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News 2004
Click any of links to jump to a specific item
- 12/06/04: Video Phone Booth for Deaf Callers in Traverse City
- 11/29/04: Lion's Develop Hearing Aid for Low–Income People
- 11/23/04: Volunteer Service Provides Help with Tax Preparation
- 11/23/04: Relay Services a Priority in an Emergency
- 11/22/04: National Theatre of the Deaf to Perform on Sesame Street
- 11/3/04: Recycled TV Captions for Web streaming
- 10/26/04: President Signs Assistive Technology Act
- 10/18/04: Protein that Enables Hearing
- 10/05/04: New Study– Deaf/HH Patients & Medical Care
- 09/30/04: Americans with Disabilities Act Revised
- 09/26/04: Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness
- 09/22/04: Michael Moore Meets Hearing Assistive Technology
- 09/13/04: Legislative Advocacy Success for Michigan's 2005 Budget
- 08/31/04: Organizations Petition FCC on Captioning Quality
- 08/26/04: Maintaining Michigan's Early Hearing Detection Program Needs
- 08/16/04: Founder of SHHH is Mourned
- 08/12/04: Deaf Parents Received Extreme Home Makeover
- 08/12/04: Emergency Systems Must include People with Hearing Loss
- 08/12/04: Voters have Right to Assistance at Polls
- 05/13/04: Ruling Expands Movie Captioning
- 04/30/04: Medicaid Payment for Hearing Aids Needs Under Debate
- 04/13/04: "Silence No More Rally" Supports Captioning
- 04/1/04: Audio Descriptions and Open Captions– Making Movies more Accessible
- 03/25/04: Hearing Aid Compatibility For Mobile Phones– SHHH Urges FCC To Keep Rule
- 03/23/04: ADA Notification Act May Limit ADA
- 03/22/04: Update on the Hearing Aid Tax Credit
- 02/24/04: Caption TV Funding Cuts
- 01/28/04: Interpretype: A New Communication Solution?
Video Phone Booth for Deaf Callers in Traverse City
Traverse City– Sometimes it takes a little longer for innovations to reach Northern Michigan. On the other hand, rural community members are strong on collaboration, working together to make a difference! Because of this strong collaboration, Traverse City now has a Video Relay Call Booth that allows deaf and hard of hearing people to make telephone calls using American Sign Language!
Video Relay Service (VRS) uses Internet video conferencing, with an interpreter/relay operator at another location, to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing with making telephone calls. It works like this:
NW Michigan Works! is the First One–stop Center in Michigan to Offer VRS
The Video Relay call booth in Traverse City is located at the Michigan Works! office at 1209 S. Garfield Avenue. Michigan Works! is co–located with the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth - Rehabilitation Services (Michigan Rehabilitation Services) another collaborator on this project. VRS and the call booth are provided by Communication Access Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CACDHH), a state–wide agency headquartered in Flint, Michigan. Other collaborators who were instrumental in bringing VRS to Northern Michigan include MDLEG's Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the GTP Industries, Inc.'s Deaf Services Clearinghouse, and the Northern Michigan Alliance for Independent Living.
An Open House, held on November 5, introduced the new call booth to deaf and hard of hearing people from the region. The thirty–five Open House participants had the opportunity to make Video Relay calls to friends and relatives!
Lion's Develop Hearing Aid for Low–Income People
Responding to a worldwide problem, the Lions Affordable Hearing Project (AHAP) has developed a low cost, high quality hearing aid. Approximately 150 Million people have a serious hearing loss that interferes with basic communication, education and employment. The cost of quality hearing aids (frequently over $2,000 in US dollars) has made hearing improvement out of reach for low–income people in countries like the United States, but even more so in poorer, developing countries.
Lions Club International Fund (LCIF) teamed with Project Impact to develop and produce a low cost and high quality hearing aid. The aid, which costs about US$100, is assessed to perform at least as well as aids that sell for US$2000. The behind–the–ear, digitally programmable aid has successfully passed clinical trials and FDA approval as well as European certification.
The low cost hearing aid is only available through Lions Clubs in partnership with audiologists. As of October 2004, more than 600 people in Mexico, India, Michigan and Washington have been fitted with the AHAP hearing aid.
For more information contact your local Lions Club or see Lions Club International Fact Sheet.
Volunteer Service Provides Help with Tax Preparation
The Volunteer Accounting Service Team of Michigan (VASTMI) will provide tax preparation assistance to low–income families in Michigan. Free Tax Assistance Service for Low–Income Households will be available at more than 20 locations in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Sites include community centers, libraries, social service and public service agencies. The service is offered January through April of each year.
The Tax Assistance Program offers low–income individuals, and those for whom English is a second language, free income tax and tax credit preparation services, counseling on tax rights and responsibilities, and aid in resolving tax disputes.
Income tax preparation includes filling out federal, state and city income tax forms, and informing and educating clients of their rights and responsibilities under the tax laws. Tax preparation also includes filling out forms for those qualifying for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and child credits, the Michigan Property Tax (or Renters) and Home Heating credits. English as a second language services are available.
For individuals, annual household income up to $20,000 (regardless of age) For families, annual income up to $38,000 (Families = married couples, or a person with at least one dependent.)
Household Income
Household income includes taxable and nontaxable items such as wages, social security, unemployment, disability, pension, interest, chore services, and daycare.
Homebound Tax Program — A free mail-in income tax and tax credit preparation service for low-income senior citizens and physically challenged taxpayers who cannot personally visit one of the tax preparation sites during the January-April tax season. (Must meet eligibility requirements.)
Adopt–A–Site Opportunities — Corporations and other groups can "adopt" a specific location and enroll their employees/group members as tax volunteers. Many have found this to be fun as well as rewarding, and a great way to build leadership and team skills.
Low–Income Tax Clinic — VASTMI partners with the Legal Aid and Defender Association of Detroit to provide additional resources for low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the IRS.
In a few weeks, the tax site information should be finalized, Check the VASTMI Web Site to find the closest location for free tax assistance
Relay Services a Priority in an Emergency
Washington, DC – The goal of a new FCC initiative is to ensure and encourage all Telecommunications Relay Service providers to participate in the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) Program. Relay services are required for reliable and effective communications between persons with hearing and speech disabilities and emergency services and other persons. In the event of a disaster, all appropriate steps should be taken to make certain that service to Relay facilities is available.
As a result of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and other natural or man-made disasters, telecommunications service providers (relay and others) may become overwhelmed with requests for new services and requests to repair existing services. The TSP Program provides service providers with an FCC mandate for prioritizing service requests. Those services that are critical in an emergency will receive highest priority. Relay companies must enroll with the TSP to receive a priority ranking. According to the FCC priority system, Relay Services will be repaired first in times of emergency if they are enrolled in the TSP.
Click here to view the FCC Press Release.
National Theatre of the Deaf to Perform on Sesame Street
HARTFORD, CT, – The National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD) recently announced that they will be filming scenes for the ever–popular childrens show, Sesame Street, in December, 2004.
This isn't the first time that the National Theatre of the Deaf has appeared on Sesame Street. Former company member, Linda Bove, first appeared on the show in 1975.
Actors Colleen Foy, Ian Sanborn, Greg Anderson and Little Theatre of the Deaf (LTD) director Shanny Mow, and of our current LTD cast will be among the cast that will appear in four separate segments introducing the "Sign language Moment of the Day." The scenes feature our cast with some well–known muppet friends like Elmo, Big Bird, Telly, and Zoe.
Founded in Connecticut in 1967, the National Theatre of the Deaf is the oldest continually producing and touring Deaf Theatre Company in the United States. It was the first theatre company to perform in all 50 states, has toured to all seven continents and in 32 countries. NTD's professional acting company is made up of both Deaf and Hearing Artists working together as an ensemble. The audience sees and hears every word through the NTD's signature performance style, which combines American Sign Language (ASL) and the spoken word. The unique double–sensory experience has expanded the boundaries of theatrical expression and is considered to be the only new art form to be developed in the 20th century.
Sesame Workshop was founded in 1968 as the Children's Television Workshop. Identifying a specific need to help children from low–income families be prepared for school, the Workshop's founders shared a common goal: to use television as a tool to help children learn. This group of visionary educators, researchers, psychologists, child development experts, artists, writers and musicians pioneered the concept of entertaining, enriching television that could measurably enhance the lives of millions of educationally disadvantaged youngsters. From this collaboration came Sesame Street – now one of the greatest educators of young children in the world.
Dr. Paul L. Winters, Executive Director of the NTD, is thrilled that the organization will be collaborating with such a well renown children's show.
