ATTENTION: ASS/ASL AWKWARD CON in 2006!!!

Question:

Lash Rambo wrote: > "The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in > news:1127615085.464917.142760@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird > > and off topic. > I can’t imagine what kind of people you would consider weird.

Can you imagine the difference in meaning between "weird" and "too weird"?

Response:

"The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1128481909.497526.63960@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > Lash Rambo wrote: >> "The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in >> news:1127615085.464917.142760@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: >> > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird >> > and off topic. >> I can’t imagine what kind of people you would consider weird. > Can you imagine the difference in meaning between "weird" and "too > weird"?

To you?  No.  That’s like asking the difference between zero and 1,000,000 times zero.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Lash Rambo wrote: > "The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in > news:1128481909.497526.63960@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > > Lash Rambo wrote: > >> "The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in > >> news:1127615085.464917.142760@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > >> > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird > >> > and off topic. > >> I can’t imagine what kind of people you would consider weird. > > Can you imagine the difference in meaning between "weird" and "too > > weird"? > To you?

To a dictionary.  This is merely a question of language comprehension. Do you understand the difference in denotation between a word and that same word preceded by the word "too"?

Response:

"The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1128511868.357982.256360@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Lash Rambo wrote: >> "The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote >> in news:1128481909.497526.63960@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: >> > Lash Rambo wrote: >> >> "The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> >> >> wrote in >> >> news:1127615085.464917.142760@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: >> >> > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too >> >> > weird and off topic. >> >> I can’t imagine what kind of people you would consider weird. >> > Can you imagine the difference in meaning between "weird" and "too >> > weird"? >> To you? > To a dictionary.

If there’s something you want to say about your sense of weirdness, just cut the crap and say it.  As for me, I’ve said all I care to on the issue.

Response:

Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & ever popular maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife.   Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who will lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: Integrating Large Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands Shaking While Pretending That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be followed by a discussion group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A Romanian With A Hearing Problem." Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one else will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and "Cats Cats Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian Socialization." Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all attendees, and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white noise to drown out the fact that no one is saying anything other than, "Hey, so *you’re* that guy…Um…yeah…" Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be lining up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of Hagen-Dazz double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! — "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

I am laughing very heartily at this. Sorry, I dunno any of them "interweb acronyms". OTS "Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia" <n…@newb.com> wrote in message news:Xns96DB5B70B6596newbnewbcom@68.6.19.6… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the > works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, > stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & ever > popular maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife. > Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who will > lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: Integrating Large > Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands Shaking While Pretending > That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be followed by a discussion > group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A Romanian With A Hearing > Problem." > Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one else > will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and "Cats Cats > Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian Socialization." > Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all attendees, > and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white noise to drown > out the fact that no one is saying anything other than, "Hey, so *you’re* > that guy…Um…yeah…" > Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an > abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be lining > up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of Hagen-Dazz > double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! > — > "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia <n…@newb.com> wrote in news:Xns96DB5B70B6596newbnewbcom@68.6.19.6: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the > works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, > stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & > ever popular maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife. > Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who > will lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: Integrating > Large Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands Shaking While > Pretending That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be followed by a > discussion group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A Romanian With A > Hearing Problem." > Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one > else will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and > "Cats Cats Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian > Socialization." > Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all > attendees, and will have either very loud heavy metal,

GWAR!!! > rap, or white > noise to drown out the fact that no one is saying anything other than, > "Hey, so *you’re* that guy…Um…yeah…" > Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an > abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be > lining up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of > Hagen-Dazz double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there!

Nicely put together.

Response:

Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the > works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, > stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & ever > popular maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife.   > Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who will > lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: Integrating Large > Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands Shaking While Pretending > That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be followed by a discussion > group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A Romanian With A Hearing > Problem." > Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one else > will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and "Cats Cats > Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian Socialization." > Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all attendees, > and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white noise to drown > out the fact that no one is saying anything other than, "Hey, so *you’re* > that guy…Um…yeah…" > Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an > abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be lining > up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of Hagen-Dazz > double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there!

Don’t forget the seminar on blurting out a clever response minutes after the appropriate opening. — Operated by a naked and petrified Natalie Portman with hot grits stuffed down her panties. (-August Pamplona, 2005) —— http://sinmonkey.com/assgallery/

Response:

"Antares" <antaresonwhe…@gmail.com> wrote in news:1127824860.141782.211910@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: >   * Casual use of phrase "my friend" without specifying which decade > your last friendship was in

I heartily approve. — "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: > "Antares" <antaresonwhe…@gmail.com> wrote in > news:1127824860.141782.211910@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > >   * Casual use of phrase "my friend" without specifying which decade > > your last friendship was in > I heartily approve.

I have plenty of field experience to back it up, too. "Yeah, I had a friend [back in 1997] whose mother was a real controlling bitch like that.]

Response:

> I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird > and off topic.

What? And the people in a.s.s. ain’t? Hell, I’m shy, but I hang around in a.s.l. because I don’t like the bad vibes in a.s.s. -paneon (you know which bad vibes I mean…)

Response:

"The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1127615085.464917.142760@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird > and off topic.

I can’t imagine what kind of people you would consider weird.

Response:

Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dolores <weaselpant…@sinmonkey.com> wrote in > news:BZ6dnWMvlcGwNajeRVn-vg@comcast.com: >>Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: >>>Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the >>>works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, >>>stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & >>>ever popular >>>maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife.   >>>Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who >>>will lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: >>>Integrating Large Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands >>>Shaking While Pretending That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be >>>followed by a discussion group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A >>>Romanian With A Hearing Problem." >>>Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one >>>else will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and >>>"Cats Cats Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian >>>Socialization." >>>Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all >>>attendees, and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white >>>noise to drown out the fact that no one is saying anything other >>>than, "Hey, so *you’re* that guy…Um…yeah…" >>>Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an >>>abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be >>>lining up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of >>>Hagen-Dazz double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! >>Don’t forget the seminar on blurting out a clever response minutes >>after the appropriate opening. > Seminar? That’s the whole fucking weekend! (But if you insist we’ll > scedule it between "Stilted Small Talk" and "Anxiety Fraught Weather > Chat".)

I’m registering right this minute! — Operated by a naked and petrified Natalie Portman with hot grits stuffed down her panties. (-August Pamplona, 2005) —— http://sinmonkey.com/assgallery/

Response:

The Babaloughesian wrote: > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird > and off topic.

LOL! — Operated by a naked and petrified Natalie Portman with hot grits stuffed down her panties. (-August Pamplona, 2005) —— http://sinmonkey.com/assgallery/

Response:

Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dolores <weaselpant…@sinmonkey.com> wrote in > news:BZ6dnWMvlcGwNajeRVn-vg@comcast.com: > > Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: > >> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the > >> works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, > >> stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & > >> ever popular > >> maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife. > >> Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who > >> will lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: > >> Integrating Large Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands > >> Shaking While Pretending That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be > >> followed by a discussion group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A > >> Romanian With A Hearing Problem." > >> Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one > >> else will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and > >> "Cats Cats Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian > >> Socialization." > >> Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all > >> attendees, and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white > >> noise to drown out the fact that no one is saying anything other > >> than, "Hey, so *you’re* that guy…Um…yeah…" > >> Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an > >> abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be > >> lining up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of > >> Hagen-Dazz double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! > > Don’t forget the seminar on blurting out a clever response minutes > > after the appropriate opening. > Seminar? That’s the whole fucking weekend! (But if you insist we’ll > scedule it between "Stilted Small Talk" and "Anxiety Fraught Weather > Chat".)

I can offer a few specialty seminars –   * Monosyllabic responses to inquiries about well-being   * Grunting at attractive women by way of greeting   * Casual use of phrase "my friend" without specifying which decade your last friendship was in

Response:

Ollie Sandcastle wrote: > I am laughing very heartily at this. Sorry, I dunno any of them "interweb > acronyms".

you could use, lol (laughing out loud) or lmao (laughing my ass off) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OTS > "Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia" <n…@newb.com> wrote in message > news:Xns96DB5B70B6596newbnewbcom@68.6.19.6… >>Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the >>works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, >>stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & ever >>popular maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife. >>Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who will >>lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: Integrating Large >>Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands Shaking While Pretending >>That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be followed by a discussion >>group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A Romanian With A Hearing >>Problem." >>Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one else >>will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and "Cats Cats >>Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian Socialization." >>Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all attendees, >>and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white noise to drown >>out the fact that no one is saying anything other than, "Hey, so *you’re* >>that guy…Um…yeah…" >>Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an >>abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be lining >>up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of Hagen-Dazz >>double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! >>– >>"You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

– Ghost My World http://members.shaw.ca/night-rider/main.html Weekly Walrus http://weeklywalrus.com/ #1 Webbrowser, http://www.mozilla.org/

Response:

Dolores <weaselpant…@sinmonkey.com> wrote in news:BZ6dnWMvlcGwNajeRVn-vg@comcast.com: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: >> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the >> works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, >> stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & >> ever popular >> maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife.   >> Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who >> will lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: >> Integrating Large Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands >> Shaking While Pretending That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be >> followed by a discussion group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A >> Romanian With A Hearing Problem." >> Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one >> else will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and >> "Cats Cats Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian >> Socialization." >> Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all >> attendees, and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white >> noise to drown out the fact that no one is saying anything other >> than, "Hey, so *you’re* that guy…Um…yeah…" >> Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an >> abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be >> lining up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of >> Hagen-Dazz double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! > Don’t forget the seminar on blurting out a clever response minutes > after the appropriate opening.

Seminar? That’s the whole fucking weekend! (But if you insist we’ll scedule it between "Stilted Small Talk" and "Anxiety Fraught Weather Chat".) — "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

"Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia" <n…@newb.com> wrote in message > Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an > abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.

Anywhere near Quartzite is probably a bad choice after about October… http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0101/feature6/index.html <Begin quote>   …  175,000 RVs cram inches apart into 79 trailer parks, onto front yards, and spill out seven miles on either side of town. Every year more than a million people reset their internal navigation and drive from Everywhere, North America, to this western Arizona dot on the map. Luxury motor homes, fifth wheels, cab-over campers, trailers, and converted school buses plunk down on the same patch of land. "You haven’t had the full RV experience until you’ve been to Quartzsite in January," says Phyllis Frey, of Livingston, Texas.". <End quote> dis<It’s the ne plus ultra destination if you’re a rockhound, though.>raeli

Response:

"lisa" <ms_jade…@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1127617157.413250.163410@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: >> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the >> works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, >> stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & >> ever popular >> maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife. >> Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who >> will lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: >> Integrating Large Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands >> Shaking While Pretending That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be >> followed by a discussion group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A >> Romanian With A Hearing Problem." >> Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one >> else will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and >> "Cats Cats Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian >> Socialization." >> Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all >> attendees, and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white >> noise to drown out the fact that no one is saying anything other >> than, "Hey, so *you’re* that guy…Um…yeah…" >> Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an >> abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be >> lining up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of >> Hagen-Dazz double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! >> — >> "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank. > The tear ducts got a good purge and the lungs did too.  thanks

I owe it all to this morning’s coffee. — "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

"The Babaloughesian" <Doomed_forthesakeofmomen…@hotmail.com> wrote in news:1127615085.464917.142760@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com: > I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird > and off topic.

Well then I guess we can cancel your reservation for the Peyote & Free Form Jazz/Poetry Slam. — "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

Response:

I shall have nothing to do with ASL.  People over there are too weird and off topic.

Response:

Mad Mambo Master of Macedonia wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everybody.  Just announcing that the AWKWARD CONVENTION is in the > works! Seminars will include throat-clearing-during-awkward-silences, > stuttering-in-presence-of-attractive-women, and the all important & ever > popular maintaining-your-comic-book-collection-for-the-afterlife. > Our keynote speaker will be Yours Truly,  Mad Mambo Master Etc. who will > lecture on the an *exciting* *new* area of avoidance: Integrating Large > Mittens Into Your Life So No One Sees Your Hands Shaking While Pretending > That You Really Have Leprosy.  This will be followed by a discussion > group on "Pros & Cons of Pretending Your A Romanian With A Hearing > Problem." > Other proposed topics include "talking to your cats because no one else > will listen to you," "Getting the most out of your cats," and "Cats Cats > Cats: The Lonely Man’s Guide To Alternative Mammalian Socialization." > Seminars will be followed by lunch & dinner sessions for all attendees, > and will have either very loud heavy metal, rap, or white noise to drown > out the fact that no one is saying anything other than, "Hey, so *you’re* > that guy…Um…yeah…" > Proposed convention sites so far include Las Vegas, Reno, and an > abandoned ghosttown outside of Quartzite Arizona.  We will also be lining > up deaf-mute prostitutes for male attendees, and 50 cases of Hagen-Dazz > double-chocolate for the ladies.  See you there! > — > "You tried to scan me, you freaked-out maniac." –TV’s Frank.

