
(English translation provided below)

Estimados Amigos y Amigas

Como muchos de Ustedes saben hay una caravana solidaria de sordos "Fuerza Sordos", entregando ayuda a las familias de personas sordas del sur.

Dia a dia envian reportes y algunas fotos, han recorrido muchas ciudades, Rancagua, Curico, Talca, Chillan, Parral, Hualpen, Coronel, Lota, Tome, Talcahuano, Concepcion. Han descansado en casas de sordos, colegios, regimientos o donde los pille el toque de queda. Han tenido vivir las replicas algunas noches incluso cada 15 minutos. Han visto mucha destruccion y sufimiento, hay confirmado 10 casas de sordos totalmente destruidas, 16 casas de sordos con graves daños (aun falta catastro de concepcion), una de los peores problemas es la falta de agua en talcahuano, donde encontraron sordos con varios dias sin tomar agua, ni comer, el olor es insoportable.

Queridos amigos no podemos descansar mientras exista este sufimiento, en Santiago y hacia el norte las cosas se han normalizado veo los mall con gente comprando tranquilamente, no olvidemos a los que sufren.

Seguiremos recibiendo ayuda, alimentos, articulos de aseo personal, agua, pañales, toallas higienicas, pasta de dientes, cepillos, remedios, mascarillas, medicinas. etc etc

La Asociacion de Sordos de Chile ha abierto una cuenta de ayuda exclusivamente para los sordos damnificados del sur, esperamos vuestro aporte, muchas gracias.

Dear friends,

As many of you may already know, La Caravana Solidaria "Fuerza Sordos" (The Solidarity Group "the Deaf People Force") was created to give aid to the families of deaf people of the south. Day to day they send reports and some photos, have crossed many cities, Rancagua, Curico, Talca, Scream, Parral, Hualpen, Colonel, Burbot, Takes, Talcahuano, Conception. They have rested in houses of deaf people, schools, evacuation centers or where they could find accommodation for the time being. Every 15 minutes some deaf people have had to relive the repeat of some nights. They have seen much destruction and suffering. It was confirmed that 10 houses of deaf people were totally destroyed, 16 houses of other deaf people are seriously damaged (Concepcion lacks an office of land registry). One of the worse problems is the lack of water in Talcahuano, where they found deaf people who were hungry and dehydrated for several days without water nor food to eat. The scent (from the destruction caused by the tsunami) is unbearable. Beloved friends, we cannot rest while this suffering exists. In Santiago and around in the north things have been normalized. I see malls filled with people buying calmly. Let's not forget those who are suffering. We will continue to seek aid, food, articles of personal cleanliness, water, diapers, hygienic towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, remedies, masks, medicines. etc etc. ASOCH has opened an account of aid exclusively for the deaf earthquake victims of the south. We wait for your contribution. Thank you very much.

Saludos Cordiales

Gustavo Vergara
Secretario General
www.asoch.cl

Editor's note: the bank account and full addresses are provided in the previous post.

Bank Account Opened for Donations to ASOCH

2010-03-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

Here is the following information I received from ASOCH on where you can wire or mail your donation to:

Banco Estado de Chile (State Bank of Chile) - http://www.bancoestado.cl/
Código Swift Banco (swift bank code): BECHCLRM
Código Sucursal Plaza Egaña (branch bank code): 345
Dirección Sucursal Banco (branch bank address): Irarrazabal 5544, Ñuñoa, Santiago
Numero de Cuenta (account number): 00102385813
Beneficiario: Asociación de Sordomudos de Chile

Again, muchas gracias!

Letter by ACHIELS

2010-03-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

Letter by Agrupacion Chilena de Instructores e Interpretes del Lenguaje de Señas (ACHIELS):
(English translation provided below - see disclaimer in previous post)

Señores
Directiva ASOCH

Presente

Reciba nuestros cordiales palabras de aliento en estos momentos de profundo dolor que atraviesan nuestros compatriotas quienes han sido afectados por el reciente terremoto los cuales generó perdidas humanas y materiales.
El domingo 7 de marzo el Centro Cultural Peruano Chileno Chabuca y Violeta organizó su Campeonato de Marinera promovió que los asistentes al evento traigan alimentos no perecibles para ser donados a la comunidad de personas sordas que viven en la zona sur del país quienes requieren ayuda puntual, esta gestión fue realizada por la Señora Gloria Pinto estudiante de lengua de señas del profesor Christian Muñoz actualmente Presidente, ese día se recolectó alimentos no perecibles así como también camas de madera, poleras, toallas, zapatos y zapatillas de inmediato Melitón Bustinza Secretario llamo a Andrea González directora Central ambos de ACHIELS para que algún miembro de la ASOCH pueda ayudar en un auto o furgón para trasladar las ayudas recibidas por la comunidad peruana en Chile, el Señor Gustavo Vergara fue el contacto y vinieron en un auto y furgón dos personas voluntarias para poder llevar los alimentos hasta la sede de la ASOCH los cuales deberán ser distribuidos a las personas sordas que viven en las zona de catástrofes.
Esperamos haber contribuido con un granito de arena y que la ayuda sea destinada en forma oportuna para aquellos que han perdido todo.
Atte.

Christian Muñoz
Presidente ACHIELS

Andrea Gonzalez
Directora Central

Meliton Bustinza
Secretario General
Gentlemen, directors of ASOCH, 　

We offer our deep sorrows for our compatriots who have been affected by the recent earthquake in which human lives and things are lost. On Sunday, March 7, the Cultural Center Peruvian-Chilean Chabuca and Violeta organized its Sailors Championship where people could bring non-perishable food to be donated to the community of deaf people who live in the southern zone of the country who are in need. This action was directed by Mrs.Gloria Pinto, sign language student of Professor Christian Muñoz (at the moment President) who that day collected nonperishable food as well as wood beds, poleras (? - pollera, I think, skirt - ed.), towels, shoes and slippers. Melitón Bustinza, Secretary, immediately called Andrea González, Central director of ACHIELS, so that some ASOCH members can help in car or van trips to transfer the aid from the Peruvian community in Chile. Mr. Gustavo Vergara was the contact and came in a car and van with two volunteers so they could take the food to the headquarters of ASOCH, where it will be distributed to the deaf people who live in the zone of catastrophes. We hope to have contributed with a "grain of sand" and that the aid will reach in a perfect form those people who lost everything.

Sincerely,

Christian Muñoz
President, ACHIELS
Andrea Gonzalez Director Central
Meliton Bustinza Secretaey General

Editor's note: The Spanish phrase "granito de arena" is difficult to translate into English...basicially it means "here is my contribution that I hope will help, however small it may seem।" It is like the English idiom "my widow's mite." If someone in a Hispanic country tells you to "poner tu granito de arena", it means "do your part" or help out a charity or people in need.

ASOCH Thanks the Peruvian Deaf

2010-03-08T22:35:00.000-08:00

(English translation provided below)

From Gustavo Vergara, Secretary General of ASOCH:

Estimados amigos y amigas

La comunidad cultural Peruana envio ayuda para los sordos de la region del Maule y Bio Bio la que fue entregada en la ASOCH, agradecemos la intervencion de Cristian Muñoz y Meliton Buztinza, de ACHIELS. Se adjunta carta y fotografias enviadas por ello.

Por otra parte les informo que Andrea Perez a estado informando dia a dia los acontecimientos y vivencias que ha enfrentado la Caravana Solidaria "Fuerza Sordos" quienes recorrieron Curico, Talca y alrededores, continuaran a Chillan y Concepcion, mañana enviaremos textos y fotos, de dichos acontecimientos.

Este sabado seguiremos juntando ayuda en la ASOCH, por favor traer articulos de aseo personal, (pasta de dientes, cepillos de dientes, jabon, confort, toallas higienicas, pañales, etc etc)

saludos cordiales,

Gustavo Vergara

Secretario General

http://www.asoch.cl/

Dear friends,

The Peruvian cultural community sent shipment of aid for the deaf people of the the Maule and Bio Bio region in care of ASOCH. We are thankful for the intervention of Cristian Muñoz and Meliton Buztinza of ACHIELS. Enclosed are letters and photographs for this reason. Asides from this, I inform you that Andrea Perez has informed the state day to day of the events and experiences that the Solidarity coalition "Fuerza Sordos" faced. (The coalition) crossed Curico, Talca and the local areas. They continued on to Chillan and Conception. Tomorrow we will send texts and photos of these events. This Saturday we will continue organizing aid in care of ASOCH. Please bring articles of personal cleanliness(toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, comfort, hygienic towels, diapers, etc etc).

cordial salutes,

Gustavo Vergara

Secretary-General

http://www.asoch.cl/

disclaimer: the editor translated this letter into English to the best of his understanding of Spanish. Alta-Vista's translation engine is not great for translating your letter in different languages, fyi - example: for some reason, Alta-Vista translates the word pasta de dientes as "it grates teeth." Weird...:D

Comment by editor: let's give handwaves for the Peruvian deaf community and Cristian Munoz and Meliton Buztinza of ACHIELS for helping other deaf people in time of crisis!

EARTHQUAKE AID FOR DEAF CHILEANS

2010-03-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

EARTHQUAKE AID

AYUDA PARA SORDOS

DE TALCA, CHILLAN, CONCEPCION, TALCAHUANO, CURICO Y OTROS LUGARES

DEL SUR SABADO EN ASOCH
ALIMENTOS, REMEDIOS, LINTERNAS, PAÑALES, LECHE, FRAZADAS,

MUCHO MUCHO MAS
VAMOS TODOS, ARRIBA CHILENOS

AID URGENTLY NEEDED FOR DEAF CHILEANS

OF TALCA, CHILLAN, CONCEPCION, TALCAHUANCO, CURICO AND

OTHER PLACES IN SOUTHERN CHILE

FOOD, BREAD, MILK, MEDICINE, LANTERNS, BLANKETS, DIAPERS AND

MANY, MANY MORE!

SEND YOUR DONATIONS NOW TO ASOCH:

Asociación de Los Sordos de Chile

Avenida Jose Pedro Alessandri (ex Macul) Nro. 1251

Ñuñoa de Santiago de Chile

Muchos gracias for your support!

Terremoto en Chile (Earthquake in Chile)

2010-03-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

YouTube video interpreted in Argentine sign language (LSA) with Spanish subtitles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8TUwVeQec0&feature=related

A summary of what's going on in Chile

2010-03-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

I am still developing a story based on news and information I am receiving from Chile. Following is a summary of new developments that I received so far:

1. The school for the deaf in Santiago, la escuela Dr. Jorge Otto, suffered only minor damages and the schoolchildren are fine. Only the dividing wall in the patio was damaged and is being currently repaired. The house of only one girl's family was damaged and made unhabitable. The school is conducting a campaign to help this girl's family. A group of professors visited the family recently and offered to put them up in a lodge for the time being.

2. ASOCH, other organizations, schools for the deaf and deaf community leaders are now organizing campaigns around the country to assist deaf people in need.

3. Many deaf Chileans, according to Mr. Vergara, are upset over the lack of sign language interpreters and captions on emergency broadcast news on Chilean television. The deaf Chilean community has presented complaints to the Chilean government, which promised action on this concern.

4. A group of community leaders, interpreters and volunteers will be going today to the Maule and Bio Bio Region, which was badly hit by the earthquake and the tsunami, to bring food aid and other necessary items for the deaf communities.

5. 8 hospitals were destroyed around the country. Patients had to be evacuated to safer places.

Stay tuned for more news.

Update: I would like to add here that there has been widespread looting through the country and as a result the group going to the Maule and Bio Bio requested the protection of security forces. Americans desiring to visit Chile during this time are advised to check first with the State Department for precautions.

Urgent Letter by ASOCH

2010-03-03T13:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a copy of a letter I got from ASOCH. You can circulate this. We will keep you posted on further developments. Thank you.

(English translation below)

Estimados socios y amigos de ASOCH,

Agradeceriamos a Uds. este Sabado 06 de Marzo llevar 1 kilo de alimento no perecible (arroz, azucar, fideos, porotos, lentejas, garbanzos, sopas, aceite, etc.etc.) para enviar ayuda a los sordos de Concepcion, Talcahuano y otros lugares del sur.

(favor difundir)

Muchas Gracias

Gustavo Vergara
Secretario General
http://www.asoch.cl/

Dear partners and friends of ASOCH,

We would be grateful if you would come this Saturday, March 6, and bring 1 kilo of nonperishable food (rice, sugar, vermicelli, porotos (beans), lentils, chick-peas, soups, oil, etc.) to aid the deaf people of Conception, Talcahuano and other places of the south.

