Fintan Ramblings

Miss Deaf World
Fintan Ramblings Saw this humour video from this site [link] and would love to see it translated I reckon I could be a serous contender if I had been invited see this link scarborough hospital
Culture Tue, Apr 22 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Pressure from CI Representives
Fintan Ramblings Should CI companies be allowed to put pressure on deaf people that they must wear CI implants?   I got talking to one member of Deaf UK Chat on MSN.   It all started when she wanted help in setting up a website she was doing for a hobby. Knowing I co-run the forum with Tony, she asked if I [...]
Tech Culture Tue, Apr 22 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Understanding Deaf Culture — In Search of Deafhood, Paddy...
Fintan Ramblings I have been following peoples review on Paddy Ladd’s book Such as this blog All The Young Dude [link] and various American blogs as I have been tempted to buy it. The review below from dale can be found here [link] Its so good that I had to post it on here ( I know its long [...]
Wed, Feb 13 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

BBC iPlayer (Also known as iLater to Deaf community)
Fintan Ramblings Please note this was in my draft folder and I forgot all about it In the web news last few days are headlines such as: BBC relaunches its iPlayer service BBC iPlayer set to remove Beta tag on Christmas Day Is iPlayer heading for a Christmas nightmare On Christmas day the BBC iPlayer officially leaves Beta, and also [...]
Tech Tue, Feb 12 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Deaf = Abnormal … Hearing = Normal
Fintan Ramblings Schoolboy deaf for nine years regains hearing after cotton bud pops out of his ear. [link] Jerome Bartens, 11, was diagnosed as deaf in his right ear when he was just two. He struggled at school, couldn't hear the TV properly and was fed up with people having to shout at him. But when playing pool with his [...]
Language Audism Tue, Jan 29 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

The RNID and Sunday times have sparked disability hate...
Fintan Ramblings The RNID and Sunday times have sparked disability hate crime. Take a look at this link [link] Very shoddy journalism, which I think missed the very issue that we are most concerned with - see this link. [link] We are protesting to protect an embryo from being tossed aside once it is found to have the Deaf gene. Digg [...]
Media Audism Legal Culture Tue, Jan 15 2008 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Are Deaf People Parasites To Society?
Fintan Ramblings I am a married man and concerned by this proposal, which is to me is a seed to start legalised eugenics! Link Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill I am deaf and my wife is hearing I went out with her and eventually got married for a simple reason that I love her. She says the same and [...]
Audism Legal Culture Wed, Dec 12 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Viagra Causes Hearing Loss
Fintan Ramblings The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved labeling changes for erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs in the class that includes Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra, to display more prominently the potential risk of sudden hearing loss, and to guide consumers on what to do if they experience sudden problems with their hearing.   [link] It brings a whole new meaning to the ...
Fri, Oct 19 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Charity needs £1m
Fintan Ramblings I came across a news artical about Hearing Dogs For Deaf People see this link in The Press. A CHARITY that trains dogs for deaf people and is celebrating its 25th birthday this year is looking for a big moving away present as it leaves its training centre in Selby district. Jenny Moir, a spokeswoman for the charity, said she hoped the new training centre would be...
Culture Sat, Oct 06 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Real programmers use sign language
Fintan Ramblings This was filmed without their knowledge and they were having a discussion I know its not real sign language, but its interesting and not surprising that hearing people use their hand to explain.Has anybody seen people who on the phone and their hands are flying about and they don't realise they were doing it lol
Language Culture Tue, Oct 02 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

DISHING THE DIRT ON THE R.N.I.D.
Fintan Ramblings Below was taken from Dans website DISHING THE DIRT ON THE R.N.I.D. THEY STEAL OUR VOICE; THEY STEAL OUR CASH; THEY LOCK US AWAY. RNID (otherwise known as Really Not Interested in the Deaf) The Royal National Institute for Deaf People is basically a million-pound charity that is strangely unpopular with the very people it claims to serve. For example, the Government [...]
Language Audism Culture Tue, Sep 11 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

