Matt Hamill Fight Results

A live SpikeTV three round fight with Matt Hamill fighting Seth Petruzelli took place tonight at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. It was a good fight. Matt Hamill went in well prepared to try and make this a 4 - 0 win - loss record against Seth with a 5 - 3 win-loss record. As you all may know Matt's dominating MMA skill is his years of wrestling and he spent the last 11 months doing mixed martial arts training with Tito Ortiz (who is fighting Shamrock tonight, too) at the Big Bear training camp in California. The fight was bloody...for Seth. Seth's right eye beneath the socket was cut a few times by Matt's famous signature ground and pound method using his elbows and hands. Matt dominated all 3 rounds that lasted 5 mintues each. All of the judges gave Matt the highest points in each round giving Matt the vicitory win of 4 - 0 to his credit. Matt nearly cried after the judges announced him as the winner of the light-heavyweight MMA fight. It was a hard won fight that required blood, sweat and dedication.

Joe Rogan interviewed Matt on the ring after the win to ask him a few questions on what he thought of the fight. Matt spoke into Rogan's microphone in response to his questions. And after that Matt thanked everybody who helped make his dream possible and made the ILY sign to the camera. Matt still has a way to go but certainly for sure he is making inroads into the UFC world.

Congratulations Matt!


Check out all of my up to date Matt Hamill bloggings.

UPDATE: Tito Ortiz beats Ken Shamrock in the first round. Almost the exact same thing in their last fight together with Tito doing the ground and pound on Ken. This time the referree let it go a little longer and this time Tito definitely hurt Ken. The referree stopped the fight in the first round with a minute or so left in the clock for a 5-minute fight per round.

What's amazing is that Ken congratulated Tito and well done fight. Tito raised Ken's arm giving him kudos for fighting again and then Ken raised Tito's arm acknowledging that he's the champion. This is probably Ken's last day in his fight career by earning punishing blows from Tito...not mention earning more money in the process for the 3rd time. Ken is saying right now he doesn't want to make any decision about his fight career being the last but it's certainly inevitable after tonight being the 42-year man he is. Ken congratulates Tito once again. They have both buried the hate-hatchet after so many years of hate.

Amazing.

Silent No More! Round 3. Letters.

Hear ye, hear ye, here ye! *Hands waving, feet stomping of the floor and shouts of voices to get your attention with an extra large megaphone* Get your letters here folks. Come and read. Come one...come all!*

This space will be dedicated to letters from people who want to teach, learn and do their work in HMB give their persective and side of the story. Be sure to visit this blog for continual updates on fresh new letters. The first letter is from a teacher. Read and learn on what he/she has to say.

LETTER #1: A teacher's point of view.

I teach a class in HMB and we have been moved to another location. Because I teach, I am also required to hold office hours as a resource for my students to ask questions and/or get help. Obviously these office hours have been cancelled - there is no other office on campus. I guess I could arrange to meet the students in the Marketplace in SUB but that would kind of be defeating the purpose, wouldn't it? I'm in my office to work distraction-free when students are not with me.

Anyway - I received an email from a student yesterday right after class saying that he was sorry he wasn't able to come to my class because he was so tired from working on the protest for so long and that he had been told to go home and get some sleep. He then stated, "I'll see you during your office hours so I can catch
up."

There are two things wrong with this picture:

1) You want to see me during my office hours so that your own life isn't inconvenienced by the protest but you're willing to screw up an entire campus for your own selfish purposes?

2) Its ok for you to go on with your own life - get some sleep, catch up on homework, etc. but it's not ok for the rest of the campus who is not involved with the protest to go on with our own lives?

It also brings up a point I've wanted to ask the protesters but have been cautious because of the verbal abuse and cyberbullying tactics these students use for those against the protest or who are neutral. The point is: The purpose of this HMB lockdown is to stop the University in its tracks. Crude, but effective. So why aren't these protesters' lives stopped in its tracks? Why are they going to class? Going home for a shower? Getting food? Having cookouts outside of HMB? Hello? Squatters, anyone?

Indeed. Now, protesters are being inconvienced from their protesting at HMB and expect teachers to flex and bend over backwards for them? Remember folks, it is the protesters who decided to hijack HMB. They are inconveniencing everybody on campus. It's virtually shut down. If protesters don't want to be inconvenienced, then DON'T! ask the teachers to make adjustments.

Letter #1 is surely an eye opener on the hypocrisy of those protesters who hijacked HMB last week.


Be sure to read Silent No More! previous blogs number 1 and number 2.

Reminder! Matt Hamill is Scheduled to Fight Today!

A reminder to all Matt Hamill fans and fans of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. Matt Hamill will fight Seth Petruzelli (see his website) today, October 10, 2006 at Hollywood, Florida. Yes. Your heard me right. Hollywood, Florida. It will be broadcast live on SpikeTV this time from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Be sure to watch and root for your favorite up and coming first ever Deaf MMA fighter vying for the UFC spotlight.

Also, Matt Hamill's training coach and partner, Tito Ortiz, will be there to fight once more against, Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock. Here are the details:

UFC FIGHT NIGHT LIVE - THE FINAL CHAPTER: TITO ORTIZ VS KEN SHAMROCK III

Telecasts LIVE Tuesday, October 10 (8:00 - 10:00 PM, ET, tape delay for West Coast). Encores Saturday October, 14 (4:00 - 6:00 PM, ET/PT)and Monday, August 16 (Midnight - 2:00 AM, ET/PT).

Spike TV presents the third and final installment in the UFC's most storied rivalry between bitter rivals UFC Hall-of-Famer Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock and Tito "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Ortiz. This special UFC event headlines a fight card that will air LIVE from Hollywood, Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Leading up to the fight, catch two days of UFC programming on Spike TV, including the UFC LIVE AND INSIDE (working title) on Monday, October 9 (8:00 - 8:30 PM, ET/PT); encores Tuesday, October 10 (11:30 AM - Noon, ET/PT).

Also, check out the latest discussion in MMA forums about Matt Hamill and his upcoming fight against Seth. Look for a much improved and stronger Matt Hamill.

