Sean Penn Has Voodoo Doll of Ann Coulter

Sean Penn has a voodoo doll of Ann Coulter and whenever he gets angry he likes to "violate" his personal Ann Coulter look-alike doll. A sign of losing control. However, according to "The Therapist’s Notebook Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Use in Psychotherapy,"

The use of a voodoo doll helps a person make the distinction between feelings and behaviors, and specifically helps him/her gain control of his/her anger.

Wasn't Sean Penn famous for going after photographers and beating them up to a pulp? Wouldn't it be better to come up with an Iranian president Ahmadinejad voodoo doll and stick pins in it instead? Besides, since Sean Penn is playing with a female Ann Coulter doll with cigarette burns in unmentionable places, perhaps he's trying to tell us something?

Spurlock and His "Supersize" Idiocy

Michelle Malkin reports on the idiocy that Morgan Spurlock did while doing a speech appearance at a public high school that was laced with profanities. I've reported last year on Spurlock's own idiocy and, for the most part, his false reporting seen in the "Supersize Me" film seen here and here.

One FROGgy Year at Gallaudet University

Back in around 1990 or 1991 on the campus of Gallaudet University there was this new independent “fraternity” group who called themselves “FROG” with the Greek capital letters phi (F), rho (R), omicron (O), and gamma (G) or (Φ­РОГ ). When finger-spelled it is spelled out as the letter “F,” “R,” “O,” along with an upside down “L” to look like the capital Greek letter “rho” which spells "FROГ."

This was a fine and dandy thing except that some of the fraternity members on campus were whining about the fact that “ FROГ “ was not a legitimate Greek organization. Probably because somebody misunderstood what this whole "FROG" thing was about. I remember hearing about this complaints and just laughed over it. The hilarity was over the fact that some of the campus fraternity members actually felt threatened by a group of people who wanted to sell green T-shirts with large greek letters that spelled "FROГ" on the front. This was never meant to be an official Greek organization. The people who brainstormed this idea just wanted to sell T-shirts to make a point and for people who are proud to be independents and not frat members. It was Robert Johnson, creator of Sextoon who was killed last year in a car accident, who helped set up and organize this short-lived ad hoc “Greek” organization.

This ad hoc "Greek" organization, "FROГ," was all about poking fun at the Greek organizations during their infamous Rock Festival weekends.

The beauty of FROГ was that anybody can join, except for members of legitimate Greek organizations on college campuses. Also, no hazing is required to be a member. Just buy the T-shirt and, voila, you're a member of the Greek "FROГ" organization. Ribbit. Ribbit.

Anybody from Gallaudet University remember this incident? Is there an article buried deep inside the Buff and Blue about this so-called Ad Hoc greek “organization” ? I believe there was an article about it. So funny it was, I'm sure a few people "croaked" over it.

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part II of III.

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part II of III

The national statistics on reported rape on college campuses estimate that 350 women were sexually victimized in colleges of 10,000 students. (Fisher, cullen, & turner. 2000) That is 1 rape for every 28 people on campus or 3.5% of the 10,000 student campus population. Most rapes are not reported and half of those raped defined the behavior as “rape.” According to the FBI, about one college woman in six will be a victim of rape or attempted rape during her college years or a 16% chance of being a victim of a rape crime (Silent Screams: a People Weekly report on sexual assault at the nation’s only university for deaf students. By Mary H.J. Farrell. People Weekly, June 20, 1994, v41 n23 p36(6)).

More than half of all college rape victims are attacked by dates or acquaintances. More than 4 out of 5 rape victims know their attackers. 1 in 15 rape victims contract a sexually transmitted disease as a result of being raped. 1 in 15 rape victims becomes pregnant as a result of being raped. (Statistics on Sexual Violence Against Women. Woodruff & Koss - A Criminological Study August 1990). In comparison to Gallaudet University the percentages of rape were exceedingly high for such a small campus. It was estimated that 60 students out of 2,200 students were raped during a 15-month period. (People Weekly – 6/20/1994, v41, n23 p36(6). Silent Screams: a People report on sexual assault at the nation’s only university for deaf students (Gallaudet University) by Mary H.J. Farrell) according to People Weekly that documented the pattern of sexual assaults.

According to one Freshman Advisor at Gallaudet University during the 1991-1992 school year said that "there is a least one rape a weekend in the freshman dorms" (see “Silent Screams”). It is noted that female freshman students are usually vulnerable during their first year on campus and away from home for the first time. But if what the Freshman Advisor said was true from his/her observation, then this would come out to be about 4 rapes a month (minimum) for an estimated total of 32 rapes (minimum) during a typical school year [note: this figure does not include older students (e.g. sophomore, junior and senior)] who may have been a victim of rape or sexual harassment during the 1991-1992 school year. According to Fisher, Cullen, & Turner in a 1995 study, over 80% of sexual assaults were never reported. What turns out to be disturbing was the number of rapes that were officially reported by Gallaudet University as required by Federal Law that year.

