For Those Who Attended Our Oral Deaf / Deaf / ASL Meetup Meets At The Old Site, Claim Your Settlement!

We have been contacted through a Minnesota consulting firm that there is a settlement agreement between the class attorneys and the old site of one of our three monthly meetup events.

The settlement applies to people with hearing, visual, and mobility disabilities who faced access related inconveniences at one or more of the particular company's California sites.

While I can remember many faces that came to our meetups at the old site, we will still need proof you were in fact at our old meetup site before we can give you a copy of the claim form.

The deadline to file claim is in April 15, 2008 (postmarked).

This is the settlement where the community members, not the big organizations, win big.

Richard Roehm

Consumer Advocacy : Your Information At Alldeaf.com Is Not Safe!

Transcript :
First of all, this videoblog is not about bashing alldeaf.com. Its about showing you that some scammers can get your personal information from there. Like I promised in my new year's resolution, I'd be doing more of these types things. I tried to clue everyone about that in my past video blogs. What I see there is stuff you're sending going into deaf people's eyes and out their ears. So I thought it's time for me to be a bit more clear and that's what this is going to do for me. On February 11, my day off, I decided to test alldeaf website again. I created a new identity there deafstarman yes deafstarman is me there. I even created an AIM screen name deafstarman3, yes deafstarman3 for this test! I put the deafstarman3 screenname at AIM in my deafstarman profile on the day I made the account at the alldeaf website. I kept this thing a secret, nobody else knew about this anywhere else. Lo and behold! The very next day, I was contacted by a screen name called chieffbideaf help... no it's chieffbihelpdeaf and 2 more interesting screen names. I've even taken the liberty of publishing my great conversations with three suspicious screen names below. This is not about bashing the alldeaf website. This is about showing you that your information at the alldeaf website is not safe and is being used by scammers and extortionists. Whether Alex is permitting all this to happen or not, I dont know. But I'd be a real disservice to the deaf communities if I didnt tell you that your information, whether its personal or not, is not going to be safe at that alldeaf website.

(05:07:01 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: i am online helper for deaf people
(05:07:12 PM) deafstarman3: HI
(05:07:31 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: i have help many deaf people they re all happy now for gething money
(05:07:36 PM) deafstarman3: MY NAME IS RICKY
(05:07:49 PM) deafstarman3: WOW
(05:08:08 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: where are you from ?
(05:08:26 PM) deafstarman3: KANSAS
(05:08:55 PM) deafstarman3: WHERE FIND MY SCREEN NAME?
(05:09:28 PM) deafstarman3: WHERE GET MONEY?
(05:10:01 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: from gorverment
(05:10:48 PM) deafstarman3: HOW
(05:11:29 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: yes to give deaf poeple
(05:11:53 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: but i need to ask you some questions
(05:12:06 PM) deafstarman3: OK
(05:13:08 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: how old are you ?
(05:13:28 PM) deafstarman3: 53
(05:13:33 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: ok
(05:13:38 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: what do you d for living ?
(05:13:54 PM) deafstarman3: RETIRE FROM RAILROAD
(05:14:19 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: ok
(05:14:26 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: i am going to give you 50,000 us dollar cash
(05:14:36 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: to make you happy like other deaf people
(05:15:02 PM) deafstarman3: HOW
(05:15:28 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: our agent are going to bring the money to your house befor 10 am tomorrow mornig
(05:15:47 PM) deafstarman3: HOW YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE?
(05:15:51 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: give me your full address s o i can transfer the file to my boss and you will tlk to him
(05:15:56 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: so you can have your money
(05:16:09 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: you are going to give me your address
(05:17:26 PM) deafstarman3: 401 WESTPORT AVE
(05:17:45 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: ok
(05:17:48 PM) deafstarman3: BUHLER, KS 67520
(05:18:07 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: so you need to talk to me boos now so you can get the money befor 10 am tomorrow
(05:18:49 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: so i am done with you sir
(05:18:53 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: talk to my boss
(05:18:56 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: good day
(05:19:31 PM) deafstarman3: WHO YOUR BOSS
(05:19:51 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: police200007
(05:19:55 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: he will contact you
(05:19:58 PM) deafstarman3: OOH THAT WHO
(05:20:04 PM) deafstarman3: \I THOUGHT STRANGE
(05:20:07 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: yes
(05:20:20 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: no that police200007
(05:21:08 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: i need to attend too another deaf now
(05:21:11 PM) CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF: have a good day
(05:21:17 PM) deafstarman3: OK
(05:23:45 PM) deafstarman3: BYE
(05:23:45 PM) Unable to send message: Not logged in


