What are DeafRead Plans for the Next Conference?

Now I'm wondering. Since there is slow (very!) rise on the number deaf/hh bloggers appearing on DeafRead's aggregator list who are either CI users, non-signers, cued speech users and/or oral-aural who prefer to speak and listen. Like I said, a slow rise but it could very well be gaining traction at this time. However, that may remain to be seen when Jared made a response on Tea Time.

This note is to let you know that DeafRead Team is keeping a close eye on comments among the bloggers and vloggers regarding the future of DeafRead.

I appreciate your calm tone and your message is well thought-out.

We hope to have more dialogue on this issue with the people who will be at the conference this weekend. DeafRead is a moving target and we can change with time.

And so I'm thinking, what will DeafRead list of bloggers look like at the end of this year? What will the make-up be like one year later? Two years later? Three? And suppose we get more deaf people who do not use ASL and are a part of DeafRead's aggregator v/blog list who may want to come to the next DeafRead blogger/vlogger conference? What if they get nominated and are the winner? Will they be refused communication access not knowing what is being said at the conference when everybody is signing? After all, isn't the number one issue among deaf and hard of hearing people is equal communication access? And suppose DeafRead host another conference and does not accomodate deaf non-ASL b/vlogger at the next conference supposing they are one of the nominated v/blogger? Will that make them hypocrites when it comes to equal communication access for all deaf and hard of hearing people? The majority of deaf and hard of hearing people are not Deaf.

It IS a myth that just because a person is deaf or hard of hearing they know how to sign. Most of them do not know sign language or ASL and prefer to speak and listen with the help of their hearing aids and cochlear implants.

The real question for DeafRead is whether they are "deaf-centric" involving every deaf and hard of hearing members (including Deaf members) who want to be a part of that aggregator list or "Deaf-centric" involving only a specific group of people and employ hypocrisy on equal communicaton access? But with the upcoming conference they seem to want to prefer the latter because it'd be a "Deaf dominated place" kind of thing. Let's hope not for the sake of real unity and acceptance for all kinds of deaf and hard of hearing people.

"VAX WARS"

Here's a start on a trip through memory lane. One was the "VAX WARS" at Gallaudet University which was posted in the bit.listserv.deaf-l section (it goes back to 1992) where many students participated in the VAX discussions to battle each other out with wits, stupidity, intelligence, ego, fear and vanity.

Here's a start as part of my analysis of the past newsgroup discussion (i.e. bit.listserv.deaf-l) on a paranoid topic that has come up even on DeafRead, "Deaf Community Dying?" (see alternative link here). And that was in 1992, and not 2008. But the difference there was that cochlear implant wasn't even a part of that discussion since the issue was sidetracked (no suprise there) over one opinion that left out a crucial word, "may" in post #8 out 216 that would've prevented all the uproar:

After all, despite our deafness and our pride, we all (may) have the deepest wish to be hearing. Period.

Many went apoplectic after reading that comment while some clamored for that person who made the comment ought to leave Gallaudet University. There are many familiar names such as Trudy Suggs, Neil McDevitt, Todd Elliott, Rob Underhill, Amy Kurtz, Stephen Hardy, Mike McConnell, Pat Robertson, R. Bondroff, and even Andrea Shettle. Did I miss anyone important? There are many more names that may be familiar to you but not to me. If you do find your comments in there, has your position changed since 1992 in that discussion?

May the VAX be with you.

Deaf Pianist Wins Presitigious Young Soloist Award

Cool! A deaf pianist, Yew Choong Cheong, won the 2007 International Young Soloist Award. He performed this amazing classical piano at the Kennedy Center last year about two months ago. I have never heard of him. Not much info about him but I will certainly keep an eye out for this guy.

Watch the video and listen to his amazing piano repertoire. You'll have to listen very hard at the beginning. He starts off quietly and builds into a crescendo and fades, and then some more.

UPDATE: More info.

Pianist Cheong Yew Choong though completely deaf in his right ear and has less than 50%hearing in his left ear, played Fireworks from Preludes Bk II from Claude Debussy and the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 by Franz List like a maestro. His technical mastery of both songs is testimony of his belief that, “If I have the passion (for music), nothing is impossible.”

And here is the rest seen here with chockfull of info about him. He's getting his doctorate at West University Virginia.

Cheong, who is pursuing a doctorate in musical arts in the WVU Division of Music in the College of Creative Arts, studies under the tutelage of Professor Peter Amstutz. He considers the selection -- the first for a WVU student -- a great honor.

“This award is by far the biggest achievement I’ve ever had in my life,” Cheong said. “Receiving this recognition certainly motivates me to keep doing the one thing I love the most, playing piano. I really wish to dedicate this award to everyone with disabilities. Nothing is impossible if they have the necessary passion and perseverance in pursuing their goals.”

Cheong is also a graduate assistant and teaches applied piano to others while assisting with tuning and maintaining the University’s piano inventory. At the Kennedy Center, Cheong will perform “Piano Variations” by Aaron Copland and Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6.”

“It’s a joy to see Yew Choong do so well,” Professor Amstutz said. “This is quite an accomplishment, and it’s especially amazing with his specific circumstances and the challenges he’s overcome. He’s a brilliant student -- both academically and at the piano, and I’m very happy for him.”

Cheong has a form of nerve deafness. He can read lips and carry on a spirited conversation, but his hearing impairment is so severe that he cannot use a telephone. He rents a room from Ed Keller, a professor emeritus in the University’s Department of Biology.

Read the rest at the link above.

Deaf Golfer Placed 1st at Hooters Golf Tour

The sweet smell of victory. I'm surprised this story hasn't made rounds where Kevin Hall, who lost his hearing at age 2, who is deaf won his first pro golf tournament.

Kevin Hall (Cincinnati, OH) carded a six-under par 66 in the final round of The Hooters Tour’s Bridgestone Winter Series over the 7113 yard, par 72 Forest Lake golf club to garner his first victory of the season.

Kevin Hall finished exceptionally well finishing first. But there's a double irony to all this. The media didn't report this plus the Deaf community, known for their rabid interest in Deaf sports (except this isn't about Deaf sports in the first place), failed to make this known about Kevin's first major golf victory.

Hall finished four strokes ahead of his nearest competitors in an event on the Hooters Pro Golf Tour, a proving ground for men who want to one day play on the PGA Tour, the major league of professional golf.

So far, Kevin Hall has earned $24,296 in the 2007 Hooters Winner Series Professional Tour earning him 2nd place as the money leader. Looks like Kevin is well on his way proving that he's of a pro golf caliber.

BTW, the picture at the top? It's a picture of Cristie Kerr who won the women's Longs Drugs Challenge golf tournament in April of 2002 where she is seen kissing her crystal glass golf award. Note the golf ball at the tip of the glass crystal award.

Marlee Matlin Loves Her iPod

Here is a great interview with Marlee Matlin in a tell all story that she is a gadget hound like the many of us. She "yowls" into her cell phone's speaker phone to communicate with her friends and loved ones. She listens to her songs on her trusty iPod to the words of Billy Joel's "My Life" and "Movin' Out" constantly. And she's dying to get her hands on a Bose noise cancelling headphones, the kind you'd see people have while sitting in their airplane seats. Why, you'd swear she's "audistic"! Oh woe!! Deaf culture in a state of collapse! How dare she! We certainly can't have Marlee Matlin do those things and let her get away with it, can we?

Read the rest of the interview where she goes on to talk about what she would like to see in a cell phone someday in the future. A nice read.

Would Beethoven Have Wanted a Cochlear Implant?

What do you think? Since Beethoven became deaf later in his adult life (late deafened) do you think he would’ve gone for a cochlear implant? Hmm…an interesting thought for today. But Ludwig van Beethoven is not what I am going to discuss today. I brought that up only because I came across a blog internet address with the words “Baby Beethoven.” As it turns out it is a blog about a hearing parent of a deaf baby girl who was fitted with two hearing aids at the age of 7 months. She is now 13 months old. The child’s name is Marielle and she has a 60 dB loss in both ears, I believe. Marielle's hearing loss is genetic. But the story here is that the parents have been learning ASL, cued speech along with intensive speech therapy at home and away for Marielle to learn and communicate with. But Marielle’s parents have made a decision about signing in ASL.

Barry and I will keep learning ASL for now at least. I am still very interested in the language and being able to communicate with Deaf adults and children. We will use with her for another year or so until her speaking capabilities improve. She is using it expressively so much at this point I am not going to cut her off. Receptively she is responding so well to our voices. I will say "Do you want to eat?" with no visual cues and she will immediately start signing "eat." She also signs elephant, help, dog...the list is getting too long. I am losing track! I guess technically we are in total communication mode at the moment. Anyway, we will encourage her to learn ASL when she is older but will not be using it in the school setting for reasons I will go into later!

It's interesting that Marielle seems to understand what her mother was saying and responded by signing "eat" since she is only 13 months old and her vocal cords and muscle control have yet to mature at this point. Visual communication makes sense here (now for those who haven't been following my blogs all these years and in other forums, I advocate visual communications for both hearing and deaf babies).