The episode will be airing some time in April 2005.
Recycled TV Captions for Web streaming
Boston, MA. WGBH's National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) Announces the availability of software which enables closed captions created for broadcast and video to migrate to the Web.
CaptionKeeper (TM) software automatically converts line–21 captions Created for television or video into Web-streaming formats. The software, now available for purchase, uses existing closed-caption data to create caption text suitable for live and/or archived multimedia presentations via RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and QuickTime Player formats.
President Signs Assistive Technology Act
Victory for Millions of People with Disabilities Who Strive for Independence
Click here to read the Press Release
Protein that Enables Hearing
According to an article on WebMD, researchers have discovered a protein that is involved in the process of hearing. This protein, named TRPA1, turns sound into nerve impulses the brain can understand. Researchers have been seeking such a protein for years. This recent discovery, by collaborators at several major universities, may lead to advances in hearing and deafness research.
See the entire article at MDWeb: http://content.health.msn.com/ content/article/95/103247.htm
New Study– Deaf/HH Patients & Medical Care
For health care to be effective, communication between clinicians and patients must be fluent and clear. Unfortunately, according to a new study, this presents a challenge to doctors and their patients who are deaf or hard of hearing.
In a Harvard study of 26 deaf or hard of hearing patients, a number of common themes were identified. The study participants reported insurance problems with audiology services, hearing aids, and prescription drugs. However, most of their complaints related to communication.
- Doctors do not seem to understand hearing loss. Deaf people feel that doctors consider them less intelligent and unwilling to cooperate. Patients who are hard of hearing say doctors talk loudly, but show no sympathy or compassion.
- A doctor's idea of what makes for good communication is often not effective for deaf patients (ie. speech reading, a family translator, or hand written notes). Hard of hearing patients feel doctors talk too fast and hurry through check lists.
- Patients reported specific problems of poor communication including misunderstood diagnosis, instructions, and information about drug side effects. When it is impossible to hear instructions during a medical test or procedure, there may be a need for it to be repeated, which can be costly (ie, holding one's breath during an x–ray).
- Problems related to communication with office staff, both in person and on the telephone were also reported.
The article stressed the high cost of these mistakes, both to the patient and the medical practitioner.
For a more complete summary of the research article Click Here.
To read suggestions for health care practitioners resulting from this study Click Here.
Americans with Disabilities Act Revised
The Access Board recently issued the revised design guidelines that cover access for people with disabilities under the ADA. According to Jan Tuck, Vice Chair of the Board, "These guidelines are our guarantee that when a building is built or renovated anywhere in the nation, its doors are wide open to our citizens with disabilities." The revised ADA guidelines are the culmination of a comprehensive, ten–year–long review of the original ADAAG first published in 1991.
The goal of updating the guidelines was to make them more consistent with model building codes, to make them easier to comply with through a new format, and to keep pace with technological innovations.
The updates were based largely on recommendations from the ADAAG Review Advisory Committee and over 2,500 comments received from the public, including many from SHHH members, during an open comment period.
Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness
The first meeting of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities took place on September 20, at the Department of Homeland Security. At the meeting, several senior government officials shared reports regarding significant new policy initiatives that will better integrate people with disabilities in the emergency preparedness effort.
President Bush established the Council by an Executive Order issued on July 22, 2004. The President expanded on his New Freedom Initiative, a series of policies designed to advance the interests of people with disabilities, by directing the federal government to address the safety and security needs of people with disabilities.
Michael Moore Meets Hearing Assistive Technology
At a recent speech by President Bush, an official staff person told Shapiro: "You should have come earlier if you wanted to get to the area where the interpreter is." Shapiro did not hear the comment and was told of it by her husband. As is the case with many hard of hearing and late deafened adults, Shapiro prefers communication in her first language, English, thus assistive technology and captioning of spoken language are preferred. Shapiro was told that no assistive listening equipment was available for the President's speech. Shapiro has found assistive listening equipment to be consistently lacking at political events, regardless of party. Some events provide a sign language interpreter.
Legislative Advocacy Success for Michigan's 2005 Budget
Legislative advocacy does make a difference! While all the details are not yet finalized, it appears that two programs of concern to advocates for hearing loss related programs will receive funding in Michigan for the coming fiscal year. Michigan's Community Health budget has been approved by the appropriations committees, and it appears likely that hearing aids for adults and the EDHI program will be funded.
EHDI Program Continues
Michigan's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program (EDHI) promotes testing of infants for hearing loss. This program saves thousands of dollars over the life of a child with hearing loss. Children with hearing loss, identified early, can receive support services during critical language development years. This program has been funded by Federal grants due to expire during 2005. Michigan's legislature and governor, in recognizing the value of early detection and intervention, have chosen to continue funding the program through the "Healthy Michigan fund."
Medicaid Hearing Aid Coverage
During this past fiscal year, working age adults and senior citizens were not eligible to obtain hearing aids under Michigan's Medicaid program. The Federal government considers hearing aids for adults one of a group of "optional services." Because of Michigan's budget crisis, this group of optional services was discontinued. Michigan's House and Senate have restored adult hearing aid services, for the fiscal year beginning October 1, with some restrictions. These restrictions, related to degree of hearing loss and frequency of replacements, will be determined shortly.
The Michigan Coalition for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People, Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing and Speech Services, Michigan Academy of Audiologists and other advocacy groups have worked hard to inform legislatures and the Governor of the importance of these programs. This is a huge success and their efforts are greatly appreciated!
National Organizations Collaborate with TDI to File
Joint Petition for Rulemaking to FCC on Captioning Quality Issues
SILVER SPRING, MD: Responding to chronic problems with captioning on broadcast and cable television, a petition was filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Association of Late–Deafened Adults (ALDA), Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN), National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and Self–Help for the Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) have joined forces with TDI (Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc) to file the petition, asking that the FCC address long–standing quality issues in closed captioning of all broadcast, cable and satellite television programming for viewers who are deaf, hard of hearing or late–deafened.
On the heels of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990 was enacted fourteen years ago. This Act has inserted decoders into virtually every home in the country with TV sets 13" or larger. In addition, Section 713 of the Telecommunication Act of 1996 currently requires that 75% of all new programming be captioned, which will go up to 100% of all new programming in 2006.
Closed captioning is critical to deaf and hard of hearing individuals, both for personal safety, education, and with respect to quality of life. Individuals who rely on closed captioning in order to have access to video programming continue to experience numerous problems with the captioning quality. This has resulted in a lack of access to video programming that is contrary to the mandates of the Telecommunications Act. The FCC's adoption of the captioning rules was the first step towards increasing the availability of captioned programming. However, it has become clear that additional enforcement mechanisms are required in order to ensure full implementation of the rules and to increase accountability for noncompliance with the rules. In addition, measures are needed to ensure that the occurrence of technical problems is minimized and to ensure that technical problems that do occur are remedied efficiently and expeditiously. The FCC also must adopt quality of service standards in order to ensure that video programming is fully accessible to all viewers who rely on captioning.
"When the FCC implemented the original captioning regulations, the purpose was to get captions on the TV screen. We now ask that the FCC expand on its commitment to monitor and enforce acceptable quality TV captioning", says Claude Stout, Executive Director of TDI. Stout adds, "We also ask that the FCC ensure that timely communication and resolution on captioning issues occur by quickly working in concert with consumers, captioning providers, and program producers and distributors."
"Deviation of accuracy and synchronization between the spoken word and captions presented on the screen is especially noticeable to people who once enjoyed sound", comments Lois Maroney, President of the Association of Late–Deafened Adults, Inc. "It is frustrating to misinterpret important parts of television programs because captions are lacking in quality."
"A TV program where the captioning is too riddled with errors to understand the action, or the captions are cut off in the final minutes so you never know what the ending was, shouldn't be considered acceptable for meeting the captioning requirements," said Cheryl Heppner, Vice Chair of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network. She adds, "We have seen programs that are virtually unreadable. Other programs have captioning dropped several minutes before the end of the show, leaving us hanging high and dry, wondering what happened at the end."
"Captioning must be treated with the same respect as sound", emphasized Nancy Bloch, CEO of National Association of the Deaf. She adds, "A viewer who can hear would never accept spoken words that are regularly unintelligible or missing and sound that suddenly stops. Nor would their attempts to call and inform the station of a problem be treated as having no sense of urgency."
"As we approach the 100% benchmark, captioning quality issues are becoming more apparent", says Brenda Battat, Senior Director of Policy and Development at Self Help for Hard of Hearing People. Ms. Battat also points out, "Some programs have been listed as being captioned in the newspaper, but this often turns out not to be the case. The petition aims to address those issues and more."