(05:18:11 PM) police200007: hello
(05:18:22 PM) deafstarman3: HI
(05:18:27 PM) police200007: i am chief police
(05:18:33 PM) police200007: i got i file of yours now
(05:18:42 PM) police200007: you are so lucky like other deaf people
(05:20:03 PM) police200007: are you from 401 WESTPORT AVE BUHLER, KS 67520
(05:20:25 PM) police200007: so
(05:20:45 PM) police200007: did my agent explain everything to you ?
(05:20:53 PM) deafstarman3: YES
(05:20:59 PM) police200007: ok
(05:21:00 PM) deafstarman3: HE WAS VERY HELFUL
(05:21:15 PM) police200007: ok
(05:21:16 PM) police200007: hold
(05:22:08 PM) police200007: ok
(05:22:24 PM) police200007: did he told you how much we are going to give you ?
(05:22:45 PM) police200007: ??
(05:22:50 PM) deafstarman3: YES
(05:23:08 PM) police200007: how much ??
(05:24:48 PM) deafstarman3: 50,000
(05:25:27 PM) police200007: is that ok for you ?
(05:25:41 PM) deafstarman3: OK
(05:25:59 PM) police200007: and you have to type fats becuse i am attending to many deaf people
(05:26:02 PM) police200007: ok
(05:26:28 PM) deafstarman3: OK
(05:26:35 PM) police200007: that is ok
(05:26:37 PM) police200007: ok
(05:26:45 PM) police200007: i am going to helpp you and make you happy
(05:26:50 PM) police200007: do you understand ?
(05:27:19 PM) police200007: and you will get the money befor 10 am tomorrow
(05:27:29 PM) deafstarman3: OK
(05:28:02 PM) police200007: we are giving you cash
(05:28:43 PM) deafstarman3: REALLY?
(05:28:51 PM) police200007: yes
(05:29:10 PM) police200007: we are giving you cash but we are puthing it in big brown envilop
(05:30:21 PM) police200007: and do you know how much are you going to pay for fee s you can get the money befor 10 am tomorrow
(05:30:28 PM) deafstarman3: FEE?
(05:30:55 PM) police200007: yes so there will be no delay on your money
(05:33:01 PM) deafstarman3: how much?
(05:33:52 PM) police200007: 1200 and you will get 50,000 cash and be hapy like other deaf people
(05:34:19 PM) deafstarman3: WOW THATS A LOT. CAN YOU DEDUCT FROM THE $50,000?
(05:34:28 PM) police200007: sorry
(05:34:33 PM) police200007: we can \t
(05:34:44 PM) police200007: everything here is under control and secure
(05:34:48 PM) deafstarman3: WHY?
(05:35:26 PM) police200007: that how we are doing it here
(05:35:51 PM) police200007: pay your fee and get your money without delay
(05:39:24 PM) police200007: so you need to go and pay the fee right now so there will be no delay on your money
(05:39:40 PM) deafstarman3: WHERE DO I PAY FEE?
(05:39:52 PM) police200007: deland florida
(05:39:58 PM) police200007: by western union
(05:40:08 PM) police200007: i am going to give you our address
(05:40:13 PM) deafstarman3: OK
(05:41:10 PM) police200007: how long will you go and pay the money if i give you the address now ?
(05:41:39 PM) deafstarman3: THE WESTERN UNION OFFICE IS 3 BLOCKS AWAY CLOSE IN 2 HOURS
(05:42:16 PM) police200007: two hours time ?
(05:42:30 PM) police200007: do you know how much are you going to pay ?
(05:42:33 PM) deafstarman3: YES
(05:42:41 PM) deafstarman3: 1200
(05:42:45 PM) police200007: ok
(05:44:08 PM) police200007: name.................Patricia keen
(05:44:21 PM) police200007: 927 hunters creek dr. #303... deland, fl. 32720
(05:44:29 PM) police200007: got it ?
(05:45:17 PM) deafstarman3: YES
(05:45:31 PM) deafstarman3: I GO NOW BYE BYE
(05:45:35 PM) police200007: so go now andpay the money
(05:45:49 PM) police200007: and email me the mtcn on [email protected]
(05:46:42 PM) police200007: do you understand ?
(05:47:03 PM) deafstarman3: YES
(05:47:14 PM) police200007: how long will you email me the mtcn ?
(05:47:33 PM) deafstarman3: AS SOON AS I SEND MONEY
(05:47:42 PM) police200007: how many minutes ?
(05:47:54 PM) deafstarman3: 30 MINS
(05:48:06 PM) police200007: ok
(05:48:11 PM) police200007: i am waitting for you
(05:48:23 PM) police200007: are you using pager or side kick ?
(05:49:23 PM) deafstarman3: SK
(05:51:46 PM) deafstarman3: WHILE I GO PAY YOU SAY HI TO ALEX FOR ME
(05:52:50 PM) police200007: what are you talking about ?
(05:57:01 PM) deafstarman3: HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO BRING THE MONEY?
(05:57:30 PM) police200007: go and pay the money now
(05:57:41 PM) deafstarman3: I AM WAIT IN LINE AT CHECK CASH PLACE HAS WESTERN UNION
(05:57:51 PM) police200007: ok
(05:57:59 PM) deafstarman3: HOW DO I KNOW THIS NOT SCAM?
(05:58:12 PM) police200007: never
(05:58:17 PM) police200007: tis is not a scamme
(05:58:21 PM) police200007: trust me
(05:58:59 PM) deafstarman3: WOW
(05:59:13 PM) deafstarman3: YOU DO THIS TO A LOT OF DEAF?
(05:59:14 PM) police200007: i am waiting for the mtcn
(05:59:25 PM) police200007: where are you now ?
(05:59:31 PM) deafstarman3: AND I AM WAIT IN LINE
(05:59:56 PM) deafstarman3: WILL THE MONEY COME IN $20'S $50'S OR $100'S?
(06:00:07 PM) police200007: yes
(06:00:35 PM) deafstarman3: WHO IS SMILEQ2000?
(06:01:03 PM) police200007: i dont know her
(06:01:50 PM) deafstarman3: AND WHERE DID CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF?
(06:02:02 PM) deafstarman3: FIND MY SCREEN NAME?
(06:02:29 PM) police200007: how fer baba
(06:02:40 PM) police200007: she you wan lean work ??
(06:03:13 PM) deafstarman3: GUESS WHAT
(06:03:19 PM) police200007: ??
(06:03:37 PM) deafstarman3: I THINK YOU ARE SMILEQ2000
(06:03:54 PM) police200007: i dont know what you are talking about baba
(06:04:00 PM) police200007: dont wat my time
(06:04:05 PM) deafstarman3: BECAUSE BOTH OF YOU TYPED THE SAME WAY
(06:04:12 PM) police200007: no way
(06:04:13 PM) deafstarman3: MY NAME IS NOT BABA
(06:04:18 PM) police200007: i am not
(06:04:27 PM) police200007: i am not here to play game
(06:04:28 PM) police200007: ok
(06:04:37 PM) police200007: and dont wast my time
(06:04:38 PM) deafstarman3: thats my readers to judge
(06:04:49 PM) police200007: i have alots of deaf to attend to
(06:04:59 PM) deafstarman3: this great conversation is gonna end up on my blog
(06:05:42 PM) deafstarman3: poof?
(06:05:42 PM) Unable to send message: Not logged in