Thank you very much.

Gustavo Vergara
Secretary General
http://www.asoch.cl/

(favor to spread)

Note by editor: An address for sending your donations will be made available soon.
Nota por el redactor: una dirección para enviar sus donaciones será hecha disponible pronto.

Update: during the Internet search I found what is the full address that I was looking for. I was not familiar with the order of address in Chile. I am not sure if this is still effective in time of the emergency but I will confirm with ASOCH when the group comes back from the Bio Bio region. Here it is:

Asociación de Los Sordos de Chile

Avenida Jose Pedro Alessandri (ex Macul) Nro. 1251

Ñuñoa de Santiago de Chile

Sin Palabras (Without Words)

2010-03-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

Gustavo Vergara of ASOCH just sent me this link to a photo gallery that gives you an idea of the extent of destruction the earthquake and the tsunami caused.

Gustavo Vergara de ASOCH acaba de enviarme un enlace a una galería de fotos que demuestra que el grado de la destrucción el terremoto y el tsunami causó.

http://megagalerias.terra.cl/galerias/index.cfm?id_galeria=48835

DEAF CHILE NEEDS YOUR HELP!

2010-03-02T20:54:00.000-08:00

Greetings, fellow Americans. I know it has been nearly three years since my last post here. I had taken a hiatus from my blogging for health and personal reasons. I am doing much better, thank you to my friends. I have now urgent news to share with you. Recently I am in contact with the Association of the Deaf of Chile (called Asociación de los Sordos de Chile - ASOCH for short), which informed me of the needs of the deaf communities in southern Chile. As most of you are already aware, a powerful 8.8 earthquake hit central Chile. Tremors from that quake went as far as 300 miles to Santiago, its capital. I have relatives in Chile and I have checked with my cousin who reported that thankfully they are fine. ASOCH was pleased to report that the deaf community in Santiago likewise was fine. However, the deaf communities in the region of Maule and Bio Bio where the earthquake hit are in dire need of assistance. They need food, water, telecommunications devices, clothes, and so on. ASOCH would appreciate your donations or help. For more information or to send a donation, go to www.asoch.cl.

Thank you for your support of the deaf people of Chile!

Saludos, americanos sordos, mi amigos y amigas. Sé que ha sido casi tres años desde mi poste pasado aquí. Había tomado un hiato de mi blogging por salud y razones personales. Estoy haciendo mucho mejor, gracias a mis amigos. Ahora tengo noticias urgentes a compartir con usted. Estoy recientemente en contacto con la asociación del sordo de Chile (llamado Asociación de los Sordos de Chile - ASOCH), que me informó las necesidades de las comunidades sordas en Chile meridional. Pues la mayor parte de usted es ya consciente, un terremoto de gran alcance 8.8 golpeó Chile central. Los temblores de ese temblor fueron hasta 300 millas a Santiago, su capital. Tengo parientes en Chile y he comprobado con mi primo que divulgó que están agradecidamente muy bien. ASOCH estuvo satisfecho para divulgar que la comunidad sorda en Santiago estaba además muy bien. Sin embargo, las comunidades sordas en la región de Maule y Bio Bio donde está el golpe del terremoto en la extrema necesidad de la ayuda. Necesitan el alimento, agua, dispositivos de las telecomunicaciones, ropa, y así sucesivamente. ASOCH apreciaría sus donaciones o ayudaría. Para más información o enviar una donación, vaya a www.asoch.cl.

¡Gracias por su ayuda de los sordos de Chile!

Disappearing ASL, Part 3

2007-11-16T13:02:00.001-08:00

My Offer

2007-11-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Idea for Middle & High Schools and Colleges

A few have come up to me and told me how they enjoyed reading my blogs, particularly one on my health and liver awareness. One asked me how I was doing. I've been meaning to tell you this, but I wanted to wait a little longer for more conclusive news from my doctor. I saw him two weeks ago and he reported to me that my liver panel tests came back as normal. This does NOT, however, indicate whether my cirrhosis has healed. Some patients with cirrhosis can even have normal liver panels and not feel whether their livers are improving or not. My doctor told me more tests are needed to determine the condition of my liver - X-ray and ultrasound. So I was rescheduled for an appointment in December. Ugh... more waiting and waiting! But at least this is part GOOD news, that my liver's functioning normally. What a relief! My fingers are still crossed that cirrhosis will eventually disappear from my liver!

I have been thinking since my last appointment with my doctor. I would like to make an offer to middle and high schools and colleges with programs for deaf and hard of hearing students. I have an idea that these institutions may be interested in, that could help youth get off alcohol and . I would suggest Liver Awareness Week be created and tied to the school's alcohol and awareness program. I would be happy to travel and give a "shock and awe" presentation that would be sure to make your students think twice about taking or drinking alcohol in the future. I could also tie my presentation to my art workshops. I have worked with students of various ages and grades and I have given presentations and workshops on many occassions for different schools around the nation. If your school is interested, contact me at deafcartoon@gmail.com and I will give you more information such as my fee and course content.

I realized last night that some deaf readers might not be able to understand my English, so I am considering doing a vlog to repeat my message in ASL for the deaf community's benefit. Look forward to my...ahem...FIRST vlog coming soon in due time!

Ron Roberts' Rudeness

2007-11-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

commentary

by D. McClintock

Greetings, folks! Before I continue with my next comic strip, I'd like to take a break here and share some news with y'all. Just last night I went to Deaf Community Services' emergency town hall meeting. The meeting took place at DCS from 6pm to 8pm. Boy, was I glad I went there! It was a very spirited meeting. Since last night I feel proud to be part of the San Diego deaf community.

During the meeting we discussed problems, concerns and ways to improve communications between the deaf community, the firefighters, the police and emergency services. Notes were compared on the deaf community's responses to the fires in 2003 and 2007. Back in 2003 there existed in no place a mass notification system that would alert the deaf community of any impeding disaster such as a fire or an earthquake or hurricane. There was no interpreter on TV emergency broadcasts, either. Many deaf residents during that year were not aware the fires had broken out.

Now this year is a little different. This time an interpreter appeared on TV emergency broadcasts. It was largely with thanks to DCS' arduous efforts in getting an interpreter on TV. The interpreter's name was Joanne Cosentino. You can see her photo here. She was the sole interpreter who stood by the mayor and other speakers all during the week.

One of the most pivotal moments in the meeting was when DCS Director Bonnie Sherwood revealed to us how she saw Ron Roberts, Fourth District Supervisor on the S.D. County Board of Supervisors, pushed Joanne out of the way to make room for a representative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This infuriated Bonnie Sherwood and she immediately paged Joanne to describe what she saw on TV. Even Mayor Jerry Sanders, who was in the audience, was dismayed and he took Roberts asides and told him bluntly that it "was not good." (In other words, not cool!)

Since that incident Joanne was permitted to stand closer to the speaker. Yet sometimes during the week she would be out of the camera's focus. DCS kept in touch with OES (Office of Emergency Services) and made sure Joanne stayed in the camera's focus.

Bonnie Sherwood remarked that she thought Ron Roberts should issue a public apology to the deaf community for his rudeness to Joanne Cosentino. What do you think?

Ron Roberts has a website. If you wish to express your concern or file a complaint or write a polite request for a public apology, you can do so by emailing him at ron-roberts@sdcounty.ca.gov.

In another development during the meeting, we learned more information about AlertSanDiego. DCS has a vlog on this new mass notification system. The County of San Diego, in partnership with Twenty First Century Communications, Inc., established this system that would notify residents through cell phone, VoIP phone, and email address. Deaf residents in San Diego who are interested in this system can register online at AlertSanDiego's website.

Bonnie Sherwood said that all the country is looking at San Diego, to see what we are doing. NAD is looking at us, too. AlertSanDiego is believed to be the first mass notification system that utilizes use of technology to send direct alerts to deaf residents and other people with disabilities. It could become an example for other mass notification systems across the U.S. to follow.

Someone in the audience at the meeting suggested trying EmergencyEmails.com. It can send alerts to your Sidekick. The alerts it sends out, however, goes through a third party.

It is not confirmed, but I think DCS will post a vlog of last night's meeting soon on its website. Look forward to it! Word should be spreaded out to deaf communities about those two systems!

Disappearing ASL, Part 2

2007-11-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

Disappearing ASL

2007-11-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

A Comic Strip Series

Part 1

More to come soon!

My Advice to the Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohans and Paris Hiltons of the world

2007-10-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

Are you addicted to alcohol? Cocaine? Meth? Vicodin? Other drugs? Need to stop? Or don't want to stop?
Do you have a son or daughter or friend who is addicted to alcohol or drugs? Do you have a child you'd like to see stop drinking or doing drugs? Is he or she stubborn like Britney Spears and won't listen to your or others' heeding?

I have two simple words that are guaranteed to stop your son or daughter fast in his or her tracks.

No fancy, expensive rehabilitation center that caters only to the client's whims.

No long, preachy lectures or group therapy where the same stories are told over and over again.

No 12 steps.

No lame mottos such as "Just say no."

Just two simple words:

Your liver.

Have your child check his or her liver. Warn your son or daughter that the liver is the most precious organ in the body and that everything we eat, drink or even smoke is filtered through the liver. In Chinese medicine the liver is called as "the general" because of its vital functions. We each have two kidneys and only one liver. If one of your kidneys fails, you have a spare kidney to take over its place. If your liver fails, where is a spare liver to take its place? You'd have to get on a long list and wait for a period of time to get a liver transplant. This is why the liver is VERY precious, more than you ever realize.

The liver is known for its amazing regenerative powers and its ability to handle stress for a length of time. But if it is repeatedly fed with such toxins as alcohol, drugs and junk food over a long period, it may become weaker and lose its ability to handle stress as well as filter toxins. When it cannot filter toxins, disaster happens. Your system would go awry and your health would decline rapidly. Serious consequences can result, such as severe illness, brain damage, coma or even death.

I know. It happened to me.

Friends, gentlemen and ladies, parents, let me share my experience with you that you may share with your friends or children or loved ones who have alcohol or drug problems:

Exactly one year ago I nearly lost my mind, heart and life. It happened right after the Gallaudet protestors' victory over JKF and IKJ. The mood I was in that day was very euphoric. I was not aware that I had a liver failure in progress. Ironically I'd just previously made a resolution to quit drinking for once and all. Not that I was ever a full-blown alcoholic...on the contrary, normally I'd drink occassionally and in moderation. But sometimes when I was depressed or distressed, I would have drinking bouts. And I was a heavy drinker back in my youth, in my old college days. Now that I look back, I regret those drinking bouts and wished I'd be more careful and wise not to drink too much.

But I made the right decision to quit drinking, just in nick of time. Any further would have been an end of me.

The liver failure I had led to a renal (kidney) failure, which produced an encephalopathic reaction. Encephalopathy (literally means in Greek "in the head") is temporary mental instability. In an encephalopathy one enters an altered state, undergoes personality changes, and experiences psychotic symptoms. Depending on the frame of his or her mind and his or her point of reference, one can see hallucinations of almost anything, from an UFO to a phantom to the devil. I saw things that weren't there. Because I came from a Christian background, I thought the world was coming to an end. I became very paranoid. I know it may seem crazy, but that was what I imagined and it was a very frightening experience for me!

I was literally nuts for a few days. Like Vincent Van Gogh before he cut off his ear. I actually had a meltdown, like those celebrities. It was a nightmare for me.

I wasn't aware I was undergoing a psychotic break until I landed in the hospital and my sanity started to come back. I now understood what schizophrenics experience. I experienced only three days of what mentally-challenged people probably experience daily in their lives. What a hellish time it must be, to live as a schizophrenic.

At the hospital I learned that I had cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. I am not fully sure if cirrhois was caused by years of my drinking or another serious disease that I have. I am not going into details on this serious disease...even after one year I'm still grappling to come in terms with it. (But I can assure you it definitely isn't AIDS.) Someday when I feel more comfortable, I will tell you more about this. But for now, regardless of whatever the cause, cirrhosis is a very serious disease and it can be deadly. It is said that in its advanced stage, cirrhosis cannot be reversed. When this disease progresses worse, it can lead to a coma or death unless a new liver is transplanted. Liver transplants can be very expensive.