On July 23, 2004, TDI filed a Petition for Rulemaking. We strongly encourage everyone who uses captioning when watching television to file comments in support of this petition with the FCC and ask them to improve captioning quality for all.
As part of the organizations' ongoing efforts to promote more consumer involvement with the FCC and other government agencies, we encourage every television viewer who uses closed captioning to share their own personal experiences with the FCC. Since a docket number has not yet been assigned to our petition, you may either email your comments to email@example.com or fax them to 1–866–418–0232. Be sure you tell the FCC you are talking about the Captioning Petition filed on July 23, 2004. When citing problems with quality of a program, be sure to include the following information: program, date(s) and times, channel (Use names like HBO, USA Network, not numbers.), city and state.
Please send a copy of your comments to your organization or to TDI at email@example.com or FAX 301–589–3797. When our petition receives a docket number, we will announce it as soon as it becomes available.
About TDI
Also known as Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc., TDI is a non–profit advocacy organization that promotes equal access to telecommunications and media for individuals who are deaf, late deafened, hard–of–hearing or deaf–blind. Since 1968, TDI has successfully advocated for federal legislation such as the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Television Decoder Circuitry Act, both of 1990, as well as other legislation and policies mandating greater access to wireless technology, captioning as well as other telecommunication and media technologies. TDI publishes annually, a National Directory & Resource Guide, commonly known as The Blue Book, a popular resource book for people with hearing loss, as well as The GA–SK quarterly news magazine. For more information about TDI, go to http://www.tdi-online.org
Maintaining Michigan's Early Hearing Detection Program Needs
On August 25, John Berchtold, Director of Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing, and Speech Services (MADHS), met with Representative Gary Newell to stress the importance of maintaining the Early Hearing Detection program in Michigan. Because of Michigan's current budget crisis all state funded programs are being considered for deep cuts. The Early Hearing Detection program strives to identify babies born with hearing loss before they even leave the hospital. The program is currently funded by grants. A major Federal grant expires in March. To continue the program, Michigan will need to replace these grant funds with $92,000.
After their meeting, Mr. Berchtold faxed Rep. Newell the following letter:
August 26, 2004
Representative Gary Newell N1191 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Dear Representative Newell:
Thank you for meeting with me yesterday. After our meeting, we met with representatives of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as part of the their review of the grant to the Michigan.
The CDC shared an interesting statistic: For every child that receives a early hearing intervention, where necessary, the cost of dollars saved to the government is approximately $35,000 per child. Assuming that a State program costs $400,000 (fully funded without grants), the payback is enormous. Only twelve babies with hearing loss would need to be detected each year to make up for the costs of this program.
I hope that the dollars can be found to maintain the full program components for fiscal year 05 ($92,000).
I will be pleased to provide additional information at your request.
John D. Berchtold
Executive Director
Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing, and Speech Services
Founder of SHHH is Mourned
Howard E. "Rocky" Stone, the founder of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, died on August 13, after a brief illness. Rocky was 79 years old and is survived by his wife Ahme, four children, and ten grandchildren. For more about Rocky, his contributions to SHHH, his life and his funeral, please see the SHHH website at http://www.hearingloss.org.
Deaf Parents Received Extreme Home Makeover
Deaf parents and 2 sons (one blind and autistic) of Oak Park, Michigan received a surprise win to ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. The Extreme Home Makeover completed the entire house renovations complete with high technology for safety and accessibility. Marlee Matlin was the surprise movie star guest showing up on the Vardons property for the last two days. Read all about them at the following links including a photo gallery.
Deaf CAN!'s Photo Gallery on Extreme Home Makeover Edition
City of Oak Park's Photo Gallery on Extreme Home Makeover Edition
MIKE WENDLAND: Oak Park home's TV makeover a gizmo-fest
Oak Parkers' home gets 'Extreme Makeover'
TV's 'Extreme Makeover' revamps Oak Park home
TV design team comes knocking in Oak Park
Emergency Systems Must include People with Hearing Loss
In honor of the fourteenth anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President Bush met with people with disabilities, federal workers involved with homeland security, and Secretary Tom Ridge in the Oval Office. The President signed an executive order regarding emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.
The President realizes that individuals with disabilities, including people who are deaf or hard of hearing, may require special plans during times of emergency. This Executive Order emphasizes the importance of implementing emergency preparedness plans that accommodate individuals with disabilities. The Executive Order also establishes the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. This council will help agencies, private individuals and organizations prepare for the unique needs of individuals with disabilities in their emergency preparedness planning.
For more information on the President's New Freedom Initiative and a 2004 New Freedom Initiative progress report, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/.
Voters have Right to Assistance at Polls
Voters who are unable to vote independently may request assistance when voting. For example, if a person is deafblind and unable to read the ballot, another person may read the ballot and mark according to the voter's wishes.
The following are guidelines poll workers must follow. If you need help at the polls or will assist someone else, this is important to know.
- Voters may ask for assistance from poll workers without stating the reason why they need assistance.
- If the voter requests assistance from the poll workers, the needed help must be provided by two poll workers who have expressed an affiliation with different political parties.
- Voters who are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write may be assisted by any person designated by the voter––except that the person providing the assistance may not be the voter's employer or an agent of the employer, nor the representative of a union to which the voter belongs.
- When a voter designates an individual to provide assistance, poll workers must ask the voter why they are requesting assistance and must question the person providing the assistance about their qualifications to provide the assistance.
- When voters ask for assistance, poll workers must make a complete record of the matter in the "remarks" section of the Poll Book.
Ruling Expands Movie Captioning
According to a May 7 article in the Chicago Tribune, deaf and hard of hearing movie goers will have access to more captioned movies in the near future.
John Stanton, a Washington attorney who is deaf, along with two other deaf moviegoers, filed a lawsuit against AMC Theaters and Loews Cineplex. In a settlement approved by a federal judge, the theater chains agreed to install captioning devices in many of the Washington D.C. area theaters. Captioning systems will be built into at least one screen in all new theaters built in the D.C. region.
According to U. S. District Judge Gladys Kessler, who approved the settlement, even though this ruling only applies to Washington D.C. it "will set the standard for what other communities, at a very minimum, should be offering."
Going beyond the requirements of the settlement, AMC has agreed to install Rear Window Captioning equipment in all its new theater complexes and to install the equipment in at least one theater in each of its 210 complexes nationwide.
According to the Coalition for Move Captioning (CMC):
The Coalition for Movie Captioning has not been in favor of the settlement as proposed in February. Click here for press release regarding CMC's concerns.
For more information see:
Proposed Settlement discussion on National Association for the Deaf website.
Medicaid Payment for Hearing Aids Needs Under Debate
On Friday, May 7th, the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health will consider Senate Bill 1063. This bill would restore Medicaid funding for hearing aids in Michigan.
As of October 1, 2003, hearings aids are no longer a benefit for Michigan's low income adults. (See previous article) It was hoped that the Governor's budget for 2005 would restore this vital benefit.
Earlier this month, the Health Committee of the House Appropriations Committee heard a presentation by the Community Health Director regarding the Governor's proposed Community Health Budget for 2005. This budget DOES NOT include hearing aid coverage for Medicaid recipients. The Senate, however, has voted to include funding for hearing aids.
For people with hearing loss, hearing aids may make the difference between work and unemployment. Communication is vital in today's employment sector. Poor hearing can interfere with accurate communication, jeopardizing employment. Many working people live below Michigan's poverty limits and qualify for Medicaid benefits. These workers, and the many unemployed people seeking employment, are unable to afford hearing aids without Medicaid support.
It's not too late, and you can help! Consider one of the following actions to voice your concerns. (Facts at the end of this article may be included in your statement.)
- E-mail Representative Newell, Chair of the Health Committee of the Appropriations Committee of the State House to indicate that you favor restoration of funding for hearing aids. His email address is: email@example.com
- Write a letter or call Rep. Newell, House of Representatives, P.O.Box30014, Lansing, MI 48909-7514, or call him at 517-373-0842.
- Attend and make public comment at the hearing on Friday, May 7, 2004, at 9:00 AM. The meeting is in the House Appropriations Committee Room on the 3rd floor at the Capital in Lansing.
If you need an accommodation to participate in the hearing contact the Community Health Committee clerk: Bill Fairgrieve (517) 373-8080.
Individuals providing written testimony must supply a minimum of 30 copies for distribution.