Though Marielle's parents seemed to have already made a decision on what they would do with her once she gets a little bit older.

Barry and I decided if we had to choose this second, we would send her to the cued speech school for the first few years as her speech is really developing and she is learning proper pronunciation. Then we would move her to the aural-oral school and maybe eventually mainstreamed into her neighborhood school.

Sounds reasonable? I would think so.

This was one of the scenarios I presented before in one my blogs and in other forums that a deaf baby need to be exposed to some kind of visual communication whether it’s baby signs, homemade signs, SEE, ASL or even cued speech. And the parents may in fact end or reduce their signing and slowly switch to a more heavily speech and listening oriented environment. If Marielle's parents felt that this would be the best course of action and approach for their deaf/hh child (i.e. an informed decision) then who are we to intervene and say that their approach is wrong? But be sure to visit to their blogsite when they get the chance to blog their reasons on why they will not want to allow ASL in a school setting.

Will the Deaf community scream in protest over this parents' decision not to allow ASL in a school setting? Will they call them "heartless" parents? Will some of them try and push their ASL agenda to the extreme? Or will they simply respect these parents' decision on how their deaf/hh child will be taught in a school setting?

Now, on speech and listening skills alone, I believe this kid will do extremely well considering she has a 60 dB hearing loss and had a much, much earlier intervention than I had when I was just a toddler. I have about a 70 dB loss in my right ear (my left ear is bye-bye). I was fitted with only one hearing aid and that was for my right ear at about 3 years old (btw, I was fitted in the wrong ear at around age 2…grrr). By the time I was 10 years old I was able to do well in regular school (no mainstreaming) there on out until I graduated from high school I did well because I was able to hear quite well and talk without any problems. People wouldn’t tell if I had a hearing loss if they talked to me over the cell phone. But with today’s accommodation needs (e.g. CART, cued speech transliterators, FM loop system, sign language interpreters, and so on) along with advanced digital hearing aids and cochlear implants and better parental (loving/dedicated) involvement of their deaf/hh child will certainly give Marielle an excellent shot at life and be successful in what she will do in her adult years in a world that she will have to deal with mostly hearing people. So, if I can do it successfully with only one ear and a hearing aid, Marielle can certainly do much better with two ears and two hearings!

Speak Up! And don’t be shy to use your listening and speech skills. After all, it could reap huge dividends down the road.

Who is This Weird Deaf Guy?

"Don't judge me! I'm just doing my thing!"

Can anyone name this outrageous character? He's is always like a greased up pig. Runs around almost nekkid and flails his arms around whenever he gets caught and say the strangest things. He even denies the obvious (like getting caught) and if I didn't know any better I'd say that people are trying to portray him as a total retard, yet he's everyone’s favorite hearing-impaired fella.

"Has been featured in several cameos since his first appearance in "The Thin White Line". He can speak well, but somewhat out of tone, accentuating his parody of the hearing-impaired. He asks only that people "Don't judge me, I'm just doing my thing!" He is always shown running, even when stopped he will continue to run in place and flail his arms."

But there is this game that people like to play with this weird deaf guy but there's a caveat when playing with him at a company picnic.

"....you have to chase and catch the greased up deaf guy, but watch out he’s slippery so be sure to tighten your grip on that guy or he’ll just slide away."

How gross. But I already know the answer. Do you?

UPDATE: One guy named the correct program but not the character's name. The quotes above were lifted from a website called "Stewies Playground. " You know, the character who looks like a baby but acts like an adult whose head is shaped like a football is enough to imagine how in the heck he was delivered when he was born? Though the character in question is named or known as the "Deaf Greased Up Guy" or DGUG.

Now, it was interesting that a few people were thinking of sombody else. Tsk tsk...ya'll got a dirty mind. Though that wasn't my intention anyway. Kind of ironic how it turned out to a few people.

I put this blog after I came across during one my "deaf" Google News search and came across entitled "OCD: Family Guy's Greased-Up Deaf Guy" that was posted 16 hours ago in the Google News section. I did some more quick search and came across "Stewies Playground" where I got more quotes and figured it'd be something for readers to do and guess the charcter who was, of course, deaf.

Poll: Are Deaf Clubs Dwindling? Are you a member of one?

Here's a poll for you guys about Deaf club memberships. Are you a member of a Deaf club?

Evidently some people are saying that Deaf clubs are dwindling across the United States for various reasons. Some say cost is an issue and it's expensive to hold a Deaf club in a rented or leased building. Some say that technology is the reason where you have the internet, video phone, Sidekicks, emails, discussion forums, and so on that may have shifted interest elsewhere. And some even have the mitigated gall to blame cochlear implant as a reason for the decline of Deaf clubs. Or that mainstreaming may be a part of the reason of the percieved decline. But I think others may very well agree it could be simple as a generational thing and that interests are placed elsewhere such as going with their Deaf friends at "Happy Hour" places to socialize and smooze virtually cost-free (except for alcohol and food related expenses). It'd be the place to go and get together to discuss everything under the sun from Deaf politics to panicky talks about how cochlear implant blogs are taking over DeafRead. Though I did state some of my reasons here on why there is this perception of less Deaf clubs. But first, we need to define on exactly what makes a Deaf club a "Deaf club."

Here's the poll question below. If you're Deaf, go ahead and answer the question. But if you are Deaf and not a member of a Deaf club, then please take the time to explain why you are not a member of a Deaf club in the Haloscan comment page.

Are you a member of a Deaf club?
	Yes, and I attend my Deaf club regularly.
	Yes, and I attend my Deaf club a few times
	Yes, and I rarely attend my Deaf club.
	Yes, but I don't attend my Deaf club.
	No, I am not a member of a Deaf club.
pollcode.com free polls

Rejecting DeafRead for Selfish Reasons?

After sitting back to take some time and read what others have said about CI and deaf children in blogs did I notice the continued deep mistrust, fear, hate or even suspicion by some people against some of the deaf, hard of hearing, culturally deaf and even hearing bloggers when they do not necessarily "toe the line" to the opinions of culturally deaf people/bloggers. And in return cry "foul" or "unfair" in so many words? This is not surprising since ignorance can breed ugliness rather than to agree to participate in various discourses or acknowledge that there are more than just one views that may be just as valid as the next one. Or that various solutions do in fact exist. But from what I've seen so far is the differences on perspective and understanding by those who never experienced the appreciation of sound and the ability to communicate (listening and hearing) within the larger society. And that the gift of hearing isn't seen as a gift but more like a "curse" for a lack of a better word.

But what is ironic is the cry of a supposed "sudden" swing of a pendulum towards CI-related topics that are dominated by, who else, culturally-deaf bloggers who respond to non culturally-deaf bloggers in a mostly not-so-veiled blog protest of sorts against those who are pro-CI, especially for deaf children. And then we have the irony of seeing bloggers who would "gently" remind DeafRead on who their subscriber base are while at the same time point out that they do not want to "boot anyone off." An odd way of playing "neutral" I'd say when it's more like a threat of some kind. Kind of like along the line that DeafRead editors should try and decide who these "deficit thinkers" are. And then we have bloggers who question DeafRead on what it want to be when it "grows up" and how DeafRead shouldn't go about their supposed "anything goes" aggregator website business. All of these things certainly do give an appearance of favoritism rather than open-mindedness preferring not to hear non-culturally deaf people's own opinions and experiences. Perhaps the growing pains isn't DeafRead but rather the Deaf community's instead?

Let's address the supposed "sudden surge" of CI blogs on DeafRead.

There are 6 blogs listed in DR's subscription with the obvious words "cochlear implant" or "CI" in the blog title with 4 being the most active.

"Cochlear Implant Online" - 7 blogs lilsted in DR since January 15.

"An American Mom in Tuscany: Jordan's Cochlear" - 19 blogs listed in DR since January 6, 2008
"Been Cochlearized!" - only one blog dated August 3, 2007

"Cochlear Implant Studies" - only one blog dated October 15, 2007.

"Cochlear Kids" - 9 blogs listed in DR since January 11, 2008

"Tales from a CI Gal" - 6 blogs listed in DR since January 11, 2008.

Then we have other "older" blogs that came on board during 2007 that have discussed CI from time to time or quite often such as "Hearing Exchange," "Bionic Ear," "Chronicles of a Bionic Woman," "Moot Thoughts and Musings" and probably a few more I may have missed. But it is patently obvious that the majority of blogs (539 blogs!) listed in DeafRead's subscription page are mostly culturally deaf blogger type and not of the deaf or hard of hearing blogger variety who may be pro-SEE, pro-cued speech, pro-CI, pro-oral/aural or a mix of those things when it comes to blogging topics in those areas.

And then we have 27 blogs listed in DeafReadwith the specific word/acronymn "ASL" included as part of the name of their blogsite. This is not to mention the overwhelming majority of bloggers listed in DeafRead blog list are mostly the culturally deaf variety anyway. Yet, we hear people bitchin' who say DeafRead is being "invaded" by cochlear implant blogs or that it is becoming more "CI-centric."

