Netflix's response

Dear DC,

Rest assured, we are committed to assisting all of our customers. While our instant viewing content does not currently support closed captioning, we are looking to include this feature in future versions.

Please keep in mind that the Instant View functionality is an added benefit to a paid DVD rental subscription plan that is free because we understand that not everyone will enjoy it or be able to access it.

Please be assured that we do value your feedback. I have forwarded it to the appropriate department for review.

If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to contact customer service. Representatives can be reached at 1-888-638-3549 and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sincerely,

Elena Mukhin
Netflix, Inc.

I wonder how many times that email I recieved from netflix has been sent to us deafies??? Doesn't exactly reassure me anything will change anytime soon. But I will keep this for my records and see if anything else comes along? I also got a reply back from Hulu and even their response was better than netflix.

Hi DC,
Hulu offers closed captioning on a portion of its catalog, but we know the coverage could be better. The closed-captioning data that's used for broadcast TV isn't easily translated for online use, so we're investigating alternative solutions to boost our closed-captioning library. Expanding our library of closed captioned content is on of our high priority goals. Thanks for watching,
Ben
Hulu

Dear Netflix....

I am so sick of netflix this humongous corporation that has the monetary means to provide closed captioning for all of their consumers including us deafies when watching online videos. Slowly network stations such as ABC, NBC... etc., etc are offering this option and I am over the moon with Hulu.com with their willingness to caption programs (not all, but I hope that will change in the near future.)

So I went to netflix and tried to find a way to contact them by email to no avail. I decided, the hell with this, I am contacting public relations and they can take care of this or forward to the appropriate person. But I wasn't kidding, I may seriously sue them.

This is my letter to netflixs PR;

To whom it may concern.
I have been a member of netflix for the past several years and I am deaf. I was not able to find a way to speak to a company rep other than this form as I am deaf and making phone calls are difficult.
I am writing to request that netflix start offering closed caption options when viewing instantly online. Hulu.com offers this and they are a smaller company than Netflix so I know that $$ isn't the issue. I have seriously considered hiring an attorney to sue netflix for discrimination under the ADA law under Title IV - telecommunication standards, including relay services for people with hearing and speech disabilities and closed captioning.
There is NO reason why netflix doesn't provide this option to use deaf consumers. If I have contacted the wrong dept or person, pls fwd to your legal dept.
I appreciate your time in regards to this matter

Now if you are reading this, take a minute to email them too by going here. The more we email them and SPEAK UP, the less our equal rights will fall on deaf corporate ears!

Baba said it right

As well all know, no one can make us happy. But some people can sure make us UNhappy. I don't feel like going into details as to why I wrote that. Let's just say it casted a dark cloud over my weekend because it happened at the beginning of it. I have managed to shake most of it off, and I'm just glad tmw is Monday for a change. Work always makes me feel better because I can lose myself and not mull over whatever it is that's bothering me.

In other news, I managed to score pretty good at my most recent visit to Goodwill. 4 pairs of work pants, pah. None have to be dry clean. A penny saved a penny earned.

I had another subject come yesterday. I really liked this one. Her background was so unusual and we hit it off like old friends. An artist and has her own studio too. Invited me to come by sometime. I may just take her up on her offer.

I was also able to find a guest photographer for next's month DPHH. His name is Steve and he and I worked together for MICA last june. A real sweetheart. You can see his work here. Anyhoo I accepted a 2 day gig for media that same weekend as DPHH and the $ is too good to turn down.

Tonight I am assessing video hmks. I have decided to email my students their hmk grades and feedback rather than type up individual papers, print them out, etc., etc.. Being a teacher its cool to see how your technique for teaching changes as time marches forward. I LOVE my job!

Finally a breath of fresh air

Today I went ahead and posted an ad on Craigslist for my thesis. I am a little worried, so far only 1 participant and I need 20! I am glad to report I do have a confirmation for a 2nd one next Saturday. But anyways I have always liked Craigslist but felt limited to it so after I posted earlier today I went to check my inbox and got an email from Mike at iList. Boy, do I like this new site simply because its nice to have options for a change. I am not interested in the networking part with the Facebook and yadda yadda yadda but I really dig the layout of it and the LOOK of it. Its fun, upbeat. I also skimmed thru the blog and you can tell its grassrooted effort and I admire that a lot. You have to have preserverance if you want to make it right? Anyways when time permits, check it iList you'll be glad you did.

The white man's prices

My uncle David was telling me over the weekend that he had read or is reading the book by Obama "Dreams From My Father" where he was visiting I think Africa and when he went to buy something, the man tried to charge him more than he would've the locals or another words a white man's prices. Perhaps Obama isn't considered Black enough just like the American Jews are often considered by Israelis not to be Jewish enough. Ironically yesterday I was walking home and saw a cute winter hat that I think Baba and Jack would've approve of. When I inquired how much it would cost, the man replied $15.00. I was like huh? First of all this is Harlem, where hats are usually 5 bucks. Granted the man wanted me to buy the set of hat and scarf (the scarf was so wimpy and probably from the dollar store). I shouldn't have been asked to pay more than $7 or $8 bucks so I walked. I figured they think I am lost or a tourist. Not someone who lives only a few blocks away. How I wish I could do a sociology experiment where someone of color had went to the same stand and inquired about that hat. How much they would've wanted to charge them. You know how I know I was being charged a white person's prices? Because when I told the guy flat out it was a rip off he asked his partner about the price and his partner gave me a look over in which he thought I had "sucker" written on my forehead. No siree, not this chick. Let them scam someone else.

