Tuesday, August 25, 2015

#deaflivesmatter - except in Kingson - here I address the Democratic Mayoral Debate & Kingston's inaccessibility for the Deaf

#deaflivesmatter - except in Kingston
Frustrated, I decided I would address the Democratic
Mayoral Debate & Kingston's inaccessibility for the Deaf


The Kingston Democratic Mayoral Debate last night (8/25/15) & the inaccessibility to the event as well as to events, programs & services in Kingston, has me on my soapbox so no comedy in this blog today - just frustration and addressing the inaccessibility to Deaf residents of Kingston to anything much less a mayoral debate.

After an email back & forth with one candidate in last night’s debate that was one sentence from him & one sentence from the League of Women Voters of Kingston who ran the event – has me beyond livid when it comes to full accessibility as per the ADA law for inclusion of Deaf people in our city. The event was NOT interpreted NOR captioned to provide equal access to all citizens but when I offered to interpret the event, I was sent a one line email “they said it’s ok if you come” with no regard to the profession nor required accessibility and this email was sent to me at 2:36pm – the DAY OF THE DEBATE with an assumption I would be available, and would do it for free. Without any forethought as to the LAW requiring accessibility as per the ADA law. Not that anyone besides Noble made any effort at ALL though. In reality it’s up to the hosting party (in this case the League of Women Voters and the Temple who hosted it) to provide this access. So at least one candidate out of the entire bunch made an EFFORT.

Regarding the debate: I’m quite sure measures were taken to be accessible to the mobility impaired. The fact that the hearing impaired, ASL using population of voters were considered to understand what was going on was not considered by those running the show, much less that it was completely blown off in the emails, is outright discrimination to the Deaf population of Kingston. No captioning, no interpreter, but I’m sure ramps were in place, special seating up front and so forth, in order to be considered “accessible” but it was not. It was not even considered to be of any importance by anyone but you! That’s outright discrimination, pure and simple. The organizers, host nor your opponent gave a single thought to the Deaf voters of our region to make the debate fully accessible to everyone.

There was no access to the Deaf population; a voting, tax paying, working population of people who have no idea what's going on because nothing is captioned nor interpreted for them in their language, which is required by the ADA Law. There are usually Spanish interpreters (which is not a disability nor required by law but a population that is not learning English is more favored than citizens who do speak English but can’t hear & need an interpreter to have access like everyone else – it’s not a choice not to learn a language), ramps for wheelchair users & so forth, but nothing is ever done for the Deaf population. It's absolute discrimination in its most passive aggressive form.

 

 

The lack of education to emergency services in terms of understanding hearing impaired people’s needs is sorely lacking as well. When there is a weather emergency or something similar & responders are out trying to find/help people they don’t realize that deaf people can’t hear them calling to assist them & back to the telephone issue, the Deaf person can’t call to GET help!

Regarding interpreters as required by LAW as per the ADA:

When an interpreter is needed, the general responses are:  “you can read lips”, or an attitude of “you can speak therefore you can hear” or “we can right back & forth” etc.

IF an interpreter is found, the services are expected for free or a cut price for some reason. Instead of respecting the education, knowledge, skill & time of the interpreter is not considered in terms of expecting payment for these services, which is mentally & physically exhausting.

#DEAFLIVESMATTER #EQUALACCESSFOR ALL

So many topics addressed in the debate were about “minorities” that only includes “the people of color” population. Deaf people are a minority & their communication accessibility is a right as outlined in the ADA Law. But the current Mayor’s open door policy is a bunch of bunk: open door when someone needs an interpreter to address him? When calling the office to sit down with him, a staffer states that the person “needs to bring their own interpreter” & so forth? No that’s not an open door policy. If perhaps both candidates addressed the true need for full communication accessibility, education of & for the Deaf, had someone who is deaf in offices consulting, representing & provided an interpreter at every event they attend, speak at or public event they address – nobody has a true “open door policy” nor is creating fully accessible communications or information to the public in its entirety. There is no consulting, no accessibility, no education, and no support being offered to the Deaf population of Kingston. That includes this debate, as no Deaf person can understand it, leaving each Deaf voter out of the loop with no idea what either candidate stands for. The offer of accessibility was blown off by the people running & sponsoring the event & those included in the debate including those filming it to put out to the public.

The League of Women Voters as well as the Temple Emmanuel where it was held & whose brotherhood sponsored the event, should have made a concerted effort to assure this event was accessible to EVERYONE & not with an assumption by anyone that interpreting services were ‘free’ or a “they said you can come” kind of response. The deaf population of Kingston is the MOST ignored population and yet their needs are required by LAW – but are not followed nor is a precedent nor example of this accessibility being provided anywhere in this election, by anybody. Honestly, being told “they said it’s ok for you to come”. This message at 2:36pm the day of the debate.

Their response to your brief message said: “as long as this individual is regarded as impartial with no ties to either candidate, its fine” – ‘it’s fine’ & the entire sentence is completely ignorant as to interpreters for the Deaf and the ADA law as it relates to the Deaf. Interpreters have no partiality towards anyone while interpreting – their job is to provide communication from English to ASL & from ASL to English. Period. So even an interpreter with ‘ties’ to someone can interpret at ANYTHING as part of a qualified or certified interpreters job is to remain impartial & just facilitate communication no matter the arena.

