How Otiss See's

The White Cane

2011-10-14T13:28:00.001-05:00

The White Cane

Our symbol of being normal

As I walk with my white cane, I receive looks from being scared of me, to awe! Nevertheless, most people who see my white cane do not have any idea to what it is or means. This is why we have “White Cane Day” on October 15^th of each year.

On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress, HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as “White Cane Safety Day.” This resolution said:

“Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives…, that the President is hereby authorized to issue annually a proclamation designating October 15 as White Cane Safety Day and calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized the importance of the white cane as a staff of independence for blind people and he hereby proclaim October 15, 1964 as White Cane Safety Day.

In the first Presidential White Cane Proclamation, President Johnson commended the blind for the growing spirit of independence and the increased determination to be self-reliant that the organized blind had shown. The Presidential proclamation said:

The white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person’s ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and special consideration to the blind on our streets and highways. To make our people more fully aware of the meaning of the white cane and of the need for motorists to exercise special care for the blind persons who carry it

With this proclamation was the beginning not the end to gain recognition for the growing independence and self-sufficiency of blind people in America, and to gain recognition of the White Cane as the Symbol of that Independence and that Self-Reliance.

Attitudes toward people with disabilities have changed dramatically over the course of the last two hundred years. In our early years as a country, most individuals that were blind were singled- out for pity, and urged to accept their afflictions, as the will of God. There was NO ASSISSTANCE offered to the BLIND from the government, as they had to rely on alms giving from religious institutions, individuals, and for the most part, they had to BEG with a cup in hand. A chronology of the most of the laws that deal with the disability rights movements can be found at; http://www.sfsu.edu/~hrdpu/chron.htm

In 1940 - The National Federation of the Blind was formed, (not founded), in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, by Jacobus Broek and other blind advocates. They fought hard for “white cane laws” and for all programs for the blind to have input from blind clients, among other reforms. In addition, many states have enacted laws regarding rights for blind people, from traveling to education. In 1966, Dr. Jacobus Broek, the founder of the National Federation of the Blind, drafted the Model White Cane Law, known as the Civil Rights Bill for the Blind, the Disabled, and the Otherwise Physically Handicapped.

It was not that long ago, just think about, in the 1960’s, only a very small group of people that were blind are that were vision impaired, could travel alone. Then in the late 70’s, it has been reported, that number had multiplied a hundredfold. In addition, not many years ago, it was unusual to see a person that was blind walking alone on the sidewalks or even in a store, shopping. Even better than that, to see a person that is blind, operating machinery in a factory, or even running their own business or being the boss of others. At least now, we can say ‘Thank Goodness” for these things and others, as they are ordinary and commonplace. They are this way because of the symbol of being normal. For this symbol, gives a person that is blind the opportunity to go, as other do, to move as others do, to be as others are, and to complete with everyone…and by which means is this done, with a simple tool, called the “WHITE CANE.”

With the simple tool, the “White Cane,” being normal, happens. It produces the element of the will or spirit to be free and the determination to be independent. Being normal is what everyone wants and needs and this is what the “Spirit of White Cane Day,” is all about.

October 15th is National White Cane Safety Day

In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from England found himself, blind after an accident. Not liking the condition he was in and scared because of all the traffic around the area he lived, he came up with the idea to paint his stick that had been given to him for walking. He decided, if the stick was a bright white, just possibly it might be seen. Then, 9 years later, in 1930 George A. Bonham, then President of the Peoria Lions Club (Illinois) decided to add a red band at the bottom of the White Cane as a means of assisting the blind in independent mobility. The Peoria Lions approved the idea, and white canes were made and distributed and because of this, the Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance giving the bearers the right-of-way to cross the street.

While the White Cane is commonly accepted as a “symbol of blindness,” there are still many different rules in different countries. In the United States, the laws are different, state-to-state:

Ø Users of white canes are afforded the right-of-way, when crossing the road, and can use them in any public place.

Ø In some cases, it is illegal for a non-blind person to carry a white cane.

Ø Generally, the solid ‘White Cane ‘is to indentify that the person is blind.

Ø The ‘White Cane’ but has ‘Red’ (sometimes called the tip) at the bottom, is to identify the person is visually impaired, blind, and has another physical aliment.

Ø In the United Kingdom, the ’White Cane’ that has ‘Two Red Bands at the Bottom’ (sometimes called the tip); this indicates the user is deaf blind.

Ø In addition in some places the ’White Cane’ is actually…yellow.

Ø In addition, the Reflective tape or paint that is used is for the headlights of motor vehicles will reflect and alert the drivers and or passengers in the vehicles that a blind person is ahead, beside, or behind them.

As with anything, there are some disagreements relating to White Canes. As with all things in our society, it comes to which type is preferred. The disagreements are about which “White Cane” is best and works for the person. There is a ‘Long Cane,’ ‘Collapsible Cane’ (Folding Cane), ‘Telescoping Cane,’ ‘Support Cane,’ ‘Kiddie Cane,’ ‘Identification Cane,’’ Symbol Cane,’ ‘Guide Cane,’ and ‘Extending Canes.’

The ‘long Cane’ is in one piece, while the more popular variety is the ‘collapsible (Folding) Cane ‘which can be generally folded into 4 or 5 pieces and carried in a hand bag. The problem or disagreement is whether the ‘Long Cane’ or the ‘Collapsible Cane’ is more useful and effective. While those who trust the ‘Long Straight Cane,’ contend that, it affords more safety, because of its extra length and solid strength. The “long Straight Cane’ has also been called the "traditional" white cane, also known as a "Hoover" cane, after Dr. Richard Hoover, who designed it primarily as a mobility tool used to feel obstacles in the path of a user. The ‘Long Cane,’ length depends upon the height of a user, and traditionally extends from the floor to the user's sternum. While some training experts and users believe in the use of much longer canes.

On the other hand, those who put their trust in the ‘Collapsible Cane,’ believe that the benefit of being able to fold their cane is why it is best. As they can be quickly folded down and stored under a seat, in a pocket, in a purse, in an airline seat pocket, in a backpack, or even attaching a string to it and tieing it to a belt loop. One can put it away in a crowed place, as a classroom, public event, and best of all while traveling in public transportation.

Coming in close to, the ‘Collapsible Cane’ is the ‘Telescoping Cane’ and it is very popular, today. The ‘Telescoping Cane’ has several sections, which can be pushed, or telescoped, into the handle of the cane. They say it is convenient, because it can be put into a purse are a pocket when not in use, but it has proven not to be very durable.

In addition, there is:

Ø ‘Kiddie cane’: This version works in the same way as an adult's ‘long cane,’ but is designed for use by children.

Ø ‘Identification cane ‘(Symbol Cane in British English): The ‘ID cane’ is used primarily to alert others as to the bearer's visual impairment. It is often lighter and shorter than the long cane, and is more limited as a mobility tool.

Ø ‘Support cane ‘or sometimes called a ‘Mobility Cane’: This is usually a’ white support cane’ and it is designed primarily to offer physical stability to a visually impaired user. Sometimes a person that is not visually impaired will use it as a sign to show that the person has some type of a disability. By virtue of its color, the cane also works as a means of identification.

The modern ‘White Canes ‘are made from aluminum, graphite (carbon fiber), or fiberglass. The Graphite canes are extremely light, yet they are very, very strong. They do not bend easily; however, they will break, if placed under extreme pressure. They also come with a wide variety of tips depending upon the user’s preference. It seems that an average person that is blind that uses their cane daily will need to replace the cane about every 6 to 8 months and replace the tips 3 to 4 times a year.

It seems that every year new advantages are being made in this area, presently there is a new "glow-in-the-dark" cane. It is a carbon-fiber cane with a special covering; it emits a soft greenish light for up to two hours, making it easier for motorists to see pedestrians in the dark. In addition, there is new cane called the slim "I.D." canes, intended to be used by visually impaired people, who just need to let others know they have a vision problem. Many blind people are also using these canes, especially when they are fitted with larger roller, or marshmallow tips, to prevent them from becoming caught in cracks and crevices. In addition, these new rollers and marshmallow tips are great, they help with getting around all the cracks and crevices; however, they take away the touch feel to the “White Cane.” The different tips are:

Ø Pencil tip. Pros: Good feedback and lightness make it a good choice for people with problems moving their wrist for long periods of time. Cons: The long, thin tip has tendency to get stuck in cracks in the sidewalk.

Ø Roller tip. Pros: Rolls over cracks in sidewalk, making for a smoother walk. Cons: Greater weight can add to wrist fatigue; does not provide as much feedback to the traveler about small changes in the terrain.

Ø Marshmallow tip. Pros: Thick tip won't get stuck in cracks easily. Cons: Heavy; can cause wrist fatigue over time.

Ø Metal glide. Pros: Very light; glides easily over cracks.

While a “White Cane” is used by many people who are blind or visually impaired, both as a mobility tool and as a courtesy to others. Not all of the modern white canes are designed to fulfill the same primary function, as with the tips and colors. Therefore, it is important to find the “White Cane” that is best for you, for only you know what is best for you.

The methods of using the “White Cane,” is for improving mobility and there are many different teaching methods and ways of operating a “White Cane. “ The first thing one has to know before beginning is the “White Cane” assist the user to clear a safe path ahead by tapping and reaching and also, it assist the user to identify the surface on which the user is walking as soft, hard, smooth, or rough. Furthermore, by tapping the “White Cane” on items around them as walls, trees, furniture, and etc., the “White Cane” user is able to figure out their location and possibly directions to where they are to be going or coming from. However, proper cane skills are a trial and error proposition, as it takes innovation that deals with one’s personal preferences, for most of the time it is a touch and feel technique.

Basic techniques to using a White Cane:

1. Holding the Cane

One has to find out what is best for them, as there are many different reasons one has for holding the cane in different ways. It could because of another health problem are it just does not feel right to do it this way. Myself, I find that when I am using a “White Cane” in the full-extended position:

§ Placing the end of the handle into the center of the palm of my hand, wrapping fingers and thumb around the handle lightly, keeping the palm facing up and holding my hand at about waist level is the most comfortable; you have to find what is comfortable for you.

§ Tuck the elbow in, so that it presses against your side lightly.

§ Use your elbow as an anchor to keep your cane hand in relatively the same place. This helps to keep you in a straight line.

§ Use this method outdoors and anytime that you are walking at a normal brisk pace. The cane in this position gives me about 2 to 3 steps of notice of upcoming obstacles or landmarks.

In places where one has to move, more slowly, as inside shops, in line at the bank, in a crowd and other places like that:

§ Hold the cane closer and more vertical.

§ Hold the cane handle like a pencil at about mid chest level. This gives you about 1 to 2 steps of advance notice of things coming up, which is enough in indoor or slower pace situations.

I do have one problem, I find it difficult in holding the cane in one position for long periods. Sometimes I find it more comfortable to turn my wrist a bit or switch from the indoor to the outdoor grip. Some people also switch from one hand to the other. I have nerve damage so I had to change hands very often. The goal is to gain experience and the only way to do this is to practice and find out what technique works for you.

2. Arc

The arc of the cane is how wide you swing it in front of you. A good rule of thumb is to have the cane arc slightly larger than the width of your body. If you seem to brush your shoulder or hip frequently, this is probably because you need to widen the arc a bit.

§ Keeping the handle in the center of your body, tapping the same distance from center on both sides will help you keep in a straight line.