"Invaded"?

"CI-centric"?

I'd hardly call it that. A bit laughable considering the majority of such blogs are hardly in that area of supposed contention. I think the "growing pains" are more in line by those who are doing the most of the complaining and not about DeafRead's own "growing pains."

Besides bitchin' about the supposed invasion of CI blogs people are now "demanding" that DeafRead have an "even mixture of a variety of deaf issues." So what does that mean when for 18 months DeafRead main theme has been mostly culturally deaf-related? Does this mean we need to get more bloggers on the DeafRead list who are more supportive of CI, cued speech, oral/aural method, A-V method, SEE users and so on? Perspectives come from many sides and not just about any singular majority viewpoint. This is how we learn. I don't think DeafRead's list of blogs has even yet to "mature" and that it is still relatively new in the blog aggregator business on anything "deaf-centric" rather than only "Deaf-centric" blogs.

Now, I spent some time reviewing several videos that are aimed at parents on the benefits of having cochlear implant such as the Oral Deaf Education website supported by the Oberkotter Foundation. Listening to these kids speak and hear with the aid of their cochlear implant after several years of use is simply amazing to watch and listen. Yet a few/many Deaf people are suggesting the idea that this private organization ought to be sued. And for what? That they managed to improve educationally the kids that are on the same level as their hearing peers? Or that their "Deaf identity" forever damaged? Improving their options to speak and interact with the larger population? Visions and ideas exist on different planes of thought. And certainly technology has changed the landscape forever.

There are also many positive stories of children, teens and adults with hearing aids and cochlear implants, just as there are many positive stories of children, teens and adults who are Deaf and use ASL. But what is equally disturbing is when positive stories about kids with their hearing aids or even cochlear implants, people become dismissive and get into their lack of "deaf identity" (or in this case "Deaf identity") thing as their next line of defense to try and counter positive stories. Even daring to raise the idea that "true" success of "D"eafhood can only come in form of eventually accepting and using ASL (ie "natural language") thinking it's the one "commonality" that would bond us all. Not so. That's not embracing diversity but more like about demanding conformity instead. But the phrase "natural language" is a bit of voodoo expression used by many culturally deaf people despite the fact we live in an age of technology where "natural language" is increasingly the English language among deaf and hard of hearing children growing up with cochlear implants or hearing aids whose parents are hearing. This will evolve and grow along with the evolution of technology and, soon, biotechnology. The one "commonality" amongst us all is the issue of communication and the access of it, and not about ASL.

This is all about acceptance of others and not whether one needs to know ASL in order to "feel at home." It's about feeling at "home" in their own comfortable environment whether it's around deaf or hearing friends, co-workers, relatives and such. And use whatever mode of communication may it be oral/aural, cued speech, ASL, SEE, and so on to communicate effectively and efficiently with their hearing aid, cochlear implant, implantable hearing aid or none at all. That's true diversity.

Choosing not to be a part of Deaf culture is about preferences and even comfort zones, not always about rejection per se. Some may be misinformed about Deaf culture while others understand it very well but it doesn't suit them as a preferred lifestyle or upbringing. It's about embracing and choosing certain values important to him or her and it may not always be about Deaf culture. So, the idea of a "Deaf identity" is a bit over-rated depending on certain circumstances and the amount of hearing loss. A person's own "identity" evolve over time based on several factors and could very well not involve any sign language, ASL, or the the culture of such a community.

Now, all we need is more CI bloggers and cued speech bloggers in DeafRead. Even more oral/aural and SEE bloggers as well. This would truly represent a playing field of diversified list of bloggers in DeafRead along with culturally deaf bloggers so that all can share their ideas, concepts and experiences. By then DeafRead would have hopefully grown up as a place where hearing parents of deaf/hh children would see DeafRead as a one stop place to do their research on deaf-related issues. After all, isn't that what helps parents make an informed decision when it comes to their deaf/hh child? Wouldn't that be great?

MLK is a Republican

Tomorrow on January 15th is the date when Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. And yes, it’s true he was a Republican. A little known fact that many people tried to obscure it.

According to “The Black Republican” magazine, which debut in 2006, they did a 3-page article about MLK and the reasons why he was a Republican and not a Democrat. The article contains chockfull of interesting information to read. Even though Michelle Obama invoked MLK’s dream speech while at the same celebrating the Democratic party fully unaware, possibly so, of the Democratic party's 200 year of misdead and harm they have done against black people all the way up to the 1960s.

“Reparations March on Congress for a Formal Apology to African Americans” from the Democrat-controlled Congress. The group is demanding that the Democrats apologize for the Democratic Party’s 200-year history of racism and failed socialism that has trapped urban blacks in poverty.

..the book Back to Basics for the Republican Party by Michael Zak who provides a compelling, fact-based account of how it was Republicans, not Democrats, who championed civil rights for blacks from the 1860‘s to the 1960‘s. An additional reference is the book Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America by black Democrat Juan William who exposes, in detail, the Democratic Party’s failed socialist policies.

Colonel Rice noted that author Michael Scheurer stated succinctly that history shows that the Democratic Party is and always has been the party of “four S‘s“: Slavery, Secession, Segregation and now Socialism.

“We must not only demand that the Democrats apologize for the atrocities they committed against blacks”, said NBRA Vice Chairman Richard St. Paul who is also a lawyer, “but we must also hold the Democrats accountable for the deplorable conditions in black communities that have been run by Democrats for the past 40 years.

Indeed. And on a funny note, Hillary Clinton invoked MLK's dream as well. Perhaps she's trying to become the first "black woman president" of the United States?

Let's celebrate MLK, Jr knowing contently that he was a Republican who shared liked minded views. Wayne Perryman thinks so, too.

When Deaf People Attack - a daily grind?

Here is another story about how some Deaf people will do and say anything to put down a parent of a deaf child with a cochlear implant. Only this time this is about a deaf child who is an adopted child from China. It’s a story about two adopted Chinese children, Jasmine (“Jazzie”) and Tahlia, with Jazzie being the older sibling who is deaf and wears a cochlear implant since age 16 months. The mother of the blog, “The Daily Grind – Life with Jazzie & Tahlia”, chronicles mostly about the two girls asked a question in an earlier blog in the comment section after posting an ASL video,

Just curious, have any of the deaf blog readers explained why the deaf commmunity feels this way about cochlear implants? I would love to better understand their point of view too.

And then in her next recent blog, “Questions Answered,” the blogger talked about how Kyra answered her question but couldn’t help notice how some Deaf people continue to put her down simply because of the fact that she has a deaf child with a cochlear implant.

After my last post, Kyra asked why the deaf community feels negatively towards cochlear implants. I will not speak for all deaf people, but I will talk for the deaf people that I have had personal conversations with. I have been called a bad mother by a deaf woman, who thought I was denying Jazzie her identity; that I was trying to fix something that is not a problem. Another deaf person told me that parents who give children an implant, are creating robots. He also told me that it was wrong to have my daughter undergo such a serious surgery before she was able to have any say in that decision. Other people I have talked to told me that they are afraid that cochlear implants will mean the end of the deaf community. There used to be a lot of deaf clubs, but one person told me he thought those clubs will close down completely, if there are no new deaf people attending them. People are afraid their community and their culture will disappear because of cochlear implants. You have to understand that deaf people are extremely proud to be deaf and to belong to their community. I think they see it as an insult, when someone gets a cochlear implant and therefor tries to deny his or her very own community.

But just because a deaf child was outfitted with a cochlear implant doesn’t mean parents are not doing anything in regard to learning sign language and Deaf culture.

Back when Jazzie was still in our Early Intervention program, we had a deaf mentor, who came to our house twice a week to play with Jazzie, teach her and me sign language and teach us about deaf culture. Steve was the sweetest man and because of his work with young children, he had seen first hand how successful an implant can be. However, he was also of the generation where oral schools meant something terrible. He certainly did not have good memories of his teachers and his experience at school. I don't think that anybody ever convinced him, that oral deaf schools are different now. They are not the awful experience today, as they were back then. He always expressed some concern about Jazzie and her school. Not one visit went by without him asking if she was happy at school. He always wanted to make sure that she knew about the deaf community and deaf culture.

Though it would be nice just for once those Deaf people who insist on having the stupidity to attack and put down a hearing mother of a deaf child with a cochlear implant to simply knock it off with that attitude!

I admit that I used to be more conscientious about it back then, than I am today. It is hard to attend deaf events, when people there are looking down upon you for giving your child a cochlear implant.

Somebody need to step forward and apologize on behalf of those few Deaf boorish people who attacked her without thinking. The responses she receieved weren't justified.

It’s quite obvious in the “The Daily Grind” blog that this mother and father of the adopted Chinese children are doing everything possible to help their deaf child become more rounded with lots of love and attention. Kudos to “The Daily Grind,” a good blog to read.

Texting Kills....are you guilty?

