The boys succeeded in tipping the girls off the tube.
Category: Uncategorized
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Z Ya Later!
Check out the sports section of the Chicago Tribune! I had to laugh when I saw that, because my buddies at Zvrs.com are always saying to each other, “Z ya later!”
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Advocating for Captions on the Web
I recently discovered that NBC now has some old episodes of the Emergency series posted on their website. As a kid, I loved that show, even though I had to lipread my way through it. This was before the days of captioning on TV. And today, I feel like I’m right back in the 70s– because there’s no captioning on the TV episodes that are displayed on the web.
Representative Ed Markey introduced the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009 on June 26, 2009. Quite simply, the bill has this as the goal: “To ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to emerging Internet Protocol-based communication and video programming technologies in the 21st century.”
In other words, it means that if I want to see old episodes of The Tonight Show or waste time watching Deal or No Deal– that I would have access to those episodes just like everyone else.
Isn’t 30 years a long time to wait for captions on the web?
Keep in mind, this doesn’t apply to user-generated content. So if you toss a video on YouTube, no one is going to make you caption it. But I sure would appreciate the access if you decided to make your content accessible. And something else to think about: someday your own hearing might go south and you’d appreciate a captioned web.
The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology has a petition to sign. Jamie Berke has a blog with tons of info: Caption Action 2. Over on Facebook, a group has gathered to push the grassroots effort and get this bill passed. Won’t you come and join us?
Of course, just clicking on a Facebook group isn’t going to get a bill passed, but there is strength in numbers. Facebook helped to save a deaf school from closing.
I know you’re probably rolling your eyes and thinking, “Not another bill, Karen.” But here’s the deal–if you contact your Senators and ask them to start a similar bill and contact your Representatives to support H.R. 3101 and help me get this passed and into the law books, I promise I won’t bother you again for a while.
I’ll be too busy catching up on those Emergency episodes.
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Wordless Wednesday–Playing in the Rain
It was a rainy day and the kids decided to play basketball in the rain. The boys discovered that the snowskates worked well on the slick driveway.
This is part of Wordless Wednesday.
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The Z Team in Vegas–What a Week!
I finally sat down to upload pictures from the last several weeks and came across photos from my trip to Vegas with the Z Team. I spent eight days in Vegas with my team– four days in team meetings and the other four days at the Deaf Seniors of America conference.
Lori shows the hubby Vegas via the Z Here’s my buddy Lori– she joined the Z Team the same day that I did. We had our training together in Florida back in January. She’s talking to her hubby on the Z-340, showing him the view outside her room.
Sean talks about The Z We started off our trip with a talk from our CEO, Sean Belanger and then we had an inspirational talk from Carl Gustin who worked for Kodak and Apple. Carl compared The Z to Apple in their early days, commenting on the amazing amount of passion we have as a team. We do have a lot of energy firing up a room when we all get together!
Each of the Sales Managers teamed up to give presentations– I had a blast being teamed up with U. S. Chung. Even though we didn’t win, we gave the audience some laughs with our presentation. In the photo below, Manny Johnson receives an award for “Salesperson of the Year.” Well deserved!
Manny Johnson receives award Later that night we all wore our Z shirts and we gathered outside to chat. After a while, people started talking with us– they wanted to know where that “Z” place was in Vegas. “Where’s the Z Club?” “What’s the Z?” “Where do I find the Z?” Shannon joked that we should start sending people on a wild-goose-chase to find “The Z” in Vegas.
Joe Wiegers and Butch Zein 
Tony, this way! 
Shannon O'dneal–my other mentor There’s nowhere to go, but UP!
Upward and onward! -
Life Takes a Crazy Turn
My dad was diagnosed with cancer while I was out in Vegas– this time it’s a lot more serious. He battled cancer a few years back and knocked it out. This time it’s back, in the esophagus. We were sitting around on Memorial Day weekend and he mentioned that he couldn’t swallow too well and didn’t have much of an appetite. My first thought of course, was cancer and I told him so– I wanted to make sure that he went to the doctor and got it checked out.