§ Keep your head up; pointing your nose where you want to go will also help keep you in a straight line. Lots of practice will help the most, though!

§ The best travel technique is to touch the cane tip light on the left and right side as you walk along. It does seem to work more smoothly if you tap the cane on the opposite side of the foot you as you are stepping forward. Confused? When you step forward with your right foot, your cane tip will touch down on the left. It is awkward at first, but in time, it is as natural as walking!

§ Remember - Very important! You only go where your cane has been!

§ Do not step backwards or sideways unless your cane has already been there.

3. Shore-Lining

This is a very simple technique for Shore-lining; it is used to find driveways, doorways, sidewalks, steps, or other places that you to know where they are, so you can be safe:

§ As you walk down the hall or whatever, you tap the cane into the floor or wall on the side of the hall where you are looking for the door.

§ As you go along the cane will tap into an empty space…hall, wall, back to empty hall. There will be nothing there are you will feel the opening.

§ Different sounds and feels up the shaft will let you know what is ahead.

Shore lining, can also be used to count doorways, driveways, sidewalks, posts or anything else. Let us, say that you are going to a friend’s home, which lives three houses down from yours. You could use the shore lining technique to count the sidewalks that lead up to the houses. You will remember, next time to turn at the 4^th post or the steps are after the sidewalk bends, or maybe the mailbox is 6 steps down the driveway as you feel the grass, reach to the left and open. The best ways to do this is by experimenting and practicing, get someone to go with you and help you learn the path; however, use common sense as things can change on you.

Remember … bumping the cane into objects is not a mistake, it is useful in helping you to know what is around as you explore and this is the only way to learn the touch and sound of metal, wood, cement and other things.

The only way to get reference points is to bump them. There could be special sounds, which the sidewalk makes, right at the front door to a certain store you like. You might not be exactly right each time, but you should be close to the area. The bumping, touch, and feel, is like hearing.

4. Driveways and Streets

This is just pure old common sense!

§ Remember drainage, well where will the water go if it rains. Usually, driveways drain to the street. why? Because they slope, therefore, you will probably feel like one leg is longer than the other is when you are walking across a driveway.

§ Next, streets drain into gutters. As you step off a curb, you should feel the drop (up or down). As you walk across, there should be a going up and then down, or the other way. This is usually true, unless you are on a hill. The drainage will be different. Think about it as you are out the next time. Notice the feel of the cane and ground under your feet as you move about.

§ As you learn the cane, you will begin to notice hallways, doorways, parked cars, telephone poles, buildings, trees, and a whole lot of other great things by the simple change in the sound or feel. What happens is the trees and hallways funnel a sounds or a feel to you, your nerves in your hands pick up this, and each item has a different sound or feel. It is not magic, it is just learning to pay attention to a new sense. You might have lost you sight, but you have gained a greater sense of touch and feel.

Some Advanced Techniques:

These advance techniques are not more complicated or more difficult. They are simply the next step in learning the “White Cane.” Just as one learns to add before they learn to divide, these wholes true in learning the “White Cane,” it is just the natural progression and the basics come before the advance.

Advance 1. Stairs

In our world there are all sorts and designs of stairs, there are some with handrails, some with landings, and some with turns. While the basic technique will be the same in all of these, the main thing to remember is you can only go safely, to where your, “White Cane,” has already been.

§ USE the HANDRAIL ! Use one hand on the handrail and use the other hand for the cane.

§ HOLD the cane diagonally across your body a little ways in front of you.

§ Lightly rest the tip of the cane on the step in front of yourself. As you go down the cane tip slides forward and drops down to the next step. When it stops dropping and just slides, you will know that you are at the bottom or landing.

GOING UP! Doing the same basic thing, except the cane won’t do the slide and drop.

§ Lightly press the cane tip against the step and slide it up to find the next step

Ø Keep the cane ahead of yourself two steps or so, because it is awkward to have the cane only one-step ahead.

If you are in a person’s home or some other place where you think, there might be stuff on the stairs, move the cane across as you slide it up or down to check for toys, or whatever else might be there.

REMEMBER!

Always check with your cane first before you move into any space that is not known to you. Use your common sense and go with what works for you.

Advance 2. Crossing Streets

I know for myself, this was the most frustrating thing to do, by myself, and even with a helper. It should not have to be that way, for anyone. I would say the only way to get over this one, is to take a deep breath and remind yourself that you can do it. Start small and work up to more complicated and dangerous intersections.

Ø First, before you attempt anything be sure you know the rules of the road for the area you are attempting to do this. You have to know when cars and trucks can turn, which lanes of traffic turn and how and when. In addition, when they stop and when the can go on red or yellow.

Ø Pay attention to the sounds , as you approach the intersection…if possible always cross at an intersection. SOUNDS are very important!

Can you hear the traffic? Sounds of a motor, the brakes, the radio, can inform you, how close the car or truck is, and even how fast or slow, it is going. Always stop and listen before you attempt to cross, learn the sounds of people, which are standing, are walking, and the sounds of the traffic lights. Before you attempt to cross, you should have an idea of all that is going on around you. A major problem is some of today cars and trucks are very quiet!

Ø KNOWLEDGE of the intersections. Need to know what type of intersection it is, if possible, T-intersection, one way or two, an island, traffic lights, stop or yield signs, or even if it is close to an entrance or out for a shopping center or business. The best thing to do is stand there… until you know… you feel… you understand…, the traffic intersection, completely. Stand back and just relax as you figure this out.

Ø If you are right at the curb, the drivers will most likely think you are trying to cross. They could get confused and could stop or yell at you that it is okay to go. It may not be safe, so beware!

IMPORTANT!

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Cross a street …if you are not sure… even if someone tells you… that it is okay.

It may very well be Okay to go, but if you are not sure, not ready, then do not go. When you cross the street, it has to be on your own terms. Do not step out into traffic on someone else’s, Okay. You will only learn, when you understand, and trust your instincts. When I was learning, and I still am, as I am not still comfortable, by myself, so I plan on, when I know I am having to cross an intersection, to have my wife with me, to help. To me it seems like it takes me too long to get across, the ringer is telling me that cars are going to be coming, so I get confused. I hope that with more practice, I will get more confident. I am always scared that I will not walk in a straight line and veer off.

Advance 3. Sounds in the Environment

As one get better with using their “White Cane,” they will begin to move around safely, and then they should begin to hear and sense things around them. You should be beginning to feel normal and begin to hear the sounds that anyone would be hearing as, far away traffic, birds, dogs barking, music in shops as you pass, and grocery carts being pushed through a parking lot. Next, you should begin to notice the things that are there but do not necessary make a noise, but it is a noise as wind blowing, trees, parked cars, doors, and buildings. I am not saying you will be able to hear a tree, but the branches move, the leaves blow, it is more of a sense as a smell, it sounds you sense.

EXPERIMENT

Go into a room or office and shut the door. Stand quietly and listen for a minute or two. Now, go into a larger room, stand in the middle and listen for another minute or two. Can you notice the difference? Doesn’t the first smaller room or office sound smaller? The walls do not talk to you, but the sounds are funneled differently.

Try talking and then put your hand in front of your mouth. Listen to how the sound changes. As you pay more and more attention to the sounds around you, the ability to notice objects by the absence of sound will increase.

Practice this skill in a hallway… Try walking down the center of a hallway, keeping yourself on course by listening to the way the sounds change when you get too close to a wall. If you are doing this away from home be sure to also use your cane!

Remember Practice! Practice! Practice!

The only way to get better is to work on it.

It may take months or years, but it will come.

Let me Draw something for you and more special items

2011-05-27T14:50:00.000-05:00

Let me draw something for you, your house, car, pet, grandkids, maybe you have a old photo of some place or someone, that you would loved to see restored, not as another photo, but as a sketch, a drawing, something totally different and knew. My prices or very low at this time as I need the CASH, very bad! Just send me in a e-mail, what you want a copy of the picture and i let you know the price, All I need is the size you want it to be and in what format. This is for the special person that deserves something different from anyone else. Contact me, so I can get started, blindinkotiss@yahoo.com....Also look at my Facebook and my blog, at How Otiss's Sees.

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Do Not Forget About This Special Deal

ART Sale #2...The Prophet

2011-05-27T14:34:00.000-05:00

Item #2

This is for that special one that wants a large drawing, it is what I believe a Prophet looked like in years gone by and it just be coming around again. This drawing was very hard to do as it is on Canvas and that is hard to color and draw on. This one is not framed as it needs to be done in the fashion of the surrounding it becomes home in, whether it is a office, hallway, kids room or even classroom. As I stated, I need the Cash and this is another one that I hate to get rid of. It is 18 by 30 as it is and if it on the wall it looks just like the Prophet is standing and looking through you, to see what you are thinking or doing. I will let t his one go for $75 as it took me over 60 hours to draw and it should be shipped for a small charge as it could be rolled up in a tube and shipped, so it would be $75, plus the shipping and you can pay, by PayPal, check, Money order, or even a Cash card for your local store. I hope to heard from you and the Prophet gets a new home. See all my Art that is for sell on the Site, "How Otiss's Sees"

Contact:

blindinkotiss@yahoo.com

ART SALE, Item #1...Old Town

2011-05-27T14:23:00.000-05:00

I need to sell some of my ART and I hate to do it, but I must as I am in need of some cash! This is one of my favorite ones it is called, Old Town and is just a picture I did in Pen and Ink of what I think or maybe remember of what somewhere a building sits as a Church, library or something in the old part of town.. This picture, in its wood frame, has been in many ART Shows, it has hung in San Francisco at the City Hall in the Art Commission Gallery in 2006 and then again in 2007 from the months of August to December in the INSIGHT Art Show, it also was in ARTSLAM a media art show. This drawing took me over 100 hours to do as I put in each little dot or mark to make this great picture. The Photo does not show it in its pure form as it is on a white paper and done in black ink. The drawing itself is 9 1/2 by 11 1/2 and then in its frame it is 14 by 17. The frame is a black wood, with a red wood type mat it is in. It would and I am only guessing the cost of shipping by mail priority @ $30 and Parcel @ $20. As I said I need the Cash and I willing to sell this great piece for only $100, plus you pay the shipping. You can pay by Check...Money Order, PayPal, or buy a cash card and send it to me. Do not miss this deal and look at all the others on my Sight, How Otiss See's

Contact:
blindinkotiss@yahoo.com

Grandson, "LAN" Ingram playing at Talent Show in Mississippi

2011-05-27T13:43:00.000-05:00

2011-05-22T11:31:00.001-05:00

Artsale1

View more documents from Phillip Brown

Holden, my grandson

2011-03-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

Who will be Able to Afford President Obama’s New Global Village?

2011-02-10T17:22:00.000-06:00

Who will be Able to Afford - President Obama’s New Global Village?

It is being reported on February 10, 2010, that our President, Mr. Obama, speaking from a small, snowy city in the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was again pushing his domestic agenda, telling the world that he plans to bring the high-speed wireless technology to all Americans. With his magical voice, that seems to mesmerize many, he used words as competitiveness, infrastructure, pathway to jobs, winning the future and the sentence that should be his slogan, “We know that this is the right thing.” Mr. Obama then went on to compare the goal of extending wireless access to important successes that connected previous generations of Americans, the building of railroads and the federal highway system. Which, I do not believe either is doing too well.

