Border

The children on both sides of the border loves the new fences, getting to know each others on the see-saws.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

"On Deaf Ears"

  

A Deaf mother takes care of her child with a fever. Someone broke in during the night and she held him at gunpoint while waiting for the sheriff.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Radar

A Milwaukee squad car pull over a Deaf driver wearing a GMAD jersey, radioed for an interpreter, causing the Deaf driver to be almost late for the game. The sheriff told the Deaf driver, "you been going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone." Deaf driver replied that he is a pitcher on a GMAD baseball team and in a hurry. The sheriff told him to get out of the car and told him to pitch the ball while he aim the radar gun; "If you can pitch faster than the speed you were going (65 mph), I'll not write you up." The Deaf driver pitch was clocked at 82 mph and was then was given a warning. He took himself out of the game that night when he noticed the umpire was the sheriff himself. What a coincident!

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Sheriff's Academy

I was the only Deaf ever to take classes at the Osceola County Sheriff's Academy, a program specifically designed  for its citizens here in Florida. It's a good way to check it out to decide if a career in law enforcement is for you. We tour the  Communication Center where 911 calls are taken. Yes, it's accessible to the Deaf that uses videophones (VP) and text messaging. A word of advice: If you uses a cell phone, leave your GPS on and stay where you are so that the emergency crews (police or fire) can locate you within minutes. Also be sure that your VRS providers has the correct addresses of where you live. Deaf often forget to update their VRS profile when they moved and it may be a matter of life or death if the dispatchers send them to wrong address. They are training eight new dispatchers this week and will hire more after adding new equipment.

This is Kaos, a German Shepherd, that  takes commands in German as he was trained in Germany. K-9 are trained to locate bodies. He can smell a scent 1/4 mile. We discuss about their intelligence unit, discussions includes terrorism. Our classes are nine weeks. It requires background checks and an application to join the program, you will also need to sign a waiver to participate on the shooting range and to ride in a patrol car. Everyone in class is required to wear an uniform and a name-tag. There are two ASL interpreters. The class is free to anyone over age of 18 living in the county. Classes are three hours every Monday nights. Everything is hands on, not just lectures. Yes, the K-9 unit officers uses hand signals. Yes, there is an unit that deals with crimes against tourists. Officers will answer any questions you may have during the course. It was raining outside so the K-9 demonstration was held  indoor. There was an interesting PowerPoint (PP) presentations on terrorism which describes the characteristic of terrorists from planning to dry runs. I think those PP ought to be printed as handouts. We had one incident here where an FBI shot and killed a suspect that is linked to the Boston bombing, so don't assume it'll never happen here. 

We also  visit the Communication Center where 911 calls are taken.

We also learn about their Crimeline program where you can leave a tip and may get a reward if it result in an arrest. One tip lead to an arrest of 72 suspects. Most tips are related to drug dealing in our neighborhoods.  We also discuss the new "Speak Out" program where children stand up to bullying in public schools.

Saturday morning, we went out to the shooting range learning to use police 45 semi- automatic pistol, rifle red laser aim, and a powerful shotgun that blasts the target.

We  also discusses these three topics:
1. Violence Crime Unit (VCU) - how we investigate homicides.
2. Public Relations - our relationship with the media.
3. Crime Prevention - programs of various topics (ID Theft, Women Defense, etc.) that are available to organizations and schools.
Several graphic photos of crime scenes shown, a decomposed body of a German tourist who overstayed his visa, becoming homeless gambling away his whole life savings. A prostitute identified his body. State lab indicated that alcoholism is the main cause of death.
One of the perks of joining the academy is freebies, tonight they gave out gun locks to prevent a child from accidental shooting at home.
It's a great experience, hope to see more Deaf involvement. 

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Pabst

I think it's great that Pabst is returning to its roots, Milwaukee, the beer capital.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

"Goodbye Christopher Robin"

You probably already read the Book, "Winnie the Pooh" or seen the Disney animated movie as a child. This film is about its author, A.A. Milne, a pacifist who is suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder (shell shock) seeking refuge in the countryside after WWI where the imagination of his son, Christopher Robin, inspires him to write a children book that soon became a worldwide bestseller.

 

"Goodbye Christopher Robin"  explores how difficult it must been to have a normal childhood when you are a celebrity. 

I give this film, now available on DVD, a "thumbs up".

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Siskel and Ebert

Film critics Siskel works for the Chicago Tribune and Ebert with the Chicago Sun-Times, famous for their "Thumps Up/Down."

As a Deaf film critic on Deaf Anthology, sometimes I review film before their release into theatres.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Roncalli Circus

The Roncalli Circus, based in Germany are using three-dimensional holograms of elephants, I think it's a great idea, no more dung duty.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

"Moonlight Sonata"

 

Moonlight Sonata

Moonlight Sonata is a new HBO documentary about a deaf boy playing the piano, just like Beethoven.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Mailbox

A Deaf sculptor created a mailbox for his home using a chainsaw. 

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Antifa

ANTIFA, a is an anti-capitalism political and militant movement that originated before the rise of Nazism in Germany, terrorists that supports populous Trump fascist regime that attempts to overthrown, along with the Proud Boys, the United States government during the siege at the Capitol last week. Today, the FBI arrested the  insurrection organizer. 

