Hello all! I know I haven’t written a snippets article in a great while, I apologize for that and the COVID-19 pretty much have taken over the news so that was more important to make sure that everyone keeps focusing on getting the information on coronavirus aka COVID-19. I hope that every one of you is doing well, I am doing well myself and luckily we have not been exposed to COVID-19 yet (knocks on the wood). My heart and my thought go out to everyone who is affected by this dangerous pandemic which I know that many of us are struggling especially that we have suddenly changed our routine as it is going to be the new norm especially social distancing while wearing the mask at least until we get a vaccine for COVID-19 which they have said that it would be a long time until we would get it but that is if anyone can create one!
5-10-2020 Snippets
Here we are, there are over 15 topics that I have written and I hope that at least one of the topics that could interest you to read! Click the “Show Topics List” below to open the list of topics and you can select which topic you’d like to read specifically or you can read all of the topics by start reading from this point.
The Need For American Sign Language Interpreters In Eastern Kentucky
While we are in a pandemic situation, with COVID-19 known as coronavirus we struggled to find an American Sign Language interpreter in the eastern part of Kentucky specifically in Pike County and Martin County of Kentucky. The other day I wrote a tweet (see it here) asking the executive judge of Pike County, Ky to provide his press regarding COVID-19 in American Sign Language because I realized that the Pike County, Ky executive judge Ray Jones does not have American Sign Language interpreter with him every time he made a press so I called the executive judge out on that but the problem was that it was more than that after I did further research. When I tweeted, Pike County, Ky executive judge Ray Jones responded asking me for information and as well contact information on how to get an American Sign Language interpreter so that there would be one for his press I started researching for an American Sign Language interpreters, agency and whatnot to only find out that there is no American Sign Language in Pike County, Ky especially after making a contact with Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with help in finding some. So, I realized that Pike County, Ky has no American Sign Language interpreter that would help over 10,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who reside in Pike County, Ky so that is a problem. The nearest college that provides a course for American Sign Language interpreter that I am aware of is Eastern Kentucky University, which is in Richmond, Ky. I then wondered, why hasn’t Pikeville University offer one as well especially that we have over 10,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Pike County, Ky? Pikeville University is well known for anyone who wants to become doctors and as well to study in medicines but I am sure that they can find a way to offer American Sign Language course for anyone who wants to become a certified American Sign Language interpreter so that over 10,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Pike County, Ky can at least have independence especially when it comes to having a conversation with other hearing people such as in doctor’s office, emergency room, courtroom, in executive judge’s press and other important things. What Pikeville University and Pike County, Ky does not realize that the industry for American Sign Language interpreters is a very lucrative business. Ask any interpreters agencies or do research on their financials and you would see that the American Sign Language interpreters earn almost two or three times than a minimum wage by hourly!
So, of course, as I said I am surprised and at the same somewhat disappointed with Pike County, Ky along with the university (University of Pikeville UPike) doesn’t tap into that especially that it would benefit both sides as bringing more jobs to the Pike County, Ky, to the University of Pikeville and as well at the same time to help the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who reside in Pike County, Ky (has well over 10k Deaf population) or Martin County, Ky (has over 2k Deaf population) to have a bit more freedom or equal access when it comes to communication with others especially in public or private such as the courthouse, universities, schools, hospitals, emergency rooms, events and many more. I am calling out the University of Pikeville and Pike County, Ky to please do something about that as I said that it would benefit both sides.