I find one statement that he made, as just a dumb remark, that probable will be written up in history books as one of his greatest statements. "For millions of Americans, the railway hasn't shown up yet, for our families and our businesses, high-speed wireless service: that's the next train station; it's the next off-ramp. It's how we'll spark new innovation, new investments and new jobs” Come on now, what is he saying, “it’s the next off-ramp,” well that scare me.

Now think about it, the president wants to make high-speed wireless available to 98percent of the population within the next five years. Remember, he stated this fact in his State of the Union Address. Now, I will give the man credit, this would be a great thing to do, but the key word is ‘to make it available to 98 percent’. That word, available, has been used so much by the Obama campaign, that it has become a worthless word, meaning it has no meaning, anymore. Available to the present White House, means, it is here and your tax dollars paid for it, but you can only have it, if you can afford to pay for it. In addition, after each taxpayer has paid the billions plus dollars for the wireless technology, that will be available, who will the people, the taxpayers, be paying for the right to have it available to them. Well it is good old AT&T, Verizon and others. It a simple fact, that many do not understand and it is not even hide in the fine print. Every one of us will pay for this, we will pay for it to be constructed, we will pay for it to be installed and that is in the billions, and maybe even more billions of dollars we has a nation do not have. But the trick to all of this is, after we have paid for it, will have to pay a monthly fee to use it. If this is such a great business, idea, why can’t the big companies pay for it and then they have a right to make the profit off of it (Maybe they should at least pay use back for it, has a note for installing it for them). I know, I would love to be able to go to our government and say, I want to make sure everyone in American can have the internet, now if you will set this up for me, run the lines, or whatever it is, then I will gladly charge all them, there Americans, for the availability of it. In other words, you pay for it and I will make the profit off of it.

Lastly, I ask, what good is it to be able to have the availability of wireless internet, if you cannot afford it? I know for myself, if gasoline keeps going up, if the electric bill, heating bill, food bill and all the others keep going up, I will have to make a decision, and the cable and internet will have to go first. But, the wireless technology/internet will be available to me, if I can afford it.

Parents Fighting Back Against Government Schools

2011-01-15T13:10:00.002-06:00

It seems that the United Nations is wanting to get involved in the way, we teach and bring up our children. Also at the same time our President Mr. Obama wants to now mess up the education system as he did with his medical ideas. It seems he wants to put education overhaul at the forefront of his agenda. Could this be just a ploy to allow the United Nations to push through the (UNCRC) United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children. If it is and the President is able to sneak this through on the back of another bill, then the United Nations regulations would supersede our own U.S.A. So, I say beware and be informed, read this and do not allowed it to happen.

This is a article I got from the Battle Cry (January 2011), written by Jack Chick publisher of Chick cartoon tracts and other Christian news and material.

Parents Fighting Back Against Government Schools

Homeschooling has become the fastest growing form of education in the United States, according to the ‘National Home Education Research Institute.’ At the present growth rate, ten percent of the K-12 students in the country could be taught by parents at home within five years. Adding that to the tens of thousands of private schools, no other nation has such a variety of options and no other nation has the basic freedom that allows such variety.

In Europe, several cases have recently reached the attention of the international media. One current case in Sweden involves a father who was arrested just this month for violating visitation rules. His son was taken at gunpoint without search warrant or due process simply because he was home schooled. Another family recently fled to the U.S. to avoid prosecution under mandatory school attendance laws. Most of Europe is much stricter about school attendance and severely limits parental rights to discipline as they see fit. Spanking has been outlawed for some time in most countries. Unfortunately, U.S. government policy is rapidly shifting in that direction.

Under anti-discrimination laws, schools must accommodate unbiblical behavior that was not tolerated a generation ago. Christian parents find themselves increasingly at odds with the government schools that sexualize children under the guise of “health education.” One judge in California last year told one family that, if they send their children to the government schools, they must accept whatever the school chooses to teach them.

Currently, the Federal Department of Education is proposing that all private colleges and universities be required to obtain approval from the federal government for accreditation in addition to private accreditation organizations that have functioned for over 100 years.

The United Nations also is pushing to get into the act. For several years, the U.S. Senate has resisted ratifying the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Should we ratify it, then the U.N. regulations would supersede our own country’s laws. Senator Barbara Boxer has pushed hard to get the Senate to ratify the treaty but resistance has come from a group of lawmakers led by Senator Jim DeMint. “We believe we need to take clear action here in Congress to protect the rights of parents to raise their children,” DeMint said. “This treaty would, in fact, establish a precedent that those rights have been given over to the international community.”

This is all part of the trend to remove control of our children from us as parents and place them under control of the state. We can be assured that the state’s interest will not be based on moral and spiritual values held dear by Bible believers. Christian parents must no longer view the government schools as their friend in raising godly children. We must remember what religious researcher George Barna has determined, that what happens to a child before age 13 will largely determine his spiritual and moral perspective for life. Little change happens after that age. Homeschoolers have it right: parents are still the best teachers. While every family has different constraints, godly parents must use every means to develop a solid, biblical foundation in their children. If home schooling is not an option, then we need to help kids understand God’s view of the good and evil in the world so they can understand and make good choices.

Written in the January 2011edition of Battle Cry http://www.chick.com/bc/2011/bc_jan11.pdf

“The 12 Days of Christmas”

2010-12-14T17:04:00.001-06:00

The 12 Days of Christmas

Now, I know you all have heard the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Yes it is a very great and nice song, but did you know that it is a song of a great mystery!

However, you must know that the 12 days are not leading up to Christmas Day; it is the 12 days after Christmas. So, remember it begins on December 26^th and it ends like this…

· On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
the traditional day for celebrating the coming of the wise men to WORSHIP JESUS.

· My true love:
Instead of referring to a suitor, the 'true love' mentioned in the song refers to GOD. GOD is the one who gives all of these wonderful gifts to 'me', and 'me' is symbolic of every baptized person.

· The partridge:
was chosen as a REMINDER of CHRIST. A mother partridge will feign injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings: she will literally give her life for her children. The pear tree is a REMINDER of the CROSS.

· Two turtle doves:
the OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS of the BIBLE.

· Three French hens:
during the 16th century, only the rich could afford these costly birds. These represent the THREE GREAT GIFTS OF FAITH, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

· Four calling birds:
the FOUR GOSPELS, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

· Five gold rings:
the FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, the TORAH, or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, These books were treated by the Jews with great reverence and considered worth more than gold (Psalm 19:10).

· Six geese a-laying:
eggs are an almost universal symbol of new life. The laying geese stand for the SIX DAYS OF CREATION. God spoke the word and brought forth life.

· Seven swan’s a-swimming:
the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Romans 12:6-8): prophesy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy.

· Eight maid’s a-milking:
the EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS (Matthew 5:3-10) nourish us as milk does.

· Nine ladies dancing:
the NINE FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22-23): love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

· Ten lord’s a-leaping:
lords were men who had authority in people's lives. The lords are THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

· Eleven pipers piping:
the ELEVEN APOSTLES or that remained faithful to Jesus and people joyfully followed their message. The ELEVEN FAITHFUL APOSTLES: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

· Twelve drummers drumming:
the TWELVE VITAL BELIEFS that set us apart as Christians found in the APOSTLES' CREED - TWELVE POINTS OF BELIEF. 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

Now it is time to figure this out, which would be some celebration. This gives a grand total of 416 presents (including the cows, but not the eggs, milk or water). Look for yourself:

12 partridges
12 pear trees
22 turtle doves
30 French hens
36 calling birds
40 gold rings
42 geese
An unspecified number of goose eggs
42 swans
A lot of water
40 maids
One assumes, 40 associated cows
More gallons of sour milk than it is pleasant to contemplate
36 very tired dancing ladies
30 even more tired lords
22 breathless pipers
12 drummers - still drumming

White Cane Day - October 15th - The Meaning

2010-10-14T11:31:00.001-05:00

The White Cane

Our symbol of being normal

As I walk with my white cane, I receive looks from being scared of me, to awe! Nevertheless, most people who see my white cane do not have any idea to what it is or means. This is why we have “White Cane Day” on October 15^th of each year.

President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized the importance of the white cane as a staff of independence for blind people and he hereby proclaim October 15, 1964 as White Cane Safety Day.

In the first Presidential White Cane Proclamation President Johnson commended the blind for the growing spirit of independence and the increased determination to be self-reliant that the organized blind had shown. The Presidential proclamation said:

With this proclamation was the beginning not the end to gain recognition for the growing independence and self-sufficiency of blind people in America, and also to gain recognition of the white cane as the symbol of that independence and that self-reliance.

Attitudes toward people with disabilities have changed dramatically over the course of the last two hundred years. In our early years as a country, most individuals that were blind were singled out for pity and urged to accept their afflictions as the will of God. The government offered no assistance to these persons, relying instead on alms giving from religious institutions, individuals and own the most part they had to beg with a cup in hand. A chronology of the most of the laws that deal with the disability rights movements can be found at (http://www.sfsu.edu/~hrdpu/chron.htm). In 1940 - The National Federation of the Blind was formed in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, by Jacobus Broek and other blind advocates. It advocates for “white cane laws” and input by blind people into programs for blind clients, among other reforms. Also, many states have enacted laws regarding rights for blind people from traveling to education. In 1966, Dr. Jacobus Broek, the founder of the National Federation of the Blind, drafted the model White Cane Law, known as Civil Rights Bill for the Blind, the Disabled, and the Otherwise Physically Handicapped.

It was not that long ago, just think about, in the 1960’s, there was only a very small group of people that were blind, that could travel alone in our cities and byways. The in the late 70’s it has been reported that number had multiplied a hundredfold. It was not that long ago that it was unusual to see a person that was blind walking alone on the sidewalks or even in a store, shopping. Even better than that to see a person that is blind operating machinery in a factory or even running their own business or being the boss of others. But today, it is common place and their symbol of being normal is their “white Cane.”

But it happens, more often, and the symbol of being normal is the white cane. For this symbol, gives a person that is blind the opportunity to go as other do, to move as others do, to be as others are, and to complete with everyone…and by which means is this done, with a simple tool, called the “WHITE CANE.”

October 15th is National White Cane Safety Day

In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from England found himself, blind after an accident. Not liking the condition he was in and scared because of all the traffic around the area he lived, he came up with the idea to paint his stick he had been given for helping him walk. He decide if the stick was a bright white, just possibly it might be seen. Then, 9 years later, in 1930 George A. Bonham, then President of the Peoria Lions Club (Illinois) decided to add a red band at the bottom of the White Cane as a means of assisting the blind in independent mobility. The Peoria Lions approved the idea, white canes were made and distributed, and the Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance giving the bearers the right-of-way to cross the street.

While the White Cane has been commonly accepted as a “symbol of blindness,” there are still many different rules in different countries. In the United States, the laws are different, state to state; however those using white canes are afforded the right-of-way when crossing the road and can use them in any public place. In some cases, it is illegal for a non-blind person to carry a white cane. Also, generally the cane is for identification and one that is all white is to indentify that the person is blind. The cane that is white, but has red (sometimes called the tip) at the bottom, is to identify the person is visually impaired, blind, and has another physical aliment. Then, in the United Kingdom, the white cane that has two red bands at the bottom (sometimes called the tip); this indicates the user is deaf blind. In addition in some places the white cane is actually…yellow. Also, the Reflective tape or paint that is used is for the headlights of motor vehicles will reflect and alert the drivers and or passengers in the vehicles that a blind person is ahead, beside, or behind them.