Anyhoo, I had a wonderful visit with my family. They arrived at 6pm, poor them, they got stuck in traffic on a Friday night. But I was glad they made it okay. We went out to Zoma's for Ethopian and met up with Eddie and Blondie. The food wasn't so bad this time around. I pretty much liked the beef the best. Its funny how as I get older my taste buds have expanded. I mean in my early 20s if it wasn't American, Chinese or Italian (Pizza really) I wouldn't eat it. But then I incorporated Thai in my mid 20s. Then in my late 20s I started to like Vietnamese food because one of my clients was from Vietnam and used to make me delicious Vietnamese food. Then when I moved to NYC, Blondie got me to like Indian food. Now I can add Ethopian to my list :)

Saturday we had planned to go to the Science museum in Queens but the damn 7 train wasn't working and the bus to Flushing, Queen would've taken too long. We quickly scrambled for an alternative course of action and decided to go to Fao Schwartz toy store. I got a snowman puzzle that is actually globe like structure. After that we went to the Folk Art Museum where Nancy could check out the quilts (she's a hardcore quilter herself). Bobby did not want to go. Apparently when he was younger as a punishment, Nancy would drag him to a fabric store and he's since been scarred. Luckily there was a 4 floor Barnes and Nobles nearby. Later that night we went back home and they had brought steaks to make for dinner. David cooked the steaks up and it was sooooo good. I felt spoiled!

Yesterday I was not able to accompany them to the Bronx Zoo because I had 2 subjects coming in for my thesis research at TC. I got to TC with only minutes to spare and realized I had left home my mini dv for the video camera. I started to freak! Then I remembered one of the computer labs here have Imacs which have Isights (built in webcams) and I used quicktime for the recording. My first subject was a real sweetheart from NYU. She had no problem with the experiment and I was thrilled it worked as I had planned. Its always the 1st subject thats nerve wrecking because you don't know how well it will go but it went fine. My 2nd subject, a guy who ironically only lives 2 blocks away came but he did not qualify for my research as he had only been learning ASL for 2 weeks. I came home and was surprised to find Bobby on the couch playing a video game on a psp. It turns out that Nancy got back too late from Church to be able to go to the Zoo as it closed at 4:30pm (probably due to the fact it gets dark earlier this time of year). I asked if he was disappointed and he said yes but he didn't seem like it. I really enjoyed having them with me for the weekend. They are so easy-going and just roll with the punches. They seem just as happy to hang around and read or watch movies or use the laptop.

Now they are probably on the road back home as I type this. The apt tonight will seem empty without them there. Thank you guys for coming to visit me, you're welcome back any time!

Need Health Insurance?

Found a good article today in CNN about health care coverage and what to do. But this link is the best because it helps you find free/low-income clinics according to your zip code. So the next time you're sick or hurt yourself and are like me with NO insurance, you have options!

Couldn't sleep last night, I am too excited about my family coming to visit. When I got home last night I immediately went to work on the apt. The only thing I have left to do is laundry and putting a few things away and viola, done!

Thesis on the brain!

Today is a BEAUTIFUL spring like day outside, I woke up feeling a 100 times better than I have in weeks. The sun, the warm air, oh I am ready for the warmer weather. I sure hope it will last through the weekend?

In 2 days my Uncle David, Nancy and Bobby will be here in town. I've already made plans to go to Zoma's Ethopian restuarant on Friday night. Blondie, Eddie and maybe Szymanski will join us, see see. I am giving ethopian food another go, but honestly I am not expecting much, I figured if I don't like it, I will just eat something when I get home. I want my family to have a good time.

Well my thesis is coming along nicely. I have 3 people coming out on Sunday and I recently finished my "consent" form. I also booked the camera and tripod. The only thing I have left to do is prepare the questionnaire for the project. I also contacted like 5 different people at 5 different locations where there are ASL classes and asked them to let their students know about this. The sooner I get them filmed, the sooner I can assess the footage! I feel really good today, I did a kick-ass lesson plan. I worked at media, I got a lot done for my thesis and I just feel so much better.

Not much else is new, life is the same old. Valentines day is right around the corner but it doesn't feel like it with Jack being away. I did make him a cool craft project that he will like, I don't want to mail it because I am afraid it would get squashed. Best to leave it at home till he returns in June sometime.

Pop-Up Art

Lately I've been on a paper art kick. This weekend, the girls and I will try our hand at pop-up art. I came across a cool site by artist Robert Sabuda that gives you the steps in order to make your own pop-up art. My grandmother, Baba, she has on of his pop-up books, Alice in Wonderland. I've always been a fan of pop-up and flip books. I made 1 or 2 flip books back when I worked at MSD-CC.

Missing my Jack Rabbit

Lately I have been really missing Jack. Its been hard being apart, all the emails help some but its not the same. I can't hug or kiss his words. I can't snuggle up next to him when I am cold. Hurry up June!!!