Click here to see Deaf and Hard of Hearing population in any counties in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
CSD, DPan, Convo And Others On White House ASL Interpreter
For a couple of weeks, I have been seeing all over on the social media where Communication Service for the Deaf, D-Pan, Video Relay Service provider Convo Relay and others have been taking the pride or being praised that they have been the one to provide American Sign Language interpreter for the White House’s press on coronavirus known as COVID-19 pandemic. When I first saw that they were talking about that, I called them out in the very beginning that they weren’t the first and is not the only one to provide American Sign Language interpreter for the white house press on coronavirus because the Deaf community is under an impression that the accessibility for the deaf community to white house press about COVID-19 is all credited to them when that isn’t even close to being true because there have been other one that has been doing that before they partnered up to provide the white house press in American Sign Language. That would be Sign1News when it comes to not giving anyone a credit where they are due for, it annoys me to no end and that does not roll well with me. CSD, DPan, Convo Relay, and others are not and was not the only one to provide American Sign Language interpretation for the white house press briefing on COVID-19 because Sign1News has been providing one for a while now before these organizations partnered up to provide American Sign Language interpreter for the white house press so where’s the credit for Sign1News? Don’t let it be me the only one to give the credit to because it doesn’t have to be me but unfortunate that it ended up that I am the one to do so. Don’t go around giving the deaf community or people, in general, the impression that you all were the ones and only one to do so when Sign1News has been at it for a while before you all organizations partnered up to do so – give them credit where it is due!
PS. Come on, Alex Abenchuchan you too, with others in not crediting? Shame.
Answering Questionnaires On Social Media Isn’t Good Idea!
If any of you are very protective of your personal information and want to continue to safeguard your personal information due to the risk of allowing other people to gather your information to fill out applications such as credit card, credit loan, and many others. I have been noticing that there are some of you including myself who would sometimes answer some questions in numerals based on some topics such as a hobby, life, relationship, and whatnot. I then realized that by doing so expose ourselves to the thief by giving them easy access to all of the information that is needed for them to apply for credit card and other things in our name then use it themselves which would kill our credit score along with putting ourselves in debt before us knowing it. Not only that, many websites are also starting to ask us for secret questions that we can answer to reset our passwords and whatnot so if we aren’t careful with how we post on social media they can easily figure out the answers to our secret questions within’ the security system by looking through any information that we have on our social media so they can find out the answers themselves. Of course, some of you already know that but I am sharing this with anyone who may not know or realize this. Nonetheless, please be careful with anything that you post online.
The coronavirus known as COVID-19 pandemic is awful, it’s a virus that has taken over the world and is killing people left and right while not discriminating because it doesn’t matter who they are the COVID-19 virus will latch onto our cells in our body. Again, like I said this pandemic is horrible and the last time we had the pandemic was in 1918 which you know Spanish Flu. It is undoubtful and evidently that this COVID-19 pandemic is threatening and it will not be the last because there will be more unknown viruses or bacteria in the future – it could be a whole lot worse than COVID-19. We must expect that there always will be another pandemic or epidemic, all it matter is that if we are prepared to fight against them or not which that brings me to talk about the preparedness for the COVID-19 in the United States along with a few of other countries. Honestly, in my opinion, that the United States does a very awful job in fighting against the invisible enemy calls COVID-19 due to its very late response to act especially from the current administration. I notice that a few states did the right thing, I am very proud of the commonwealth of Kentucky for doing the right thing because Kentucky was one among very few states who acted very early especially temporarily closing down and erecting the stay-at-home policy. The only thing that I am disappointed with Kentucky is the behavior of people especially republicans, trump supporters or conservatives for putting thousands of people in danger of being exposed to COVID-19 by defying Kentucky democrat Governor Andy Beshear’s requests or orders such as social distancing, closing the businesses and others to protect the citizens especially the senior citizens or people who have pre-existing conditions. It is shameful of them to do that, these protestors were all about themselves rather than the vulnerable people especially such as their parents, grandparents, family members with pre-existing conditions and not only them but also many of us who are senior citizens, people with pre-existing conditions or others. I started seeing the hope that Kentuckians finally for once in their life to show passion and empathy with others but then a few weeks later they started aggressively protesting just because they need haircuts or whatnot so I suddenly become disappointed. I thought we Kentuckians had it in us but I was wrong.
