Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 23:36:58 -0400 From: didom@usa1.com (Claude DiDomenica) Subject: The CAT Chroncile for 10-6-95 ISSN 1084-5585 THE CAT CHRONICLE ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * October 6, 1995 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization that produces educational videos for children and teens on contemporary social issues such as AIDS, diversity, violence and GLB teen self esteem. CAT also provides as a public service a BBS, a weekly full color newsletter and a Web site for the family of the future: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ * Please note a full color version of this newsletter is available on the World Wide Web: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/newslett/newslett.html/ Quote of the Week: "I am just a grape. My only wish is to be a raisin and have my day in the sun..." ---Quai Chang Furball --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAT Currents: ~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOOD NEWS--GOOD NEWS--GOOD NEWS--GOOD NEWS--GOOD NEWS--GOOD NEWS!!! The staff and volunteers of CAT are proud to announce our FIRST award for having one of the COOLEST Web sites on the Internet! We have received the prestigious "Top 5% of World Wide Web Sites" award from Point Survey. Point Survey is a free service which rates and reviews only the best sites on the Internet. It also provides Web surfers with a standard of excellence: a catalog of the most lively, useful, and fun sites on the Internet. What does this mean for CAT? "I'm just ecstatic!" said Claude DiDomenica, designer of the CAT Homepage. The "Top 5% of the Web" badge will help attract many new visitors and increase our exposure. Our volunteers, especially people like Jeff Sam really deserve this recognition..." If you have not had a chance to check out the CAT Web site, here are highlights from some of the cool pages. CAT has a diverse assortment of information on it Web site, including: - Information on its current video project on GLB teen self-esteem and suicide prevention - Original child safety and parenting information - Current HIV/AIDS information including the CDC's "AIDS Daily Summary" - The "GLB Youth Advisor" page, including a special section for youth activism - "The CAT Chronicle", CAT's popular on-line full-color weekly newsletter - A list of current volunteer opportunities - Links to hundreds of educational, GLB, parenting, AIDS-related and general places on the Web "I can't thank our volunteers enough," said Claude. "Our behind-the-scenes Internet volunteers have kept the Web site alive and exciting." CAT has received the "Top 5% of the Web" badge to place on its Web pages. Looks like our site has attracted a lot of attention. The creative graphics, original articles and stimulating ideas help make our site one of the best sites on the Web! "One of my personal favorites are the pictures of real cats," said Claude. He added, "These cats have been part of my life so I took great care when I scanned them and set up each page." The CAT Homepage also provides direct E-Mail links on all its on-line documents, to provide the user a way for instant feedback while browsing the Web. We are hoping to attract sponsors to this Web site. CAT is looking for individuals and corporate support to continue and expand this cutting edge Web site. "I'm hoping that other non-profit groups will be encouraged to develop a Web site", continues Claude. "It has helped us to reach people from around the world. We currently have hundreds of visitors a day. I call this endeavor the Web site for 'The Family of the Future.'" The Point Survey Top Ten list has been featured on CNN and in many publications. Point Survey ratings are provided to media around the world. The CAT Web site can be seen at: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ NEW Column for this Popular Newsletter!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This week we are introducing a NEW volunteer and a NEW column. Our latest volunteer is Reverend Jim from Ohio. Here's a short biography on him: He is a father of one son, an ordained Roman Catholic Minister and a veteran of the US Navy. Like many veterans, his dedication to this country has earned him the Navy Cross (the highest Navy award) for his valor and the Purple Heart for bravery. Although Rev. Jim survived his tour of duty in the military, he was a victim of violence on the streets of America. In 1985 he was assaulted by an armed gang of teenagers. The attack left him disabled. He is now an advocate for disabled rights and will be writing a weekly column called "The disABLEd Corner". We are pleased to add Rev. Jim to our growing list of CAT volunteers. We have CAT People (volunteers) from California, Texas, Florida, New York, and everywhere in between! Thanks to all our CAT People and a great big WELCOME to Rev. Jim! The disABLEd Corner ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi! My