Gallaudet University officially reported only one rape during the 1991-1992 school year when the national statistics at that time showed it to be 3.5% which would be like having 77 rapes or sexual offenses among the 2200 students at Gallaudet University during a typical school year. Despite the 3.5% national reporting average for a large 10,000 student campus population, how can such a low number of rapes go reported when the “eyes and ears” of freshmen advisors were noticing “....at least one rape a weekend” on the campus of Gallaudet University in freshman dorms during the 1991-1992 year? Do Freshman Advisors advise or encourage victims to report the crime to the police? Even that alone presented problems back then whenever student victims tried to report the rapes.

One student related her story in detail in the article named above (ie "Silent Scream" - People Weekly). She was a 23-year old junior and a Student Resident Assistant (SRA) who counseled other students in her dorm. A male SRA suggested that they study together in his room. She agreed.

When coming out of the bathroom, he assaulted and raped her. She tried to push him away. She told him "no" several times. When herealized what he had done, he pleaded with her not to tell anyone. But she didn't listen to him anymore than he had listened to her.

She was taken to the school infirmary the next day and laterto the D.C. police. Accompanied the following day by a campus security officer, she had to type her own statement at the police station. The police officer orally said that her case was not strong enough to consider. There was no interpreter, no questioning of the victim, no investigation of the alleged crime.

The young woman refused to let the matter stand. She took her case to the campus administrative board (ie. Judicial Affairs) and was granted a hearing. Another student present at the hearing was quoted as saying "that when the accused testified, he more or less admitted he attacked (the young female SRA). He said, 'Maybe she said no, but I didn't see it.'" According to the victim, "The verdict said I did not use the word 'force,' even though I described in detail what he had done to me."

- September 1994, Women & Guns

There are lots of questions here. Was it fear, intimidation or power that stopped student victims in their tracks from reporting? Was it embarrassment that prevented victims from properly reporting the crime? Did a "good old boys network" exist on campus that protected each other in order to stymie student victims from getting the justice they deserved? Or was it a breakdown in ASL and communication? What about the Judicial Board? What were the board members relationship to other organizations such as fraternities or Student Life on campus? Did improprieties exist among Student Resident Assistants? What about Peer Advisors? What were their relationships to the upper management such as the Coordinators of Residence Education (CRE)? Did unprofessional behaviors exist that caused breakdowns in ethical conducts between staff members and/or toward vulnerable students? Were there any behind the scenes subtle "threats" to try and keep things quiet? Were there always an equal number of female and male Judicial Board members presiding in a student court room whenever the accused student was brought in to face charges? Were there differences of opinions among the female and male members when it came to rendering a judgement against the accused? Does all this really matter? However, People Weekly reported an insidious problem seen on the campus of Gallaudet University back then when it came to rape issues.

More troubling still, many sources interviewed by People Weekly say the Gallaudet administration has either denied the problem or failed to deal with it effectively. "I have talked to many women who have been raped, assaulted and harassed," says Allen Sussman, a professor of psychology and former dean of student affairs. "They would tell me that they were afraid to face the administration. Gallaudet has a history of covering up." An administrator who, like many, asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, agrees. "In many ways this is a sick, secret community," he says. "It is time for the administration to put this issue out on the table, but they're afraid if they do, students won't come."

- Silent Screams.

Was there ever an existance of a "big boys network" back then during the 1991-1992 academic school year that served to protect each other's interests? Were there always an equal number of female and male Judicial Board members presiding in a student court room whenever an accused student was brought forward? If we look at Gallaudet University year book during 1991-1992 year, it showed 9 males and 4 females who were members of the Judicial Board committee. And that was the year when Gallaudet University officially reported to the Federal Government of only 1 rape for that year while one Freshman Advisor reported that "there is at least one rape a weekend in the freshman dorms" as reported in People Weekly magazine.

Why the very low numbers reported even though most rape victims end up not reporting the crime? Gallaudet University back then was known for it's alcohol drinking problems among deaf students on campus in their dormitories back then when you had drunk students blacked out in dormitory halls and vomits in the stairwells and elevators.

Several years ago Gallaudet University instituted a new policy mandating dry dorms on campus. But even with dry dorms the number of rapes and sexual assaults on campus continues to go up when you compare official reports of 1 rape for the 1991-1992 year and fast forward to 1999 and beyond. For the year 1999 Gallaudet University officially reported 2 instances of forcible sex offenses or rapes. Even with the mandated dry dorms over the last several years official reports on forcible sex offenses or rapes did not stay low. In fact, it had gotten worse in most years since. In 2000 (3 forcible sex offenses or rapes), 2001 (5 rapes), 2002 (3 rapes), 2003 (7 rapes), and in 2004 with an official report required by federal law that 2 forcible sex offenses or rapes took place on the campus of Gallaudet University. Why has the number of officially reported rape increased from 1991 to 2004 when the campus student population went from a high of 2200 in 1991-1992 school year down to 1658 for 2005 while at the same time maintaining dry dorms? Despite these problems even with "guarantees" of confidentiality student victims are sometimes simply embarassed not to even discuss it, do not want to put up with extra efforts in overcoming the administration's hoops in filing a case or, incredibly so, do not want to risk putting "shame" upon the university.