The tear ducts got a good purge and the lungs did too.  thanks

Response:

Looking for idea/products to notify when pager goes off at night

Question:

Hello, My job requires me to be on call 24×7 a week at a time, every few weeks. If anyone else has the same, how do you wake up at night when the pager goes off?   I’m profoundly deaf and once I take out my hearing aid to fall asleep, I don’t hear ANYTHING.  Is there a product, such as a touchpad system, that can detect when the pager or cell phone is vibrating and can flash my nightstand lamp?  Similar to how the Sonic alarm clock flashes/shakes the bed when the alarm goes off.   There must be something like this already on the market, but I can’t find one anywhere… Thanks, –Dave

Response:

On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 20:04:51 -0400, Dave Smith <d…@djms.JUNKME.net> wrote: >There must be something like this already on the market, but I can’t find >one anywhere…

I found this site: http://www.justbekuz.com/telephones_amplifiers.htm And the product is: ClearSounds CL1 Ring Signaler I’m sure there are other, similar products, try searching.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dave Smith wrote: > Hello, > My job requires me to be on call 24×7 a week at a time, every few weeks. > If anyone else has the same, how do you wake up at night when the pager > goes off?   > I’m profoundly deaf and once I take out my hearing aid to fall asleep, I > don’t hear ANYTHING.  Is there a product, such as a touchpad system, that > can detect when the pager or cell phone is vibrating and can flash my > nightstand lamp?  Similar to how the Sonic alarm clock flashes/shakes the > bed when the alarm goes off.   > There must be something like this already on the market, but I can’t find > one anywhere… > Thanks, > –Dave

Can you set your pager on vibrate and put it in a pocket or something? Or, can you wear just one HA while you sleep those nights?  I’ve done that when I’ve travelled out of town on business because, like you, I can’t hear anything like a phone or a person talking without my aids in. Woods

Response:

BTEs and the telephone

Question:

Been using ITCs, now trying out BTEs.  Can’t seem to find a comfortable position to use them with a telephone – I end up taking one out and using an amplified phone without the aid.  Even with telecoil, doesn’t seem to work very well.  At least with the ITCs I have the option of listening directly through the aid.  Holding the phone above the ear without creating feedback just doesn’t seem to work, plus it makes it harder for the person on the other end to hear, since the mouthpiece is further away.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

Response:

Steve wrote: > Been using ITCs, now trying out BTEs.  Can’t seem to find a > comfortable position to use them with a telephone – I end up taking > one out and using an amplified phone without the aid.  Even with > telecoil, doesn’t seem to work very well.  At least with the ITCs I > have the option of listening directly through the aid.  Holding the > phone above the ear without creating feedback just doesn’t seem to > work, plus it makes it harder for the person on the other end to hear, > since the mouthpiece is further away.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

Found this site using Google… http://www.hearingsystemsinc.com/audiologicalservices/HA%20products/ Would one of these work? Octagonal Telephone Pad                              HET-OTP      $1.95 A telephone headset cushion can make a big difference for hearing aid users by helping to eliminate feedback from the hearing aid. Cushion is 3/8" thick and octagonal shaped. Easily washed. The pad has a peel-off backing that sticks easily to the handset. Available in white. Ear Buff                                           NAP-B102   #2.96 A telephone ear cushion for hearing aid wearers A specially designed telephone ear cushion which greatly reduces hearing aid feedback. The Ear Buff is soft, comfortable, and sanitary – the poreless skin washes easily in mild soap and water. Attach the Ear Buff to the phone’s handset in seconds with a simple peel and stick procedure. Available in gray — Patricia Burns (Just one s)

Response:

Steve said: > Been using ITCs, now trying out BTEs.  Can’t seem to find a > comfortable position to use them with a telephone – I end up taking > one out and using an amplified phone without the aid.  Even with > telecoil, doesn’t seem to work very well.  At least with the ITCs I > have the option of listening directly through the aid.  Holding the > phone above the ear without creating feedback just doesn’t seem to > work, plus it makes it harder for the person on the other end to hear, > since the mouthpiece is further away.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

Steve, I also end up taking a hearing aid out to use the phone. The problem with BTEs is that, if you hold the phone up to the HA, you get _only_ the sound from the HA and no direct sound (which is how many of us get our lower frequencies), so it sounds ‘tinny’. I have my telecoil programme adjusted to supply more low frequencies but notice that the sound from the telecoil is inferior to that from the mic. I’m beginning to think that I need to get a phone with a headphone socket and use a pair of fully-enclosed headphones big enough to include the BTE HA. I have a pair of these for watching TV and they work well. Does anybody know of a phone with a headphone socket? Thanks in advance, Steve  = : ^ )

Response:

Ameriphone – their phones have many other features for the deaf as well – up to 50db amp and a tone control. For the non-deaf, they are just ordinary phones. Yet the enhancements are readily enabled. As I have often said, BTE telecoils love headphones. And, with fully-enclosed h/phones to keep out ambient noise, you have the option of using the hearing aids’ mike instead – increasing the options available. In fact I never use the telecoil with the phone. I just put on the headphones and pick up the handset – you talk into this –  and that is it. Feedback is possible but easily corrected with the HA volume control. No feedback problems with the telecoil. I  have always been able to find a solution to the phone problem as my hearing deteriorated. I am profoundly deaf so be encouraged to keep trying.

Response:

"Steve" <d…@isn.inv> wrote in message

news:oumnd1tlo1miajum0bt7jvumbad8mtcubl@4ax.com… > Been using ITCs, now trying out BTEs.  Can’t seem to find a > comfortable position to use them with a telephone – I end up taking > one out and using an amplified phone without the aid.  Even with > telecoil, doesn’t seem to work very well.  At least with the ITCs I > have the option of listening directly through the aid.  Holding the > phone above the ear without creating feedback just doesn’t seem to > work, plus it makes it harder for the person on the other end to hear, > since the mouthpiece is further away.  Any ideas?  Thanks!

I ignore the availability of telecoil on my BTE’s and use speakerphone.  No fussing resetting the aids, adjusting headsets, etc. However, all speakerphones are not equal.  Two old analogs in my house work well but the fancy digital job (cordless, speakerphone and other enhancements) does not work well.  I think it is because the high frequency cutoff of the digital filters is much sharper and eliminates frequencies at and just above 3000 Hz. which may not be essential to most people but are useful when hearing is marginal. SJF

Response:

I agree – for years I used speakerphone though profoundly deaf. But few standard phones put out enough volume for me so I made up my own from a kit. It also had a headphone socket and eventually I graduated to this because the volume of the speakephone disturbed the family. Finally I graduated to the Ameriphone which still serves me well and, hopefully, will see me out. I should mention that, with high frequency loss, your ability to hear the caller is not uniform. I find I can understand about 3 out of 5. I used to do better. Still that is better than nothing. My score face-to-face is not much better – depends on the pitch and nature of the speaker’s voice.

Response:

OT, Long, don't give a damn; Joyce Brauer 1936 – 2005

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose. I’m so sorry Baha.  I wish I’d known Joyce,  she sounds like the kind of person I’d like to be.

She really does sound like she was a wonderful person.

Response:

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose.

I am so sorry that you have lost someone you loved like this.  Cancer is the pits.  I’ve only just escaped from its clutches myself and I lost the ability to walk and learned to love morphine myself to ease the pain. I was angry about it and wished I had done more to "deserve" it too. I didn’t and Joyce didn’t.   Bad things happen to good people sometimes.  It seems I was lucky and will recover. Condolences for all who loved Joyce.  I admire her spirit. Tweed

Response:

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable.

Hugs and purrs of comfort to all who loved and miss Joyce. — Elise (supervised by Gossamer & Jeeves)

Response:

 had it all together until we left the hospital, went back to her apartment, and saw a bottle of kiddie vitamins on the shelf. She kept them there for me, knowing I just love the taste of Flintstones vitamins. That’s when I went batshit. Over a vitamin bottle, of all things It’s these things that do you in. The day after my mum died I went to her flat and I was together until I opened the fridge and then I really started crying…Both my brothers were mystified when they asked what started me off and I  pointed in the fridge and said "The mint sauce!" Mum liked mint jelly and I like mint sauce so whenever I went there for dinner- she would have both on the table and when I saw them sitting next to each other in the fridge it hit me so hard! Purrs for Joyce Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

Response:

Purrs for her swift passae to The Bridge. Purrs also for the grieving hearts of those who’ll miss her. Suz&Spicey

Response:

What a wonderful tribute!  My condolances. Jane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer.

Response:

I’m so very sorry to hear this. Lots of hugs and purrs for every living being who loved Joycie. We are thinking of you all, — Polonca & Soncek

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose.

<snip

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – had it all together until we left the hospital, went back to her apartment, and saw a bottle of kiddie vitamins on the shelf. She kept them there for me, knowing I just love the taste of Flintstones vitamins. That’s when I went batshit. Over a vitamin bottle, of all things It’s these things that do you in. The day after my mum died I went to her flat and I was together until I opened the fridge and then I really started crying…Both my brothers were mystified when they asked what started me off and I  pointed in the fridge and said "The mint sauce!" Mum liked mint jelly and I like mint sauce so whenever I went there for dinner- she would have both on the table and when I saw them sitting next to each other in the fridge it hit me so hard! Purrs for Joyce Lesley

I know what you mean.  Several months after my Dad died, my kids were helping me clean out our garage.  My daughter opened a cabinet and took out a wind chime, and I fell apart.  My Dad had made that wind chime for us, and we had hung it, but had to take it down.  It was made of lengths of pipe, and the only place we could hang it, the wind banged the pipes against the sliding glass door – and we get a *lot* of wind where I live.  I couldn’t bear to part with it, so I had stored it in that cabinet. Joy

Response:

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose.

I’m so sorry Baha.  I wish I’d known Joyce,  she sounds like the kind of person I’d like to be. Pam S.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose. No, not fully comatose. Her son Dale gave me the picture I shall carry for a good long time to come…they say the last thing to go is the hearing, and Dale likes to be heard. He’s a shameless talker and can’t keep his mouth shut, just like Joycie. At one point he said the tables were turned, he had a captive audience, and she couldn’t get the last word. Of course, not all words are spoken with lips; ask any deaf person. Less than 3 minutes after Dale said this, a nurse came in to see to Joycie’s medication, and upon pulling the sheet back to give an injection they saw her fist on the mattress, middle finger extended. She hadn’t the strength to lift her hand, but enough to pull together to flip her son off. And damn if she didn’t get the last word. Her last word, F*ck You. Of course, this was her attitude to the rest of the world: you don’t like me, you don’t like my politics or how I practice my religion, or how I support the right of my sons to be gay, f*ck you. That’s how she was when I first knew her, in my early teens: a tiny woman who scared the Christ of of the school’s administration when she’d come in to complain of how her sons were suffering discrimination on account of their severe poverty, and what was then a suspicion of being gay. You could hear her cussing out the principal in the next county. She wasn’t all about cussing though, because Joycie was a Christian in the truest sense: her gifts to the church were the true widow’s mite of the Bible, for she was so poor that all she could give the parish was the last coins of her state aid checks. Her home was open to every runaway, every abused kid, every hungry kid in town; and despite the poverty the family suffered in the early years I knew them, God provided. They didn’t starve, nor did anyone who came to Joyce who needed a place to crash, come down from dope, escape, or get food when their own parents drank up the kids’ lunch money. Her karma came back to her in spades: she learned a trade, got out of the vicious welfare cycle, and became a passionate animal rights person, and was rewarded for her kindness with self-sufficiency and prosperity. I had it all together until we left the hospital, went back to her apartment, and saw a bottle of kiddie vitamins on the shelf. She kept them there for me, knowing I just love the taste of Flintstones vitamins. That’s when I went batshit. Over a vitamin bottle, of all things. But what’s a vitamin? You give it to your kids to enhance their health and well-being, and that’s her legacy to me. That, and the taste of a delectable Dino. You all have to excuse me, I’m not with it. I am so not with it I got sent home from work today. Oy. Joyce Brauer leaves behind three sons and her beloved dog Benny, and a ton of people whose lives are better for the open doors of her home and heart. I am one of those people and I’m proud to have known her. She passes over the Bridge to meet her dear Shadow who passed a few years ago, and the creatures she loved and cared for both in her home long before I knew her, and those who knew her love and care through shelters where she volunteered and the pet store where she worked. She will also get to know her daughter Tammy, who died a few hours after she was born. For all of you who offered prayers, purrs and words of encouragement over these past few months, many thanks to you on behalf of the Brauer family. They know you all were pulling for Joycie and appreciate it greatly. If anyone here makes donations to the ASPCA, please consider one in her memory; this was her greatest cause, and in her lifetime she wanted that every animal should be a wanted animal, and that none should needlessly suffer or contribute to the animal population due to the negligence of humans who won’t take the time or effort to spay or neuter. Joycie was a damn good woman. Were there more like here, we might have a better and brighter world. Please pray now for her boys and Mike, for their healing, and that the anger and bitterness make way for peace. Blessed be, Baha

{{{{Baha}}}}}  I am so sorry for the loss of your friend.  Thank you for such a beautiful post to honor her. May her family and you and all who loved her find healing in time. Blessings, Ginger-lyn Home Pages:   http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/   http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats)   http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy)   http://www.movieanimals.bravehost.com/ (The Violence Against                                              Animals in Movies Website)

Response:

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer.