name Rev. Jim. I will be writing a weekly column for the CAT Chronicle about the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) and some of the issues affecting people with disabilities. I am an ordained Catholic Minister in Ohio. I'm 39 and live with my wife and son (yes, Ministers can be married!). For the past few years, I have been an advocate for the civil rights of persons with disabilities. Oh yeah, I'm also dying. More about this later... I do my ministry work at a local prison, a local hospital, and with a support group for people with terminal illnesses. I'm also the Chaplain for a national disability advocacy organization: The American Association of Disabled Persons (AADP). I bring a strong empathic ability to my ministry work, because I have been blessed with many serious disabilities. Yes, I said BLESSED. I believe that I was intentionally given such disabilities as diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, spinal arthritis, cancer, asthma, hypertension, morbid obesity and neuromuscular problems for a very specific reason. So far, I have survived six heart attacks and numerous surgical procedures. My disabilities haven't changed how I perform my work, just the way that I do it. For example, I drive an altered van, I move around in my wheelchair or three-wheeled cart, and hang my oxygen tank on the back of the seat. I have become an advocate for voluntary compliance with the ADA of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. I strongly believe that ALL people should be able to enter ANY facility and enjoy its use. Over the past four years, I have tried to encourage compliance at many public facilities, including retail outlets, restaurants, grocery stores, video stores, medical facilities, city halls, playgrounds, swimming pools, hotels and drug stores. I make an initial approach by phone or letter. I very politely inform the manager that I could not use the facility because of a problem caused by a barrier. Maybe the hallway was too small for me to move my wheelchair, or there were only stairs, and not a ramp available for me to move my wheelchair. In the coming weeks, I will detail some of the tougher cases, where the owners absolutely refuse to comply with the law. I will talk about the case of one local city administration that has defied the ADA, and the order of a federal judge regarding compliance. This case is a most interesting one to me personally, because this city administration has also carried out a campaign against me. For two years, they have been trying to make me stop my advocacy for the civil rights of persons with disabilities! I guess I should explain my earlier remark about dying... With all my serious disabilities, I was supposed to be dead before age 39. I proved my doctors wrong on that count! I will keep writing this column as long as you, the readers, remain interested, and as long as I can still plug away at the keyboard. If you have any questions, or just want to discuss a problem (I am a qualified counselor), we can talk, and keep it completely confidential. As a minister, everything you tell me is confidential, unless you say otherwise. There is NOTHING that anyone can ask or say that would surprise me. I promise you that much. More next week... Rev. Jim E-Mail: IRISH38@aol.com Web site: http://pages.prodigy.com/OH/zrjj15a/revjim.html Parent's Corner... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tip of the Week: Halloween Safety Each year after Halloween the news is filled with horror stories about children missing, being injured, getting sick from poisoned candy, or even worse. The one thing the parents had in common is they all thought "It couldn't happen to MY children..." I'll admit it, there is no 100% safe way to take your children trick-or-treating. Here are some suggestions to minimize the odds of tragedy: * Buy flame resistant costumes, wigs, beards and masks * Be sure costumes are loose enough to allow your children to dress warmly underneath * Choose light colored material for costumes. Trim them with reflective tape. Don't forget to put some reflective tape on the candy bag or plastic pumpkin * Don't make or buy foot coverings such as dinosaur or clown feet. They can hinder your child's ability to walk safely * Make sure masks: - Fit securely - Have eye holes large enough to allow full vision without creating "blind spots" - Have nose holes which allow proper breathing - Don't cover the ears and muffle their hearing * Ensure face paints, glitters and glues are non-toxic and hypoallergenic * Only trick-or-treat at houses of neighbors you or your children know * Only stop at houses that are well lit * Do not let your children go into strangers houses. Instead of handing out candy at the door, some people prefer to create a mini-haunted house where the children partially enter the house to retrieve their treats. If this is the case, go in with your child * If trick-or-treating after dark, be