That there was an assumption that these highly qualified services to provide ADA accommodation is provided free is outrageous. The assumption that an interpreter can just show up at such an event without any prior discussion as to pay, placement & so forth in order to provide such ADA accommodations as per the law, is also mind boggling. There was no following the ADA law at this event (nor most events connected to this election or anything else in Kingston for that matter), & is outright discrimination against a group of people whose disability via communication inequality & whose needs for such communication accessibility is required by LAW – is the perfect example of how inaccessible Kingston truly is and that only people in wheelchairs, the elderly, the Spanish or the “minority” of people of color’s needs are more important than those of residents of Kingston who use American Sign Language as their primary mode of communication. The League of Women Voters should be ashamed of themselves for not making SURE this was a primary concern prior to the day OF the event & then expecting you to relay a message to me that says “they said it’s ok if you come” which to me indicates it’s ok to come as a member of the public not as a person facilitating communication as per the ADA law – which is NOT free & is not expected to BE free to make things accessible to Deaf people.

It’s insulting to me as a hearing impaired/Deaf person (who uses a very expensive – (paid for out of my pocket ALD, as no devices or communication enhancers for the Deaf are paid for by insurance or anything else for that matter) that connects via my hearing aids to a mic’d source that allows me to interpret at the highest level of certification. I am quite sure that nobody involved would expect to put forth their education, experience & high skill set to work for free at their job. I’m sure that people who make accessible ramps & so forth are paid for their efforts & materials. The same goes for providing these required services to the Deaf as per the ADA Law. The fact that this was all done last minute & just blown off, is very discouraging and is outright discrimination to the Deaf population in meeting requirements of the ADA Law.

Very discouraging indeed.

 

As for the debate: the League of Women Voters were running the show & it was also produced/hosted by, Congregation Immanuel hosted, said they have many of these ‘community minded’ events – but clearly not inclusive nor accessible to all. Their ‘brotherhood’ sponsored it & neither they nor the LOWV managed to make it accessible to everyone.

 

If the debate had been considered to be fully accessible, there would have had to have been promotion to the community that it was going to be interpreted, the interpreter would have had to have been fully visible throughout (standing between the moderator & the candidates on camera at all times) & there would have had to have been front row seats made available for deaf attendees & not the press seen in the front row.

 

In the video of the debate, Part 1 at approx. 54min Gallo states how he is going to make sure a boat on a pier is ADA compliant but he does NOTHING to make things compliant nor accessible to the Deaf. (Including his ‘open door policy’ as I describe below). When will various tours & events be accessible to the Deaf? When will musical/theatrical events be accessible to the Deaf? (Yes Deaf go to concerts & enjoy music.) When will local movie theatres show open captioned films or provide accessible devices to the Deaf that do NOT include assistive listening devices made for hard of hearing people? Never if it’s up to Kingston.

 

Deaf lives matter!  #deaflivesmatter #deafvotesmatter

 

Excellent community policing re black lives matter – do Deaf lives matter? Where there is no communication nor understanding of communicating with deaf people, do #deaflivesmatter? Does it matter that the emergency agencies assume all deaf people can read lips, or assume writing back & forth in emergency rooms is enough for a Deaf person, or providing incapable ‘interpreters’ who merely took one sign class somewhere & can put someone’s life in danger due to their lack of skills; do #deaflivesmatter ?. Deaf Lives Matter too! But when Deaf people sign – it looks like gang signs to people that don’t know. There have been many deaf people who have been abused by the police forces because of not getting it, myself included. There have been deaf people abused, hurt or killed by using signs on a street corner all over the country, because gangs, police or whomever, because instead of thinking these people were deaf they were thought to be gang members. A deaf person can’t hear the police thus cannot respond, they are left to their own accord if stranded somewhere without accessibility to contact emergency services via text to get help. The deaf community is ignored completely, nothing is made accessible & no jobs are offered to deaf people in the area.

 

In cases of emergency services: Deaf people died in 9/11 because deaf people can’t hear emergency workers searching for them. Deaf people were stranded (& died) during hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms & flooding, because emergency workers are not trained to know how to look nor communicate with them & because someone didn’t answer their calling out, Deaf people are stranded & alone.  During “Super Storm Sandy” every deaf person I know (including myself) was stranded, without ability to get emergency services or help because of the need to be in front of their televisions & video phone devices to make any calls & there is no texting service for Deaf people from a cell phone (again the expenses of being deaf & having ‘accessible communication’ is broken down below.

 

Do we want the same thing to happen on a similar level in Kingston during states of emergency? Without proper training in dealing with hearing impaired individuals in emergency situations, without qualified interpreters at the ready for these agencies & emergency rooms in hospitals, without services in place to communicate to emergency personnel in the case of an emergency via texting & affordability for the costs of phone devices for the deaf to be able to call emergency services via phone – Kingston will never be accessible nor equal in any way, for its’ Deaf citizens.

 

On EDUCATION/JOBS in the community: Hearing people, not Deaf people, are not educating our young deaf students. Hearing people, not Deaf people are not the ones teaching American Sign Language (ASL) at the area colleges or schools.

Hearing people, not Deaf people, are educating the public & students about Deaf Culture & the language & life of the Deaf.

 

These jobs are held by hearing people whose first language is not ASL. These hearing people & most notably the teacher at UCCC who self-runs the entire department is an audiologist. An audiologist’s job is to ‘cure’ deafness. They have no right to be teaching a language and culture of people who live it every day likens itself to the Rachel Dolezal issue of a white woman teaching black culture where she has no first-hand experience on the subject and also took jobs away from black people who could have taught this with first-hand integrity & knowledge. What about JOBS that are also accessible to deaf people in the area who want to work but there is no understanding nor access to them? What about making sure the education of deaf youngsters and hearing people who want to learn the language of the Deaf & Deaf Culture, is taught by a qualified DEAF PERSON?

