Archive for April 2013

Home » Archive for April 2013

Sony New Subtitle Glasses For Deaf Moviegoers

Watch Video: (Subtitles) Sony ‘subtitle glasses’ could be a hit with Deaf moviegoers. Sony’s Entertainment Access Glasses Utilizing Unique Holographic Technology.

The movie industry’s transformation to digital technology has created an opportunity to efficiently deliver closed caption data to movie patrons. This coincides with large demand from people with hearing difficulties to watch movies more easily and enjoyably.

Sony has therefore developed entertainment access glasses utilizing its unique holographic technology: the STW-C140GI Entertainment Access Glasses with Audio and, as part of this solution, the STWA-C101 Data Transmitter. When wearing this stylish and lightweight see-through eyewear, users can see closed caption text seemingly superimposed onto the movie picture that they’re watching on screen - it’s a natural subtitle-movie experience.

In addition, as the captioning glasses’ receiver box is equipped with an audio assist function, this solution is useful not only for people with hearing difficulties but also for people with visual impairments - both can enjoy movies far more than ever before. READ MORE: http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/assets/files/mkt/digicinema/brochures/EntAccessGlasses-DI-0272_2.pdf

Video by OfficialRegalMovies

Visit Sony for more details: http://www.pro.sony.eu/pro/lang/en/eu/products/entertainmentaccessglasses

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

invisibleCAPTIONS.

A presentation of our newly innovative product. Please share this video with every single person on the planet you know!

I realize that many of you have many great questions- we are currently working on our own website and we will be posting updates and answering some questions on our Facebook page so please stay tuned and check out more information there. Our transcript for this video can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FDsDeOxwELlPxNwjO4_-TcR0C_qmy7Wi3sHgzODsR9o/pub

Video by Melissa Jane Kielbus

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cinema subtitle glasses give promise to Deaf film fans.

People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing have long complained that going to watch a film can be an unsatisfactory experience, with subtitled films on at unsociable times and often suffering from technical problems.

But a solution could soon available in the form of special glasses which allow the wearer to see subtitles directly in front of their eyes, giving them the freedom of choice afforded to hearing people. Graham Satchell reports.

Video by BBCSciANDTech

Source http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14654339

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cinemas are letting Deaf people down. Subtitled screenings are unreliable and hard to find, but digital technology means cinemas now have little excuse.

Imagine the following scenario. You go to the cinema, buy your ticket and your popcorn and after taking your seat, sit through 20 minutes of trailers and adverts before the start of the film. But, as the opening scene begins, you realise the sound's not working, and you can't understand a thing.

The cinema staff run around fiddling with wires before deciding they can't fix it and, with that being the last screening of the night, you toddle off home with an apology and a free ticket for a future show. You'd feel gutted, wouldn't you? I mean, how often does that happen? Maybe if you were a glass half-full kind of person you'd figure that you were unlucky – you caught them on a bad night.

For Deaf people, the chain of events I've described isn't just a one-off – it's happened to nearly every deaf cinema-goer I know. Except it's not the sound that goes missing, it's subtitles. Which we need to understand the film. Right now, Deaf film fans have very little trust left in cinema chains, and many people I know have stopped bothering; they prefer to watch DVDs (or, ahem, downloads) at home. ...READ MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/23/cinemas-deaf-people-subtitled-screenings

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Menu for May

It's hard to believe April has come and gone already. May is going to be so busy for me. I hope I get to make at least some of these meals. This month, I'm including a shopping list for the month. Some of the things on the list you may have some left from previous weeks. And I don't plan side dishes because I wait to see what produce is on sale each week. So that isn't included on the shopping list.

