I was delighted to learn that the Broadway play, Wicked, was nominated in ten categories including the Best Actress in Idina Menzel. I think she deserved it. I also learned that it was the most expensive production of all in Broadway. Makes sense if you look at these decorations. It was stunning.
Check Beth's blogs about some fuckin' anti-deaf folks out there writing against us. They are indeed scary. They made me want to sic Osama bin Laden on them.
Speaking of these Islamic crazies, I wonder if there will be an outcry about the American being beheaded by these barbaric men that Surdus defended!
Now this beheading is worse than these prison abuses, I say -- fuck 'em. If they want barbaric things, let's give it to them! NUKE the whole place!
The majority of these fools are hearing people. I should say, "More power to them to kill each other, so that Deaf people can bypass them for jobs, promotions, et al."
But again, the planet continues to revolve. It never cared for anyone who died or not. Had been that way for millions of years, and shall be that way for another few billions years.
R-
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Monday, May 10, 2004
Few Thoughts About Deaf Men ...
DeafNation's RV Tour made a stop at my workplace. The creator of DeafNation is Jed Barish. All I can say is that Angela Otani is lucky to have Jed. Here is the photo of these natural, laid-back and determined Deaf men.
Overall, they're nice folks. Made sure that each person feels comfortable during the visit. I knew Jed through his brother. I knew Anthony through his sister, I knew Branic through Web. That is the price of living in Deaf World -- where everyone knew everyone else.
Time for me to flee to Park Slope to meet Yvonne once again and haul my stuff to my apartment -- for the LAST time. Then I might be off to The Cock Bar tonite.
Cheers,
R-
P.S. Breen, Happy Birthday!
Overall, they're nice folks. Made sure that each person feels comfortable during the visit. I knew Jed through his brother. I knew Anthony through his sister, I knew Branic through Web. That is the price of living in Deaf World -- where everyone knew everyone else.
Time for me to flee to Park Slope to meet Yvonne once again and haul my stuff to my apartment -- for the LAST time. Then I might be off to The Cock Bar tonite.
Cheers,
R-
P.S. Breen, Happy Birthday!
Free Hugs?
There was an article in The New York Times about Jayson Littman, 26 years old who is financial analyst during the weekdays. On Sundays from 1 PM to 4 PM, he wears a t-shirt that reads: "FREE HUGS" and he erected a sign in Washington Square Park, "FREE HUGS".
With wars and blood flowing freely around the world, Littman figured that everyone needs a hug now and then. No religious, pamphlets and charges at all. It is free hug.
The pictures of Jayson depicted that he's gorgeous guy and ... so gay. One picture showed him trying to bait an elder woman for a hug, but she shrugged him off.
Some people are skeptical of his actions, stood away and stared at him. But ended up being hugged by Jayson.
I think I will check this gentleman out ... when Benis gets back to town so we will observe from afar. Don't want to be infected with these cooties.
R-
With wars and blood flowing freely around the world, Littman figured that everyone needs a hug now and then. No religious, pamphlets and charges at all. It is free hug.
The pictures of Jayson depicted that he's gorgeous guy and ... so gay. One picture showed him trying to bait an elder woman for a hug, but she shrugged him off.
Some people are skeptical of his actions, stood away and stared at him. But ended up being hugged by Jayson.
I think I will check this gentleman out ... when Benis gets back to town so we will observe from afar. Don't want to be infected with these cooties.
R-
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Rest In Peace, Ernie and Edward -- I Salute You.
IN the last two weeks, things just pop up in my face. Not that I complain but that is the way of life -- for me, that is.
Edward Scouten Jr died last week at 89 in Tallahassee, Florida. Naturally, I was sad because he played a pivotal role in my fraternity at Gallaudet. Not only that, I found out through Larry yesterday that Ernie Hoffman also died last night. He was my alumni adviser through the pledge period and brother years with my fraternity. He was kind, funny and crazy. I'll miss him and his outspoken thoughts. Guys, I salute you both.
This week is crazy -- lots of visits and Cynthia's Birthday Week has come to a whirling end last night when we threw her a surprise party at my new place -- yes, I finally cleaned up the place and stench only to have it mess up again.
There was a little shock(ment) from someone else that I never expected but I'll never share it. LOL.
Today, I'm praying to LJC that Yvonne answers my messages so that we can flee to Brooklyn to haul my last stuff. If not, I'm going to be depressed over the weekend.
Ahh, such a life in New York ...
And I miss Benis.