Along with personal testimony, you may also wish to include the following facts about hearing loss in your communication.
Facts about hearing loss
- Michigan has approximately 1 million people who have a hearing loss. About 30% of those people cannot afford hearing aids. (Facts on Hearing Loss - 2003)
- 60% of people with hearing loss are between the ages of 21 and 65 and thus, are still of working age. (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders web site)
- There are more baby boomers aged 45-64 with a hearing loss (10 million) than there are people over the age of 65 with a hearing loss (9 million).
- Persons experiencing severe to profound hearing loss before retirement are expected to earn only 50-70% of their hearing peers and lose between $220,000 and $440,000 in earnings over their working life. (Project HOPE - 2000)
- People who have lower incomes and who have 12 or fewer years of education have a higher incidence of hearing loss. (National Center for Health Statistics - 1994)
- Approximately one third of adults with hearing loss rely on some form of governmental assistance. (Siegel, 2000)
"Silence No More Rally" Supports Captioning
Silver Spring, MD --- The "Silence No More!" rally, led by the Gallaudet University Student Body Government (SBG), will protest the lack of captioning in the United States.
The rally slated for April 16, has gained the support of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). "This is a time for fellow deaf and hard of hearing Americans to gather and speak out on an issue dear to us, captioning as a form of communication access," said Andrew J. Lange, NAD president.
The rally will point to the absence of captioning in various areas such as emergency captioning, movie theatre captioning, airport visual captioning, in-flight movie captioning, train and transit captioning, television programming captioning, and more.
"It has been 14 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed and we have yet to see widespread adoption of captioning as the standard accessibility package provided by our nation's facilities" said Kelby Brick, Director of the NAD Law and Advocacy Center.
More information about the rally can be found at http://sbg.gallaudet.edu/news.htm
Please check the SBG website again later for more rally details.
Audio Descriptions and Open Captions– Making Movies more Accessible
New digital technology is expanding movie access for people who have vision or hearing disabilities.
Until recently, only a limited number of film copies were distributed with captioning printed on the film. As a result, only a few theatres were able to show captioned films. Captions provide a text description of the spoken dialogue and sound effects.
Digital Theatre Systems (DTS) has developed (and thoroughly tested) a new system (DTS–CSS) that not only captions but also provides audio descriptions of movies designed to work with the system. According to a DTS press release: "In 2003, every major commercial release was made available with DTS–CSS, including Matrix Revolutions, Love Actually, Master and Commander, Finding Nemo, and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King."
According to another DTS press release:
Audio Description makes movies more accessible for people who are blind or partially–sighted. Narration describes the action and other visual aspects of the movie in between the dialogue and is relayed to the audience via infrared headsets. Characters and body language are described and visual jokes are explained. The open–back design of the headphones enables the user to hear the movie soundtrack without disturbing others in the theatre.
Emagine Entertainment in Novi, Michigan will be implementing this new technology in March. For more information see:
Digital Theatre Systems Press Releases
Hearing Aid Compatibility For Mobile Phones– SHHH Urges FCC To Keep Rule
Bethesda, Maryland, March 22, 2004: SHHH submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today, together with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and Telecommunications for the Deaf Inc. (TDI) in Response to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association's (CTIA) Request for Reconsideration of the Hearing Aid Compatibility Rule. CTIA is fighting regulations that would work, over a period of time, toward enabling six million hearing aid wearers to use digital wireless phones.
Brenda Battat, director of public policy for SHHH stated, "Digital wireless phones are mainstream devices and people who use hearing aids and cochlear implants must have full access to them."
The FCC partially lifted the exemption for digital mobile phones from the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1989 in August 2003. The final rule requires that companies have two hearing–aid–compatible phones available in two years, and handsets accessible to telecoil users in three years.
SHHH has advocated, over a period of eight years, to revoke the exemption for mobile phones from the HAC Act. Their first petition was filed with the FCC in 1995 to request access to mobile phones for hearing aid and cochlear implant users. The handset manufacturers are seeking solutions to implement the rule and have said they are confident they will make the implementation deadline. CTIA's request for reconsideration only delays those efforts.
There is still time for consumers to weigh in with the FCC. Let them know how important it is for you to be able to use mobile phones in your everyday lives. The deadline for commenting is March 29, 2004. Comments (Reference Docket number 01–309) may be filed electronically at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi. To view SHHH comments go to http://www.hearingloss.org/
ADA Notification Act May Limit ADA
According to the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the ADA Notification Act (HB 728) endangers disability rights. This bill would complicate and limit legal action against places of public accommodation that discriminate against people with disabilities. (Public places of accommodation include hospitals, airports, restaurants, lawyer's offices, sport events, etc.)
The bill states that a person who believes they have been discriminated against must first provide written notice to the public place of accommodation, allowing 90 days to resolve the situation before a formal complaint is filed. This notification must be in person or by registered mail.
The NAD provides this example:
This bill is based on the assumption that places of public accommodation do not know about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and deserve time to improve the situation after being notified by a citizen. This would create a rare instance were "I didn't know it was against the law" becomes a valid legal defense. Considering the ADA has been a law for 14+ years, disability rights groups feel this is ridiculous. As Kelby Brick explains:
Of course, this would never be permitted, yet this thinking is the basis of the ADA Notification Act.
This bill was introduced to Congress in the past. Heavy pressure from consumer groups (disability rights activists and the NAD) was successful in getting the bill dropped. In 2003, Congressman Bill Foley of Florida reintroduced the bill. HR 728 is currently under consideration in the House Subcommittee on the Constitution. This is still an active bill that has recently gained support of the National Restaurants Association.
What can you do? (click these one of links below)
See what the NAD has to say about this act.
Visit ADA Watch and sign a petition.
Read who is supporting this bill. Is your representative listed?
Write to the your representative. Click here and complete the form.
Update on the Hearing Aid Tax Credit
The Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act is the Senate version of H.R. 3103 (See our previous article). The bills are very similar, both providing a tax credit for individuals over 55 and for dependent children. The credit will be for $500 per aid, every five years. Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) is a strong supporter for these bills. They have prepared a document to fully explain the provisions of these bills. Click here to download a PDF file prepared by SHHH.
Click here to visit the SHHH website.
Caption TV Funding Cuts
February 24, 2004
According to an Associated Press article, "the U.S. Education Department has cut the money for captioning nearly 200 TV programs." The government based this decision on a 1997 mandate from Congress that only requires the captioning of "educational, news and informational" programming.
The National Association of the Deaf website explains:
"For many years, the U.S. Department of Education has provided competitive grant awards for closed captioning of broadcast programming to captioning agencies. Those agencies were required to create Consumer Advisory Boards (CABs) and other feedback mechanisms that assist in selecting "educational, news or informational" programs for captioning. Those mechanisms were approved by the Department and were fair because it allowed consumers to decide what was appropriate.
Apparently the Department did not like some of those selections, which included numerous documentaries and certain other types of programming. Accordingly, the Department is overriding the CABs to censor access to certain television programs for 28 million deaf and hard of hearing people. To date, nobody outside the Department knows the criteria being used to reach those decisions-and the Department isn't talking."
Cable networks and PBS will see the most cuts. Major networks (such as ABC, CBS, and NBC) or the show's producer, pay for captioning prime–time programs. It should be noted that the Telecommunication Reform Act of 1996 requires 100% of TV programming to be captioned by 2006 (with some exemptions), so these cuts may have a temporary effect.
For more information on the cuts to television captioning and what you can do about it, see the following:
NAD Update on Captioning Censorship
National Council on Disability Statement on Captioning for Television Programs
Reassurance from the FCC & Dept. of Education regarding Captioning Plans
FCC Consumer Fact Sheet on Closed Captions
Interpretype: A New Communication Solution?
Using the tag line, "The Conversation Piece", Interpretype is described as, "an interactive communication device that provides a means of communicating without using speech." The compact device includes two laptop–type keyboard units that communicate with each other via cable. The screen is small to permit visual communication between both users. The manufacturers suggest the use of Interpretype in any setting where there is need to communicate between deaf and hearing people. The manufacturers recommend the device as an auxillary aid in meeting ADA requirements. All the ads and materials focus on being 'Deaf–friendly.' In fact, Interpretype comes with a handbook entitled, "Creating a Deaf–friendly Workplace."
Will Interpretype be the wave of the future, used in restaurants, banks, and offices? Visit the Interpretype web site and see what you think?
Editor's note: This article is provided for information only and is not intended as an endorsement of this product.
© 2002 e-Michigan Deaf and Hard of Hearing. All Rights Reserved.