Ever since my last diagnosis I've been treating myself with herbal supplements and vitamins. I've been taking milk thistle (which is said to help reverse cirrhois and heal the liver) for a long time now. I avoided alcohol entirely...it is now 1 year since I last touched a drop of alcohol. I don't feel tempted at all whenever I am at a party or alcohol is around. I miss the sweet taste of cold beer or warm sake, yeah...but I've had enough anyway, for 20 years. No more. I won't ever again wet my lips with beer or wine or sake. I just saw my doctor last week and had blood tests. I will let you know how my health is after lab results come back.

I hope this scares our young beloved into coming to their senses. I think it's easier for a person in 40s to quit alcohol or drugs than a person in 20s. The person in 20s tends to be stubborn because he or she wants more and MORE of this or that. How can you convince this person to stop? Simply, tell this person about the liver!

You can save more lives this way by spreading the message. I care that our deaf children, the '00s generation, doesn't end up as screwed as many of us in the deaf '60s, '70s and '80s generations. Let's pass this message to future deaf generations. Let's show we care!

Thank you for listening AND caring, y'all...

UPDATE 3/30/10: I would like to give Britney Spears credit for the hard work she's done to recover and straighten up her life. I noticed from media reports that she's improved a lot. Hand waves for her! Paris Hilton...she did fairly well and toned down her partying ways. But as you know, Paris will be always Paris. As for Lindsay Lohan...sadly, she hasn't changed much. Want to know something freaky? I NEARLY meeted Paris and Lindsay! Believe it or not...I have this close friend who happens to know Paris and Lindsay. When I was staying over at my friend's place in Los Angeles, she received a page from Paris who wanted to see her. But unfortunately it was a wrong time, when she was just packing and getting ready to move out of her apartment. Another late night after hanging out on the Sunset Strip my friend and I headed back to her apartment. All of a sudden she got a page from Lindsay who invited US to her party. But it was almost 3 A.M. and she was too tired. Besides, there was another reason why she didn't want to go to Lindsay's party. So oh well, there goes my opportunity! It would've been interesting...I might've in a way reached out to Lindsay (but then with her mindset, WHO can reach out to her?). Life almost imitates art, doesn't it?

The ASL Militant's Nightmare

2007-10-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

A Halloween Special

Hello, everybody! Gather around the fire, folks...I'm gonna tell you a horror story! Here it is...

ADA in Struggle

2007-10-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

Political Cartoon of the Week

This is an old political cartoon that I did for SIGNews back in '04. After seeing discussion on the issue of the ADA Restoration Act in the blogosphere, I thought I'd share this cartoon with you. The struggle is still ongoing. Whaddya think, fellas?

DCS Chair's Vlog Broadcast

2007-10-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

DCS Board Chair Leslie Elion just put out a vlog this morning, explaining how DCS came up with the estimate of 1,000 deaf evacuees and further updating the situation on wildfires and evacuation.
She raised a good point why an estimate was necessary in order to help FEMA project their services for meeting the evacuees' needs. This seemingly minor thing may help deaf agencies a great deal in the future in emergency preparations.

Regarding some people's expressed puzzlement over the estimate, I brought this up with an interpreter I was talking with at the DCS booth at Qualcomm Stadium yesterday. She thought the figure of 1,000 was about right because there is a bulk of deaf people living in Chula Vista, southeast of San Diego. There are also more deaf people who live in Poway, Escondido, Julian and the surrounding mountains. Some of those deaf people have families, usually tend to stay at home and don't hang out as some of us San Diego regulars do at Deaf Coffee on Fridays or other places. Some of the deaf evacuees don't go to Qualcomm or other evacuation centers but spend the nights over at their friends or relatives' houses instead.

Despite that the winds calmed down, the fires are still raging in some parts of San Diego County. For a more updated information on the five major fires in San Diego County, see this link.

The deaf evacuees that I met and interviewed with yesterday were fine and in an upbeat mood. One of them told me DCS was very outstanding in its services that it provided. The emergency services people were great to them, this evacuee told me. Jon Savage already posted photos of evacuees at Qualcomm that you can see here.

I pray that the evacuees' houses are intact!

Update at Qualcomm Stadium

2007-10-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

I just went to visit the evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium today. With my press credentials (I'm a staff writer for SIGNews), I was admitted in. When I entered through the gate, DCS' booth was right there in front. I was greeted by an interpreter there and I interviewed two deaf evacuees there. I saw that there were only 6 deaf/HOH evacuees altogether at the stadium. I took some pictures as I walked around the stadium. The number of evacuees at the stadium has dwindled, as many of them are being relocated to Del Mar Fairgrounds and some are allowed to return to their homes. What touched my heart was seeing the drawings of children on the walls. These drawings were expressions of thanks to the firefighters for their hard work. I will share with you two pictures tonight. Look forward to my coming detailed report in the next issue of SIGNews. I'll comment a little more on my experience in my next blog tomorrow.

DCS Estimate: 1,000 Deaf/HOH Evacuees

2007-10-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

I just visited Deaf Community Services' office, which is open today. After vp'ing my friend, I saw the chairperson of DCS as she walked into the lobby and I greeted her. I asked her a few quick questions about the situation with deaf evacuees. She said that DCS is doing well in its job of providing interpreter services at Qualcomm Stadium and other evacuation areas and that 4 or 5 interpreters were present at the stadium. She estimated that there are about 1,000 deaf and hard of hearing evacuees, some of who are at the stadium and some others who are at other areas. She added that DCS may possibly open a relief fund for those deaf evacuees and will post an announcement soon in due time. When I receive a press release from them, I will post a copy of it here.

Stay tuned for incoming news or announcements.

Firestorm 2007

2007-10-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Where I live, the air outside is now a little misty and smells slightly of smoke. Fortunately my home is in an area far away from the wildfires in the eastern parts of San Diego County. However, there is a small fire raging in Tierrasanta, 10 miles north of my home. My roommate, who is hearing, told me the mayor urged on radio for everyone to stay indoors and be prepared for evacuations. Deaf Community Services, which office is not far from my home, is providing interpreters for deaf evacuees in need of help.

http://www.dcsofsd.org/

For a more detailed report on the wildfires from the perspective of a longtime San Diego resident, go to this link:

http://gnarlydorkette.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html#1297146524577272287

Hope all the folks are allright! I will keep you updated.

UPDATE 10/24/07: My area was not affected at all by the fires. I walked outside and saw people were doing their normal businesses. Only one or two I saw wore masks. The air quality is improving, less hazy than yesterday. All schools will remain closed this week, however. A friend of mine informed me that she was told by her company to go to work on Monday. Then the order was reversed and she and her co-employees were sent home in the afternoon. She worked from home during the day yesterday.

I saw reports on TV that about 500,000 lives were affected by the wildfires, especially most of those living in the northern and eastern parts of San Diego County.

Racism at MSSD

2007-10-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Commentary

As a MSSD alumni, I am shocked and appalled at the racially-charged incident that occured recently at my old high school. I read Berke's blog that one of the seven students involved in the assault on the black student was black. It seems that the teenagers do not understand the full implications of using hate symbols of the swastika and "KKK."

An article recently published in CNN describes it as a "game." According to the article, Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier understood it started out as a "friendly horseplay" that got out of control and escalated into an assault.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/04/deafschool.racial.incident/index.html

Gallaudet President Robert Davila is quoted by CNN as saying that the game was "destructive and represented a kind of evil that existed in society."

I agree totally with President Davila. Sadly, this incident demonstrates ignorance on part of the students involved in the incident. It also shows that not much changed at MSSD after thirty years.

I am reminded of my time at MSSD in the late '70s to the early '80s, when I have encountered a few students who were racially biased. MSSD back then had a high percentage of Hispanics and blacks (as it still does today, I think). I am part white and part Latino myself, but often I was confused for Italian. So one or two white students, thinking I was white, would whisper to me a snide comment about Hispanics or blacks. I was immediately put off and would inform the white student of my true ethnic identity, and he would blush and apologize. This has often happened to me beyond high school.

There was once a gang at MSSD, all white, who at first dubbed themselves "KKK." They'd wear jean cutoff jackets and bandanas on their heads and strut around, acting like they thought they were cool. But none of them were really racist. I'd seen the gang leader hang out and joke with black students, as if it was no big thing. When I asked him why he'd call his gang "KKK", he explained it was for shock value. He wanted his gang to look "bad" and intimidate students. Later his gang changed their name to "Bragg." Those of you who went to MSSD with me may be familiar with this gang. The gang wasn't violent, however; it was known for playing pranks and harassing certain students.

Admiral Thad Allen (in response to the noose incident) said that "this type of racist conduct, like other forms of discrimination, runs counter to" the Coast Guard's core values and should not be tolerated. Likewise, the type of racist conduct at MSSD, regardless whether it was horseplay or not, whatever racial background of those individuals involved, runs counter to MSSD's core values and should not be tolerated.

The way MSSD authorities handled this must be commended. However, the issue remains educating deaf teens on the subject of prejudice and bias.

MSSD is a school. MSSD is supposed to be a for democracy, tolerance, unity, and education. To preserve their pride and honor, MSSD students must kick out bigotry, discrimination, prejudice, hatred and bias!

MSSD is #1! Keep up the Eagle spirit!

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Update 10/8/07: I am back from a weekend trip. Recently an anguished mom of the MSSD perpetrator wrote a blog that shed light on the situation. I sympathize with this mother because I happen to know a few students back in my old days who were, too, developmentally disabled. As I pointed out in my story of the gang that labelled themselves "KKK" for shock value, there were students who lacked the knowledge nor understanding of hate symbols they utilized in their fantasy entactments.

I read with interest Brenda Zimmerman's comment on Mishka Zena's blog "CNN: Not A Racial Attack, But a War Game Gone Too Far." She described a pretty accurate picture of what it was like at MSSD back in the late '70s to early '80s. I reiterate, however, there were indeed a few students who were prejudiced. I remember one or two students who made anti-Semitic remarks in my presence.

I agree with Carl Schroeder's comment that dormitory staff should be responsible. However, I think more could be done to educate MSSD students on U.S. history, why such hate symbols as the swastika and KKK are anti-American and what our core American values are. This way students would develop more respect and tolerance for each other. Maybe this is a project MSSD's social studies department could consider? I remember MSSD has done projects like this in the past to raise students' awareness on several pivotal issues such as respect for the other's property or right to religious belief.

Now, see my responses to the posters here.

On the Night of the Hamill/Bisping Fight

2007-09-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

Cartoon of the week

Hey, folks...I'm back! I was there, saw the fight with a group of my friends like the rest of you deafies. I meant to blog on this after the fight, but I got sick with a cold. Now that I'm back healthy, here it is. The characters and the place are different, but this cartoon captures the mood of what happened that night I watched the fight. My friends, of course, dress very differently (we're all in shorts here in San Diego and this is normally a very mellow town) and drink (but not that heavily as in this cartoon!). It is not meant as an endorsement of drinking, mind you (It's now almost 1 year since I QUIT drinking due to a health condition! More on that later...); this is just a joke. But you understand how we all felt when we watched the fight. I'm really looking forward to the rematch. One of my friends I saw the fight with happens to know Matt Hammill personally. Hey the Hammer....thank you, you've made us proud Americans! We all support you 100%!

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DEAFestival 2007 Van Nuys, California

I was invited by GLAD to give an art workshop at DEAFestival 2007, which will take place at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, California. For more information, go to DEAFestival's website http://ladeafestival.wordpress.com/ or GLAD's website www.gladinc.org/. If you'd like to participate in my workshop, you are welcome to do so! I will be teaching cartooning skills as well as doing caricatures of people there. Hope to see you there!

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BOOK PROJECT FINALLY DONE!

The book project I had been working on for a long time is now finally done! More details will be forthcoming later. I don't know yet when the book will be released, but I'll be sure to let you all know.

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OJ SIMPSON INVOLVED IN ROBBERY?

Did you see the news today? Can you believe that? I used to be an OJ Simpson fan. What a disappointing debacle....

Deaf Attitudes

2007-07-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Deaf Peddler vs. Deaf Huckster
political cartoon of the week

Ah, it's good to have a break from my work! I'm back at my blogger seat. There are so many issues that I saw in the blogsphere that I would like to comment, but was unable to do so due to time and work. So allow me to catch up...one of the issues I'd like to blog on tonight is the quibble between Mike McConnell and Mike Schmidt over the differences between a deaf peddler and a deaf beggar. I was amused by this because it reminded me of one cartoon I did for SILENT NEWS in 1995 on this issue. I'll share it with you here now.