Week 1:
Bacon Guacamole Grilled Cheese
Chicken & Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce
Burgers

Week 2:
Sweet Potato Meatloaf
Chimichangas
Grilled Pork Chops
Garlic Pesto Chicken with Tomato Cream Penne
Pizza

Week 3:
Steak & Potatoes
BBQ Chicken Salad
Bratwurst
Ravioli
Burgers

Week 4:
French Dip Sandwiches
Chicken BLT Chicken Salad
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Green Mango
Skillet Lasagna
Pizza

Week 5:
Tacos
Cream Cheese Chicken
Biscuits & Gravy
Avocado Basil Pasta
Burger

For a Printable Calendar:

Printable

For a

Printable Shopping list

Check out our link parties here

Recipes For The May Menu

These are recipes to go along with the May Menu.

Chicken & Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce

3/4 lb pasta, of your choosing

2-3 chicken breasts

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp oregano

3 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/3 cup chicken stock

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

Salt & Pepper

Cook pasta according to directions on box. Drain pasta.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet heat olive oil on medium. Add chicken breasts and oregano and cook until done. Remove chicken and cut into bite size pieces. Set chicken aside. In the same skillet, add butter until melted. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add lemon juice and chicken stock. Cook until heated. Mix chicken and sauce with the pasta. Add salt & pepper to taste. Serve.

Printable Recipe

Grilled Pork Chops

Using the McCormick Grillmates Marinade that you chose, follow the directions on the marinade package. After marinated, grill and enjoy!

BBQ Chicken Salad

2 chicken breasts

BBQ Sauce

Salad Mix

Tomatoes

Slice chicken into thin pieces. Mine are usually 1/4 inch thick. Grill chicken. When is cooked, brush with BBQ sauce and grill to caramelize sauce.

Chop tomatoes. Add tomatoes to salad mix.

Top with chicken and dressing of your choosing. Serve

Printable Recipe

Gravy

1 lb breakfast pork sausage

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

In a large skillet, brown and crumble sausage. Once browned, stir in flour. Stir in milk a little at a time until it is the consistency you want. You may need to adjust the amount of milk.

Printable Recipe

Check out our link parties here

Preschool Prep: Supply List

I have to start out by apologizing that I'm already a month behind on when I said I would share preschool prep posts. (See the plan here). I've had this list mostly done for a while, but I just never got around to posting it!
After trying and trying to figure out how to get our preschool area organized, I realized my problem: it's hard to figure out what organizers I need, when I don't know what will be going into them. This realization has changed my order of getting things done. First, I am making this list of supplies, so that I can then figure out where each item will go. I will be sharing my organization post next Monday, so check back then to see what I've done so far for organizing supplies.

Preschool Supplies:

Chalkboard
Chalk
Chalkboard Eraser
Crayons
Markers
Pencils
Pencil Sharpener
Dry erase markers
Kid-friendly scissor
Clear protective sheets (to use in place of lamination)
Milk caps
Notebooks/ notebook paper
Construction paper
Elmer's glue
Glue sticks
Scotch and Masking Tape
Paintbrushes
Water colors
Craft Paints
Stickers
Play dough
Craft Supplies

This is what I have so far. Do any of you mamas out there with school age kids have any more suggestions? If you do, I would LOVE if you would share your suggestions, and I will update this list as necessary. I really want to try and pick up supplies at yard sales and back-to-school sales in order to spend as little money as possible, and I know I'm not the only mom out there who is feeling that way!

Check out our link parties here.

Holmes Make It Right: Deaf Space

Watch Video: (Captioned) - Holmes Make It Right: Deaf Space, All-New Episode: Breaking Through.

A Deaf woman homeowner tries to handle a bathroom renovation on her own after finding the right contractor proves harder than it looks. But her DIY project turns into a nightmare, so she contacts the one contractor she can trust: Mike Holmes.

Mike comes to the rescue and discovers she hasnt had a working shower for months. But this standard bathroom reno turns into breakthrough project as Mike goes the extra mile to give her a 'Sign Language' friendly home. ...READ MORE: http://makeitright.ca/holmesmakesitright/episodes-guide/season-1/breaking-through

Video by Mike Holmes

For more photos & videos visit: http://www.holmesmakesitright.com

The Deaf Community: Seeing Voices

Watch Video: (ASL/AUDIO Version) - The Deaf Community: Seeing Voices - Teresa Curtin, Aaron Kubbey, Lewis Merkin, Terrylene Sacchetti. Moderated by Janice Rimler presented at, NewYorkLiveArts - Live.