It is also shameful that the United States did not immediately act upon when they have found out that COVID-19 was making its way to this country. In the result of that, we suddenly ran out of supplies such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, disinfection products, ventilators and whatnot which I think in my opinion that it made us look the weakest as a country that we have ever been since electing a president who does not care about the people, country or other important things except his, his family and friends interests. To make it even worse, downplaying the seriousness of COVID-19 was a very dangerous thing to do and as a result of that, it caused us to have fear or anxiety because some people blindly believed everything that the current president of the United States has been saying about COVID-19. The countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea have been very effectively containing COVID-19 by being very strict with policing when it comes to protecting its citizens from being exposed to COVID-19 such as social distancing, stricter stay-at-homes such as country lock-down and they have been at it since the very beginning which is unlike the United States along with some other countries such as Spain, Italy, and whatnot was very late so in the result of that we all as countries have failed to protect our citizens as an extremely embarrassing country. The only thing that I can do is hope that we all as a country know better not to do that again by be more prepared for the next one because it’s inevitable especially how we treat our mother nature. After all, the climate change causes the ice to thaw which push out bacteria or virus that the human beings has never been experienced them before so it would put us in grave danger place which that is one of many reasons that we have been advocating for our governments to do a better job with climate change.
On a personal note, please take care of yourself by doing the right thing. The social distance at least 6 feet or more, wash your hands frequently and stay home unless you must go out to get something that is essentials. Do not inject or drink disinfectant products because the president of the United States has suggested so but please do not because they will destroy you even before coronavirus could. Be sure to keep in touch with your family members and friends especially that we all are staying at home to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. They always would love to have someone to chat either through phone, text message or better yet video chat using like Skype, Facetime or Facebook Messenger with them which that would cheer them up a bit especially that we have been dealing with staying home for several weeks now so some may feel a bit lonely.
Less than a month ago, a news outlet named WLKY which is CBS-affiliated outlet licensed to Louisville in Kentucky have created a new article about a poll declaring that the commonwealth of Kentucky takes number one spot for coronavirus response which that doesn’t surprise me a bit because we elected right governor just a few months ago named Andy Beshear who has become a democrat governor for the commonwealth of Kentucky taking away the governorship from an incompetent incumbent republican governor Matt Bevins as he has done great damage to our commonwealth. Democrat politicians are known for governing the state or country with dignity, integrity, empathy, compassion, and others which commonwealth of Kentucky governor Andy Beshear is showing exactly that especially just when we need it as we are amid coronavirus pandemic. To make it even better, the commonwealth of Kentucky governor was one among the first few other states who make sure that their press briefings on coronavirus are accessible to their Deaf constituents. I am one of them Deaf constituent, when I saw our governor took the American Sign Language interpreter spot and allowed the American Sign Language interpreter to take the governor’s podium I smiled to my ears which at that time I knew right away that we elected the right one to be our governor because the former governors don’t have an American Sign Language interpreter to interpret for their deaf constituents – until now thanks to Ky governor Andy Beshear!
Not just that, he does everything that we wanted especially that we have been through the damaging time from our former republican governor Matt Bevins who all care about his friends or his rich friends rather than the voters that made him a governor. Thankfully, we made it that he only served one term instead of two because we don’t need a leader who doesn’t run our state or country with dignity, integrity, compassion, and empathy. He became so popular in a very short time since being elected only a very a few months ago people have already called him “Uncle Andy”. Imagine that! Anyway, thank you Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear for leading us Kentuckians with dignity, integrity, compassion, and empathy because we have been yearning for that for four years. Great job and continue doing that!
Data Accuracy On COVID-19
For several weeks I have been keeping up with most known data sources for COVID-19 such as John Hopkins COVID-19 stat, Google’s own COVID-19 stat, and others like World-O-Meters. For me to figure out which is the most accurate and that it is consistent I was keeping the track of few states own COVID-19 stats to compare with these other stats I mentioned above. Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and some other states have their COVID-19 resources including their count’s data and whatnot which these are the sites that I keep a track of to compare with the other COVID-19 stats websites for a several weeks see which ones that are keeping up with all of these states own COVID-19 stats in real-time. The most inaccurate one I have come across is, surprisingly, John Hopkins. The most accurate and consistent one that I find most accurate is World-O-Meters. Although World-O-Meters only track the world, countries, states, provinces, and others they don’t track the counties or locals. If you need the most accurate stat when it comes to your county, province or territory go to their COVID-19 websites because they keep it updated on regular basis unlike John Hopkins or Google a few of times I have seen that John Hopkins used 3-4 days old data so they aren’t exactly updated on regular basis like World-O-Meters or the government’s own COVID-19 stats website.