R-
Edward Scouten Jr died last week at 89 in Tallahassee, Florida. Naturally, I was sad because he played a pivotal role in my fraternity at Gallaudet. Not only that, I found out through Larry yesterday that Ernie Hoffman also died last night. He was my alumni adviser through the pledge period and brother years with my fraternity. He was kind, funny and crazy. I'll miss him and his outspoken thoughts. Guys, I salute you both.
This week is crazy -- lots of visits and Cynthia's Birthday Week has come to a whirling end last night when we threw her a surprise party at my new place -- yes, I finally cleaned up the place and stench only to have it mess up again.
There was a little shock(ment) from someone else that I never expected but I'll never share it. LOL.
Today, I'm praying to LJC that Yvonne answers my messages so that we can flee to Brooklyn to haul my last stuff. If not, I'm going to be depressed over the weekend.
Ahh, such a life in New York ...
And I miss Benis.
R-
Friday, May 07, 2004
NO NO NO YOU DONT GET IT!!
You just cannot argue things with someone who does not listen. It is like talking to a wall. Come to think of this, you are similar to Dubya, Surdus. Stubborn and self-righteous when it comes to things like this.
My point is that ... you have no right to put the good ole USA down with your antics about the soldiers humiliating the prisoners. Why? BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THERE. Abu Gahrib is not far from Fallujah, the site of where many Americans were killed in a barbaric fashion. So I am certain that the soldiers felt somewhat pressured or stressed out with the whole thing that happened on a daily basis.
What are we supposed to do with the travesty? We are in the position where we try to help, many countries objected that we were trying to police them ... if we choose not to help, they also objected that we were acting above them. It is no-no win situation.
I am aware of things like WMD but that is ancient. Like it or not, the argument about the WMD is waaaaay past the time. It is moot to argue and dwell on this since we conquered Saddam and is now occupying Iraq. Now what should we do about it? We won the Saddam War, so now what next?
Let's not focus on Dubya, WMDs or anything like that. It is not worth the time and energy. The future is now, the future is ours to reshape things. Now, let's figure out what to do next. There are mistakes that the government and the Armed Forces did, now what?
Comparing us to them, I rather for us to win even with the barbaric treatments because I know in our system, we'd find ways to exact our rights and improve from there. With Saddam, Saud Royal Family, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan and/or Turkey running the show, we'd be executed so fast that you cannot finish your own blog.
Here, we can fight for our rights even if it takes years to get what we wanted -- but not in these places. So hereby, I say: Better us to rule them than to let them rule us.
R-
My point is that ... you have no right to put the good ole USA down with your antics about the soldiers humiliating the prisoners. Why? BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THERE. Abu Gahrib is not far from Fallujah, the site of where many Americans were killed in a barbaric fashion. So I am certain that the soldiers felt somewhat pressured or stressed out with the whole thing that happened on a daily basis.
What are we supposed to do with the travesty? We are in the position where we try to help, many countries objected that we were trying to police them ... if we choose not to help, they also objected that we were acting above them. It is no-no win situation.
I am aware of things like WMD but that is ancient. Like it or not, the argument about the WMD is waaaaay past the time. It is moot to argue and dwell on this since we conquered Saddam and is now occupying Iraq. Now what should we do about it? We won the Saddam War, so now what next?
Let's not focus on Dubya, WMDs or anything like that. It is not worth the time and energy. The future is now, the future is ours to reshape things. Now, let's figure out what to do next. There are mistakes that the government and the Armed Forces did, now what?
Comparing us to them, I rather for us to win even with the barbaric treatments because I know in our system, we'd find ways to exact our rights and improve from there. With Saddam, Saud Royal Family, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan and/or Turkey running the show, we'd be executed so fast that you cannot finish your own blog.
Here, we can fight for our rights even if it takes years to get what we wanted -- but not in these places. So hereby, I say: Better us to rule them than to let them rule us.
R-
Thursday, May 06, 2004
The Trip to Holland by KB
NOTE: This e-mail was sent to me and others about KB's recent vacation -- thought I'd post it up with her permission because it's fun and interesting -- different perspective, though! Enjoy! R-
returned to dreary ol' US of A after a totally relaxing week in the Netherlands. Alas, I did not get to see Amsterdam (Meri - I'm keeping your recommendations for the next time round!) and stayed in Wendy's home in Groningen during the entirety of the trip. i'm at work (shhhh!) and will compose this whilst the details are fresh in my mind..
let's see .. i happily left NYSD for JFK airport - the staff remarked on how big my grin was plastered across my face mere minutes before my departure.. as you can say, i was totally ready to skedaddle.
the flight to Iceland was uneventual and through the plane window I was able to glimpse the geography.. An Icelandic friend had told me that I'd be seeing a lava field from the airport and sho enuff it was.. dark brown with some boulders and ridges about, with some crisscrossing road.. the airport is situated on an island so the shoreline was amazing to look at.