According to Donna Ryan, a history professor at Gallaudet, the insularity of the deaf culture has made it hard for Gallaudet women in particular to come forward to tell their stories. "Part of the difficulty for deaf women in dealing with women's issues like rape involves a fear of trashing the deaf community," she says. In many cases, the women are afraid of being put down by their fellow students for bringing shame upon the university. "The deaf community is small and close-knit," says Denise Snyder, executive director of D.C. Rape Crisis Center. "If you make a fuss at Gallaudet, you've closed a big door."

- Silent Screams.

In a verified, exclusive report for this part II article one deaf student came forward and explained in great details that she was contacted by People Weekly magazine back then for a potential rape interview with her for the upcoming 1994 "Silent Scream" article. The problem with the People Weekly contact was that this deaf victim never confided to anyone else about her on campus dormitory rape ordeal. Wholly surprised, she declined for an interview. She quickly became angry upon realizing that the reporter of People Weekly somehow found out that she was a rape victim. How? After she declined for an interview she was soon contacted by her mother who said that People Weekly wanted to know more about about the rape of her own daughter. The mother never knew that her daughter was raped and had nothing to offer to the reporter of People Weekly. This deaf student NEVER once told her mother about her rape keeping the entire incident secret from her family and friends. The incident was only known by the rapist, campus police and the people who have access to confidential campus files on students. Who spilled the beans?

© Copyright 2006 Mike McConnell


Next week part III on Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets.

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part I

Jan Benvie, Christian Peacemaker, The Next Terrorist Hostage?

Remember the three Christian peacemakers who were rescued by the U.S. military didn't give thanks to the US soldiers who risked their lives to get them out their own stupid predictament that THEY THEMSELVES CREATED? And now, Jan Benvie from the same organization is going to Iraq this summer is asking that she not be rescued.

Jan Benvie, 51, an Edinburgh teacher who is due to go to Iraq with the same organisation this summer, said: "We make clear that if we are kidnapped we do not want there to be force or any form of violence used to release us."

In other words, she would rather be tortured and then subsequently beheaded by terrorist kidnappers. Better put that in writing and give it to the U.S. military. Might be a good idea to include that ransom ought not to be paid since money encourage more violence (ie more kidnappings).

One Reason Why There's No Hope for Uber-Leftists

When it comes debates many liberal lefties like nothing more than to smear, accuse and call names thinking their responses are a substitute for an intellectual debate. They are not. Trash talk is trash talk. Such talks offer no redeeming value in a debate. There's no hope for those who prefer to call names and issue threats rather than to allow a person the chance to say his/her side of the story. Incredibly, but not surprising, all of this happened when Washington Post decided to hire a conservative blogger to blog in blogsite called "Red America" of which Ben Domenech was soon promptly accused of plagiarism and received foul words and threats the moment he signed on.

Red America, my new blog at washingtonpost.com, has been under attack since its launch. It is a conservative blog on a mainstream media site, so many of the attacks were expected. If one bothers to read it, I believe it stands as a welcome addition to the opinion debate.

The hate mail that I have received since the launch of this blog has been overwhelmingly profane and violent. My family has been threatened; my friends have been deluged; my phone has been prank called. The most recent email that showed up while writing this post talked about how the author would like to hack off my head, and wishes my mother had aborted me.

But in the course of accusing me of racism, homophobia, bigotry, and even (on one extensive Atrios thread) of having a sexual relationship with my mother, the leftists shifted their accusations to ones of plagiarism. You can find the major examples here: I link to this source only because I believe it's the only place that hasn't
yet written about how they'd like to rape my sister.

I know that charges of plagiarism are serious. While I am not a journalist, I have, myself, written more than one thing that has been plagiarized in the past. But these charges have also served to create an atmosphere where no matter what is said on my Red America blog, leftists will focus on things with my byline from when I was a teenager.

Yet, Ben Domenech was unable to defend against the plagiarism charges by those outside of the Washington Post (i.e. those name callers and yahoos) until now.

I can rebut several of the alleged incidents here. The most recent accusation, is that I stole a music review from Crosswalk and passed it off at National Review Online. In fact, I wrote both lists myself; I was one of Crosswalk's music review contributors at the time.

The Left has also accused me of foisting Sen. Frist quotes and some descriptive material from the Washington Post for a New York Press article on the Capitol Shooter. But the quotes I used were either properly credited or came from Sen. Frist’s press conference, which I attended along with many other reporters. So it is no surprise that we had similar quotes or similar descriptions of the same event. I have reams of notes and interviews about the events of that day. I also went over the entire piece step by step with NYPress editors to ensure that it was unquestionably solid before it ran.

Virtually every other alleged instance of plagiarism that I’ve seen comes from a single semester’s worth of pieces that were printed under my name at my college paper, The Flat Hat, when I was 17.