As with anything, there is some disagreements relating to White Canes. As with all things in our society it comes to which type is preferred. The disagreements, is all about which “White Cane” do I like to use. The Long Cane, Collapsible Cane (Folding Cane), Telescoping Cane, Support Cane, Kiddie Cane, Identification Cane, Symbol Cane, Guide Cane and Extending Cane.

The long Cane is in one piece while the more popular variety is the collapsible (Folding) Cane which can be generally folded into 4 or 5 pieces and carried in a hand bag. The problem or disagreement is whether the Long Cane or the Collapsible Cane is more useful and effective. While those who trust the Long Straight Cane contend that it affords more safety, because of its extra length and solid strength. It has also been called the "traditional" white cane, also known as a "Hoover" cane, after Dr. Richard Hoover, who designed it primarily as a mobility tool used to feel obstacles in the path of a user. The Long Cane length depends upon the height of a user, and traditionally extends from the floor to the user's sternum. While some training experts and users believe in the use of much longer canes.

On the other hand, those who put their trust in the Collapsible Cane believe that the benefits of being able to fold their cane, as they can be quickly folded down and stored under a seat, in a pocket, purse, in an airline seat pocket, in a backpack, or even attaching a string to it and tying it to a belt loop. One can put it away in a crowed place as a classroom, public event, and best of all while traveling in public transportation

Coming in close to the Collapsible Cane is the Telescoping Cane and is very popular, today. The Telescoping Cane has several sections which can be pushed, or telescoped, into the handle of the cane. They say it is convenient because it can be put into a purse or pocket when not in use, but it has proven not to be very durable.

Also there is:

Ø "Kiddie" cane: This version works in the same way as an adult's long cane, but is designed for use by children.

Ø Identification cane ("Symbol Cane" in British English): The ID cane is used primarily to alert others as to the bearer's visual impairment. It is often lighter and shorter than the long cane, and is more limited as a mobility tool.

Ø Support cane or sometimes called a Mobility Cane: This white support cane is designed primarily to offer physical stability to a visually impaired user. Sometimes a person that is not visually impaired will use it as a sign to show that the person has some type of a disability. By virtue of its color, the cane also works as a means of identification. This tool has very limited potential as a mobility device.

While modern White Canes are made from aluminum, graphite (carbon fiber), or fiberglass. Graphite canes are extremely light, yet they are very, very strong. These canes do not bend easily; they will, however, break if placed under extreme pressure. They also come with a wide variety of tips depending upon the user’s preference. It seems that an average person that is blind that uses their cane daily will need to replace the cane about every 6 to 8 months and replace the tips 3 to 4 times a year.

It seems that every year new advantages are being made in this area, presently there is a new "glow-in-the-dark" cane. A carbon-fiber cane with a special covering, this cane emits a soft greenish light for up to two hours, making it easier for motorists to see pedestrians in the dark. Also there is new cane called the slim "I.D." canes, intended to be used by visually impaired people who just need to let others know they have a vision problem. Many blind people are also using these canes, especially when they are fitted with larger roller or marshmallow tips to prevent them from becoming caught in cracks and crevices. Also, these new rollers and marshmallow tips are great, they help with getting around cracks and crevices; however they take away the touch feel to the “White Cane.” The different tips are:

Ø Roller tip. Pros: Rolls over cracks in sidewalk, making for a smoother walk. Cons: Greater weight can add to wrist fatigue; doesn't provide as much feedback to the traveler about small changes in the terrain.

Ø Marshmallow tip. Pros: Thick tip won't get stuck in cracks easily. Cons: Heavy; can cause wrist fatigue over time.

Ø Metal glide. Pros: Very light; glides easily over cracks.

While a “White Cane” is used by many people who are blind or visually impaired, both as a mobility tool and as a courtesy to others. Not all modern white canes are designed to fulfill the same primary function as with the tips and colors. Therefore it is important to find the “White Cane” that is best for you, for only you know what is best for you.

The methods of using the “White Cane,” is for improving mobility and there are many different teaching methods and ways of operating a “White Cane. “ The first thing one has to know before beginning is the “White Cane” assist the user to clear a safe path ahead by tapping and reaching and also, it assist the user to identify the surface on which the user is walking as soft, hard, smooth, or rough. Furthermore, by tapping the “White Cane” on items around them as walls, trees, furniture, and etc the “White Cane” user is able to figure out his location and possibly directions to where they are to be going or coming from. However, proper cane skills is a trial and error proposition, as it takes innovation that deals with one’s personal preferences. For it is mostly a touch and feel technique.

Basic techniques to using a White Cane:

1. Holding the Cane

One has to find out what is best for them as there are many different reasons one has for holding the cane in different ways. It could because of another health problem are it just does not feel right to do it this way. Myself, I find that when I am using a “White Cane” in the full extended position:

§ That placing the end of the handle into the center of the palm of my hand, wrapping fingers and thumb around the handle lightly, keeping the palm facing up and holding my hand at about waist level is the most comfortable; you have to find what is comfortable for you.

§ I tuck my elbow in, so that it presses against my side lightly.

§ I use my elbow as an anchor to keep my cane hand in relatively the same place. This helps me to move in a straight line.

§ I use this method outdoors and anytime that I am walking at my normal brisk pace. The cane in this position gives me about 2 to 3 steps of notice of upcoming obstacles or landmarks.

In places where I am moving more slowly, as inside shops, in line at the bank, in a crowd and other places like that:

§ I hold the cane closer and more vertical.

§ I hold the cane handle like a pencil at about mid chest level. This gives me about 1 to 2 steps of advance notice of things coming up, which is enough in most indoor or slower pace situations.

I do have one problem, I find it difficult in holding the cane in one position for long periods of time. Sometimes I find it more comfortable to turn my wrist a bit or switch from the indoor to the outdoor grip. Some people also switch from one hand to the other. I have nerve damage so I had to change hands very often. The goal is to gain experience and the only way to do this is to practice and find out what technique works for you.

2. Arc

§ Keeping the handle in the center of your body, tapping the same distance from center on both sides will help you keep in a straight line.

§ Keep your head up; pointing your nose where you want to go will also help keep you in a straight line. Lots of practice will help the most, though!

§ The best travel technique is to touch the cane tip light on the left and right side as you walk along. It does seem to work more smoothly if you tap the cane on the opposite side of the foot you are stepping forward with. Confused? When you step forward with your right foot your cane tip will touch down on the left. It’s really awkward at first, but in time it is as natural as walking!

§ Remember - Very important! You only go where your cane has been! Do not step backwards or sideways unless your cane has already been there.

3. Shore-Lining

This is a very simple technique for Shore-lining is used to find driveways, doorways, sidewalks, steps, or other places that you to know where they are so you can be safe:

§ As you walk down the hall or whatever; you tap the cane into the floor or wall on the side of the hall where you are looking for the door.

§ As you go along the cane will tap into an empty space…hall, wall, back to empty hall. There will be nothing there are you will feel the opening.

§ Different sounds and feels up the shaft will let you know what is ahead.

Shore lining can also be used to count doorways, driveways, sidewalks, posts or anything else. Let’s say that you are going to a friend’s home that lives three houses down from yours. You could use the shore lining technique to count the sidewalks that lead up to the houses. You will remember, next time to turn at the 4^th post or the steps are after the sidewalk bends, or maybe the mailbox is 6 steps down the driveway as you feel the grass, reach to the left and open. The best way to do this is by experimenting and practicing, get someone to go with you and help you learn the path; however use common sense as things can change on you.

The only way to get reference points is to bump them. There could be special sounds that the sidewalks backs right at the front door to a certain store you like. You might not be exactly right each time, but you should be close to the area. The bumping, touch, and feel is like hearing.

4. Driveways and Streets

This is just pure old common sense!

§ Remember drainage, well where will the water go if it rains. Usually driveways drain to the street, why? Because they slope, therefore you will probably feel like one leg is longer than the other when you are walking across a driveway.

§ Next, streets drain into gutters. As you step off of a curb you should feel the drop (up or down). As you walk across there should be a going up and then down or the other way. This is usually true unless you are on a hill. The drainage will be different. Think about it as you are out the next time. Notice the feel of the cane and ground under your feet as you move about.

§ As you learn the cane you will begin to notice hallways, doorways, parked cars, telephone poles, buildings, trees and a whole lot of other great things by the simple change in the sound or feel. What happens is the trees and hallways funnel a sounds or a feel to you, your nerves in your hands pick up this, and each item has a different sound or feel. It not magic, it just learning to pay attention to a new sense. You might have lost you sight, but you have gained a greater sense of touch and feel.

Some Advanced Techniques:

Advance 1. Stairs

In our world there are all sorts and designs of stairs, there are some with handrails, some with landings, and some with turns. While the basic technique will be the same in all of these, the main thing to remember is you can only go safely, to where your, “White Cane,” has already been.

§ USE the HANDRAIL ! Use one hand on the handrail and use the other hand for the cane.

§ HOLD the cane diagonally across your body a little ways in front of you.

§ Lightly rest the tip of the cane on the step in front of yourself. As you go down the cane tip slides forward and drops down to the next step. When it stops dropping and just slides you will know that you are at the bottom or landing.

GOING UP! Do the same basic thing except the cane won’t do the slide and drop thing.

§ Lightly press the cane tip against the step and slide it up to find the next step

Ø Keep the cane ahead of yourself two steps or so, because it is awkward to have the cane only one step ahead.

REMEMBER! Always check with your cane first before you move into any space that isn’t known to you. Use your common sense and go with what works for you.

Advance 2. Crossing Streets

I know for myself this was the most frustrating thing to do, by myself and even with a helper. It should not have to be that way for anyone. I would say the only way to get over this one, is to take a deep breath and remind yourself that you can do it. Start small and work up to more complicated and dangerous intersections.

Ø First before you attempt anything be sure you know the rules of the road for the area you are attempting to do this. You have to know when cars and trucks can turn, which lanes of traffic turn and how and when. Also when they stop and when the can go on red or yellow.

Ø Pay attention to the sounds as you approach the intersection…if possible always cross at an intersection. SOUNDS are very important!

Can you hear traffic? Sounds of a motor, the brakes, the radio, can inform you to how close the car or truck is and even how fast or slow it is going. Always stop and listen before you attempt to cross, learn the sounds of people standing walking and also the sounds of the traffic lights. Before you attempt to cross you should have an idea of all that is going on around you. A major problem is some of today cars and truck are very quiet!

Ø KNOWLEDGE of the intersections . Ned to know what type of intersection it is, if possible, T-intersection, one way or two, an island, traffic lights, stop or yield signs, or even if it is close to an entrance or out for a shopping center or business. The best thing to do is stand there until you know, you feel, you understand the traffic intersection, completely. Stand back and just relax as you figure this out.

Ø If you are right at the curb, the drivers will most likely think you are trying to cross. They could get confused and could stop or yell at you that it’s okay to go. And it not safe to do it.

IMPORTANT!

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, cross a street …if you aren’t sure… even if someone tells you, that it is okay.

It may very well be Okay to go, but if you are not sure, not ready, then do not go. When you cross the street it has to be on your own terms. Do not step out into traffic on someone else Okay. You will on learn when you understand and trust your instincts. When I was learning and I still am, as I am not still comfortable by myself so I plan on when I know I am having to cross an intersection to have my wife with me to help. To me it seems like it takes me too long to get across, the ringer is telling me that cars are going to be coming, so I get confused. Hopefully with more practice, I will get more confident. I am always scare that I will not walk in a straight line and veer off.