Whatever you chose to do, it's all in attitude! Which one would you pick?

Paris Before & After

2007-06-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Cartoon

They say jail experience can build up your character....

Crab Funnies #3

2007-06-25T16:16:00.001-07:00

Crab Sign Language

More Crab Funnies

2007-06-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

Never Trust a Crab with Rubber Bands Around Its Claws

Two Cute L'il Crabs at Lunch Break

2007-06-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

Crab Funnies

Response to Ward Nyholm's Vlog

2007-06-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hey, folks!

Ward Nyholm developed an interesting vlog about rare, ASL comics that you should view.

Rare Deaf/ASL Comics

Ward, thank you for blurbing my comic book PAH-CHAMP! and other gentlemen's comic books. You asked for feedback on why there weren't any subsequent issues. Here is my response: my first issue sold well at first but didn't generate enough revenue to my expectations for next print. For this, I apologize to my fans, readers and other artists. It was a venture that didn't fly high far off the ground. Plus there were things I realized I should have done to make it better in order to market it successfully. Selling comic books is a very tough business. In addition, I've been wrapped up in free-lance work, project after project, since 2002. Now I am very near to completion of a book project, a classical children's book that you folks will be sure to love. (The illustrations I did in there are very different from the kind of cartoons I normally do, however.) And I have three book projects ahead of me already!

I still intend to do another comic book soon in the future someday. I don't know if I will continue PAH-CHAMP! or not. Maybe I will, if other cartoonists/artists are interested in participating in this venture and if any publisher will pick this up. I am thinking of reprinting the first issue with a better glossy color cover. Another idea I have is a comic book anthology, which I already discussed with fellow deaf cartoonists Andrea McCann and Matt Daigle. But each one of us has commitments to attend to, and there seemed to be no time for this project. Yet...I think I will pursue this idea again soon this summer. Talk with other artists and see what can be done. It'd be great to have an anthology magazine or book out by next year, before next summer '08 when Comic Con takes place and I plan to get a booth. Maybe we could set up a special deaf artists' exhibit at Comic Con, with a tribute to Robert Johnson (who was tragically killed in an accident several years ago - which year I can't immediately recall). Hmm...hmm...so many ideas brewing in my head....well, thank you for bringing this up, Ward!

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Note to readers: my email address has changed. My new email address is now deafcartoon@gmail.com

Jerry Falwell's Interpreter

2007-05-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

politcal cartoon by D. McClintock

TERRY THE TELEVANGELIST INTERPRETER

Jerry Falwell, the famous Bible-thumpin' televangelist of the Religious Right, passed away on May 15, 2007. I watched with bemusement Ridor's brief video blog on Falwell. His reaction to the breaking news was predictable. When I saw the breaking news I was flooded with memories of my involvement in fundamentalist Christianity during the heydays of the Religious Right in the '80s. (Yep...I was a born-again, evangelical Christian!) Anyone remember Riverdale Baptist Church in Landover, MD.? That church had many deaf members in its congregation and it provided interpreted services as well as separate Sunday school classes for children and adults. When I was at MSSD I'd attend this church almost every Sunday for two years. The church would later have a fall-out with the deaf community during the late '80s (I think) over the issue of interpreters. I believe Rev. Jerry Falwell was a guest speaker at the church a few times, although I've never personally met or listened to him. The stories I heard of him from deaf patrons and interpreters who met him present quite a different picture of the personality apart from the image he was portrayed as in the media.

Whatever you think of him, whether you agree with his politics or not, it is indeed true that he was very deaf-friendly and he provided interpreters at his church for many years. It is true that his university provide support services for deaf and hard of hearing students. I happen to know of a few deaf Christians who went to Liberty University, and they reported to me how great and kind as a person Rev. Falwell was. That is one big positive thing that can be said about him. The interpreter whom I met at Riverdale Baptist Church described him as very "warm and affable" and that he was easy to approach if you wanted to discuss a problem and he'd listen to you with wide-open attentive eyes or ears. Well, it's a shame this aspect of his personality wasn't shown much on television. Plus it did not help that he made several outrageous statements over the years, especially those over 9/11 and Telebubbies (which I thought were stupid). Even more puzzling was his friendliness with Rev. Sun Myung Moon, world-famous cult leader who claimed to be the Messiah and who had himself coroned as a king in a Senate office in Washington, D.C. (click on the link and you'll see a picture of them chummy with each other, buddy-buddy!). Falwell became something of an embarrassment to the Religious Right movement, anyway, shortly before I dropped out of Christianity in '83. This may surprise you, but as someone that was close to being a Young Republican back then, I used to admire him. Oh, well...

I think I read somewhere from a personal account that Jerry Falwell mellowed a bit as he aged and he concentrated his efforts on theological issues and running an university after the Moral Majority disbanded. I wonder what his reaction was like when he arrived to find heaven filled with Jews, Muslims, atheists, Buddhists...(I don't believe in hell). :-D

My sincere condolences to Falwell's family and friends and the deaf Christian community in Va. who know him.

Deaf C-Blogs Links

2007-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

After browsing through the roll of blogs in DeafRead, I see that a number of deaf c-blogs (short for cartoon blogs) is growing. For those of you folks who are interested in deaf-related cartoon artwork, I would like to introduce you to those links:

http://deafjoke.tv - posts cartoons by various deaf and non-deaf artists on a regular basis

http://pany.wordpress.com/tag/comic/ - although I haven't contacted the bloggers themselves (Ward Nyholm and Ginny Paja-Nyholm) yet, it seems to me that their cartoons were created using the software, Comic Life Deluxe. (see http://www.amazon.com/Comic-Life-Deluxe-Strip-Creator/dp/B000BGZHD8 ) I don't know if they can be appropriately considered as professional cartoonists (those that do artwork by hand and who make a living by selling cartoons or comic strips), but the creativity and humor used in their work would make them digital cartoonists.

www.moeart.com/ - My old RIT colleague and friend, Maureen Kluska's website. Hey, Moe, come back, will you? We miss your cutesy cartoons!

http://www.mdaigletoons.com/ - also my old RIT colleague and friend! Matt Daigle's website. He's the fella who created DeafRead's logo.

If you see a link to a deaf c-blog you'd like me to post, let me know!

Deaf Cartoonists Society

2007-05-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

G'evening, folks! Today is my day off from work on the book project, which is very near to completion. Whew! Working in the field of children's book illustration was an interesting experience for me and I'm enjoying it. I am not at liberty to give you details yet on this book that I am doing illustrations for, but when it is ready, I will certainly post a press release on the company's behalf. Parents and children, whether deaf, hoh or hearing, will like this new treat coming soon in the future!

It has been a while since my last entry in the deaf blogosphere. To new bloggers and visitors of DeafRead, I'd like to introduce myself. I am an illustrator and a cartoonist. It is now 30 years since my first career opportunity came up when I was 11 and did illustrations for my stepfather's 1977 New Hampshire Farmer's Market Almanac. That must be a rare publication by now - probably hard to find - but if any of you fans of my artwork ever happen to find it, let me know! :>

Last night my friend and I went to a SCCS (Southern California Cartoonists Society) meeting, which is held on a monthly basis. I was the only deaf cartoonist attending, with my friend who volunteered to interpret for me. Dean LeCrone showed us his homemade movie, Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic Con , which we thought was amusing. While we watched the movie, Joe Schmidt, another fellow cartoonist (who happens to know how to sign) , drew a portrait of me sitting at the table. I was so impressed by his accurate rendering of my profile and thought I'd show it to you. Thanks, Joe!

Now, my thoughts after I watched LeCrone's video of Comic Con. Folks, as you may know, Comic Con is coming up soon this summer (July 26-29 2007) at San Diego Convention! For more information on the annual event, see their website, http://www.comic-con.org/. Interpreting services will be provided at the event for deaf/hoh patrons. Unfortunately, I was not able to get a booth for deaf cartoonists this year. I was informed by a Comic Con staff member that booths sell out very fast and that the best time is to get a table in a year advance. Besides, one must have a publication in order to reserve a booth. Publication with my artwork will not be yet released until at a later date. Nonetheless, I am not giving up on my dream of a deaf cartoonists booth at Comic Con. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage other fellow deaf artists to get together and form a Deaf Cartoonists Society. The Deaf Cartoonists Society would be modeled after the National Cartoonist Society, with which SCCS is affiliated. DCS' mission would be to exhibit artwork by deaf cartoonists in a museum or a gallery. We have a year ahead of us to get a booth in '08, so I will be concentrating my effort on finding sponsors for supporting a DCS booth now that I have connections to Comic Con. If any of you artists are interested in getting involved, let me know! There's still an opportunity for those who would like to meet me in person or get an autograph from me...SCCS and NCS are hosting a Comic-Con Kick Off Party at Buster's Beach House and Longboard Restaurant at 807 Harbor Dr. (next to Convention Center). I'll be there! Hope to see you come!

In Memory

2007-04-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hello, folks, everybody....I'm taking a pause from my work to write a few thoughts on this tragedy of the shooting at VA Tech. I am shocked and saddened by the carnage that went on there. The connections I have to Virginia are these times when I lived in the Metro area as a child, as a MSSD student and as an . The first time in my childhood, I attended a school in VA for a very brief time before my family and I moved to New England. Thus I feel very sorry for the families of the victims of the shooting in VA and offer my condolences to them.

When this carnage occured, I checked Deafread to see if there were any reaction from bloggers to such a senseless incident. There were none yesterday as I recalled. But just today I rechecked Deafread and came across this blog:

http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-casler/2007-04-17/spiral-of-silence-indeed/

I was wondering myself, too, Erin. That's why I decided to come forth and offer my comments. I think there are deaf students at VA Tech, aren't there? It appears that yes, there are but how many, I don't know. My Google search pulled up a link to the interpreting services at VA Tech: http://www.ssd.vt.edu/islshome.htm

There is no comment on the SSD home on the tragedy. I wonder if any of the 33 students who were killed was deaf or hard of hearing. Do you know of any deaf student at VA Tech? Let us know. Let's give them and the families of the victims our support!

Asides from this, I have some new artwork that I will post in due time when I am free from my commitment and work. I'll also respond to comments that posters left on my last post. Be back to you later, folks...

Lisa Lampanelli

2007-03-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

Politicial Cartoon of the Week

Lisa Lampanelli and the Deaf

Now, who'll taste the wrath of my pen this time? :-D

One woman I picked this time is Lisa Lampanelli, a comedian who made disparaging remarks towards deaf people during a local radio interview. She made those remarks when she was informed that RIT, where she was scheduled for a March 23rd appearance, had a populace of 1,100 deaf and hard of hearing students. To see what she said of deaf people, see this link:

http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2007/03/23/protest-at-rit-over-lampanelli-show/

Also see this link, http://www.ridorlive.com/?p=2159

More to come!

I'm Back!

2007-03-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

Finally, after a 1-month hiatus, I'm finally baaack! How are y'all? Miss me, eh? :-D
Since my last update, I've been so busy working on a few projects. Whew...now that I'm back in Blogger, I tried to figure how to make some changes around in my blogsite...couldn't find a way to post this image (best cartoon award) in my description box at the top. Any tip anyone out there can give me on this? It seems to me from reading this guide book I got, I'd have to switch to FTP to do this. Well, I'll take care of this later. I just wanted to give you a glimpse of what my award looks like. For now... I'll just share with you some news, comments and a new cartoon that I just did last week! :)

VRI for the Deaf & Blind

2007-02-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Politicial Cartoon of the Week(end)

"OH, DON'T WORRY, THAT'S VRI FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND!"

Greetings, folks! I know it's been a while since I was away from the blog desk! I've been meaning to post my updates here but I was so busy with work and recently I came down with a cold. I'm feeling OK, now. (Ah...ah...ah-choo!) Excuse me while I fetch a Kleenex...

I ran into some technical problems when I tried to update this blogsite and lost the links. Please be patient as I restore the links and make some changes in the site. It'll look better!

While I work to update this blogsite,here's the cartoon of the weekend for your amusement - this time related to the controversy over VRI at Beth Israel Hospital. If any of you folks missed the news, here's the link to Joseph Rainmound's article, http://surdus.blogspot.com/2007/01/394-vri-at-beth-israel-plot-thickens.html and another link to Ridor's story of his experience with VRI, http://www.ridorlive.com/?p=1867.

