Still Learning...

Well, last night I setup and figured out Blogger's Hello program for pictures. Now I can post pics on my blog. Then this morn, I figured out how to edit the HTML to add links to the sidebar on my blog...cool...even tho this stuff is HTML 101, its new to me. Eventually, I'll figure out enough to get my own website going... Watched an ep of Extreme Makeover, Home Edition on Sunday night (I know, I know, but it was either that or the Oscars...Booooring!). They remodelled the home of this family where the Mother and Father were both deaf and raising two sons. The older son was healthy, but the younger son was blind and autistic. Somehow, this family was making a go of it and seemed remarkably well adjusted. The older son had to carry quite the load as main communication conduit for the family, but he didn't seem to mind the responsibility. Anyway, the two hour show followed the team's rebuild efforts to improve this family's life and home during a week while they sent the family on vacation. The put in all kinds of technology to help them communicate and keep tabs on the younger son, who in the past had managed to find the keys and wander off. They put computers and camera's in several rooms so that they could sign to each other throughout the house. A lot of cool stuff was done... Sure, the show tends to lean into self-congratulatory territory a little and tries a little too hard to be emotional, but it is nice to see a makeover / reality show that acutally improves lives and puts money to good use instead of the usual disgusting reality fare. I've watched a few episodes and it's usually pretty fun to watch them put in cool and useful things designed to help the particular family that week. The one show in Texas, they even brought in Randy Travis, and he sang at an impromptu show to raise money and was even shown working on the house. On this show, they brought in deaf actress Marlee Matlin who helped organize a scholorship for the older son so that he could go to college. It was a pretty cool show, and reminded me of how I still want to learn sign language. I have no use for French, but sign language would be a very useful second language... later