The Sign Language as the distinct expression of their culture and community. Sacks travelled to Gallaudet University to witness the tumultuous events and subsequently chronicled them with remarkable sympathy and insight in his book "Seeing Voices".

This panel, moderated by Janice Rimler, will focus a variety of such voices on Sacks' contributions to the wider discourse between the hearing and the Deaf.

Video by NewYorkLiveArts

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seeing Voices

With Seeing Voices, Dr. Sacks launches on a journey into the world of the Deaf, which he explores with the same passion and insight that have illuminated other human conditions for his readers everywhere.

Seeing Voices begins with the history of Deaf people in the United States, the often outrageous ways in which they have been seen and treated in the past, and their continuing struggle for acceptance in a hearing world. And it examines the amazing and beautiful visual language of the Deaf–Sign–which has only in the past decade been recognized fully as a language–linguistically complete, rich, and as expressive as any spoken language. ...READ MORE: http://www.oliversacks.com/books/seeing-voices/

Arizona Deaf Schools: Students Protest, Demand Action

Watch Video: BREAKING NEWS - Arizona Daily Star - Arizona probes accusation of conflicts at Arizona Schools for the Deaf & Blind, Superintendent, board president focus of protests, complaints.

TUCSON, AZ. - Two state agencies are investigating the superintendent and board president of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for potential conflicts of interest and excessive travel expenses.

Superintendent Robert Hill and ASDB Board President Bernhardt Jones also have been the focus of multiple protests at school's two main campuses in Tucson and Phoenix over the last two weeks. Students, parents and former employees have called for the two to resign because of a lack of leadership and poor communication with the staff.

Among the concerns:

• Possible conflicts of interest: Hill and Jones have a private business relationship outside their ASDB positions. Jones is the director of TASK12, which administers the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment for a $310 testing fee. Hill is listed as a TASK12 local test administrator at classroominterpreting.org. Neither Hill nor Jones disclosed their roles with TASK12 to ASDB, its board of directors or the state. ...READ MORE: http://azstarnet.com/news/arizona-probes-accusation-of-conflicts-at-asdb/article_e301835a-402d-53fb-b9fa-66e87c65dfe4.html

Read Letter: PDF: Letter from Robert Hill to ASDB staff

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pigs, goats snatched from classrooms: Deaf students protest, demand action.

Video by kgun9

Outrage swirling at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind. One administrator on leave. Another fired. And now students say even their animals are gone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arizona Schools for the Deaf & Blind Board of Directors: Acknowledge the vote of "No Confidence" in Superintendent Robert Hill.

Five years ago, parents, staff, and community members gathered to ensure that Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind's campuses were truly accessible to American Sign Language (ASL) for the students and staff as well as fostering positive changes in the curriculum in order to advance deaf education. Today, we find that our students' education is now at risk because of haphazard administrative decisions and questionable conduct by Superintendent Robert Hill, including several allegations of discriminatory conduct in regards to staff (female/sexual) and disability (Deaf).

Nearly 50 ASDB staff members have already personally signed the following statement:

We, the members of the ASDB community including staff, parents, alumni, and friends, sign this petition as a Vote of No Confidence in Robert Hill's continued service as Superintendent of ASDB.

Robert Hill has demonstrated a continued failure to exhibit the professional integrity and leadership that is expected and required of the Superintendent of ASDB. Such failures include a fundamental refusal or inability to: ...More details at petition www.change.org petitions arizona schools for the deaf blind.

Mother's Day Gift Tags Printable

Don't forget about Jamie's Birthday Giveaway! Go enter to win a gift card. Easy to enter; fun to win. And even if you don't care about winning go wish her Happy Bday. She's turning the big 30!!!

Now on to today's post:

I volunteered to be in charge of getting a small mother's day gift for the ladies at my church. I'm still working out all the details of the gifts and even when I figure it out, I'm not sure I want to ruin the surprise by posting it on here.
But I did want to share these cute little gift tags I made to go with them. I wanted to include some of the names mothers are called and some of the other hats they wear like nurse, chef, teacher and friend.