 

During the debate the following issues/topics were brought up & discussed as follows:

Question #12: Communicating with residents. Why is ‘minority’ ONLY to be considered people of color? The minority is DEAF – who are not given full access. The debate was not interpreted nor captioned. I gave a card to one of the candidates who took far too long to get to the people running the show, who then took too long getting back to him who then took too long getting back to me – sometime after 2pm the DAY of the debate. The League of Women Voters did NOT respond to his email to ME but rather blew off the suggestion of an interpreter, sent it back to him & I got the following “they said its ok if you come” was the only communication I received from a candidate who contacted them about me interpreting the event. The League of Women Voters sent him back one sentence, that clearly showed they have no idea what an interpreter does, ignoring the ADA Law regarding access to such an event & expecting it to be free, last minute & just “whatever” attitude. 

 

“Coming” indicates attending NOT WORKING the event putting years of skills & education to work, expecting me to just show up, for free, without any communication as to the propriety and access of providing an interpreter (placement, seating & so forth to assure the interpreter can be seen at all times in the space as well as on camera for viewers). No, the suggestion of an interpreter was instead completely BLOWN OFF into “they said it’s ok for you to come”.  To the League of Women Voters of Kingston & Temple Emmanuel, shame on you for not just offering this accessibility much less for completely blowing it off, thus discriminating against the deaf & full access as per the ADA. Shameful.

 

The Mayor of NY (as well as other cities) – have an interpreter with them for announcements, debates and so forth. The Mayor of Kingston? Nope.

 

Knocking on doors – how are you going to communicate with a deaf resident? How are you going to get your point across to a deaf resident? How are you going to get help to a deaf resident?  Not addressed.

 

Noble: “We don’t have a city work force that represents what Kingston looks like” No we do not. Where are the deaf workers? Where are the Deaf represented in government, committees, advocacy groups and so forth? Nowhere, that’s where. So WHY are ‘minority’ communication issues being addressed to people of color and NOT being inclusive of a true MINORITY in Kingston of a Deaf population with a specific communication need? Providing Spanish interpreters is not required by law, nor the ADA as it’s not a disability. In my personal opinion if you speak Spanish & you are in America, learn English – instead of being handed an interpreter while Deaf people who have no other choice in the matter are NOT given interpreters as freely if at all?

 

What about interpreters at the ready 24/7 on call for Emergency services? Nope not available & someone who took a sign class & says they “know sign” is NOT an interpreter & can cause more harm than good, and usually do.

 

“…both women & minorities in city government” – again – no hearing impaired person in any representative position nor any consulting position in a place of visibility nor have any been reached out to, in order to make this more visible.

 

Gallo: “hundreds of thousands of dollars have been put toward community centers & such for people of color” (the minorities talked about” where is the money to make all programs accessible to the deaf, emergency services accessible to the deaf, daily phone communications affordable & accessible to the deaf as being hearing impaired is extremely costly just to be able to call 911. Nope nothing – just focus on the minorities of color and no one else. That’s outright discrimination. So now ONLY black lives matter? That’s the sentiment – but #deaflivesmatter too & THEIR needs are REQUIRED BY LAW. Spanish interpreters are always provided for everything – but not an ASL Interpreter for the Deaf as required by law. Instead of providing interpreters for people too lazy to learn English in America – teach them ENGLISH. It is NOT required by LAW to provide them with an interpreter, awarding their laziness in learning the language of the country where they live. BUT no interpreters for the DEAF are provided ANYWHERE and it’s an ADA REQUIREMENT.

 

Gallo said: “I have an open door policy to communicate with everyone. You come to my office you don’t need an appointment” but you DO need an interpreter – a deaf person being asked by a staffer “you will bring your own interpreter” is against the law. So your open door policy Mayor Gallo is actually closed – to anyone who uses ASL.

“the tent includes everyone regardless of your ethnicity or your race” – but does NOT include you if you are deaf & use ASL because you NEVER have an interpreter with you at any of these events to promote full open communication with your citizens – not EVER. So your ‘open door policy’ mayor is discriminative in its very nature and clearly your door is ONLY open to able bodied, hearing individuals who can understand you without the need of an interpreter. So your door is “open” to everyone – except Deaf people.

 

2 most important initiatives:

Gallo “bringing back Broadway” & work with community college etc., & offering career paths & jobs – but is it accessible to people with disabilities? Not to all. Jobs for the Deaf are taken by hearing without the skill levels nor knowledge required for their position, no offerings of interpreters at job fairs & because of the ADA, an employer will STILL hire a hearing person over an equally qualified Deaf person to avoid having to deal with getting an interpreter as per the law.

 

Move around the city better – transportation planning motorized & non-motorized bus system needs overhaul move people around the city better – making sure all transportation, sidewalks, bus stops are fully accessible to people with all disabilities. Creating more disabled parking & accessibility in places that already exist in the city, and making reporting & enforcing disabled parking laws, more accessible & actually mandating the police forces to ticket or tow the vehicles in violation of the parking law. Messed up sidewalks with no accessibility to the mobility impaired, lack of handicapped parking up & down Broadway & uptown and no enforcement of those that violate the little handicapped/accessible parking. Kingston is not accessible to all – far from it. Let’s focus on fixing what is already there – making everything accessible to everyone and inclusion for ALL citizens of Kingston, as a priority, not as a second thought if it’s a thought at all.

 

 

In ‘addressing quality of life” minorities are mentioned constantly, but the Deaf quality of life is not good & their needs for communication access is neither addressed nor given a thought – only ‘minorities’.  Nothing is as instantly accessible to the deaf as it is to the mobility impaired, mentally impaired, Spanish speaking or minorities. The costs to the deaf to use the phone, no events are offered to be captioned & there are few qualified interpreters because there is no qualified Deaf person teaching these programs to create qualified interpreters for all things legal, medical & entertainment – equal no equal access to all.