Check out all of my up to date Matt Hamill bloggings.

Silent No More!! - Round 2. Students Want to Learn!

Hear ye, hear ye, here ye! *Hands waving, feet stomping of the floor and shouts of voices to get your attention with an extra large megaphone* Are you a student at Gallaudet University? An undergrad perhaps? A graduate or even a doctoral student? Or perhaps you are a professor or teacher at Gallaudet University or work as a staff member? How do you feel about the protest and the fact that you cannot get inside HMB to get to your computers, files, research papers, equipments and books?

Do you have any concerns for your educational welfare, safety issues and do you feel that protesters are denying your basic educational right to an education by preventing you from entering HMB? Who paid for your education? Your parents? Your VR? A hard earned scholarship? Or by yor own hard work by working jobs and going to school? Who is responsible for your ultimate destiny? Is it the protesters or you? Then it's time to put your comments here on Kokonut Pundits for the world to see and tell YOUR side of the story. If you have a letter drafted up, put it here. If you want to say only a few words, fine. Put them here. Whatever it takes to get people talking. The more, the better so words can get out on what protesters are doing to your educational welfare. And how they are committing a blunder by creating a crisis within a crisis. It doesn't matter whether you agree or disagree with the protest, the common theme here is that you have the desire and deep interest to keep pursuing your educational goals.

Good luck with your education and endeavors in life. Education is the key to a better and productive life. I know because I am a product of that success!


UPDATE: Be sure to check out the latest poll figures "Do you support the protest at Gallaudet University?" Looks like support for the protest has gone done the last time I checked. It is now hanging around at 65%.

Is the FSSA Back-peddling?

For the past three days ever since protesters stormed HMB to hijack and take control of the building the FSSA has done nothing in their website that they did not support that kind of action. And for the past three days they have printed letters of other people and such on the support and concern for students in HMB but never a nary a word from the FSSA or in the letters or from other people about the concerns and support of students who wanted to continue with their education in HMB but still support the protest. You can check out FSSA's October archive here to see what I mean. This right to an education and continuation of students' education in HMB, which holds the majority of rooms and equipments for teaching, And lo and behold, the FSSA comes out with a letter of clarification on their association with the protesters in HMB.

To: The Gallaudet Community and General Public
Fr: FSSA Coalition

It has come to our attention that people may have associated the “lockdown” by protestors of the HMB building on Gallaudet Unviersity’s main campus as a FSSA Coalition event.

We wish to clarify. The lockdown of HMB was not initiated or implemented by the FSSA Coalition. In fact, it occurred without the coalition’s prior knowledge. This event was initiated and conducted by students of FSSA and SBG.

FSSA faculty and staff members have been present with the student protestors throughout this period of time out of grave concern for the physical and emotional well being of the students under these circumstance.

I have been one of the most loud and vocal of all deaf/hh bloggers in support of the students' concern on their right to a continued education even while the protest continues. And many students do support the protest but they do not want their education interrupted. I recognize the importance of continued education, even though I may not agree with the protesters' or FSSA's opinions. And how did many of the supporters of those protesters who stormed HMB responded to my blogged concerns? They snickered and ballyhooed my, and others, concerns for students' right to a continued education.

The FSSA never once showed disapproval of the action of protesters that stormed HMB on October 7, 2006. In fact, the FSSA reported the action with seemingly gleeful reporting in their October 7 press release. And the FSSA continued to print letters of support for protesters in HMB. The FSSA also added notes about food donation. Letters about "police brutality" and such. All this showed great support for the protesters' action while they lie holed up in HMB. Not once in any of the press releases or letters did it show any concerns for the students' wishes to continue with their education in HMB or the fact that the FSSA showed any disapproval of the tactic by protesters taking over HMB. Now, they are drawing a line in the sand trying separate themselves from the protesters' action on the hijacking of HMB.

All you bloggers out there who supported, goaded and cheered for protesters who hijacked HMB are party to this mess. And now the FSSA is feveriously trying to get the students out of HMB, just to save face. A bad save I would say.

This "Letter of Clarifation" by the FSSA is the most damning of all letters and press releases on their hypocrisy and lack of direction and control over their protest. And now the FSSA is saying, "Education is important, too!" even though they re-interated back in May that this protest wouldn't interfere with any of education on campus. And now they want the protesters out of HMB....pronto! All one has to do is read a letter by Dr. Carol Erting in response to a new group called "The Concerned Students" in regard to the lockdown of HMB by protesters to see that NOW education is of concern and on their mind....3 days later.

I want to let you know that several of us faculty have been working very hard to assist in the resolution of this very serious situation on campus. We have been at HMB with the protesting students since the incident occurred with DPS and frightened students asked faculty to be present to ensure their safety. Please understand that this is a STUDENT action, not an action by the Faculty, Student, Staff, Alumni Coalition (FSSA). The coalition announced during the protest in May that it would not interfere with the ongoing educational activities of the university. That is still the position of the coalition. A coalition as you know is made up of independent groups who share similar goals but may take actions on their own to achieve them. That is what has happened in this case. Some of the written statements have added to the confusion so it is not surprising if contradictory messages are "out there." I am pasting a copy of a message I sent to the University Faculty officers yesterday. Please know that we are working diligently toward a peaceful resolution of the current situation so that classes may resume unimpeded, so that intimidation in all forms and toward all parties may cease on campus, and so that civility and respect toward all may prevail.

I have question for you people running the FSSA organization. How come you didn't say a word about any of that on the first day when protesters hijacked HMB and now you are working "diligently" to get the protesters to leave HMB because education is important, too?

Right. Directionless as ever.

A win-win solution is needed for everybody. This sort of thing can't go on forever. And if it does, it does present possibilities that education on campus will continue to get disrupted with these protest distractions.

Make up you mind, FSSA.

Protesters Refuse Doctoral Students Entry into HMB for Completion of Dissertation Papers

Mean spirited protesters refuse doctoral students entry into HMB for completion of dissertation papers!