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, Baha. You wrote a beautiful tribute to her. Purrs to her family and everyone who will miss her. — Marina, Frank and Miranda. In loving memory of Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki

Response:

God bless this fine lady and give her a place of honor in paradise forever. And may her sons and any other relatives (two- and four-footed) and friends also have peace and consolation in their time of loss. Donna, Captain, and Stanley P.S. I shouldn’t have read this one at work. I burst out laughing aloud when I reached the part about the Significant Digit Salute. ) More power to her!

Response:

Condolences to all who loved her Gordon & the TT "Singh" wrote – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose. No, not fully comatose. Her son Dale gave me the picture I shall carry for a good long time to come…they say the last thing to go is the hearing, and Dale likes to be heard. He’s a shameless talker and can’t keep his mouth shut, just like Joycie. At one point he said the tables were turned, he had a captive audience, and she couldn’t get the last word. Of course, not all words are spoken with lips; ask any deaf person. Less than 3 minutes after Dale said this, a nurse came in to see to Joycie’s medication, and upon pulling the sheet back to give an injection they saw her fist on the mattress, middle finger extended. She hadn’t the strength to lift her hand, but enough to pull together to flip her son off. And damn if she didn’t get the last word. Her last word, F*ck You. Of course, this was her attitude to the rest of the world: you don’t like me, you don’t like my politics or how I practice my religion, or how I support the right of my sons to be gay, f*ck you. That’s how she was when I first knew her, in my early teens: a tiny woman who scared the Christ of of the school’s administration when she’d come in to complain of how her sons were suffering discrimination on account of their severe poverty, and what was then a suspicion of being gay. You could hear her cussing out the principal in the next county. She wasn’t all about cussing though, because Joycie was a Christian in the truest sense: her gifts to the church were the true widow’s mite of the Bible, for she was so poor that all she could give the parish was the last coins of her state aid checks. Her home was open to every runaway, every abused kid, every hungry kid in town; and despite the poverty the family suffered in the early years I knew them, God provided. They didn’t starve, nor did anyone who came to Joyce who needed a place to crash, come down from dope, escape, or get food when their own parents drank up the kids’ lunch money. Her karma came back to her in spades: she learned a trade, got out of the vicious welfare cycle, and became a passionate animal rights person, and was rewarded for her kindness with self-sufficiency and prosperity. I had it all together until we left the hospital, went back to her apartment, and saw a bottle of kiddie vitamins on the shelf. She kept them there for me, knowing I just love the taste of Flintstones vitamins. That’s when I went batshit. Over a vitamin bottle, of all things. But what’s a vitamin? You give it to your kids to enhance their health and well-being, and that’s her legacy to me. That, and the taste of a delectable Dino. You all have to excuse me, I’m not with it. I am so not with it I got sent home from work today. Oy. Joyce Brauer leaves behind three sons and her beloved dog Benny, and a ton of people whose lives are better for the open doors of her home and heart. I am one of those people and I’m proud to have known her. She passes over the Bridge to meet her dear Shadow who passed a few years ago, and the creatures she loved and cared for both in her home long before I knew her, and those who knew her love and care through shelters where she volunteered and the pet store where she worked. She will also get to know her daughter Tammy, who died a few hours after she was born. For all of you who offered prayers, purrs and words of encouragement over these past few months, many thanks to you on behalf of the Brauer family. They know you all were pulling for Joycie and appreciate it greatly. If anyone here makes donations to the ASPCA, please consider one in her memory; this was her greatest cause, and in her lifetime she wanted that every animal should be a wanted animal, and that none should needlessly suffer or contribute to the animal population due to the negligence of humans who won’t take the time or effort to spay or neuter. Joycie was a damn good woman. Were there more like here, we might have a better and brighter world. Please pray now for her boys and Mike, for their healing, and that the anger and bitterness make way for peace. Blessed be, Baha

Beautiful tribute, Baha!  I’ll light a candle tonight to help Joycie find her way to the Rainbow Bridge! Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Three thousand years ago, cats were deified in ancient Egypt. To this day, they have not forgotten.

Response:

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the

boys Regretful snip of a truly wonderful tribute to a beautiful woman.  Her beauty shines forth in the words you write about her.  Condolences to you, her family, and all others she touched, during this time of sorrow. I enjoyed the story of her response to Mike’s talking. Thank you for sharing. Diane

Response:

I’m so sorry.  Hugs and purrs, — Britta "There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast." — Unknown Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose. No, not fully comatose. Her son Dale gave me the picture I shall carry for a good long time to come…they say the last thing to go is the hearing, and Dale likes to be heard. He’s a shameless talker and can’t keep his mouth shut, just like Joycie. At one point he said the tables were turned, he had a captive audience, and she couldn’t get the last word. Of course, not all words are spoken with lips; ask any deaf person. Less than 3 minutes after Dale said this, a nurse came in to see to Joycie’s medication, and upon pulling the sheet back to give an injection they saw her fist on the mattress, middle finger extended. She hadn’t the strength to lift her hand, but enough to pull together to flip her son off. And damn if she didn’t get the last word. Her last word, F*ck You. Of course, this was her attitude to the rest of the world: you don’t like me, you don’t like my politics or how I practice my religion, or how I support the right of my sons to be gay, f*ck you. That’s how she was when I first knew her, in my early teens: a tiny woman who scared the Christ of of the school’s administration when she’d come in to complain of how her sons were suffering discrimination on account of their severe poverty, and what was then a suspicion of being gay. You could hear her cussing out the principal in the next county. She wasn’t all about cussing though, because Joycie was a Christian in the truest sense: her gifts to the church were the true widow’s mite of the Bible, for she was so poor that all she could give the parish was the last coins of her state aid checks. Her home was open to every runaway, every abused kid, every hungry kid in town; and despite the poverty the family suffered in the early years I knew them, God provided. They didn’t starve, nor did anyone who came to Joyce who needed a place to crash, come down from dope, escape, or get food when their own parents drank up the kids’ lunch money. Her karma came back to her in spades: she learned a trade, got out of the vicious welfare cycle, and became a passionate animal rights person, and was rewarded for her kindness with self-sufficiency and prosperity. I had it all together until we left the hospital, went back to her apartment, and saw a bottle of kiddie vitamins on the shelf. She kept them there for me, knowing I just love the taste of Flintstones vitamins. That’s when I went batshit. Over a vitamin bottle, of all things. But what’s a vitamin? You give it to your kids to enhance their health and well-being, and that’s her legacy to me. That, and the taste of a delectable Dino. You all have to excuse me, I’m not with it. I am so not with it I got sent home from work today. Oy. Joyce Brauer leaves behind three sons and her beloved dog Benny, and a ton of people whose lives are better for the open doors of her home and heart. I am one of those people and I’m proud to have known her. She passes over the Bridge to meet her dear Shadow who passed a few years ago, and the creatures she loved and cared for both in her home long before I knew her, and those who knew her love and care through shelters where she volunteered and the pet store where she worked. She will also get to know her daughter Tammy, who died a few hours after she was born. For all of you who offered prayers, purrs and words of encouragement over these past few months, many thanks to you on behalf of the Brauer family. They know you all were pulling for Joycie and appreciate it greatly. If anyone here makes donations to the ASPCA, please consider one in her memory; this was her greatest cause, and in her lifetime she wanted that every animal should be a wanted animal, and that none should needlessly suffer or contribute to the animal population due to the negligence of humans who won’t take the time or effort to spay or neuter. Joycie was a damn good woman. Were there more like here, we might have a better and brighter world. Please pray now for her boys and Mike, for their healing, and that the anger and bitterness make way for peace. Blessed be, Baha

Response:

My dear friend and surrogate mother Joyce, my best buddy’s mama, passed yesterday morning, after a long battle with cancer. She went peacefully, for which I profoundly thank God; the Hospice people did a damn good job keeping her out of pain and comfortable. If only they could do the same for the boys now. They’re bitter, and who could blame them? No human being deserves to go like that, in so much pain that they lose the ability to walk, and on so much morphine that they’re comatose. No, not fully comatose. Her son Dale gave me the picture I shall carry for a good long time to come…they say the last thing to go is the hearing, and Dale likes to be heard. He’s a shameless talker and can’t keep his mouth shut, just like Joycie. At one point he said the tables were turned, he had a captive audience, and she couldn’t get the last word. Of course, not all words are spoken with lips; ask any deaf person. Less than 3 minutes after Dale said this, a nurse came in to see to Joycie’s medication, and upon pulling the sheet back to give an injection they saw her fist on the mattress, middle finger extended. She hadn’t the strength to lift her hand, but enough to pull together to flip her son off. And damn if she didn’t get the last word. Her last word, F*ck You. Of course, this was her attitude to the rest of the world: you don’t like me, you don’t like my politics or how I practice my religion, or how I support the right of my sons to be gay, f*ck you. That’s how she was when I first knew her, in my early teens: a tiny woman who scared the Christ of of the school’s administration when she’d come in to complain of how her sons were suffering discrimination on account of their severe poverty, and what was then a suspicion of being gay. You could hear her cussing out the principal in the next county. She wasn’t all about cussing though, because Joycie was a Christian in the truest sense: her gifts to the church were the true widow’s mite of the Bible, for she was so poor that all she could give the parish was the last coins of her state aid checks. Her home was open to every runaway, every abused kid, every hungry kid in town; and despite the poverty the family suffered in the early years I knew them, God provided. They didn’t starve, nor did anyone who came to Joyce who needed a place to crash, come down from dope, escape, or get food when their own parents drank up the kids’ lunch money. Her karma came back to her in spades: she learned a trade, got out of the vicious welfare cycle, and became a passionate animal rights person, and was rewarded for her kindness with self-sufficiency and prosperity. I had it all together until we left the hospital, went back to her apartment, and saw a bottle of kiddie vitamins on the shelf. She kept them there for me, knowing I just love the taste of Flintstones vitamins. That’s when I went batshit. Over a vitamin bottle, of all things. But what’s a vitamin? You give it to your kids to enhance their health and well-being, and that’s her legacy to me. That, and the taste of a delectable Dino. You all have to excuse me, I’m not with it. I am so not with it I got sent home from work today. Oy. Joyce Brauer leaves behind three sons and her beloved dog Benny, and a ton of people whose lives are better for the open doors of her home and heart. I am one of those people and I’m proud to have known her. She passes over the Bridge to meet her dear Shadow who passed a few years ago, and the creatures she loved and cared for both in her home long before I knew her, and those who knew her love and care through shelters where she volunteered and the pet store where she worked. She will also get to know her daughter Tammy, who died a few hours after she was born. For all of you who offered prayers, purrs and words of encouragement over these past few months, many thanks to you on behalf of the Brauer family. They know you all were pulling for Joycie and appreciate it greatly. If anyone here makes donations to the ASPCA, please consider one in her memory; this was her greatest cause, and in her lifetime she wanted that every animal should be a wanted animal, and that none should needlessly suffer or contribute to the animal population due to the negligence of humans who won’t take the time or effort to spay or neuter. Joycie was a damn good woman. Were there more like here, we might have a better and brighter world. Please pray now for her boys and Mike, for their healing, and that the anger and bitterness make way for peace. Blessed be, Baha — Three thousand years ago, cats were deified in ancient Egypt. To this day, they have not forgotten.