In one instance, I have been accused me of passing off P.J. O'Rourke's writing as my own in a column for the paper. But the truth is that I had met P.J. at a Republican event and asked his permission to do a college-specific version of his classic piece on partying. He granted permission, the piece was cleared with my editors at the paper, and it ran as inspired by O’Rourke’s original.

My critics have also accused me of plagiarism in multiple movie reviews for the college paper. I once caught an editor at the paper inserting a line from The New Yorker (which I read) into my copy and protested. When that editor was promoted, I resigned. Before that, insertions had been routinely made in my copy, which I did not question. I did not even at that time read the publications from which I am now alleged to have lifted material. When these insertions were made, I assumed, like most disgruntled writers would, that they were unnecessary but legitimate editorial additions.

But it wasn't the plagiarism charges that helped him decide to resign from "Red America" blogging, it was the total and planned malfeasance by liberal yahoos who bashed him simply because he is a conservative. Nothing more. They'll look for excuses, any excuses, to try and level charges simply because they don't like him. Enough so that the Washington Post decided to pull the plug only after a week much to Ben's disappointment.

I guess the thing that bothers me the most about this is that the Post didn’t give this a chance to either blow over or work itself out,” he said. “And I feel that if they had done that, the blog would have been a great addition to their site.”

It'll be an interesting day to see whether Washington Post will apologize after they complete their investigation "into these allegations" of plagiarism to Ben Domenench. The early plug pulling also parallels to that of the Deborah Howell's blogging for WaPo only a few months ago. Again, another spineless move committed by WaPo. If the Washington Post ends up apologizing to Ben it will surely alienate further many of the liberal leeches who continue to suck blood out of America until it becomes weak allowing the enemies to move in for the kill. However, I think WaPo will want to keep their leeches.

Details of Russian Info to Iraq Prior to War

Foxnews report that Russian officials gave pertinent information days before the fall of Baghdad to Saddam.

The Russians relayed information to Saddam during the opening days of the 2003 war, including a crucial moment before the assault on Baghdad, according to the documents in the report Friday.

The unclassified report does not assess the value of the information or provide details beyond citing two captured Iraqi documents that say the Russians collected information from sources "inside the American Central Command" and that battlefield intelligence was provided to Saddam through the Russian ambassador in Baghdad.

A classified version of the Pentagon report, titled "Iraqi Perspectives Project," is not being made public.

However, a document was uncovered today as part of the DOCEX ("Operation Iraqi Freedom Documents" which began a few weeks ago) release program that is being made public today gives us an idea of what info Russian officials were giving to Saddam. This document was translated into English from Arabic gives details on the strength and whereabouts of American Forces weeks before the war on March 2, 2003 into the hands of Saddam.

3- During the meeting the ambassador gave us the following information about the US military presence in the Gulf as per the 2nd of March:

Number of troops: 206,500 out of which 98,000 naval forces and 36,500 infantry. 90% of theses forces are in Kuwait and on the Navy ships.

US troops have reached the island of Bubiyan (Bubiyan is largest Kuwaiti island in the Kuwaiti coastal islands chain).

Number of tanks: 480
Number of armored cars: 1132
Number of artillery: 296
Number of Apache helicopters : 735
Number of fighter planes: 871
Number of Navy ships: 106. 68 in the Gulf and the rest in Oman (State of Oman), Aden (Yemen), the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Number of air carriers: 5. One nuclear powered. Three in the Gulf one in the Mediterranean and one on its way.
Number of Cruise missiles: 583 based on the US Navy and distributed on 22 ships.
Number of Cruise missiles on planes: 64
Number of heavy bombers B-52 H: 10 in the Indian Ocean.
Number of B1-B: 8 present in the US base of Thumarid in Oman.

4- The ambassador pointed that what worried us (most probably “us” refers to the Russians) was the increase in the number of planes in Jordan where the number of planes in Al Sallt base was as follows:
24 planes F-16
10 planes Tornado
11 planes Harrier

He also mentioned that there were 10 A-10 tank destroyers in the Jordanian base of King Faysal.

5- The ambassador also pointed that a certain number of the 82nd Division (82nd Airborne) which was deployed in Afghanistan started coming to Kuwait. The number of troops has reached 750 soldiers.

Makes you wonder what else we'll find among the 2 plus million of Iraqi documents that were captured in Iraq. Should we be at all surprised that the Russians helped Iraq be the eyes and ears of Saddam's Army?

Wild 94.9 = Really Messed Up

Got a tip from a reader leading me to a story of how DJs on Wild 94.9 made fun of the tragic death of Tara Rose McAvoy by laughing at the tragic situation and the hearing loss that deaf/hh people experience.

I just learned from a teacher friend, Vanessa Sandez, that Wild 94.9 a "popular" hip hop radio station in the Bay Area has picked up the story and are making light of "the Miss Deaf Texas who died in the train accident" with comments such as "why was she on a cell phone texting...so she has some hearing??" And "we want to hear from the Deaf people (said in a joking way)". They were also making loud train wreck sounds (on air) with the calls they're getting and "pretending" they couldn't hear the callers. According to Vanessa, they are saying "it's only a few people calling in to complain - that they are people who work with "deaf special ed. kids" and saying they are "special".