Protesters who have hijacked Hall Memorial Building (HMB) refuse to allow Doctoral students entry into the building. Doctoral students who are under severe time constraints to complete their PhD dissertation papers must use Hall Memorial Building so they can graduate. Many of the graduate departments in HMB have the needed equipments, rooms, resources, and space for master and doctoral students to do their studies. This is not about a simple matter of professors taking their students outside or transfer their classes to another building to teach. This is a matter of seeing HMB as much more than just a place to teach.

Faculty members who support the hijacking of HMB and use HMB for their teaching decide to transfer their classes elsewhere are guilty of abusing their teaching ethics by actively denying graduates or doctoral students their equal educational opportunities with their own education. Also, faculty members at Gallaudet University who remain quiet about the concerns of graduate and doctoral students' dilemma and quandry are also equally guilty of practicing blatant hypocrisy when it comes to education and the equal opportunity to learn.

What are the FSSA and student protesters saying to graduate and doctoral students who want use HMB resources and offices inside to do their thesis or dissertation works that they have worked on for so long?

"Tough guano."

I ask this question. Would the above scenario be grounds for a lawsuit against protesters and/or the FSSA? Why and why not?

As always, I hope this get resolved peacefully and quickly, without any incident and for all parties to come away with a win-win solution.

Protest Veritas Blogsite on Gally Protest

There's a new blogsite in town and the name is "Protest Veritas". Whoever is doing this is keeping a list of all menacing tactics and behaviors committed by protesters at Gallaudet University. Whether any of these reports are true is up for debate and whether the FSSA is consciously trying to cover these incidents committed by student protesters. But do check it out. The blog owner does make an interesting point or two.

Like for example, many do know for a fact that a water bottle or juice bottle was thrown in the direction of IKJ when he was there for the building dedication in his name. Or this incident?

Were you aware that the recent incident in HMB involved a protester throwing a bottle at a DPS officer first and, conveniently, that provocation was not filmed or mentioned?

If that's true, then somebody had better get this under control before it gets out of hand.

It is probably a matter of time before protesters implode into a sea of hatred if things do not go their way using violence as their excuse and, at the same time, blame Gallaudet University for their own mess.

Will Protesters Gain Access to Office of Provost in HMB?

I question the tactic by protesters who have hijacked Hall Memorial Building (HMB) on the campus of Gallaudet University. If this hijacking continues into this upcoming week this means many of the classes may be cancelled or moved elsewhere. Also, many of the staff and faculty offices are located in HMB where they have their computers, letters, books, gradings and files and they have no way of getting to them while protesters man the entrances.

The list below are classes and offices in HMB:

ASL and Deaf Studies
Biology
Chemistry and Physics
CLAST Academic Departments
Client and Multimedia Services
College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Technologies
English
Family and Child Studies
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Gallaudet Research Institute
Genetics Clinic
Government and History
Graduate Education and Extended Learning
Graduate School and Professional Programs
International Programs and Services
Math and Computer Science
Office of the Provost
Philosophy and Religion
Psychology
Social Work
Sociology
Student Body Government
Summer & Enrichment Programs

There are equipments and computers that are essential in many of the classroom activities when it come to teaching students.

But what might be disturbing to some people is to see that the Office of the Provost is located in HMB. That would be Dr. Jane K. Fernandes' (old) office. Will student protesters holed up in HMB try and gain access to any those rooms? Especially Dr. Jane K. Fernandes' office? I'm sure this has crossed a few minds of those protesters holed up in HMB. If not that, will vandalism be the case as frustration by those inside HMB continues to mount? Only time will tell and hope that none of this will be the case but one couldn't help and wonder about this possibility.

This is a tactic approved by the FSSA for protesters to hijack HMB, forcing a "mini-shutdown" of the school's everyday activities.

Take a poll and see whether you approve this protest or not.

UPDATE: Though JKF office is no longer at the Office of the Provost since she resigned that position after being selected to be the 9th president of Gallaudet University this May. It is however unclear as to whether her items, files or belongings are still at the office. Michael Moore is the current interim provost but it is unclear whether he is using the current Office of the Provost in HMB.

UPDATE II: From a Gallaudet University employee:

JKF is no longer provost at Gallaudet University. Currently, Dr. Michael Moore serves as our interim provost. I do not know whether he took over the provost's office, or stayed at his old office, but this should be checked before we all start speculating about possible vandalism.

That said, given how high tempers run right now, and given the actions of the protesters in the past few days, I am concerned about vandalism and other issues. All the computer equipment that I use for my work is at HMB, and I have a deadline coming up in less than two months for a major conference, with an insane amount of work left to do. In my field, whole careers depend on publishing at conferences like these.

My computer at home is not powerful enough to allow me to continue my work elsewhere, so for me personally the lockdown is more than just an inconvenience or an excuse to take several days off. This period of inaction is going to make itself felt in a month from now.

Thankfully, my boss already approved the purchase of some equipment as a stopgap measure, although it is still much slower and much more limited than what I use at my office.

I am torn about this. On the one hand I would love to charge the equipment costs to the blockaders in some way. Whatever the cause, I do not believe that disrupting academic activities is appropriate or called for. On the other hand, the way things have been going, I am very concerned about where this all will lead. In my view, every side has to give everything possible, and beyond, to defuse the situation, or this can only end badly for everyone.

Start negotiating, and show some flexibility, people! That means everyone involved, not just one side alone.

Poll: Gallaudet Students, who pays for your education?

Here's an interesting poll something that might be of interest to guage to see how current Gallaudet University students pay for their education at Gallaudet University. It might shed an interesting light or two on a few subjects later on.

Pick the best one that suits your current situation. If you are currently a student at Gallaudet University, then this poll is for you.

Gallaudet Students, who pays for your education? I pay for it mysef (ie jobs, money saved, grants, scholarships) My parents or relatives pay for it. My Vocational Rehab (VR) Pays for it My SSI or similar Federal assistance Free polls from Pollhost.com

A simple poll: Do you support the protest at Gallaudet University?

Here's a simple poll you can take. There are 4 choices. If you are not sure what's this is all about check out the many blogs and the news for more information.

Note!: Be sure to contact your friends, relatives and whoever that may have an interest on the current protest situation at Gallaudet University and send them this link. This way, a better and bigger picture can be assessed on where everybody stands on this protest.

