Not sports or cab driving must read

Since hearing about his grandfather and great-uncle's experiences fighting in World War II, Keith Nolan has wanted to follow in their footsteps. Unfortunately, Nolan was born deaf to deaf parents, and the U.S. Army requires all soldiers to pass a hearing test.

Now Nolan is touring college campuses, visiting deaf soldiers in Israel, and enlisting a congressman to his cause to change U.S. Army policy.

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Philadelphia JobsAfter he finished high school, Nolan visited a Navy recruitment center. When Nolan told the man he couldn't read his lips, the man handed Nolan a piece of paper: "Bad Ear Disqual."

So Nolan became a teacher, completing a Masters in Deaf Education. Last year, while teaching, he also audited classes at an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps' program.

Nolan would show up to 5 a.m. exercises, even though his interpreter wasn't so easy to see before sunrise. He got perfect results in his military sciences class, and so impressed his superiors that they allowed him to wear the uniform, reports The Associated Press.

"He definitely was one of our top performers," said Capt. Sid Mendoza, a training supervisor in the program.

Mendoza learned to sign "motivation," since Nolan's interpreter used the word so much, in explaining to Nolan what his classmates were saying about him.

When May rolled around, however, those classmates graduated to become second lieutenants in the armed forces. Nolan handed in his uniform.

"I want to do my duty, serve my country, and experience that camaraderie," Nolan told AP, "and I can't, owed to the fact that I'm deaf."

While deafness may seem like a sensible disqualification from armed duty, Nolan points out that there are a number support positions that deaf individuals are completely capable of fulfilling, like computer technology, military dog training, and intelligence (where Nolan dreams of working).

To those who believe it would make communication too challenging, Nolan explained in a TED talk that deaf individuals have a number of means of relaying information, like voice, lip-reading, gesture, sign language, text and email.

"There's no magic wand necessary," He said. "It's the same thing we do every day."

There's also a double standard buried in the Army's policy; soldiers who suffer hearing loss while enlisted are allowed to continue their service.

One in four soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan in 2008 had damaged hearing, USA Today reported the Army as saying.

Deaf individuals also are allowed to serve in non-combat positions in the Israeli armed forces. Nolan interviewed 10 of them last year when he visited them on the job.

Deaf soldiers are not totally unknown in American history, either. Nolan wrote a research paper on the history of deafness in the military, and found that deaf individuals fought in the Texas War of Independence, and on both sides in the Civil War, as well as in World War II.

Nolan had resigned himself to a civilian life as a teacher years ago. But it was his students who prompted him to turn his lifetime dream into a political campaign. After Nolan gave a lecture on the Mexican-American War, one of his deaf students approached him and said that he wanted to join the military.

"Sorry," Nolan told him. "You can't. You're deaf."

"It struck me that all along I'd been told no, you can't," Nolan said, "and now I was perpetuating that message to the next generation, my own student."

This moment spurred on Nolan's fight. The "Commission Cadet Nolan Now" Facebook page urges people to contact Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif, and pressure him to sponsor a bill allowing deaf people to enlist. The page currently has over 3,000 fans.

"A true American soldier," wrote one commenteant

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Humor

A drunk woman, stark naked, jumped into a taxi at the Courtney Place Cab Rank.

The Indian driver opened his eyes wide and stared at the woman. He made no attempt to start the Cab.

"What's wrong with you Luv, haven't you ever seen a naked woman before?"

"I'll not be staring at you lady, I am telling you, that would not be proper, where I am coming from..."

"Well, if you're not bloody staring at me Luvie, what are you doing then?"

"Well, I am looking and looking, and I am thinking and thinking to myself,
where is this lady keeping the money to be paying me with?!"

David Price-Tampa Bay Rays

I heard on WDAE 620 that Price said he would quit if James Shields got traded. I am a big fan of both of them, but he needs to careful of what he puts on his twitter. That is not good for compionship in the club house.

James Shields-Tampa Bay Rays

Finally something about the Rays-considering how they lost most of their bullpen, including a 44 save closer, this came from the internet.

Shields also dominates for 18

Tampa Bay's James Shields pitched a pair of complete games last week, allowing just one unearned run in the process. by: Bill Bender
Rory McIlroy had a fantastic weekend.

Dude shot a 16-under at the U.S. Open over the weekend. That's unreal considering I shoot about 16 over on the front nine of any golf course I play.

McIlroy, however, wasn't the only person who dominated over 18 last week. Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields allowed one unearned run over 18 innings in two starts last week.

We won't get it into what is more impressive, but let's just say I think I would get a lucky par at the Congressional Country Club before I would pitch a shutout in the majors. Call it even?

I found out first-hand what it's like going against Shields in a H2H league. He threw exactly 110 pitches in back-to-back complete games against the Red Sox and Marlins. I lost ERA this week as a result.

How good is Shields? Well, he leads the league in complete games (5) and shutouts (3). He's doing all those things Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee do. Half the headlines, half the price, same production.