I proceeded to Heathrow airport in London and I made the mistake of speaking to the flight stewardess.. I had the window seat and had passed out for few hours and my anxious bladder had woken me up.. but the passenger blocking my way to the lavatory was out like a light.. i feared that touching a hearing sleeper would cause a ruckus.. eventually a stewardess came to see if i was alright - my speech was numbed from heavy sleep and i couldn't understand her accent.. i was able to use the lavatory.. upon the arrival in london, i found what i feared for, a disability guide waiting for me! i told him i didn't need him since i knew the airport well and hauled a** out of the gate.
as the plane approached the schiphol airport in amsterdam, we were greeted by fields of tulips in striking red, blue, yellow, pink, orange, etc. (didn't take pictures!). the fields were everywhere and manicured farmlands showed itself.. might put the pennsylvania dutch farmers to shame!
Wendy picked me up and we drove for nearly 3 hours to her home in Groningen in northern Holland - 30 minutes from the northern shore as well as the German border.. no tulips fields! Wendy explained that all tulips are cultivated west of Amsterdam.. somethign about the favorable climate, I suppose..
On thursday, the day after my arrival, two other friends arrived to stay at Wendy's home for Queen's Night and Day fesitivies. Every year Queen Beatrix celebrates her mother's birthday and accession to the throne by visiting a chosen city and village each year. As luck would have it, Groningen is the city this year. Princess Juliana (the mother) had died in April but the Queen decided to continue the festitivies since it is very popular. as opposed to the British royalty who rule til death, the dutch royalty retire at age of 65. sensible, huh? the four of us went to Wendy's brother JW's
home to meet the others and warm up before the Queen's night.
Bikes, oh my! When we walked to the city square, the bikes were everywhere.. stacked against buildings and parked.. it's a wonder how an intoxicated biker would find his or her bike out of the mess.
the crowd in the square was crammed and crazy - at one point we were nearly trampled when the crowd moved too quickly from pushing and shoving.. it was a trip though.
On Friday, one of Wendy's friends lent me an orange t-shirt to don in honor of Queen's day and we headed out before noon. We watched the Queen and her grown children visit a village nearby before they proceeded to Groningen.. the town threw out its traditional festivites and activities which included some kind of endurance test where a man lifts himself up by his arms holding a piece of cloth hung from a monkey's bar.. one of the princes who is obviously in a good shape held out the longest and he looked kind of bored.. oh well.
We secured a good spot along the parade route where the queen and her heir apparent and spouses would be transported on horse carriages.. I got a good shot of the queen .. hopefully it comes out great..! we wandered around the city and the shops and bars were open. we secured a table outside and were served beer and colas. very mellow and relaxing afternoon.
on a ramble, the group showed me the original deaf school near the city center (the school moved to outskirts in mid 80's since the kids were continually being hit by cars).. the school is the second oldest in Europe after Abbe's in Paris. Wendy's brother explained that it is the scene where the Nazis rounded up deaf school children and the bullet holes remained in the walls for decades afterwards - as a kid he used to poke his fingers in the holes until he learned of the significance. the city bought the school and removed the bullet holes much to the deaf community's indigination.
they put up a memorial in the park across from the old school.
Saturday - the weather continued to be beautiful so we took the chance to go out to the lake to hang out. One girl and I rolled up our jeans and waded into the water. after some time, we walked around the lake and went though a nudist beach.. there wasn't much to look at since not many people were there and it was mostly old men (need i to say more?? uck) walking around and sunning themselves. Lik the night before, Wendy and I stayed home for the night to watch movies.
Sunday - the other two people left to return to Amsterdam. Wendy decided to show me the north shore and to a good friend of her's home in the countryside. before we left, she showed me the new deaf school where she teaches.. it s not as grand as the original school, all in concrete blocks and affiliated with a blind school. a nice foresty setting though.
the shore was covered with sheep droppings and there was some kind of marshland beyond the shore.. the Dutch do this kind of activitiy where they wear sneakers or shoes (to avoid having one's feet be pinched by crabs) and old clothes to walk into the water, with water up to their chest.. walk around for several hours.. they are to wait until the water level drops later in the spring ... apologies for sparse details since i don't understand it myself!