(05:24:34 PM) smileq2000: hi
(05:24:54 PM) deafstarman3: HI
(05:25:13 PM) smileq2000: i amsmile
(05:25:19 PM) smileq2000: i am deaf from fl
(05:25:34 PM) deafstarman3: NICE HOW YOU FIND MY SCREEN NAME
(05:25:42 PM) smileq2000: deafsite
(05:25:58 PM) smileq2000: i am new on computer
(05:26:08 PM) deafstarman3: NAME OF DEAFSITE?
(05:26:16 PM) smileq2000: yes
(05:27:40 PM) smileq2000: pls can you hold few minutes
(05:27:51 PM) smileq2000: i am talking with police cheif about the 43,000 he gave to my friend today
(05:28:04 PM) deafstarman3: WOW THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED
(05:28:24 PM) smileq2000: what you talking about ?
(05:29:10 PM) deafstarman3: MY SCREEN NAME GETS SPREAD OUT FAST
(05:29:30 PM) smileq2000: police promise to give my friend 50,000
(05:29:41 PM) smileq2000: but when she get the money now the money was 43,000
(05:30:04 PM) smileq2000: and also i want to get my money tomorrow that s why i was to ask what time is my money coming
(05:31:06 PM) smileq2000: will you hold few minutes /
(05:32:22 PM) deafstarman3: first youre CHIEFFBIHELPDEAF , then youre police200007, and now youre smileq2000
(05:32:49 PM) deafstarman3: my readers are gonna love this
(05:33:21 PM) smileq2000: what are you talkng about ??
(05:33:25 PM) deafstarman3: where did you find my screen name?
(05:35:31 PM) deafstarman3: there's only one place I published my screen name
(05:35:39 PM) smileq2000: where ?
(05:37:28 PM) deafstarman3: I get 3 suckers for the price of 1
(05:37:56 PM) smileq2000: what are you talking about ?
(06:05:49 PM) deafstarman3: poof?
(06:05:49 PM) Unable to send message: Not logged in