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Available Units
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subset: commoncrawl


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I applied through other source. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Princeton Consultants (Princeton, NJ) in October 2012.
Got a random call from the hiring manager. I had not even applied for any position. It was just a 5 min talk. He asked me questions whether I had JAVA experience. I had worked on JAVA during my coursework. Asked if I had done project outside my curriculum. I said no. Thats it. He said I dont think you are a good fit. I didnt expect him to say it to me on the face. That was quite rude of him.
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Fallout 3: GotY Review
War never changes.
The end of the world occurred pretty much as we had predicted. Too many humans, not enough space or resources to go around. The details are trivial and pointless, the reasons, as always, purely human ones.
In 2077, the earth was nearly wiped clean of human life. A great cleansing, an atomic spark struck by human hands, quickly raged out of control.
Spears of nuclear fire rained from the skies. Continents were swallowed in flames and fell beneath the boiling oceans. Humanity was almost extinguished, their spirits becoming part of the background radiation that blanketed the earth.
A quiet darkness fell across the planet, lasting many years. Few survived the devastation. Some had been fortunate enough to reach safety, taking shelter in great underground vaults...
Welcome back to the Wasteland, and the series that took RPGing out of the dungeons and into a post-apocalyptic retro-future.
Yes, I know I am several years too late with this review; but we all know Bethesda's reputation for releasing games with bugs or performance problems; so I decided to wait a while until the game came down in price -- while the Game of the Year Edition was still $49.99 in December 2009; it did have the advantages of:
1.) Out of Box Patched to 1.7
2.) Patched DLCs etc (I've heard there were some damn big problems with the early DLCs)
So without further ado, I dove back into the wasteland after several years' absence.
Like you, at first, I was pretty apprehensive of the game after I heard that Bethesda was going to take it over, and that they were going to do it in a first person style format, rather than the traditional turn based format.
But Bethesda has managed to actually do a pretty damn fun and immersive game -- the in-game counter on my last save game file after beating Broken Steel, the last DLC I did -- was 69 hours. Add in about 5~ hours spent replaying after the usual -- your character dies and you forgot to save recently enough, or trying to get through a tough bend. Plus, there were one or two lockups that occurred during gameplay, which forced me to go back a couple of saves to avoid the lockups from repeating again.
Of course, a player a bit more perceptive than me could probably easily cut about 10-15 hours off the game -- I didn't notice key bits of clues on holodiscs in a crucial location.
Your dad's holotapes which you find in the Rectory of the Jefferson Memorial in the airlock to the Project Purity Main Control Room which point you towards the general direction of Vault 112 and tells you it's hidden under a gas station -- I completely missed those, and spent some time exploring and doing other sidequests until I asked my brother where do I go to find the main quest again?
So lets break things down by the numbers:
Put simply, the game is beautiful, and runs decently on my Core 2 Quad Q6600 with a GeForce 8800 GTS.
Engaging Ghouls in Downtown DC
In 1280x1024 on a 4:3 LCD, I was getting decent and near smooth frame rates with about 2 or 4 anti aliasing samples turned on, and Anisotropic at about 15.
However, when I turned it up to 1980x1080 after getting a new 16:9 LCD monitor; I had to turn off anti-aliasing and turn anisotropic down to about 9 to get acceptable frame rates.
The DLC also seemed to run a bit slower or require more computing power than the normal game -- which makes some sense -- Bethesda had a very short period of time to put it together, and didn't have time for optimization of some of the more complex elements of the scenery.
But what really showcases how far computers have come since the first Fallout is this comparison:
Pre-Rendered 'Talking Head' of Frank Horrigan in Fallout 2 (1997)
Dynamically Rendered Closeup of Scavenger in Fallout 3 (2008)
VATS works pretty well, and I think it's spoiled me towards FPSes; there should be a "screw this" button similar to 'V' that brings up a VATS-like system for other FPSes when you just don't feel like playing a twitch shooter; but I don't think the concept will catch on in anything other than the Fallout series, since the gaming world seems set on mediocre FPSes that port over well to consoles to cater to the twitch crowd.
There are a few annoyances which mar the otherwise smooth as greased snot gameplay of this game:
1. ) While just about everything in the game is subtitled, the opening video; the radio stations, and the ending video which tells you what happened to who aren't subtitled. ARGH! (I am deaf/hard of hearing).
2.) You cannot skip the opening sequences or speed it up, which makes starting a new game after the first play through quite tedious.
3.) The redundant lockpicking and hacking games -- they're amusing the first couple of times you try it; but after you've done it for the 100th time, you just wish that 'force lock' worked more often.
4.) The fact that you can't pick or hack some locks/terminals unless you have a certain level of skill -- this is pretty frustrating early on in your first playthrough of the game, when your wanderlust is at it's highest.
5.) The fact that the GOAT test gives you an option to shoot a locked door in the vault off with a laser pistol to free old man whatever -- but when you come to a locked door in the gameplay sequences, you have to either open it from a switch, find a key, or pick it -- you can't just pull out your plasma rifle and blow the lock off. Obviously, doors would need to have hitpoints under such a system, to prevent you from blowing open an armored door with a .32 pistol.
6.) While I do like the element of you having to travel to a location on a map before you can fast travel to it; to encourage you to explore the world map -- this isn't implemented on a low level -- I don't want to have to endlessly travel around a town to get to my house or a store -- I should be able to bring up the Local Map on my PIPBOY, and click on the location I want to fast travel to.
7.) The evil path as far as I can tell, isn't as well implemented or as in-depth as the good path in the game.
If you nuke Megaton for Tenpenny, you have to travel a pretty long distance to reach Tenpenny tower to get your quest reward; and when you nuke Megaton, you close off a largeish portion of early quests, which have no equivalent "evil" counterpart; like for example this hypothetical quest chain:
You end up being Tenpenny's "Cleanup Man" who makes the wasteland fit Tenpenny's athestic -- "Son, I don't like that giant tacky statue at Paradise Falls. Fix it for me." and the hilarity that ensues with you telling the slavers to get rid of that statue, and then killing them when they don't.
8.) The rather simplistic weapons system in the game -- apparently there are a million 10mm pistols in the Wastes, and they are all identical, save for special stat-modified ones that share the same 3D model as the stock weapons. The DLCs add a few more weapons, but quite a few weapons are useless basically, except for show purposes.
Hopefully for Fallout 4; they'll implement a customizable weapon system -- e.g. you could take this 10mm SMG, and modify it to have a hunting rifle scope you found in some abandoned ruins on the top of it -- duct tape together two magazines for faster magazine changes; and top it off with some tinkering of the internals to get a faster rate of fire. That kind of stuff. Or you could hunt radscorpions to get their poison glands to allow you to make poisoned weapons or ammunition.
9.) Rather bland NPC interactions, compared to the earlier Fallouts. Don't get me wrong, the interaction with NPCs is still pretty awesome -- it's just that in some instances, you really do have to wonder if the developers just ran out of time to script NPC interactives; for example:
If you're wearing the Ghoul Mask, nobody ever screams in terror or refuses to do business with you -- though if you're wearing Outcast Power Armor in the Operation Anchorage DLC, they think that you're one of them when you walk up to their outpost at the VSS building. The game needed more of that kind of context-sensitive interaction.
I do think Bethesda spent a bit too much time on getting celebrity voices like Liam Neeson and Malcolm McDowell for voice acting, and demanding that every single line in the game be spoken -- this no doubt took away time and money from writing and scripting a whole bunch of other content which would have fleshed out the game -- e.g. people behaving differently according to what you're wearing -- the Brotherhood shouldn't even begin to give you the time of day if you're wearing the Mad Max Hummungus raider outfit.
10.) The stupid original ending. Please; for the love of God, when you get GOTY, put in the second DVD that comes with it, and install the DLC; then activate them via FalloutLauncher.exe under the DATA button. ESPECIALLY activate Broken Steel. Your sanity will thank you.
With Broken Steel enabled, you'll be able to tell Fawkes to go into the chamber and turn on the purifier for the main game quest; and even when the Broken Steel quest ends, you'll still be able to wander the wastes as long as you want.
The game pretty much nails the Fallout universe feel of being in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and the zany humor of the universe quite well; e.g:
Federalists Enraged about Food Riots
By Walter "Street Beat" Munroe
Capital Post Staff Writer
It would appear that Washington's tolerance for American social disorder has finally reached its breaking point.