You can find the tutorial for making these flowers here.

Print off as many as you need for your Mother's Day needs. There are 8 to a page.

Check out our link parties here.

My Go-To Brownie Recipe

I love chocolate.
I mean, seriously, who doesn't love chocolate? Especially with a nice cup of delicious coffee (I know, I'll get some people who don't want coffee anywhere in their house, let alone near their chocolate, but they just haven't found out about the amazing powers of coffee yet!)
These brownies are delicious and easy to whip up. Seriously, the hardest part is waiting for them to come out of the oven, as your house begins to smell of yummy goodness!
Miss Magoo helped me make these the other day, and she was able to do nearly all of it herself (of course, I help make sure she measures correctly, after she cracks the eggs I open them, and obviously she can't lift that big bowl to dump the batter in the pan, but otherwise she did awesome!).

I have been cutting sugar in all my baking for quite some time, so I use less sugar than was called for in the original recipe by Nestle. However, I'm including the original amount as well, so if you like sweet desserts, you can use that amount.

Easy Double Chocolate Brownies

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (original recipe: 2 cups)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into pieces
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar (original recipe: 1 cup)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease (or spray) a 13x9-inch pan.

Combine 1 cup (set the rest aside for later) of the chocolate chips with the butter in a large microwaveable bowl. Microwave until melted (usually around 2 minutes, but I stop and stir every 30 seconds) or you can melt on the stove top over low heat, which is what the original recipe says. I just think the microwave is a lot faster.

Once the chocolate chips are melted, stir in the eggs. Then stir in the flour, sugar, vanilla, and baking soda. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips and nuts if you are using them.

Pour into the pan and spread the batter out. Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.

adapted from Nestle Toll House: Best Loved Recipes

Printable Recipe

Check out our link parties here.

Featured at Homeschooling on the Cheap.

Button flowers

Mother's Day Craft perfect for the kiddos to make

I've been looking for a craft that the kids in my Sunday school class could make for Mother's Day. I found these straw flowers from Learning 4 Kids on Pinterest. I had the idea of switching out the straw for pipe cleaners since it would be able to poke through the cupcake liners. Also I thought adding a button would be a cute touch.

Button & Cupcake Liner Flowers

What you need:

cupcake liners (2 per flower)

pipe cleaners

buttons

pencil

How to Make Them:

Flatten one cupcake liner and place another one on top.

Poke a hole with the pipe cleaner through both liners starting with the flattened one.

Pull a inch or two of the pipe cleaner through the hole and use a pencil to curl this part. (see picture above). This will help the button stand out from the liners.

Thread the pipe cleaner through one button hole and then back through another button hole twisting it around the pipe cleaner "stem" to secure.

You may need to adjust the button to center or re-curl it a bit.

My daughter Ry (3) and I made these in about 5 minutes. So I figure the kids in Sunday school will easily be able to make several for their mothers or grandmothers.

I just stuck them in a vase I had on hand but I'm still looking for fun options for the actual vase/holder for when we make them in Sunday School. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. Please leave me a comment.

Notice the cute gift tag?
It will be in Saturday's post!

What is your favorite thing your kids have made you? or What is your favorite thing you ever made your mom for mother's day?
If you're looking for another fun craft with cupcake liners you can do anytime of the year, check out this fun cupcake craft pack from Amazon!

Check out our link parties here.

We were featured at Happy and Blessed Home
and Share it Saturday at Teach Beside Me

*This post contains affiliate links. If you order through the link, we will receive a small commission. Thanks!

In Honor of West, TX

* This post is part of our April Top 5. Check out the rest here. *

Last week our nation saw a lot of tragedy. The Boston marathon bombing and the fertilizer explosion in West, TX. Both are difficult situations. While I have a friend who lives in Boston, I could relate more to the tragedy in West, TX. I lived about 60 miles from there for quite a few years. I have driven through West many times. I even stopped there a few times to get some of their wonderful food.