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Bicycle Safety

Bicycle Safety 

I just completed my grocery shopping at the Boggy Creek Market on Simpson, was leaving the parking lot, a reckless bicyclist cut in front of me, after unlocking his bike from a signpost being done with business at the Osceola Tax Collection office. I had to jammed on my brakes to avoid hitting him. He kept going taking a short cut through Family Physicians Group (FMG) clinic: Moments later, was idling under a red light signal being patience thinking thank goodness it was a close call. When the left arrow green flasher was on, I proceed to get on Simpson, but that same bicyclist cut in front of me again, had to jammed my brakes again and the red auto behind me almost crashed in to me. Once again, that was close and I arrive safely home. I understand now why Florida has the highest pedestrian death rate in the nation.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

"Sunrise at Campobello"

Sunrise at Campobello will be a great pandemic movie to watch during lockdown of Franklin Roosevelt struggling with polio. One interesting thing I learn is that the president establishes a foundation (March of Dimes) that raise funds to seek a cure, allowing Dr. Jonas Salk to develop the polio vaccine that led to its eradication. That's why FDR is on our dimes.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Emoji

Deaf emoji are now available.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

"Our Father Abe"

Deaf job opportunities once were limited to various trades and Deaf schools set up vocational programs to prepare them. Eva Dicker, an Interpreter Training Program (ITP) coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has published a book, "Our Father Abe," about her father, a Deaf shoe repairman.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Empty Nest

A Deaf suburbanite living outside of Milwaukee, a father who takes pride in almost everything he does, trying to be the most popular among us all. He constructed the biggest ever backyard treehouse for his Deaf children. Now the Deaf children already grown, studying at Gallaudet, leaving an "empty nest." A cold snap hits the area, the Deaf father decided to fill the abandoned treehouse with wild seeds for those birds who haven't yet migrated south, thereafter became known as the "Deaf Birdman"

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Whiskey Deaf

Whiskey are popular among Deaf Kentuckians,  signing Bluegrass music when drunk.

There is a band group, Whiskey Deaf, but they're not from the area, where none of their performers are Deaf.

It's just another band with the word deaf in its title, maybe their loud blasts causing us to be deaf.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Brian Banks

Brian Banks is a college football player falsely accused of rape, plea no contest no knowing that it meant that, in the eyes of the law, he's just as guilty, sentenced to prison when he thought he would get off on probation, putting on hold his dream of ever playing in the NFL 

I think he's innocent, should be on the field, not behind bars, fighting injustice. A lawyer is his quarterback and the judge is the referee. 

I give this film a thumb-up, now available on DVD at the local Redbox kiosk.  

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Posters

There been a lot of debates among us Deaf trying to come up with an appropriate name sign of our new President. 

Earl Terry posted on a social media site criticizing out that the adopted racist  name sign is similar to the gestures used by the KKK  members. 

I guess we Deaf will have to reconvene to decide on a replacement name sign, what an embarrassment.

These posters have since been withdrawn, perhaps the KKK can still buy them on eBay. 

Note: Poster above has a watermark, which meant that MSM owns the copyright.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Checkpoint Charlie

At a press conference, an unintentional answer to a question suddenly change the world, causing the Berlin Wall collapses overnight. Checkpoint Charlie watches the Germans celebrate their newfound freedoms. 

I'll like to hear the testimonies of those Deaf who crosses the border thirty years ago. This is probably the only instance where the divided Deaf community united as one. 

Actually the KGB plans to send in the tanks but Gorbachev refuses to allow that, letting history unfold itself. Putin was in Dresden at that time, already knew that it was the beginning of the fall of the Soviet Union. President Putin is now trying to reverse course to restore its glorious past. 

A statue of Reagan was was send to Berlin, but the city has no vacant spot to erect the statue so now it stands on the roof of our embassy. 

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Battery

A Minneapolis Deaf man was arrested after getting into an argument with a store clerk who refuses to issue a refund or exchange a battery, claiming that it's defective. The judge release him on bail after an overnight in jail. 

The store, obviously upset, clerk decided to press charges against him. 

The judge was lenient, allowing him to plea on a lesser charge of disorderly conduct, expecting him to volunteer with a local organization that distribute hearing aids and batteries to those on low income while on probation. Also, the judge order him to participate in an anger management class 

It's just not worth it being charged with battery over a defective battery.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Parakeet

This Deaf elderly woman lives alone with her parakeet in  her London flats. They bonded together, supporting each others. The parakeet was roaming  the household while she cleaned out the cage, installing sandpaper on its floors, replacing the bird seeds with fresh ones, and refilling the water bottle. Overnight the parakeet has fallen, breaking his legs, so this Deaf elderly woman decides to put splint on the legs using the stick matchsticks. The parakeet was able to fly outside to get some exercises, but when he made a rough landing on his return to the birdcage, bursting into flames. 

The Deaf Elderly woman had to buried her parakeet because she forgot to remove the matchhead when she put the splint on. 

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

"Infidel"

There will never be peace in this world, plenty of adversaries to keep an eye on, here and abroad. A new flick, "Infidel" is a fictional account based on an actual event, an American blogger went to Cairo to speak at the university on a religious topic, but caused an uproar when proclaim that Jesus is God. He was captured by the Lebanese Hezbollah, taken to Iran to stand trial, being accused of espionage. 

Against the advice of the State Department, his wife flown to Tehran seeking his release from prison. One thing I should point out, don't trust your friends, they may betray you.

I'll leave it at that, lots of actions in this thriller so I give it a "thumb up!"

Film Critic, G.A. Fitts, Deaf Anthology (1/23/21)

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.

Patti

I adopted Patti, an Australian Deaf platypus when she was a beanie baby.

This is Smokey stay tuned for the next episode of Deaf Anthology, Good Night Deaf America.