sure you child carries a flashlight or some sort of lighted wand * When trick-or-treating cover only one side of the street at a time. Avoid crossing back and forth to the houses * Tell your child NOT to eat any candy before allowing you to inspect it at home * Discard any candy with torn or unsealed wrappers, non-factory packed candies, or homemade goodies * Consider carrying two separate candy bags: one for houses of people your are sure of, and one for houses of people you don't know too much about * Consider trick-or-treating in a mall rather than door to door * Don't put your child's name on the outside of costumes or candy bag. Child abductors can use this information to lure children to them because the child assumes it's somebody they know. Keep names inside the clothing or bags Every year I do what's called a "Pumpkin Patrol" in my community which basically entails walking around and keeping an eye out for the kids. You would be surprised how many parents don't use even one of these suggestions. Ask yourself honestly "Am I doing everything I possibly can to make my child's Halloween both safe and enjoyable???" Happy Halloween from the staff and volunteers of Children's Animated Television! Jeff Sam Volunteer Child Safety & Parents Coordinator, Co-Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS and CAT's Co-Webmeister Internet Address: jsam@usa1.com Please visit Jeff's Sam's Parenting and Child Safety Web page: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/jeffsam/jeffsam.html/ GLB Youth Advisor: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CAT's current video project is on GLB teen self esteem. Our goal is to help put a stop to the unacceptably high rate of GLB teen depression and suicide. We also believe there is a direct correlation between low self esteem and unsafe sex practices. To this aim, as a public service we present to you the GLB Youth Advisor... National Coming Out Day ----------------------- The GLB community has chosen October 11 as National Coming Out Day. On this day, those of us keeping this portion of our lives secret are encouraged to share it with someone. It is a day to tell people you are a GLB person. Each member of the GLB community faces the important decision of whether or not to "come out" to their parents and friends. To "come out" means to reveal your homosexuality or bisexuality. Risks are involved when you tell people about yourself because this issue is an especially sensitive one. As you are listening to the news or reading the newspaper, you will encounter criticism about the need for homosexuals to "push their sexual practices" on the public. These same editorials will begin harping on "family values" and how "innocent children" are being subjected to "dangerous ideas." I find it ironic when people talk about protecting children from harm when their own words tear right into the heart and soul of thousands of GLB teens and young adults every day. The harm comes from their own words to their own children that encourage self-hate and guilt to conform to a heterosexual world. You must learn to understand how some people think. The above quotations are the start of bigotry and misconceptions present in today's society. We can easily dismiss most of these negative comments. Let's use the comment about "pushing their sexual practices on people..." The arrogant presumption exists that our coming out process involves detailing our sex lives. This presumption is outrageous, if not immature. Something is 'perverted' when you do not want to hear the truth. It is so easy to hold on to your hatred when you distort the words you hear. Coming out does not mean detailing our sex lives. It means acknowledging our humanity. As human beings, we are all guilty of distorting words: we all have our own political agendas. Occasionally, even the most impartial observer will hear only what they want to hear. We must help people understand that being GLB is not a lifestyle choice, not a sexual practice: it is only whom we love and who we are. I recently read an editorial about someone speaking out against allowing educational institutions to recognize "Gay History Month." This person was dismayed over gays celebrating their sexual practices openly. Here is another example of someone using sexual references to reduce who we are to something sub-human. When was the last time you read an editorial blasting heterosexuals for their sexual practices and their need to hold hands in public? Now we have come full circle on the topic of coming out again. When you come out to someone, you run the risk of rejection as well as the possibility of earning someone's respect. This is the battle we face each day. We cannot win respect without first gaining recognition. However, we cannot be recognized if we remain "hidden" from society. This brings up the ultimate "Catch-22" or dilemma for many of us. Can we afford to risk rejection, losing friends or being thrown out of the