Having just been in the hospital twice last November 2006, I can relate to the questionability of use of VRI in emergency cases. When I had a minor heart attack, I went under a brain fog. According to my friends who brought me to the hospital, I was not entirely coherent. It was quite a traumatic experience and I doubt VRI would help an individual in a case with an experience like mine. A live interpreter, in my opinion, would be the best for this type of situation to help the patient deal with the crisis of the moment. Now what if the patient is deaf and blind? How would VRI help this patient? Hence why I created this cartoon...:-)

Asides from this, I have more new comic strips in work! Coming up soon:

1. DeafRead Best 2006 Cartoon Blog Award (Thank You / Acknowledgement)

2. American ASL II

3. MSSD/Gallaudet story

Plus more! It'll be worth your wait! :-D

Exotic Bird

2007-01-31T15:42:00.000-08:00

Politicial Cartoon of the Week

The Los Angeles Times' Perception of the Deaf

Dr. Davila on A Road Trip with the Deaf Smiths

2007-01-24T13:55:00.000-08:00

Politicial Cartoon of the Week

Greetings, folks! I did this before Dr. Davila's vlog came out. First, I must say...bravo, Dr. Davila! The weekly vlog is a great idea. This, folks, is the "Communications" President (to use Reagan's words). It reminds me of FDR's "Fireside Chat" radio addresses. This is what I regard as effective communications. What a great tool vlog is for this purpose! I look forward to more of Dr. Davila's vlogs to come. I am confident this medium will help students and faculty discover answers to the pressing issues that concern Gallaudet.

And...handwaves to Mr. Zhou Fang, the designer of Team Gallaudet badge! This does help public relations a great further for the Gallaudet community. As an artist and designer myself, I think the design is clever. That was good thinking, Zhou. I say...how you say in Chinese...xie xie ni, thank you!

Second, this cartoon is not aimed at any particular group or individual but at the moods or attitudes that formed after IKJ's op-ed came out. As I mentioned before, I think Jordan was trying to create a distraction with his op-ed. It is my opinion the Gallaudet community should move forward and seek resolutions to its issues at hand. In his vlog Dr. Davila posted an email address where you can send ideas for helping Gallaudet on its path towards reconciliation: greatideas@gallaudet.edu

I'd like to make one quick comment before I move along. I didn't see Ryan Commerson's vlog when I wrote my essay for Reunify Gallaudet. Thanks to Carl's vlog, I went back and watched Ryan's vlog. "Act of violence"? I understood what the guys meant. I wish the MSA team would take into account the IKJ Administration's role in closing the university and use of bulldozers to coerce and intimidate protestors. I would see the latter as an "act of violence." But enough. On to the future. Gallaudet's reputation is at stake.

Third, I am pleased to see that Deaf Cartoon Blogs is nominated as Best Cartoon Blog. I expected to see this. But I must be honest: I am surprised to see only Maureen and I are nominated, that's all. I thought there'd be a few other cartoonists nominated? I am also surprised to see my blog nominated as Most Funny Blog. This one, I didn't expect. But thank y'all for nominating my blog for two categories! Yes, TWO categories...wow, I'm truly honored! Thank you....gracias...8-D

To see the list of 2006 Blog Awards again and vote:

http://www.deafread.com/blogawards/vote/

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For the Deaf Smiths' first appearance, see http://dmcclintock.blogspot.com

I received a few anonymous comments I couldn't post on my original blogsite (due to technical problems) so here they are. Note: any link posted by a commenter does not mean my endorsement of the business advertised at the link. Links are reviewed first prior to approval. Broken links may or may not be allowed, and links to adult websites will be immediately deleted.

Anonymous
12 Jan 2007, 11:08:56 AM

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Anonymous
19 Jan 2007, 12:49:03 PM

Very good site, really enjoyed my visit, thank you.

(link deleted)

ASL Book Hour

2007-01-18T11:51:00.000-08:00

I thought this would be a good time to do a blurb for ASL Book Hour. Once every month, in San Diego, we give readings for deaf children at Borders Bookstore in Mission Valley. ASL Book Hour is hosted by Alliance for Language and Literacy for Deaf Children, a nonprofit organization. For more information on this ongoing event, see http://www.deafvision.net/allfordeafchildren/EventCalendar.htm.

This Saturday, January 20, I will be giving a reading for deaf children. I am a children's book illustrator, currently working on a long-term book project, and I have given readings from time to time. If any of you living in San Diego want to take a peek at what I look like in person or meet me or get my autograph, this is your chance! :)

If you are interested in volunteering to give a reading, come to the event this Saturday and I will introduce you to the hosts.

The address for ASL Book Hour is Borders Books, 1072 Camino del Rio North, San Diego. It starts at 10am. Anyone, not only deaf families, is welcome. Bring your child. See you there!

Kudos to Ridor

2007-01-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

Greetings, folks. Before I post my announcement, I'd like to say something. When I made a jest about Ridor "humbly putting asides" his ego, it rubbed off him the wrong way. In response he left a nasty comment, calling me "narcissistic" (which I thought was kind of ironical) and saying I did "nothing else." He found my remark as "offensive", which I though was incredulous, coming from him. Dismayed, I thought of firing back a response but decided to hold it and email him first. He responded, and we exchanged a few emails then. Turned out he was tired of being picked on, that's all. See what you can accomplish if you email first the person before you publish your comment online?

After we cleared up misunderstandings, I offered to retract my remark but he said I don't have to. So I thought I'd just give credit where it is due. I was preoccupied with work during the year when he set up the first 2005 Blog Awards. Whether you like him or not, whether you agree or disagree with whatever he says on his controversial blogsite, he certainly did set a precedent. Without him, there wouldn't be 2006 Blog Awards, now in different categories, including Cartoon Blog. He deserves recognition for what he did. He did something that no one before him ever did. So....let's give him big handwaves!

Is this better, Ricky?

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Now, I'd like to take a minute to respond to Ridor's charge that I did "nothing else." I don't want this to seem like I'm defending myself, but I just want to point out that I did Gallaudet University a few favors. We all each have a part in this big drama, the Gallaudet Protests. Part of my role as cartoonist and blogger is to provide morale support.

1. Bus Incident. When I did that blog ("MSSD PR A Failure As Well", October '06) to question the statement by Ms. Elizabeth Maynerdie (in charge of Community Building at MSSD) regarding the protestors supposedly blocking the MSSD/KDES gates, the IKJ Administration's PR efforts were hurt.

2. MSSD Blog. When IKJ ordered a bulldozer to crash the MSSD gate, MSSD students were enraged. As a MSSD alumnus, I quickly stepped in and set up a MSSD blog to keep up the students' morale. Today my MSSD blog is still up and students, faculty or alumni are welcome to post announcements or comments or blogs there whenever they like. (http://eagle-soars.blogspot.com)

3. Pardon. I was probably the first blogger to propose a pardon of all Gallaudet protestors. But as Gallaudet alumnus Tina Jo Breindel suggested, amnesty seems more a viable alternative.

See how valuable an ally can be, even if he or she's not a Gallaudet alumnus? When I occassionally criticized or questioned the protestors, it was meant as constructive, to help them see their errors and improve their ways. If I oppose the Gallaudet protests completely, I'd have said nothing. Why did I care? Because Kendall Green was a home to me when I was a MSSD student, that's why. It is YOUR home, too!

Congratulations, Matt!

2007-01-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

Other news & bits: I know you may all already know this and it may be a little belated, but nevertheless, I'd like to extend big, hearty congratulations to my old friend and RIT colleague, Matt Daigle, for winning the logo contest! Here's the link:

http://www.deafprofessional.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=282

His work can be viewed at his homepage, www.mattdaigle.com. Let's give him handwaves!

What else...oh yeah, a few tried to post comments on my original blogsite, dmcclintock.blogspot.com. Let you know I am unable to update this blogsite because the server lost my account information and I've been trying to recover it since. My apologies, but thank you nonetheless for your kind comments! You may either post your comments here or email me. And...here's a warning to some readers: NO JUNK ADS, PLEASE!! I will delete immediately any comment that is not related to my blogs here or deaf-related!

Nominations for 2006 Best Cartoon Blog

2007-01-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

Allright, folks, it's time for nominations for 2006 Best Cartoon Blog! Two days left till the deadline this Friday! For more information on nominations, see http://www.deafread.com/blog/?p=82. Kudos to Ridor for humbly putting asides his ego and giving the Blog Awards to DeafRead!

I've looked back at the cartoons I did since May '05 and selected 5 cartoons that I thought were the best. If you don't think any of those cartoons on my list are the best, you may look through my blogsite and see what other cartoon I did that you think is best. You are welcome to post a suggestion here if you like. If you choose to nominate another deaf cartoonist for 2006 Cartoon Blog, that is fine, I'll understand and I would applaud the winner. May the best cartoon blogger win!

1. The Grinch Stole Christmas
2. JKF's Makeover (www.dmcclintock.blogspot.com)
3. Thomas & Alice Signing Unity (www.dmcclintock.blogspot.com)
4. Thomas & Alice to IKJ & JKF: Time to Go!
5. Thomas & Alice Arrested! ("Black Friday" at beginning of this blogsite)

Update: oh, I almost forgot about one Rick the Radical cartoon I did where Dr. Martin Luther King appeared and chided him for spraypainting ("Spraypainting? Hate is corrosive! Reject aggression!"). See http://dmccartoon.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html
I didn't mean to nominate this one because it was a bit critical of extreme tactics by some protestors (for a good reason!), and I had posted a few following entries that clarified the confusion over whether the protestors actually blocked the MSSD/KDES gates or not. But to honor Dr. MLK, if you want to nominate this one, fine by me! Title for this cartoon:"Rick the Radical Gets a Visit by the Patron Saints of Protests."

The Three MCs

2007-01-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Folks, any one of you subscribe to SIGNews? I just received my complimentary copy of the November issue of SIGNews a few days ago. In the issue there is a full page story on deaf cartoonists who did comments on the Gallaudet protests. Tony McGregor and I are featured. There is also a brief mention of Adrean McCann, who founded SignUpComics.com.

I wish Katie Prins (the author) would write a little more extensively about Ms. Adrean McCann and the cartoonists whose work were posted on her website. If it hadn't been for her and her website, I wouldn't probably have been involved in cartoon blogging. It was actually a friend who alerted me to the Gallaudet protests last May '05, so that was how I started blogging then. When Adrean set up a special Gallaudet protests section on her website, this encouraged me to blog even more. If I recall right, McGregor's cartoons appeared on her website, too. Sadly, her website is down. We should give her handwaves for starting all this thing!

Funny...we three cartoonists...McGregor, McCann and I...have Gaelic (Irish-Scottish) names, starting with Mc. Mc (same as Mac) in Gaelic means "son of." I wonder if we've got the spirit of Braveheart in us?

Little note: not only are my comic strips (DAPPY) are published in SIGNews; my articles are also published as well. For a sample of my serious writing, go to www.signews.org and read my article,"How Deaf People in the Middle East Are Coping." Enjoy!

American ASL Idol

2007-01-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

Greeeetings, folks! I'm back! Did anyone of you watch "American Idol" last night? I don't know if many of you are music fans, but I am one, too, and I like to watch (but not always) musical performances. It was amusing to see those poor hearing folks trying to prove their singing skills in front of the judges (which include San Diego's beloved singer, Jewel). One of the judges (I think it was Paula or Simon) lambasted a contestant for being "tone-deaf." Hmm...which brings up this pertinent question I've already asked a few years ago: what if the judges are deaf?

So hence, folks, with pleasure I present this classic old comic strip of mine, American ASL Idol...in colors! I created this original comic strip in black/white for SIGNews in '04. This is where N.Y. Elvis made his first appearance and Mr. Seeman his second appearance. (For the original Mr. Seeman comic strip, see www.dmcclintock.blogspot.com)

I'll be creating another comic strip, American ASL Idol II, so look forward to this one coming soon this month!