So Carl Wants "UNBIASED" Captioning?

Here's one for Carl.

It's Gary Brooks "Oh Thank You!" video blog CAPTIONED!

Enjoy!

Richard

Blooper Bob!

Another great video captioned!

Remixing Videos With Subtitles

Another video remixed using Overstream. More on the way.

Richard

Pray For Gallaudet University

Dont Blame AGBell For Missing The PepsiCo Ad

As evidenced in the photo above, the deafies were already pointing their cannons at AGBell for what they thought was responsible for PepsiCo pulling the ad. Click on the image to view larger picture.

The ad was never pulled. It was actually shown before the game.

YES, BEFORE THE GAME!

So don't blame AGBell for missing the PepsiCo ad.

Blame it on the high illiteracy rates within the deaf community.

ASL is not even a written language to begin with. The ASL folks missed the clue as to when to find the ad in the announcements, even from NAD. NAD said pregame many deafies missed it.

IS IT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T READ IT?

Maybe now's really the time to address the high illiteracy rate in the deaf communities.

Richard

Instead Of California Deaf Agencies Crying Over Budget Cuts......

The above video is not captioned, however, the one below is captioned!



Here I'm at GLAD ( Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness ) the west part of the GLAD building. The building behind me is vacant. I only wish deaf agencies will stop crying about budget cuts. They should create new revenue sources than crying for money. Behind me, for example, is vacant can be used as a group home for deaf people with other disabilities. The state I know pays a lot of money for it. Why not GLAD create ideas on how to make up for the government cuts instead of crying about budget cuts.

( Added Commentary )

I have a group home and I'm in the process of buying a triplex and another apartment to expand the group home. The hospital OCDAC partners with keeps calling us they have more deaf people that need placement in group homes. The financial incentives are huge for these types of projects.

GLAD can use that building to take in deaf people with other disabilities and it'll not only create additional revenue, it'll create jobs and job experience for deaf people. Also costs of operating can be brought further down through the use of volunteers and recycled building materials that can be obtained for free. Furthermore, the residents themselves can be trained to produce things that could be sold to raise additional revenue. I believe I'm not going to be the first person to be telling everyone that more than half of the GLAD building itself is very under-utilized by it's current leadership.

Another source of new revenue is our foodstand trailer and we're working with the fairgrounds to place it at events almost every weekend. You can see that at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB2iEThSHzw and at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIv5Q1QR7Bs as our positive examples.

The point in this blog post is you see we're not even crying over budget cuts even though were going to be affected, INSTEAD, were using our time, resources, and energies in developing new revenue sources.

I just wish that the larger deaf agencies would rise up from their semi-vegetable state of mind and innovate new revenue sources instead of crying over budget cuts.

Richard

P.S. Someone really needs to tell Scott Hostetler, a past GLAD president, to fix his coughing problem!

Deaf and Deafblind Make Aromatherapy Pillows

Aromatic pleasure you can rest your head on.

We can stuff empty sofa pillow casings with freshly harvested mountain Laurel Sumac leaves for the the fresh mountain smell in your room. These are done by deaf people with other disabilities in our group home.

Here in the video above you can see Cam and Sharky plucking leaves off the branches

A lotta work went into this small pillow. Harvest starts with a 45 mile drive to the hills. Quality branches are harvested. They're cleaned out, plucked, and stuffed into pillow casings by hand. We offer them in different sizes.

These are then sold through websites and swapmeets the money goes to the upkeep of the group home helping make it affordable to the disabled people in an upscale area.

Here's another great video of my aromatherapy pillow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teLZDpGZ7J8

Richard