In a recent public statement, White House spokesman Warren Eccleston said:
"Okay, Americans are hungry. We get it. Well I've got news for you - things are tough all over, people. The President himself has been forced to substitute cube steak for his nightly prime rib, and the only wine available is a detestable Chateau Montrose 2043. But does he whine? Does he take to the streets like a rabid Red? So please, good people, please. Wait in line. Get your food. And then go home. We're Americans! We do not solve our problems with violence."
And of course, we can't forget the various hilarious industrial mishaps that get referenced at the Nuka-Cola plant, and elsewhere in the game -- plus various corporate hilarity:
Weapons Policy #H31
As standard policy, all employees are required to carry low-grade military-class weaponry at all times (see HR Policy#A12). In the event of a hostile takeover, your desk can be used as a makeshift barricade. Position the desk between yourself and your opponent, then crouch behind the desk while firing any weapon approved on Form B43-2.
NOTE: Cafeteria privileges will be suspended in the event of a hostile takeover.
Or this one:
From: Warring, Joanna
To: Entire Company
Subject: Oh, !@#
Leading to this email:
Memo: Company Policy: Caps in Emails
From: Director of Human Resources
To: Entire Company
Subject: Caps in Emails
I would like to remind everyone that, despite the impending Federal invasion, standard company policy is still in effect. Specifically, do not write emails in all caps. This style is offensive to your coworkers. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Art guys at Bethesda really did outdo themselves on this one -- they did a pretty good job of populating about 26 square kilometers of map with random destruction -- making something that's shiny new is easy -- applying entropy to it is hard to do consistently.
However, as others have mentioned in the previous Fallout 3 threads on StarDestroyer.Net; there seems to be a pretty large disconnect between the artistic goals in large parts of the game, and how much time has passed since the War -- e.g. a lot of the place looks like it's been about 10-25 years since the bombs fell, as opposed to 200 -- e.g. there are a lot of wood frame house wrecks left over from the war, when without maintenance, a wood frame house rots and collapses into a woodpile of junk in a decade or so due to plant life, weather, etc.
Let's not get into the fact that a lot of pre-war tech still seems to work, e.g. you have computer terminals still functioning 200 years after the last person did maintenance on them -- though I can understand that design decision -- a glowing terminal tends to attract people's attention in a dark ruined building, and thus will be noticed easier than a grey holodisk -- thus allowing game 'fluff' to be noticed more often by people.
The one place where the artistic vision and the 200 year timescale both matched up were:
In the various Vaults which had been opened or went bad -- like Vault 87, Vault 106, etc.
I really do think that this game is going to age pretty well technically and gameplay wise -- as opposed to Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (2004) -- I got that one for the low, low price of $2.00 USD at a Friends of the Library Bookstore, and even at that low price, the bullshit is too much for me to put up with playing it.
Fallout 3 on the other hand, other than some annoying tropes that pretty much are endemic to the computer RPG genre -- was good enough to hold my interest through several marathon gaming sessions -- it's been a damn long time since a game grabbed me enough to make me play it this intensively.
This was a big surprise to me -- I had been expecting a lot worse going in.
I guess Bethesda sort of knew that they couldn't half-ass it most of the time, the way they did with Oblivion, because Fallout was an intellectual property that was not only wider known to the general gaming community than 'generic fantasy RPG aka The Elder Scrolls -- it also cost a bit more -- IIRC Bethesda paid Interplay like $1.3 million for the initial rights to Fallout 3; and then later bought out all of the remaining IP rights -- so they could make a load more games in the universe.


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McHardy 2.5 Ring
The McHardy is a combination of a jointed Happy Tongue with the Buster Roller. An excellent bit when more control is required, allowing at the same space for the tongue.
A Ring cheek piece introduces poll pressure as well creating leverage on the mouthpiece, the 2 ½ ring version is the softest version of ring bit as the ½ ring softens the leverage on the mouthpiece and poll.
All our bits are made from blue sweet iron, because it:
- oxidises easily
- encourages salivation
- helps bit acceptance
- is warm and sweet
Please note the blue will fade with use.


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Bicyclist Injured in Alamo Car Accident on Danville Boulevard
ALAMO, Contra Costa County (September 5, 2014) – A bicyclist suffered was injured Friday morning in a collision with the driver of white Hyundai sedan at the intersection of Danville Boulevard between Stone Valley Road, according to a dispatch by the California Highway Patrol.
The rider suffered injuries in the 11:08 a.m. crash and was transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital for treatment, the report said.
"Hopefully the rider injured in this crash has a full recovery," said Attorney James Johnson.
If you suffer injuries in an accident and have legal questions, contact Johnson Attorneys Group at 800-235-6801 for a free consultation with an attorney.


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"There are going to be some dramatic improvements," said architect Jerry Noble of MSKTD & Associates, noting that bathrooms would be equipped with LED lighting and no-touch sinks, toilets and urinals.
The addition of the large food courts above the two original entrances will make the concourse "wider and brighter, with new floors," added General Manager Randy Brown.
The remaining main-level restrooms and those on the lower level could be updated next year, along with other improvements, Brown said. This summer's project will be funded with money generated by coliseum events.
Although Jackson's base bid of nearly $3.189 million was not the lowest of the six opened Thursday – Michael Kinder bid $3.184 million – Jackson's bid was deemed best after factoring in the cost of work not included in the base.


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Word from the Pastor – A Wake-Up Song
Pastor Stuart
A few months ago I was fascinated to learn the history of the Doxology that we–and churches around the world–sing in worship every Sunday. I had always assumed that the words and lyrics were ancient, coming from the earliest centuries of the Christian church. But not so. Actually, they were published in 1709 by Thomas […]
Huddle Up
Pastor Stuart
If churches were football teams, the congregation would be the players, and the huddle would be regular in-church activities like weekly Sunday worship. (I guess that makes Jesus the coach, God the general manager, and the Holy Spirit the quarterback? Or something like that.) I was reminded how important that Sunday huddle is this week since… we couldn't have worship because of snow and ice! No worship, no huddle. So I've been figuring out how to be my best self all week on the fly. Football teams can speed up their play if the clock's ticking by skipping the huddle, but you only do that if necessary. You play better when you huddle and prepare.
Word from the Pastor – Report Card Time
Pastor Stuart
It's hard to believe that it's already time to get the first report cards of the school year. At church before the school year began, we collected school supplies and promoted the kids in Sunday School. For the kids in my house, we finished up summer homework with one >:-{ and prepared for Kindergarten with the other 8-O.
Are Church Kids Not as Nice?
Pastor Stuart
I was troubled to learn about a survey study in 2015 showing that "kids raised in religious homes were less generous and kind than those raised in non-religious homes." They "tended to be more judgmental, less altruistic, and more punitive than kids raised without religion." Yikes!
Word from the Pastor – Life's Changing Seasons
Pastor Stuart
I remember how lovely the weather was back in May. Spring was in full swing as the flowers bloomed and the grass grew. It would've been nice if the weather stayed that perfect forever, but we know that it doesn't. The grueling heat of summer is now upon us. I start sweating just thinking about it. But thankfully, the seasons change…
A Spiritual Fitness Tracker
Pastor Stuart
Everybody wants strong muscles, right? Well, your physical muscles aren't the only ones you have. People shouldn't just exercise their physical muscles but also their intellectual, emotional, and definitely their spiritual muscles. Just like lifting weights, doing sit-ups, and going for runs make us physically stronger and fit, we should also monitor and exercise our faith…
Word from the Pastor – Easter Stuff
Pastor Stuart
There are some things in life that, no matter how many times I read them, hear them, look them up, or google them, I still can't remember it the next time I need to. They aren't important, of course. Else I would be sure to remember. They are simply random factual tidbits that pop up […]
What to Say & What Not to When Someone Is Grieving
Pastor Stuart
When a friend, loved one, or even just an acquaintance, is grieving, it's hard to know what to say to them. You hate to see them hurting, so you try to come up with something comforting to say. But some things are better than others. Here 5 good things to say, and 5 to avoid.
Word from the Pastor – Staying in Rhythm
Pastor Stuart
I'm a creature of habit, so I really rely on my weekly schedule to help structure my work time, my family time, and the nightly time when I get to collapse after playing with my sons. Things like church, school, office, visits, and father-sons time help give my life a rhythm. I know when I'll […]
Dean Smith's Lessons for Life and Basketball
Pastor Stuart
Even if you aren't one of those crazed UNC fans, you can still respect Dean Smith, who coached Carolina's men's basketball team for 36 years. He had the same philosophy for coaching basketball as he did for life: "Play hard, play smart, play together." That can inspire us too.