Do you support the Protest at Gallaudet University? Yes No I have not decided I don't care Free polls from Pollhost.com

Violence...who is really accountable?

It's sad. It's ugly. It's unfortunate. And when you're involved in an emotionally charged event things can easily get out of hand. And before you know it sensationalism plays its cue card when people use hyperbole as a weapon of choice because it helps raise the spectre of excessiveness. And thus help increase paranoia to another level by delving more into the realm of conspiracy theory status. Call it an illusion of sort. Half-truths. Half-false (is that even a word?) or it could be utterly false. Though it could be more true than not. Maybe even the truth is actually the case! Still, the use of hyperbole doesn't quite give readers the full picture because every story has two sides. But in this case we may be seeing more of subjectivity outweighing any form of objectivity. Not everybody is immune to this kind of emotional appeal. Even me. But recognizing this can help form a better objective response of the things that are going on.

Now, don't get me wrong here folks. And my apologies for those who may feel hurt or insulted in what I have to say questioning whether protesters actually committed any acts of violence. They haven't but in a way they have and it all pretty much started with what you call "passive violence." Let me explain.

I do have these questions. They're legitimate ones and I try to view these observations of mine without the ugly emotional attachments which can cloud rationality and objectivity. What I'm talking about is the latest string of events concerning the Gallaudet protest. Namely the HMB incident where DPS officers responded to a bomb threat phoned in had no choice but to enter the HMB building in order to search for suspicious packages according to an independent investigation.

Now, you are probably asking yourself what is "Passive Violence?" Sounds like a contradiction in terms. However, it is not when you look into it more deeply and the people who actually commit them. But what does it mean then? From the Victory over Violence website:

According to Gandhi and his grandson Arun, passive violence are the things that we do to disrespect other people's (and our own) lives, such as name-calling, teasing, judging and criticizing. These small and often inconspicuous acts that we commit are actually a form of violence.

On a deeper level, many people, including great leaders of our time, have said that a lack of self-identity can lead to passive violence. In other words, without a strong sense of confidence in knowing who we are, we can end up feeling insecure and even develop an insecurity complex. As philosopher Daisaku Ikeda put it, "When you succumb to a complex, you are likely to see everything about yourself in a negative light. When something doesn't work out for you, you tend to blame it on those things which make you feel inferior: 'It's because I'm short' and so forth." Lacking a solid sense of who we are makes us feel insecure, and this can cause us to compare ourselves to others and even criticize or judge others because they are different from us. Gandhi was referring to judgment and criticism when he stated that passive violence leads to physical violence.

Mahatma Gandhi also said,

"passive violence fuels the fire of physical violence; and if we want to put out the fire of physical violence, logically we have to cut off the fuel supply."

And that brings me into this observation of mine. You are probably reading my mind but who are these people who have done this "passive violence" and continue to do so? These things are much more prevalent in the written form seen in blog sites and websites by people engaging in a series of ad hominem attacks, petulent name-callings, and obtuse thinking day in and day out. And to boot, these attacks are often times compounded with the use of hyperbole just for good measure in making a story sound that much ominous than not. And then getting obnoxiously dirty with outright lies, innuendos, slander and such. This has gone on, especially so, since Jane K. Fernandes was selected for the 9th president. All one has to do is read some of the Deaf/deaf/hh/hearing blogs, websites and even forums covering the protest.

And so it comes down to his where we need to appeal ourselves to common sense to help ground us from slipping into absurdity.

Let's look at the FSSA's recent "Press Release" yesterday:

The crisis on the Gallaudet campus is worsening by the minute and the students will not back down.

Never mind the fact that this is a "peaceful" protest but when you see protesters who aggressively took over Hall Memorial Building (HMB) and formed a human chain and put tents in front of every entrance are all an act of defiance. But you can't help question whether such an action constitute as encouraging institigation. Basically daring anybody to try and stop them. An intentional act on creating more crisis upon a crisis with the full knowledge that this type of action by its own design gives it, the crisis upon a crisis, the ability to instigate a negative and sometimes dangerous response. In short, protesters knew it was a likelihood that force may be used against them. If protesters were to say that they never expected such a negative response are either naive or incredibly stupid when they decided to hijack HMB. And then when they are actually confronted with "violent" responses who do they blame? Yes, the tried and true tactic of blaming everyone else except themselves. Accountable to nothing. Accountable to nobody. But believe it or not, accountability goes both ways here for both parties involved because we have two parties who disagree with each other on various levels. It doesn't help to assign blame as did in Leah Katz-Hernandez's latest letter from the FSSA.

This attack from DPS was totally unprovoked. Students were PEACEFUL. This protest was always about peaceful, nonviolent messages.

Indeed it may have been an unprovoked attack but I couldn't help notice that DPS officers peacefully made several requests that the protesters vacate the HMB building that they forcibly hijacked. There is a term called "passive-aggressive" response. You know the kind. A good example is having a car in front of you on a road who is purposely driving slow just to make you mad because you want to go faster and that the slow driver was provoked somehow into doing this as a response to your angry response. And then I noticed another thing in a BisonTV video clip near the end the clip of images of protesters following and, no less, attacking a single Gallaudet University Security Officer in a non-physical confrontational way who was trying to leave the building. It's the "in-your-face" type of attack by following him. This is not to say that the DPS officers didn't commit any physical form of aggressive actions on protesters who wouldn't leave peacefully when requested in the first place.

And then I note more ironies of pleas from protesters to the public to contact Congress in light of the protest.

GALLAUDET IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED INSITUTION, AND CURRENTLY, IT IS VIOLATING SEVERAL UNIVERSITY POLICIES.

While failing to note themselves that they've broken laws already by hijacking the HMB building.

As for non-violent messages, I am wondering to myself how many of those protesters actually have a blog or made comments in other deaf/hh blogs or forums (e.g Gallynet-L, DeafDC, etc) who have violently attacked, in name, against the Jordans, the Administration, Jane Fernandes and the BoTs by calling them practically every name in the book along with hyperbole after hyperbole.