Response:

An old path is traced …"

Question:

Twittering ~ I’ve never posted here before, I don’t think, But I noticed in headers You do. So I’ll tell you here. I’m about to be without a pc for awhile. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get one of my own, But it’s going to be a really good one when I do. I was only safe ~ Keeping a friend’s pc, While said friend serving overseas. Thanks for your entertaining and worthwhile writings. I /shall/ return! May many more folks Have Understanding …" ~ C88 "O, Gee, a drag. Perhaps you know Edith, too? O, Please let us hear from YOU~ ! Tell Capsicum to hurry, we need her ~ !" ~ Twittering LSTOO & Folly IAG

Response:

"… a dash of sea salt, A touch of dill, a speck of aster, gathered goldenrod, Lemon Drop sucked beneath a Quaking Aspen. Red Cedar and Common Juniper confer. Breeze blews. Woman removes white gloves. Seaport’s glittering evening shimmers. Red ~ winged Blackbird crows. Ivy’s gated archway grows. Nibbler gnaws. Soil’s tiller hoes. Mother knows. Arginine meows. Whitie moos. Alas, in washes shipping news. Barge ~ master rows. Enamored boy plants ruse. Foliate leaves unfurl rose. Migratory flock sews. Coasting ship slows. Electric touch thrills toes. Ox ~ cart tows. Each offers vows. Girl numbers woes. Oblong oboe wows. Girl alone wipes tears. What are years." ~ Twittering

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane !O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!’ ~ Folly "Oh, and I want some too! Tea with thee brings glee …" ~ C88 "O, Yippee ~ Please Do. And  may I introduce you to Coppola, A lovely Swallow, our very friend. You are, too! O. Please come in … Care For a marshmallow, or a smore? Sit, Here, please have a chair." ~ Twittering Please know, yes, you are so very welcome Here. O how lovely, O how divine ~ A visit from our friends, Cactus and Coppola, A fine ~ feathered swallow." ~ Folly "Please tell me ~ If only you could live one life Fully, Cactus, Once upon a time, without a broken Heart, How would you live? How would you know your given name? How would you travel through a day? How would you travel from afar To me, To say Hello? Cactus, What’s your real name? Cactus, Are you spoken for? If so, By whom?" ~ Twittering "Drawn & quartered, 60 minutes, into seconds, further The decimal, point to the left, Cactus, how many Decimated decibels, Dewy decimals, Are you?" ~ White Chalk "Where’s Alfred, biscuits, crisp, As well as scones, for peppermint tea, We require?" ~ Folly "5th book shelf down, Far left …" ~ Zoe "The first of the expedition’s leading aims Has been accomplished. Reason to continue ~ Nor waste time, so over the crest of the rise And through a gap between two crags. But now The trail turns downward, west …" ~ Alfred Corn, From "Notes From a Child of Paradise" [p. 70

 Hi Twittering, I've never posted on this ng before, I don't think, but I noticed in headers that you do. So I'll tell you here. I'm about to be without a pc for awhile. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get one of my own, but it's going to be a really good one when I do. I was only safekeepng a friends pc while said friend was serving overseas. Thanks for your entertaining and worthwhile writings. I /shall/ return! May more folks have Understanding... C88

Response:

"If you really want to help Twittering, Then urge her to HELP HERSELF. What could be more clear?" ~ SP "Or answer Her email, a modest beginning." ~ Ms. Moth "I couldn't agree with you More SP. I hope the day comes wherein Twittering Will be able to help herself Twitter To the fullest, For I fear." ~ Raving "Me, too, I fear." ~ Twittering "She will need To employ all of her ability." ~ Raving "A sensible grrl, I am. And lo, I know ~ My challenge Presently exceeds my ability, for, wounded I am. I got shot down, fell far, my crippled fight, My crippled flight, fell too far short ~ Splaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt. A very bloody, grrrl, I am. But, O, I tried, I tried, I tried. I Cried, too. For, O, I hurt. For, O, I wish not to a burden on anyone. Such shame, now, I bear, I know. And know this ~ Never will ask again, For My Asking Went unanswered, fell on deaf ears. I will perish Before a burden I be. But I blame Not myself this time, for myself, I forgive. I know I gave, I tried with all I Have. All I am. This much I now know, if others Do not." ~ Twittering "Finally ~ Take out the TRA La La La La La La La aLa SHH ~  !" ~ Sgt. P "Will do, anything For you." ~ Twittering "Sometimes, your ALL, your BEST, Still is not Good enough to protect yourself. Please ~ Do not forget. Help another do What she cannot do for herself, but you Are able. An Able ~ Minded Way of Living." ~ Folly "Wise goose, you, Folly. Very pretty goose, too, today, so all spruced Up, perched happily In your spruce Tree." ~ Mum "Sometimes, yes, One needs a hand to hold, a real hand, Or just someone to sit beside you late At night Tuck you in, Kiss you Good Night." ~ Twittering "... just to tell you Tomorrow's going to be Alright." ~ Capsicum * "... He'll pace allright but then look carefully at how, reaching the edge, he turns around... ... that quick step revolving on the one hind leg, bringing the other down just as the swivel ends, then giving over all the weight to one front paw, onto each pad distinctly it would seem, then onto number four and he's around headed the other way again." ~ Jorie Graham, From "The Sense of an Ending," From "Erosion"

~ * ~ "And what if now I told you this, let's say, By telephone. Would you imagine me ..." ~ JD McClatchy, From "At a Reading," From "Stars Principal"

"A night without edition, virtual: A hearing. Yes, and yes its sleeve Gapes to house the air's thin shine. An old path is traced ..." ~ Ann Lauterbach, From "Tock," From "Clamour"

"Talk, Or ask White Chalk?" ~ Twittering ~ * ~ Blog, or dog? Who knows. But if you see my lost pup, please bring him home! I got Leon a brand-new bone. http://journals.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo

Response:

"Music will always brighten the day, An oboe, the most beautiful Instrument." ~ William Byrd Oboes sing themselves Serene ... Somewhere, a motherless child Plays alone, imagines herself an imaginary Friend, For, the being Alone, too much to bear Alone. Somewhere else, A mother alone, without child, Imagines, hears, a child, Who cries, Who needs. Conception, A world Begins ... Somewhere, a man or woman, Very old, very wise, who lives on modest means, Travels through today Hurting, Alone, Forgotten.

Response:

"Ok, I'll marry you, BUT ONLY if you promise not to put me on a pedestal And Adulate me." ~ Great Dane "Only every other Tuesday, Alternate Wednesdays, Odd Fridays, Opposite Mondays, Equal Saturdays, Every Thursday, and everyday apres 5 pm." ~ Twittering "Deal ~ ? We will negotiate certain terms." ~ Folly "... or surly taciturn Arctic Terns Turning right, en flight to Haarlem, Holland." ~ Twittering "Ok, that sounds like a fair deal To me. Deal!" ~ Great Dane "Patience, or Hearts? Bridge, Whist, or Old Maid? Black Jack, 21, 5 ~ Card Stud, or Go Fish? According to Hoyle, or Impromptu? Gin, or Tarot Reading, Mine, or yours?" ~ Twittering "Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ "Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane "!O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!" ~ Folly

Response:

[....] "Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ "Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane "!O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!" ~ Folly

Oh, and I want some too! Tea with thee brings glee… C88

Response:

nightbat wrote – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [....] "Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ "Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane "!O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!" ~ Folly Oh, and I want some too! Tea with thee brings glee… C88

nightbat         The tea is fine but did you get the Hollywood contracts ready yet C88? My Officers need funds to carry out their profound scientific research and travel funds for socialization before the Darla Star Race hopefully gets here. Wednesday the Las Vegas Saucers are due over that fun city, please get on it.         carry on,         the nightbat

Response:

"Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane !O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!’ ~ Folly "Oh, and I want some too! Tea with thee brings glee …" ~ C88 "O, Yippee ~ Please Do. And  may I introduce you to Coppola, A lovely Swallow, our very friend. You are, too! O. Please come in … Care For a marshmallow, or a smore? Sit, Here, please have a chair." ~ Twittering Please know, yes, you are so very welcome Here. O how lovely, O how divine ~ A visit from our friends, Cactus and Coppola, A fine ~ feathered swallow." ~ Folly "Please tell me ~ If only you could live one life Fully, Cactus, Once upon a time, without a broken Heart, How would you live? How would you know your given name? How would you travel through a day? How would you travel from afar To me, To say Hello? Cactus, What’s your real name? Cactus, Are you spoken for? If so, By whom?" ~ Twittering "Drawn & quartered, 60 minutes, into seconds, further The decimal, point to the left, Cactus, how many Decimated decibels, Dewy decimals, Are you?" ~ White Chalk "Where’s Alfred, biscuits, crisp, As well as scones, for peppermint tea, We require?" ~ Folly "5th book shelf down, Far left …" ~ Zoe "The first of the expedition’s leading aims Has been accomplished. Reason to continue ~ Nor waste time, so over the crest of the rise And through a gap between two crags. But now The trail turns downward, west …" ~ Alfred Corn, From "Notes From a Child of Paradise"

[p. 70

Response:

"The tea is fine But did you get the Hollywood contracts Ready, yet C88? My Officers Need funds  to carry out their profound Scientific research and funds for The Unraveling Troupe Groveling Association Before the Darla Star Race Hopefully arrives. Wednesday the Las Vegas Saucers Are serving Mountain Dew Over that New Found Land Synchronous City. Please get on it." ~ nightbat "Saucers, Milk? Me Owwwwwwwwww." ~ Arginine "O, Arginine, yes, your cream, forgive Me, I forgot." ~ Twittering "A moon struck me," explains Our architecture. Yes, I reply, that's possible To see. "And now, clearly," According to Asparagus, "You filter magic fairy dust, Our illumination. "No, you mean," Counters Arginine, hitherto unseen, That feline concealed cleverly behind the curtain, "A moon-struck illumination Filters through the dust clinging to the windowpane." Alistair, now standing on the first Stair, says, "A fine point, yes, My dear." *

Response:

* Meanwhile, Agitated and Denial Dance... * And me, I Ponder carefully my confusion, consider My inane company, our insane amusement, and fitfully Call for an explanation. Enough Denial ~ ! Please explain ~ For now, Anyway. But O, lo! Before I know, Please consider, thusly ~ This filtered dust, This moon-struck illumination Streaming through the lunar windowpane, all matter Of confusion Spreading a stardust comforting blanket loftily Around This Evening's Noir Event... How do we interpret these Knights, These Bishops, Queens, Kings, Rooks sensibly? A single Knight's Move, 1 up, 2 over? Or 2 over 2 down? Or merely an insightful site ~ reading That provides too many Blew Cues Dews Flews Fuse Klews Grooves Ludes Muse News Pews Ques Ruse Twos Views Yews Yaks Zoos ~ ? Any Klews Or fleurs? Or just snooze Further through ~ * These Rooms & Chambers *  ~ En Amsterdam? What's Next? What If What's Not Is, already, hear ~ ?                         And if so, What if requirements lift,                                          As the mechanical                                          Descends, Directs the action From A very odd repertory of contingent estranged Solutions? * Or, if Not. What? ~ * !

Response:

- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text - nightbat wrote [....] "Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ "Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane "!O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!" ~ Folly Oh, and I want some too! Tea with thee brings glee… C88 nightbat         The tea is fine but did you get the Hollywood contracts ready yet C88? My Officers need funds to carry out their profound scientific research and travel funds for socialization before the Darla Star Race hopefully gets here. Wednesday the Las Vegas Saucers are due over that fun city, please get on it.         carry on,         the nightbat

Hello Nightbat. I don’t guess you noticed who signed that note about the Star Maidens and such. A film producer friend of mine, Dash Leatherpants, was looking over my shoulder when I was reading your post about Star Maids, and asked to reply to your post. I agreed to allow him. I have been trying to ring him up at the only cell phone number I have for him. No answer. He has a lot of projects going all the time, and I wouldn’t bank on him coming thru on this project. Sorry, but I just have to give it to you straight so that you can properly plot the course of events vital to the successful outcome of the entire fantabulous event. I pledge to continue trying to get Dash on the ball on this. C88 have for him

Response:

"Why not?" ~ Twittering "At 33 or 34, In such a populous area, and for a person Such as Yourself, I’d find it surprising if you didn’t have friends Off the wire." ~ Random "O, you mean ~ Etherized, too? My only friends now, on balance, & some Polar Bears et marbles." ~ Twittering "O, Deade Folk, too, we know ~ ’cause we near ~ Folly "… & lottsa Dogs." ~ Twittering "Soggy, these smores, no? What’s more, My chocolate’s smudged." ~ Justin "Justice ~ Needs shortening Without which no biscuit is crisp." ~ Alfred "O, here, how about a Graham, Jorie? Or, A cracker with brie and pepper?" ~ Arrowroot "A tad of advice, Justice ~ Go For a nice short quote from Barkleys, pithy, pointed, and pertinent. Hope that helps." ~ Folly "Rejoins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oh Spasmic counsel from canary conceited by doting owners On astronomy On cosmology? ‘Potery’? . . . . . . . . . . Er, sheesh. Hen, stow it." ~ Justine International "Agent Canary, said ~ ‘Work With Me,’ so, alas, I am attempting to ~ Exhibit 1. Be Polite. Exhibit 2. Be Hopeful. Exhibit 3. Be Honest. Exhibit 4. Stand Up For Myself, as Best I Am Able. Exhibit 5. Use My Experience To Help Others, Less Able. ~ * ~ "We have your #2." ~ Agent Canary "O, we do, 2." ~ Roberta Morganbowow "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr ~ !" ~ Lucy Fur Syn da Frank’s Weiner "You have Exhibit 2. Be Hopeful? Is that all? Not enough." ~ Twittering "But what about the birds?" ~ Molly "And the minerals and flora And fauna?" ~ Folly "I want my Mum, and Capsicum, too ~ Know ~ ! As, well, Leonardo." ~ Twittering "Where’s my Precious Munchkin from Oz?" ~ Capsicum "Here ~ !" ~ Twittering * "Must be getting better I understood this one to the letter Free images without fetter No, not scarlet at all The notes colored Like cheddar!" ~ Great Dane "Well, I don’t understand you. So there." ~ Twittering

Response:

"Yes, Capsicum ~ A second’s hand sweeps ’round again My insight, sharpened, a revelation, as cheddar cheese From Wisconsin or round and ripe, as Gouda From Gouda. Second ~ sight amour,