house, on the gamble that we will improve our standing in society? Imagine if every member of the GLB community "came out" on October 11! We would rock the foundation of this nation as the truth became revealed! Unfortunately, this will not happen so I must urge caution. Many of you reading this may live at home or with a roommate who remains unaware of your sexuality. Do not take an unnecessary risk. You should "come out" only if you are financially and emotionally able to deal with a negative outcome. In other words, if you cannot afford to live on your own then maybe you should wait... The good news is that October 11 can be the day where we no longer hide from ourselves. Many of us still deny our own sexual identity, causing years of misery and isolation. The most important step to gaining acceptance and respect in our society is to gain self respect first. If we cannot accept our homosexuality, how can we expect anyone else to? So maybe October 11 does not mean you need to tell someone you are GLB. Maybe learning to accept yourself first is really the most important thing to remember... Mike Reddin Volunteer GLB Youth Advisor for Children's Animated Television Internet Address: wxman@pcix.com Mike has an area on our Web site dedicated to GLB youth: http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/ PS: I thought I'd pass on this valuable info, forwarded to CAT by that wonderful Jessea of P.E.R.S.O.N. National Hotline for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Youth - Call 800-347-TEEN (toll-free) - Sponsored by the Indianapolis Youth Group - 7:00pm to 10:00pm, Sunday to Thursday - 7:00pm to 12:00am, Friday and Saturday - Staffed by trained, peer (youth) counselors - Confidential and anonymous What If??? ~~~~~~~~~~ Our President, Claude DiDomenica writes this weekly column to stimulate the minds of our youth and adults who haven't lost their "youthful imaginations..." What if people used logic more often? ------------------------------------- I suppose I could have titled this "What if more people were more like Mr. Spock???" Actually, if a person were void of ALL emotions, life would be quite boring. Quite often people react with their hearts instead of their minds. They forget about logic and reason. The "manipulators" of our culture use our emotions to control us and raise funds for their secret agendas. I suggest we use our logic and emotions selectively. Surely, a painter or musician must use their feelings to express their art. When searching for the truth, one should use intellect or logical thinking... Bessie and I went for a walk today. As usual, we started talking about social concerns and both got fired up. There was an article in the Sunday Boston Globe about the guilt women feel about having an abortion. I think the media attention on this issue is misplaced. The focus should be on information, prevention and education... not on guilt. In my opinion, the abortion debate is used by unscrupulous folks to polarize our nation. I told Bessie, "Logic dictates when there is no way to end a conflict, the focus must shift from the conflict itself to the solution of the problem. Focusing on finding a solution is the next logical step. The only logical solution is for ALL people to work towards preventing pregnancies, yet still keeping abortions safe, legal and available." If I was asked "Are you pro-choice or pro-life?" my answer would be, "I am pro-prevention, pro-sex education, pro-information and pro-birth control." If the pro-lifers were REALLY concerned about saving the lives of babies, they would join me in our educational efforts. I told Bessie "The pro-life zealots are actually killing babies because they are not using every bit of their life's force to educate people and PREVENT pregnancies!" Bessie then said "Yeah, but that makes too much sense. Education and prevention would neutralize the cause for the pro-lifers." She added, "It's like they would lose all their steam." I said finally, "Perhaps if we look deeply, we would discover the people running these pro-life causes are REALLY pro-CONTROLLERS, pro-MANIPULATORS and pro-MONEY-GRABBERS!" Many of the same people who are outraged over the abortion issue are against sex education in schools! They might argue teaching kids about sex causes promiscuity. I challenge them to provide me with scientific data to prove this. "I think that when kids have sex education, they're more likely to delay sex, rather than run out and just 'do it'", said Bessie. "It's that whole sexuality question that's hard for many parents, let alone school, to address." Many of these same people are also against ANY reference to homosexuality (except negative!) in the schools. I have seen data to suggest the low self-esteem of GLB youth leads to MORE pregnancies, which leads to more abortions. "Yeah, it's too bad that gay youth feel compelled to "make babies" to prove they are "normal" or heterosexual. We should treat GLB people as equals if we