And then we get into the realm of actual encouragement and instigation of further violence, even in the form of physical violence against IKJ which many have said happened yesterday during a building ceremony in honor of I. King Jordan.

My friend just went to see Tent city in DC and informed me that some deaf protestors threw water bottles at IKJ family including children and grandchildren. A bottle hit IKJ right in his head!

Even Washington Post reported it but said that juice or water was thrown in the crowd. No doubt it was directed at I. King Jordan.

All in all, everybody is at fault to one degree or another for this fine mess. But to say that Gallaudet University has made them violent is beyond incredulity. How can you look for the splinter in your brother's eye, and not notice the stick in your own eye?

Indeed.

Accountability is everybody's responsibility. Strive for positive results so that everybody wins.

Hodge Podge Again

Well, whadya know. I've been tagged as a "highly-respected deaf blogger" by another blogger in his/her blogsite over the discusson between Elisa and I. I guess I am now one of the many faces on "Blogs with a face" blogsite. Eh.

The image of civility among protesters at IKJ building dedication.

They were yelling so loudly, said some who couldn't get through the crowd, that deaf people outside could feel the vibrations in the glass windows. Someone threw water or juice into the crowd.

A student leader then asked protesters to quiet down and show more respect at the next ceremony, which named a student center for I. King Jordan.

They crossed a line, said Margaret Weigers Vitullo, chairwoman of the sociology department, who said the Jordan family was at the event."Students are there saying awful, horrible things to people, in front of their grandchild. . . . It was unbelievably vile."

Note the delicious irony here:

Student: I was there. I understand that emergencies occur, and he (IKJ) did check his pager right before he left. However, to get up and leave in the middleof a very important meeting without even saying "excuse me" is incredibly rude.

Yeah. Incredibly rude. Not to mention students being incredibly loud and incredibly rude. At least a few of the protesters chided others to try and be respectful for the special ceremony occasion. And after protesters had their chance of at being uncivil you'd think they walked out of the dedicated building after the ceremony? No. Not exactly. They went after the free food instead. Nice strong statement they just made. Freebies. You can read more here. The article seems to be a fair and balanced report. No? Or maybe this one here is better? No vandalism....yet.

Any Bill Gates fans? Uh huh. Uh huh. I know exactly what you're thinking now. So, don't do it.




Who says you have to go to Gallaudet University to get an education?

Martel Van Zant, a junior cornerback from Oklahoma State, plays despite being deaf after he was born without eardrums as a result of his mother's chicken pox during pregnancy. A management student, he works with an interpreter who accompanies him to classes, football meetings, practices and games.

Hmmm, quality education and football. Find more about Martel Van Zant here.

Identify the art work above, and tell me which building this artwork was first displayed at Gallaudet University for many years?

Vandalism Next at Gallaudet University??

I hope the FSSA is listening but this is really sad, folks. After reading this one guy's blogsite who is obviously encouraging his protesters who may be reading his blogsite to commit certain acts of violence and criminal activities on the campus of Gallaudet University. Any acts of violence should it occur even once or a few times will certainly undermine all of the protesters' efforts since this May who have been trying to get their own message out in a peaceful way.

I urge the good students of Gallaudet University to vandalize the name with spray paint. Just conceal your face while you are at it. This f*cking bullsh*t must be stopped. I'm serious. If I am in DC right now, I'm gonna re-decorate the building to send him the message.

I'm sure this kind of idiocy will solve a lot of problems by committing property damage and defacement. This is not an act of wisdom but utter folly on how some people are willing to do these things for all the wrong reason. Will the FSSA stand up and condemn any bloggers who may try and incite criminal activity on the campus of Gallaudet University? Will the FSSA intervene somehow and relay their message to protesters that this type of violence is not the answer and totally unacceptable? Will they even listen to the FSSA who specifically said earlier that they do not condone acts of violence against any person or group? Remember Celia May Baldwin? But this time, it's the encouragement to cause damage and defacement of private property on the campus of Gallaudet University.

If you are thinking about defacing Gallaudet University's properties then you better read Gallaudet University's policy on vandalism.

Vandalism/Theft - All members of the community will not tolerate vandalism because it lessens the enjoyment of the University environment. Participation in any act of destruction could become grounds for dismissal from the University. The cost of repairing damages shall be billed to all students involved.

And lastly, will this protest go down in history only to be known for its acts of criminal activity and vandalism? Should this get out of hand it would be worse than the few students who broke a few local laws during the Deaf President Now back in 1988. Will the FSSA publicly condemn bloggers who incite and encourage acts of violence to protesters who may read their articles of incitement?

I say to the FSSA, do the right thing.

UPDATE: Indeed, "reports of incivility" did occur but it's not what you may think. Though Michael Moore, interim provost, encouraged everyone involved to be on their best professional behavior especially for those who will get invited to meet and discuss their issues with the BoTs.

Silent No More!

Although, I’m not sure if this “Elisa” is the Elisa Abenchuchan that we know well. Regardless who the person was but thanks for stopping by. Here’s my response to Elisa's response regarding my previous blog post.

We all know that a deaf or hard of hearing person can have a host of communication skills under his/her belts and if that skill happens to be an oratory one, then that it is. A useful skill. If the person's skill is good and can confidently be used, then certainly no one can deny that person that skill should it be his or her communication preference. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

The key thing is this. As long as there are ample communications for everybody, then everybody should be able to respect that person’s own communication preferences. In Brueggemann's case at the Gallaudet University graduation ceremony, the audience had three available avenues on communication access that they could rely on.

1) ASL interpreters on stage captured via video and displayed on a very large screen.
2) Real time captioning that offers text translation.
3) Voice from Brueggemann while she speaks into the microphone.

It shouldn’t matter who is up on the stage doing the speaking whether using sign language or the spoken voice. Right?

Brenda Brueggemann should be respected (and even applauded) for her decision to use her voice that day without fear of intimidation or threats. She was bold to go up there and speak in her own voice. And by her presence on that stage that day, she made an obvious point for all to consider and that there is another kind of diversity that do exists on campus and throughout the deaf and hard of hearing community. What I’m talking about has nothing to do with the color of the skin. It’s not about ethnic culture or where we came from. It’s not about the various languages one is brought up on. The diversity that I’m talking about are those who have the skill and preference to use their voice or even use their whatever hearing they have to their benefits because it works for them.