A rigorous, ever ~ so slightly ridiculous, Curriculum, too. But I told you no lies. I told you tales. I looked you in the eye. My need to live, my need to love, be loved, my alibi. Beloved, do you really think I lie? I tell you tales because you listen. That’s why. But lie, I don’t, not without a pair of surely Quotation marks. I mark my trail so clearly So you’ll follow me, So you’ll always find me. So you’ll always know exactly where I am. O, I tell you tales. But, O, I do not lie. I tell you tales because you listen. That’s why. O, yes, love at second sight, but I look you in the eye. My need to live, my need to love, be loved, my alibi. I mark my trial so you’ll always follow me, So you’ll always find me where I hide. I tell you tales because I love you, Because you look me in the eye. I tell you tales because you love me back." ~ Twittering "Gotta go to Dunkin’s now. Breakfast time ~ !" ~ Folly "I see your Peeper. I see you, Pepper ~ ! I sleepy. I sleepy, I so darn sleepy, Exactly like you said. I sleep on my yellow sheets. I dance a wiggle and a waggle under my sheets When the day’s all done. O, yes, I wiggle waggle Under my sheets without my pretty red underwear. I see your Peeper. I see you peeking. I see you peeking at my pussy ~ ! Pepper ~ ! Yeppers! Yeppers! Pepper!" ~ Twittering "O, but we just arose, we just Got Up ~ ! Back after Do ~ Nuts." ~ Folly "NUT HUTCH ~ !" ~ Fobby "Nonesuch." ~ George

Response:

nightbat wrote – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – nightbat wrote [....] "Ping! Ms Twittering One ~ "Would you like to sample Some of my peppermint tea?" ~ Great Dane "!O, !I would!" ~ Twittering "!Me! !2!" ~ Folly Oh, and I want some too! Tea with thee brings glee… C88 nightbat         The tea is fine but did you get the Hollywood contracts ready yet C88? My Officers need funds to carry out their profound scientific research and travel funds for socialization before the Darla Star Race hopefully gets here. Wednesday the Las Vegas Saucers are due over that fun city, please get on it.         carry on,         the nightbat Hello Nightbat. I don’t guess you noticed who signed that note about the Star Maidens and such. A film producer friend of mine, Dash Leatherpants, was looking over my shoulder when I was reading your post about Star Maids, and asked to reply to your post. I agreed to allow him. I have been trying to ring him up at the only cell phone number I have for him. No answer. He has a lot of projects going all the time, and I wouldn’t bank on him coming thru on this project. Sorry, but I just have to give it to you straight so that you can properly plot the course of events vital to the successful outcome of the entire fantabulous event. I pledge to continue trying to get Dash on the ball on this. C88 have for him

nightbat         Understood, the Wednesday June 1st scheduled so called Yahweh Las Vegas alien saucer coming gala event will have to proceed for now without Hollywood commercial interests, ok. Science Officer Double-A may not like this news for he is the one that needs the travel funds and has the apparent hots for Venus Officer Twitty so bad it hurts, ok, ok. Well see what you can do C88 for I am duty bound to my men as Captain in their time of expressed need. Earth horniness is a serious problem that cannot go unchecked, it plagues us all. Officer Bert is sometimes going out of his Treb twin mind with the rising demands of his helium inflated Britney doll. Thank goodness for the reported nude hot blooded net Darla Star Virgins, they just may save us all.         carry on,         the nightbat

Response:

Scientists Find Deafness Gene Through Mutant Mice

Question:

"ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message

news:WeRce.2206$Ri4.1964@okepread07… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> HHIss…@aol.com wrote: >> source: bhNEWS >> By Tan Ee Lyn >> HONG KONG (Reuters) – Scientists in Hong Kong and Britain have >> discovered a gene responsible for hearing, a breakthrough that could >> eventually lead to a cure for congenital deafness. >> http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=834… > Old news and extremely misleading. If you are hard of hearing, you will > never live to see any benefit from the poppycock baloney this guy posts > all the time. Maybe the totally deaf can benefit, but we with mild to > moderate losses will never get implant help without risking total > deafness. Who is nutty enough to try that? > Note, they even say in the abstract that it is for the congenitally deaf, > if it ever happens. > Ardway

I have several friends that have congenital deafness.  So it does happen.  And I’m sure just as with a CI, that you have to have a profound loss for you to even be able to have the procedure done if it ever comes available. rk

Response:

source: bhNEWS By Tan Ee Lyn HONG KONG (Reuters) – Scientists in Hong Kong and Britain have discovered a gene responsible for hearing, a breakthrough that could eventually lead to a cure for congenital deafness. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=834…

Response:

HHIss…@aol.com wrote: > source: bhNEWS > By Tan Ee Lyn > HONG KONG (Reuters) – Scientists in Hong Kong and Britain have > discovered a gene responsible for hearing, a breakthrough that could > eventually lead to a cure for congenital deafness. > http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=834…

Old news and extremely misleading. If you are hard of hearing, you will never live to see any benefit from the poppycock baloney this guy posts all the time. Maybe the totally deaf can benefit, but we with mild to moderate losses will never get implant help without risking total deafness. Who is nutty enough to try that? Note, they even say in the abstract that it is for the congenitally deaf, if it ever happens. Ardway

Response:

Looking for an Audiologist

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -ardway wrote: > Rich Levey wrote: > > I have no problem with my ENT.  He has no Audiologist on staff but there is > > a Sonotone dealer down the hall whom I visited at his suggestion. I did not > > care for him.  Also he sells primarily only 1 or 2 aids/models.  I have > > spoken to the Audiologist who dispensed my Songbird’s (she works in an ENT > > office) but in speaking with her on the phone she told me that a "decent" > > digital hearing aid would cost about $5300 each.  I thought that this was a > > little pricey and when I questioned this she said we may be able to find > > some that would be slightly lower.  Still looking.  Thanks very much for > > your response. > > Rich > That sounds like it is the price for both. The top ‘o the lines I’m > looking at are $2650 per, making $5300. My ResoundAirs just aren’t > enough anymore, due to my declining hearing, so I’m looking at a set of > Canta 7 open fitting BTEs. > Surely nobody would pay $10K for hearing aids that weren’t surgically > implanted or something! > Ardway

Have you talked to your audiologist about upgrading your Air’s to Air Plus? It’s a software upgrade so they should due it a little or no charge and it will give you more gain across the frequency range.

Response:

Rich Levey wrote: > I have no problem with my ENT.  He has no Audiologist on staff but there is > a Sonotone dealer down the hall whom I visited at his suggestion.  I did not > care for him.  Also he sells primarily only 1 or 2 aids/models.  I have > spoken to the Audiologist who dispensed my Songbird’s (she works in an ENT > office) but in speaking with her on the phone she told me that a "decent" > digital hearing aid would cost about $5300 each.  I thought that this was a > little pricey and when I questioned this she said we may be able to find > some that would be slightly lower.  Still looking.  Thanks very much for > your response. > Rich

That sounds like it is the price for both. The top ‘o the lines I’m looking at are $2650 per, making $5300. My ResoundAirs just aren’t enough anymore, due to my declining hearing, so I’m looking at a set of Canta 7 open fitting BTEs. Surely nobody would pay $10K for hearing aids that weren’t surgically implanted or something! Ardway

Response:

Ardway wrote:

"Surely nobody would pay $10K for hearing aids that weren’t surgically implanted or something!" Hearing Aids from American Cheers cost much more than that. Bill M

Response:

It’s the price per aid.  I had said to her that this would make a pair over $10,000 and she concurred.  That’s why, although I liked her, I’m still looking. Rich "ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message

news:Wem5e.2852$L64.918@okepread07… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Rich Levey wrote: >> I have no problem with my ENT.  He has no Audiologist on staff but there >> is a Sonotone dealer down the hall whom I visited at his suggestion.  I >> did not care for him.  Also he sells primarily only 1 or 2 aids/models. >> I have spoken to the Audiologist who dispensed my Songbird’s (she works >> in an ENT office) but in speaking with her on the phone she told me that >> a "decent" digital hearing aid would cost about $5300 each.  I thought >> that this was a little pricey and when I questioned this she said we may >> be able to find some that would be slightly lower.  Still looking. >> Thanks very much for your response. >> Rich > That sounds like it is the price for both. The top ‘o the lines I’m > looking at are $2650 per, making $5300. My ResoundAirs just aren’t enough > anymore, due to my declining hearing, so I’m looking at a set of Canta 7 > open fitting BTEs. > Surely nobody would pay $10K for hearing aids that weren’t surgically > implanted or something! > Ardway

Response:

Good grief. Catch a plane and fly down to Boca Raton. You’ll get the same aids and have a nice beach vacation and still save a few thousand dollars. Ardway – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text - >Rich Levey wrote: > It’s the price per aid.  I had said to her that this would make a pair over > $10,000 and she concurred.  That’s why, although I liked her, I’m still > looking. > Rich > "ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message > news:Wem5e.2852$L64.918@okepread07… >>Rich Levey wrote: >>>I have no problem with my ENT.  He has no Audiologist on staff but there >>>is a Sonotone dealer down the hall whom I visited at his suggestion.  I >>>did not care for him.  Also he sells primarily only 1 or 2 aids/models. >>>I have spoken to the Audiologist who dispensed my Songbird’s (she works >>>in an ENT office) but in speaking with her on the phone she told me that >>>a "decent" digital hearing aid would cost about $5300 each.  I thought >>>that this was a little pricey and when I questioned this she said we may >>>be able to find some that would be slightly lower.  Still looking. >>>Thanks very much for your response. >>>Rich >>That sounds like it is the price for both. The top ‘o the lines I’m >>looking at are $2650 per, making $5300. My ResoundAirs just aren’t enough >>anymore, due to my declining hearing, so I’m looking at a set of Canta 7 >>open fitting BTEs. >>Surely nobody would pay $10K for hearing aids that weren’t surgically >>implanted or something! >>Ardway

Response:

"Rich Levey" <rle…@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:KoudnThiKOLhTcjfRVn-3Q@comcast.com… >I have no problem with my ENT.  He has no Audiologist on staff but there is >a Sonotone dealer down the hall whom I visited at his suggestion.  I did >not care for him.  Also he sells primarily only 1 or 2 aids/models.  I have >spoken to the Audiologist who dispensed my Songbird’s (she works in an ENT >office) but in speaking with her on the phone she told me that a "decent" >digital hearing aid would cost about $5300 each.  I thought that this was a >little pricey and when I questioned this she said we may be able to find >some that would be slightly lower.  Still looking.  Thanks very much for >your response. > Rich

The top-of-the line digitals that I dispense aren’t even close to this much. You should definitely look around. — JennL

Response:

I have no problem with my ENT.  He has no Audiologist on staff but there is a Sonotone dealer down the hall whom I visited at his suggestion.  I did not care for him.  Also he sells primarily only 1 or 2 aids/models.  I have spoken to the Audiologist who dispensed my Songbird’s (she works in an ENT office) but in speaking with her on the phone she told me that a "decent" digital hearing aid would cost about $5300 each.  I thought that this was a little pricey and when I questioned this she said we may be able to find some that would be slightly lower.  Still looking.  Thanks very much for your response. Rich "RV in DC" <RobVet…@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:6ME3e.35619$cg1.27822@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Rich, do you trust your ENT?  If so, they usually have an Audiologist on > staff or one to whom they do referrals to.  In my state, you must have > either an ENT exam or you are required sign a waiver of the ENT exam > before HA’s can be purchased.  I’m really glad I took my ENT’s advice. > Good luck. > "Rich Levey" <rle…@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:MI6dnUtfpNyPotrfRVn-gg@comcast.com… >> Hi Everyone, >> I’m new to this group and looking to get my first set of HA’s.  I’ve been >> using Songbird’s for a while as a stopgap but Songbird’s demise has kind >> of forced my hand.  After reading some posts here it is has become >> apparent that the Audiologist (or dispenser) is key to the HA acquisition >> process. My brother, in another state, has been wearing HA’s for years >> and does not have many kind words about these professionals.  I’m kind of >> puzzled why answers to requests for Audiologist recomendations in this >> forum have been largely unresponsive to the question.  I participate in >> other groups, computer and trumpet forums where these type of questions >> get enthusiastic responses.  But I will ask anyway if anyone can >> recommend an Audiologist or dispenser in central New Jersey. I am only >> asking for your experience and I understand that mileage may vary. >> Thanks in advance for any suggestions. >> Rich

Response:

Littleton is pretty close. "jim" <j…@wiltontech.com> wrote in message

news:m8i3e.20968$Zx4.9992@fe09.lga… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> That’s near Littleton Common right? > "JLM" <jlGARB…@pobox.com> wrote in message > news:CN2dne7D58OcU9ffRVn-vQ@comcast.com… > > I need a recomendation for a good fitter within a reasonable distance of > > Westford Massachusetts?   I would be especially interested in someone who > is > > experienced dealing with elders that are slow to pick up concepts. Also > of > > interest would be fitters that do better at testing the aid’s performance > > than the old, "How’s that sound?" across the table;  Speech  in noise, > > Life’s Soundsuite, or anything better.