Advance 3. Sounds in the Environment

As one get better with using their “White Cane” they will begin to move around safely, and then they should begin to hear and sense things around them. You should be beginning to feel normal and begin to hear the sounds that anyone would be hearing as, far away traffic, birds, dogs barking, music in shops as you pass, and grocery carts being pushed through a parking lot. Next you should begin to notice the things that are there but do not necessary make a noise, but it is a noise as wind blowing, trees, parked cars, doors, and buildings. I am not saying you will be able to hear a tree, but the branches move, the leaves blow, it is more of a sense as a smell, it sounds you sense.

EXPERIMENT

Go into a room or office and shut the door. Stand quietly and listen for a minute or two. Now, go into a larger room, stand in the middle and listen for another minute or two. Can you notice the difference? Doesn’t the first smaller room or office sound smaller? The walls don’t talk to you, but the sounds are funneled differently.

Try talking and then put your hand in front of your mouth. Listen to how the sound changes. As you pay more and more attention to the sounds around you the ability to notice objects by the absence of sound will increase.

Remember Practice! Practice! Practice!

It may take months or years, but it will come.

The only way to get better is to work on it.

The White Cane helps to identify a person as being blind or visually handicapped. It assists the user to clear a safe path ahead by diagonally tapping a Cane in a half-circle. It also assists to identify the surface on which the user is walking whether hard or soft, rough or smooth.

Further, by tapping the Cane on adjacent or adjoining structures or surfaces, such as Walls, Trees, etc the user is able to get some idea of his location bearings and direction.

The methods of using the White Cane for improving mobility and orient-action have advanced considerably during the past several decades.

Otiss’s Opinion of Obama

2010-08-28T17:19:00.001-05:00

    I have watched and studied our elected President, Barack Obama, for over a year and a half, and I have made some decisions about him, which are my personal opinions, only.

   It is my belief and opinion that Mr. Obama is a Muslim, and that is the only way to put it! I know that our society wants to teach, that one can be Muslin and a Christian, but one, cannot. For one can only truly worship, one GOD, and Muslins and Christians worship different ones. Either one, believes in Jesus or Muhammad! One cannot walk between the two faiths as our President Obama is doing. Which makes me wonder, which one does he believe in his heart, which one does he walk with daily, as a Muslim are as a Christian?

    One thing is for sure, he reaches out more to Muslims than to Christians. He attempted to ignore the regular White House’s observance of the National Day of Prayer, which has been recognized by some degree by every President since Reagan. I wonder, if he would have ignored it all together, but no, he found a way to use the day and called the Muslim call to prayer, “one of the prettiest sounds in earth.”

 It is so simple to understand and believe the truth,

 For Christian worship Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Then God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and he fathered the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel.

 The Muslims worship Allah.

 The Muslim’s holy book is the Koran, which tells its followers to mistreat Christians and Jews.

 The Christian’s holy book is the Bible in which God says that he who blesses Israel, He will bless, and he who curses Israel, He will curse.

 It is totally impossible for them to be one and the same.

     Now, tell me why, is our government, educational institutions, news networks, and media been working so hard to establish in our minds, as everyday American citizens, that most Muslims are Peace loving and the terrorist is extremist. (I guess, I should not use the word terrorist, as Obama, tells us it is wrong). However, in simple English, they are attempting to defuse a national outrage against the terrorist ‘attackers 911’, while hoping to prevent a black last against Muslins living in America.

    It is the same, with the proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque near the World Trade Center site. Why is Obama, pushing this forward, if he is not, Muslim? After ‘9-11” the site was considered as Holy Ground. It is something we as Americans cannot forget, just as the world should never forget, what happen that day and why!

   In my opinion, the proposed Muslim cultural center and mosque near the World Trade Center site, has to be stopped. I bet, I would be stopped, if I wanted to build a teaching center about Nazism, anywhere close to a Jewish center are even the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. What if I wanted to teach about the Klan and start a white race church close to anywhere civil rights memorials are? I know for sure, I would be stopped, not by lawsuits, by the government, itself....

    Next, in my own personal opinion, I believe that our dear President Obama is more socialist than a capitalist, and that he would like to see America become a total socialist state. America that has a colossal central government that would control everything from Health care, gasoline, well, everything we know.

    I also believe that our President believes and wants to see our American in a global government. A government that would take over running everything in our plant, they would control and levy all taxes and allocate all goods in the name of protecting us all. This global government would have a one world currency and a one seat of power. There would be NO! ‘one republic for which it stands,’ NO! ‘one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all,’ however, there would be a “One World Government.”

     One of the first steps our President has taken in this plan of his, is his cap and trade legislation, which is nothing more than a bald face attempt to hand the sovereignty of the United States of America over to the corrupt and inept United Nations or some other worldwide organization.

      In my opinion, President Obama is a sold out Muslin and a globalist. Furthermore, it seems that he has a problem with his ego; it seems he can say and do whatever, he wants, but someone else cannot question him. The problem that comes in with the ego, is he will allow our nation to go down in financial ruin before he will even attempt to say he is wrong about the economy and his policies.

    To go along with the ego problem, Obama is an elitist, a person who thinks that Ivy League degrees, as Harvard, mean more than common sense. This is proven, over and over again by his appointed cabinet of friends, who are unrealistic and have no knowledge of what it takes to live as an American in the real world.

     What so sad about all of this is, in my opinion, our President does not understand our military and what their job is to do and not to do. It seems as if he plays with them, as if they are on a board game in the Oval Office. I also believe that Obama does not believe in the sanctity of life, and he has proven that by supporting radical abortion legislation.

     With our President, not believing in the sanctity of life, not having an understanding of the military, being an elitist with a major ego problem, a globalist, a socialist, and Muslin, shows he is not able to handle the job of being the President of the United States of America, our leader. In my personal opinion, Obama is in over his head; he got thrown in the swimming pool, and did not learn to swim. The same is with his cabinet, the people in his special circle of friends and others around him.

    Finally, I cannot forget about the United States Congress, if they allow this President and pass his dangerous and disastrous programs they are just as guilty as he is of destroying us all.

    In my opinion, I look at the Congress and the President and say that we all need to Pray for them and ask for guidance, guidance to follow the true God and HIS will for our country and the true God cannot be found in the Qur’an. Pray, that we will not wake up, one morning to discover, a Muslin flag, flying over the White House.

Now, do not get me wrong, I do not hate Muslins in any way; I understand that they are lost souls, which need to find their way to Jesus. However, I do come against any religion:

 That wants to destroy Christians,

 a religion that teaches that Jesus was never crucified, that someone else died on that cross.

 I come against a religion that teaches that Jesus is not the Son of GOD.

For I know and wish, for all Muslins to know, as I do, that Jesus died, sinless, on the cross, for everyone and arose for them. That there is only one true GOD: in three parts, as the Father, as the Son, and as the Holy Ghost. To know the truth, that Allah is not GOD, as Muhammad is not and he was not a prophet of God and that the Qur’an is not the Word of GOD.

    As it was stated at the “Restoring Honor” rally in Washington D.C. on August 28th, 2010, “We must restore America and restore her honor,” by the former “Alaska governor, Sarah Palin.” Also, Glen Beck exhorted the crowd to "recognize your place to the creator. Realize that he is our king. He is the one who guides and directs our life and protects us."

The leaders at the rally asked the audience to pray more and just as they stated I agree with all my heart and soul

"I ask, not only if you would pray on your knees, but pray on your knees but with your door open for your children to see,"

Well, that’s my opinion!

Flag Protocol

2010-07-26T09:44:00.000-05:00

I came across an article the other day, written by Poet and freelance writer Ed Barna, on his bog “Out and About…Ramblings through Vermont and its creative activities” http://rutlandherald.typepad.com/out_and_about/.

It deals with a subject that is dear to my heart, Flag Protocol. I know that every day, I can come across in Vermont and it is probably the same everywhere in our great country, the misuse of our great American Flag. It seems to me that we do not care and I ask why?

It seems that we have been programmed to not see all the misuse. It seems it does not matter anymore! There are flags wore and torn all over our state and then what about the ones out in the rain. Then it seems we have a habit to leave it out at night. I ask, do we just not care anymore?

Article written by Ed Barna

May 31, 2010

FLAG PROTOCOL

This morning, Irene and I went to Middlebury’s Memorial Day parade, then we went to the Middlebury Inn to talk about the flags they had on poles facing the green.

Irene, than whom there are few more observant, had noticed that the American flag was not at the center of the three flags, the others being those of Canada and Vermont. She wanted to talk about with someone in the hotel management, to make sure proper flag protocol was being observed.

So had a fair number of other people, said the man to whom we spoke, so he looked up the dos and don’ts of displaying the flag, on the Internet. He didn’t say which site.

What he found was that the Inn should probably switch its Canadian and Vermont flags, but that the American flag was correctly placed on the left of the line—assuming that the town green was the place from where people would be looking. When another country is involved, the American flag takes precedence, then the flags of other sovereign states, then those of smaller entities. Had no other country been in the line, yes, the American flag should be in the center.

He went on to say that from what he sees and from what he had read, flag etiquette seems to matter less to people nowadays. For instance, you see young people wearing clothing that has the American flag on it, and the flag is not supposed to be worn. (My mind flashed back to Sixties demonstrations, where people would sometimes come wearing Uncle Sam costumes prominently decorated with the red, white and blue—a political statement like the rarer but more-remembered flag burnings.) The young people don’t mean disrespect by it, he said, it’s just that the old rules about flag displays either aren’t taught or they care more about showing their patriotism that way.

Dare I say it? I think our national attention is flagging.

It’s been a while since I was in Boy Scouts, where the subject is taught, so I, too, decided to look up “flag etiquette,” as Google termed it. I settled on www.usa-flag-site.org. They had a shorter version of how to show respect for the flag, which I’ll quote here, and a more comprehensive version that I’ll leave my readers to click on as needed.

The following is said to be based on the section of federal law known as the Flag Code:

--“The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.

--The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.

--The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.

--The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

--The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.

--The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

--The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.

--The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

--When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.

--The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.

--When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.”

Looking at the May 27 issue of one of Middlebury’s weekly newspapers, to see if any advertisements had misappropriated the flag, I didn’t have far to search. The paper’s own announcement of their Memorial Day deadlines and office hours had the image of a windblown American flag, stars and stripes together, occupying the top third of the space.

To repeat the theme of this morning’s Memorial Day speaker, “lest we forget.”

White Cane Day, October 15, 2010

2010-05-10T15:53:00.004-05:00

“White Cane Day” in Vermont and all over the United States is coming on us. October 15th will be here fast. We need to make this year a banner year and get things done. “2010" will be the year to get things done!

You can help some blind people all of the time, and you can help all blind people some of the time, but...

OFFERING HELP:

It's always appropriate to offer your help; just don't be surprised if blind persons would rather do it themselves. And when they do, it isn't necessary to applaud. If you want to help and aren't sure exactly what to do, ask an expert - the one you’re helping.

TALKING:

How do blind persons you want to help know you're talking to them? "Hay you blind person!" will get you immediate attention, but touching the person gently on the elbow is better. Grabbing the person's cane is definitely out; so is petting the Leader Dog, except during "off” hours. Even then, ask the master first.