In Virginia lawsmakers are considering a ban on texting while driving has shown to have serious consequences in auto accident deaths. And it's just not cars, either.

They are tackling the problem of drivers who send, read and write messages on cellphones, PDAs and BlackBerrys. It's a thoroughly modern distraction dubbed Driving While Texting or DWT.

The General Assembly, which began its 60-day session Wednesday, is considering a pair of bills that would ban texting while driving a car, bicycle, motorcycle, moped or even an electric wheelchair. Lawmakers in four other states, including Maryland, are considering similar proposals.

Texting while driving is lot more common than most people realize due to the rising popularity of cell phones.

A 2007 study by Nationwide Mutual Insurance estimated that 73 percent of drivers use phones while driving and 20 percent text while behind the wheel. The texting number goes up to 37 percent for drivers ages 18 to 27.

A national survey conducted by AAA and Seventeen magazine in July found that 61 percent of teens admit to risky driving habits. Of that number, 46 percent said they text while driving.

Though it would be interesting to see a survey or statistics on the number of deaf people that do text and drive as compared to a 2007 survey by Nationwide Mutual Insurance. In fact, here's a short poll for you to answer for those who are deaf or hard of hearing who may drive and text and the same time.

If you are deaf or hh, do you Text and Drive?
	Yes (if you are under age 21)
	Yes (if you are between 22 and 30 years old)
	Yes (if you are bewteen 31 and 40 years old)
	Yes (if you are between 41 and 50 years old)
	Yes (if you are between 51 and 60 years old)
	Yes (if you are between 61 and 70 years old)
	Yes (if you are over 71 years old)
	No, I don't text and drive.
pollcode.com free polls

I wonder, would my impromptu survey show a higher statistical result among deaf/hh than hearing people? Even if a poll survey could be done correctly would it show a higher statistical result among deaf and hard of hearing who will text and driven than their hearing counterparts? And suppose a survey was done by an insurance company showing a high disproportionate number of deaf/hh drivers that would tend to text and drive than hearing people, will car insurance companies raise premium insurance costs on car owners?

Deaf Bunny on Fox News' Red Eye Show?

Deaf Bunny is certainly generating a lot of buzz lately in Wired and now on Fox News' late night Red Eye show that was captured on YouTube (discovered via Google blog search using "deaf") and I was able to add subtitles to it via BubblePLY.

There were a lot of jokes, laughter and innuendos about deaf people and the making of p8rn. The host of the show even facetiously questioned whether we should be "rejoicing that everyone deaf and non-deaf can now be corrupted by the poisonous influence that is p8rnography?"

Poll: Should DeafRead Allow Alternative Blogs (non-Deaf)?

Should DeafRead allow more "pro-cued speech," "pro-CI," and "pro-oral/aural" blogs as long as those bloggers meet DeafRead's submission criteria to be on DeafRead blog post list? I'm asking this question because I noticed that a few pro-cued speech blogs and pro-CI blogs are starting to hit the DeafRead list of acceptable blog links. So now I have this big question for ya'll in my poll. Be honest. There is only a "yes" or "no" answer. If you're not sure, don't answer until you are absolutely sure.

Enjoy.

Should DeafRead allow more "pro-cued speech," "pro-CI" and "pro-oral/aural" blogs as long as they meet DeafRead's criteria?
	Yes!
	No!
pollcode.com free polls

Wanna Earn an Easy $150?

Got the post-holiday bills haunting you? Need a little extra cash? I was asked to put this piece out by a market research company after they came across my blog and contacted me about the upcoming online study and need deaf people to answer some questions on deaf communication needs. This is where you can help provide valuable information that is a win-win situation. You get the money. They get the survey results. This is a legitimate request for deaf people to participate in this survey. Some of you techno-geeks were also contacted by a company rep.

Here's the advertisement below but hurry because the survey started yesterday and you have til Friday to complete the survey, and get your cool $150:


Goodmind, a market research company in NYC, is doing an online study with the deaf or hard of hearing for one of the major national relay providers. The whole purpose of the study is to find out more about deaf communication needs: relay (internet and video), instant messaging, text messaging, etc, and how these needs could be better addressed. Also, they want to find out what is important to the deaf in regards to wireless devices (ease of use, speed, features).

How it works is that Goodmind will send each person an individual login to their website. This will send you to an online “room” which will be open 24 hours a day for each day of the study. This is a 3-day study, however total time commitment is only 90 min to 2 hours spread over the 3 days. You are free to login whenever. This study started yesterday (1/8) but has been extended to Friday 1/11. There have already been two days of questions posted but you’ll have until Friday to finish all the questions.

After the end of the study, Goodmind will send out incentive checks for $150 for each person who completed all 3 days. It is turning out to be a really interesting study so please consider taking part! Contact Jacqueline.amyot@goodmind.net for more information or to participate.

UPDATE: The study is now full! Thank you for your co-operation. Goodmind is no longer accepting people to participate in the survey. If you have questions, you may contact Jacqueline Amyot.

A Female Dog Named Karma

You know how it goes. About karma and blogging? Especially about how bad karma manages to come around and bite back 20 folds when you least expect it? Or maybe it’s one of those slow, bad karma kind of thing where it just drags you down slowly while you beg, scratch and scream to your readers for mercy and help followed by countless more whines? But this doesn’t happen to you but to somebody else. You’re the spectactor watching all this from the sideline. Something like witnessing a cop who just pulled over a speedy and reckless driver. The same car earlier whose driver cut you off and sped off like a maniac while he flicked his middle finger at you while laughing in your face thinking he’s so clever and brave? Why do we have those morons who act like that? You can’t do any thing other than to shake your head whenever that happens.

And then you have the passive-aggressive drivers like little old ladies who go about purposely driving slower than the speed limit just to irritate a driver or two behind her just for spite (which can be just as dangerous as speedy drivers) while in the passing lane impedding the progress of traffic flow. It is also against the law since such actions do endanger other drivers who want to drive at a regular posted speed limit.

But you sit there knowing that logic and common sense will prevail along with a cool head. The reward comes when you see that same driver who just got pulled over by a cop. You slowly drive by and make eye contact with that driver. You crack a wide grin seeing the absurdity of it all seeing that bad karma made its mark.

Right now, I think we are witnessing a bit of bad karma occurring within the Deaf blogosphere because all of a sudden some bloggers are starting to point fingers and accuse others for causing this so-called “division” of their dear Deaf community (rather than simply the deaf community which begs another question by the way). But this is all without merit because it just simply borders on absurdity is what I see. But why do it? Why the “J’accuse!” witch hunt? Just so some people can feel good about themselves? I'd say it's a bit ridiculous to accuse people when the accuser(s) need to look into his/her own mirror for a change. Why not just chalk it up believing it’s a simple case of ignorance instead and move on? We need to remember Occam's razor here.

If a Harry Potter jellybean you tasted was atrociously distasteful, you don’t blame the jellybean but yourself for tasting it in the first place. I said my “mea culpa” a long while back during 2006 and so I’m not about blame a single jellybean or two for its odd flavor and accuse it for causing the division or ruination of our precious jellybean culture! But the funny thing is that one time buttered popcorn held the coveted titled as the most popular jellybean for many years! Go figure.

And so it comes down to this. What is exactly will the predicted “life expectancy” be for many of these deaf and hh blog/vlog sites, I wonder? How long will these people be willing to blog? We all know that blogging/vlogging will not go on forever. Deaf, deaf, and hh bloggers come and go in life. Some just need to take a break and get away from it all but come back later to blog some more. While others will simply exit the highway ramp because they have other preferred destinations to go to. Or if people are really stupid then perhaps bad karma will simply get the best of them slapping them with humiliation while the rest of us just grins at the irony of what has just happened.

Though I wonder at this point in my blog post, are there jellybean researchers who have the job of tasting the real thing before comparing with the same flavored jelly bean before giving the stamp of approval? Or in this case a stamp of sickening distaste? I’m sure there’s one sick dude somewhere right now doing his job. Must be karma.

Rocky Mountain Oyster jellybeans anyone? Moooo!

Hamill vs Bonnar, April 2nd.

Matt made the confirmation to me (via my daughter who is a big fan of him who told her of the upcoming event) that he is scheduled to fight against Stephen Bonnar (11-4) on April 2, 2008. This puts to rest the rumor about his upcoming fight against Bonnar. Seems like Matt is an odds on favorite to win this one provided that his knee has healed and strengthened giving him the upper hands on his wrestling skill. And, of course, his own specialty...the ground and pound meat maker.

Good luck, Matt. As usual, we're rooting for you.

Hearing Woman Chooses Cued Speech over Sign Language

Here's an interesting blog I came across that was made about two weeks ago. It's about a hearing woman who wanted to be a sign language interpreter but she was inspired by her Deaf friend who only used cued speech to communicate visually with her Deaf friends and parents, or so it seems, wanted to become a cued speech transliterator instead.

