news and coffee blog

Interesting morning news roundup:

• iPods to make entire generation Deaf. I can't wait for the day when ASL teachers target current iPod users. "Uh, you know, your hearing will be gone soon, right? Yep, that iPod Nano is currently burning your..." whatever hearing people have that burns.
  
• Zambia Deaf have high, high rates of HIV. While it seems a few voices are speaking out from the Deaf community there they have little sign language and most activism is being done by the association of sign language interpreters of zambia. Anyone know anything about these people? They seem very religious as noted by this quote:
  

  Benefits are just too numerous to account and that we can not find suitable words to describe your well intended, but brilliant initiative. We humbly offer the entire WORLD BANK to the ALMIGHTY GOD, and that may your efforts be BLESSED continuously to bring positive difference/change on whatever you lay hands on world over. May you eternally receive SHOWERS of BLESSINGS as you work with the Deaf/Mute and Hard of Hearing globally.

  
  Why these people still calling us mute? Why? WHY?
  
• Baby Boomers going deaf... hearing aids become fashion items! You read me. Read the article - they are comparing hearing aids to Lexus cars. If only they considered our sensitive fashion needs as carefully! But then Deaf people can't be counted on for money, right? Better to sell the good shit to rich people who need something so they can continue to iPod. *grin*

By the way, that last link? At the bottom is a description of a recent development in hearing aid technology:

The Extra hearing aids have fewer features than the Savia models. For example, Savia hearing aids have adaptive directional microphones that can pick out the direction of a speaker's voice while tuning out unwanted noise. The Extra devices have fixed microphones that simply assume that speakers are standing in front of the hearing-aid users. The Savia devices also can be adjusted with remote controls while Extra users will have to fumble with the devices in their ears.

Remote. Control.

Maybe I missed something. Is this normal? And if so, will Gallaudet have to come up with rules about them? Are there already rules? Like, Adjust your hearing aids before you come into the classroom because everyone's remote control controls everyone's hearing aid and you'll all get headaches from the electron flux?