Do your feelings bruise easily? When people don't recognize your voice over the telephone, for instance. If so, when you run into a blind person you know, start off by mentioning your name. if there's a blind person alone in a room, announce when you come in - especially if you are wearing sneakers. The same applies to leaving.

Don't sweat over substitute words for "see", "look", or even "blind". And don't avoid them where they fit. You can talk about blindness itself - if it comes up and you both feel comfortable about it.

Blind is not deaf. Don't shout. Also, blind is not dumb. If you have a question, for instance about what a blind person likes to eat, ask the person and not a companion.

WALKING:

If you are guiding someone who is blind, don't grab his/her arm. Let them take yours. After that, it's like dancing; he/she can tell when you come to curbs, steps, or turns. To avoid surprises, the person may want to walk a half step behind you. They may not want to hurt your feelings by telling you that you're going too fast - or too slow. If you pay attention, you ought to be able to judge after five or ten steps.

EATING:

In a cafeteria, most blind persons will not be able to carry a tray of food while using a Leader Dog or White Cane. Therefore, appropriate help at such time would be to offer to carry the tray while the blind person holds your elbow and walks to a vacant chair. This eliminates the real hazard of bumping another person with a tray of food and possibly spilling hot food or drink.

In a restaurant, guide your blind friend's hand to the chair back; take it for granted that the person knows how to sit down. Unless it's the person's regular haunt, offer to read the menu (prices too!). You can feel comfortable asking your friend if he/she would like the meat cut, roll buttered, or cream and sugar added to the coffee. If it's the person's turn to pick up the check and he/she offers, it's ok to spar a little out of politeness; but let your friend pay.

As for your own feelings; Pity is absolutely out, and sympathy is something appropriate, but sensitivity always helps.

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

Any person who is an owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent, or employee of any place of public or private housing, accommodation, amusement, or recreation, including but not limited to any inn, hotel, motel, apartment building, trailer park, restaurant, barber shop, billiard parlor, store, public conveyance on land or water, theater, motion picture house, public or private educational institution, or elevator, who refuses to permit a handicapper to enter or use the accommodations when accompanied by a guide, hearing, or service dog is guilty of a misdemeanor if the guide dog is wearing a harness or if the hearing or service dog is wearing a blaze orange leash and collar, and the handicapper being led or accompanied has in his or her possession a picture identification card certifying that the dog was trained by a qualified organizer or trainer. The department of labor shall maintain a list of organizations or trainers that train leader, hearing, and services dogs.

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VERMONT STATE LAW

Title 23: Motor Vehicles

23 V.S.A. — 1057.Duty toward blind persons

Whenever a pedestrian is crossing or attempting to cross a public street or highway, guided by a guide dog or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick, white in color or white tipped with red, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection, or place where the pedestrian is attempting to cross, shall bring his vehicle to a full stop before arriving at the intersection or place of crossing and before proceeding shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring the pedestrian.

It is unlawful for any person, unless totally or partially blind or otherwise incapacitated, while on any public street or highway, to carry in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red.

Nothing in this section deprives any totally or partially blind or otherwise incapacitated person, not carrying a cane or walking stick and not being guided by a dog, of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon pedestrians crossing the streets or highways, and the failure of any totally or partially blind or otherwise incapacitated person to carry a cane or walking stick, or to be guided by a guide dog upon streets, highways or sidewalks within this state, does not constitute and is not evidence of contributory negligence.

Failure to yield can result in a fine of up to $100 and FOUR POINTS on the motorist’s driving record!

October 15, 2010

White Cane Day

White Cane Activity Sheet

2010-04-14T15:33:00.002-05:00

2010-03-22T15:26:00.000-05:00

It began on a Sunday March 21, 2010, a day of worship and for honoring the heavenly Father. A day that was designed for good, but it turned in a disaster for every man, woman, and child this is and will be someday a American.

But, no it was another day, one that the President of the United States and all the other government officials that we the citizen put our lives in the hands of, decide to have. It was no different than all the late night, closed door, sessions that have been going on. It was a day that Spirit of God, wept, as all these great government officials and others praised the author of the health care bill. This in turns begins the beginning of a new world, a new government, which has a new ideology, one without the Father, GOD.

Now it is

The great musician and American Charlie Daniels wrote this, today in his soapbox, it is words of wisdom, which we need to hear.

To paraphrase a statement by Franklin Roosevelt, Monday March 22, 2010 will be a day that will live in infamy, the day the Democratic controlled congress sold out the American people, voting in a health care bill that a majority of the American people have said over and over they didn't want.

We no longer have a representative government; we essentially have a dictatorship that is willing to force their will on us regardless of what we want. This is the most despicable act ever perpetrated on the American public by the most dishonorable congress we've ever had.

They don't even know what's in the bill they just passed, and when those chickens start coming home to roost, I only hope the public remembers who made it law.

I know that I will.

I have always had unfailing faith in the American ability to persevere; to bounce back and overcome almost anything, but people, this health care bill will change America into something that will resemble a police state.

Now I know that's a drastic statement, but just wait, before this is over, there will be a single-payer health care system run by the government, Americans will be forced to buy health insurance, businesses will be forced to participate in government programs they can't afford and you will see more and more industry moved out of the country which means more permanent loss of jobs.

All these measures will be strictly enforced by agencies of the federal government. The I.R.S. is already going to monitor our lives to make sure we have government-approved insurance with the passage of this bill, and that will just be the beginning. 16,000 new I.R.S. agents will be hired to oversee this.

Obama claims this program will actually cut the budget but anybody with a brain in their heads knows that it will not only not cut the budget but will cost trillions of dollars that we just don't have, adding catastrophic amounts to the national debt.

When has a government program not cost way more than they told us it would?

In other words we will have debt we cannot possibly pay taxes will go through the door, resulting in more jobs lost and more investment capital being moved out of the country.

There will be billions of dollars cut from the Medicare program and many doctors and hospitals will simply stop taking Medicare patients, while at the same time the program will dump some 30 million or so new patients on a system that can't handle the load now which will certainly lead to rationing of health care which is something else Obama said won't happen.

You will see health care paying for the abortion of innocent babies. I know, I know, Obama signed an executive order saying this won't happen under this bill, but you just wait and see.

I believe that a huge amount of doctors will simply stop practicing and that many young people who had planned to go into medicine will simply opt for another profession.

And think about this people, if the Democrats can pass health care, what else are they willing to push down our throats?

The sorry answer is, as long as they are a majority, anything they want to; amnesty for illegal aliens is just around the corner.

America is on it's way to becoming the largest banana republic on earth.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, and for our country

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

You can find this and other Charlie Daniels opinions at his soapbox

http://www.charliedaniels.com/soapbox.htm

Simple Rules to Follow for Using a White Cane in a Town are City

2010-02-19T18:40:00.018-06:00

Stop… Listen… Look

Rules for using a White Cane at a Intersection

In this lesson, the objective is simple:

To walk up, down, and around the block
Stopping for all open areas (that includes driveways)
Listening, for cars and the direction of traffic, as of yet still waiting for "All Quiet"
Finally look to make sure all is clear before you cross a driveway or street… and as always, using perfect cane technique.

Make your way to any street, survey the location, note the street name, the flow of traffic, and how the intersection is controlled… listened for sounds and made it all the way across… as you go down a few more blocks, do the crossings the same way, always stopping, listening for any sound, and then looking before crossing.

This lesson is for you to be observed, to see how you approached the curb, and to make sure you listened, and looked before crossing. It is best to do this repeatedly. In addition, have you observer (helper) a good 20 to 30-feet behind you, as to not disturb you.

As you walk down the street, listen to people, as they are out. As you come to an intersection, check the curb edge with your cane. Every once in a while stop and rest and see what you hear. As you make your way down the street, you might overhear people saying things as; "Leave the man alone, he knows what he's doing"… and a fleeting comment of "Them blind people sure amaze me, I don't know how they do it…" – People will noticed what you are doing with a White Cane. However, most of them will just walk on by and never offer to assist you crossing the street or help you, listening to the light signal. However all ways remember others walk and go faster than you, so go when you feel safe to go.

As a note to fellow sighted readers, Please do not shout or startle a blind or low vision person; chances are they are concentrating on the task at hand… You should not yell, "It's OK to cross," they will cross when they feel safe. Chances are they are at the curb, with the cane in front of them waiting to step off. If they are not going to cross, they should pull their cane tight to their body, and back away from the curb, – Please do not be offended, if they tell you, they do not need your help.

Stop… Listen… Look Rules to Follow at the Stop Light

This Lesson is all about intersections controlled with stoplights.

The first thing to know is the different types of stoplights, the Variable Timed, and the Fixed Time. You should be able to guess the difference by their names, it's really simple.

A variable timed intersection is controlled by a stoplight with an embedded pressure plate or wiring that a car rolls over to control the amount of time the light will stay green on the next cycle. – You can usually see the wires or plate in the roadway. A fixed time intersection has a set interval of red to green cycles that will not change… Simple.

Did you know that most traffic lights and cross walk lights; timing is based on the fact that most people walk about 5-feet-per-second? The wider the street, technically the longer the light will stay green, or the light will stay on. Did you know that on a variable timed intersection, most lights would add about 3-seconds to the light cycle for each car in the line, most times with a maximum up to three cars deep? (That is about 9 or 10 seconds.)

So, why does a person that uses a White Cane need to know these facts?

As a blind or visual impaired person approached the intersection, they have a better idea about when it is safe to cross. If you know the cycle is 30 seconds as the intersection you cross all the time, then if you are still hearing car noise and 15 seconds has gone by, well it would not be sate to set into the intersection.

If the city has installed the walk signals correctly, the stoplight or walk pedestrian button facing into you is used to control the light crossing the street that you are facing, the button should never behind you or facing the other walkway. However, remember some may not be working, could be installed, wrong, or just broken. Next you:

Hit the walk button and wait for the light to change
Have the cane in front of you
Be away from the curb, remember to be listening
Listen for the chirp, the sound which means go and the other chirp that means you should be half way and lastly the chirp that means 10 seconds and you better be across
The Light turns green
You are still listening for noises of danger, the chirp…sounds for you to cross
Hold your White Cane into the air as if you were holding a flag…hold it out for vehicles to see. It the official warning for vehicles to slow down and you are crossing, this is good to use coming out of stores to a parking lot or going in to a store from your vehicles in the parking lot
Find the drop in the crib, set off and begin you crossing, listening for the chirps and other danger noises
Keep walking at a regular pace, feeling for cracks, holes and the curb.
AS you get to the curb, find the sidewalk and go up or what ever is needed

Now that was not bad we all made it… and now… keep doing it over and over, until you feel comfortable and safe.

Danger:

Always be aware, of the people, which will not see you or could care less, if you are in the intersection. These (?) feel like they have the right of way, all the time. In addition, never forget about the dangerous's
turn-on-red that so many drivers like to do, even though some (a lot) like to ignore the no-turn-on-red signs. Yes, pedestrians have the right-of-way at crossings, but, just because a car stopped, it does not mean that they see you and that they will not turn on red. They are watching for other vehicles and police, so you have to watch or listen for yourself. You are at the disadvantage, if you get hit my a vehicle, the vehicle will win,

Therefore, drivers, please put down your cell phone, stop putting on your makeup, do not pass stopped cars, and pay more attention at intersections. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at cross walks, and persons with a white cane or service dog have even more! If you would just pay attention, the road would be much safer for all of us!