Dad starts radiation on Monday to shrink the son-of-a-%$#*.
Send some shrinking prayers our way.
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Z You at the Deaf Seniors of America Conference
I’m here in Las Vegas hanging with 1,800 Deaf senior citizens. And what a cool group they are to hang out with! I can’t help myself– I find that I get into conversations with them and want to hear their stories of growing up and where they worked at. One guy worked at Coke for 38 years…another is a tax attorney… a couple of them worked their way up at the post office to management level and all sorts of other jobs. At the Z booth, while they try out the Z-340 videophone, some of them have been sharing stories of how they had no phones and had to send letters to their friends to arrange a visit.
Today, we revealed our very own “Dr. Z,” the infamous Phil Bravin who is the original Deaf tech geek. He can remember playing around with code many years back and he recently put together a neat website for everything Z:
Dr. Z Marlee Matlin arrived at noon to sign her books for over two hours. She took a moment to pose with Laurel and Hardy (yes, they work for the Z team too!):
Marlee Matlin with Laurel and Hardy U. S. Chung, the Z Project Manager drew a crowd of his own this afternoon:
USC shows the Z-340 to Seniors We’ll be at the Z booth on Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. If you’re at the DSA conference, stop by and say hi! -
Greetings from Vegas
Where in the world is Karen? In Vegas. Not exactly my favorite place in the U.S. but I’m learning to like it this week because I’m with a great bunch of people from the Z team and the Deaf Seniors of America. I’m working the Z booth all week at the conference, so if you’re in Vegas, stop by Paris and say hi.
On Sunday, we had a free day to explore the strip so a few of us went to the roller coaster at New York. Later that night we went to the Stratosphere and tried the rides on the top. I discovered that I have a new fear of heights. There was one ride that throws you over the edge– ack! Poor Manny Johnson, I ended up squeezing the heck out of his hand when we went over the edge. Later that night, I woke up in the middle of a nightmare– the brakes on the ride failed and down we went.
Thank goodness it was only a dream.
Let's go on the roller coaster! -
Yes, I Have a Messy House
Today, my blog post from the Chicago Moms Blog was syndicated in several newspapers across the U.S.
Now everyone knows I have a messy house. I’m making the kids clean it.
But hey, come on over for a visit! Just be sure to wipe your feet before you enter.
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Karen Putz Named To National VCO Position
Karen Putz Named To National VCO Position
CLEARWATER, Fla. [June 1, 2009] — ZVRS has named Karen Putz as its Z Video Solutions manager responsible for national voice carry-over (VCO) services. She also serves as sales manager for Illinois.
“We are delighted to have Karen take on a leadership role for our national VCO services,” said Tim Rarus, ZVRS vice president of sales. “As a VCO user herself, Karen understands the unique needs and challenges of these customers. Her dedication to customer service will greatly benefit The Z™ VCO users.”
Putz joined the company in October 2008 as a VCO outreach specialist, becoming sales manager in January 2009. The position involves working with deaf and hard of hearing customers to meet their videophone needs and managing a team of Z Specialists, who are responsible for installing Z products for customers.
In her new role, Putz provides nationwide outreach, focusing on customers who use VCO services. ZVRS specializes in one-line VCO, enabling customers to use their voice with Z products without the need for a second phone or additional phone line, a requirement when using many other VCO products.
“I love my work at ZVRS. There’s nothing more thrilling than seeing a customer connect with others via our Z products and services,” said Putz. “I work with a great team, and I enjoy having many different opportunities to work with deaf and hard of hearing individuals from all over the U.S.”
About The Z™
ZVRS (The Z™) is a product of CSDVRS, the first video relay services (VRS) provider to offer 24/7 availability, Spanish VRS, video mail and personal 800 numbers. Launched nationally in 2000, CSDVRS was developed by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals based on feedback from the nation’s deaf and hard of hearing community. Today, the company remains the dedicated to that same spirit of innovation and commitment to excellence, continuing to set the industry standard as the nation’s premier VRS provider. For more information about ZVRS and The Z™ family of products, please visit zvrs.com.