 

No accessible art programs for deaf, disabled or low income. A recent event at UCCC sponsored by the Office for the Aging – not accessible – not one of their programs offered that day. “Meet the candidates” events – not accessible to the deaf. Various tours, historical events, street festival performances, and so forth – not interpreted or accessible to the Deaf. The DEAF are the minority & yet nothing is accessible to this population. No Deaf person in representative positions, consulting positions, visible positions of a public nature. The “Diversity Day” events – not interpreted. The ONLY reason the National Anthem WAS – was because I offered. The rest of the daily program, Gallo’s presentation and so forth – NONE of which was interpreted for the deaf (& the stage was not accessible to the handicapped) so once again, the Deaf population & their families – left out – that is NOT ‘diversity’. I could make a mile long list of events such as this that are in NO WAY accessible to everyone. Deaf people in our community are the LEAST VISIBLE of ANY population because there is NO ACCESS. Interpreters are expected to work for free or a Deaf person is expected to bring their own (which is against the law). Deaf people can’t communicate with emergency services in emergency situations. The list goes on and on but it is not people of color who are the minority (for whom there are an incredible amount of services offered free of charge) but there is nothing offered to include the deaf population in ANYTHING, much less job support for qualified Deaf people.

 

Again jobs: jobs where it is required to hire Deaf people to teach their own language & culture to hearing people for all reasons and especially to train interpreters. This should be REQUIRED & JOBS need to be accessible with interpreters for Deaf citizens to be able to work in ANY job a hearing person does with fluid, natural, accessible communication. Does it exist in Kingston? No.

 

On another note related to disabilities is HANDICAPPED PARKING ENFORCEMENT – and a way for everyone, including deaf people – to text the photo of the car & license plate to police authorities to ticket, tow or have people utilizing these spaces illegally, be reported DMV or the police to get towed/ticketed by mail. I’ve had this issue personally on far too many occasions. There is NOT enough handicapped parking available in the city of Kingston. 2 or 3 spots available under the bridge on the waterfront, few & far between if any, up and down Broadway. Stores have the absolute minimum of spots required by law & they are often not the closest to exits or entrances. Walmart for example, has limited spots & other spots closer to doors are regular, non-handicapped parking spots. Those that ARE marked for handicapped parking are often taken by people with no placard, people parking in the designated lined spots for people with wheelchairs or walkers & no way to report violators. Handicapped parking & accessibility is sorely lacking in the city of Kingston & enforcement of parking is NIL.

 So take some of the focus on helping the ‘minorities’ of Kingston that are only of color & start providing better access to ALL people with needs as per the ADA and ways to report violations without repercussion.

 Kingston is the most inaccessible place I’ve ever lived. It’s the only place I’ve lived that ignores the ADA Law, doesn’t encourage  ‘political correctness’ in any area that does not include minorities of color, doesn’t make sure a qualified person is teaching THEIR language & that it’s not taught by someone who’s education & job is to ‘cure’ deafness by testing their hearing & encouraging oral language and NOT sign. Where Deaf people don’t educate Deaf students, where it’s assumed a Deaf person will ‘bring their own’ interpreter, where the hospitals think that someone who just raises their hand & says “I can sign” but can’t, can put someone’s life in their hands before a surgery or in case of an emergency. Where public events expect free interpreting if it’s provided at all, which is not.

Even, while it’s not in Kingston, the music festivals at Hunter, will take anyone who says they ‘know sign’ in exchange for free tickets, to interpret for the musical acts and where these people have NO business saying they “know sign” at ALL much less are they qualified to interpret. Interpreters are REQUIRED BY LAW they are not some FAVOR for the Deaf. They’re REQUIRED to facilitate communication & understanding to the Deaf public. Assuming a qualified interpreter will work for free, or providing “people that sign” with NO qualifications nor regulation check as per the ADA of qualifications or certifications required, as ‘interpreting services available’ at events or concerts and so forth – is not only DISCRIMINATION – IT’S AGAINST THE LAW.  I’ve never in my LIFE seen a place LESS accessible to the Deaf than Kingston – where only a minority of color is considered important to address their ‘needs’ but an entire population is ignored even when it’s required by law. I've offered my services up to places like UPAC & other venues, only to be blown off and nothing is accessible for Deaf audiences to attend these entertainment events. Absolutely shameful.

Then, in the case of the debate, you offer to PROVIDE this access and it’s expected you will show up last minute, for free & with no respect nor information in order to facilitate such access as required by law. More shameful. No, providing an interpreter to provide equal access to the Deaf community at all events in Kingston is not some ‘favor’ you’re doing for the Deaf, nor are you opening up the community TO the community – is not some ‘favor’ it’s the LAW & yet the law itself, emergency services, hospitals, doctors, community events & yes, mayoral debates – are getting away with breaking this law – every single day.

#deaflivesmatter – PERIOD!

** costs to be a Deaf, ASL user – just to call 911 in case of an emergency:

The costs of being deaf just to call 911 & inaccessibility and communication equality for Deaf people: 

 Did you know that as a deaf person who cannot use the voice phone the costs of just being able to call 911 are insane? To use the phone, I have a video phone. The camera & box that comes with it is given to ASL using Deaf people, free of charge through Sorenson Video Relay Service (SVRS). When I want to make a call I need to be sitting on my couch in front of my TV in the living room and a highly skilled & trained ASL Interpreter appears on my TV. He/She calls the number & interprets the voice on the other end of the phone in English to ASL & the ASL of the caller into voice, complete with animations & intonations of the deaf caller.