West is a community with a large population of Czechs. They host Westfest every year. It is a Czech & Polka festival. I never made it to Westfest, but it sounded like a lot of fun.

One Czech food I have tried and loved is kolaches. There are fruit kolaches, sausage kolaches, & cheese kolaches. My favorite are sausage kolaches. In honor of West, I've decided to learn to make kolaches. I'm going to make fruit & sausage kolaches. While the fruit ones aren't my favorite, I thought I'd make them so you could see what they are.

Kolaches Dough

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup water, heated to 110 - 115F
1 cup milk, heated to 110 - 115F
4 Tbsp butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
5/8 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
4 1/4 cups flour (I had to add 1/4 cup)

Add water to stand mixer bowl, sprinkle yeast over water and gently mix. Allow to stand for 5 minutes. Yeast will become foamy. Add milk, melted butter, 2 eggs, sugar and salt. Turn mixer on low and mix thoroughly. Add flour in two batches and mix until just combined. Allow dough to rest in bowl for 2 hours. The dough will be wet and sticky. After the 2 hours, place bowl of dough in refrigerator overnight or at least 4 hours.

Sausage Kolaches

Divide dough into balls. I floured my hands as I made the balls. The size will depend on if you are filling dough with sausage or fruit. Fruit filled kolaches will have balls about half the size of the sausage ones. Place the balls on a parchment lined pan. The batch will make 8 sausage kolaches Allow dough balls to rest for 15 minutes. After the dough has rested, press it out and wrap a sausage in it. Lay kolaches with the seam down. I used Hillshire Farms Cheddar Wurst. Allow the kolaches to rest for another 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush with butter. Cool for 10 minutes and serve.

Fruit Kolaches

Divide dough into balls. I floured my hands as I made the balls. As stated, the size depends on if you are filling dough with sausage or fruit. Fruit filled kolaches will have balls about half the size of the sausage ones. I put the balls in the dish I was baking them in. The batch will make 16 fruit kolaches. Allow balls to rest for 15 minutes. Using a spoon or your fingers press down in the middle just a little. Spoon jam into the indentation. I used my homemade strawberry jam. You can use fresh fruit, dried fruit, or any kind of jam or jelly. Allow the kolaches to rest for another 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until gold brown. Remove from oven and brush bread with butter. Cool for 10 minutes and serve.

If you would like to learn more about Westfest, this website http://www.westfest.com/ is very informative. Also you can read about how the Czech Stop helped feed the volunteers and people of West during this tragedy here.

Recipe adapted from Confections of A Foodie Bride

For a

printable version

Check out our link parties here

Hominy Nacho Casserole

At the end of last month, I was working on my menu for the next month. I was stuck needing a few more meals. I'm not sure why I get stuck because there are so many meals we like. But for some reason, when I go to plan the menu I draw a blank. So I asked on our Facebook page for help. One of my fabulous sisters (I have 4 of them) gave me a recipe for a taco casserole. I've named it Hominy Nacho Casserole. So as promised here is that recipe.

Hominy Nacho Casserole

1 lb ground beef or shredded chicken
1/2 large onion, chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 bag tortilla chips
1 can hominy, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

Preheat oven to 350º. Brown ground beef with onion (if using chicken, cook & shred and then heat with onion & garlic). Once beef is browned, add garlic. Cook for another minute. Cover the bottom of 9x13 pan with crushed tortilla chips. Spread ground beef over chips. Evenly sprinkle hominy over beef. Spread cream of chicken soup over hominy. Evenly sprinkle cheese over soup. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes. Remove from oven & serve.

The recipe I use for the enchilada casserole has you sprinkle shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes over the top. So I tried that with this one as well. Yummy!!!

Because it's just the Hardworking Husband and I, I make 2 smaller pans and freeze one. Then I have something to pull out when I don't feel good or feel like cooking. I am so thankful for those meals. Last week, I was not feeling well and we relied on those.

For a printable version, click the magic button

Check out our link parties here