Aug. 30, 2004--donations accepted

Hello kittens. Some good news. I got my own hosting, heart-stricken.net and kieben.com this weekend.
http://www.kieben.com is my new permanent home. Please change your links and bookmarks, I swear this is the last time! >_<

I'm also going to be looking for a cheap car, but it has to be here in town because I can only walk to see one. Wish me luck!

pondered at 11:35 pm Monday

|

Aug. 27, 2004--donations accepted

Oy vey. Life just gets more ridiculous everyday. I had a falling out with The Puppy Couple over something petty and stupid, so now I have no ride to go see Jeremy tomorrow or on Saturdays. I need to think about getting a cheap car so I can get to where I need to go without having to be dependendent on other people. Everything takes money. I usually walk to the bank, store, my landlady's, etc, but Youngstown is too far to walk (it's a good 20 miles) so I'm screwed. The one thing I look forward to and live for has been ripped away. I used to be so happy and now I'm steeped in despair. Oh well, that's just the way it is.

pondered at 10:48 am Friday

|

Aug. 25, 2004--donations accepted

Another day, another dollar. Good evening kittens. I am feeling a tad better as now we have $1635 towards Jeremy's bail. I'm hoping to add to that total after Sept. 1. I will pay my bills and any left over money goes into his fund. I'm not getting my hopes up though as they have been dashed to easily lately. Thanks to all who have donated, you have shown some light into this horrible tunnel. Bless you.

What do you do when you create 29 new pages and then realize that each one has a link copied wrong? Well, you go and correct them and go over them with a fine toothed comb and chide yourself for being careless or preoccupied whilst coding. heh I've been working on 2 new sections for my Playground and I had to redo them all today when I noticed the error. >_<

I'm watching Forensics week on Court TV and it's eye opening. Like all wonderful things, forensic test results are subject to human error, contamination of samples or manipulation of evidence to make a suspect fit a crime. Yikes. It makes me wonder about the forensics lab in Youngstown since the police there are so apathetic and corrupt. I wish I didn't want to read, watch and learn so much, but I can't help it. I feel I must be prepared for anything with Jeremy's trial coming up Sept. 29. People say our judicial system works, others disagree. I believe in our court system, but I know it's not perfect. I realize innocent people as well as guilty ones are imprisoned every year. I realize that as a death penalty advocate, some innocent people are going to die. It's inevitable. People lie, bad cops lie, some lawyers are shady and then the system breaks down. I wish I knew how to fix things, but I don't. It used to be that people seemed inherently honest, now it seems the other way around. These are only my opinions of course, and I must say I've known some excellant police officers and lawyers. I'm just feeling very poor and helpless right now as my son languishes in jail for a crime a girl says he committed, that I don't believe he did. It's her word against his. We'll just have to see.

Have a good Thursday kittens and stay safe.

pondered at 11:45 pm Wednesday

|

Aug. 23, 2004--donations accepted

Hello kittens. I thought I should blog a decent entry, the others have been so brief.
I saw Jeremy on Saturday, this time wasn't so crowded so I could really talk to him. He STILL hasn't seen his lawyer, (I'm learning I can't MAKE people care), but he looks ok and he said he's doing better. He says people try to play with his mind because he's deaf and they think he's stupid, but he just keeps to himself and stays calm. I don't understand why hearing people think the deaf are stupid just because they can't speak, but that's how it is. *sigh* I told him I haven't given up on getting him out, and he thanked me. Poor kid. Christy went with me and she told him she would call his lawyer today and tell him to get on the ball and go see Jeremy. It's hurry up and wait. Frustration has joined insomnia as my new companion. Joy. All I can do is keep trying as it seems everyone else is resigned to Jeremy staying in jail until the trial. The way things are going, I don't expect him to get out during the trial, it seems to all boil down to not having enough money. On Court TV the other night, they said people with money get the best representation, and those without get over-worked, apathetic public defenders. More joy.
Not much else is going on, I take things day to day as I'm sure Jeremy does. I miss him so much! I hate him being in that terrible place for something he didn't do. I'll keep you posted if anything changes, but somehow, I doubt it will. Miracles don't seem to happen in my life, but that's just the way it is.
Stay safe kittens. Peace.