We visited her friend Daan's house who is a self employed carpenter. He had bought a small falling down brick house and renovated it by himself - he would find old tiles, doors, windows, including Wendy's old kitchen counter what have you that the neighbors tossed out, clean them up and add them to his house. a charming feature is a large round window in the shower room. Daan's mother makes stained glass window and she recreated his house and property. very nice.. I was completely blown away by his house.. I'm a sucker for a genuie do it yourself people :). Took couple pictures outside the house.
We returned to the city and rode the bike... Holland is the 2nd country after China in bike riders.. they have their own lanes and stop lights. family sized bikes even.. a typical parent's bike would consist of a small seat behind the handlebars for a toddler and a larger child's seat behind the rider. I saw one parent with a small child inthe front AND a stroller attached to the rear of the bike (giving you any ideas with aidan, tracy? :)). One of wendy's friends was not at home so we rode back home.
Monday - as usual, we slept in and went shopping.. later, wendy and i went to a friend's house to hang out and later, to a deaf club gathering.. two japanese women were travelling from beligum and i knew a friend of theirs back in japan. deaf world can be so small :).
Tuesday - took me 18 or 19 hours to travel from Wendy's home to my apartment. the plane ride from amsterdam to iceland and iceland to new york were uneventual other than some nasty turbulence. took pictures of iceland (poor ones due to limited visibility).. i stupidly declared two small boxes of breakfast candy. the US Customs had all my bags x-rayed and i was handed a brochure on agricultural products despite my protests that it is NOT a farm product and had bought them from a honest to goodness supermarket. then i was grieved to find that NYC taxi commission had hiked the fares the day before and now, the cab ride to NYC from JFK is 45 buckaroos. I let out some jet-lag laced curses and settled for the subway home..
overall the vacation was great, slept in everyday, and when we were not out, we'd be inside watching TV and reading books. Wendy made some delicious meals, some dutch and some indonesia cusine (former colony of the netherlands). i have yet to develop pictures and when i do (soon!) will post it on ofoto.com.
-KB
returned to dreary ol' US of A after a totally relaxing week in the Netherlands. Alas, I did not get to see Amsterdam (Meri - I'm keeping your recommendations for the next time round!) and stayed in Wendy's home in Groningen during the entirety of the trip. i'm at work (shhhh!) and will compose this whilst the details are fresh in my mind..
let's see .. i happily left NYSD for JFK airport - the staff remarked on how big my grin was plastered across my face mere minutes before my departure.. as you can say, i was totally ready to skedaddle.
the flight to Iceland was uneventual and through the plane window I was able to glimpse the geography.. An Icelandic friend had told me that I'd be seeing a lava field from the airport and sho enuff it was.. dark brown with some boulders and ridges about, with some crisscrossing road.. the airport is situated on an island so the shoreline was amazing to look at.
I proceeded to Heathrow airport in London and I made the mistake of speaking to the flight stewardess.. I had the window seat and had passed out for few hours and my anxious bladder had woken me up.. but the passenger blocking my way to the lavatory was out like a light.. i feared that touching a hearing sleeper would cause a ruckus.. eventually a stewardess came to see if i was alright - my speech was numbed from heavy sleep and i couldn't understand her accent.. i was able to use the lavatory.. upon the arrival in london, i found what i feared for, a disability guide waiting for me! i told him i didn't need him since i knew the airport well and hauled a** out of the gate.
as the plane approached the schiphol airport in amsterdam, we were greeted by fields of tulips in striking red, blue, yellow, pink, orange, etc. (didn't take pictures!). the fields were everywhere and manicured farmlands showed itself.. might put the pennsylvania dutch farmers to shame!
Wendy picked me up and we drove for nearly 3 hours to her home in Groningen in northern Holland - 30 minutes from the northern shore as well as the German border.. no tulips fields! Wendy explained that all tulips are cultivated west of Amsterdam.. somethign about the favorable climate, I suppose..
On thursday, the day after my arrival, two other friends arrived to stay at Wendy's home for Queen's Night and Day fesitivies. Every year Queen Beatrix celebrates her mother's birthday and accession to the throne by visiting a chosen city and village each year. As luck would have it, Groningen is the city this year. Princess Juliana (the mother) had died in April but the Queen decided to continue the festitivies since it is very popular. as opposed to the British royalty who rule til death, the dutch royalty retire at age of 65. sensible, huh? the four of us went to Wendy's brother JW's
home to meet the others and warm up before the Queen's night.