It's one thing to be politically incorrect and another to be insensitive. This affects everyone in the Deaf community. To think this is coming from the Bay Area.

Write/call and let them HEAR from us.Contact information for the radio station:

Wild 94.9
340 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

In this world, there are even bigger idiots who like to wear their hats sideways.

Hostages Freed. Christian Peacemaker Organization Snubs Military Who Rescued Hostages

Good news. US troops rescued 3 left-wing, anti-war Christian peace activists who were held hostage in Iraq. Bad news? Moonbatty peace activist group whose members were taken hostage snubs US troop's rescue effort and still blames them for "allowing" the kidnapping to take place. And they didn't call this a rescue but called this a "release."

You can thank the troops here.

Remember the "whiny" study? Guess psycho researchers got it backward. Liberals continue to whine, be unapologetic and unforgiving while undermining the war efforts at the same time.

Nice going. More "stuck on stupid" people.

When Islam has a place for those who convert over to Christianity

You'd think Islam is all about peace and love? How sorely mistakened you are.

Abdul Rahman told his family he was a Christian. He told the neighbors, bringing shame upon his home. But then he told the police, and he could no longer be ignored.

Now, in a major test of Afghanistan's fledgling court system, Rahman, 42, faces the death penalty for abandoning Islam for Christianity.

Prosecutors say he should die. So do his family, his jailers, even the judge. Rahman has no lawyer. Jail officials refused to let anyone see Rahman on Monday, despite permission granted by the country's justice minister.

"We will cut him into little pieces," said Hosnia Wafayosofi, who works at the jail, as she made a cutting motion with her hands. "There's no need to see him..."

Not a problem you say? Remember this one?



Yeah, right. Peace lovers. You don't know what you're missing.

When Islam Has a Place for Homosexuals

Check out Gateway Pundits " Don't Worry, Leftists... Islam Has a Place for the Homosexual."

Yes, the Muslim World has a very special place for homosexuals. Juan Cole at Informed Comment suggests that homosexuality has a warm place in the heart of Islam. Juan describes it this way:

"Islam as a culture/ civilization has made a place for homosociality in
history that is far greater than anything in premodern Christendom, and there is
nothing in the Quran about gays at all (the Lot story is repeated from the
Bible, but so telegraphically it cannot be used for these purposes.)"

Cox and Forkum sees a different place.

Now, how dumb is this Juan Cole? Dumb enough to think that Islamic countries actually embrace homosexual perversions? Yet, the Leftists continue to cry and whine on how bad the West is toward homosexuals and transgendereds but no doubt would give a thumbs up to Islamic countries who are trying to wage Jihad against the West and their values. Despite rumors surfaced last week that Iraqi cleric Ali Sistani came out with a Fatwa against homosexuals.

Now, if it's that bad here in the United States, then move to Iran or some other Islamic country for god sakes! Either you are with us or against us. Make up your mind! Or else, join the ever growing "Stuck on Stupid" crowd and invite Islamist fanatics and Sharia Law into your world. At least this heterosexual blogger has the common sense to know the difference.

Democratic Party's Game Plan on How to Use War Against Bush

From the Drudge Report:

The Dem Recess Packet; A Map Of Dems' Midterm Political StrategyMon Mar 20
2006 08:07:38 ET

THE DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a copy of the "game plan" devised by the office of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) office for Democrat Senators with political tips on how to use the war in Iraq against the Bush administration in their home states over recess break. The Reid recess packet, "Real Security: Recess Events 3/18 to 3/26" was originally reported on in the WASHINGTON TIMES on Saturday. [Click for .PDF file of document]

The recess packet offers tips such as using American flags, holding political events at veteran halls. Dems should conduct panels to discuss the "mental health crisis" Iraq vets face, visit military bases, tour a factory and visit the home of a family who purchased body armor with their own money.

Interesting. Check it out.

Prediction: Outrage from Muslim Fanatics on Drug Experiment Gone Awry on a Muslim Volunteer

Last week a drug trial gone hideously wrong where volunteers suffered the consequences of an experimental drug, TGN1412, that was injected into them. They were paid £2,000. And now, a sob story is being written up for one of the victim who is a Muslim.

Mohammed Abdalla, 28, had planned to use his £2,000 fee for being a guinea pig to make his family in Egypt financially secure.

He wanted to set up his brother Mahmood in business and look after his father, an imam, and desperately ill mother.

But there were warnings, yet Mohammed ignored the possible risks.

The revelations came as a friend of Mohamed said that he had regarded the £2,000 fee as too good to miss.

He said: "Usually the drug companies pay a few hundred quid, but this was a bit of a jump. But he laughed off the risk.

"I was really worried. I told him that no one would offer that much money if they didn't know there was a huge risk attached. But he said he needed the money to pay off debts."