pondered at 3:25 pm Monday

|

Aug. 22, 2004--donations accepted

Much better. Black is too intense, tan is just too blah, but purple is just right.
I'm off to watch Court TV or A&E. Peace.

pondered at 7:51 pm Sunday

|

Aug. 19, 2004--donations accepted

Today Jeremy has been in jail for a month. Today is not a good day.

pondered at 8:16 pm Thursday

|

Aug. 18, 2004--donations accepted

Hello kittens. Nothing has changed, as of Saturday, Jeremy still hadn't seen his lawyer. The donations (thanks guys!) have stopped and I still need another $1800. It's discouraging that I can't get my beloved son out of that place. I watched a show on Court TV last night called "Tales from Jail" and it made me cry. Prison is no place for my sweet son, I'm terrified of what other inmates would do to him. He'd be locked up with vile people whom he never has associated with in his life. Believe me, he's a good kid! Before Brittany went home, she talked to Amber and she is taking a year off from college to go through with this trial. Oy. Amber sent me a virus over AIM. Thank God I didn't open it! She says she wants Jeremy to "suffer". Here is part of the convo I save between Brittany & Amber. My thoughts are in italics.

CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: He had to be punished what he did to me.
seXi BaBi o5: yea i know u
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: Everyone thinks Im lying and Im not. He even himself told the jury and everyone that he did do it. he hasn't even been to trial yet!
seXi BaBi o5: but.... u have played few guys be4 jeremy.. that what everyone is confusin me abt it
seXi BaBi o5: jeremy had talked to his lawyer for the first time today (yesterday) no he didn't
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: I fooled around with guys but never slept with them. people assumed I did.
seXi BaBi o5: but u told me u had sex wit dan
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: I liked jeremy a lot but what he did was wrong and he has to pay for it.
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: He messed me up.
seXi BaBi o5: wait a sec u were datin jeremy during prom right????
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: NO!
seXi BaBi o5: and u were pregnant then miscariaged it
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: jeremy and I broke up wayyy before that
seXi BaBi o5: that what im been hearing
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: jeremy and I were never dated. we were just good friends. he never asked me out and I never asked him out. we jsut fooled around bull, they dated for almost 2 months
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: but prom night i got drunka and passed out and jeremy tookd advantage of it!
seXi BaBi o5: or u were enjoyin datin jeremy the whole time from the begginning top the prom night right?
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: bastard!
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: No I stopped talking to jeremy wayy before prom she was here Prom Friday!
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: and I didn't know he was going to be at gio's place either she left here with Jeremy to go to Gio's
seXi BaBi o5: but u took jeremy to prom
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: No I did no take jeremy to prom
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: I went with stephanie and dorothy
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: they were my dates
seXi BaBi o5: see what i meant that what everyone is tellin me
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: I didn't take jeremy
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: we stopped talking a long ago
seXi BaBi o5: now since the next court is comin up he might face 11 and half yrs and is that what u wanted ????
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: Yes He f*ckin raped me
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: he will pay
seXi BaBi o5: im serious for real
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: i swear he will!
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: He had no right touching me while i was passed out passed out? She never mentioned that before. That's not what Jeremy and Courtney told me.
seXi BaBi o5: jeremy lawyer will investigate you and ur family
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: good let him
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: I have nothing to hide
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: i told the truth from the beginning
seXi BaBi o5: he will. he's talk with eveybody
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: Now if you people want to talk about me...go ahead. I could careless.
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: I know what is the truth and what is not
seXi BaBi o5: this is hurting jeremy's mom
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: This is my life and my business. no one'e else. then stop telling everyone
seXi BaBi o5: and his family
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: Well then her son shouldn't done what he did to me
seXi BaBi o5: it jeremy's family business
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: He took adavantage of me while I was sleeping. He even told the court well the police station that he did do it.
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: he admit it he did?!?
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: even the next day jeremy imed me and said he was sorry. he did?!?
seXi BaBi o5: for real???
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: yeah I copied the IMes I want to see them!
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: and proved it
seXi BaBi o5: anyways, i'm really confusing about what's happening between you and jeremy, but i wasn't there so i don't know what to say. all i gotta do is just back off.
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: Look I have to say is I am not lying abot what happened that night. Jeremy even told the police station that what he did was true. They even got it on camera.
seXi BaBi o5: video camera?
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: yeah...they recorded him during his interview
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: Im not allow to talk about this.
CRaZiBeAuTeFuL 5: That is all I am going to say.