Click here to visit the World-O-Meters website for accurate COVID-19 stats.
Do Your Census!
We have done our census; I cannot empathize with how important that you get your census done especially that it’s very important for every decade and it’s 2020 so that means this census is important. Filling census makes sure that we are counted, so to make sure that our states get the federal money for the services that our state provides because the fewer people do census the less money that our state would receive which would not be good at all. Not only that, but the census is also what let the government know how many there are we in our state so that we can get proper numbers of voices in the government, especially the electors. The more people do the census, they would determine our electoral numbers and that is important for when we want to elect a president but that is not all we also get to either increase or lower the numbers of our congress (representatives/senators). If you have not done your census, please head over this census website which I am providing a link (here) for you to fill the census, and besides by law, you are required to fill a census nonetheless. We were supposed to complete our census by April 1 but because of COVID-19, we can be a little bit late and now we don’t have to wait until they mail us a code for our census to fill online because once you go to the census online by the link I provided above you click the “If you do not have a Census ID, click here” then from there they will let you go ahead to fill the census online. By filling census, you are making sure that public schools, police departments, fire departments, public parks, grants, homeless shelters, foods for senior citizens, foods for homeless people, public hospitals and so many more that it is essentials to the citizens of each state to be funded for. Please fill census, I did and it was surprisingly simple!
Governments And People Worries About Business Over Health?!
I am disappointed in some elected officials such as some governors, judges, presidents, mayors, and others (in any country) along with the people who are in a hurry to reopen the business instead of worrying about the health of their citizens or their own. For example, LT. Governor of Texas named Dan Patrick stated that opening the economy (business) is more important than saving lives in which you can find some articles or a video by Fox News (a link below). I mean seriously? How can a governor or LT. Governor of a state to even think something like that, that the economy is more important than saving the Texans’ lives? Wow. But that is one example, although I am not surprised because most of the people who said something or similar are republicans or Trump supporters. That just shows me one thing is that they don’t care to publicly show that they care about their interest, their rich friends, business, corporations, and whatnot more than its citizens’ lives. I am not surprised but in my mind says how do they have the audacity to even think about money more important than its citizens that they serve? Even worse, another example that the majority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky (my state) would suggest that the states who are in control of democrats should just go bankrupt rather than getting the funding help for their states without realizing the fact that his state is one of the top receivers from the federal fund. New York who is in some democrats control, they are one of top givers states and democrats states is basically what funds the Republicans states – talk about irony! Bottom line is, this is NOT the time for politics because it’s people lives at large is at stake due to COVID-19 and COVID-19 is 8 times more dangerous virus than FLU which you see that the death toll just keeps on increasing every day as COVID-19 have already by far beat the death numbers from FLU or most of other viruses/diseases. Hopefully, for that, some of you now realize that Republicans or Trump supporters don’t care about you as there are now piling evidence more than ever that they care about the money more than its citizens lives so that you know who to flip the seat or to make sure that they are voted out for someone else who cares about the citizens more than money or the interest of corporations or their rich friends.
‘There are more important things than living’ says Texas lieutenant governor by James Crump at The Independent.
To All Health Professionals and Workers
I would like to take this time to thank every one of you for all of the care that you all have been giving us during this COVID-19 pandemic. You all are the frontline in this pandemic, our appreciation can never even be measured because it’s beyond our appreciation as you all are fighting to not only keep us cared for but also to take care of the people who have been positive of COVID-19. There can never be enough of thanks that we can ever give to all of you, honestly in my opinion and it’s a humble thing that every one of you who have us in mind rather than your own so all of you is heroes including the janitors that works at the hospital or any other health buildings to make sure that every room, every floor, every wall, every equipment, every bed and many more sanitized and cleaned for us to minimize the risk of us to be exposed to the coronavirus aka COVID-19. Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU! My heart, my thought, and my soul are with you all through this awful pandemic – we will get through it together!
Best Video Chat Or Video Group Chat?