MP3 Generation Face Premature Hearing Damage, RNID warns
Fintan Ramblings This study has been done before, with walkmans remember them? And another study with MP3 players done in America, why did RNID conduct a study in UK? Brian Lamb, Acting Chief Executive of RNID, said: "MP3 player manufacturers have a responsibility to make their customers aware of the dangers by printing clear warnings on packaging and linking volume controls to [...]
Audism Culture Sun, Sep 09 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

This is England (will be watching it after all)
Fintan Ramblings You may have seen previous posting about This is England! This one how a came across Shane Meadows film director [link] one of his films got shown on tv with subtitles as I wrote here [link] then my frustrations with the DVD distributor in not replying to my query [link] and the reply that they wont be releasing film with subtitles here [link] Can you imagine [...]
Media Tech Thu, Sep 06 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Four Deaf Yorkshiremen - Trailer (subtitled)
Fintan Ramblings Directed by Charlie Swinbourne - exclusive subtitled preview of new 12 minute deaf short film coming out in November 2007.Fully signed in British Sign Language, the movie stars John Smith, Ilan Dwek, Matthew Kirby and Jonathan Reid as 'Four Deaf Yorkshiremen.' One man challenges the others to tell him the worst story about growing up deaf.Written and [...]
Art and Storytelling Wed, Sep 05 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Car Alarm
Fintan Ramblings A few years back when I was single and carefree I used to spend my Sunday nights in North Wales. I find Connahs Quay, Flintshire, very lively (yeah a rough estate) but made loads of friends. One of my mates (who still lives there) and I used to go around a few pubs, as you do; get a take away and pass out J. Trouble is I am known to get lost, and once I ended up at a [...]
Tech Culture Tue, Sep 04 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Improving the Teaching of Deaf Children
Fintan Ramblings I came across this site woman's hour about Improving the Teaching of Deaf Children One in 1000 babies are born profoundly deaf every year and only 2% of these children leave school with a reading level appropriate to their age. After a long career in the education of deaf children, Dr Diana Burman has undertaken pioneering research into the best ways of teaching [...]
Education Culture Mon, Aug 27 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Deaf Awareness Poster
Fintan Ramblings Deaf Awareness Week in South Africa September 5th I quite like this poster, and also wouldn't you feel so good after you have learnt sign language?
Language Sat, Aug 25 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

The influence of British Sign Language on Deaf English.
Fintan Ramblings I found out from someone who is a member of DUK (Deaf-UK a yahoo maling list forum) that someone who did a corpus based study called The influence of British Sign Language on Deaf English. Many deaf people are quite sensitive about someone analysing their English and would not want someone to make a research out of their own writings without permission. In the past we [...]
Language Audism Legal Culture Thu, Aug 23 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Deaf man obtains Driving licence
Fintan Ramblings Front page news on the Fiji Times www.fijitimes.com A DEAF and mute 30-year-old man has become the first in the Northern Division to obtain a driving licence after successfully passing his driving test, using sign language. The achievement by Shiu Karan has baffled Land Transport Authority examiners in the northern town of Labasa who are still trying to understand [...]
Audism Fri, Aug 17 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

RNID to supply Nokia 9210´s from ebay to Deaf customers.
Fintan Ramblings An article in The Register today explains that Vodafone is now buying secondhand Nokia 9210´s on eBay to sell to D/deaf customers using the service provided in association with the RNID. Below taken from Register Vodafone UK is hunting eBay for obsolete handsets that support its Textphone service for the deaf. British telephone companies are required to provide [...]
Audism Tech Culture Tue, Aug 14 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