In order to have access to this free service by SVRS, there needs to be electric, cable TV & high speed internet. At the cost of approximately $77 a month through TWC JUST to make/receive a call, including to 911. That does not include the electric to have all of those devices on at all times, plugged in and ready to go as well as the extra light that needs to be on in order to be seen & understood by the interpreter on the other end. When there is an electrical outage, a Deaf person can't reach anyone even for an emergency. If someone like me (who is also disabled due to a spinal fusion) with limited mobility etc., falls in their home or needs help, is understood by the interpreter on the other end. When there is an electrical outage, a Deaf person can't reach anyone even for an emergency. If someone like me (who is also disabled due to a spinal fusion) with limited mobility etc., falls in their home or needs help, is out of luck because I’d need to be sitting on the couch in front of the SVRS equipment with my TV turned on to call for help.
Then there’s the additional need for a cell phone. There is an SVRS app for the cell phone but it uses tons of data, there are no texting availabilities to emergency service agencies & so to TRY to be able to have any emergency services available we also need to spend upwards of $80 a month to also have a cell phone because after all, you can’t sit in front of your TV & SVRS equipment 24/7 in case something comes up.

Back in the days of typing devices for the deaf, we were given a significant discount because our ability to call was limited. Now with the advance of technology, it costs MORE to be a deaf person in the Hudson Valley (& other places) just to make a phone call, than it does for any population. Shouldn’t the need for access be complete for all at the same cost? Yes, but it’s not. Nothing is equally accessible to the hearing impaired, especially in Kingston.
Perhaps instead of building ANOTHER (inaccessible to disabled kids or their parents/grandparents), creating ANOTHER program for minorities of color, or making sure some boat gets to the waterfront – some of these candidates or leaders make sure these costs are CUT for Deaf people & that telephone access is truly EQUAL & so just being able to call 911 – doesn’t cost each deaf person approximately $160+ per MONTH JUST to call 911 in an emergency much less for any other reason.

STOP creating new programs for “minorities of color” as both candidates stated in the debate, and start with some INCLUSION for ALL residents that includes assuring communication is TRULY EQUALLY ACCESSIBLE to every resident of Kingston – not just the poor, underprivileged or ‘of color’ but to EVERYONE including EVERY SINGLE DEAF RESIDENT OF KINGSTON – 24/7, 365 – focus on INCLUSION of ALL PEOPLE especially those whose rights are protected by LAW & stop allowing every agency, company & service get away with violating that law. Lead by example.
 
The change starts with YOU.

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

"News" of the Week

My views on the news:


  1. That dress. Who gives a rat's ass if it's blue & black or white & gold - it is a massively FUGLY dress and I cannot BELIEVE it took up so much of the news
  2.  Kim Kardashian goes blonde : I don't care if she goes BALD - PLEASE stop reporting on this mega slut - it is just ridiculous already!
  3.  That nasty woman from England "fat shaming" Kelly Clarkson. First, I don't even like the word "fat shaming" maybe use "body shaming" because using the term infers she IS fat. Second, I'm gonna full blast this bitch right back & bully HER NOW: You are a fugly, bird face bitch, who needs to get herself in check because it's not just your attitude that's ugly - Kelly can lose weight (if she wants to) but you will NEVER lose the ugly inside you. You are a nasty, nasty woman & should be ashamed of yourself. What the FUCK are you teaching your daughters? Nothing but that it's ok to bully other people!
  4.  The song "Blurred Lines" lawsuit: I don't notice the similarity. +Pharrell Williams  & +Robin Thicke may have been "inspired" by Marvin Gaye's song - but if that IS the case then who's going to sue whom with @KatyPerry "Roar" & the song "Brave" because I have both of them on CD's I play in my car & can't tell which one is which when the intro plays... come on people - everyone is "influenced" by someone else - this lawsuit is nonsense in my opinion. I'm really sorry you guys lost I think you got ripped off in the lawsuit!
  5. Julianna Rancic & her comments about Zendaya Coleman's dreads do at the Oscars. Well, my first question is: what was Zendaya doing at the Oscars in the first place? Then to Julianna Rancid: who the FUCK do you think you are? You are NOT nor will you EVER BE Joan Rivers. You need to eat a fucking grape for god's sake and you have straight, stringy hair that I FIND to be ugly looking. This girl had some weave, hair piece, whatever it is - she was expressing herself! She's a darling, talented girl - a GIRL, not a woman your age. Pick on someone your OWN size & age NOT a young GIRL. Saying that you thought she smelled like "patchouli & weed"???? WTF that is NASTY & makes the assumption that everyone with dreads don't bathe & are pot heads. You stepped in dangerous territory & you should be MORE than ashamed of yourself you should be FIRED. I've seen other people make nasty racist remarks like that about people and they DO get fired. So why does the head of Sony get fired for HER racist emails and YOU get to sit in judgment of everyone on "Fashion Police" you are NOT a style "icon" by any means, ALL you DO is sit in judgment of other people and I'll say it one more time in case you didn't quite get it: Pick on someone your own damn size and you should EXCUSE yourself from FP or E! Should FIRE your nasty, judgmental, skinny, no class ASS!
  6. "Plus Size" model in +Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Let's get something straight - the lovely girl that made headlines was in an AD in +Sports Illustrated NOT in the actual shoot. Calling this girl "plus sized" is shameful in every way imaginable! Again with a sort of "fat shaming" making a huge deal out of her AMAZING body by calling to the forefront that she is "plus size".
  7. The Oklahoma fraternity scandal: I LOVE how anyone else on the planet can apologize for that kind of behavior & Whoopi Goldberg on +The View & it's all good cuz they apologized but these guys apologize for their moronic, racist & idiotic behavior and it's not good enough for her. Shut the fuck up and sit DOWN Whoop I am SO tired of your damn "it's only racism if I see it as racism and apologies are only accepted when I SAY it's ok". BTW I am offended when you use the term "you white people" blah blah blah so it goes both ways - when am I gonna get MY apology from YOU?
  8. DEAR GOD with the @HillaryClinton email scandal. Oh COME ON can we NOT judge her on whether or not she used more than one damn device for her emails but that she may become president and that is completely IRRELEVANT!?!?! Can we focus on something more important like perhaps how well could she run our country? Just sayin
  9.  Well, watching +The View again & Whoopi is at it again - no surprise here. Talking about the Ghostbusters movies. "Where are the black ghostbusters" blah blah blah - really? Cuz you don't remember the original cast or that there is a black woman in the new all woman one coming up? Let me as YOU a question Miss Whoopi Know it All - where are the fucking DEAF OR DISABLED "Ghostbusters"? REALLY? SO fucking tired of the blah blah blah include blacks, Latinas etc., where on TV or film did you see your last ACTUAL disabled or deaf person played by an ACTUAL deaf or disabled actor? EXACTLY so check yourself before you wreck yourself!
  10. I'm so fucking exhausted from all this bullshit ya all only get NINE today!




Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Facebook Diaries Continued

The Facebook Diaries continued:


As we all know, I couldn't stop at one post with my view on
Facebook & I'm quite certain it won't stop at this 2nd one as
there are just TOO many things to rag on about Facebook!
So here's another take on it from my perspective.
I'm sure MANY of my readers feel the same way
about many of them!!

  1. When the Birthdays pop up & you have to go to that persons page & figure out how the hell you know them
  2. When you see the "ticker" & wonder how the HELL someone you know also knows someone ELSE you know from completely different worlds! Ya know?
  3. Ever wonder why the hell you're "friends" with someone on an app that you would NEVER be friends with in real life? 
  4. Parents posting embarrassing photos of your kids/grandkids that'll put them I'm therapy for years
  5. Nobody needs to see updates on your kid's toilet training that's almost grounds for child abuse don't know but really is, but it's definitely FB friend abuse!
  6. Being FB friends with your older mother/grandmother & posting the level of crazy  and dirty thoughts has to be a law somewhere about that
  7. This post makes me CRAZY: "Ok, so let me see how this turns out: It occurs to me that for each and every one of you on my friends list, I catch myself looking at your pictures, sharing jokes and news, as well as support during good and bad times. I am also happy to have you among my friends. We will see who will take the time to read this message until the end. I'm going to be watching to see who takes care of the friendship, just like me. So if you are reading this, then thank you for being a part of my life. So leave ONE WORD on how we met. DON'T SHARE. Once you respond, I will inbox you this copy, then paste on your wall so I can leave one word for you." Let's get this straight: I will NEVER post this nor will I leave a damn word for you! If YOU don't know how we met, we have a problem and this is just a fucking chain letter from the old days! One of the STUPIDEST posts I've EVER seen & I just wanna un-friend people who fucking post it! GET A DAMN LIFE
  8. Game 'requests" & "pokes" - AYFKM with this shit!?!?!  I have to post at least a few times a year telling people to not do this or get unfriended. When I get the annoyed by these fucking notifications of these damn requests - I go STRAIGHT to your damn page and delete you from my friends list! Again - get a damn LIFE! 
  9. That little map thingy below your name telling everyone in the damn WORLD where you're posting from. #1 it shows how much of a life you HAVE and #2 why on EARTH do you WANT people to know where you're posting from? I find it rather comical when I see that (my settings are OFF for this locator) because when you tell someone you are "out of town" & can't get together your locator is telling me & everyone else, you're a fucking LIAR.
  10. Messages: when you tell someone you didn't get the message but there's a check mark next to the message in the bar on the left saying you not only GOT it but WHEN you read it! Don't be a liar hehe

Facebook is like a Troll Train....

 If you...
 they may go away... but don't count on it!
 
 Because THIS is what you'll really be thinking!


Have a FANTASTIC DAY! And please leave a comment so I know how you're enjoying the blog... and add me to your circles & I'll add you to mine. Sounds like we're spreading a communicable disease but if friendship & fun is a communicable disease - I'll take it any time!


 


Sunday, February 15, 2015

Reality Shows: A Personal Perspective


Ten "Reality" Shows & my unabashed perspective on them.
Mind you, a few of them are my guilty pleasures but I talk to the
TV so much during them that I need my own TV show of me
watching them and my comments during them.
Call it something like Jennifer's Couch


  
1.  Dance Moms (LIFETIME)If you choose to stay at a studio where the director abuses your kids on a regular basis just because you'll get TV time you as a parent, are just as abusive to your child. The behavior you exhibit on the show to the other parents is DEPLORABLE & YOU are setting the example for your girls to become bitchy, snappy, snarky, hit-below-the-belt WOMEN! Shame on you! That bitch Abby has LOST HER DAMN MIND and YOU are letting her "parent" your children as you kowtow to her every fucking insane outrageous breakdown!!! Parent your own damn children because in the real life dance world half of your kids will be stripping in Vegas NOT on Broadway! Get serious!



2.  Kate plus 8 (TLC): Touting yourself as a "single mom" is an EMBARASSMENT to real single moms in the world. All you're doing is setting an example for YOUR kids that actual work is not ever going to cut it. Rather you're saying "whore yourself out on TV to make your living". I can see it now: "2035 Kate Plus 8: 20 Years Later". You're basically Octomom with more money!


3.  Donnie loves Jenny : Let's just see how LONG it takes for this couple to go the way of EVERY OTHER COUPLE on Reality TV: Jessica Simpson/Nick Lachey, Jon & Kate Gosslin & numerous others. Las Vegas should get some bets going!