Ever since we are dealing with this pandemic, technology has been rushing to improve especially for the people who look or wanting to find a way to keep in contact with the family and friends. There are now several software/apps that we can download to be able to video chat with our family members or our friends, such as Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger, and many others. In my opinion, the best one out of all these software/app for video chat or video group chat would be Skype and especially for anyone who happens to be Deaf or Hard of Hearing because Skype has its built-in subtitle system thanks to A.I. where we can video chat someone else who happens to be hearing person who does not know American Sign Language or other sign languages. Skype has been around longer than we can remember, Skype was created and is owned by Microsoft. A few years ago Microsoft made an announcement in their tribute to international disability day I think, there was a press on Microsoft’s blog but now it’s not there anymore as I can’t find it but I have found an article where they talk about Skype and the real-time subtitle. Nonetheless, Skype can hold up 50 video chatters at once I believe and they do have the option for 100 or 150 but that is business version though which require payment but for Skype is always free to use with 50 people video chat with no limit in how long you can use for unlike Zoom as Zoom is often limit the usage somewhere from 40 minutes to 50 minutes. You can create a link via Skype to give to people that you’d like for them to join the video chat group and chat away like you do with Zoom via Zoom’s link or meeting ID. I honestly think and always will think that Skype does it best especially with features such as real-time caption, unlimited time, and whatnot.
Download Skype: https://www.skype.com/
Still Needing Your Help With FAQ
I am still in need help from you for my FAQ page on here at JoshiesWorld.com, if you have any question(s) that you think would be common that there could be others asking that question you think of please let me know by leaving a comment below or feel free to leave a comment on my social media or tweet me on Twitter! The more questions I can get the better because I want to make sure that this can save the people’s time of looking for the answers.
Mail-In Absentee Ballots Risks Fraud Votes?!
Come on, what are Republicans so scared of the mail-in absentee ballot and absentee ballot?! They kept saying that they risk for fraud when it’s not so true, what they are terrified of is that by mail-in absentee ballot or absentee ballot would mean more voters turnout because it not only allows all of the abled voters and also it allows the disabled people to vote as well but what not many people realize is that to obtain an absentee ballot they require to identify us through our social security number. I am an absentee ballot voter for several elections now due to my several disabilities, I have the right as a voter to vote who I’d like to elect and so do anyone else in the United States, but Republicans or President Donald Trump have the problem with that by saying that it is easier for votes to be fraud which is a very slim chance because the United States already have securities in the voting system including the mail-in absentee ballot or absentee ballot as they require identification either via phone or e-mail by asking for the social security and then double-check that our social security does match the resident’s address before they would mail the absentee ballot. I am in Kentucky, Kentucky has recently passed a law requiring the voters to show photo identification no matter what with the exception that they can get absentee ballot is if the clerks or the people who deal with voters recognize them or already know who they are before allowing them to vote or mail them the absentee ballot to vote. The fraud in a mail-in absentee ballot or absentee ballot is very slim; it is already tough to make them fraud especially that they have already required the people’s social security along with their home address to make sure that their voter registration matches it and when I get my absentee ballot (in Kentucky) there is a requirement for a signature on BOTH of envelope AND the ballot on the back then asking for a witness signature to sign that someone has witnessed that I have indeed voted. So, what are Republicans and President Donald Trump afraid of? The votes turnout. Because it would mean more disabled people to vote, more of senior citizens to vote, more people of colors voters and others so this makes them nervous but for anyone especially who is Republicans or who is against the mail-in absentee or absentee ballot disappoints me greatly because they are fighting so hard for people especially for disabled people, senior citizens, people of colors, soldiers who are away in other countries as they get an absentee ballot to vote for their country that they “fight” for and the minorities to vote – they essentially making sure that only privileged people can vote.
Here is a great video about voting by mail could save the United States election:
Review Your Restaurant, Business, Place, Product or Others
As you already know, I now have become a reviewer and I am working on reviewing as many as I possibly can that I can get my hands on. If any of you own a restaurant around my area would like an honest review for your foods at your restaurant, or if you are a business (anywhere) looking for an honest review on your product and whatnot please feel very free to contact me through this contact page or find me on social media here then we can go from there so that we can discuss the product(s) that you would like to ship for me to review them honestly or an invite to your restaurant (locally) that you would like me to come in to review your foods. I write a review on everything that I can get my hands on as long as they are meant for a male (I have received a few emails asking to review makeups which I can’t do because I am a male). Looking forward to reviewing them!