BBC iPlayer
Fintan Ramblings Been trying out BBC Iplayer last few days . I can understand why people cant see the point of it when most programmes are repeated. But I like the idea that you can watch programmes at a time that´s convenient for me so I thought I try it out. I am not going to detail here how its a bit of a palaver to get it going (search on Google and you will see) but in all it [...]
Tech Sun, Aug 12 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Salesman Don't Cater for Deaf
Fintan Ramblings I was talking to Rob and Shane on MSN when I was interrupted by a knock on door by some door-to-door survey man. I hate door-to-door salesmen or any charity collector so I was in a good mood J He showed me his badge and wanted survey about alcohol and asked if I drink so I said yes. Asked me a couple of questions and on his electronic clipboard has an advert clip, and [...]
Audism Sat, Jul 21 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Some People Think Deaf are Simple Minded!
Fintan Ramblings I have a younger sister and the age different between us is 13 years., So as you can see I left home long before she reached her teens. Sometimes when I used to visit my mum and she happened to be there, she would usually have her school friends around at the house. I found that some of her school friends must have thought that deaf people had some disease or are [...]
Sat, Jul 21 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Sign Language
Fintan Ramblings I will start my BSL practice by joining the BSL class in September and it should be fun! The reason I will start BSL practice is that you know when hearing people are deafened later in life, I can imagine with empathy that I am going deafened and may not hear anything at all later on. When I will reach an old age (long way off J ) I will be totally cut off from the [...]
Language Thu, Jul 19 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Dialogue for the Deaf
Fintan Ramblings The guardian newspaper again ! First of all they put us in social care category see G.O.D blog And now one of the blog on guardian titled Dialogue for the Deaf I am seeing this Dialogue for the Deaf time and time again! Google it Reported an Arab newsman: "It is the dialogue of the deaf. Both sides talk, but neither side listens." Its just implies [...]
Audism Language Thu, Jul 12 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Video on Demand. (We aren´t going to get it yet)
Fintan Ramblings There seem to be an increase on VOD (Video on Demand) in the UK such as ITV 4oD Five Blueyonder TV Sky Anytime BT Vision Freeview Top Up TV Tiscali TV Virgin Media I have tried out 4oD on father in laws PC (Does not work on Linux) none of the programmes I downloaded contain subtitles. Also he is subscribed to virgin media and we sat down to watch Dr Who just to test [...]
Media Tech Tue, Jul 03 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

This is England (We wont be watching it!)
Fintan Ramblings Thanks everyone, I finally got a reply from Optimum Releasing. So here is the email I got from them below Hi Fintan, Unfortunately we are not providing this service yet but we are looking into it for future releases. Apologies. Regards Emilie Barra DVD Assistant Optimum Releasing 22 Newman Street London W1T --- Labyrinth DVD: 12th March. The Host DVD: 5th March As [...]
Media Tech Mon, Jul 02 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Not Getting Anywhere (This is England)
Fintan Ramblings As you may have read in here and here about Shane Meadows films not being subtitled on DVD This helpful forum Shane Meadows Forum pointed me to the right place on company that has the license and rights to put his films onto DVD. Optimum Releasing The website boast of film releases and also to buy online but no information on if any films carry subtitles for the Deaf [...]
Media Tech Sat, Jun 30 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Ceefax/Teletex
Fintan Ramblings Teletext When I was growing up in the 70´s the only TV Programme we could watch was non-talkie movies.. such as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and early Laurel and Hardy films. I couldn´t watch cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, Captain Pugwash and Magic Roundabout. The 80´s came and Teletext or Ceefax came along and subtitles were available when you press [...]
Tech Thu, Jun 28 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Look I Can Sign!!
Fintan Ramblings A woman approached me at the bar and said I can sign. I pretended to look impressed /fascinated when she then onto alphabetical order A,B,C by the time she got to the letter Z ,I have ordered a pint of Guinness  and told her it was wrong. So she proceed to do it all again when she got to letter G ,  I interrupted and said wrong again She  looked at her hand puzzled [...]
Language Thu, Jun 21 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

See Hear
Fintan Ramblings I was very disappointed with the programme this week on Internet section Probably the worst I have seen on See Hear and if this is the new See Hear then I am turning off. So to think I have told everyone and their dogs about see hear and their comments makes me cringe First of all See Hear did not explain what Social Networking is properly and it heavily focused on [...]
Media Culture Tue, Jun 19 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