When I was young I wanted to be a Sign Language Interpreter. Well that has changed and now I know that I can become fluent in about three months if I use it daily. How exciting. I am hoping to become fluent and then surprise my friend and her family. It will be great!

How inspirational it must have been for this young hearing woman who wanted to learn cued speech so badly she dropped the idea to learn sign language! Whoever this Deaf person is she is a shining example that cued speech can be successfully used on its own merits to educate others about value of using cued speech. And show that she can communicate with her other Deaf friends who are also cuers, and inspire so many others to take up the cause for cued speech. She sounds like a Deaf person who is proud of her rich Deaf cued speech history and was willing to share her experiences with her hearing friend.

Also, we have "Aaron" who is Deaf and uses cued speech mostly when communicating or talking with his Deaf or hearing friends. He knows very little about ASL. In his blog he decided to raise his future baby by teaching and communicating him exclusively with cued speech and not ASL. He has made an informed decision to go that route.

Looks like a person can be a Deaf person without the need to learn ASL and still be successful with the English language . I guess the criteria to be a Deaf person isn't all about ASL or the culture around it. It's about communication choice. Go figure. It has never been the case about culture. Or is it?

(note : do you know where I'm going with this one here folks?)

What Should I Do With My Free Round Trip Ticket?

I have a free round trip ticket good for one year. May 12th is the final month to use that ticket anywhere in the 48 states. I need your help on getting some ideas on what I should do with my rain ticket and would like to use it with great benefit other than to visit a relative or parents (my mother is coming up next month to visit me in New Mexico, so...). Where can I go in terms of getting additional exposure/experience on an intellectual scale involving deafness issues such as going to a convention, a workshop, etc. Something that would reap valuable information as well as being able to share my own ideas, concepts, experiences and opinions in person.

Just to let you know before hand my trip will not be about going to a protest or some advocacy thing involving groups of people who like nothing more than to complain and whine. Not my style. Neither will I use my round trip ticket to go to an award just to pat myself on my back or others, again, not my style and I have better use of my time than to do that (now if you're going to whine about the award thing in here in my Haloscan comment better think twice before you actually do it in here) because I have my reasons.

I can reserve for my round-trip plane ticket no less than two weeks out. So, it must be more than two weeks down the road where I want to go. That means I must use my ticket well before the May 12th flight where I may stay a few days before returning. I must return back home no later than May 12th!

Ok. I'll wait and read your suggestions . Please, some intelligent responses and not the lame ones. Just because you put forth some possible ideas where I may want to go doesn't mean that I will go there. I just might fly into Miami for a day or two and sip some Mai Tai and then come back with a nice tan.

*shrugs*

Then again that depends on what your suggestions are like and I might just fancy yours and take up on that idea.

UPDATE: It doesn't have to be to a "deafness-related" event. Other ideas/suggestions are welcomed if they're something that I hadn't thought of before. Tapping into your brain banks. Think "intellectual" events something that I may find educationally rewarding or stimulating.

Do VRS's Discriminate Against SEE Users?

I'm curious about this one. I've heard bits and pieces about this that Video Relay Services may not have SEE interpreters readily available or the fact if they do have any SEE interpreters versus plenty of ASL interpreters. So, do VRS's discriminate against those who prefer to sign in SEE and/or that they lack the skill to read finger-spelling that well. One commenter in my blog says he has experienced that on occassions.

I have asked.. sometimes I get snide remarks, sometimes "he/she is too busy with another call," and others say flat out they do not have SEE interpreters.

After using Sprint, HOVRS, and i711, nope, I have never gotten a SEE interpreter. Another problem is that I fingerspell a lot - they don't seem to be good at catching that either!

He raised an important question here that I've wondered for some time. Are these VRS companies not advertising truthfully what they have on staff enough SEE interpreters on hand to handle SEE callers? I've noted on a few well known VRS websites say that they do have SEE interpreters or that they have "English based sign language" on hand. But do they really?

Maybe it's the famous "Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!" we're seeing? Let's see what people say. This could all be a huge "misunderstanding."

Go Away Deaf People – this blog is for hearing people only.

Go Away Deaf People – this blog is for hearing people only!!

Communication access is very important to all people especially when it comes to using phones at any time, any place to anybody at a moments notice. Technology is helping change that dynamic use of a telephone and provide even greater access for more people. But to read one organization recent press release did they provide some misleading information about CSD’s announcement of their teaming up with Chicago airport over a phone deal?

CSD, the nation’s leader in providing communication access services for deaf and hard of hearing consumers, has teamed up with The Chicago Airport System (O’Hare and Midway International Airports), to furnish public access videophones (PAV) capable of providing video relay service (VRS) and point to point calls.

VRS is the functionally equivalent way for deaf and hard of hearing people to make phone calls. With VRS, a caller using sign language can communicate with a hearing person via a video interpreter and by using a video connection. By providing PAVs for their deaf and heard of hearing consumers, The Chicago Airport System is recognized as the first airports in the nation to offer this level of communication access.

The charge of misleading information came from one blogger who runs “Lightkeepers Journal.”

In a July 25 press release touting a new video relay service contract with Chicago airport system, they make this statement: “VRS is the functionally equivalent way for deaf and hard of hearing people to make phone calls.” This is stretching it. On the contrary, VRS is the relay service that the Deaf who use sign language use to communicate. But for hard of hearing people? No, it does not provide them with a functionally equivalent way to make a phone call. Most hard of hearing people want to use their residual hearing, supplemented by relay services such as captioned telephone or VCO IP relay. They prefer to speak for themselves and listen as much as possible. They do not typically use sign language as people do who prefer VRS.

Our own Brenda Battat, Associate Director of the Hearing Loss Association, and national advocate for functionally equivalent telecommunications wrote this recently: “This misinformation settles in the minds of policy makers, telecommunications innovators, ADA covered facilities, and the general public and makes it so much harder for us to advocate for the most appropriate access for people who prefer to use spoken language and do not use sign language. Yes a few, very few people who are hard of hearing use VRS. They know sign language and therefore can benefit from this wonderful relay service. But let’s not forget that less than 5% of people who are hard of hearing use sign language as their preferred way of communicating and therefore VCO [Voice Carry Over] and captioned telephone today are their most functionally equivalent relay services for them, assuming they cannot rely on HAC/volume [Hearing Aid Compatibility] control phones. Typically speech reading is too hard to use VRS successfully and so until VRS includes captioning it will not be the relay of choice for this population.”

Was this recent CSD press release a misleading one?

Looking around I came across the author's later blog piece under a different topic that got me thinking as well about the use of state and federal fundings via statistics in order to get fundings but intended to serve only a select group instead. The author was responding to Shane’s blog piece in DeafDC not too long ago about this one.

The main issue is that there are organizations and groups in the country who are confusing state and federal policy makers by stating or implying that if you provide sign language interpreting, then all 31 million people who have a hearing loss have access. I think this point was missed in the DeafDC Blog.

It is unethical to increase program and service funding using statistics made up primarily of a group of people you never intend to help at all, or provide token assistance. I am sure it makes the funding case stronger, but it is oppressive to the service and program needs of people who wish to maximize their residual hearing using technology and other strategies, and continue to verbally communicate.

Are there Deaf/deaf/hh organizations out there who purposely misuse statistics and/or twist certain data or information for the sake of getting funds from state and/or federal governments with the intention to only serve a select group of people?

An interesting thought there.

Oh, about my blog title? Yeah, it was misleading, no? Actually, my blog is for everybody, deaf and hearing. Just thought I let you know.

Drop Dead Fred?

Well, with Politico throwing out constant hit pieces as well as doling out piecemeal rumors has not really dampened Fred Thompson’s continuing momentum, albeit slow and steady perhaps. Just perhaps. But really it's a bit humorous seeing the MSM salivating over “earthquake” voting results between Obama and Huckabee even though Iowa makes up only 1% of the total U.S. population. Of course, we have winners and losers and the losers are the two Democratic victims who succumbed in the presidential race where their resignations were characterized as a “whimper” by bowing out. Though Gov. Richardson, in low single digit voting result, still “rah-rahing” his supporters. He should go out the door soon enough, too.

So, onward to New Hampshire, a secular state, where it should prove interesting. How will that turn out despite “unexpected trends” among Iowa voters last night? Nobody knows until the the winners cross the finish line.

Thinking Outloud

Suppose a new student (American) arrives at Gallaudet University for the first time to begin his/her 4 to 6 years of college experience without knowing any sign language. Takes Gallaudet's New Student Orientation signing program in the hope it'll be sufficient enough to help prepare that student for life on the campus of Gallaudet University. Suppose this particular deaf/hh student is not enthusiastic enough (or perhaps have a really, really hard time learning it and cannot get anywhere with it) on learning ASL request CART services (or something similar) instead to help get through each classes at Gallaudet for the next 4 to 6 years until graduation time. The question I have is would learning ASL be a prequisite in order to graduate (i.e. non-deafness related degree)? If so, why? What would the differences be between a person who don't really want to use sign language to be the main mode of communication and instead favor captioning services (or other similar helpful services) over those who may be "spatially-challenged" on learning a new language and would require other alternative form of communications?