I understand, now, what Road Rage is, especially blind man style!

Stop… Listen… Look What is happening at the Intersection

How the things and action that is happening at the intersection is something most sighted people give little thought about. Nevertheless, for a person who cannot see well there are many things that has to be taken into consideration:

Is the street one-way or two
What type of intersection is ahead
What shape is it
How is it controlled - stop sign or stoplight
Does traffic even stop at all?

Not to mention, what street are you on, for it is very important for person that is visual impaired to be able to survey the intersections, in the area, that they will be crossing. They need a blueprint or a picture inside their head of the anatomy of the intersection.

They need to know if the intersection has crosswalks, lights, walk buttons, stop signs, if it is right on red, the timing of the lights, walk chirp, and most important the noises and what they should and not hear. It is important to know if the intersection is busier at certain times. Then, there is the name of the street for most people, do not know that visually impaired people cannot see the signs and if they do, they have to be right up to it. One needs to know where one is, in case of an accident or emergency.

Usually, a visually impaired person needs someone to walk around with him or her, to inform them of landmarks and explain to them the noises. As one walks with their cane, the person helping them can tell them as they get close to a story or landmark. For there are times, were a person can pick up sounds and feel things in their cane and this tells them where they are. They can then know, where they are, by a thud in the sidewalk or sound of how a door opens or closes. They identify areas and driveways by the feel of their cane.

The sound most visually impaired people hate to hear is…
STOP!

When this dreaded word is said, the visually impaired person…FREEZES!

Example, you are caning down the street, just moving smoothly alone and your observer or someone walking with you hollers out… STOP! Have ever wondered why new curbs have them bumpy Lego looking things, that is why…

Then as you wait for your heart to stop banging you think, well, I am still on the sidewalk, I did not feel a curb or a step off… WRONG, you are two steps out in tin the street. It is one of the new sidewalks, at the end of the corner is very flat and blended into the street. That is why there was no bump. and you… FREEZE!

So blind and visually impaired folks can tell there is a ramp for wheelchairs, and they are about to step into the street.

The same rules apply here as at all intersections, however stop on the Lego bumps, while holding your cane in hand. Reach out to see if you can feel the pavement. The danger here is that it is hard to know how close you are to the intersection and more importantly, since there is no curb, the vehicles turn very sharply and can very easily hit the person standing there.

Hold your can across your body and out from you to protect you into you are ready to walk. At this point, point your cane out and up, for all to see, make it very visible for all to see, you. Listen to the traffic, following the rules and go when you feel safe. Some people say wait until it is all quiet, but I have found if you do this, you could stand there for hours. However, when you feel save, go and walk and find the far curb. Now, remember there might not be a curb; it could be you go until you feel the Lego's.

If you are visual impaired and can see some, then follow the 5-step rule look left, forward, right, behind, and then left again, before you step off. For a sighted person crossing is easy, but if a person cannot see very well, they might not be able to see the drivers in their cars, waving them across. Just remember crossing a street is dangerous, be prepared, and know the anatomy of the intersection. This little bit of knowledge and being prepared can save your life.

Ours words produce “Life” or “Death” and more importantly our words show what is truly in our hearts.

2010-02-04T17:42:00.005-06:00

President Barack Obama's, chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, use the word "retarded" to describe liberal activists whose tactics on health care, he questioned.

Then on February the fourth, the New York Daily News reported:

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel offered a personal mea culpa on Wednesday to advocates for the disabled who were offended that he used the phrase "f---ing retarded."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/02/04/201004_rahm_says_sorry_again_over_use_of_rword.html#ixzz0ebpVIjsb

What is it going to take before we wake up and realize that these words that require "formal apologies" that are coming out of the White House is exactly how these men and women in power feel. There words are how these people think!

Plus, why did Mr. Rahm Emanuel have a private closed door meeting with Andrew Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities; Ricardo Thornton, a Special Olympics athlete; and, Peter Berns of The Arc, the a community-based organization for people with developmental disabilities. These men are not the ones that were offended by the word used

The only way for this to be corrected and to prove to others that remarks like this cannot be used 'is to fire' this White House Chief of Staff.

Next, this is not the first time apologies have had to come out of the White House because of speaking before thinking. It seems to be a national policy that one can say anything about anyone, anyway they want, if you are a member of the President's staff. However, if you say anything about President Obama's White House staff or policies, you are carried out and personal destroyed. So, I guess, I better get ready!

Just last year, our President made headlines with a joke on the Tonight Show with Leno, in which President Obama compared his poor performance in bowling to the Special Olympics. President Obama said, "It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something."

No apologies were giving then!

But a White House spokesman was forced to release a hurried statement which said: "The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics. He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world."http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/emanuel_meets_with_special_olympics_FNa1hbIFJiGJpbo0CAdNgJ#ixzz0ebtsntIW
Words that are coming out of the White House are a disgrace. Sure White House Staff member Rahm Emanuel, made the remark over a year ago, but who knows if it is the first time and what other words are being used in those hollow halls.

Then our own President made remarks that offend millions of Americans on national television. But what takes the cake, is all of this was hidden, and when it finally got out, this white house chief of staff person, said it again and added another dirty word to it. So tell me, what is being siad in those closed doors, what are they calling us. Plus, didn't the President promise use before he was elected that their would ne NO CLOSED DOOR MEETINGS!

Yes, they want to get around this, by saying it is a word use casually, especially used by kids in schools and in classrooms. Then, if this is so, MR President Obama, stand up and let out children know that words like this hurt and destroy people. The way to do this is to ban, talk like this in all government and the best way is to prove it. Now, fire the man, who used the word.

Let our children see that if a person talks like this, there are consequences for it.

Language and what it does:
The language we use, and the images created and promoted through language, reflect the attitudes we have towards individuals and groups of people. It is important to remember that people with a disability are just that - they are people who have a disability. Adults and children with a disability, have exactly the same needs and expectations as any other person. They are consumers, workers, and individuals.

When we are referring to an adult or child with a disability, there is no need to comment or mention the disability unless it is directly relevant to the conversation;
Use 'people - first' language. Don't refer to a person as 'the disabled person ', or the paraplegic'. Appropriate terminology would include:
Person with a disability;
Person with a hearing impairment;
person who is deaf;
Person with Cerebral Palsy;

Remember - The best way to refer to a person is by their name.
There is a saying "Your attitudes affect other people's lives". This is particularly true when it comes to people with a disability or medical condition. People's attitudes affect the ways buildings are designed, the way laws are enacted, the way people are treated, the way people feel in relation to belonging to a group and whether people feel they have a right to be in a particular place or undertake a particular task. If you have a negative attitude towards people with disabilities, then this will affect the way you treat them and the way they feel about being a person.
The words we use (even nicknames) have a powerful impact on others. These words that are coming out of our mouths and or from our fingertips in typing, writing, or texting will evolve and grow in a positive way (when positive words are used) or they can rebel and react in a negative way (when negative words are used). Therefore the question is what outcome do you want?

White Cane Law

2010-01-13T12:16:00.002-06:00

***This is Model of a Law to help visually impaired and blind people as myself...let me know how you would like this and if you would make any changes...
Write me at blindinkotiss@yahoo.com

Model White Cane Law

1: It is the policy of this State to encourage and enable the blind, the visually handicapped, and the otherwise physically disabled to participate fully in the social and economic life of the State and to engage in remunerative employment.

1 (a): The blind, the visually handicapped, and the otherwise physically disabled have the same right as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places; Snow and ice has to be cleared from the sidewalks and byways just as they are done for vehicles. Ridges and snow piles created by government and private plows that block sidewalks and bus stops have to be cleared.

1 (b): The blind, the visually handicapped, and the otherwise physically disabled are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats or any other public conveyances or modes of transportation, hotels, lodging places, places of public accommodation, amusement or resort, and other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons;

1 (c): Every, totally, or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, especially trained for the purpose, in any of the places listed in section 1 (b) without being required to pay an extra charge for the guide dog; provided that he shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog.

2: The driver of a vehicle approaching a totally or partially blind pedestrian who is carrying a cane predominantly white or metallic in color (with or without a red tip) or using a guide dog shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injury to such blind pedestrian, and any driver who fails to take such precautions shall be liable in damages for any injury caused such pedestrian; provided that a totally or partially, blind pedestrian not carrying such a cane or using a guide dog in any, of the places, accommodations or conveyances listed in section 2, shall have all of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon other persons, and the failure of a totally, or partially blind pedestrian to carry such a cane or to use a guide dog in any such places, accommodations or conveyances shall not be held to constitute nor be evidence of contributory negligence.

3: Any person or persons, firm or corporation, or the agent of any person or persons, firm or corporation who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in section 2 or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind or otherwise disabled person under section 2 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

4: Each year, the Governor shall take suitable public notice of October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. He shall issue a proclamation in which:

4 (a) he comments upon the significance of the white cane;

4 (b) he calls upon the citizens of the State to observe the provisions of the White Cane Law and to take precautions necessary to the safety of the disabled;

4 (c) he reminds the citizens of the State of the policies with respect to the disabled herein declared and urges the citizens to cooperate in giving effect to them;

4 (d) he emphasizes the need of the citizens to be aware of the presence of disabled persons in the community and to keep safe and functional for the disabled the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, other public places, places of public accommodation, amusement and resort, and other places to which the public is invited, and to offer assistance to disabled persons upon appropriate occasions.

6: It is the policy of this State that the blind, the visually handicapped, and the otherwise physically disabled shall be employed in the State Service, the service of the political subdivisions of the State, in the public schools, and in all other employment supported in whole or in part by public funds on the same terms and conditions as the able-bodied, unless it is shown that the particular disability prevents the performance of the work involved.

In some States blind and otherwise disabled persons have been having difficulty renting, leasing, or buying suitable housing. Another section (Section 7) is herewith set forth for those States which have no protection for disabled people in the housing area.

7 (a): Blind persons, visually handicapped persons, and other physically disabled persons shall be entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to all housing accommodations offered for rent, lease, or compensation in this State, subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.

7 (b): "Housing accommodations" means any real property, or portion thereof, which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as the home, residence, or sleeping place of one or more human beings, but shall not include any accommodations included within sub-section (a) or any single family residence the occupants of which rent, lease, or furnish for compensation not more than one room therein.

7 (c): Nothing in this section shall require any person renting, leasing, or providing for compensation real property to modify his property in any way or provide a higher degree of care for a blind person, visually handicapped person, or other physically disabled person than for a person who is not physically disabled.

7 (d): Every totally or partially blind person who has a guide dog, or who obtains a guide dog, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations provided for in this section, and he shall not be required to pay extra compensation for such guide dog but shall be liable for any damage done to the premises by such a guide dog.

Being able to see by using a Camera

2009-12-30T15:41:00.002-06:00

George A. Covington

By Phillip C. Otiss Brown, Blindink Design, December 30, 2009

Mr. Covington was born legally blind with 20/400 vision in both eyes. Due to a combination of astigmatism, nastagmus, eccentric fixation and myopia, his eyesight was not optically correctable. His vision impairment was no match for a strong drive to succeed.

After attending and graduating from college, and then from law school, George has worked as an attorney, a journalism professor, an author and as a Press Aide and Special Assistant for Disability Policy (1989-93) to the Vice President of the United States.