Gallaudet University is a deaf and hard of hearing community campus with a range of communication skills, hearing levels, real life experiences and social and cultural preferences. Any attempt to try and stymie a deaf/hh person from, for example, using his or her own voice while on campus is not showing respect for this kind of diversity in a campus climate that proclaims "unity" and "deafhood". Whether it’s talking on a cell phone, congregating with deaf, hard of hearing or hearing friends in the cafeteria to speak, sign or even use CUED English amongst themselves if they wish, or even talk and banter with a bank teller at the campus bank who happens to be a hearing person. We should feel free and unobstructed on how each of us is able to conduct our own communication preferences.

Now, if you're in a classroom, fine. A student can use his/her ASL/PSE/SEE to communicate and participate in class. But if a student, for example, is having trouble understanding what was signed/spoken in class because of a lack of signing skill then he or she should have every right to request a CART, sign language interpreter (sign to voice), CUED English, FM loop, or whatever in order to fully participate in class as much as possible and not miss out.

Gallaudet University is all about equal communication access for all. Not just sign language alone but any and all communication access because we do have that kind of diversity out there. And choices and preferences are to be respected and honored.

Next, let me ask you a question, Elisa. Was it “audistic” of me to play the piano on the theatre stage at Gallaudet University in 1990 to a small attending audience my Ragtime piano music when I’ve been playing the piano since age 7? Let me answer that question for you. No. It wasn’t “audistic” of me to do that. Why? Because the group of people were hearing, hard of hearing and deaf people sitting in the chairs (I’d say about 25 people were there) who were either students or faculty members who do show an appreciation for music. They recognized my skill and love for piano playing and came to watch and listen.

Many of the people in the audience could hear well, some could not but they certainly learned what Ragtime music was all about for the first time. And since music is a form of communication in its own right it can evoke strong feelings and emotions. A pianist can easily convey his/her own emotions whether it’s joy, sadness, or even anger in the form of music. And the audience listening to it would be able to feel that emotional energy. The same would be true if I were a singer on a stage singing wonderously to the audience is another form of communication. Since a singer would need a great set of lungs coupled with an amazing voice in order to carry sounds across the room with such vibration and energy. So is getting up on stage to address the graduating class of 2005 using your oratory skills with aplomb and effectiveness. Nobody was left out in the process and everybody got her message of congratulations to the graduating students that day.

In light of all that, where would you be willing to draw the line when we have that kind of diversity on the campus of Gallaudet University as well as in the deaf and hard of hearing community? Gallaudet University students, faculty and staff have yet to fully recognize the true diversity among ourselves to give it enough credit and humble respect it sorely deserves.

If I may be so bold and not with the intent to offend anyone but since the majority of students do sign fluently at Gallaudet University compared to the minority student population who are more likely to be hard of hearing and are apt to use their voices regularly. They also stand a greater chance to be ostracized by the more "Deafer" crowd. To me, this is probably akin to black students seeing themselves awash in a sea of white people, where, ironically so, Gallaudet University is practically in the center of a city whose majority population is mostly African Americans. And, to boot, they are mostly hearing people, too. So, I could probably relate on how blacks students must have felt upon entering the school and seeing a bit of a discrimination going on by their own students. Somewhere along the line somebody was not being valued for who he is.

Elisa, I took a poll (several in fact) asking Kokonut Pundits readers about themselves and Gallaudet University in general. It was quite revealing. Although, we need to take these polling results with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, the results proved interesting and beg the question on this very diversity question I am addressing.

One of my polls asks the question “Why did you leave Gallaudet University?” Poll results? 17% of them said they left Gallaudet University because they were “Harassed for not being "deaf enough." There were 35 responses so far.

Poll #2 asks the question, "As a deaf or hard of hearing person were you ever accused by Deaf people who signed "hearing" to the forehead because you can or prefer to speak and/or can hear?" Poll Results? 75% of them said "Yes" while 25% of them said "No". Twenty responses total so far.

Poll #3 asks the question, “If you are or were a student of Gallaudet University, do you support Gallaudet's Cochlear Implant Education Center?" Poll results? 79% of them said “No” while 21% of them said “yes”. There were 58 responses so far.

Poll #4 asks the question, “Should deaf and hard of hearing students on Gallaudet campus be allowed to talk (as in voice) on their cell phones?” Poll results? 82% said “yes” while 18% said “no”. There were 50 responses so far.

Of course, these polling results are to be taken with a grain of salt due to the open nature of the poll over the internet with the hope that Kokonut Pundits readers followed the honor system by replying accordingly. But at the same time these results shouldn't be dismissed out right either. However, there is this issue that I've gone over where many people are unwilling to discuss or even acknowledge to a substantially large group of people who are a proud bunch with what skills they've developed by saying that the status quo doesn't mean that they have to be quiet, too.

As with any and all long-winded response, which is a bad habit of mine, I'll end this blog piece to let my readers think about on what I've just discussed today by saying - "I think I'll stop here."

Credibillity Gaps - Chasms of Denials

Are people actually against the concept of equal access on the distribution of information such as transcripts and videos so people can make an *informed* decision on what actually transpired between two seemingly opposing parties in a meeting on a magnitude as serious as this?

The issue is not about requesting a simple transcript beforehand per se but about assuring that factual reporting from both sides of the parties involved do take place so as not allow one or the other to "cherry pick" information. The transcript and video documentation would force both parties on not to subvert each other's tactics should there be any.

This is not an uncomplicated issue on what's going on here, folks. It's vast. It has many agendas. It's loopy. It's ugly. It is politically complicated. And people all want a part of the pie. And to the FSSA credits, they sometime sound like chickens running around saying the sky is falling. And now we're seeing students run around all wild-eyed saying they're purposely being poisoned by lawn fertilizers by the IJK's secret police is even more nuttier. Talk about hyper-sensitivy here where common sense is practically thrown out of the window here, folks.