If Gallaudet University gets about 70% of their monies from the Federal governtment every year shouldn't communication access ought to become a choice for students attending Gallaudet University even though ASL is the only and main mode of communication on campus? Even though Gallaudet University has exceptional services when it comes to communication, no?

Would it be possible someday that a future Gallaudet University student just might do that and go through 4 years using captioning services, for example, using little or no ASL and come out graduating with a degree? What would the legalities and option be should this student be denied such an endeavor?

Before you go on a bend and start accusing me of some things this is merely an exercise in thinking. I pose these questions because I have questions of my own to answer to and I'm curious about your thoughts. This is a fictional scenario folks. No real person is implied or stipulated here.

Deaf Over Anything (D.O.A.)?

Here’s to the New Year, 2008, where I look forward rather than to look back and see where this year will bring us. Of course, lesson learned doesn’t mean we should forget what we learned but chalk it up as a life lesson that’ll never stop until you stop breathing one day, dead on arrival, and then the maggots start to feed on your putrid, decaying lifeless flesh.

Ok. Let’s save that one for Halloween.

By now ya’ll probably have me figured out on why I write what I write. Some of you might be astute enough to go past the words and see the message I’m trying to convey. Bravo for you! While others seriously believe I’m out to get the Deaf community or the people. Hardly. But sometimes it’s like watching a bunch of kids at a play ground run around mindlessly as they jump, slide, swing and scuttle their way around with the occasional shoving and subsequent crying by a few kids who felt they were bullied and run back to their Mommies in protest while Daddies roll their eyes and sighs. Of course, don’t take that literally just figuratively speaking. Just because I dare to question and ask these things don’t mean that I’m out to “get them.” If it weren’t for me to raise some of these “taboo” questions, they might have not been raised at all.

But I do see some people succumb to this “group think” attitude that being “Deaf” is everything and over anything. And damn the rationality, too. Of course, many others do show their independent and critical thinking side when it comes to various deaf-related issues, whatever they may be, and still be proud of their Deaf culture or community. But to discuss deafness or cultural issues that may seem to border on blasphemy will simply earn a scorn, a “Harrumph!,” howls of calls that you must join the Deaf culture or get out, or try and use guilt about you not trying to be a part of the Deaf community when you have no interest. Or so goes their line of reasoning/thinking.

Here’s the secret, folks if you haven’t figured it out. I’m already a part of the community in one way or another whether it’s the Deaf or deaf community. Secondly, there is no “joining” in. It’s just is. Unless, of course, people are trying to tell me that there is this secret book with blacklisted names of those who are forbidden to be a part of that community just because they don’t see themselves as a “Deaf person.” Something like earning a scarlet letter “A” in this case but really it’s all about hypocrisy. Al least it seems so. Yet, I made my list of clarifications last year quite clear where I basically said, in a nutshell, that I prefer English and use my ability to hear (i.e. hoh) over the use of ASL and being Deaf. Some people just find that hard to believe and some just basically condemn me for saying that. Yet, I'm comfortable and happy with who I am despite people who try and use guilt on me (or others like me) in some reverse-psychology attempt on conversion. I'm not alone on this and many do share my thoughts and feelings about this whole thing. Though that doesn’t mean I won’t associate with those who describe themselves as a Deaf person by communicating with them using ASL. The same goes with those who use SEE will I communicate with them. Or those who prefer to talk whether they’re hearing, hard of hearing or deaf. I just see the use of the capital letter “D” as problematic that is consistent with a cultural bunker house mentality. It’s an “either/or” type of thing, and never a "we" thing.

There'll always be divisions as long as they keep holding up the "D"eaf label on a pedestal while ignoring the rest of the deaf population knowing full well they'll never be a part of or even want to “join” into one. The problem began when the first definition of the word "Deaf” was proposed a few decades ago or so by a prominent Deaf scholar to signify a Deaf culture that use ASL. But the irony we’re seeing nowadays is that people are trying to use the "D" to mean all deaf/hh people. But for those looking in from the outside it looks more like a club for them to *try* and join. Yet some people just don't want to admit that it’s more like a club than anything else since there are certain hoops (i.e. beliefs, requirements, etc) one must jump through in order to “join.” No wonder this “unity” thing won’t work and that divisions will continue. In my mind to me, "Deaf over anything" simply means D.O.A. Maggots will simply feast on that dead flesh instead when its usefulness is gone.

Best and Worst Responses for 2007

Here's my latest review taken from some 597 pages of my Haloscan comment where I choose some of the best and worst responses (and some in-between) in 2007. Figure out who said what by clicking on the link to get to the Haloscan comment. Maybe it could be your response! Some of the names you’ll recognize while many others came from anonymous people who didn’t have the balls to show their faces in their derisions and name calling rants. Something like a “hit and run” driver would do. Basically cowards. But there were many names who were quite courteous and well behaved. A mish mash of comments to read. Enjoy!


January 2007

Technological Inclusiveness at Gallaudet University
- “However, since about 2004, improvements have been dramatically below the curve. (Example in point, a current processor is about 5.5 times faster than a 1 GHz processor in 2000.) If we take the 1.34 formula, the seven years from 2000 to now should have yielded 1.34 to the 7th = an increase of 7.75. Moreover, I estimate that since 2004 processor speeds have less than doubled, which is really *way* below expectations.”

Gallaudet's First B/Vlogging Conference - My Input
- “I can see you pulled a 'Brenda Brueggeman' at the conference today. Really a slick move there, man.”


February 2007

A Poll vote: Play the Piano or Not?
- “Please DO PLAY! I'd love to crank up my MAC for this one.”

No Students at Vlog/Blog Conference?
- “The conference was never about the students. why would they go? Seriously, man.”

Richard's Gone Mad!
- “Mike, publicity's not my cup of tea. I'm going to get you for this.”


March 2007

Identity Politics Gone Wild
- “I challenge you to show how and when the protesters claimed to be victims because of their deafness. Nonsense. Stop the trash talk.”

Article on Gallaudet, the Protest and Protesters
- “You cannot and shall never be accepted as a neo-con. Find out why you cannot. But, like Cheney, you can be an ally to the cabre of the neo-cons, including Wolfowitz, Abrams, Perle, Podestwitz, and others. Sorry to sound harsh here, but you must learn not to be gullible.”

SLCC - much ado about nothing?
- “Your statement, ‘Technology, it's coming and it'll just get better. And it'll greatly add to ASL making it more widespread than ever before’ is very patronizing.”


April 2007

Do Deaf Stalkers Exist?
- “Kokonut, you were practically stalking Gallaudet with your anti-science rant in your old entry. I hope you'd practice what you preach. Otherwise, the latest entry you made is nothing but ignorance and stupidity.”

- " ‘Fancy words’? Surely you jest. I've never heard of that category!!!”

- “And you're complaining over my blogpost on people who complained about my use of the so-called ‘fancy words’!! Unreal.”

A Fancy, Schmancy Blogpost
- “This reeks of Audism. Nothing more to be said.”

- “No my friends this is not Audism, this is setting a level of standards which has been lacking for too long in the deaf community.”

An Inconvenient Truth – Gallaudet University
- “It is amazing that Al Gore is able to gulliblized many ‘intelligent’ people.”

When the Deaf Community Eats One of Their Own
- “The higher the pedestal, the harder he'll fall. That's all I have to say about that subject.”

- “Another eye opener is the claim that 40 percent of my blogs were about him. Now, I've done 1068 blogs in over two years. If I did 40 percent, that would be 427 blogs!! LoL! The guy is really bad at math.”

RIT Student Arrested for Possession of Rifles on Campus
- "Guess the guy chickened out."

The Virginia Tech Massacre is nothing about “Reap what you sow”
- "But I bleed buff and blue as well as orange and blue. So I really can’t have a soft spot for Hokies. My laws does not permit me to."

Incestuous Relationships in the Deaf community?
- "Just as I figured - cat got their tongues. wow silence speaks volumes! - anonymous for a good reason!"

- "It's pretty much a law of human nature: smaller a community, more incestuous (both figuratively and literally) it is."


May 2007

QubeTV - a Conservative Choice
- "Man. Aren't you a little trigger-happy on that big red ban button?!"

- "You won't be able to see it the way I do. You never have been able to, and I don't know why I even bother trying anymore. The sad thing is that I actually wanted to respect you, and I was hoping the same in return. But I know that will not happen like this."

A Discourse on Who Said “What?”
- "I totally understand why you are writing this due to their foolish reactions, however; I really like your writing style very much. Keep expressing yourself through writing. I look forward to reading your blogs."


June 2007

HOH Advantage Over Deaf?
- “I'm puzzled, and I hope I didn't understand you correctly.”

- “The politics of envy.”

Deaf Prisoners More Violent and Less Educated than Hearing Prisoners?
- “….to use that as an excuse by blaming the public or past history for their acts of violence is nothing but a crutch.”

