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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Cochlear Implant is a Cyborg-enhanced hearing aid for the Deaf.

I want to share with you all about my view on cochlear implant as like in the science fiction "Star Trek" series and movies. "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.” (You will be absorb into other new culture. Ability to resist the new influence is completely ineffective) is a famous quote from the Star Trek Borgs who changed its aliens into their culture and under the control of the Borg Queen. It made me wonder if the deaf culture is now become the new definition of the deaf culture as the deaf cyborg culture since the cochlear implant is now inserting into the human being and enhancing their hearing abilities.

I found the interesting article about the cyborgization in the humans. I just copied from the Wikipedia (Cyborg). Here is the article: There are two important and different types of cyborgs in medicine: these are the restorative and the enhanced. Restorative technologies “restore lost function, organs, and limbs” The key aspect of restorative cyborgization is the repair of broken or missing processes to revert to a healthy or average level of function. There is no enhancement to the original faculties and processes that were lost.

On the contrary, the enhanced cyborg “follows a principle, and it is the principle of optimal performance: maximising output (the information or modifications obtained) and minimising input (the energy expended in the process) ”. Thus, the enhanced cyborg intends to exceed normal processes or even gain new functions that were not originally present. Although prostheses in general supplement lost or damaged body parts with the integration of a mechanical artifice, bionic implants in medicine allow model organs or body parts to mimic the original function more closely.

Michael Chorost wrote a memoir of his experience with cochlear implants, or bionic ear, titled "Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human” (Houghton Mifflin, 2005) is a scientific memoir of going deaf and getting my hearing back with a cochlear implant, that is, a computer embedded in my skull. Science fiction writers and filmmakers have speculated about cyborgs (human-computer fusions) for decades, but in his book, he reveal what it’s really like to have part of one’s body controlled by a computer.

Jesse Sullivan became one of the first people to operate a fully robotic
limb through a nerve-muscle graft, enabling him a complex range of motions beyond that of previous prosthetics.By 2004, a fully functioning artificial heart was developed. The continued technological development of bionic and nanotechnologies begins to raise the question of enhancement, and of the future possibilities for cyborgs which surpass the original functionality of the biological model.

The above source is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyborg

You may check my video in ASL at my YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoahuhQFgD4

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Forgiveness Is An Attribute of the Strong

Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong ~ his famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948).
He was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement. He was the pioneer of peaceful resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon total non-violence which led India to independence and has inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi is commonly known around the world as Mahatma Gandhi, ("Great Soul" and also known as Bapu or "Father"). He is officially honored in India as the Father of the Nation; his birthday,October 2, is commemorated there as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday for India, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence. (from the source: Wikipedia)

So I may like to ask you all, two interesting questions, “How can we keep negative thoughts and feeling from taking hold of our minds and hearts?” and “How can we stop bringing up grudges and perceived slights?” How do we do it? Simply by forgiveness and that’s all it takes and it is the best solution for all humankind in my own personal opinion.

We all do take our inventory of our inner self by asking ourselves if we are holding any resentment toward any person at the end of each day. We ask ourselves again if we are holding resentment toward any person. If we do, we send this person forgiveness through our love. Remember love conquers all! If we do this even though we think the other person is at fault. We do release our anger, resentment and frustration through forgiveness. We also free ourselves from the most powerful invisible forces of negativity. If we have any difficulty forgiving someone, we have to stop and think harder for our inner self to seek any help from within and thoughtfulness. We seek to understand, forgive and forget. Remember that we are all human and it’s the human nature to make mistakes. We need to extend the same generous force of forgiveness that we would simply ask for ourselves.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Food for Thoughts: today I will stop wearing myself out rehashing the past and embrace the Now!

Hello to all!
I just wanted to give you all my excellent statement for the past grudges against deaf people. I wanted you to ask yourself some questions, " Are we having difficulty in letting go of old hurts from the past grudges? Do we constantly bring up old wounds, injuries and insults suffered long ago? When we disagree with someone on certain subjects, do we have to badger them until the day they finally agree with us? Do we? Are we getting grounchy, peevish and nagging until we get our way?
If so, we would do ourselves a favor by freely letting go of these resentments and character defects. Otherwise they will eat away at us until we have no room left for wonderful positive thoughts. Making a list of everyone we resent or cannot control and then mentally forgiving them is a therapeutic exercise. Accepting that we cannot always have our way opens us up to new experiences. We need to learn respect by taking the time to listen to someone else's viewpoints. Recovery helps us to outgrow the childish need to control everything. When we loosen our grip and relax, we free ourselves to really enjoy life while we can! In fact it will helps!
Take care in peace!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Possible Prevention of Swine Flu

(Please note that Swine flu can cause serious illness. If you suspect you have swine flu or you have been diagnosed with swine flu, you should follow the advice of your physician. The alternative remedies discussed in this articles below are simply meant to complement conventional treatment.)