Mr. Covington has written these books:

"Let Your Camera do the Seeing: The World's First Photography Manual for the Legally Blind." National Access Center. Available free to all legally blind and physically disabled people through the Library of Congress National Library Service Division of the Blind and Physically Handicapped (cassette RC 17386).

"Access by Design." Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996

"Photo Hero: A Satire of Photography." 1st Books Library, 2001.

This Kodak site has a biography and a virtual gallery of George Covington's photographs.
Web: www.kodak.com/takePictures/covington/introduction.shtml

Mr. Covington has stated many times, "Sighted people tend to take photographs to capture an image of a loved one's face, to have a visual record of a person, place or event that they don't want to forget." However for George Covington, a camera is more than a means to help him remember -- it's a tool that has helped him to see.

Mr. George Covington "discovered" photography while helping a friend who was shooting landscape photos. While his friend prepared for the shoot, George wandered about the sites, experiencing the landscape on his own. Later that day his friend handed him four photos from the shoot. "I held her photographs in my hand and realized I did not recognize any of the scenes. What I had 'seen' was strictly in my mind," he recalls.

That moment led Mr. Covington to an inspiration: he could use photographs to enhance his limited visual abilities. As he explains, "I can walk into a room for the first time and see almost nothing. As I learn the contents of the room, my brain interprets what I perceive as a visual image. When I have become familiar with that room, I can describe every object in it and its placement. I actually 'see' the contents of that room by interpreting small bits of information that upon first entry were totally confusing. My malfunctioning eyes are augmented by memory, imagination, and experience. I interpret as much as I actually see, and photography helps speed up and improve the interpretation."

What happen was he began taking his own photos, experimenting almost daily with photographs of friends, neighbors and family members. He learned to focus the camera by estimating the distance between himself and his subject. "Scale focusing", as this is called, and by using a camera with a wide-angled lens enabled him to take sharp pictures. As the prints were developed, George realized that the high contrast nature of a conventional print provided him with the information he need to "see" the picture. More often than not what he saw when he viewed the images surprised him. "I discovered that old friends had familiar faces, while new friends sometimes did not look anything like I thought they did," he explains. "Friendships made after the slow degeneration process (of his retina) began had faces created by imagination."

The first 20 years of his photography was conventional, chemical-based photography. For the past 5 years, as his eyesight has gotten progressively and rapidly worse, he has converted almost exclusively to digital cameras, scanners and computers. His opportunity to take control of the developing process came in the mid-1990s with the advent of digital cameras. Using a digital camera, he could take a photo and upload the image directly to his PC. Then he could manipulate the image, drawing out details or adjusting colors and brightness, using software programs such as Adobe Photoshop. This new level of control allowed him to alter the image until he could view it most clearly. "A manipulated image allows persons with diminished vision to view the scene or object represented by the photograph in the best light and a distance from their eyes that compensates for their particular problem."

A great thing happen, Mr. Covington, found a method for making the camera and computer his own "digital darkroom", a custom-tool for tailoring images to his unique visual capabilities.

Digital Darkroom

"Beginning photographers need nothing more than a conventional camera and film to get started. To get your pictures into a digital format, ask to have the negatives burned on Kodak's picture CD, or use a scanner to digitize prints."

"My own ideal digital darkroom would consist of:

1. Apple iMac, 700 MHz with 256 MB of RAM (The writer of this uses a simple Dell)
2. A digital camera of 2.1 megapixels or above
3. 2GB JAZ Drive
4. Scanner capable of scanning at least 600 x 1200 dpi resolution
5. Ink jet printer capable of at least 1440 x 720 dpi
6. A photography manipulation software in the caliber of Adobe Photo Deluxe or Photoshop

This Process of Perfection can help any person that is visually impaired, to see as they have seen before. By using this process Mr. Covington has tweaked and honed the developing process until it produces the sharpest images for his remaining eyesight. Here's the process he uses.

Using Photoshop, George transforms his images into sketches using a variety of Adobe filters. The result is an "artistic sketch". In some cases he deletes a distracting or cluttered background in order to highlight a key area of the photograph. He prints out copies of the image after applying effects and uses these as guideposts that will lead to the final image. (George stresses that each person will need to experiment to find the process that works best for their specific visual requirements.)

When George is happy with the image, he prints out two final copies: one for himself and another, if the photo was a portrait, to present as a gift to the subject.
Today George takes pictures using both conventional and digital equipment. He especially enjoys working with digital images. "Digital photography has given me a much wider range of control than I had in my conventional darkroom."

Highlights and alterations to images that once took hours to perform in a chemical darkroom can now be accomplished in minutes and even seconds in his "digital darkroom." On some issues, however, George prefers low-tech over hi-tech. For example, while computer software gives George a palette of colors to work with, he prefers black and white or sepia.

Examples of Mr. Covington Work:

Mr. Covington taking a Picture

Photo 1.

Photo 2:

Photo 3

How Mr. Covington Sees:

Picture is worth a thousand words

A Photo and how he and I see it:

Seeing by a sketch of a photo

Seeing by changing a photo to a sketch and then putting a tine or color in it

The writer wants to see distance as other do, therefore I took a camera and show how I see in the real world and how a camera lets me see it as any average person does.

WHAT I SEE:

WHAT I CAN SEE FROM PHOTO

WHAT I SEE WHEN I GET HOME ON COMPUTER

MR COVINGTON HAS GIVEN US A LOT, NOW LETS GO OUT AND SEE!

George A. Covington personal website:

http://homepage.mac.com/gcovington/Personal7.html

VISION EXPLAINED

2009-12-27T14:07:00.000-06:00

VISION EXPLAINED

In America, the Snellen Eye Chart is used which is based on standardized graded sized letters usually read at a distance of 20 feet.

Visual field = is the amount of distance seen left to right without moving the eyes from side to side.

20 / 20 = normal vision

A person with 20/20 can read the numbers in a telephone book and stock quotes on paper with the naked eye.

Normal Vision is the last 3 lines of an eye chart and extends from a vision of 20/10 to 20/20 and 20/30.

20/10 = better than normal vision!

The first set of numbers is the vision of the patient.

The second set of numbers is the vision of a normal person.

The numbers compare the two types of vision.

Patient (Compared to) Normal vision person
= P / N.

20/20 = normal

20/100 = Patient sees it at 20' / Normal person can see it from 100' away

20/10 = Patient can see it from 20' away / Normal person sees it at 10' away…the patient has better
than normal vision in this case!

Normal vision = 20/20

In order to get a driver's license = 20/40

In need of special educational accommodation/assistance = 20/80

The legal definition of blindness = 20/200

A person with 20/80 vision can read the headlines of newspapers…that is the type size of headlines, so that they can be seen from a further distance by most people, and also read by low vision people.

Visual Acuity = a measure of the spatial resolving power. It indicates the angular size of the smallest detail that can be resolved. (That can be seen clearly enough to identify correctly.)

The maximum visual acuity…considered to be 20/15 or 20/16.

O.D. = oculus dextrous (the right eye).

O.S. = oculus sinister (the left eye).

So…if a normal vision person sees an object at 600 feet, and the patient sees it only when at 5 feet, then if the normal person saw something at 2400 feet clearly, the patient would be able to see it at 20 feet. 5/600 = 20/2400.

Also…if a normal person can clearly see something at 225 feet, but the patient sees it only when at 10 feet, then if a normal person can see it at 450 feet away, the patient could see it at 20 feet away. Say you enlarge the thing the normal person saw at 225 feet so the normal person could now see it when at 450 feet…enlarge it 2x. The patient could see it after it was enlarged 2x when standing at 20 feet away because it was enlarged 2x. 10 x 2 = 20 and 225 x 2 = 450 10/225 = 20/450.

The same is true for vision of 5/600. If the patient has to be 5 feet from something in order to see it clearly, while the normal vision person can see it from 600 feet away. Then an item large enough for the patient to see at 20 feet, the normal person would be able to see from 2400 feet away…nearly ½ mile away. To figure this, take the patient vision of 5 feet compared to normal vision of 600 feet. Then enlarge it to where the patient will be able to see it at 20 feet…you will need to enlarge it 4x. Make the normal person's item 4x larger also so that they will be able to see the same sized item, and the normal person will now be able to see that 4x item from 2400 feet away. 5 x 4 = 20 and 600 x 4 = 2400 5/600 = 20/2400.

Synopsis / Recap:

The goal is to make something to where the patient can see it from 20 feet …

Remember how the comparison is written…

P / N (P=patient
/= compared
to N=normal vision person)

10/225……………..20 divided by 10 = 2 (If the patient can only see it when standing at 10 feet away, then this means you need to enlarge the item 2x so the patient can see it from 20 feet away).

The 225 is the distance a normal vision person could see the item. If we enlarge the item for the patient to be able to see it from 20 feet away, it will change the distance that the normal vision person will see it at also. If we enlarge it, the item can now be seen by the normal vision person when they stand at 450 feet because 225 x 2 = 450.

10/225 (x2) = 20/450

If a patient can now see the item at 20 feet away, yet the same item is normally seen from 450 feet away, that means the patient has far less than normal vision. The patient should have been able to see the item from 450 feet instead.

When visual acuity is below the largest optotype on the chart, either the chart is moved closer to the patient or the patient is moved closer to the chart until the patient can read it. Once the patient is able to read the chart, the letter size and test distance are noted. If the patient is unable to read the chart at any distance, he or she is tested as follows:

Name	Abbreviation	Definition
Counting Fingers	CF	Ability to count fingers at a given distance.
Hand Motion	HM	Ability to distinguish a hand if it is moving or not in front of the patient's face.
Light Perception	LP	Ability to perceive any light.
No Light Perception	NLP	Inability to see any light. Total blindness.

Many humans have one eye that has superior visual acuity over the other. If a person cannot achieve a visual acuity of 20/200 (6/60) or above in the better eye, even with the best possible glasses, then that person is considered legally blind in the United States. A person with a visual field narrower than 20 degrees also meets the definition of legally blind.

A person's visual acuity is registered documenting the following: whether the test was for distant or near vision, the eye(s) evaluated and whether corrective lenses (i.e. spectacles or contact lenses) were used:

Distance from the chart
- D (distant) for the evaluation done at 20 feet (or 6 meters).
- N (near) for the evaluation done at 15.7 inches (or 40 cm).
Eye evaluated
- OD (Latin oculus dexter) for the right eye.
- OS (Latin oculus sinister) for the left eye.
- OU (Latin oculi uterque) for both eyes.
Usage of spectacles during the test
- cc (Latin cum correctore) with correctors.
- sc: (Latin sine correctore) without correctors.
Pinhole occluder

The abbreviation PH is followed by the visual acuity as measured with a pinhole occluder, which temporarily corrects for refractive errors such as myopia or astigmatism.
So, distant visual acuity of 20/60 and 20/25 with pinhole in the right eye will be:
DscOD 20/60 PH 20/25
Distant visual acuity of count fingers and 20/50 with pinhole in the left eye will be:
DscOS CF PH 20/50
Near visual acuity of 20/25 with pinhole remaining at 20/25 in both eyes with spectacles will be:
NccOU 20/25 PH 20/25

"Dynamic visual acuity" defines the ability of the eye to visually discern fine detail in a moving object.

Another type of eye chart, can you read it:

Baseball logos

2009-12-26T16:34:00.003-06:00

I wanted to teach my grandson about logos, so I began with baseball, if anyone has any that they would like to send me, do so at blindinkotiss@yahoo.com ... just label it logos These are the MLB logos and the Japan professional teams.

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