- “That's so typical of you to dwell on the negatives of being Deaf, or towards Deaf people in general.”


A Fancy, Schmancy Blogpost.....Part Deux
- “Your poll isn't scientific. Moreover, I feel that there may have been voters who voted as they did because they wanted to ridicule the poll.”

- “….if people were actually dishonest in this polling then what does that tell about them? We can't trust them or what? Or are you saying that there is absolutely no possibility that there might be a few Deaf nutballs out there who will certainly want to censor a deaf blogsite over opposing opinions on deaf-related issues?”

A Survey Poll: If You Had the Power to Remove Blogsites Would You Do It?
- “If there are real problems with a blogger violating ethical standards, let the community deal with it by distancing itself clearly from the blogger. If there are violations of the law, let the civil or criminal justice system deal with it.”

"Deaf and Dumb" Hoy - A Baseball Legend
- “Why insult the memory of Mr. Hoy??”

A Deaf Caste System?
- “Deaf elites continue to push the tired myth originally perpetuated by IKJ, "Deaf people can do anything, but hear." If there was any truth to that, they would be working in the private sector.”


July 2007

An AGB Protest or AGB Dialogue?
- “You are a traitor to Deaf people. Either join the Deaf community & be 100% loyal, or get out!”
- "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

- “If you want people to know that you're a representative of Gallaudet University, then stop bickering about the protest and start being on our side!”

- “Get something straight: in the 21st Century, you answer to US, and not the other way around. Sorry to rain on your parade.”

- “All the more power to them if they think it’s for a good cause.”

New Improved Cochlear Implant Device!
- “Actually it is called hearing implant rather than cochlear implant.”

- “you're excited about an invasive procedure ?!”

Not so David Eberwein - hearing babies vs deaf babies on signing
- “Bravo! You hit the nail on the head! As a culturally Deaf person of several Deaf generations on both sides and a graduate of a residential school, I am bummed. With my background which gives a label to my identity, I am automatically categorized as the ‘David Eberweins’.”

- “Do you know what ignorant mean? If you don't, then that's what you are.”

- “I have been Deaf all my life. I mention all this, not to be big-headed, but to indicate that I have some credibility. It seems you have yet to completely understand all nuances and power of this natural language amazingly developed BY Deaf people and passed on generation to generation DESPITE over 90% of Deaf people having hearing parents, DESPITE purists like AGBell and yes, DESPITE Deaf people like yourself who seem to be insistent about belittling other Deaf people and our language.”

- “If you feel you could benefit from and enjoy being "hearing" and writing/speaking English, good for you! If you choose to prefer English/being hearing over ASL/being Deaf, it's your right, although honestly I find that hard to believe.”

- “I am just as qualified to present my views, opinions and experience regarding these deafness issues. Perhaps you're surprised because you have a profound hearing loss and you have no experience (i am assuming here) on what exactly sounds are and the benefits of listening/hearing?”

- “Mikey or Mickey, where you get off advocating Cued Speech?”

- “I never once said or produced a logic saying/implying that you need to be able to hear in order to function in society today. I am an advocate on closing the communication gap.”

Deaf Whiners Are Killing Us!
- “BRAVO!!!!!”

- “You exaggerate as usual.”

- “Very well said, Mike….Instead of whining, today's deaf people should count their blessings and learn to be humble. If we must "raise our voices", put some class into the act, show the world that we have risen above being ‘deaf and dumb’!”

- “Blocking the line? *Stifling my laughter here* Ya'll should be so lucky when it comes to captioning at this time of our lives compared to other countries.”

Deaf Judges
- “I agree with you all that it wasn't right for a commenter to "crush" a child's dream of wanting to be a judge in the future…”

1 Year Old Hearing Baby Signing (McConnell’s daughter)
- “She's so adorable!”

- “*clapping* So cool!!!!!”

Deaf Beggars - A Part of Deaf Culture?
- “I do remember arguing with a deaf "businessman" (a.k.a. beggar) and he had the gall to accuse me of being jealous he's running a ‘successful, legitimate business!’”

Deaf Beggars - a Part of Deaf Culture? Part II
- “I don't think you really understand capitalism.”

- “Any Deaf person that claims that these "ASL peddlers" are selling anything of value is engaging in intellectual and moral dishonesty.”

- “Mike, a very persuasive argument. You did your homework.”

- "Selling" Deaf cards isn't about capitalism. It's about using pity, sympathy and guilt in the hope to get money from people.

- “I'm not a regular subscriber to your delusions any way.”

Born Deaf, Live HoH, Die Hearing
- “If we keep on fighting this, we won't get anywhere, so I really hope that if the Deaf community accepts and embraces a bonafide "deaf cure," the hearing society at large, vis-a-vis, will accept and come to embrace sign language and basically, the existence of our unique global culture.”


August 2007

A Deaf P0rn Company?
- “With unemployment being unbelievably high among deaf people, maybe some would appreciate having a job as an actress?”

- “I find it interesting that Deaf Bunny doesn't know its legal stuff.”

- “I am not entirely convinced that factually stating the real name of someone in the porn business constitute as defamation.”

- “We have so many porn stars in American. Why not deaf people, too? I don't care what you people say bad things about deafbunny. It's their business.”

- “Oh my gosh! Are you saying deafbunny can't be success because they are small "Can't Can't Can't Can't Can't because they are DEAF!!" That isn't right!”

Cure Found to Help Deaf Babies Regain Complete Hearing
- “I'd send the kid to be cured. So far we've seen ASL making living in the deaf world very brutal.”

- “I voted yes because the inability to hear presents obstacles that the deaf child and his/her parents have to overcome. Not that they cannot overcome them, just that the barrier is there. The barrier is the ignorance of society generally about deafness, ability, and communication modes other than spoken language.”

- “Do you want every human being to be born identical in all traits and characteristics? I wouldn't want to live in such a world.”

- “This here is still about choice for parents to decide.”

- “I'm not going to go over to somebody's blogsite and whine about their polling because of some uncertainty that wasn't discussed or added into the poll. Picky little guy are you?”

- “Learn to quit while you're ahead..”

- “I re-read your question and I see that I missed the word "biological" that you included, so that actually does give it a context. I apologize for missing that.”

- “Mike McConnell posted this on purpose so all commenters can have their words twisted.”

Deaf Parents Allow Deaf Kids Read Deaf Blogs?
- “I find it little odd that you question Deaf parents, not hearing parents. Why not questioning hearing parents too?”

- “I wonder, what do your children read?”

- “Difficult to comprehend that Koko is finally running out of material to write about. (Wink, wink).”

- “It's not about censuring but informing/warning parents the nature or subject of those blogs.”

- “I was first exposed to ‘The Word’ when I was six or seven and I turned out just fine.”

- “I'm lost. What the heck did he say?”


September 2007

A Poll: Deaf Owned P0rn Company be Allowed at Deaf Expo?
- "We are constantly trying to recruit more and more youth to be a part of our community (rather than to be pulled away by hearing parents). We need to make sure that our environment and community is open and welcome to those individuals."

- "Mike, I thought you had a good head on your shoulder."

- "I smell a bull crap. Just "Deaf" on YouTube? Sorry, am not buying it. Just admit it that you tried "porn" on it. Admit it, and be one of us."

- "And you never knew that YouTube has a "date added" tab enabling viewers to list the most recent videos?"

- "I believe that Deaf Bunny will be a vendor to promote safe sex other than displaying sexual material."

- "Safe sex isn't guaranteed. It's a misnomer. Reduced risk, yes. 100% safe? No."

Hey! I'm Talking to You! Grow Up!
- "Good post. I agree, we all have the right to choose our preferred method of communication."

- "Don't be sore cuz the people have "spoken!" Sweet and I didn't even vote. This guy needs to sign. Represent."

- "Hmmmm, is there a double standard going on here? Grow up? Perhaps you need to follow your own advice? You did the poll, we didn't, and I assume that everyone was honest with their responses. So WHAT is the problem?"

- "guess my comment was deleted."

- "*70* percent's cool with him speaking. Quit lifting the rug looking for the dust mites. Quit cherry-picking for the worst in a minority. Maybe you need some growing up yourself."

- "Leave Him Alone!!!!!!!"

- "Closed-minded Deaf militants!"

Bisping Highly Controversal Win over Hamill
- "I was a Bisping fan but that meant I wanted to see him win, not lose then be given a phony victory. Now I'm not even a UFC fan anymore."

Why Throw "Audism" as a Reason for Matt Hamill's Fight Loss?
- "The best thing of all this is the fact that we can see the ugliness that is rampant in the deaf community by many Deaf people who are actual perpetuators of audism themselves."

- "Go ahead and have your last word as usual."

- "This world is not free of bigotry yet so I am not going to rule out an audism. You don't have a proof that it is not."

- "i don't know if u're somebody who can be reasoned with- this is a leap of faith."

- "I don't see it as oppressed but more in line with ignorant attitudes which is sometimes no fault of their own. We are free to move about. We are free to sue. We are free to file for grievances. We are free to look elsewhere for jobs. Just because one person "oppresses" another isn't reflective of the whole society."