Hello to all the deaf readers!! I am known as DJDeafJoey from Deaf Video TV as you have seen my video about anything else including health benefits. I have done my researches on the holistic, organic and various herbal remedies and its benefits from other sources such as the internet, books and also words from my dear friend, ever since I became 50 years old in 2003. So I decide to write this notes about the holstic and healthy way to prevent the possible swine flu or any other kind of influenza types. By the way, Swine flu viruses do not infect humans, however, recent human infections have been diagnosed in the United States and abroad this recent month from Mexico, the suspected point of origin. There are 2 out of the 4 anti-viral drugs used to treat influenza viruses that have been effective in treating this new strain of swine flu. Herbal remedies, although they can not cure the flu, can stimulate the immune system to better combat the effects of the flu while relieving symptoms and speeding recovery. There are a handful of herbs that are well known for their anti-viral and immune-boosting properties.

Echinacea is considered by many to be the best overall herbal remedy against viruses. By helping to destroy the virus and boost the immune system, it allows your body to effectively eliminate the virus in a shorter time span, resulting in less severe symptoms and decreased rate of complications and/or secondary infections. Echinacea works best as a preventative measure and with the possibility of a swine flu pandemic, it may be a good idea to stock up on this herbal remedy.

In a possible pandemic swine flu scenario, there are likely to be shortages of Tamiflu and Relenza, the 2 anti-viral medications that have been proven to be effective in treating the swine flu. Treatment with herbal remedies may become a necessity if the swine flu does in fact emerge into a pandemic. Black elderberry extract has shown promising results in treating influenza viruses. A small study published years ago showed that 93% of flu patients given Sambucol, a black elderberry extract available at health food stores, were entirely symptom-free within 2 days while those taking a placebo took an average of 6 days to recover. In folk medicine, flowers from the black elder bush were used to calm symptoms associated with colds, flu and sinus problems. Unlike Echinacea, Elderberry is not affective at preventing flu and will only aid in treating the flu symptoms in infected individuals.

While the world anxiously waits to see which directions this swine flu will take, it is never too soon to begin preventative measures. Increase your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to boost antioxidant intake. Get plenty of rest to improve internal healing systems and engage in aerobic exercise which will strengthen respiratory function. Stop by your local health food store and pick up a few bottles of Sambucol and Echinacea. It’s better to have these items on hand should the need arise to use them.

Protect yourself against swine flu and the impact of its symptoms with alternative approaches. Along with the recommended precautions, such as staying out of crowds as much as possible, washing your hands often, staying home if you are feeling ill, there are natural remedies you can try.

Boost your immune systemOne of the best ways to protect yourself against swine flu is to maintain a healthy immune system.

Here are a few suggestions:

Probiotics: A healthy immune system depends on a nutritious diet and a digestive system that functions well. Probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, play a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the health of the intestinal tract, which is directly associated with immune system health. A suggested dose of probiotics is 5 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) with each meal. The probiotic supplement should contain at least five different species of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and B. bifidum.

Echinacea: Some experts say this herb can stimulate the immune system. A recent Canadian study found that Echinacea promoted the activity of key factors in the immune system, including macrophages. Suggested dose is 15 drops of Echinacea extract added to herbal tea as a preventive measure. If you begin to experience flu symptoms, take 300 mg of Echinacea three times daily until symptoms disappear.

Garlic: Research shows that garlic stimulates the infection-fighting white cells and enhances antibody production. Garlic also is an antioxidant. These benefits are usually credited to garlic’s sulfur-containing compounds, sulfides and allicin. A suggested dose is 250 mg twice daily of a supplement containing extract of allium sativum standardized to 0.6 percent allicin.• Zinc: This mineral increases the production of disease-fighting white cells and also helps these cells release more antibodies. A recommended daily dose is 15 to 25 mg. Fight flu symptoms if symptoms have already taken hold, here are some natural treatments.

• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum): An infusion may relieve fever, clear congestion, and ease aches. Simmer 1 cup boiling water with 2 teaspoons of dried boneset for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink one cup several times a day.

• Ginger: Ginger has antiviral properties, and when you use it as a tea, it also helps break up mucus and congestion. To make the tea, boil 2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger in 16 ounces of water for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and steep for 10 minutes. Drink several cups per day as needed.

• Tea tree oil: To relieve congestion and disinfect dry air passages, add 10 drops of tea tree oil to a bowl of hot water or vaporizer and place it next to your bed overnight.

• Sage tea: Gargle several times daily with sage tea to disinfect your mouth.

You can find the natural remedies mentioned in this article at many natural food stores, grocery stores, and pharmacies that offer those types of holistic foods. I usually purchase the organic foods from my local Whole Foods and Mother Kitchens groceries only in Orange County, CA. You may also even place your herbal remedies from the internet, I always use the most reliable internet store called VitaCost.

Have a safe and great weekend! Take care in peace!