The experimental drug that was administered to Mohammed was oversaw by Professor Johannes Loewer, president of the Paul Elhrich Institute (PEI), which monitored the research of the TGN1412 experimental drug. Now, if one were to delve into the history of who Paul Ehlrich was they will find out that Paul Ehlrich was born into a Jewish family in 1854. Paul and his four sisters had an Orthodox Jewish upbringing at a time when debate raged among German Jewry prior to the Jewish holocaust.

I can see it now. Muslim fanatics protesting that these were deliberate experimentations on Muslims from an institution that was established in Germany in recognition of a famous Jewish scientist, "The Prince of Science." They'll probably produce conspiracy theories about how the institution is the source of their "diabolical" schemes to eradicate Muslims by experimenting drugs on Muslim's blood by using guile, deceit and temptation of cash. Or something like that. Just watch. Never mind the fact that Mohammed Abdalla bragged about making £60,000 a year as a human guinea pig.

The article continues with the sob story focusing on Mohammed. But should Mohammed dies, becomes hideously disfigured or disabled, it won't be long for the Muslim fanatics to find out about PEI and the name behind it. Or if Mohammed's mother dies from her weak heart upon hearing the horrible news of her son, it won't be long for a protest to form by Muslim fanatics to go on with their pillaging and rampaging signature works. Perhaps rivaling that of the cartoon protests.

Last night, a close friend of Mohamed in Cairo told the Mail: "I last spoke to him two weeks ago and there was no mention of the medical trials.

"But he did say that he was planning to come to Egypt in the summer with a big surprise for his younger brother Mahmood that he hoped would set him up financially for life. It is so tragic if that is why he is in the situation he is in now."

Only Mohamed's father has been informed of the disaster, and he is keeping it from his two sisters, brother and mother.

The friend said: "His mother has got a very serious heart condition, so serious that we have no doubt that it would kill her to know what has happened to him."

Mohamed married a British woman in Egypt four years ago, but they divorced and, his friend said, the settlement cost him his savings.

He said: "Mohamed was fond of his family and adored children and wanted children of his own. But his wife was reluctant because it would have involved converting to Islam. When they divorced, he was forced to give her his life savings as part of the settlement." He added: "Mohamed is loved by everyone, always the one in the group resolving disputes, always wanting everyone to get along."

I hope everybody recover without any lasting effects. Somehow, that seems doubtful. However, it is ironic that Ryan Wilson, who is also fighting for his life, was only mentioned once in the article. But, of course, the focus was on Mohammed who was identified as the Muslim victim. Will there be violent protests by Muslim fanatics should Mohammed dies or becomes permanently disabled? I wouldn't be surprised if they find their way to PEI to do their protesting while conjuring up conspiracy theories. Only time will tell. After all, Germany's Muslim population is 3.2 million strong out of 82 million.

National Debt - $9 Trillion Dollars Screams the Headline

Yeah, it's been going up and it is worrying to a lot of people. But it is not the worse it's been. Today the national debt is 65 per cent of the nation's GDP (Gross Domestic Product), very close to a recent high of 67 per cent in 1996 when President Clinton was in office even though it was never the United States' highest national debt. In 1946 it was $270 billion or 122 per cent of GDP. But of course, the article screamed that the national debt would be the equivalent of 28 Eiffel Towers made of pure gold. Ironically, France's own debt according to last year's article for 2004 debt:

France's debt reached 1.067 trillion euros (1.3 trillion US dollar), or 64.7 percent of GDP last year, above the EU limit of 60 percent for a second year. It's forecast to exceed 66 percent this year (2005).

And that's while France's economy was growing at 1.4% a year along with high unemployment rates at 10% for 2004. Many are saying that France's debt is spiraling out of control. Indeed. Not to mention another ticking time bomb when France's Muslim population makes up 10% of France's own population and some have projected that in 25 years Muslims will be the majority population in France.

And you thought we have problems? More french fries anyone?

Links Between Saddam, Iraq, Osama bin Laden, 9/11 and al Qaeda?

Judge for yourself and look into these hyperlinks on the links between Saddam, Iraq, al Qaeda, 9/11 and Osama bin Laden. It's a very long list of links. In fact, several pages worth of links. Check 'em out and see how strong or tenuous the links are.

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part I

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part I.

It was a little more than a few years ago that a dirty little secret exploded onto the scene where numerous deaf students at a few deaf residential schools (i.e. “School for the deaf”) were exposed to sexual harassments or molestations, sexual advancements, and sexual assaults by a few deviant employees and, most often, the students themselves. A Seattle Post-Intelligencer investigation identified numerous student rape victims spanning over a half-century. This raised serious concerns and questions about the nation’s own residential schools where some continue to fail to protect children at deaf residential schools. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer began their investigation into the world of sexual abuses of deaf students at the Washington School for the Deaf beginning in 2001 which uncovered wide-spread sex abuses. It took a string of five reported student-on-student rapes in 1999 to spur safety improvements at the school. Five lives were destroyed because of ignorance by the school.