Can Shields keep it up? Well, he should continue to dominate at Tropicana Field (3-3, 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) and be good enough on the road (4-1, 3.28, 1.07).

His first-half career splits (35-26, 3.48, 1.19) are much better than his second-half numbers (28-29, 4.80, 1.33). It would take some serious gumption to sell high on Shields knowing all that, but I guess it depends on what you can get in return.

If it were me, I'd stick with Shields.

A-Rod's cousin

Sporting News
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A Major League Baseball executive vice president of player relations Rob Manfred told ESPN.com that the league's investigation into allegations that Yuri Sucart, the steroid-supplying cousin of new York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, was spotted at the team's hotel earlier this week, is closed.

"Our position is, we told the Yankees, they agreed, that (Sucart) should not be allowed in any non-public areas; clubhouses, any team charters, buses. And it's our understanding that that prohibition has been respected," Manfred told ESPN.com. "We've talked to the Yankees and they've assured us the prohibition has been respected."

During a press conference in the spring of 2009, Alex Rodriguez admitted using steroids while a member of the Rangers from 2001-03; he said Sucart (his cousin) would acquire the steroids from the Dominican Republic and inject them into the All-Star. (AP Photo) During a press conference in the spring of 2009, Rodriguez admitted using steroids while a member of the Rangers from 2001-03. He said Sucart would acquire the steroids from the Dominican Republic and inject them into the All-Star. Following that admission, the Yankees—in connection with MLB—banned Sucart from any team-related function or facility.

On Thursday morning, the New York Daily News reported Sucart again is traveling with the team on some road trips and was at the team's hotel in San Francisco on Tuesday night. And that he had done so last season as well.

"All we can do is control his access to areas that (MLB) or the team control. We will stay in touch with the Yankees to make sure that prohibition is being respected. A hotel lobby is a public place; there is nothing we can do," Manfred added.
The above came from the inter net. My question is why doesn't A-Rod's hits, homeruns be taken off of his record for those years that he cheated while in Texas. When he hit the 600th home run I wonder if he felt a little GUILTY.

Pete Rose- Hits leader

"I've taken responsibility for my life," Rose said. "Baseball isn't good for second chances — not for gamblers. They are for people who take drugs. They are for people who beat up their wives. They are for people who drink a lot of alcohol. I screwed up. I wish I could change it."

Up and coming Dodger Ace

Kershaw clearly was the most talented Dodgers pitcher entering last season, but then-manager Joe Torre didn’t hand him the ball on opening day. He wanted to minimize the pressure on his young lefthander.

But Kershaw posted a 2.91 ERA, 212 strikeouts and 132 ERA+ while eclipsing 30 starts and the 200-inning mark, both benchmarks for an ace.

This year, there was no doubt who would get the ball on opening day against the hated rival and defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants and their ace, Tim Lincecum. And Kershaw, 23, was marvelous, spinning seven shutout innings and striking out nine with one walk for the win.

Now of course there is David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. So far no wins but rather difficult to gain a win when the offense have left their bats on the bus. But I have a feeling that when the smoke clears he will be near the top.

The Rays and Taxi's

The Rays are off to thier worst start in history. The first year in the league wasn't this bad. Ha even Carl Crawford isn't hitting. Boston even is losing, what with their HUGE payroll. Althrough they did win yesterday. Also what with the high price of gas United Cab is taking a beating, the drivers that is. The owners could care less, they are happy as long as they get their lease money. Let's hope tomorrow will bring a better day.

Baseball and Taxi's

Well folks, baseball is upon us. The Tampa Bay Rays are undefeated and gas prices are starting to drop. Also Obama is going to change his mind about running in 2012. Now that you have let that sink in or you may think "what the hell is that old fart talking about". Than I woke up and found it was only a dream. But as I have said before "keep the faith". Most of the people who are giving the Rays hell are the ones who are bandwagon fans. Not real fans. They only pull for the winners. The people who give taxi drivers hell never ride a cab anyway. Futher they don't have any idea what a cab driver goes through just to make a decent living. I no longer drive a cab but I am afraid that United Cab, even with their new set up for getting and giving calls is in deep do-do. Have a great day, be careful out there. UC157 Larry

The Canseco Brothers

THE BROTHERS GRIM
It's shaping up to be a banner week for Bay Area baseball brothers. Because on the heels of the Canseco brothers (allegedly) taking a stand against truth in the world of celebrity boxing, the Giambi brothers are expected to take the stand later today and testify in the perjury trial of Barry Bonds. The Giambis (see: Jason, and Jeremy) have both admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs that they got from Greg Anderson, the personal trainer for Bonds who is in jail at the moment for refusing to testify against Bonds. It could be tough for the lawyers to balance that out. Or not. In less than 48 hours the 2011 major league baseball season will start---finally. The Tampa Bay Rays will defend their east division title. Everyone seems to think they will be a underdog. I for one have always pulled for the underdog. When I played baseball in high school I was a underdog. On the Air Force team I was a underdog, but like the Rays found a way to win. Have fun out there and be careful