4.  19 Kids & Counting (TLC): My God, PLEASE stop counting!!!! Can you imagine this woman's uterus? It's got to be hanging on the ground no WONDER she wears those long skirts, she probably carries it under her skirt in a damn basket!




5.  Sister Wives (+The Learning Channel): a show where a dude has 4 "wives" and a bazillion children but is only legally married to one (especially since Polygamy was outlawed in the 1800's.) NOW the entertainment news says he's divorcing the real wife (the 1st) and going to legally marry the last one. My first question is: why not marry the 2nd or 3rd one who also have underage children - LOTS of them? Hmmm does anyone ELSE think the other wives and their kids are getting public assistance since they're not married?  They SAY they have an online jewelry business (which is failing - let's get serious it's jewelry for  polygamists - is there REALLY a big market for that?), 2 of them (I think only 2) just recently got their real estate licenses in Las Vegas & one quit her job to be a full time stay at home mom.  God KNOWS what the husband does for a job, I mean how can he really work a real job with 4 wives to keep up with much less all those children and college to pay for and such?

What cracks me up about this whole thing is that Polygamy is illegal therefore he ISN'T really married to the 3 women and has kids with them which means those kids were conceived out of wedlock & they weren't married when they had sex to HAVE those kids. However the Mormon religion (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) which they supposedly practice according to the original scriptures when polygamy was part of the church and legal, doesn't in ANY WAY support having sex without marriage or having children out of wedlock. 



6.  Amish Mafia (TLC):  This shit is crazy! Are they really Amish? Does this really go on? What a douchebag bunch of people whether they're "real" or not - they are making a REALLY bad name for the Amish in America!



7.  Real Housewives of Atlanta (BRAVO): +Bravo Let's talk about that asswipe Kenya Moore and her "Twirl" "Gone With the Wind Fabulous" I'd like to know on WHAT planet a black woman would make any reference to herself and Gone With the Wind? Weren't all the black people in it SLAVES? Just sayin'


8. The Bachelor/Bachelorette (ABC): Let's see...you are one of 24 or something girls who go on TV to find a husband and then are upset when he's kissing other girls! Of COURSE that makes PERFECT sense to me.  In other parts of the world that would be called a whore.


9. Teen Mom (MTV): glorifying teen pregnancy without marriage where most of these girls are on public assistance for having irresponsible sex and one even gets a PORN CAREER - yep perfect television for kids! (Does ANYONE remember when MTV was actually about MUSIC?)

10. Master Chef Junior (FOX): the one I can say GREAT things about - all I have to say is that I ADORE this show!

 

 


 








Sunday, February 8, 2015

MEMES and My Love For Them



I've only recently fallen in love with MEMES!
So much so that I figured out how to make my OWN! 
So far I've made ones starring my little dog Shadow
(missshadow pup on IG and Miss Shadow Pup on FB)
THEN
there are the ones that I've made featuring photos of ME
in character from a couple of my old 80's cult films.
ENJOY and please feel free to use & share!



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#1-9 features my baby Miss Shadow Pup
#9-13 From a little ole movie I did called "Deadly Manor"
(aka Savage Lust) in which I starred as Amanda.
#14-18 My very FIRST movie "Bad Girls Dormitory"
#19 features my cousin's little dog Oscar. I got the idea for this one
from something she posted on Facebook - my cousin is a genius

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

I Lived in a Haunted House Growing Up in Tillson

THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF TILLSON
The Delora Farm, Tillson Estates
 
 
 
At the request of my friend James Carey, who grew up in the same town as I did (much later than I did) requested I talk about the haunted house I grew up in. He's heard the stories as well. James, thanks for the suggestion & I hope you and everyone else, enjoy it!!
 
  1. I lived in a 300 year old farm house growing up that was haunted : these stories have passed around other folks in the Tillson area for years and they're all true. 
  2. Our great Dane dug up a bunch of old graves from our back yard once & we assume the people who were still "living" in the house, were members of that family.
  3. My father and grandmother talked about the ghosts happenings in the same house because Daddy was born in that house as well & they had the same experiences we continued to have when I lived there.
  4. One time Sue, a fellow cheerleader, came and stayed overnight. We slept on the couches in the living room and at one point the cellar door opened & you could hear the door close again & footsteps coming through the living room and up the stairs.  Sue said "what was that?" me: "the ghosts" Sue "GHOSTS?" me: "yes it's not a big deal they're around all the time he's probably going upstairs to check on the kids" etc., Well in a heartbeat she was up, off the couch and in her car peeling OUT of the driveway going back home to never come sleep over again. 
  5. I had that happen a lot. I had a sleepover for my 12th birthday and while I grew up with the 3 girls who slept over, they weren't prepared for the ghosts and I never had any friends I grew up with sleep over again after that - nobody would do it! 
  6. The ghost children used to play in the house as well. When I'd be on my bed playing, the end of the bed would go down as if someone was sitting on it & I'd share my dolls.
  7. Often I'd come home from school (the door was closed and we didn't have a cat that was allowed in my room) and my neatly made bed would be just a little messed up and dolls I'd put away or who were neatly put on the bed, had clearly been played with. No biggie, I'd just put them back.
  8. When my mother would be in bed reading, one of the children would move the raggedy Ann and Andy that were given to me when I was born, that sat on an antique rocking chair, and rock with the dolls on their "lap". Mom would just look and smile and go back to her reading.
  9. We all talked about having heard the children singing at one point or another
  10. I wasn't then nor am I now afraid of ghosts. Big difference between ghosts and poltergeists & I think if I gave the latter their space I'd be all good. I'd LOVE to do a haunted house weekend or overnight. I think it would be a lot of fun!