Response:

Rich, do you trust your ENT?  If so, they usually have an Audiologist on staff or one to whom they do referrals to.  In my state, you must have either an ENT exam or you are required sign a waiver of the ENT exam before HA’s can be purchased.  I’m really glad I took my ENT’s advice.  Good luck. "Rich Levey" <rle…@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:MI6dnUtfpNyPotrfRVn-gg@comcast.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Everyone, > I’m new to this group and looking to get my first set of HA’s.  I’ve been > using Songbird’s for a while as a stopgap but Songbird’s demise has kind > of forced my hand.  After reading some posts here it is has become > apparent that the Audiologist (or dispenser) is key to the HA acquisition > process. My brother, in another state, has been wearing HA’s for years and > does not have many kind words about these professionals.  I’m kind of > puzzled why answers to requests for Audiologist recomendations in this > forum have been largely unresponsive to the question.  I participate in > other groups, computer and trumpet forums where these type of questions > get enthusiastic responses.  But I will ask anyway if anyone can recommend > an Audiologist or dispenser in central New Jersey. I am only asking for > your experience and I understand that mileage may vary.  Thanks in advance > for any suggestions. > Rich

Response:

That’s near Littleton Common right? "JLM" <jlGARB…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:CN2dne7D58OcU9ffRVn-vQ@comcast.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I need a recomendation for a good fitter within a reasonable distance of > Westford Massachusetts?   I would be especially interested in someone who is > experienced dealing with elders that are slow to pick up concepts.   Also of > interest would be fitters that do better at testing the aid’s performance > than the old, "How’s that sound?" across the table;  Speech  in noise, > Life’s Soundsuite, or anything better.

Response:

"ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message

news:pGE2e.696$WM6.180@okepread07… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> ModernMiko wrote: >> "ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message >> news:poC2e.695$WM6.652@okepread07… >>>ModernMiko wrote: >>>>"ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message >>>>news:_Zc2e.625$WM6.217@okepread07… >>>>>Rich Levey wrote: >>>>>>The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does >>>>>>this make it a good place to go? >>>>>>Rich >>>>>If you want an audiologist who has no self esteem and who likes working >>>>>for people who consider her a lower level technician. >>>>>Private audiologists cost a bit more, but their patients are their >>>>>employers, not some ancient crone nurse or business manager. >>>>>At least, that’s what I found out. >>>>>I didn’t want someone who clocked out at exactly 12:00 for their lunch >>>>>hour, making me wait until exactly 1:00 for her to return ("Gosh, Mr. >>>>>Ardway, I only have an hour for lunch and I have 5 more tests to do >>>>>this afternoon. My supervisor will get mad if I am late getting back >>>>>from lunch. You’ll have to wait until I get back. It’s not my fault!") >>>>>Ardway >>>>Note to Rich: Keep in mind the previous post is one person’s opinion. >>>>Having worked in 2 hospitals as an audiologist, I found them to be great >>>>places full of variety of patients and challenges and there were many >>>>days I didn’t even get to eat lunch or ate in 5 minutes. Most of my >>>>colleagues (and myself) had no self-esteem problems. Most (granted not >>>>all) doctors in the hospital respected our skills and opinions. Private >>>>practice audiologists can be good also but there is the generalization >>>>that they would be interested in the dollar sale over the patient to >>>>stay in business. I’ve seen good and bad audiologist in each type of >>>>setting. The best idea is to see if you can find a recommendation from >>>>someone in your area who has experience with an audiologist/practice. >>>>Generalizations won’t take you too far. >>>You are hardly an unbiased person, as you admit, you were one of those >>>who prefer to work as a wage slave. As a consumer, I know the difference >>>between competence and slacking off. I’ve never met an audiologist who is >>>either in the academe or who works for physicians who was (to quote John >>>Nance Varner, former vice-president of the United States) worth a pitcher >>>of warm spit. >>>Ardway >> Sorry for your experiences. Sure, I can be said to be biased but have >> worked in a variety of settings…hospital, doctor’s offices, and >> universities …even  a short stint in manufacturing for a company whom I >> call "evil slime" and will not be named. Given that, I still think >> generalizations are a bad way to make a decision as long-term and >> expensive as this can be. And I made the most money at one of my hospital >> jobs…ENT doctors usually pay for crap. Don’t confuse the two. The only >> job I have ever settled for a low wage was my first out of college. I’m >> excellent in my field and I deserve the pay and I always let prospective >> employers know that before I interview. Thanks for your input. I have >> heard my share of bad experiences from patients who have come in from >> various sources. It’s sad…no wonder a lot of people don’t trust >> audiologists. > I trust mine, she has been straight up all the way. as I suspect you might > be. > C. Ardway

I do my best to treat people like they were my family members. I’m a big believer in you reap what you sow. Some people say kharma. Call it what you will. I’m glad you found someone that you have a good working relationship with. It’s very important in any relationship especially one with a healthcare provider. — JennL

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -ModernMiko wrote: > "ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message > news:poC2e.695$WM6.652@okepread07… >>ModernMiko wrote: >>>"ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message >>>news:_Zc2e.625$WM6.217@okepread07… >>>>Rich Levey wrote: >>>>>The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does >>>>>this make it a good place to go? >>>>>Rich >>>>If you want an audiologist who has no self esteem and who likes working >>>>for people who consider her a lower level technician. >>>>Private audiologists cost a bit more, but their patients are their >>>>employers, not some ancient crone nurse or business manager. >>>>At least, that’s what I found out. >>>>I didn’t want someone who clocked out at exactly 12:00 for their lunch >>>>hour, making me wait until exactly 1:00 for her to return ("Gosh, Mr. >>>>Ardway, I only have an hour for lunch and I have 5 more tests to do this >>>>afternoon. My supervisor will get mad if I am late getting back from >>>>lunch. You’ll have to wait until I get back. It’s not my fault!") >>>>Ardway >>>Note to Rich: Keep in mind the previous post is one person’s opinion. >>>Having worked in 2 hospitals as an audiologist, I found them to be great >>>places full of variety of patients and challenges and there were many >>>days I didn’t even get to eat lunch or ate in 5 minutes. Most of my >>>colleagues (and myself) had no self-esteem problems. Most (granted not >>>all) doctors in the hospital respected our skills and opinions. Private >>>practice audiologists can be good also but there is the generalization >>>that they would be interested in the dollar sale over the patient to stay >>>in business. I’ve seen good and bad audiologist in each type of setting. >>>The best idea is to see if you can find a recommendation from someone in >>>your area who has experience with an audiologist/practice. >>>Generalizations won’t take you too far. >>You are hardly an unbiased person, as you admit, you were one of those who >>prefer to work as a wage slave. As a consumer, I know the difference >>between competence and slacking off. I’ve never met an audiologist who is >>either in the academe or who works for physicians who was (to quote John >>Nance Varner, former vice-president of the United States) worth a pitcher >>of warm spit. >>Ardway > Sorry for your experiences. Sure, I can be said to be biased but have worked > in a variety of settings…hospital, doctor’s offices, and universities > …even  a short stint in manufacturing for a company whom I call "evil > slime" and will not be named. Given that, I still think generalizations are > a bad way to make a decision as long-term and expensive as this can be. And > I made the most money at one of my hospital jobs…ENT doctors usually pay > for crap. Don’t confuse the two. The only job I have ever settled for a low > wage was my first out of college. I’m excellent in my field and I deserve > the pay and I always let prospective employers know that before I interview. > Thanks for your input. I have heard my share of bad experiences from > patients who have come in from various sources. It’s sad…no wonder a lot > of people don’t trust audiologists.

I trust mine, she has been straight up all the way. as I suspect you might be. C. Ardway

Response:

"ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message

news:poC2e.695$WM6.652@okepread07… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> ModernMiko wrote: >> "ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message >> news:_Zc2e.625$WM6.217@okepread07… >>>Rich Levey wrote: >>>>The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does >>>>this make it a good place to go? >>>>Rich >>>If you want an audiologist who has no self esteem and who likes working >>>for people who consider her a lower level technician. >>>Private audiologists cost a bit more, but their patients are their >>>employers, not some ancient crone nurse or business manager. >>>At least, that’s what I found out. >>>I didn’t want someone who clocked out at exactly 12:00 for their lunch >>>hour, making me wait until exactly 1:00 for her to return ("Gosh, Mr. >>>Ardway, I only have an hour for lunch and I have 5 more tests to do this >>>afternoon. My supervisor will get mad if I am late getting back from >>>lunch. You’ll have to wait until I get back. It’s not my fault!") >>>Ardway >> Note to Rich: Keep in mind the previous post is one person’s opinion. >> Having worked in 2 hospitals as an audiologist, I found them to be great >> places full of variety of patients and challenges and there were many >> days I didn’t even get to eat lunch or ate in 5 minutes. Most of my >> colleagues (and myself) had no self-esteem problems. Most (granted not >> all) doctors in the hospital respected our skills and opinions. Private >> practice audiologists can be good also but there is the generalization >> that they would be interested in the dollar sale over the patient to stay >> in business. I’ve seen good and bad audiologist in each type of setting. >> The best idea is to see if you can find a recommendation from someone in >> your area who has experience with an audiologist/practice. >> Generalizations won’t take you too far. > You are hardly an unbiased person, as you admit, you were one of those who > prefer to work as a wage slave. As a consumer, I know the difference > between competence and slacking off. I’ve never met an audiologist who is > either in the academe or who works for physicians who was (to quote John > Nance Varner, former vice-president of the United States) worth a pitcher > of warm spit. > Ardway

Sorry for your experiences. Sure, I can be said to be biased but have worked in a variety of settings…hospital, doctor’s offices, and universities …even  a short stint in manufacturing for a company whom I call "evil slime" and will not be named. Given that, I still think generalizations are a bad way to make a decision as long-term and expensive as this can be. And I made the most money at one of my hospital jobs…ENT doctors usually pay for crap. Don’t confuse the two. The only job I have ever settled for a low wage was my first out of college. I’m excellent in my field and I deserve the pay and I always let prospective employers know that before I interview. Thanks for your input. I have heard my share of bad experiences from patients who have come in from various sources. It’s sad…no wonder a lot of people don’t trust audiologists. — JennL

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -ModernMiko wrote: > "ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message > news:_Zc2e.625$WM6.217@okepread07… >>Rich Levey wrote: >>>The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does >>>this make it a good place to go? >>>Rich >>If you want an audiologist who has no self esteem and who likes working >>for people who consider her a lower level technician. >>Private audiologists cost a bit more, but their patients are their >>employers, not some ancient crone nurse or business manager. >>At least, that’s what I found out. >>I didn’t want someone who clocked out at exactly 12:00 for their lunch >>hour, making me wait until exactly 1:00 for her to return ("Gosh, Mr. >>Ardway, I only have an hour for lunch and I have 5 more tests to do this >>afternoon. My supervisor will get mad if I am late getting back from >>lunch. You’ll have to wait until I get back. It’s not my fault!") >>Ardway > Note to Rich: Keep in mind the previous post is one person’s opinion. Having > worked in 2 hospitals as an audiologist, I found them to be great places > full of variety of patients and challenges and there were many days I didn’t > even get to eat lunch or ate in 5 minutes. Most of my colleagues (and > myself) had no self-esteem problems. Most (granted not all) doctors in the > hospital respected our skills and opinions. Private practice audiologists > can be good also but there is the generalization that they would be > interested in the dollar sale over the patient to stay in business. I’ve > seen good and bad audiologist in each type of setting. The best idea is to > see if you can find a recommendation from someone in your area who has > experience with an audiologist/practice. Generalizations won’t take you too > far.

You are hardly an unbiased person, as you admit, you were one of those who prefer to work as a wage slave. As a consumer, I know the difference between competence and slacking off. I’ve never met an audiologist who is either in the academe or who works for physicians who was (to quote John Nance Varner, former vice-president of the United States) worth a pitcher of warm spit. Ardway

Response:

I need a recomendation for a good fitter within a reasonable distance of Westford Massachusetts?   I would be especially interested in someone who is experienced dealing with elders that are slow to pick up concepts.   Also of interest would be fitters that do better at testing the aid’s performance than the old, "How’s that sound?" across the table;  Speech  in noise, Life’s Soundsuite, or anything better.