Ok, so I don't know what to think now. All I know is that this nightmare is not going to end soon. Oy.

pondered at 2:56 pm Wednesday

|

Aug. 16, 2004--donations accepted

I am hiding in my Playground. Depression has overtaken me and for the moment, I give. I did get to see Jeremy Saturday for half an hour. There are only 5 booths for everyone so the pushing and crowding was ridiculous. A lady moved for us, but it was a good thing we could sign because the phone was broken and Jeremy was behind bullet proof glass. *cough* He looked okay but asked Christy and I again to get him out. I came home and bawled.

Brittany went home yesterday. *sigh* Apathy or resignation has set in. I just need a couple of days to rest, regroup and think. I'm going over here for a while. Toodles.

pondered at 4:26 pm Monday

|

Aug. 14, 2004--donations accepted

I am hiding in my Playground. Stay safe kittens.

pondered at 7:10 pm Saturday

|

Aug. 14, 2004--donations accepted

Well, my life may be totally fubar-ed, but damn it, I have a pretty blog.

pondered at 2:00 am Saturday

|

Aug. 12, 2004--donations accepted

Well. Talk about having your hopes and dreams dashed. Charlie just told us he can't help with bail or co-signing. Well. Maybe I just have to face the possibility that Jeremy will remain in jail until the trial. Last night I heard Amber is not even planning to show up and that her mother doesn't even know about any of this. Well. The laywer finally called today and he said he received the packet we sent him in the mail. He needed Courtney and Brittany's email and phone numbers. He said as soon as he hung up, he was going over to see Jeremy for the first time. He said we can't keep calling the office all the time, it's not helping, the wheels of justice move very slowly, etc,etc. Without any money we just have to do it the hard way and Jeremy will remain in jail for the duration. Well.
I don't think I shall ever be happy again.

pondered at 7:43 pm Thursday

|

Aug. 10, 2004--donations accepted

Greetings kittens. I hope everyone is well and doing ok. We are very busy. Brittany is at Michelle's house having a 2 day yard sale and she says it has been very successful. Good news for a change! I'm still trying to see Jeremy's attorney, the judicial system is very slow, so I must be patient. Oy. Again, I'm hoping to see Jeremy on Saturday. As far as I know, Courtney went to see Jeremy today, I hope it cheers him up. Many people have promised to donate to his bail when they get paid which is so awesome and very encouraging to us. Thanks to all of you for your support, you guys rock hard core!!!

pondered at 3:30 pm Tuesday

7:42pm Tuesday night I just got a letter from Jeremy and my good mood is crushed. He said he wants to kill himself, he's so miserable. He says he saw the judge Monday and the judge says he may be in jail for 11 1/2 years! Oh dear God, no. He says he hasn't talked to his lawyer at all and he DID put me on his visitor's list, so he doesn't know why I couldn't see him! What do I do?!? We're in the middle of a garage sale to raise money, but I guess I must think of more ideas. Omg, I'm frantic! We have $1335, Charlie is in Michigan, he doesn't know when he'll be back, I need to get on the phone tomorrow and call everyone and his brother to see about raising the rest of the money. (We need $3,000 altogether.) Jeremy says he tried to cut himself--he's never done anything like that before!!! Omg, what do I do?!? I feel so alone and frightened! I need Christy & Melissa, I can't do this alone. The letter I sent to his dad's old address in Tenneesee came back, no forwarding address. Why? Why doesn't he keep in touch with his son? I always had to write Joe and call him to "remind" him to stay in touch with Jeremy. So be it. I must work with what I have, I don't have time to worry about irresponsible fathers. Keep Jeremy in your thoughts and prayers, please? I gotta go, I'm crying too much. Again. As usual. Oy vey.