Cartoon Bloggers and Conferences

2007-01-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Folks, I don't have much time to comment on conferences that I see are now mushrooming all over our country. But I would like to see a special segment at any future b/vlogging conference for cartoon bloggers to discuss about the impact that cartoon blogging has on the Gallaudet protests and the emergence of an Internet-savvy Deaf society in the 21st Century. Maybe when one is set up in the Bay Area? Maureen Klusza (who is a friend and a former RIT classmate of mine) lives in the Bay Area, and I have a sister who lives in San Francisco. I wouldn't mind taking a trip up there if I was invited. I also wouldn't mind going to the first Deaf B/Vlogging Conference at Gallaudet but February 2 (is that right?) is too close up and doesn't give me much time for preparation for a trip. The Deaf People of Colors conference in upcoming March seems interesting to me and as a Deaf artist of South American heritage, I'd love to go. I would be happy to give a presentation there if the committee is interested. I am an experienced keynote speaker and I've given presentations on deaf arts for different organizations such as Cal-Ed/IMPACT, Deaf Arts Jubilee and Minnesota Registry for Interpreters of the Deaf (MRID). For more information on my presentations, contact me. I am pleased that a few of us deaf cartoonists were mentioned in comments following the announcements of the b/vlogging conference. I'll talk more about deaf cartoon bloggers soon when I'm back. I have to get back to work soon so...al rato, amigos y amigas!

Deafblogwood Square

2007-01-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

Greetings, folks! Eh...what'd you expect, a boxing match between Ridor and Jamie Berke? Just kiddin'! An idea brainstormed in my mind when I followed the current controversy that was sparked by the tiff between Ridor and JB. I'd like to share this with y'all, including the other fellow blogger, and JB and R. themselves.

Fellow bloggers, hope you don't get mad at me for the way I portrayed you in this cartoon or if your faces aren't drawn perfectly. This is meant as good-natured ribbing. If you lack a sense of humor, go see Doctor Man and he'll give you a couple of humor aspirins to take in the morning. Otherwise, if you have an issue, vent here or email me privately. Just understand that when you see yourself in a DMC cartoon, this means you've made it. Consider it a compliment.

Readers, let me comment further on the cartoon. I've given the honorary spot at the top to...who else?...Elisa! I really enjoyed reading her posts ever since the Gally protests started and miss her writing already. Wonder when she'll be back?

Elizabeth, sorry if I didn't portray your face accurately...I looked for your photo but can't seem to find it...I saw it when it was put up briefly, only fleetingly. I drew you based upon an impression in my mind. If you have a photo and want me to update it, I can do it.

I chose Joey Baer to represent the deaf vloggers. I see that vlogging is very "in" today and I'd like to try it sometimes in the near future.

Re the Great Blogger War: one of the commentors Mercf (in Chris Leon's current post, "Rider Threatens To Sue") said that Ridor was something of a cartoon character. So are we, even I. This is what we've become, cartoon characters. Heh...nothing wrong. It's what makes us an interesting read, what makes DeafRead unique and fun to visit. We've become much like Hollywood Square...we're stars in our own ways. So are many of the other bloggers. I'm sorry I don't have enough space in my cartoon to draw more faces. Don't feel slighted if I didn't draw you...remember, like Hollywood Square, Deafblogwood Square has different stars every week. It's organic, ever-developing, ever-changing.

Like Carl Schroeder, I'm something of an armchair philosopher myself. Let me share some philosophical stuff with you. Remember Chris Leon's "big-headed" remark? I could again take his suggestion and turn this into a drawing of how to sign "ego." As I see it - this is just an observation - we male bloggers (Ridor, Mike McConnell, Carl Schroeder and I) are all big egos. Yes, admit it, fellas. We are egos! (chuckle) There's nothing wrong with having a healthy ego. It's what keep the fire in our bellies going. Deafread wouldn't be interesting if it wasn't for our egos.

In one of her books, The Virtue of Selfishness, Philosopher Ayn Rand made a distinction between egoist and egotist. An egoist is one who acts and pursue things in self-interest. The egoist sees others as an extension of Self and thus acts in accordance with respect and care towards others as he would to himself. The egoist does not put down others but acts as if they are his equals, and each is responsible for his own path to success or desired goal. "Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.", Ayn Rand wrote.

An egotist, on the other hand, talks nothing but about himself. The key is simple...look for "t" in the word egotist, it stands for "talk, talk, talk." Ayn Rand also talked about the altruist, the opposite of the egoist. The altruist is one who whines, who lets others walk over him, who urges people to make "sacrifices" in the name of nobility, and who tries to make himself look "noble" through public shows of charity (whether genuine or contrived) towards people in need. I will explain more about Ayn Rand's ideas later.

Now, I don't mean to seem sexist, but I notice it seems that we male bloggers are like hunters: we tend to jump and pounce on a thing that comes across our way, then we hold it and expound points on this thing. Female bloggers like Jamie, Elizabeth and Elisa, on the other hand, are more organized and metilicous in how they blog news or information. Maybe it's in our brains? (heh heh) Just an observation!

I picked Steve Baier (Woparsb) because I find his posts a little amusing and enjoyable to read, even if I don't agree with him on everything. He's like an average American Joe with no intellectual pretensions, and his posts are honest, to the point. I see from reading his posts that he's independent, with opinions that are different from the protestors and the Fernandes supporters. Independent critical thinking is a quality I think we all bloggers need to possess. Finally, I got the last laugh (evil chuckle).

We all need laughter to break tension every once and then!

Jamie and Ricky, you're part of our family. You can see from Deafread that there are many people who admire you, whichever side they take. Why doncha...should I say this...kiss and make up?

Editor's Note

2007-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Just edited my New Year's Eve message a bit. I noticed the characters of the foreign languages wouldn't appear when I access deafread.com on my cellphone so I added transliteration of the greeting in those foreign languages, Greek, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.
- D.

¡Bienvenidos, Dr. Davila!

2007-01-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

New Dr. Davila cartoon

Welcome to Gallaudet University!

Word by None Else But Mr. Man

2006-12-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

Let's not forget the international students who risked their health and lives in fighting for the cause by going on hunger strikes. Let's give 'em our hearty handshakes! We all wish you Happy New Year, too!

Καλή χρονιά! - Kali Chronia! (Greek)

Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar! (Dutch)

Glückliches Neues Jahr! (German)
Bonne Année! (French)
Buon Capodanno! (Italian)
明けましておめでとう! - Akemashite Omedeto! (Japanese)
新年好! - Chu Shen Tan! (Chinese)

С Новым годом! - S Novym Godom! (Russian)

with love,

the cartoonist

Joe California

2006-12-28T12:38:00.000-08:00

New Cartoon

Chris Leon's suggestion in his blog a while back gave me an idea for this cartoon. Instead of drawing him signing "big-headed" as Chris had originally envisioned, I've drawn him signing "Handwaves." This is to show how big-hearted we Californians really are. I'm a proud Californian. One of my ancestors, my late great-grandfather John McClintock, moved from the East to this state with his family at the beginning of the 20th Century and settled in Altadena, northeastern of Los Angeles. Back in his time Los Angeles was only a small city surrounded by mostly farmland. He planted orange trees in a land he bought there and, as a philanthropist, would later give many contributions to the city of Altadena. May the warmth of the sun we feel here in the West spread to the East and surround Kendall Green!

Stay tuned for my New Year's Eve message coming up soon tomorrow!

JKF's Perception of Gallaudet University

2006-12-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

JKF's perception of Gallaudet University as a "deaf club"

Sorry...can't resist! When JKF made her famous "deaf club" comment, an idea immediately sprang to my mind! :D

(For those who missed the JKF interview, see this link http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2006/12/17/dr-fernandes-finally-speaks/)

Political Cartoon of the Week

2006-12-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

I had done this cartoon before Elizabeth's post about the PUG's breakfast meeting with the BoT came out yesterday. When I read her post, I changed the text in the rate box from "PG: Parents Guidance Advised" to "PUGI: Parents United Gallaudet Ignored" because I felt the PUG's advice and concerns were ignored.

Censure, Not Punish

2006-12-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

editorial by D. McClintock

I think maybe I wasn't loud enough in proposing that the BoT censure certain actions instead of mete out reprisals. It seems I am the only blogger with this idea for censure. Let me explain why I am in favor of this alternative to reprisals.

For definition and history of censure, see this link, http://www.winwithoutwarus.org/html/new_censure.whatis.html#historical

Why does not the BoT do the same for certain protestors, whose behavior was unacceptable? Censure communicates the message that such behavior, as throwing bottles and vandalism, is unacceptable. Censure may also serve as a warning for future protestors. Censure is a face-saving measure that the BoT should have considered. Extreme reprisals, in my view, such as expulsion of all those who were involved in the protests, send out the wrong message.

I have travelled widely around the world and have witnessed how America was perceived in other countries. I understand generally how Europeans and Asians think. I fear that if extreme reprisals are carried out, prospective students in other countries will see Gallaudet as a "not-friendly" place. Reprisals may hurt Gallaudet's image farther in the long run than the BoT may realize.

The best course of action for the BoT would be to rescind reprisals immediately and offer a censure instead. This would be peaceful and appropriate, in light of the need for harmony on campus. The BoT should also take into account the students' complaints against the DPS, who exceeded use of force beyond the limits of their authority.

If the BoT feel reprisals are absolutely neccessary, let the reprisals be light....community service, research papers, compensation for damages...what else? Nothing more. I, the faceless blogger who lives 3,000 miles away from Washington, D.C., have never met the student who threw an apple through the window or spraypainted over IKJ's name. But I don't feel a desire he should be expelled from campus for what he did. Rather I think he should be made aware such behavior is wrong, that's all. Let his education continue. I think he should even come forward and offer to pay for the damages. I think it would be better for the student to take the bullet for the movement than the movement to take the bullet for the student. This is up to the student.

Ken (Bibliomarket) suggested a boycott of Gallaudet to protest reprisals by the BoT. While I respect his opinion and support his call for solidarity, I think this idea would backfire. Why? It would probably defeat the purpose of the protests. What good would staying at home in January accomplish? Have you thought what negative impact it might have on Gallaudet's accreditation process? What about those students whose tuition is already paid in full for one year? Come on, do you want Dr. Davila the new Interim President to come to an empty university? I think your visible presence is needed back on campus. I think we should think of more creative and proactive ways to protest the reprisals. I think you need to be there to show the BoT what student power is about.

The Symbolism of the Gavel: Social Justice

2006-12-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

commentary by D. McClintock

This is in reference to Mishka Zena's two recent posts, one an open letter by Tina Jo Breindel and the other Mishka's commentary on the symbolism of the wooden ruler. Mishka saved my time from explaining the symbolism of the ruler, so I will just comment on the symbolism of the gavel here.

http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2006/12/14/open-letter-to-pramuk-and-hillel/

http://blog.deafread.com/mishkazena/2006/12/14/the-symbolism-of-wooden-ruler/

I am no longer angry at IKJ but looking to move forward. Let IKJ have all his milestones he wants. I am very familiar with psychology, for I grew up with a psychologist with a Phd. as my stepfather. I understand that the mere sight of a ruler makes one shiver with anger, for to this person it symbolizes oppression. It brings for many of us unpleasant memories of our childhood experiences. What can we do to be proactive, to replace this disturbing symbol? Hence I propose the gavel. As one of my fans had suggested for my "Changing of the Guards" cartoon, it symbolizes shared goverance, democracy in action and efficient policymaking. It can symbolize student power, as well.

In the beginning of the protests students cried for social justice. After "Black Friday" the demand for social justice got louder. So this will be a symbol for social justice.

The ruler broken by the gavel is not IKJ's ruler per se, but the ruler of oppression that we endured our lives in our pasts. This gavel to me symbolizes shattering the power of painful memories, breaking away old constructs to give way for new ideas, new life.

I support Tina Jo's call for amnesty for all involved in the protests. Early in my blogs I had called for a pardon and a censure. I still support pardon for those protestors if any one of them is found to be guilty. But in this context Tina Jo pointed out, amnesty makes the most sense. I reiterate my proposition that the Board of Trustees censure only acts that are inappropriate (spraypainting, throwing bottles, etc.), not punish the protestors themselves. I also propose that the BoT condemn the actions IKJ and his Administration undertook to suppress the protestors with use of force. Let there be no reprisals, period. Let there be social justice for all!

What do you think?

Political Cartoon of the Week

2006-12-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Incredible Shrinking Man

The Measure of His Stature

G'morning, folks! This may or may not be the last IKJ cartoon. As I post this cartoon, please note I've been fair to IKJ when I spoke out against spraypainting over his name on the building and throwing a bottle at his wife (which I thought were both wrong and counterproductive). I even had respect for him before and after I met him the first time at a party, until the time when he ordered bulldozers to crash the MSSD gates and push away protestors. As you know, ever since I started my protest cartoons last May, I've always consistently opposed acts of violence, whether on the part of the Administration or certain protestors. This is how Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cosgwell would have wanted it - no violence at all on their campus.