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6 Steps to Running a Successful Small Business
It's not always easy to gauge the success of a startup business venture. However, it's important to be able to do so to get a realistic idea of the viability of your business ideas. Many business owners are so excited about their fledgling venture in the early days that it's difficult for them to look at things objectively.
If you're wondering what reassuring signs a young business could give up that indicate a bright future, you should be aware of the fact that companies that are successful over the long-term share certain characteristics. These characteristics are sometimes a bit more complicated and complex than merely looking at a momentary snapshot of sales and profits. The following are a few important non-financial signs that a young company is on the right path:
Motivated employees
Employee motivation is important because it is an indication that staff members will stick around and develop the experience and expertise your company needs to thrive. Never underestimate the importance of employee satisfaction when it comes to your company's future. It's important that you're listening to your employees in the early days and making sure that they feel involved in your endeavors.
Embrace employee criticism as a way to improve your company and your employee relations rather than overlooking criticism to focusing on your own perspective. Your employees don't only grow your company for you, but they also have a big impact on public perception of your company. Embittered employees in your community can ruin your company's reputation and hopes for the future.
Happy customers
Needless to say, your customers are also important in determining the success of your company. Most companies need customer referrals and return customers to grow and prosper. You need to make a difference in your customers' lives and also solve a problem for your customers. You also need to make it so that new customers can easily find you and express their desires to you.
Expert credibility
One of the most important keys to company success is establishing authority in your industry. The sooner you are perceived as a credible and trustworthy authority, the sooner you will take off and begin to have a huge influence on your industry.
You can work on building credibility by taking part in community events as a sponsor. You can also offer free resources to prospective customers that will draw them in and develop in them an appreciation of who you are and what you are doing as a company.
A growing company with a bright future isn't ruined by momentary holdups or individual pitfalls. Any company needs to have a good level of resilience to respond to the changes and roadblocks that come up along the way. If your company is entirely reliant on only a few vendors or customers, your chances of surviving the early days are more limited than they would be if you had a greater level of versatility and adaptability.
A healthy and caring work environment
While this characteristic of a successful company is similar to the requirement to have motivated employees, achieving a healthy and caring work environment is a priority you should start off with to keep qualified and reliable employees from jumping ship. As long as you genuinely care about providing your employees with a fair deal, you should be able to achieve HR policies that are conducive to company growth.
Never take the talent of your employees for granted, and always make a point of showing your concern for your employees' quality of life. For instance, offering telecommuting opportunity is a great way to reduce the demands and stress of employees. Do what you can to make your employees' life more convenient by reducing the workday stress so that you can prevent employee burnout and retain top talent.
Focusing on the future
As a business owner, you need to look at yourself when you're judging the potential of your company. Are you thinking about the future? Are you thinking of the obstacles you're going to come up against and how you're going to handle them?
When you're judging your preparedness for the future, consider your business plan. A clear and detailed business plan is something you absolutely must have if you're hoping to be successfully into the future.
How are you going to improve as you grow and offer increasingly better service even as your clientele grows? You need to be constantly looking out for best-practice improvements you can make. Focus on innovations you can take advantage of that your competitors won't have through of yet. This is the best way to overcome competition and take your business to the next level.
Final words
Consider the above-mentioned traits. If your company exhibits all or most of them, nothing can hold you back from reaching your goals and achieving your full potential.
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Kensington High Street is the principal shopping street in Kensington in West London. This famous and illustrious street commences by the entrance to Kensington Palace and runs westward through central Kensington. The western end of Kensington High Street is near Kensington Olympia Station where it becomes the Hammersmith Road. Kensington High Street is one of London`s premier shopping streets and ranks alongside nearby Knightsbridge, Regents Street and the Mayfair area. Consequently hotels near Kensington High Street are wonderfully placed for the best of London shopping. Kensington`s museum district is also closeby and the West End and theatreland are a short tube or taxi ride away.
Corus Hyde Park
1.2 miles
Very Good 84%
Lancaster Gate. Good value 4* overlooking Hyde Park
"Lovely stay" (27/8/2017)
"very friendly and clean" (17/7/2017)
Corus Hyde Park London hotel overlooks Hyde Park and is superbly located within walking distance of Marbl... More info
Mayflower Hotel
0.5 miles
Excellent 86%
Earls Court. A stylish 4* boutique hotel in the centre of London.
"Very nice hotel....Excellent location." (23/8/2017)
"Very impressed with this boutique hotel. Friend..." (14/8/2017)
The Mayflower Hotel is a newly refurbished 4* boutique hotel which offers guests stylish and elegant surr... More info
Byron Hotel
1.0 miles
Very Good 83%
Bayswater. Conveniently located in the very cosmopolitan area of Baywater and Hyde Park.
"Lovely hotel with easy reach to all atracsions" (29/8/2017)
"Near Hyde park and loads of restarant around th..." (21/8/2017)
Situated in Bayswater the 3* Byron Hotel is just a 5 minute walk from Hyde Park putting guests in an exce... More info
Bayswater Inn
0.9 miles
Good 72%
Bayswater. 3* close to the Kensington Gardens.
"Great hotel" (23/8/2016)
"wonderfull friendly service hope to stay again ..." (26/7/2016)
The 3* Bayswater Inn is situated in a quiet residential square over looking the peaceful Princess Square ... More info
Twenty Nevern Square
0.5 miles
Excellent 85%
Earls Court. Luxurious 4* boutique hotel
Cheapest price guaranteed
UK-based customer service with freephone: 0800 633 8000
Luxurious 4* Earls Court boutique hotel located in a quiet square beautifully decorated in an Eastern fus... More info
Royal Eagle
1.3 miles
Very Good 80%
Paddington. station is 1 minutes walk away.
"Great location" (30/11/2016)
"Good value" (2/10/2016)
The 3* Royal Eagle Hotel is a charming three star hotel, built in a converted row of five Victorian style... More info
Hol Inn Kensington
0.2 miles
Very Good 83%
High Street Kensington. With pool and health club
"All facilities, room quality very good. No spac..." (8/9/2017)
"We had a great time" (23/6/2017)
The 4* Holiday Inn Kensington is just off Kensington High Street and offers an unusual combination for ce... More info
BW The Cromwell
0.6 miles
Superb 92%
Kensington. 3* hotel in great central location.
"Fab Hotel" (5/7/2017)
"Excellent" (4/7/2017)
Best Western The Cromwell is a charming 3* hotel in the heart of Kensington. More info
Hyde Park Boutique
1.1 miles
Excellent 87%
Bayswater.Affordable accommodation with free Wi-Fi
"Really comfortable" (19/11/2016)
"Hyde park boutique hotel" (11/11/2016)
Housed in a Victorian listed building the Hyde Park Boutique Hotel enjoys a quiet location in a residenti... More info
Thistle Ken Gardens
0.9 miles
Very Good 83%
Overlooking Kensington Gdns. Swift West End access
"wWnderful Stay" (25/4/2017)
"Fantastic views from room 709" (4/4/2017)
The 4* Thistle Kensington Gardens is a purpose built property overlooking Hyde Park in the Bayswater area... More info
Kensington West
0.5 miles
Good 79%
West Kensington. Good value 3* Kensington hotel
"Brilliant for a budget hotel!" (8/9/2017)
"good location, friendly staff" (25/6/2017)
The 3* Kensington West hotel offers great accommodation in a superb position, offering guests More info
The Bentley
0.7 miles
Excellent 85%
Kensington. Luxury 5* with spa facilities.
Cheapest price guaranteed
UK-based customer service with freephone: 0800 633 8000
The Bentley Hotel offers opulent 5 star accommodation in a residential area of the Royal Borough of Kensi... More info
Express Earls Court
0.9 miles
Superb 92%
Earls Court. 3* close to the exhibition centre.
"Very friendly and helpful staff" (21/12/2015)
Located just a 10 minute walk from Earls Court Exhibition Centre the Holiday Inn Express London Earls Cou... More info
Days Inn Hyde Park
1.5 miles
Excellent 89%
Paddington. 3* hotel close to Paddington Station.
"Very clean. The staff were fantastic and friend..." (23/7/2017)
"Lovely, clean, comfortable and friendly" (19/3/2017)
Located on Sussex Gardens in the Paddington area this 3* hotel is a great base from which to explore the ... More info
Nadler Kensington
0.5 miles
Exceptional 100%
Kensington.Luxurious 4* boutique hotel
"Very comfortable and quiet" (9/8/2017)
The Nadler Kensington is a luxurious 4* boutique hotel located in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Che... More info
Rydges Kensington
0.6 miles
Excellent 87%
Off Cromwell Rd. Boutique 4* close to the museums
"Lovely hotel, fab location for the museums, par..." (6/3/2016)
"just perfect" (3/3/2015)
Located a short stroll from the exclusive shops of Knightsbridge and Kensington High Street the Rydges Ke... More info
Seraphine Olympia
0.0 miles
Excellent 85%
High Street Kensington. Contemporary hotel overlooking Holland Park.