+HAUNTED HOUSES STORIES

+Historic Ghost Tour
+Historic Hudson Valley
+Stonehouse Photographic
+Ghosthunters
+GhostHunters Inc


Saturday, January 31, 2015

Stupidity should....


STUPIDITY SHOULD...
Forrest Gump said "Stupid is as stupid does", well right you are Forrest!
In honor of Forrest and his amazing insight into all things stupid, we address this topic.
Please read, share, tweet, gram, follow, like, comment and LOVE IT
come on I know you're reading it in secret, I see the reader count
so come out of the closet of shame and admit it - fess up ya know you're loving it!
PLEASE leave a comment or suggestion for future blogs...
OR just leave a comment saying you were here! I love to hear from my readers!
 
I know, you're thinking "there's only TEN" things that stupid IS?
No, not really but I'm only going to comment on 10 TODAY!

  1. ...have a vaccine against it
  2. ...come with a warning label
  3. ...understand it's stupid & realize it before we have to mention it
  4. ...never be underestimated
  5. ...smack itself in the face
  6. ...have a blue flashing light, like K-Mart, attached to itself to warn us it's coming
  7. ...get itself drunk so it MAY be funny and NOT as stupid
  8. ...friend itself on Facebook just to see how STUPID it really IS!
  9. ...have to sit and listen to itself for a hot second
  10. ...admit it's stupid, find itself a 12 step group and realize it really is the worlds deadliest disease because I could totally KILL STUPID!

         
 
PS - YES I am OBSESSED with MEMES these days, even making my OWN.
and, YES, I'll be doing a blog on Memes & my obsession with them!

Friday, January 30, 2015

Labels of "Celebrity", "Successful", Super Model" etc.


The use of such labels of "legend", "famous", "celebrity", "successful", "super model" et. al,



  1. LEGEND:  Seriously? Someone like Chris Brown or whomever is a LEGEND? Not really. Not yet anyway. The title of LEGEND should be reserved for those such as JAMES Brown NOT Chris Brown; Bette Midler not Ariana Grande; Meryl Streep NOT Lupita Nyongo; AnnMargret* NOT Anne Hathaway; Aerosmith NOT  Maroon 5, and so on. The list of comparisons could go on and on forever, but you get my point. Save the word "LEGEND" for those who have EARNED IT! There are millions of "one hit wonders" out there who have not worked hard enough or gained the status of LEGEND in any way, shape or form.
  2. FAMOUS: Real Housewives of anywhere are fame WHORES - not famOUS!  What people consider "famous" or worthy of some kind of honor such as speaking at a school or university graduation, some kind of award or recognition is seriously warped. (Don't get me STARTED on the honorary doctorates celebrity receive for nothing, I'll address THAT in another blog post.)
  3. CELEBRITY: you are not "Instagram Famous" if you are only "famous" in your circles or the follow numbers game that exists on a particular app. You merely don't have much of a life (or BUY your followers, etc.) You shouldn't be the one to call yourself much of a celebrity or famous either. USUALLY (not always) that title comes from OTHERS or your very long list of a resume, curriculum vitae or other documented successes you have that make you a celebrity for publicly acknowledge work or successes.
  4. SUCCESSFUL: basically the same type of category as #2 & #3. Success is something that is also earned. Successes can include many things & not all of it has to do with the public eye., in fact many successful people with successful lives are NOT in the public eye; people who have worked hard to raise their children well are also successful.
  5. "SUPER MODEL": selfies don't count as modeling girls! One "gig" doesn't make you a professional much less a "Super Model".  Neither does posting selfies all over the internet - that is NOT modeling, girls. (I am apprehensive to use the word "ladies" here as there are many posts that a lady would never think about posting.)
  6.  "New York Times Best Selling Author" : specifically when it comes to the "Real Housewives of Anywhere" - Teresa Guidice I'm talking to YOU (& those like you). You are not now nor will you EVER BE Julia Child or any other famous cook who has published cook books. Someone needs to STOP telling these people that they are, it's embarrassing to the real writers of the world.  BTW Teresa: you've changed the pronunciation of your name many times to suit how Italian you want to be. Is it "Jewdice", "Jewdichay", "Jewdeechay" or WHAT? You come off like the idiot you are. Just sayin'.)
  7. CHART TOPPING: Topping the iTunes charts: really? You are a contestant on a reality competition singing show & you now top Beyoncé or some other amazing singer who did it the old fashioned way? Another example of the "giving out a trophy for farting in public" - another topic that will probably cover an entire installment of LATJ.
  8.  "WORLD CLASS" ATHLETE:  Your local road race, a high school track meet, a local bowling league does NOT qualify. No, sorry, not even if it appears on local TV.
  9. "PUBLIC FIGURE"  having a Facebook Page saying you are doesn't make it so & unless you have a history of BEING one, you really aren't.
  10. STANDING OVATIONS:  PLEASE reserve the standing ovations for those who have done something magnificent: hit that high note, performed a jete' 6' high, played the SHIT out of that musical solo, and so forth. STOP giving standing ovations for farting wind in public or just because some 2nd class "celebrity" put their foot on the dance floor or someone you've gone to see at a concert, walks out on stage. You've paid good money for those tickets make them EARN not only their money, but the standing ovation!

*Spelling of AnnMargret versus Ann-Margaret, AnnMargaret, Ann Margaret etc., I KNOW the woman and I also misspelled it before she straightened me out on it: there's no extra "a" in Margret and there's no hyphen and PLEASE don't ever call her ANN!!


Sort of "famous".... just sayin'







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