You can see all of my reviews here or click “reviews” tab at the top: https://joshiesworld.com/reviews/
Storming In Michigan Or Other States Capitol Armed?!
Really, people?! Why did the people must show up being armed to protest in the state like Michigan or other states just because they want their states to reopen?! That is very immature of them to do that, that is not the way to protest and to make it even worse by forcefully storm in the capitol while being warmed with military-style weapons such as AR-15 or others. Where is their dignity and their respect to the states that they live in especially that their governors are trying to battle a very dangerous invisible enemy on the soil of the United States to protect the vulnerable citizens from being exposed to COVID-19 or even worse dying due to COVID-19. It makes me wonder if they even care about their parents and their grandparents but their behavior showed that they do not otherwise they would have protest the right way especially not showing up armed. In my opinion, they defeat the purpose of purchasing the weapons for personal and defense because to respectfully carry the weapons which are NOT a toy is to leave them at home or leave them in the vehicle but if must then carry a pistol on the side but showing up with a large military-style weapon – I mean come on! As a hunter and protection weapons owner, I am utterly disappointed in them because they do not handle the weapons right, therefore, they act like children especially that they make them as if they are toys when they are not. NERF guns and water guns are but those weapons they childishly displayed at some state capitols are not. If they have the permit to carry them as some states still require them to have a permit to carry the weapon then I am completely shocked that the CCDW instructor(s) would grant them permits to these immature adults. If you want to protest or rally the right way then do what most protesters do, show up and make a sound with their voices. Again, as an owner, they have just given the government more ammunition (reasons) to make it, even more, harder to purchase which now I am all for that after seeing their behavior! Shame, really shame.
Happy Mother’s Day!
I would like to wish all of you mothers a happy Mother’s Day! I hope that all of the mothers get the love that they can get from their children because the only way that they can be a mother is from children whether it be biological or adopted. Having a mom fulfills the children’s life, especially with unmeasurable love, care and they are our best friend 24/7 so being a mother isn’t only being a mom because it is more than that.
To my mom, Brenda Sullivan. Thank you for bringing me in this world so that I can share your journey and the adventure of growing with you as well as the love and the joy that you continue to give me every day. There is nothing on this earth that can ever measure how much I truly love you, it is more than my heart, my soul and everything in me can be because it is beyond that measure. We are each other’s life support, we are each other’s support when it comes to anything and every step that we took on this earth is together because I am never without you nor you are never without me because I always will do everything that I can physically and mentally to be there for you. After all, you mean everything to me more than you can ever imagine! I hope that you have a good mother’s day, I know that sometimes I don’t make the job as a mother easy but the fact that you endure by making sure that I am continued to be happy and to be loved every day means a lot to me more than you can imagine. Again, you are more than just a mother who birthed me to this world you are everything to me and more. I love you with all my heart, my soul, everything in me to the moon and back to the moon to heaven and beyond! Again, happy Mother’s Day mom!
Note: It’s 12:00AM, technically it is now 5-10-2020 so I am now releasing this snippets article to wish every mother a happy mother’s day and to wish my mom a happy mother’s day!
… And That Is All!
Thank you all for your time reading this snippets article! I have tried to write as many as I possibly can so to at least give you a topic that you might be interested in reading. I am always in need of topics suggestion so if you have or think of some topics that you would like for me to write in the future snippets article or an alone article please feel free to go here to contact me or find me on social media to leave a comment, message or a tweet on Twitter! Any topics that you can suggest would be greatly appreciated and also greatly helpful for me so that I can gather as many topics I can to continue writing because for a while I have been at a stall because coronavirus aka COVID-19 pretty much have taken over the news everywhere so there was nothing else that can be talked about except COVID-19 which is still important because we are still seeing that the death still increasing along with the positive cases continuing to increase so please stay safe by staying at home unless it is a must that you go out to get something that is essentials or for an emergency reason! Also, if you have any idea what I should do a review on please let me know that as well! For the time being, I bid you all a good night or good morning whichever it is over there!
Joshua “Joshie” Sullivan.
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