Bikes, oh my! When we walked to the city square, the bikes were everywhere.. stacked against buildings and parked.. it's a wonder how an intoxicated biker would find his or her bike out of the mess.
the crowd in the square was crammed and crazy - at one point we were nearly trampled when the crowd moved too quickly from pushing and shoving.. it was a trip though.
On Friday, one of Wendy's friends lent me an orange t-shirt to don in honor of Queen's day and we headed out before noon. We watched the Queen and her grown children visit a village nearby before they proceeded to Groningen.. the town threw out its traditional festivites and activities which included some kind of endurance test where a man lifts himself up by his arms holding a piece of cloth hung from a monkey's bar.. one of the princes who is obviously in a good shape held out the longest and he looked kind of bored.. oh well.
We secured a good spot along the parade route where the queen and her heir apparent and spouses would be transported on horse carriages.. I got a good shot of the queen .. hopefully it comes out great..! we wandered around the city and the shops and bars were open. we secured a table outside and were served beer and colas. very mellow and relaxing afternoon.
on a ramble, the group showed me the original deaf school near the city center (the school moved to outskirts in mid 80's since the kids were continually being hit by cars).. the school is the second oldest in Europe after Abbe's in Paris. Wendy's brother explained that it is the scene where the Nazis rounded up deaf school children and the bullet holes remained in the walls for decades afterwards - as a kid he used to poke his fingers in the holes until he learned of the significance. the city bought the school and removed the bullet holes much to the deaf community's indigination.
they put up a memorial in the park across from the old school.
Saturday - the weather continued to be beautiful so we took the chance to go out to the lake to hang out. One girl and I rolled up our jeans and waded into the water. after some time, we walked around the lake and went though a nudist beach.. there wasn't much to look at since not many people were there and it was mostly old men (need i to say more?? uck) walking around and sunning themselves. Lik the night before, Wendy and I stayed home for the night to watch movies.
Sunday - the other two people left to return to Amsterdam. Wendy decided to show me the north shore and to a good friend of her's home in the countryside. before we left, she showed me the new deaf school where she teaches.. it s not as grand as the original school, all in concrete blocks and affiliated with a blind school. a nice foresty setting though.
the shore was covered with sheep droppings and there was some kind of marshland beyond the shore.. the Dutch do this kind of activitiy where they wear sneakers or shoes (to avoid having one's feet be pinched by crabs) and old clothes to walk into the water, with water up to their chest.. walk around for several hours.. they are to wait until the water level drops later in the spring ... apologies for sparse details since i don't understand it myself!
We visited her friend Daan's house who is a self employed carpenter. He had bought a small falling down brick house and renovated it by himself - he would find old tiles, doors, windows, including Wendy's old kitchen counter what have you that the neighbors tossed out, clean them up and add them to his house. a charming feature is a large round window in the shower room. Daan's mother makes stained glass window and she recreated his house and property. very nice.. I was completely blown away by his house.. I'm a sucker for a genuie do it yourself people :). Took couple pictures outside the house.
We returned to the city and rode the bike... Holland is the 2nd country after China in bike riders.. they have their own lanes and stop lights. family sized bikes even.. a typical parent's bike would consist of a small seat behind the handlebars for a toddler and a larger child's seat behind the rider. I saw one parent with a small child inthe front AND a stroller attached to the rear of the bike (giving you any ideas with aidan, tracy? :)). One of wendy's friends was not at home so we rode back home.
Monday - as usual, we slept in and went shopping.. later, wendy and i went to a friend's house to hang out and later, to a deaf club gathering.. two japanese women were travelling from beligum and i knew a friend of theirs back in japan. deaf world can be so small :).
Tuesday - took me 18 or 19 hours to travel from Wendy's home to my apartment. the plane ride from amsterdam to iceland and iceland to new york were uneventual other than some nasty turbulence. took pictures of iceland (poor ones due to limited visibility).. i stupidly declared two small boxes of breakfast candy. the US Customs had all my bags x-rayed and i was handed a brochure on agricultural products despite my protests that it is NOT a farm product and had bought them from a honest to goodness supermarket. then i was grieved to find that NYC taxi commission had hiked the fares the day before and now, the cab ride to NYC from JFK is 45 buckaroos. I let out some jet-lag laced curses and settled for the subway home..
overall the vacation was great, slept in everyday, and when we were not out, we'd be inside watching TV and reading books. Wendy made some delicious meals, some dutch and some indonesia cusine (former colony of the netherlands). i have yet to develop pictures and when i do (soon!) will post it on ofoto.com.
-KB
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