Are You a Gym Rat?
- "Do not generalize just (LIKE) deaf homosexual Gary Brooks does about deaf homosexual males in comparison to deaf homosexual females."

- "What's with the "gary brooks" comment?"

- "Regarding Gary Books, I was making an analogy. You know it."

- " 'I know it'?? I don't even know who the heck Gary Brooks is. I still don't know what the hell you're talking about. Doesn't even make one ounce of sense. My topic is about people who like to work out often at the gym. What the heck are you talking about?"

Idiocy in the Blogosphere
- "I think anyone with half a brain will stop visiting a blog if they don't want to read it."

- "Who is Paotie?? Does he have a real name?"

- "Of course, deaf people have one very bad habit....they take what is said (hearsay) as the truth. This is what is killing our community."

- "Paotie -- You coward! Com'on, Is Paotie the real you (Mike McConnell)?"

- "No. Paotie is not me. LoL. That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. The year in fact."


No Gays in Iran? What about Deaf Gays?
- "You seem to be more concerned with kid's freedom drawing guns than killing gays."

- "Yours is a red herring example. Let's not go there, shall we?"

- "Shame on you to even suggest it won't happen when it did."

- "Here is an interesting question....is homosexuality hurting the deaf culture in general?"

- "Excellent, excellent points Mike. There is steam coming out of my ears from the garbage some have posted in this comment section."

- "Be surprised that world is no longer flat!"

Deaf Blog Rage!
- "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." — Voltaire

Exclusive Post Fight Interview with Matt Hamill
- "A deaf person on the radio!?!?!"


October 2007

The Gally 6 or 7?
- "I'm not comfortable with you calling that group of students the 'Gally 7.'"

- "But, what do you know about journalism anyways? Since your tone tends to profess authority I'm holding you so accountable."

- "I find you very irresponsible and ask that you remove your blog "Gally 7"
IMMEDIATELY!"

- "No, I won't remove 'Gally 7.' Sorry."

- "Deafspookie, bloggers are opinionated journalists who are not accountable to anyone but their owns and generally do not follow nor observe "editorial" rules like most mainstreamed media journalists out there, kissing up for money. Bloggers do it for the hell for it or for the love of writing about it without any editorial or third party refrains."

A City For Thee And Not For Me
- "Maybe I'm not 'suburbia enough'?"

Acceptance for PhD Work at Univ. of MD
- "You actually posted your acceptance letter to University of Maryland at the end of your mini-autobiography? Sorry but it seems like you are trying too hard to impress."

- "You have guts. Not many people would turn down a PhD program given the chance. You not only knew what you wanted to do, you also had the GUTS to do it. Not many people can do that."

- "Yeah, you don't like me and yet you still wished I get Tetanus which means certain suffering and even death. Yeah, yeah...you were...uh..."joking" at the time. Who knows what you were really thinking."

Misguided......
- "Deaf education is *not* inherently political in nature."

- "Go tell John that."

- "...worth only a paragraph or 2 not a full blown blog."

- "Walk in my shoes...."

- "We disagree on approaches."

- "You mean you want to be one of those cowards who won't even apologize for making a comment by wishing somebody else's baby get killed?"

- "You see that you delete my comment. Mike McConnel must be blind."

- " I haven't deleted any comments today, anonymous."


November 2007

My Twenty Clarifications
- "You sound like a man of common sense who knows what he is doing, not beating about the bushes."

- "Nice to get to know ya! You have a good head on your shoulders, and I have no doubt you are a good role model for your children."

- "Your posts ooze with bigotry, even when you think the don't. Just look at the beginning of this post, making the association between Deaf culture and idiocy. You've got to stop that. You are a menace and a bigot. The evidence proves it, no matter what you claim. When you say "once an extremist, always an extremist" you are obviously talking about yourself. You are an anti-Deaf culture, hearing supremacist."

- "DE, not so, else I'd be calling for a ban on ASL for all deaf children. Not so. ASL is beneficial to a lot of children and adults. As I have repeatedly said, there is NO one size shoe fits all. And I warned people not to read too much into what I write. I said it's the gossiping is the idiocy I don't care to participate. You're projecting, DE. Since this is what you want to believe as far as I can tell."

- "It's a free country and each of us is free to define ourselves and what we stand for as individuals. You say you aren't Deaf, fine. The ability to communicate with one another is more important than what group one feels one is a member of."

- "Have you ever met any intelligent deaf people?"

- "I don't see you making any comments on any deaf vloggers like Joey Baer, Ella May Lentz and others. I wonder why? For some deaf people, they can sign ASL but have difficulty in understanding ASL."

- "I have discussed and interviewed people who are deaf, hh and Deaf people in my blogs. Christian Vogler (technology - ASL computer recognition), Greg Gunderson (Deaf professional driver), Jason Curry (technology - UbiDuo), Kristi Merriweather (social, black issues), Steve Sandy and his research into Dummy Hoy (sports), Matt Hamill (sports - first Deaf UFC fighter), and numerous others over the last 3 years. If you cannot see the positives I have done covering subjects such as those people, for example, then there is nothing I can do for you."

- "I don't feel that any of us owe ANYONE an explanation of 'Who we are'."

- "Ditto. Bilingually yours, John."

- "John, isn't that a bit of a hypocritical response of yours considering the fact that you "demanded" Paotie to explain himself on who he is?"

Deaf Rumor Mill and Cyber Gossip
- "Once again you are totally trashing the deaf community, while pretending that you are fair and respectful of it."

- "I like you... you are not afraid to bring up certain subjects."

- "Why don't you go to a gym and do some weight lifting until you have a hernia so you can stop typing foolish rants."

- "Don't change your style of blogging, Mike... unless you are not satisfied with your blogging style."

Pinkberry
- "Tee, hee, I can just see myself walking into Wendy's with my Spider Man text messenger! I can imagine the looks people would give one another at this white haired lady using a kids' toy to order a hamburger. Hilarious!"

Cochlear WAR!
- "You say that you can hear spoken conversations with your hearing aids. How come you failed to interpret what two children say. Do you expect Deaf people to be able to lipread children's small lips effortlessly? You really insult our intelligence! How would you feel if your hearing aids are broken whilst watching an UNcaptioned movie in a theatre?"

- "I cannot simply put subtitles on. That wasn't the idea here. Putting subtitles on would not show how their voices sounded. It wouldn't prove anything. Voices from these kids were understandable and even sounded like their own peer group with some variations in pitch with the more younger kids, of course. Like Michelle, Kim and Karen Kay Mayes, they asked a hearing person to listen and verify. They did the right thing. What's wrong? Can't you even ask a hearing person's opinion on this one? How can I put subtitles on to describe the understandability of their voices and words when the topic of my blog pertains to understanding their words and how they sounded? Hmmm...?"

ASL is Destroying Indian Sign Language
- "mcconnell, did english kill indian spoken languages?"

- "it nearly did.

The Case for Free Expression
- "Good point... you said what I had been feeling lately. Very rational, well-written blog..."

- "This is wildly hypothetical and confuses the issues. What on earth are you talking about 'absolute authority and power'?"

- "What you are doing is equivocating on the meaning of the term 'power.'"

- " 'Equivocating'... *laughs*"


December 2007

A Gratitudeless Campaign?
- "Wow! Thats all I can say about the deaf community and there offense at this. Actually let me back track, those who are angry about this do not represent the real deaf community."

A Deficit Thinker?
- "I saw that post and I was floored."

- "If you are not willing to try and join a culture, or group of people with same beliefs you dont belong on deafread or any event hosted for/by the deaf community. (or even try understanding the basis of deaf culture)"

- "Somebody pass me the popcorn!"

- "If you feel that you are not part of the Deaf community, then why are you trying trying trying to be part of that? Go with hearing people, or are they rejecting you as well?"

- "Nice welcome mat."

- "Its like preachers who preach from the bible then go get drunk and molest little girls and then back to the pulpit and points his holy fingers at OTHER Sinners but never himself."

- " 'Deafhood' is highly over-rated."

- "Taunts on a public blogsite, a Deaf person dares to scold him, then scuttles behind his personal blogsite, looking all innocent."

Poll. Allow Pro-Oral Blogs on DeafRead?
- "mike, this is prove that you are oral militant."

- "But a solution is to category these so all within the Deafhood unity have a broader common ground. Militants will always be among us but we can unite on certain necessary issues."

- "I don't see anything wrong with oralism as long as it's a workable option for the person."

Back Issues of Deaf Life?
- "Have you ever read a single issue of Deaf Life?"

- "Many individuals and entities covered in past issues of Deaf Life are not part of the so-called Deaf Establishment that you passionately loathe."

- "There are very easy ways to manipulate PDFs to point of duplicating ebooks without payments. Deaf people are not that dumb. Hint. Hint. Hint."

- "In other words, Deaf people are willing to steal and be dishonest? Kinda makes you wonder about that quoted statement."