Why many of these reports of sexual abuse were never reported 5, 10, 20, 30 years ago or longer? It was usually because many deaf students who were victims feared that their own “cherished” deaf schools would close down if they ever try and report the sexual abuses that went on. For example, according to Linda Hill, a Vancouver Island psychologist who has counseled some the victims of sex abuse at Jericho Hill School for the Deaf in Vancouver, British Columbia (not the same school as Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver, Washington) the students were “…kept quiet because they feared a scandal would result in the school's closure” (As allegations fly, School for Deaf finds itself at crossroads 'Child safety can't be secondary,' one official says Thursday, April 26, 2001 Story by Ruth Teichroeb, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff). "The abuse was the trade-off for the fluency of communication," Hill said. "It was better to live in a dysfunctional deaf world than an isolated hearing world." Even Professor Donna Mertens at Gallaudet University exclaimed to the extent true of one of the reasons why abuses do not go reported. She said, “…denial is fueled by everything from blaming the victim to believing that 'the deaf don't rat on other deaf ' (Donna Mertens, an education professor at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., who wrote a 1996 study on sexual abuse at a school for the deaf. Abuse and Silence: Examining America's schools for the deaf Sex abuse plagues schools for the deaf nationwide). In short, victimized students wanted to ensure that their Deaf culture and sign language were kept alive for social reasons.

These are strange and disturbing statements but not altogether unexpected why some would go to nearly any length to protect their very personal and sociable Deaf world. So precious was their Deaf world they allowed these dirty little secrets to continue its terror on new and unsuspecting deaf students unfamiliar to the school’s history. The emotional and psychological costs of these abuses spanned over many generations producing many dysfunctional Deaf people as they grew up into adulthood only to carry the emotional baggage. However, some have learned to use their past rape experience to do something positive.

In published research studies (Knutson-Sullivan, 1993., Sullivan et. al., 1991, Boys Town Research Hosp., Annals of Oto/R/Lynx) clearly indicated that deaf children at residential schools have a significantly HIGHER CHANCE of being sexually abused than deaf children in mainstream programs. In short, deaf kids at residential schools are exposed to a multifold higher danger of getting sexually abused that should literally scare the pants off of any parents of deaf children who are thinking of sending their deaf kids to a deaf residential school.

For awhile, nearly 40 percent of deaf children have gone to state-run residential schools until 1975 when a federal law ordered local school districts to provide services to disabled children. Over the years the number of deaf children attending state residential schools for the deaf has dropped to one out of 10 students. As of 2001, approximately 6,900 deaf children attended schools for the deaf in the United States. (Deaf say special schools needed, Wednesday, April 25, 2001 By Ruth Teichroeb, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter). Despite the falling numbers of deaf students who attended residential schools the abuses didn’t stop with the falling numbers.

In 1982, former Baxter (on Mackworth Island near Falmouth) students accused staff members from the 1950s through the 1970s of rape, beatings and intimidation. A state study was set up to find out whether the allegations were true. They were. Three top administrators resigned as a result. Victims later petition the Legislature for the right to sue and demand a formal apology. However, prior to the investigation, many former students of Baxter school hesitated about testifying about the alleged abuses that occurred there, fearing the school might be shut down as a result of the controversy ( “In Maine, a step toward healing.” A Maine bill would allow compensation for students who were abused at Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. Thursday, April 26, 2001. By Ruth Teichroeb – Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter).

As Patricia Sullivan explained "There is a shroud of cultural silence around physical and sexual abuse in residential schools for the deaf. (Patricia Sullivan, a psychologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Neb. As allegations fly, School for Deaf finds itself at crossroads 'Child safety can't be secondary,' one official says Thursday, April 26, 2001, Story by Ruth Teichroeb, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff). It's a bunker mentality. It's very easy to be shunned in the deaf community," said Sullivan, who has done extensive research about abuse of disabled children.

According to Sullivan’s research children with disabilities are more than three times more likely to be mistreated. The risk of abuse is even greater in residential facilities such as deaf residential schools. And because deaf students value the social cohesions at deaf residential schools, they develop this irrational fear of seeing their deaf residential school shut down and lose their Deaf culture. Many Deaf communities were willing to keep a dirty secret about their deaf residential schools. “They accept the ‘total institution’ as a home where a shared language community and friends are to be found." (Evans, Donald and Falk William (1986) Learning to be Deaf Berlin Mouton de Grayter).

"The most significant aspect of residential life is the dormitory. In the dormitory, away from the structured control of the classrooms, deaf children are introduced to the social life of deaf people. This unique pattern of transmission lies at the heart of the culture." (Padden C. and Tom Humphries. (1988) Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture). This is what makes Deaf culture attractive, the socialization aspect and would do almost anything to preserve their culture, even to the demise of others.

Not only has rape or sexual abuse occurred at some of the schools for the deaf for younger students but also at older institutions such as Gallaudet University. Rape and other sexual violence are an unfortunate reality that many are not intimately aware of or how to respond in such a case. Even the victims’ are unsure how to respond or report the violence.


Next week: Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part II.