|

Aug. 7, 2004--donations accepted

Frik and frak! I didn't get to see Jeremy AGAIN! I was there 20 minutes early and then they said I wasn't on the visitor list! OMG! This is ridiculous. I talked to my doctor today and told him the situation and he is writing a letter to the editor at the Youngstown Vindicator newspaper!!! Does that rock or what? I just looked at my email and I got 3 more donations...you guys are incredible! You have given me renewed hope. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I posted a picture of Jeremy & Brittany (his ex-girlfriend and still best friend) so you could see my son. I wrote him another letter and told him to make sure he puts my name on the list EVERY Saturday as I will not give up on seeing him. I have a disk full of stuff to give Jeremy's attorney, (who is finally back!) and some witness statements from Jeremy's friends. Amber is claiming Jeremy went to her house and tried to rape her again! He was with Brittany and a married couple the weekend that was supposed to have happened, so he has a firm alibi for that. I want to catch this girl in lies. Gio, the kid who hosted the party where the "first" alleged incident took place is telling people Jeremy got Brittany pregnant and her MOM filed charges on Jeremy! He also is telling people Jeremy got out of jail and FLED to Tennessee! Where is all this BS coming from? Why is he saying these things? I don't understand but the truth will come out. All I can do is try to get Jeremy out of jail and home with me and then we will get through the trial. Oy.

Thanks again everyone, I will let you know when we have all the money we need and I will then take down the donation button. There are still good people in this world, bless you all!

pondered at 1:42 pm Saturday

|

Aug. 5, 2004--donations accepted

Hello kittens. I've swallowed my pride and I've added a PayPal button to my blog. Any donations towards Jeremy's bail is highly appreciated. We are trying to get Jeremy another attorney as his is not availiable. Then we have to schedule appointments between a deaf interpeter and the attorney so that everyone who needs to be talked to, is. I have some written statements and we have my blog saved to floppy disk so the lawyer has easy access to all information. I included webpages about Deaf rights and law enforcement too. We may not have money, but we are a united, strong family who is not stupid. It has to mean something that so many females are standing up for Jeremy. Brittany, his ex-girlfriend (they are still best friends) has been here since July 21 and says she will stay until we get him out of jail. This girl has been a godsend to me, she really loves my son, is not in it for any gain, and has been extremely helpful in getting in touch with other Deaf people and organizations. I loved her to death before, but she's part of the family now! Her devotion and strength has helped me stay strong. We have cried together, tried together, and will continue fighting for Jeremy as long as it takes. The Puppy Couple are trying to get a loan for $1000 to help out, Charlie (as mentioned in a previous post) is donating $1000 and co-signing for the rest of the bond, and I have $200, so we only need $800 more dollars or so if all goes well and the loan goes through. I finally feel like I have some hope. If I didn't know my son so well and live with him, I wouldn't be doing this. But I KNOW my son is not a rapist and him sitting in jail for something he didn't do with no one interpeting for him to tell him what's going on is intolerable to me. I have MUCH to tell an attorney if I ever get to talk to one!!!

Please know there is no pressure, if you want to help, please do, but if you can't, I DO understand. All money has been put into a special fund for Jeremy, it will NOT be spent on anything but Jeremy. I know all of you only know me online, but I hope you can trust me on this. ANY help is appreciated more than I can express. Thanks to those who've already helped, you guys are the best!!!

Christy and I just mailed Jeremy some letters to cheer him up and let him know we are doing everything we can. I got a letter from him yesterday and he is so sad and depressed. It broke my heart some more. But at least he knows we care, his family and friends are behind him and he is not alone. Maybe there is a light at the end of this dank dark tunnel.

I'm going to go see Jeremy Saturday, I'm getting there early this time! Jeremy wrote that he put me on his visitor list, so there had better be no more problems. I NEED to see him even though I'm sure I'll cry afterwards. I won't cry in front of him as I know he feels awful enough, I want him to know I'm fine and will not give up on him. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers! You are in ours, I never forget a kindness, especially to my child. Thank you all for the emails and comments, you guys rock!!!