I and many others are not interested in wild eyed emotions, conspiracy theories, gossips, rumours, mud-slingings, petty 5th 2nd grade name callings, character assassinations, and fantastical claims of utter oppresion that would rival even the Gulag prisons in Russia. What I and many, many others are interested in is the pure, unmitigated facts that can easily be substantiated, corroborated and confirmed to everybody's satisfaction. If you let your emotions get the best of you in so many ways on so many levels, ya'll not going to succeed. PERIOD!

Transcripts and video-taping documentations are exactly what both parties need. This is done to ensure that proper documentation takes place on who said what in light of the context being discussed in a meeting. This is history in the making. Document it correctly and without bias. This is exactly what courts do to prevent any misunderstandings on what was actually said or done by having court reporters do their shorthand thing and record what was said.

This is an historical event that has taken place and continues to do so. And what you guys are going to end up doing is explain forever to the outside world who have no concept or idea of what the deaf/hh/Deaf community is like and they will always ask why on earth are deaf and hard of hearing students upset over the fact that a first ever deaf woman was selected for president of Gallaudet University who was, not surprisingly, selected by a mostly deaf BoTs.

If the FSSA want greater credibility and believability in their actions and reporting to the masses, they had better provide something a bit more substantial with their own reports on their meetings between their own FSSA and Gally Admins. The same for Gally Admins, too. Everybody will have their own reasons for suspicions either against the FSSA or against the Admins. But the various, long standing issues do need to be addressed in the most cordial and productive way. That's a given. Everybody knows that.

Both parties will have to agree to this method if both are going to meet or else this will continue on spiraling downward... hurting everybody in the process. We all must share this burden.

Each and everyone of you, me, the Gallaudet University admins, alumni, students, staff, faculty members along with the ingrained politics and culture deeply rooted for years and years and years from all sides are the source of the blame for this galling and ugly event that took place this past May and it continues to this day. Nobody wanted to see this happen. But it did. This is not unity folks. This is emotion running amok like a banshee. Now, everybody will have to roll up their sleeves up, pitch in and help clean up this god-forsaken mess that everybody help create in the first place!

Yes, everybody.

New Blog and Feeds Search

Get this. Here's a newly improved blog and feeds search engine by Ask.com

Check out some of the search engine results. Deaf. Hard of hearing. Hearing impaired. Gallaudet. You can even check out my blogsite Kokonut Pundits results. Or what about stem cells that may cure deafness someday? Or even UbiDuo that can help shrink that communication gap between deaf and hearing people? And how abouot the funniest one I found via ASL deaf search? It was in the James Randi Educational Foundation forum site under a topic called "Science Hoax: Simian Sign-Language - Greatest Science Hoax Ever?"

I'm continually surprised to discover how many educated and informed people believe that gorillas and chimps have been taught sign language. Yes, some primates have been taught to make gestures, and to get what they want by using them, but this is a trivial trick that can be done with all sorts of animals.

And here's another really funny one in that same forum.

One of the most damning critiques of the claims of the early primate sign language researchers, which is reported in Pinker, comes from a deaf signer on the team that worked with Washoe -- the only person on that team who was a native speaker of the ASL that they were supposed to be teaching the chimp:

"Every time the chimp made a sign, we were supposed to write it down in the log ... they were always complaining because my log didn't show enough signs. All the hearing people turned in logs with long lists of signs. They always saw more signs than I did ... I watched really carefully. This chimp's hands were moving constantly. Maybe I missed something, but I don't think so. I just wasn't seeing any signs. The hearing people were logging every movement the chimp made as a sign. Every time the chimp put his finger in his mouth, they'd say "Oh, he's making the sign for drink," and they'd give him some milk ... When the chimp scratched itself, they'd record it as the sign for scratch ... When [the chimps] want something, they reach. Sometimes [the trainers would] say, "Oh, amazing, look at that, it's exactly like the ASL sign for give!" It wasn't."

Maybe those chimps actually use SEE instead?

Be sure to look around. Check on the upper right hand side where it says "Top Feeds." One blog came up was a science subject, a favorite one of mine, about how to control the speed of a photon light by slowing it down from speed of light to a crawl...and, now, move it backward. Huh? You'd have to scroll it down to find the link but read it here. It's interesting. And guess where the experiment took place? University of Rochester.

Doh!

I Hear Deaf Voices! Please, Make it Stop!!

It is not surprising to see a general bias along with a certain convulsive reaction from many in the Deaf community towards hard of hearing or deaf people who can talk well. Especially by those who value oratory skills.

I have seen these general BS remarks from time to time by Deaf people whenever they make generalizations about HH people's ability to talk equivocating as just as disturbing as listening to someone rake their nails over a chalkboard.

Listen here as an example. Please turn up your volume high, it's kind of hard to hear this "squawking".

Sorry, wrong one.

A bit of an exaggeration there. I'm sure you get the gist of what I'm trying to get at. But people sometimes describe "deaf voice" as "squawking" or "yowling" or even a "nuisance", or whatever words that may fancy them that are wrongly applied to people who do speak very well. Then there are instances where some do speak atrociously, admitedly so. But many have the desire to continue improving their voices and that shows guts and determination in using one of the many tools in their communication tool box. However, when one says “deaf voice” it’s in the category of having that monotonal voice with little or no intonation or inflectional qualities.

The problem is this. There seems to be a general labeling by many people in the Deaf community regarding how hard of hearing or deaf people talk. As always, hard of hearing people includes those with mild to moderate, or even moderate-severe hearing loss with decibels ranging from 20 to 85 db. We're talking about a population out of 30 million people with hearing loss in the United States. That’s a pretty big population to try and label people as having a "deaf voice" and they are "hard" to hear or even understand.

Watch Kathy Buckley’s video clip. She is deaf. She uses her voice and she does sign a little in her comedy standup she's well known for. Although she does have a very pronounced “deaf voice” but it is certainly not a “nuisance”. Her voice and words are clear and understandable. Even the audience can understand her and laughed at her jokes.

