spending the day cramming for my Business IT final and working on only 2.5 hours of sleep

wired, studying for my Business IT final tomorrow night

I swear, I'm addicted to social networking sites.... I'm wasting time that I should be using on my project... Yay, Procrastination!

Questions

Hello readers, I apologize for the delay in between posts. I am having a hard time getting motivation to post on my blog more frequently. I thought of a good idea that might help motivate me to post more frequently. I'd love for you readers that are curious about deaf/HoH lifestyles and/or sign language to email me a question or send me a question through the comments on this blog. For each question that is asked, I will post a vlog entry answering the question.

Other future plans are to post at least a weekly vlog entry that teaches a common phrase in sign language so that learners can use that phrase or rehearse it.

I'm accepting all and any suggestion that you have for my site. I'm not really going to be writing any more posts about deaf pagers because I have one and I am satisfied with it. I think deaf tech issues is what I want to focus on and also deaf issues in the north eastern Tennessee area too. Feel free to post any suggestions in the comments below.

My very first customer review, Sprint BlackBerry Pearl 8130

Here's a vlog post about my new BlackBerry purchased last month, I give it a 8 out of 10. I'm very satisfied with the camera and messaging services. If there's anything I missed, please let me have it in the comments! Thanks!

UPDATE:

well it seems that we have some night owls on my blog.

The difference between the 8130 and the 8330 is that the 8130 has a suretype system meaning that each key has 2 letters assigned to it. So there's a big learning curve in adopting to the Pearl from a qwerty keyboard.

I ordered my BB Pearl from sprintrelaystore.com and am using the data-only plan. It is a steal because I am getting EVDO high speed internet access. And it allows for tethering to laptops at no extra charge.

One of my favorite things about the pearl is that it's so small and can easily fit in my pocket. It felt so weird transitioning from a sidekick to this because there was no bulky device in my pocket. it's very nice and very powerful for such a small device.

asking the Deaf community what smartphone is the best?

Vlog post asking for suggestions for a good smartphone because my sidekick 3 broke a few weeks ago. Considering iPhones and blackberries. I'd like to get a forum started in the comments if possible.

BlackBerries with Wifi and 3G

come on! make it happen!

Driving myself crazy looking up a BlackBerry Curve with both wifi and 3G. I guess it's not happening. Any suggestions?

recruiting deafies for Seesmic

hello! If you're interested in being part of the seesmic community, please contact me and ask for an invitation code. You can also get more information by going to "Deaf Seesmic" on facebook groups. I encourage you to come join and participate!


here's a signer's response to my video.

data only phone plans cont'd

The rentless pursuit for a data-only phone plan continues. I'm not
seeing any phone plans available from verizon that is data-only.

So far there are three wireless companies that provide data-only plans
that I'm aware of.

T-mobile (coverage sucks in the southeast, especially in the Johnson
City, TN area and carolinas)

Sprint (must verify deafness, to get unlimited data. However rumors of
the company going under are rampant due to lack of business and poor
customer service)

AT&T (comparable data-only plan but with a messaging limit of 5000 per
month. must verify deafness too. but has gotten me upset because plan
does not include iPhones or blackberries)

UPDATE: my mistake, I thought Sprint Relay had to verify deafness but they don't.

Social Networking is getting big

The definition of social networking according to wikipedia is

A social network service uses software to build online social networks for communities of people who share interests and activities or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others.

Here's one example of one of the more popular social networking sites. I have been using this the longest and it remains my favorite site to keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers.

Facebook

My favorite thing to do when I'm not at a computer is to send messages to twitter. I can look up other users by interests and track certain keywords. One example of a keyword I've been tracking is "key west." I'm anxious to see how it does and how much I can learn about key west by the time i get there on the 19th. Of course, my explanation does not do twitter justice. Just play with it!

twitter

some new social networking sites that I'm playing with right now and liking

• tumblr
• similar to twitter but has the potential to be much more because you're able to post any kind of content including text, pictures, and video from your mobile phone as well as your computer. I'm looking forward to utilizing this site when I get a new video-capable phone. I can't wait.
  