Blatant disregard for safety may be considered as an act of violence, and to me IKJ's decision on that fateful day apparently showed lack of regard for people's safety. I still, though, respect IKJ nonetheless as a private citizen and his family and their rights to privacy or a peaceful life. But as a politician and Gallaudet President, IKJ is fair game for political cartoons. So here's a new one - "The Measure of His Stature."

When Ridor mentioned IKJ's gift of the wooden ruler to his faculty and staff at his last holidays party, I was flabbergasted. I found this ironic, for just last week on December 5 I drew a man in the left picture in my "Changing of the Guards" cartoon holding a ruler! Was this prophetic? Or did IKJ see this and ordered customized wooden rulers on purpose to spite me? Maybe I underestimated the effects my cartoons have on the public?

In one of his previous blogs Sherlock Steve wrote about IKJ's unusual gift and described what he saw was symbolism behind the wooden ruler. I can empathize with him, for I went through similiar experiences in childhood. It's odd how I thought of that symbol when I first drew the "Changing of the Guards" cartoon. It may come from the collective super-conscious. I shall explain my perspective of the symbolism behind the ruler and the gavel later.

According to Ridor, the 19-inch ruler was in reference to IKJ's 19 years of service at Gallaudet. It's amazing how a few acts can diminish the years of reputation he built upon accomplishments he achieved for Gallaudet University. This is, I think, unfortunate. With a scandal over Gallaudet's accreditation in question and suspicions of his alleged participation in misappropriation of the $4 million DPS fund ) looming over his head, his reputation seems to be shrinking than ever. Why does he want to leave earlier on December 22? Is he in a hurry? What is he running from?
(See http://bibliomarket.wordpress.com/2006/12/12/ik-jordan-departing-dec-22-admidst-scandal/)

Speaking of who, where is IKJ? Oh, there he is!...wow...you can't believe how fast he is shrinking! :D

Link to Deaf Latinos Website

2006-12-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Folks, here's a link to information on the growing deaf Latino community that you may be interested in seeing. Dr. Davila's photo is posted on this website.

http://www.educ.kent.edu/fundedprojects/TSPT/unitexamples/DeafHispanics-083005.ppt

Also, check out Jamie Berke's link:

http://deafness.about.com/cs/subcultures/a/hispanic.htm

¡Unidos y Adelante!- D.

UPDATE: The first link's now fixed. Thanks, Tayler!

posted by Dan McClintock at 10:45 AM

1 Comments:

tayler said...

The first link is broken.

11:05 AM

General Pinochet

2006-12-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

by D. McClintock

Former dictator of Chile General Augusto Pinochet passed away on December 10, 2001 after he became seriously ill, following a heart attack on December 4. Pinochet and the previous President of Chile, Salvador Allende, whom he overthrew in a violent coup d'etat in 1973, were two men who divided Chile emotionally and philosophically, like IKJ and JKF did to Gallaudet and the deaf community. Pinochet and Allende, to some Chileans, represented the Extreme Right and Left, respectively. Thankfully, after enduring some of the most tumultous times in history under Pinochet and Allende, Chile has settled on a more middle-of-the road as a democracy with a free market economy and a socialist government. For more information on Pinochet's background and Chilean history, I would like to share with you readers with this link to an interesting article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2497858,00.html

Incidentally, my late grandfather was Ambassador to Venezuela when Pinochet seized power and Allende was assassinated on September 11, 1973. During the same year before this happened, my parents had divorced, I was taken out of Clarke School and we moved to another state. My family and I travelled to Venezuela once to visit my grandparents in 1971 (this is one of many stories I shall illustrate one day). My grandmother was born in Santiago, Chile, and her father, my late-grandfather, Luis Aníbal Barrios, was a Senator and Minister of Finances in the Chilean government during the 1910s. (for his picture, see http://www.hacienda.gov.cl/ministerio.php?opc=showContenido&id=646&nav_id=189&contar=1&tema_id=&code=sa.bD.tHo0V66)

I wonder what the reactions of deaf Chilenos are to the news of Pinochet's death. I know there aren't that many deaf Chilenos out in the U.S. compared to Mexicans and other fellows from South-American countries. If any of you out there is a deaf Chileno, whether you or your family are pro or anti-Pinochet, you're welcome to post your comments or stories here!

¡Felicitaciones, Dr. Davila!

2006-12-11T13:18:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Dr. Robert Davila!

I first met Dr. Robert Davila in 1978 when he was acting dean of MSSD and my parents and I came to Washington, D.C. for an interview at MSSD. I can't remember every detail, but I recall that upon our visit to his office, Dr. Davila inquired whether I was Latino or Italian. (Throughout my life so many people thought I looked either Italian or Greek! Which was funny, because at my first impression of him I thought he was Italian! I wasn't exposed to many Mexican-Americans in the East when I was a child.) When I replied that I was part Latino, he greeted me by signing a few Spanish words. That impressed me and my parents. (More on my South American background in the coming next post) Dr. Davila sure knew how to make one feel welcome!

One blogger compared Dr. Davila and the outgoing President IKJ by how they greeted people after Dr. Davila's speech. Based on my personal experience in meeting each man, I would agree with his analysis. The only time when I met IKJ was at a private social function (a friend's birthday party, years ago), I greeted him and introduced myself. He acknowledged me with a nod (like one of my cartoon characters New York Elvis's silent, nonchalant nod) and shook my hand. It was a light, formal handshake...not the tight, warm kind you'd expect. From him I felt a polite aloofness. We didn't converse beyond this point.

Dr. Davila, on the other hand, radiated warmth. He and I have conversed several times during the times I was a MSSD student and other times as a professional. As a Hispanic-American whose father was born in Europe and spoke three languages, I felt a connection with him. Although I was born in the United States and I am a full U.S. citizen, technically I am a citizen of two countries (Sweden and Chile). My father, who was born in Sweden to my American grandfather and Chilean grandmother, was automatically a Swedish citizen. But he shuffled around to several countries as he grew up and my grandfather the diplomat was assigned different posts.

According to Chilean law nationality may be passed to the individual through his grandmother. The U.S., however, does not recognize dual nationality. Nevertheless, in a way I was an international student. Spanish is my third language, next to ASL and English . MSSD at my time had several international students. One student, a boy, came from Ethiopia. Another student, a girl, originated from Cuba and moved to Florida with her family. There was this exchange student from Germany, a girl. There were many students from Puerto Rico, too.

If Dr. Davila makes you feel welcome as he did when I first came to MSSD, this is the kind of man you want for President.

Dr. Davila, in my view, personifies international goodwill in his grace and manner. I think his presence at Gallaudet University will help to bring attention to issues that concern students of color, including deaf and hard of hearing Hispanic Americans, and international students. I think his leadership will bring about many positive changes that we hope to see on campus. I also hope that he will see to that those international students who were involved in the protests may have a chance to extend their stay in the U.S. without fear of reprisals. After all, we should make them feel welcome, like this is su casa.

I don't know what the reactions of other deaf people in San Diego (Dr. Davila's hometown) are to the news of his new post as Interim President...the news had just broken out yesterday...but I am certain that they are as elated as I am and you are! Especially those who are Mexican-American or from Mexico. Some of you may don't know how much this news of the first deaf Mexican-American to be Interim President of Gallaudet University means to us. This is time for joyous celebrations, indeed! Bob, we are PROUD of you! From the bottom of our hearts we say - CONGRATULATIONS! And in the language of our countries...¡FELICATICIONES!

¡Viva la Revolución de Gallaudet!

Attention, All Deaf Cartoonists!

2006-12-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

Quick announcement here:

San Diego Comic Con International will be held on July 26-29, 2007. For full information, go to www.comic-con.org/

We need to get a booth here at this huge event! I will tell you more later about what happens every year at Comic Con. For those of you who haven't been there before, you'll DEFINITELY love it! I guarantee it! Movie stars and celebrities come to this event every year to plug their movies! Many people attend this event wearing wacky clothes, especially those Trekkies or fans of Star Wars!

Any of you deaf cartoonists interested in coming to San Diego next year?? If so, contact me ASAP to get on my list! I'll do whatever I can to make you feel welcome in my home city! We deaf cartoonists need to get exposure and this is one of the BEST places! I'm telling ya, it's a very, very huge annual event...thousands of people for 1 entire week! Last year and two years ago Comic Con filled the entire convention center from top to bottom!

Any one of you good at writing sponsorship letters? If you want to see a deaf cartoonists booth at Comic Con next year, we need to get sponsors very soon! The deadline for booth application is January 5, 2007. To those interested, please write me at my email address, dmcclintock@sandiego.com.

Any other idea or suggestion from you towards helping to set up this special deaf cartoonists booth would be welcome! Let's make waves in '07!

Thank you!

It Takes Two Hands To Rebuild

2006-12-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

I see talk about rebuilding the unity on Gallaudet University increasing in the blogsphere, so here is my thought: It takes two hands to rebuild. Whether it be COSC and FSSA, the protestors or the Fernandes supporters, whichever group is divided among the students on campus, it takes two hands to make this big effort...rebuilding. I'm not pressuring anyone...nor am I one to give out orders...but it would be nice to see COSC and FSSA at least acknowledge each other, reconcile, put asides their differences and make a concrete plan towards rebuilding the unity. This is just my suggestion. I know COSC and FSSA may have disagreements with each other, but they are the groups who started all this, so they must finish it. I know this may be a busy month, with final tests and holiday breaks. Yet an outline should be drawn up somewhere. January may be a good time for undertaking definite actions. If students want to do something soon to initiate the process, fine, that's good. What do you think, readers?

Changing of the Guards

2006-12-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

I know I said I thought I was gonna back out of Gallaudet politics for a little while. Actually I was just taking a breather. Now, I'm back with a couple of more new cartoons on Gallaudet politics this time. I'm not backing down from expressing my opinions or whatever. You wanted to see more "political" cartoons, so you got it.

This cartoon was suggested to me by a reader. I've modified it a little on my own. The group on the left represents the Old Guard, that wanted to continue on carrying out the vision of the IKJ Administration, so called "The New Deaf Order." The group on the right represents the New Guard, a coalition of people of diverse backgrounds, age, and hearing degrees (whether deaf, hard of hearing or hearing), with a vision for the "New Deaf Way." Notice one man in the left picture carries a ruler and the woman at the end of the desk carries a stamp. In the other picture one man carries a cellphone and a student at the end of the desk carries a gavel. According to the reader, this is the future that Gallaudet must be prepared for.

A Note to My Critics

2006-12-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

Gee whiz! I didn't realize how upset my recent cartoons made some of you people. What are you griping about? The protests are over. The students got what they wanted. The problem's been solved. Harmony's been restored to the campus. What are you fussing about? Don't you see this is all just a parody?

My critics seem to be confused about my position on JKF and the Gallaudet protests. I would refer them to look at my "JKF's Makeover" in my original blog, dmcclintock.blogspot.com. OOOOF COURSE, I know what it was about...it was about the leadership issue, not the "not deaf enough" card!! D-uh! Siiigh...no, I didn't do this to feel "superior." Have you watched late tv shows lately? Jay Leno, David Letterman and other comedians mocked presidents, politicians, world leaders and other famous people EVERY NIGHT! Do they do it to feel superior themselves? They do it for a living! Look, this is a cartoon blog page. Most of the cartoons I blog here are satire. What did you expect - nice, cutesy, Disneyque cartoons?

I think I'll back out of Gallaudet politics for a while, seeing there are still some frayed nerves out there. To those who liked my cartoons and wrote positive comments, thank you for your support!

Peace out,
D.

Tintin, the Picaros and the Gallaudet Revolution

2006-11-28T18:11:00.000-08:00

Commentary by D. McClintock

While I do cartoon blogs here, I also like to blog on other cartoonists' work. One of the most famous cartoonists I would like to blog on is Hergé, creator of The Adventures of Tintin. Have anyone of you ever read these classic books? They are among my favorite graphic novels that I love to read. Let me briefly introduce the artist Hergé, then I will get to the point of my essay here, the parallels that I see between his book Tintin and the Picaros and the Gallaudet revolution. You'll find this a little amusing as well as interesting.

Hergé (real name George Rémi, b. in Brussels, Belgium in 1907) was a Belgian illustrator who began his career by doing work for a local newspapers. He originally created a comic strip Tintin for a weekly supplement for children that would appear in the newspapers on Thursdays -
Le Petit Vingtieme. Tintin first appeared in Le Petit Vingtieme on November 1, 1928. Since then Tintin ran for more than four decades, with his adventures graphically depicted in twenty-two series. According to biographer Michael Farr,"worldwide sales of the Tintin books totalled over 120 million, with the annual figure topping four million as the adventures came to be translated into more than fifty languages - from Arabic and Chinese, Icelandic and Indonesian, Japanese and Korean to Persian and Serbo-Croat, not forgetting optimistic departures into Esperanto, Latin and Luxemburgisch."