*note: for some reason my comment links aren't showing up, but you can use the tagboard.

pondered at 4:47 pm Thursday

|

Aug. 4, 2004--oy

Hello. If I am learning anything from this mess, it's patience and self control. I am back home now, thank goodness. I called Jeremy's lawyer Monday morning and they said he would be back on Thursday or Friday of this week. (After they told me last Friday he'd be home Tuesday.) We were supposed to go to court this morning but since Jeremy's lawyer isn't back, they asked for and got another continuance. Oy vey. That means Jeremy has to sit in jail for over a month! The next court date is Sept.15 and the trial starts Sept. 29. I seriously think we need a different attorney, but I don't have the money!!! I am so frustrated and depressed. And angry.

Also, someone is IMing me using Gio's name (the boy who hosted the party) and is trying to get info out of me. Gio has very poor syntax and spelling. This person IMing me (whom I highly suspect is Amber, the girl who filed charges against Jeremy) has very good syntax and spelling and uses words Gio never uses. I refuse to play their game. If I talk to her at all it could come back to Jeremy as me harrasing her. (Or whoever it is.) I refuse to put my son in further jeopardy. I am saving the IMs and I know how to run IP addys and I will give this to the cops if I have to. I don't have time for silly little games. I need to worry about raising bail for my son, the thought of him in jail any longer is intolerable to me. I am learning to put my pride aside and ask for help, though it's awkward and difficult as I hate asking friends for money. But I am at my wits end and desperate to help Jeremy whom I STILL haven't seen since he was arrested. Oy.

Amber is telling her friends that she leaves for college in Washington D.C. on Aug. 20. How can she leave with a trial coming up? She has to be there as far as I know. If I could just talk to an attorney and had more knowledge about what's going on I would feel so much better!!! Do I ask for too much?!?

Thanks to all of you for the messages, emails and letters (I haven't gotten any letters yet, but I know they're on their way.) You guys are helping me cope and proving there are still good people in this world. My esteem for the police has dropped off sharply as most of them in Youngstown have been brusque and ignorant to me. I firmly believe what goes around comes around and Amber will get hers someday. I can only hope.

from Language and the Law in Deaf Communities

The Deaf People Among Us

"The Deaf people among us are Americans, contributing to our society each day through their work, creativity, devotion to their children, help for those less fortunate, and so forth. As vibrant and productive members of our national community, as citizens of this country, and as human beings, Deaf individuals deserve no less than the full spectrum of freedoms and protections guaranteed all Americans. This includes the protections guaranteed citizens when they are in the greatest peril of losing their liberty, that is, when they have been arrested and are subjected to police interrogation. As outlined above, the rights of an individual who has been taken into custody and subjected to police interrogation arise from the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. For these rights to have any real meaning, a Deaf or other non-English-speaking defendant must be linguistically present to understand what is being said so that he or she knows what the rights are, how to exercise them, and when to exercise them (Berk-Seligson 1990; Morris 1967). Thus, Deaf and other non-English-speaking defendants must be provided with a competent interpreter to be afforded the same fundamental fairness as English-speaking defendants. The failure to do so deprives Deaf Americans of their life or liberty without the due process guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments (U.S. ex rel. Negron v. N.Y. [1970, 2d Cir], 434 F.2d 386, 389).

In short, the rights guaranteed in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments can only be realized by a Deaf individual if he or she understands the Miranda warning and subsequent interrogation. These constitutional rights obviate the need for an interpreter during all criminal proceedings. In 1978, the federal government codified this constitutional right in the Federal Court Interpreters Act (U.S. Public Law 95-539). Many states have since passed similar legislation. Nevertheless, regardless of whether or not a state passes such legislation, the right to an interpreter in federal and state criminal cases is a fundamental right of Deaf and other non-English-speaking defendants, which arises from the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

THE LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE

Like all of the world’s natural human languages, American Sign Language is an engineering marvel, crafted unconsciously by the human minds of its users over hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of years. And, like all human languages, ASL is capable of expressing an infinite number of thoughts by utilizing a finite set of rules and meaningful units.

Read more...

pondered at 2:07 pm Wednesday

|