REALLY want fewer abortions. Abortion is just another end result of the negative attitude society has against gay people," said Bessie. Wake up America! We can end this conflict and help to guide people to the path of reason. In the near future, I hope to expose what I call "the conspiracy of control" by the extreme right wing-dingers... Think about it, and it makes sense... Without controversy, there is no control mechanism over people. It would be hard for a group like the Christian Coalition to raise funds and get people outraged if they couldn't pin a badge of hate on GLB people or show pictures of aborted fetuses. As I have said before, GLB people are "easy targets" for hate and discrimination because "The bible tells us so." Somehow I don't believe that God encourages hate-mongering and manipulation of people. To the right wingers: Let me assure you there are many people who are on to you! I dedicate my existence to helping ALL people and exposing the hypocrisy and hatred disguised as "Family Values." Somebody has to stand up to these manipulators, deceivers, money-grabbers and demi-gods. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Is it a "family value" to use GLB people as pawns in the game of control over our nation's public schools??? Is it a "family value" for a parent to hate their own children if they are GLB??? Is it a "family value" to operate large organizations with secret agendas to infiltrate school boards like what has happened in Merrimack, NH??? As I said, we are on to you! Do you really think people are just going to stand by and let you spread your vile lies and deceit??? What if people used logic more often? We could begin to look behind, under, over, around and through an issue. We can take off the blinders and see what makes sense to us. We are not lemmings to be led to the cliff and told to jump! I have more faith in people than that... Remember to THINK before you buy into a person or group that might have hidden agenda to control, or accepts money to promote a cause to polarize our nation. Just some food for thought... Claude DiDomenica didom@usa1.com The CAT Credo... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in a positive future for all children... CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems through honest and open dialogue, education, information and compromise... CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate long-lasting answers to problems in their world... As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information using all available technology including a computer bulletin board, World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow... Claude DiDomenica & Bessie Hadley Founders of Children's Animated Television July 15, 1995 --------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Children's Animated Television. Use any advice or information at your own risk. To subscribe to "The CAT Chronicle" via E-Mail: E-Mail to didom@usa1.com Subject: Subscribe CAT Chronicle CAT is a 501-C-3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Contact Information: Bessie Hadley Executive Director Children's Animated Television, Inc. 1492 Highland Ave, Suite 3 Needham, MA 02192 USA Voice: 617-449-9699 FAX: 617-449-2238 Dr Furball's BBS: 617-455-8415 node 1 617-433-0026 node 2 Internet: hadley@usa1.com Claude DiDomenica President of CAT and Sysop of Dr Furball's BBS Internet: didom@usa1.com CAT's WEB Home Page!!! http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Get CAT's latest info releases from Software Creations BBS * * "Home of the Authors" * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * Internet Access: Telnet BBS.SWCBBS.COM * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * WEB Access: http://www.swcbbs.com * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * 2400/9600/14.4 USR HST/Dual Standard Public Access (508) 368-7036 * * 2400/9600/14.4/28.8 USR V.Everything Public Access (508) 368-6604 * * 2400/9600/14.4 USR HST/Dual Standard Member Access (508) 368-7139 * * 9600/14.4/16.8/28.8 USR V.Everything Member Access (508) 368-3424 * * <<*-*-*-*->> * * At Main Menu, type: J 178 * * for "Dr Furball's Educational & Philanthropical Conference" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1995 Children's Animated Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved This newsletter may be freely distributed as long as it remains intact and this notice is not removed. Please do not post on USENET, FIDONET, WILDNET etc. without permission of the conference moderator. # # # -- ==================================================================== Children's Animated Television CAT a 501-C-3 non-profit organization Claude DiDomenica * didom@usa1.com * President of CAT Web Homepage http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/ Top 5% of ALL Web Sites! Providing hope and information for "The Family of the Future" ====================================================================