• seesmic
• I've heard this explanation of seesmic as "twitter with video" You're able to have conversations and post videos of any sort. I'm looking forward to seeing how I can utilize seesmic as a tool for communication in the deaf community. it'd be so easy for deaf users to post videos and communicate with each other and carry on conversations. Currently in alpha development stage so you have to sign up and wait to get an invitation code before you can start using this wonderful site.
  

I plan to get a flickr pro account and hopefully utilize the social networking capabilities with this great photo sharing site. Again, I'm limited because my camera phone is nonexistent and my digital camera sucks plus inability to pony up 20 bucks. Plus my account is kinda sad right now.

Don't get me started on Myspace. I have a myspace account but I barely use it.

Playing with seesmic

Alright, I'm wondering how this will work...I think this is going to be fantastic for the deaf community to communicate back and forth. I'm happy and excited to be a part of the alpha community.

seesmic does have its limitations. There are no subtitles or captioning options for deaf viewers to watch people using voice. I think that seesmic could embrace the potential of being a huge part of the online deaf community.

One way to do this is putting up an language option for "American Sign Language" in order for signers to be able to find each other more easily once seesmic goes final. I'm not sure if I'm the only one using seesmic that can sign but I'd welcome the opportunity to try to communicate with another deaf friend through seesmic.

Anyways Here's my first seesmic video. I'm just introducing myself as Louis Ricciardi, living here in Johnson City and explaining that I'm curious how this site will benefit the deaf community. I tried to voice for myself a little bit. Sorry if you can't understand my voice or I'm not loud enough. Anyway let me know what you think of the concept!



update: wow i just posted my video 30 minutes ago and I already have 9 replies. I haven't had a chance to see them all but I appreciate the positive response!

Musings on Christmas Eve

So here's a comprehensive list of what I'm getting for Christmas:

• 50 inch High Definition Plasma Television
• 17 inch MacBook Pro fully pimped out
• Sony HD Camcorder
• 5.2 mp slim digital camera
• 1 year's paid cable and internet service with High Definition programming thrown in from Comcast
  
• unlocked iPhone
  
• wireless broadband card for my macbook from Sprint so i can get internet from anywhere
• a slingbox so I can watch tv on my laptop from anywhere
• $500 dollar gift certificate to Oasis Coffee in Johnson city http://www.oasiscoffeehousejc.com/
• a Job at Google waiting for me after I graduate from ETSU
  
• a tech-savvy girlfriend that knows sign language and loves football (Cleveland browns fan is a must). think iJustine crossed with Erin Andrews and Marlee Matalin minus the Pittsburgh roots and any connection to Michigan whatsoever. (if you don't know any of these names, just Google em)
  

Alright, that's not a real list of what I'm getting for Christmas but it'd be nice if I did. I came up with this list while sitting here at Panera, trying to get over a little cold and sipping on a hot and delightful coffee. I'm just pondering about all of this stuff going on this time of year. It's Christmastime and a lot of things are going on. Most people are off for the holidays, they're doing their last minute shopping, visiting family and friends and trying to stay warm.

I've somewhat done all of the above, but I've also done some reminiscing on the past semester. Fall 2007 was a very difficult time for me. I was overwhelmed with schoolwork while trying to balance a social life and taking care of myself and "my" dog at the same time.

This past semester was my first semester in graduate school. I'm working toward a master's degree in computer science, IT concentration. It was a successful semester for me because I was able to pass all my classes, ensuring that I had just survived the toughest course load of the computer science curriculum. This meant that the next 3 semesters will be less difficult.

Along the way, I had to manage some rocky patches because my classes required a lot of group work. Scheduling interpreters for impromptu group meetings are no easy task. 5 days notice is usually required in order to schedule an interpreter. This was more stressful than most of my class assignments. However it was a lesson learned in how to manage group work and this is critical in gaining experience for future endeavors both educationally and professionally.

