Hodgepodge News

Hodgepodge #1:
Do Americans who do not know sign language have more trouble understanding gestures from a Deaf person than the people of Israel? According to Kristy Nowak she noticed a big difference from those in Israel with whom she has tried to communicate than those in America.

“In America, people have no common sense when it comes to deciphering gestures,” Nowak said, clearly frustrated. “I can use a simple gesture and Americans won’t understand it. But here in Israel and in other countries, people understand. It’s so much easier.”

I wonder why?


Hodgepodege #2:
Gallaudet University on the brink of collapsing due to, perhaps ironically so, higher admission standards for incoming potential students?

Gallaudet's enrollment has also dropped since months of bitter protests last year over appointment of a president that students thought lacked sufficient leadership skills. The appointment was revoked.

Stephen Weiner, who starts Monday as provost of the school, said enrollment was bound to drop because higher admissions standards have been adopted to increase academic rigor. Davila said he hopes the probation will not hurt enrollment any further.

Well, if potential students cannot pass higher admissions standards, will it be sayonara for Gallaudet University College in a few years from now? Less bang for the buck?


Hodgepodge #3:
Is Gallaudet University trying to save face here?


Hodgepodge #4:
Local man takes to open road to raise awareness about infant deafness during a 12,500 mile motorcycle run across America. Awareness includes cochlear implant.

One of the ways children are coping with the challenge of being deaf is with the surgical addition of a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that helps provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing, according to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Web site. The implant does not restore normal hearing, but it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds to help him or her understand speech.

Stufflebeam has looked at research on the implants and one study showed that some children who received the devices early on were able to fully adjust to them by the age of 5.

"The earlier it is, the more these kids brains can adapt to it as normal," he said.

Certainly. The earlier the better?


Hodgepodge #5:
HoH strongman flips three tires to form a tire pyramid 6ft high with over 1400 lbs of tires.