We Never Had It So Good
Fintan Ramblings We have never had it so good in keeping in touch with friends, especially when you´re deaf and unable to use the telephone. 1988 to year 2000 (picked 1988 as I was 18 then) In the past, we all met at deaf clubs. We had to remember or write down where we would meet next in pubs and the likes.. We also could keep in contact via the post, but I hardly ever wrote a [...]
Tech Culture Fri, Jun 15 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Mobile Free Zone on Virgin Trains.
Fintan Ramblings Reading this blog Stores commit active discrimination on Funny old Life Reminds me when I was travelling from Chester to ( I cant remember where)on a virgin train. I was pleased to find a mobile free zone carriage pulled up as it drove me nuts, when people using the phone when sat in front or behind me ,I get the whinny and crackly noise every time they use the [...]
Thu, Jun 14 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

A Room For Romeo Brass
Fintan Ramblings I frequent Shane Meadows forums and I found that a film called A Room For Romeo Brass was being shown on BBC2 Friday 8th June. ( or sat morning 12:45 am which ever way you look at it) I was delighted it was shown on a BBC channel as you all know no advert breaks spoiling the film and 9 out of 10 the programs on the BBC will be subtitled. Was not too happy about [...]
Media Tech Wed, Jun 13 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

What did the RNID do for you?
Fintan Ramblings I cant think of what this charity has done for us , Never knew of them till year 2000 so where have they been in all 30 years my life? On website it reads Changing the world for deaf and hard of hearing people. RNID is the largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK So they represent 9 million deaf and hard of hearing well I [...]
Culture Tech Sun, May 20 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Deaf Wrestler
Fintan Ramblings Haven't had time to post much lately. I was flicking through channels on sky and I came across wrestling channel and they showed World of Sport all the old British wresting . Alan Kilby was ready to wrestle with some guy and the commentary said "Alan has taken his Deaf aids out " When they say Deaf aids it makes me cringe
Audism Thu, May 17 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Speach Therapist
Fintan Ramblings Saw in a blog somewhere about speech therapist (I have lost the link) reminded me when I was about 11 during school time I had to go down the road to a clinic to have speech therapy. Although my mum had letters etc but never seen speech therapists only the doctors, she was puzzled on why I developed a lisp. ( I did over do it as I hated going there) Mum visited the [...]
Mon, May 14 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Testing for Deafness
Fintan Ramblings All my children been tested for deafness as soon as they are born. Its amazing how they find out these days when they are few days old, although I have never seen it done because my wife knows how uneasy I feel  but she told me how its done. Then they get tested at a later stage even though I know my children are all hearing hell the doctors will get an ear bashing [...]
Audism Culture Mon, May 14 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Subtitles?? My Arse!!
Fintan Ramblings I went shopping with my wife and in the supermarket I can be found veering toward the beer section and then onto DVD. I picked up the Royale Family DVD and like I always do check if it carry subtitles not surprisingly it doesn´t. The Royale family first shown on BBC and I like the BBC as most programmes and films are shown with subtitles and best of all no adverts. [...]
Media Tech Fri, May 11 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

dotSUB.com and Project Readon
Fintan Ramblings I came across dotSUB.com and Project Readon from reading this blog so here are my thoughts as a viewer Project readon is good and the subtitles are readable and the captions shows on each side of the screen so you know which person is speaking The down side is the subtitles are held at different server so when viewing your tube and the video is buffering the subtitles [...]
Tech Fri, May 11 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

Petition to Make all digital TV channels add Subtitles to...
Fintan Ramblings Came across this might be worth a try People who are deaf and hard of hearing do not have a wide range of choice what to watch on digital TV as only a selected few programmes are subtitled. All we are asking for is to make digital Tv companies subtitle 100% of programmes to give us the choice to watch what we want, hearing people take this for granted. Click here to [...]
Tech Tue, May 08 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post

So much for deaf awareness!!
Fintan Ramblings As some of you know that  7th - 13th May 2007 is Deaf Awareness Week. I came across the York Press which is a local newspaper. Below is the extract from the website LIFE-saving smoke alarms designed for deaf people will be fitted free by the fire brigade as part of an awareness drive. During Deaf Awareness Week next week, North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is [...]
Wed, May 02 2007 hide this blog flag post bookmark post