Also, my job at the College of Nursing is awesome. I'm having a great time working with the people there and putting my skills to use.

This is an experience that I will talk more about later down the line. There were a lot of other things that I experienced. I've started going to a new church called Highlands Fellowship in Johnson City. It's been a great experience in improving my relationship with Christ. I've gotten sidetracked in the past couple of years from following God but now I'm working on getting myself back on track and it's been awesome to be part of this community these past few months. The best part? It's interpreted so come down every Sunday at 11:00 a.m. if you're deaf or if you're just around then come down and worship the Lord with us. I don't usually preach my faith on anybody and I probably won't do so that much but it's been a great experience for me so I want everyone to feel the way I do about going to church.

This is not my typical blog entry, usually writing about my struggles as a Deaf person, because it's a time to be happy, to feel joy and just try to celebrate the reason for the season. I know it's cliche but there's a reason why i didn't seriously ask for any of the items on the wish list above to my loved ones. It's not the time for asking or getting. it's a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I don't call it Xmas, i call it "Christmas."

I don't fully understand everything about Christianity nor do I think i ever will. But, I believe that it's going to be a lifelong journey in trying to practice my faith and trying to figure out our roles in this world. I question my faith occasionally but it's that time of the year where we deserve peace of mind and surround ourselves with love and happiness. I hope that whoever reads this takes my advice and just celebrate what you've got and the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Information about communicating with deaf and

This blog entry gives out info that anyone that is curious about that relates to hearing loss and deafness might find helpful

http://www.ke5ter.com/archives/2007/10/25/webpage-with-good-info-about-deaf-people

New Blog for Johnson City Deaf Activities

Hi, I've started a new blog for Johnson City deaf events and potential events that the deaf and friends around the NE TN area can organize a trip to. We have an event this friday. Check the link out for more info!

http://jcdeafies.blogspot.com/

British Sign Language basic Questions!

For anyone familiar with ASL, this shows a very different style of sign language especially from a country that shares the same spoken and written language as the USA. Some of the British Signs are recognizable but other signs are very dramatically different, its an interesting study in how signed languages contrast in different countries.

read more | digg story

Deaf community creates its own language

In this isolated traditional community a form of inherited deafness has been passed down from one generation to the next for the last 70 years. As a result, an indigenous signed language has sprung up, evolving among the deaf villagers as a means of communication. But what is so striking is that many hearing villagers can also speak it.

read more | digg story

Amazon Unbox Videos Have No Captions or Subtitles

As a Deaf technology geek, i love my tivo, unfortunately its disappointing to find out that closed captioning isn't provided on the Amazon Unbox service. Please bring attention to the lack of consideration by the large corporations for the deaf and hard of hearing population! Not just for Amazon but for movie theaters nationwide....

read more | digg story

gym class heroes, rolling rock and facebook

I've been living in Johnson City for about 8 months now. I'm beginning to come to the realization that there isn't anything for me here in this town besides earning my master's degree. The closest friends i've made here are from my interpreters and although I'm starting to talk to more people from my classes and i'm beginning to network as well. In spite of all this, I'm still lacking a social life that is independent of my sister's.

There's been a lot happening since the last time I posted an actual blog entry. I made it through the fall semester and am now trying to survive the spring semester. There are some courses that I'm enjoying but they're not any easier though. I like the teachers that i have though. Believe it or not i do like sanderson in my database class but i'm not too fond of his lectures. Tarnoff continues to be my favorite teacher even though I bombed my first project in his class this semester.

I'm also taking my first graduate class this semester. Its challenging which is nice. The thing about having this workload is that it'll effectively prepare me for taking graduate classes full time next semester and prepare myself for the work that I will have coming. I'm not used to writing papers, especially those that are related to technology and businesses but it will be a good tune up.