Brenda Bruggemann? Have you listened or seen the video clip of her May 12, 2006 graduation commencement speech at 45:15 into the video (and compare that to I. King Jordan throughout the video)? Her voice was incredibly crisp, clear and very understandable. Even both the interpreter and captioner heard every word clearly. If you listen very closely, you can tell she does have a bit of a “deaf voice” but her voice still contains the inflectional and intonational qualities even though she is deaf. But by all means her voice was extremely good and would even pass as a hearing person’s ..well….almost. But you get the idea.

Those are the limited examples of deaf people with hearing loss on the extreme end of the hearing loss scale of hard of hearing or deaf. Let's look at the other end of the hearing loss spectrum by those with better hearing.

Steve McQueen, a well known actor. He was hard of hearing. Ronald Reagan in his formative years during his presidency was hard of hearing. Leslie Nelson from the movie "The Naked Gun" is hard of hearing. And a whole host of people you can find in here - although not all of them are deaf or hard of hearing.

Now, I have friends, co-workers and such who do have mild to profound hearing loss. Many of them are HHs. And they all speak fine with a variety of accents and inflectional differences but certainly not a “deaf voice”. My deaf friends with much more severe hearing loss are a different story but I wouldn’t call their deaf voices a “nuisance” but they do have a “deaf voice” that’s monotonal with little or no inflectional qualities to it.

I do associate often with people at the other end of the hearing loss spectrum from mild to moderate and I can tell you unequivocally that they do not have this “deaf voice” but yet they are hard of hearing at the same time. If you’re basing your experience with a Deaf crowd, then you are not seeing the broad spectrum of people who are considered as “HH” and how they talk. Most of the hard of hearing population do not have this “deaf voice” until you move upward into the more serious hearing loss range.

These hard of hearing and deaf people who can talk shouldn't be ridiculed, disparaged, looked down upon or ignored should they prefer or have the oratory skills to speak well. Such as this one here:

Jordan has successfully accomplished his goal of temporarily hijacking the Deaf Culture Movement in the United States and he has held it hostage for the entire eighteen years of his administration at Gallaudet, continuing every year to put on his dog and pony show before Congress, and flaunting his deaf voice in order to play on the sympathy of Congressmen who are led to view deafness as an unfortunate medical condition, and are then misled into seeing deafness as being mainly a disability issue.

Amazing. Dog and pony show? Flaunting his deaf voice? What bias do these Deaf people really hold against those who prefer to use their voices?

It is indeed a sad state of affair when Deaf, deaf and hard of hearing people get attacked like that......over the issue of using their voice.

FSSA Letters. Biased? Discriminatory?

I am frankly disappointed but not entirely surprised about what I've read in the recent FSSA letter regarding the meeting with Dr. Jane K. Fernandes (JKF). The letter sprinkled with JKF's supposed responses of "I don't know's" to an unknown context of discussion that took place sounds very much like cherry picking. I am surprised, however, that this new organization did not produce a full transcript of the meeting. Instead readers must rely on FSSA's reporting by people who are already against JKF, IKJ, BoT or whoever. How would one feel walking into a roomful of people knowing that they basically want the person's head on a platter? Yet, the FSSA get to choose and pick how they want the letters written, all, of course, entirely against the IKJ's administration or JKF.

Next, how can we be assured that future letters or reports written by the FSSA will coincide exactly on how an event took place and what was said during as such? Do we want a fox guarding the hen house when it comes to one way communication with the masses? Or should something else be added to provide greater credibility? How about a transcript then? Perhaps along with a video of the meeting?

For future meetings, the FSSA need to make sure both parties will agree that a transcript would be produced from the meeting for public-wide dissemination afterwards. Those of us who cannot be there would prefer to read a transcript of such a meeting rather than rely on secondary reports that are already heavily biased against IKJ, the Administration, JKF or even the BoT. And even their friends. A transcript cannot show bias in reporting. That way readers can make an informed decision on how well the meeting went and in what context the discussion took place without worry of any potential bias seeping/pouring in by secondary reports covering a meeting of such serious magnitude. This way, the FSSA, or whoever will be responsible for this, will be able to capture the whole context of the discussion that took place. This will ensure greater credibility and believability.

So far, the FSSA has consistenly painted a bleak picture of gloom and doom with a chicken little mentality reponses by constantly shining a glaring spotlight in one direction in thir letters or reports. This reminds me of a formerly communist Russia where newspapers were produced by the government where info is strictly controlled and flowed in one direction in order to maintain the status quo of politics. It's kind of ironic to see that the FSSA is playing into that game as well.

It's time to turn the spotlight around and say "transcript please." Let the people decide what's good or bad by getting rid of biased reporting and discriminatory practices covering serious issues that affects everybody.

As always, there are two sides to every story.

Creepy Gay Congressman After 16-yr old Boy

It's all over the news. Congressman Mark Foley (Republican - Florida) tried to entice a 16 year old teenaged boy into some sex-text. You can see all of the text seen here. Be forewarned, it's a bit creepy to read. The whole thing defines what a perv is like.

To avoid all the controversy, Foley resigned as Congressman. Smart move. Although his name has to stay on the Florida ballot.

Here's a little list on Congressional Sex Scandals in History, including both Democrats and Rebublicans covering 21 of these scandals with 12 of them being Democrats. .

A Female Deaf Pianist

I figured somewhere, someplace there must be another deaf or hard of hearing pianist. And I did find one. Her name is Valerie Zamora out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Gee, I used to live in Asheville, North Carolina a few years back.

Valerie plays classical pieces. But she is deaf rather than hard of hearing which would make it a rarity among pianists. Rarer than having hard of hearing pianists. This isn't an easy thing to do and it's a gift for some to possess the skill to play a piano supremely well and deaf at the same time.

Go a visit her website. She has two music samples and they sound really well. Guess that means I need to produce an audio (probably video) copy of my Ragtime playing on my crappy piano. Like Zamora, I began playing the piano since I was 7 years old. I am still playing it though not as much as I like because the piano I play on is really not that good.

Maybe I'll meet Valerie someday. It's not everyday that a deaf/hh pianist meets another deaf/hh pianist and compare notes.

Ooh..I made a funny.

BTW, can anyone spare me a baby grand piano out there. Seriously.