Response:

"ardway" <el…@medblock.edu> wrote in message

news:_Zc2e.625$WM6.217@okepread07… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Rich Levey wrote: >> The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does >> this make it a good place to go? >> Rich > If you want an audiologist who has no self esteem and who likes working > for people who consider her a lower level technician. > Private audiologists cost a bit more, but their patients are their > employers, not some ancient crone nurse or business manager. > At least, that’s what I found out. > I didn’t want someone who clocked out at exactly 12:00 for their lunch > hour, making me wait until exactly 1:00 for her to return ("Gosh, Mr. > Ardway, I only have an hour for lunch and I have 5 more tests to do this > afternoon. My supervisor will get mad if I am late getting back from > lunch. You’ll have to wait until I get back. It’s not my fault!") > Ardway

Note to Rich: Keep in mind the previous post is one person’s opinion. Having worked in 2 hospitals as an audiologist, I found them to be great places full of variety of patients and challenges and there were many days I didn’t even get to eat lunch or ate in 5 minutes. Most of my colleagues (and myself) had no self-esteem problems. Most (granted not all) doctors in the hospital respected our skills and opinions. Private practice audiologists can be good also but there is the generalization that they would be interested in the dollar sale over the patient to stay in business. I’ve seen good and bad audiologist in each type of setting. The best idea is to see if you can find a recommendation from someone in your area who has experience with an audiologist/practice. Generalizations won’t take you too far. — JennL

Response:

Your excellent suggestion led me to check with the hospital and I wondered if even in a hospital setting, selling the hearing aids would create any bias as to brand.  I would have included this in the original post if I thought of it.  Thank you all for your help. Rich "signman" <sign…@ptd.net> wrote in message

news:W96dnTqT5YE0TdTfUSdV9g@ptd.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Rich, > You asked for suggestions, I gave you one. > If you wanted something more than this, perhaps you could’ve included such > info in your original post. > I tried to be of help to you…apparently to no avail. > You could also check on your local association for hard-of-hearing and > deaf > people…they might be able to give you information on audiologists in > your > area…or check your phone book as well. > I would expect the audiology dept of a hospital to provide audiology > testing > prior to dispensing a hearing aid. > signman > "Rich Levey" <rle…@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:m6-dnTLSi7HtzNTfRVn-qA@comcast.com… >> The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does > this >> make it a good place to go? >> Rich >> "signman" <sign…@ptd.net> wrote in message >> news:GPScnR0YQa4jwdrfUSdV9g@ptd.net… >> > Perhaps, try calling the audiology dept  of your local hospital.  They > may >> > be able to provide a list of audiologists in your area. >> > signman

Response:

The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does this make it a good place to go? Rich "signman" <sign…@ptd.net> wrote in message

news:GPScnR0YQa4jwdrfUSdV9g@ptd.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Perhaps, try calling the audiology dept  of your local hospital.  They may > be able to provide a list of audiologists in your area. > signman

Response:

Rich, You asked for suggestions, I gave you one. If you wanted something more than this, perhaps you could’ve included such info in your original post. I tried to be of help to you…apparently to no avail. You could also check on your local association for hard-of-hearing and deaf people…they might be able to give you information on audiologists in your area…or check your phone book as well. I would expect the audiology dept of a hospital to provide audiology testing prior to dispensing a hearing aid. signman "Rich Levey" <rle…@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:m6-dnTLSi7HtzNTfRVn-qA@comcast.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The Audiology dept of the local hospital dispenses hearing aids.  Does this > make it a good place to go? > Rich > "signman" <sign…@ptd.net> wrote in message > news:GPScnR0YQa4jwdrfUSdV9g@ptd.net… > > Perhaps, try calling the audiology dept  of your local hospital.  They may > > be able to provide a list of audiologists in your area. > > signman

Response:

"Rich Levey" <rle…@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:MI6dnUtfpNyPotrfRVn-gg@comcast.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Everyone, > I’m new to this group and looking to get my first set of HA’s.  I’ve been > using Songbird’s for a while as a stopgap but Songbird’s demise has kind > of forced my hand.  After reading some posts here it is has become > apparent that the Audiologist (or dispenser) is key to the HA acquisition > process. My brother, in another state, has been wearing HA’s for years and > does not have many kind words about these professionals.  I’m kind of > puzzled why answers to requests for Audiologist recomendations in this > forum have been largely unresponsive to the question.  I participate in > other groups, computer and trumpet forums where these type of questions > get enthusiastic responses.  But I will ask anyway if anyone can recommend > an Audiologist or dispenser in central New Jersey. I am only asking for > your experience and I understand that mileage may vary.  Thanks in advance > for any suggestions. > Rich

I would agree that for your first set of real hearing aids you should look for a competent audiologist .  The path I took when I first got HAs 15 years ago involved getting recommendations from users I knew and a doctor (ENT). I ended up interviewing 5 before choosing  one who had been in the area for 15 years and was recommended by most of the users I talked with.  It worked out very satisfactorily. However, your mention of a central New Jersey location and your participation in a computer forum suggests an alternative if you don’t find an audiologist you’re happy with.  There’s a company called America Hears in Bristol, PA that manufactures and sells HAs with software that you can use to do your own adjusting, or they will do it for you over the internet.   I now have a pair from them that I’m very pleased with.  If you should become interested, you can see what they have at  http://www.americahears.com/ .

Response:

If you can’t find a personal recommendation from an individual for an audiologist, try calling your local vocational rehab or veterans affairs office and ask them who they use when they send a client or patient to an audiologist, and try them.

Response:

Perhaps, try calling the audiology dept  of your local hospital.  They may be able to provide a list of audiologists in your area. signman

Response:

I found my first audiologist on the recommendation of a group called shhh. Support groups, doctors, ENT specialists – all are worth consulting. There is bound to be a hearing support group not far away which will enable you to gain first-hand reports from other deaf people. And I have had people – strangers – simply approach me (seeing me wearing BTEs) to talk about hearing aids and hearing aid professionals. I am not an extravert but I have had no problem in responding to these approaches – in fact I enjoyed them. Then you meet with the selected people and talk to them – have them brief you on their approach, on what you can expect. It is odd that many people seem to approach the first audioligist they find in the phone book when, in choosing a car, or even a washing machine, they would undertake extensive research.  In essence the task of finding a good audiologist is no different to researching any other important category of expenditure. If, finally making contact with an aufiologist, you have any reservations, try another one. I live in Canberra and my firsat Audiologist lived in Sydney – 200 miles away. Each appointment involved a train journey and overnight in Sydney. Now there are good audiologists here. But I consider travelling 200 miles to get to a good audiologist as one of the soundest decisions I ever made.

Response:

Hi Everyone, I’m new to this group and looking to get my first set of HA’s.  I’ve been using Songbird’s for a while as a stopgap but Songbird’s demise has kind of forced my hand.  After reading some posts here it is has become apparent that the Audiologist (or dispenser) is key to the HA acquisition process. My brother, in another state, has been wearing HA’s for years and does not have many kind words about these professionals.  I’m kind of puzzled why answers to requests for Audiologist recomendations in this forum have been largely unresponsive to the question.  I participate in other groups, computer and trumpet forums where these type of questions get enthusiastic responses.  But I will ask anyway if anyone can recommend an Audiologist or dispenser in central New Jersey. I am only asking for your experience and I understand that mileage may vary.  Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Rich

Response:

Help with a difficult situation.

Question:

You don’t mention the most important factor – the aqe of the lady with the problem. As I indicated in another post today, learning to benefit from  hearing aids is hard work. A member of this group who became deaf when young expressed admiration for those who had to learn to use hearing aids at an advanced age – usually over 50 and often even later. That would be 95% of hearing-aid wearers. Because the young brain is adaptable. Take a child to France and it will be fluent in French in no time. For someone 70 or 80 it is hard work. For someone 90+ – forget it! I suppose that, from the brain’s perspective, learning to process the new data provided by hearing aids is roughly equivalent to learing a new language. This may give you some perspective on the problem the lady’s brain is confronted with.

Response:

The lady is 90 yeas old.  I guess that I thought the description of characteristics was enough and I was trying to avoid age stereotypes. <kkerri…@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message

news:1111567033.659010.48590@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You don’t mention the most important factor – the aqe of the lady with > the problem. As I indicated in another post today, learning to benefit > from  hearing aids is hard work. A member of this group who became deaf > when young expressed admiration for those who had to learn to use > hearing aids at an advanced age – usually over 50 and often even later. > That would be 95% of hearing-aid wearers. > Because the young brain is adaptable. Take a child to France and it > will be fluent in French in no time. For someone 70 or 80 it is hard > work. For someone 90+ – forget it! > I suppose that, from the brain’s perspective, learning to process the > new data provided by hearing aids is roughly equivalent to learing a > new language. > This may give you some perspective on the problem the lady’s brain is > confronted with.

Response:

My mother turned 96 a few days ago and it has proved hopelss for her to learn how to use a hearing aid despite expert help from carers and support from family. In retrospect, I should have started using hearing aids myself at least five years earlier than I did – this would have made the adjustment process much easier because deterioration of mental processes proceeds on an ever-steepening downward curve. Nothing about stereotypes – just the ravages of Father time to which we are all subject.

Response:

I would recommend America Hears.  Firstly because the cost seems substantially less. Second, if someone, like yourself who is somewhat computer literate,can help tweak the hearing aids, she won’t raise the frustration level of the audiologist.  Third, My hearing aids arrived adjusted much better than the ones I got from the VA, after 3 trips for adjustments.  Fourth, communication with them can be via e-mail as well as via phone.  I find this feature more than acceptable.  You have 60 days to decide if they are for you. I have something like tv ears – they are great.  However, my hearing has improved with my aids, where I do not use them much anymore. Good luck, Jim "JLM" <jlGARB…@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:kv2dnct6re0LxN3fRVn-gA@comcast.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I  have a family member who needs help with hearing, but I am not sure the >right direction to guide her in. > The Audiogram: > Frequency / Hearing Level in Decibels (db) > Left: 250/65, 500/55, 1k/60, 2k/70, 4k/90, 8k/100 > Right: 250/60, 500/55, 1k/65, 2k/65, 4k/95, 8k/105 > Things are also complicated for a number of reasons. > She has limited dexterity. Handling small things and pressing small > buttons probably won’t work that well. > Communicating is quite difficult. Even when you are close and loud it’s > difficult. I often think she hears the words, but doesn’t understand the > concepts. > Her ability to learn new things is limited. Short term memory is poor. She > often doesn’t remember what she told you 10 minutes ago and tells you > again. > As much as she would benefit from a properly fitted hearing aid, it is > hard to imagine how she could communicate with a fitter well enough for > this to happen. > I have been pushing for her to use the FM ALD with her own headphones at > church. > We are also going to try out TV ears. > To make matters worse she is also loosing her vision. > Any ideas on how to help her would be greatly appreciated.   If you thing > a good fitter/audiologist is the right answer recommendations within a > reasonable distance from Westford Mass. would be helpful. > Thanks You

Response:

I  have a family member who needs help with hearing, but I am not sure the right direction to guide her in. The Audiogram: Frequency / Hearing Level in Decibels (db) Left: 250/65, 500/55, 1k/60, 2k/70, 4k/90, 8k/100 Right: 250/60, 500/55, 1k/65, 2k/65, 4k/95, 8k/105 Things are also complicated for a number of reasons. She has limited dexterity. Handling small things and pressing small buttons probably won’t work that well. Communicating is quite difficult. Even when you are close and loud it’s difficult. I often think she hears the words, but doesn’t understand the concepts. Her ability to learn new things is limited. Short term memory is poor. She often doesn’t remember what she told you 10 minutes ago and tells you again. As much as she would benefit from a properly fitted hearing aid, it is hard to imagine how she could communicate with a fitter well enough for this to happen. I have been pushing for her to use the FM ALD with her own headphones at church. We are also going to try out TV ears. To make matters worse she is also loosing her vision. Any ideas on how to help her would be greatly appreciated.   If you thing a good fitter/audiologist is the right answer recommendations within a reasonable distance from Westford Mass. would be helpful. Thanks You

Response:

digital pianos

Question:

Hi!  I’m new to this group, but have a question.  Our church has recently purchased a digital piano, which is causing severe migraines. These migraines are occuring on Sunday afternoon only, so I know they are coming from the extremely loud music of this piano.  Does anyone in this group have this problem?  I guess because I am deaf in my left ear & have only 20% hearing in my right ear I have sound sensitivity.  I’m looking forward to hearing from anyone with this problem.  By the way, the regular piano we had for 30 years never bothered me.  Sincerely, kristy_oc…@hotmail.com

Response:

"kristy_oc…@hotmail.com" <kristy_oc…@hotmail.com> wrote in message <news:1111075696.777135.265980@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>… > Hi!  I’m new to this group, but have a question.  Our church has > recently purchased a digital piano which is causing severe migraines. > These migraines are occuring on Sunday afternoon only, so I know they > are coming from the extremely loud music of this piano.  Does anyone in > this group have this problem?  I guess because I am deaf in my left ear > & have only 20% hearing in my right ear I have sound sensitivity.  I’m > looking forward to hearing from anyone with this problem.  By the way, > the regular piano we had for 30 years never bothered me.  Sincerely, > kristy_oc…@hotmail.com

Do you have hearing aids and are they on during the sermon / music portions of the service? I have noticed some people experience migraines due to stressfull situations. Could your stess come from the fact that your church replaced a piano with a "digital keyboard"  and now you are forced to sit through a sermon with electronic music as opposed to a beautifull piano. Rant off. Hope you find a solution to your problem. Jim