I've also started using transliteration in my graduate classes. For those of you that don't know what transliteration is, it involves the use of a transcriber typing almost all of what is being said to the best of the transcriber's typing and receptive abilities. I am happy with my services so far this semester. Not only do I get to read what is going on in classes, i also get a transcript of my transcriber's typed notes emailed to me later that week.

Its a very dramatic change compared to having sign language interpreters in my class. With interpreters my eyes tend to get tired after long periods of time especially with lectures. When I consider the situation that I'm in, i think that i've chosen the right services because i take a class before my graduate class with the transcriber and sometimes there would be a lecture before my 3 hour graduate class so therefore it offers up a change of pace in terms of reception of the course material.

I should explain how transcribing works in the classroom. there is a transcriber that types nearly everything that is being said in the classroom. It works between two laptops wirelessly, I read what is being said on a laptop provided by disability services. There is a software program called typewell and it allows two laptops to communicate wirelessly between each other and read what the other laptop is typing.

This is not intended to be anti-sign language interpreters because I still wouldn't want to take all my classes with a transcriber. I love how I am able to interact with my classes through my interpreters as opposed to through the transcriber. It seems more natural to sign and communicate with the teacher and class through the interpreters as opposed to having to type what I want to say to my teacher in my graduate class. This particular awkward situation happens almost every week when the professor calls on me to answer one of his questions.

In that situation i am aware that there is some lag time with what is said verbally and then typed. The teacher calls on me and asks me a question. By the time he has asked me the question, the first word is just then being typed on my laptop computer. I can detect the awkward silence while the class waits for me to answer the question through the computer and wait for my transcriber to voice what my answer is. It feels so unnatural and weird that I am restricted in how I interact with the classroom and even small groups.

Yet for a 3 hour night class I wouldn't have it any other way because this is a lecture intensive course that relies on notes from the lectures in the classroom. Because of this I'm doing fine in my first graduate course ever and should get through it just fine.

As for my other experiences in Johnson City, my job at Salsarita's is going alright. Serving toppings on burritos and tacos has never been more exciting. No one really gives me a hard time even if i have to ask them to repeat themselves, whether it be my manager, co-workers or customers. I try to give the best service I can give them and they usually respond understandingly and start working with me.

I have no complaints about Salsarita's. The food is good, its laid back, but of course anything after Giant Eagle would be laid back. I can put the tvs on any sports that I wanna see usually. For example today at work i just switched the tvs to the NCAA tournament and there was no fuss. Yep its nice.

In spite of all this, i remain lonely. I will admit I'm hungry for some socialization that will spawn itself and start branching out into more options for me. This is the case for a deaf man in a town where deaf events are very very limited and deaf peers or signing peers are few and far between especially those that are at my age. If i could travel to knoxville or atlanta I would but money is an issue at this point in my life that it restricts my traveling expenses.

I was in ohio last week for a few days on spring break. I was talking to my mom about the girls i've been with. Its starting to get weird because now she's criticizing me for the girls i've either dumped or just "lost." I'm not in my 30's or anything, i don't think i'm old enough to have my own mother start criticizing the relationship decisions that I make. It's insane but there are several factors that go into the decisions i've made about relationships or the girls i've dated. I'm pretty picky, to say the least. I've only dated one girl since i've been in town and I don't anticipate there'll be much more girls that I date while i'm here. In order to be "Louis Material" a girl needs several traits; intelligence, personality, willingness to learn sign or knows sign language, is open-minded, and is aware of the need intimacy in a relationship with me.

Yeah it also helps if that girl lives within a 25 mile radius, and I doubt I'll meet a girl like that by the time I'm done at ETSU. This shows why I'm so anxious to move to a large city where there will be a large and deaf-friendly population, unlike the one in Johnson City. There are three dream spots that I hope to go to after my time at ETSU, they are Washington D.C., Columbus, OH and anywhere in the Bay area of California.

