This Post has been removed...

and taken elsewhere (top secret)...by me.
*smile*

Rome By Night...

Shhh! (Unofficial Announcement) Jordan Speaks

It's so strange to write blogs in different languages and tell secrets on each blog about things that happen in the different countries. I've lost my mind to the point that I now write messages to my American friends in Italian and my Italian friends in English. In any case, the new Pediatric Audiology Network is on line and since I don't know if I have permission to spread the news in Italy...I'm spreading it just a little here.

Pediatricians in all of Italy got the heads up and already various regions have reported in requesting assistance to create a Newborn Hearing Screening Program in their region or to better develop the existing one. Yes, it's time to take on Italy.
I asked Jordan to create a video announcing the Network. Here it is with the English Translation:


I would also like to draw your attention to this video that was posted by an Italian Deaf Blogger: Giuseppe Nazzareno
He asked the following questions:
1. Doctors and parent associations of deaf children like the FIADDA (AgBell equivalent) try to make deaf people become hearing with the cochlear implant and these implanted deaf children continue to use sign language. Why?
2. Are these implanted Deaf people part of "Deafhood?"

*Take it away English speakers...*

Hot as a Mother in Tuscany!

 

Okay. My eye has officially begun twitching. I'm a stress-case from hell and things are only getting worse. The Italian blog has started to take off and I think I may be making friends. We are about to launch the Italian Pediatric Federation Audiological Website and on-line questionnaire, and Jordan just made a video to do so. I'll be cc-in' it in English for tomorrow (shhh, don't tell anyone). Michele is recovering nicely in Florence and his mom is enjoying her hot shower at home once again. No, my friends, no private bathrooms in the hospital rooms- it's shower without a lock on the door and pray no one comes to chat.

Here in Tuscany it's hot as a mother (smile), so what must a mother and daughter do? Go shopping for sandals. I took Sofia Madyson out for some new pretty sandals and the first shop I took her to had a line of twenty frustrated and sweaty moms, so we left. On our way out the door,the familiar sound rang out, "Mommmmmmmmmmy, I have to go potty!"
I said, "Sofia, there are no potties here. We are in ITALY!"
Sofia responded, "Just find me a tree."

Baltimore - HERE I COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOME!!!!!!!
(What can I say- it's been a long day. By the way, Sofia came home with two new pairs of glittery sandals...such a princess!)

Anti-Semitism on Facebook

Se avessi 5 Colpi e una Pistola a chi Sparerei!
I Comunisti, bruciare i negri, Ebrei, Cinesi merda and Arbitri Italiani.

Translation: If I had five bullets in my gun, I would shoot: Communists, I would burn black people, Jews, Shitty Chinese and Italian Referees.

*Vomit*

This was what I found when I clicked on the facebook page of one of my "Italian family members." This person wore a kipa and was the ring-bearer at my Jewish wedding. I sit at the table with him for Christmas and Easter lunch despite the fact that I am Jewish...I respect his traditions.

He's young...

No excuse.

I sat chewing this over for about six days, wondering whether or not I should comment this little poll of his.

Last night I couldn't sleep, so at 2:00 am, I turned on the computer and left the following comment:

You will never know how painful it was for me to read this. Do I leave a comment? Do I not leave a comment?...So, would you like to begin shooting me, Jordan or Sofia? Don't worry- You're cool...

I deleted his name from my list of facebook friends.

Hate exists and it is rampid on facebook.

That shit makes me sick.

Hmm...Another Film Involving the CI-Deaf Community Controversy

Why can't anyone just make a nice, light, feel-good film with a character with cochlear implants??
Why does everything have to be so damn controversial?
Video care of Vlog Sordi.(Grazie)

WAHOO! GOVERNOR SIGNS CI BILL!!!

Governor Signs Wisconsin Children's CI Insurance Bill

Press release, Office of Governor Jim Doyle, Madison, Wisconsin - May 21,
2009
------------------

For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 21, 2009

Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Governor Doyle Signs Bill Requiring Insurers Cover Cochlear Implants,
Hearing Aids for Kids

MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today signed SB 27, requiring health
insurers cover hearing aids and cochlear implants for persons under 18 years
of age.

"This is an important bill that protects Wisconsin families," Governor
Doyle said. "For too long, too many families with deaf children or children
with hearing loss have struggled to pay for treatment. Today, we are making
sure these families no longer have to choose between putting food on the
table or providing effective and proven treatment for their child."

The bill requires health insurance policies and plans to cover the
cost of hearing aids or cochlear implants and related treatment for children
under 18. Coverage is limited to two hearing aids every three years and the
child must be diagnosed by a physician or audiologist as being deaf or
hearing impaired.

Research shows that early intervention can save families $5,000 to
$10,000 per child per year, or $1 million during a lifetime. Access to
hearing aids or cochlear implants results in earlier development of speech
and language skills, as well as decreased need for special education.

About 200 babies are born deaf or hard of hearing in Wisconsin each
year, and more than half of Wisconsin families do not have insurance that
covers any of the cost of hearing aids, according to a survey by the
Wisconsin Chapter of Hands.

Governor Doyle thanked Senators Lassa and Hansen and Representatives
Cullen and Bernard Schaber for their work on the bill.

*Thank you to all of the families who wrote to the governor in support of this bill*