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I don’t get headaches from it,  but I have problems with digital vs. acoustic pianos.   My acoustic piano drives my hearing aids into mild feedback for A-440, A-880, and A-1760.   My digital doesn’t cause any problems.   When I was trialing the ResoundAIR 60s things were even worse. Almost everything from middle-C up caused feedback.  In that case it wasn’t so obviously squeaking,  but made the piano sound very harsh.  Again the digital was fine with that aid. <kristy_oc…@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:1111075696.777135.265980@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi!  I’m new to this group, but have a question.  Our church has > recently purchased a digital piano, which is causing severe migraines. > These migraines are occuring on Sunday afternoon only, so I know they > are coming from the extremely loud music of this piano.  Does anyone in > this group have this problem?  I guess because I am deaf in my left ear > & have only 20% hearing in my right ear I have sound sensitivity.  I’m > looking forward to hearing from anyone with this problem.  By the way, > the regular piano we had for 30 years never bothered me.  Sincerely, > kristy_oc…@hotmail.com

Response:

From James Holly's Husband

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, First I want to think everyone here for all of there good wishes and thoughs. Also a special thank you to all of the kittys that are purring there hearts out for her. Holly knows nothing about what I am asking her and I will not read her this post in order to keep her from getting upset she is a worry wart of sorts. I went home last night to feed the kitties, Hollys dear baby Pheniox would not eat, When I ran home this morning she has still not eaten, I know when Pheniox was little and sick Holly use to spoon feed her. I really don’t think that Pheniox is sick, Do you think that she could just be missing Holly? CatNipped suggested give Pheniox some baby food. Does any one else have any other suggestions for getting her to accept her dinner? Holly generally only gives them dry food for treats and snacks and such but I did leave a whole bowl out for her this morning in hopes that she will eat it. Thanks again for everyones kindness to my wife and me. James

Absolutely she could be missing Holly. Baby food (I find Turkey is most appealing) is good, and I would go by the vets and ask to buy a can of a/d. Most cats just LOVE that and it is very high calorie so even if they eat just a bit of it, it will keep them going. Try to give her some extra attention, if possible. If she won’t eat the food on her own, you could even put it on her paws, but I find that putting a dab on the tip of her nose where she is force to lick it off will often kick start them, even if they *think* they don’t want to eat. I would even consider recording Holly’s voice to play for her while you give her attention. I know she is partially deaf but for a cat that still gives them a bit of hearing. Hope you find something to do the trick. Oh, another thought is to go through the dirty laundry and maybe find some tshirts or something to put wherever Pheniox sleeps so that Holly’s smell is around. That might also calm her down a bit. Please keep us posted. We will do whatever we can to help. Karen

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Some hospitals allow pet visits because they are good for the patient. It doesn’t hurt to ask anyway. See http://www.thenewsherald.com/stories/060604/lif_20040606080.shtml and here is a hospital that has it right in their visitors rules: http://mercygrayling.munsonhealthcare.org/locations/mh_grayling/patie… So it’s worth asking about. I’m sure Pheniox is very confused. Hang in there. Karen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank you Karen, I stayed her with Holly last night but when I went home this morning Pheniox has moved her sleeping quarters to inside Holly’s pillow case, I considered sneaking her up her to the hospital but I am afraid if I got caught they would not let me come back and I don’t want to risk that.

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Thank you Karen, I stayed her with Holly last night but when I went home this morning Pheniox has moved her sleeping quarters to inside Holly’s pillow case, I considered sneaking her up her to the hospital but I am afraid if I got caught they would not let me come back and I don’t want to risk that.

James, you might want to ask someone at the hospital if you can get permission to bring Pheniox up there.  Hospitals are much more lenient about that then they used to be – realizing that seeing a furry friend can be a great help in a patient’s recuperation. Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, First I want to think everyone here for all of there good wishes and thoughs. Also a special thank you to all of the kittys that are purring there hearts out for her. Holly knows nothing about what I am asking her and I will not read her this post in order to keep her from getting upset she is a worry wart of sorts. I went home last night to feed the kitties, Hollys dear baby Pheniox would not eat, When I ran home this morning she has still not eaten, I know when Pheniox was little and sick Holly use to spoon feed her. I really don’t think that Pheniox is sick, Do you think that she could just be missing Holly? CatNipped suggested give Pheniox some baby food. Does any one else have any other suggestions for getting her to accept her dinner? Holly generally only gives them dry food for treats and snacks and such but I did leave a whole bowl out for her this morning in hopes that she will eat it. Thanks again for everyones kindness to my wife and me. James

James, I realize you have a lot to think about right now, but if Pheniox persists in not eating, sometimes cooked chicken cut up in small bites can tempt a cat to eat.  I fed cooked chicken to my cat last spring when she was ill, less than 24 hours before she was due to be put to sleep. She was very weak at that point, but she was able to eat and enjoy a few bites of chicken, nonetheless.  Pheniox is still in much better health than that, and you might try that.  I think it’s entirely possible that she’s missing Holly and possibly worried about her.  I’m convinced that cats do pick up on human emotions, even if they don’t understand the REASONS for those emotions. Last weekend before Holly’s surgery, Pheniox probably realized that her human mom was anxious, never mind why, and then Mom went AWAY and hasn’t yet come back.  For all Pheniox knows, Holly might have been attacked by a predator, or something.  Put out a sweater, or a shirt of Holly’s for her to snuggle with, and I’ll bet that will help reassure Pheniox.  You might feel silly talking to a cat, but stroke Pheniox and tell her that Holly will be home soon, and keep repeating the message. Melissa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

That will be so cool!  Holly will be thrilled  (Make sure the surgeon informs the nursing staff; they might not be expecting a cat visit.) Jill

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

YAY!  That’s way kewl – I’m so glad they’re being understanding!! Hugs, CatNipped

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

Yea and happy dances for both Phenoix and Holly. What a really special surprise this is going to be for her! Tell her doctor that she is a special person and well thought of by a lot of cat lovers. Julie, Hobbes, Selena, Lacey, Sam and Barnabus

Response:

Hi James: Chicken baby food, tuna water with a little bit of tuna, sardines, all the stinky foods are good for getting cats to eat.  I am glad that you get to take her to visit Holly in the hospital – that will cheer them both up a lot. I know that you’re at the hospital and all so it would be hard to do, but I think that knowing whether or not she’s drinking ok and whether she’s having difficulty in the litterbox would be good.  If she doesn’t start eating, I might be tempted to take her to the vet’s office ($$) just to make sure she’s a-ok. Take good care and we are sending good thoughts to all of you! Susan M Otis and Chester

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, First I want to think everyone here for all of there good wishes and thoughs. Also a special thank you to all of the kittys that are purring there hearts out for her. Holly knows nothing about what I am asking her and I will not read her this post in order to keep her from getting upset she is a worry wart of sorts. I went home last night to feed the kitties, Hollys dear baby Pheniox would not eat, When I ran home this morning she has still not eaten, I know when Pheniox was little and sick Holly use to spoon feed her. I really don’t think that Pheniox is sick, Do you think that she could just be missing Holly? CatNipped suggested give Pheniox some baby food. Does any one else have any other suggestions for getting her to accept her dinner? Holly generally only gives them dry food for treats and snacks and such but I did leave a whole bowl out for her this morning in hopes that she will eat it. Thanks again for everyones kindness to my wife and me. James

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

Kewl!!!!

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit. YAY!  That’s way kewl – I’m so glad they’re being understanding!! Hugs, CatNipped

Just be sure they have straight which day is for the cat and CAT scan.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, First I want to think everyone here for all of there good wishes and thoughs. Also a special thank you to all of the kittys that are purring there hearts out for her. Holly knows nothing about what I am asking her and I will not read her this post in order to keep her from getting upset she is a worry wart of sorts. I went home last night to feed the kitties, Hollys dear baby Pheniox would not eat, When I ran home this morning she has still not eaten, I know when Pheniox was little and sick Holly use to spoon feed her. I really don’t think that Pheniox is sick, Do you think that she could just be missing Holly? CatNipped suggested give Pheniox some baby food. Does any one else have any other suggestions for getting her to accept her dinner? Holly generally only gives them dry food for treats and snacks and such but I did leave a whole bowl out for her this morning in hopes that she will eat it. Thanks again for everyones kindness to my wife and me. James

I’d bet on Pheniox missing Holly..  And she is likely picking up on your stress level too.  My last ditch get a cat or dog to eat something treat is strained lamb baby food.  If you can’t find that just don’t give her pork or ham.  Chicken of beef should be ok.  And I spoon feed it off the tip of a small spoon.  If she’s healthy usually a few bites will kick her appetite into gear. Can you take an old tshirt or something like that to Holly and let her sleep with it for a day and then bring it home to the cat?  Might help. Charlie had to leave for six months once when our Sam was about three years old.  The cat refused to have anything to do with me for the whole time.  He would come in to eat and drink, but otherwise spent the entire time in the walnut orchard next door or sulking. Jo

Response:

Hello all, First I want to think everyone here for all of there good wishes and thoughs. Also a special thank you to all of the kittys that are purring there hearts out for her. Holly knows nothing about what I am asking her and I will not read her this post in order to keep her from getting upset she is a worry wart of sorts. I went home last night to feed the kitties, Hollys dear baby Pheniox would not eat, When I ran home this morning she has still not eaten, I know when Pheniox was little and sick Holly use to spoon feed her. I really don’t think that Pheniox is sick, Do you think that she could just be missing Holly?

Absolutely. CatNipped suggested give Pheniox some baby food. Does any one else have any other suggestions for getting her to accept her dinner? Holly generally only gives them dry food for treats and snacks and such but I did leave a whole bowl out for her this morning in hopes that she will eat it. Thanks again for everyones kindness to my wife and me. James

Try some soft treats – the kind WalMart sells in wee bags for under a dollar. Not as the entire meal, of course, but to get Phoenix started.

Response:

Sounds like Pheniox is depressed and missing Holly. HRFL Tiger did exactly this when I left him in the USA with my folks. Try some Kentucky Fried chicken ripped into tiny shredded pieces. Never fails to work. ) Purrs and scritches to you and the furry crew, and love to Holly. Helen M

Response:

Thanks again for everyones kindness to my wife and me. James

Try tuna. Harri Roadcat loves tuna – regular tuna packed in water. But what’s funny is that the best part is the tuna water. When you drain the tuna, drain the water into a bowl instead of down the drain and give kitty the tuna water first. Harri loves the stuff. But baby food is also a good idea. The kitties I’ve tried it with have loved it. You might also pick up a small bag of kitten kibble. My big kitties think kitten kibble is the best thing ever. And as a final suggestion, if you feed your kitty some sort of premium food, pick up a small bag of low-end stuff. My babies go for Meow Mix. It might not be the best for them in terms of nutritive composition, but they love the taste. Dan

Response:

… CatNipped suggested give Pheniox some baby food. Does any one else have any other suggestions for getting her to accept her dinner? … James

Hugs and healing thoughts for all of you. About the baby food, be sure that it does not have onion in it.  Onions can cause a serious anemia in cats. Annie

Response:

… I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

If you are sure the doctor will authorize the visit, I think you should tell Holly.  It will give her something very positive to think about and look forward to.  Or, you could tell her you will see if you can arrange it, but not promise any results, and then just bring the cat in when you can. Annie

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

That’s wonderful news, James. I’m sure it will do Holly a world of good. Re Pheniox not eating, my Frank is like that if I go away. He will not eat for a few days, but then he usually stops moping and starts eating again. But if it continues for longer than a few days, it might affect her digestive system. — Marina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki

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I missed this thread today as I was out to lunch with my Daughter, but I’m thrilled for Holly, I know I missed Henri heaps when I was in  Hospital my son brought the dog, to the window but didn’t think he could bring the cat as we didn’t have a carrier, and Henri may have panicked and jumped from his arms, but oh how I would have loved to see him, it would have perked me up no end. have a lovely visit Pheonix.                Jean.P.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit. Yea and happy dances for both Phenoix and Holly. What a really special surprise this is going to be for her! Tell her doctor that she is a special person and well thought of by a lot of cat lovers. Julie, Hobbes, Selena, Lacey, Sam and Barnabus

Response:

What a great doctor! I’m sure Pheniox is just missing Holly a lot. Purrs and best wishes, — Polonca & Soncek

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

Response:

Hi I spoke with the neurosurgen and she does not see a problem with Pheniox coming to visit, but wants me to wait until later in the week to do so. I plan not to tell Holly and surprise her when its time for Pheniox to come for a visit.

That’s wonderful, James.  I don’t know if I’d surprise her, maybe let her know that you’re looking into it, then bring Pheniox in to visit. You’re doing for both Pheniox and Holly, how about you?  This has probably been the wildest emotional roller coaster ride you’ve been on since she was first diagnosed with cancer.  How are you doing?  Are you getting enough sleep, taking care to give yourself some emotional space when you need it, and doing something that relaxes you?  I cross stitched and read a lot, I also got reacquainted with the TV set. As Holly’s care giver, she is your main concern, but make sure there’s some "me" time for you too. Pam S. BTDT

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