But my priorities will go to wherever i get a job offer from. I need to get a job first and I hope it's going to be in a large city. This is where i'm commiting the rest of my future to. My time in Johnson City is going to be short and sweet, regardless of the outcome.

Reintroducing Deaf Adventures

It's time for me to resurrect my blog, sometime within the next few weeks I'll have some actual posts about my experiences with my classes this semester, my spring break trip to Las Vegas, and life in general as a deaf person of course. so stay tuned....

more questions about me

well i was recently emailing a person that was curious about the things about me that i listed in my Myspace profile, some things about my deafness and some things about why i ended up where i am which is related to being deaf.

"so, why did you move to TN. if you liked Columbus...I've never been out there, i have a friend who lives there but I'm not sure what exactly is out there myself. is it nice?"

i wish i could've moved to Columbus but i couldn't find any opportunities to get out there, i wish i had gone to OSU but i realized that too late as i was already progressing through my first degree at the university of Findlay. i wish i would've transferred but for reasons beyond my control i had to finish there.

Columbus is just a great city with lots of opportunities and the deaf scene is pretty decent as well i want to live somewhere where being social won't be hard to do.

i moved to tn to go to school because i was given an opportunity to get my master's degree without having to worry about paying for education. i pulled some strings and now i am fortunate not to have to worry about paying for my master's degree.

the reason i am now pursuing my master's is since i had a bachelor's and went out looking for jobs around Ohio for 2 years after graduation and i had no luck at all period. so i sucked in my pride and decided to go back to school to get myself a better opportunity to find a good job and get started in a stable career.

"is there anything you can tell me about your "experiences" I'm very curious to know...the college class you teach, is it a LARGE class or conveniently small?, i find the bigger the class, the more intimidated i feel...even as a student. I'm a small-campus girl. did you grow up learning ASL, or were you ever taught oral? "


i don't teach ASL anymore, that was a brief period in the summer when i taught at the university of Akron. i loved it. i had the unique experience of teaching 2 classes in which one was large and the other was small and guess which one i enjoyed more?

that's right the small one. i was able to connect better with the smaller class even though it was an ASL 2 course and the bigger class was ASL3 and they were more skilled, i was able to connect and teach more effectively with that smaller class. it was more enjoyable. i hope to get back into teaching ASL soon.


i grew up signing English, up till the 6Th grade i went to a school that had classes for deaf children but it was outside of my district. i was eventually mainstreamed and placed into my own school district at 7th grade and was able to keep up with my other hearing peers. i am fortunate enough that i am intelligent enough to realize what the things I'm learning are and how they apply to other things. most deaf people that don't have any support from their family or didn't learn the same things i had or are just low functioning don't have it as good as i do.

even so, i am struggling to find jobs as I've told you in my experiences after getting my first degree. so i don't have it as easy as most hearing people do. i don't mean to sound arrogant but i believe i contribute and would instantly improve any company that hires me. i have a job in the restaurant industry and its not very glamorous working at a place similar to chipotle but it's called salsarita's and a lot of people wouldn't hire me before i came to salsarita's and when i started i immediately impressed my managers with my work ethic and willingness to do what i am told to do and then finding things to do. so that is why i believe i will contribute positively to any company that hires me, I'm intelligent enough to take up the things that I've been shown how to do and do them.


"i know all these question probably seem totally random and pointless, but it's curiosity and fascination with something i am willing and eager to learn more about, especially from someone with experience. do u ever think u'll come back to "OHIO"? "


i love answering questions about myself because it only helps to educate more people about deafness and the more i educate, the more awareness that is spread around and the more awareness there is the more opportunities for people to understand how to interact with deaf people. I'm sure that those with ASL classes are beginning to understand the deaf culture. Its really something that is reflective on how to communicate with deaf people, even little d or big D. for more insight on little d or big D go to my blog entry about the gallaudet protest controversy.

and yes i plan to come back to Ohio after I'm done here in TN :) just not the northeast part. hopefully I'll be living in Columbus and the proud owner of season tickets for the buckeyes haha.