There's one language that Tintin was never yet translated into...American Sign Language. Wonder how this could be done? Maybe through a comic strip in Hergé's honor or a play or a vlog drama of Tintin and his friends? Something to chew on...

Actually, for your information, one of the characters in Tintin's Adventures is deaf. Well, more likely, late-deafened. This character is named Professor Cuthbert Calculus, and he is the one in the middle between Tintin and Captain Haddock on the front cover (see above), with his trademark battered green derby hat, his goatee and his granny eyeglasses. Calculus, in my opinion, is one of the funniest characters I've ever seen in comic book literature. Biographer Michael Farr describes Calculus' first appearance in the following paragraph:

His introduction on page five of Red Rackham's Treasure is a comic tour de force, contrasting Calculus' quiet persistence with Haddock's explosive impatience at the professor's deafness - a "little hard of hearing" by his own account. "I'd like to speak to Tintin," the professor inquires politely after Haddock has despatched the crowd of "fancy-dress freebooters" claiming to have a connection with Red Rackham. "Why? No doubt your name happens to be Red Rackham?"
"Yes?" replies an uncomprehending Calculus. And when, after another unsuccessful exchange Haddock blasts:"YOUR NAME!", the comedy reaches a climax with Calculus' staggering reply:
"Gone away? What a pity! Never mind, I'll come again. I particularly wanted to speak to Mr. Tintin himself." The combination of deafness and inventive genius provides a rich vein of humour for the rest of the Tintin series. Like Haddock, the professor never misses an adventure and even has one named after him, The Calculus Affair. "The dear professor!...Another whom I never suspected would take on such importance," Hergé came to admit.
(Tintin The Complete Companion, Michael Farr, Last Gasp of San Francisco, First Edition 2002, p. 106)

All information on the creator Hergé and his beloved character Tintin can be found on www.tintin.com. You can even order his books or other products from this website.

I have been reading Tintin since when I was a child, when my mother gave me a French translation of Flight 714. (Incidentally, this was how I learned French! Comic books are one of the best ways to learn a foreign language, fyi!) At his personal library my late grandfather the diplomat had a wide collection of Tintin as well as other graphic novels from different countries, some in different languages. Seated in a plumb leather armchair in his stuffy office, I would read those books while he was either busy working on documents on his desk or running errands with my father. Ah, cherished memories...

Because so many years had passed since then, I started re-reading Tintin recently. This was shortly after the Gallaudet protests when I saw parallels between his last book Tintin and the Picaros and the Gallaudet revolution. The story is quite amusing.

General Alcazar wanted to overthrow depot General Tapioca, who had previously seized control of government from him in his country San Theodoros (a fictional country set in South America). But he was frustrated by his band of guerrillas' drinking problem. A successful revolution cannot be carried out by a bunch of drunks, he pointed to his friend Tintin. In the book we find that alcohol was actually supplemented in boxes by air from General Tapioca to Alcazar's band of guerrillas in the jungles, to keep them inebriated. Tintin found a solution to Alcazar's problem: Calculus' special medicine. To help cure Captain Haddock's alcoholism, Calculus invented a kind of pill that would make the drinker sick every time he or she drinks alcohol. Tintin successfully cured Alcazar's band of their drinking problem by secretly spiking their food with Calculus' pills. Tintin also successfully convinced the passionate Latino generalissmo Alcazar to lead a revolution without violence, without a shot fired, without a drop of blood. How Tintin, Alcazar, his band and their friends pulled off this feat...I'll leave this to you to read the book. I don't want to spoil the ending!

The story of the revolution on campus of Gallaudet University is similiar to the Picaros story. There was in the beginning a great deal of toxicity we dealt with in blogs and protests on the campus...anger, hatred, profanities, threats of violence. All probably fueled by alcohol or God knows what else in the students' lives. Maybe not every student involved in the protests, mind you. But it was clear last October that the toxic emotions ran very high, and this would have erupted into something bigger and uglier we wouldn't like or accept. One poster left a comment on my blog, that appeared to advocate violence on campus, giving a hint that a riot was inevitable. I told this poster that violence did NOT need to be the solution to every problem! I know from seeing other blogs that many alumni, professionals and mature students share this view. We needed to educate those young, new students who didn't understand better.

I would not allow violence to happen on campus, period - because there are children living on the same campus. MSSD students. Children going to school, too...KDES students. Any act of violence, any move towards organizing a riot on campus, would not only be outrageous but stupid as well and dangerous to the safety of children on campus.

Thankfully debate followed. We bloggers and protestors took time to debate the issues back and forth, and - what happened? Reason prevailed on campus. Reason won over violence. We have proved ourselves to the world that we're smart. That, like Tintin and his friends, we are capable of intelligence and self-control. You should applaud yourselves. With exception of someone's blemished toe (aptly nicknamed "The Stubbed-Toe Gate" by critic Mike McConnell), no blood was shed, no bullet was fired, no lives were fortunately harmed or lost. Gallaudet is now becoming a good example that a peaceful revolution is indeed and can be possible!

¡Viva la revolución de Gallaudet!

Thanksgiving Cartoon

2006-11-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

Good Ol' Fashioned Maryland Crabbake

"Behave, Will Ya?"

Artist's Response to Ridor's "This is Cool, Is It?"

2006-11-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

(reposted)

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Artist's Response to Ridor's "This is Cool, Is It?"

Recently today, blogger Ridor wrote a piece about the SuperASL T-shirt that is selling like hot cakes on BuyASL.com. I read it with amusement, knowing who created it. Folks, here's the link to his blog, "This is Cool, Is it?" Be sure to check out a photograph of himself wearing the T-shirt that I - yes, I - created. It's worth a few good laughs. Hey, Ridor, muy gracias....you can let out the air now! ;)

http://www.ridorlive.com/?p=1992

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm the one who designed that famous T-shirt Ridor talked about. The credit for the idea goes to BuyASL.com. I was approached by them and asked to design a logo that is similiar to Superman but that has the word ASL incorporated into it. I designed three logos, and they picked one. I was paid my commission for the logo design. FYI, I do not receive any residual on this T-shirt. It is for the deaf community. BuyASL.com is a company known to be very supportive of the deaf community.

This design that I created is intended as a novelty item, to put a spin on the issue of American Sign Language with humor. This is the message that I believe BuyASL.com is trying to convey with this design, that it's OK & cool to communicate in ASL and that ASL is...SUPER-cool!I would like to let you a little on my background. I'm not an ASL extremist, either. I do not see this design I made as a symbol for ASL extremism, and I do not think it should be taken as such. I see this design as a proactive, positive message in support of ASL as our language.

I learned sign language at age 8. Before then, I was an oralist. I was a student at one of the most famous oral schools, Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, MA. As you may know, Clarke School banned sign language in the classroom and frowned upon its use outside the school building. At the dormority where I lived, we'd communicate by handmade signs and grunts - short, brief speaking. Not everyone at Clarke I knew was skilled at speech and lipreading, including myself.When I first learned sign language, it opened a world for me. I will never forget this day when I first learned sign language...like my hospital stay and survival, it was one of several major turning points in my life. I am sure it was the same for many, many deaf people.

The school where I learned sign language was at Amoskeag School for the Deaf, a small day school in Manchester, New Hampshire. The type of sign language taught there, however, was PSE (Pidgin Signed English). PSE is like a combination of SEE and ASL. When I saw ASL signed, it was at an elementary school where my bus would pick up some students, and my first impression that ASL was a language spoken by kids at elementary school level. Boy, was I wrong!MSSD was where my mind changed and expanded. While I was a student at MSSD for three years from 1978 to 1981, the way I signed was heavily influenced by the people I met there and the school plays that I participated in. Despite MSSD's official policy of total communications at that time, ASL was widely practiced everywhere I went. It was at MSSD when I realized ASL was a common language that the deaf community in America communicated in.

Through my involvement in theatre I learned to develop profound love and respect for this beautiful, visual language called ASL. Since then I've been an ASL signer and will always remain one to my death.So...folks, ladies and gentlemen, to celebrate our love, honor and respect for ASL as our language, PLEASE buy the Super-ASL T-shirt from BuyASL.com! And don't forget to buy 6 wrist bands of “GOT ASL?”....$ 2 from each sale will be donated to the FSSA Coalition or the GUAA! Go to this link:http://www.buyasl.com/Wear one TODAY and look SUPER-COOL! Get it?Many, many thanks to everyone, y'all for your time reading and for your support towards Gallaudet University / Kendall Green!

D. McClintock,artist
posted by Dan McClintock at 1:37 PM

Public Service Announcement: Hypertension

2006-11-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings, folks!

I am feeling much, much better today. What an ordeal I went through! Let you know I was in two hospitals recently this month. I spent 1 week in the first hospital from November 2 to November 8. I was in another hospital again on November 12 to 13. I was treated for hypertension, chest pain, and other medical conditions that I shall not go into details here. At the first hospital I was informed by a doctor that I had nearly what was called a myocardial infarction (a minor heart attack). Wow - I was fortunate to have made it to that hospital in time! It was a close call.

Folks, I'm not the same man anymore since my release from the hospital. I feel changed in many ways. My long stay at the hospital made me think a great deal about my life. This is not the first time I've had a brush with death. But this was one of the closest I've ever had, quite a serious one! I feel very, very glad to be alive. You can't imagine how so precious and valuable it is just to breathe one more day of air!

To my friends and well-wishers, I am very fine, thank you. I am still undergoing a process of healing, which will take time. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Now, here is my public service announcement. Folks, hypertension is no laughing matters! I would strongly encourage my generation (age 40-45) to consider lifestyle changes because what happened to me early may happen to them later in their sixties! Whatever your age or background you come from, whether you are an athlete or not, get your blood pressure checked - often. This may be a lifesaver for you! You may never know when it may change, and you may never be aware of it!

If your doctor finds that your blood pressure is higher than normal (over 130 and up), it's time for you to consider serious changes, such as in diet and execrise. Salt is the culprit of many medical problems that are caused as a result of hypertension. If you happen to like salt or eating salty food, I would advise you to switch to sea salt or kosher salt, which are considered more nutritious than regular, table salt. Table salt (sodium chloride) is BAD for you! It causes blood vessels to constrict, thus restricting the flow of blood throughout the body, and it leads to dehydration, which is not good for the body. You'd be amazed at how much salt the average American eats. The normal requirement for body intake is about 2-3 grams of salt per day, but the average American eats more than 5 grams a day! Even if he or she doesn't sprinkle much salt on his or her food, it may still contain lots of salt that he or she wasn't aware of when he or she made a purchase. Frozen dinner and canned food, for example, contain high amounts of salt. Hence, my strongest advice to fellow hypertensives: if you were recently diagnosed with hypertension...AVOID frozen dinner and canned food! Don't touch them within ten foot! They're very, very bad for your blood pressure!

Also either cut down or quit drinking alcohol, and if you're drinking whole fat milk, BEST switch - to fat-free skim milk! If you don't like the taste of fat-free skim milk, try 2% at first for a while, then switch to 1% and later when your taste buds adjust, switch to fat-free skim milk. I guarantee you this will work...you'd be amazed at how quickly your taste buds can adapt to! Or try this alternative and drink either soy or rice milk, which is good for your health.

You may have already heard this, but cutting down on red meat and eating more fish or poultry, followed by more vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains in your diet, can and do definitely cut down the risks of heart disease. Try it, my friends!

If you have any question about hypertension or heart disease or salt-free diet, email me. (I warn you, though, I am not a physician and my opinion here should not be taken as qualified medical opinion. You must consult your own doctor if you have specific issues or questions you want to find answers to. I can only provide information and links here.) I am willing to help other deafies understand better this issue of hypertension and heart disease.

That's it for my PSA here. Coming next, Artist's Statement re BuyASL.com t-shirt.

- Dan McClintock

New Politicial Cartoon

2006-11-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

More news & cartoons coming later...

2006-11-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

Hello, folks, this is to let you know I am taking a break from blogging for a while until I recuperate fully. But look forward to news and cartoons coming soon in the near future! In the meantime, thank you for your support!

- Dan McClintock, cartoonist

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