"Great value fir money" (11/11/2016)
"Very helpful staff" (12/9/2016)
The Seraphine Olympia Hotel is ideally situated on High Street Kensington, just a few minutes` walk from ... More info
Lord Jim Hotel
0.6 miles
Good 70%
Earls Court. 3* hotel close to London`s finest museums.
"My 2 day London trip!" (23/6/2017)
"Good hotel" (18/5/2016)
The Lord Jim Hotel has recently been refurbished to a high quality and modern standard. Situated on a qui... More info
The W14 Kensington
0.7 miles
Exceptional 97%
Kensington 3*. Modern and contemporary budget hotel.
"Great find for a great price!" (17/7/2017)
The W14 is a budget hotel located in trendy Kensington. More info
Seraphine H`smith
1.4 miles
Very Good 83%
Hammersmith. Only 2 minutes walk to Hammersmith Underground Station.
"Lovely hotel, fab location!" (4/6/2017)
"Excellent" (10/5/2017)
Opened in 2012, the sleek and stylish Best Western PLUS Seraphine Hammersmith Hotel is nestled in the hea... More info
London Lodge Hotel
0.2 miles
Excellent 87%
Earls Court. 3* townhouse hotel
"Very friendly staff." (27/12/2012)
"no problems. will stay again" (14/10/2011)
The London Lodge is a 3* hotel situated in the heart of Kensington More info
Mercure Kensington
0.4 miles
Excellent 87%
Kensington. Superb contemporary 4* close to Kensington shopping & museums
"Really good value for money" (2/7/2017)
"Helpful friendly staff and excellent breakfast" (8/12/2014)
The contemporary 4 star Mercure London Kensington is centrally located in the Kensington and Chelsea dist... More info
Kensington House
0.4 miles
Excellent 88%
Kensington Gdns. Townhouse off Kensington High St
"Great location and friendly staff" (11/8/2017)
"Completely satisfied with our staying at Kensin..." (18/3/2017)
The Kensington House hotel is a luxurious townhouse hotel (rated 4 star Town House by London Tourist Auth... More info
88 Studios
0.5 miles
Superb 92%
88 Studio Boutique apartments in the heart of Kensington.
"Great Little Find" (19/7/2017)
"Great location. Rooms clean and tidy. Bed reall..." (19/4/2017)
The 88 studio apartments are located in the upmarket trendy area of Kensington and Chelsea. More info
Burns Hotel
0.5 miles
Excellent 86%
Earls Court. Housed in a Grade II building close to Earl`s Court Underground station
"Great location, lovely staff" (29/6/2015)
"A well-managed hotel that plays out of its leag..." (21/6/2015)
Formerly the home of actress Dame Ellen Terry, the Burns Hotel is situated in a Grade II listed building ... More info
Indigo Kensington
0.5 miles
Exceptional 97%
Kensington. 4* hotel close to museums and designer shopping.
"Indigo hotel" (10/3/2017)
"Excellent!" (23/2/2015)
Situated in Kensington close to Earls Court, the contemporary 4* Hotel Indigo London Kensington offers fa... More info
Park International
0.5 miles
Exceptional 95%
Kensington. 4* hotel ideally placed within walking distance of many attractions.
"Excellent Stay" (28/5/2017)
Park International is a stylish 4*hotel in the heart of Kensington, an ideal base during a visit to Londo... More info
Ashburn Hotel
0.5 miles
Superb 91%
South Kensington. Victorian house, turned boutique hotel situated on Cromwell Road.
"Excellent hotel" (17/3/2017)
This Victorian house, turned deluxe boutique hotel is situated in the enviable position on Cromwell Road ... More info
Best Western Boltons
0.6 miles
Very Good 81%
Earls Court. A hotel in the perfect position for those looking to explore London.
Cheapest price guaranteed
UK-based customer service with freephone: 0800 633 8000
The Best Western Boltons Hotel is a clean and comfortable 3* Deluxe occupying a prime location in the hea... More info
H.Inn Ken Forum
0.6 miles
Exceptional 100%
Kensington. Superb 4* hotel close to the Natural History Museum.
"Excellent location" (10/7/2017)
Situated in London`s desirable Kensington, the Holiday Inn - Kensington Forum is a modern 4* hotel. More info
Crowne Plaza Kensington
0.6 miles
Superb 91%
Cromwell Rd. Fantastic 4* near the Museums of Kensington.
"Great hotel" (1/4/2016)
"Staff were fantastic" (18/3/2015)
Just a couple of minutes` walk from Gloucester Road underground station the Crowne Plaza London Kensingto... More info
Radisson Vanderbilt
0.7 miles
Okay 55%
South Kensington. Elegant former mansion close to museums and the Royal Albert hall.
Cheapest price guaranteed
UK-based customer service with freephone: 0800 633 8000
Located in fashionable South Kensington, the 4* Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt More info
K West
0.8 miles
Good 77%
Kensington. Luxurious spa hotel close to designer shops!
"Fantastic. Staff were very helpful and very pol..." (12/10/2014)
Situated a mere 9 minute walk from Westfield London, an 18 minute walk from the high-end shops of Kensing... More info
St. Paul`s Hotel
0.8 miles
Excellent 88%
Hammersmith. Stylish boutique hotel located 5 minutes from Hammersmith Tube Station.
"Spot on all round" (24/4/2017)
"A luxurious hidden gem!" (30/10/2015)
St. Paul`s Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel conveniently located near Hammersmith Tube Station, Kensingt... More info
Central Park Hotel
1.0 miles
Good 79%
Bayswater. Great value 3* close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
"Central Park Hotel" (29/4/2017)
"Excellent location, helpful staff, excellent br..." (29/10/2016)
The 3* Central Park Hotel is very well located in Bayswater, just a stone`s throw from Hyde Park and Kens... More info
Thistle Hyde Park
1.0 miles
Excellent 89%
Hyde Park. Elegant 4* overlooking Hyde Park
"Perfect location" (9/4/2017)
"Lovely Hotel" (31/3/2017)
The 4* Thistle Hyde Park is conveniently situated overlooking Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. More info
Near Hyde Park
1.1 miles
Very Good 82%
Hyde Park. Contemporary 4* overlooking London`s most iconic park.
"Proms" (10/9/2017)
"Clean and staff were brilliant" (2/7/2017)
Housed in an elegant grade II listed building and centrally positioned overlooking Hyde Park, this Secret... More info
Mornington Hotel
1.2 miles
Excellent 89%
Hyde Park. Elegant 4* hotel within easy reach of Oxford Street.
"A great little find, close to Hyde Park" (14/11/2016)
"The hotel culture" (26/7/2016)
The 4 star Best Western Mornington Hotel is a period townhouse that elegantly combines Victorian characte... More info
Lancaster London
1.3 miles
Superb 90%
Hyde Park. Opulent 4* deluxe overlooking Hyde Park
"Fantastic!" (17/10/2015)
"Brilliant" (8/6/2015)
Offering breathtaking views across London`s premier green space - Hyde Park, the 4* deluxe Lancaster Lond... More info
Chelsea Cloisters
1.3 miles
Good 79%
Chelsea. Fantastically placed 3* hotel close to Harrods.
"Great location and value for money serviced apa..." (14/2/2017)
"Weekend on London" (18/12/2016)
Beautifully located in Chelsea, just minutes` walk from the exclusive Kings Road More info
Indigo Paddington
1.4 miles
New hotel
Paddington. 4* hotel with great transport links.
Cheapest price guaranteed
UK-based customer service with freephone: 0800 633 8000
The 4* Hotel Indigo London Paddington is centrally located within a 2 minute walk of Paddington Station, ... More info
H.Inn Hammersmith
1.5 miles
Superb 90%
Hammersmith, West London. Excellent family option
"Good Hotel" (14/12/2015)
Located within a short walk of Hammersmith underground station the 3* Holiday Inn Express is an ideal pla... More info
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We continue our exploration of ArtPrize and meet with Brooklyn-based artist Diana Shpungin. Diana's work and her assignment are both based on empathy—it's a feeling we usually have for other people, but Diana wants us to direct our empathy towards objects instead.
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