© Copyright 2006 Mike McConnell

When Deaf People Mock the Tragedy of Deaf Miss Texas

I am sure this deaf person isn't alone in mocking the latest tragedy when a deaf 18 year old "Deaf Miss Texas" was killed by a passing train. Some of the points presented by this deaf person were valid if not overly general (e.g. that all deaf people receive SSI/SSDI or that all are lazy) but to mock the death of Tara Rose McAvoy is but a bit on the repugnant side.

Was she really that arrogant to think that the train, which probably held millions of stock/passengers which was likely to sum up to three hundred thousand pounds, if not even, would swerve to avoid hitting her, a mere one hundred and thirty pound female? Did she really expect nothing but a gust of wind if she walked less than a foot away from a moving train?

When Nate e-mailed me that article last night, I couldn't help but laugh for a good two minutes. Though I tried very hard, I couldn't bring myself to feel an ounce of solace for that girl because, frankly, I don't sympathize with people who lack common sense.

She might need to revisit this "common sense" of hers again about herself with the way she wrote her blog about the tragedy. The accident was a senseless tragedy that could have been easily prevented. It was in fact purely a stupid moment for Tara but I wouldn't not mock or laugh about this horrible accident. People make mistakes that cost their lives. But laughing about them is even worse.

Read the rest of her blog and her deaf friends' responses to her antics. Looks like she lost a few friends in the process, too. There was one death threat aimed at her as well for mocking the tragedy. Making a death threat is also another not so "common sense" moment. Let this blog of hers be an interesting lesson of how things can get devolved rather quickly once you take leave of absence your common sense.

So far, in the world of deaf/hh/hearing blogosphere the tragedy of Tara Rose McAvoy has taken off. Some are just down right cruel while others are more poignant and reflective on the tragedy. I'm sure this will be talked about for quite some time.

If you know of other deaf/hh bloggers who mocked the tragedy, let me know. There is a such a thing as going too far.

When Soldiers Get Killed and Wounded in Combat Do Not Get Their Purple Hearts

It has come to my attention, quite shockingly, that the Pentagon has not yet given out Purple Hearts to the soldiers killed and wounded in the grenade and rifle attack at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait a few days before the start of the Iraq war on March 23, 2003. It has been three years since the attack and family and service members are wondering why the Pentagon’s refusal to give out Purple Hearts? One of them was my cousin, Major Gregory Stone, who was mortally wounded from the grenades that were tossed in his tent while he slept.

The Purple Heart, which is awarded to a service member killed or wounded as a result of enemy or terrorist action, has never been presented to those killed and wounded that night. They have, so far, been denied this simple but important display of respect our nation gives to those who have sacrificed so much in its service.

Three years after the attack, the wounded soldiers and family members of the deceased are being denied this seemingly small, but emotionally important symbol by a military bureaucracy that cannot see past definitions. The Pentagon claims that Akbar--who was convicted of murder in a military trial last April and now awaits execution at Fort Leavenworth--was just a criminal and not an enemy. During Akbar's trial, I could understand that calling him a terrorist would probably unnecessarily complicate the prosecution. When the trial ended, though, I and many family members assumed the awards would be forthcoming. But when I inquired further, I was told that the incident was not deemed a terrorist attack and therefore the Purple Hearts could not be awarded.

Hey, whenever a soldier reverts and become a traitor of the United States in order to join the enemy’s cause is by definition an enemy of the state. He is simply THE ENEMY! It was certainly a terrorist attack as opposed to the Pentagon’s own warped opinion who believed otherwise.

It is an insult to US soldiers who received “non-combat injuries” and not get their Purple Hearts when their injuries were just as bad, if not worse, than those who were injured in hostile combat situtions such as getting shot at, having RPGs thrown at them and collecting fragments from exploding IEDs. All of them in combat zones.

Major Gregory Stone showed great heroism in getting the medics to work on other men that were wounded in the grenade attack despite being mortally wounded.

He may not have known how badly wounded he was, because he began to push the medics away, and though I could not hear what he was saying, I could hear the medics reply: "No, sir we have to take care of you" and "Everyone is being taken care of. Let us work on you." It was clear he was trying to get the medics to go help the other wounded men.

But why hasn’t the Pentagon awarded posthumously the Purple Hearts to the two officers killed in the attack where Army Capt. Christopher Seifert, 27, who was shot in the back, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, who suffered 83 shrapnel wounds? And also to the 14 other soldiers who survived the attack that night?

According to requirements regarding the awarding of the Purple Heart, President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 11016 on April 25, 1962:

1. The Secretary of a military department, or the Secretary of the Treasury with regard to the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy, shall, in the name of the President of the United States, award the Purple Heart, with suitable ribbons and appurtenances, to any member of an armed force under the jurisdiction of that department and any civilian national of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with an armed force of that department, has been, or may hereafter be, wounded—
(a) in any action against an enemy of the United States;
(b) in any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the armed forces of the United States are or have been engaged;
(c) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party;
(d) as the result of an act of any such enemy or opposing armed force; or
(e) as the result of an act of any hostile foreign force.

It’s time that this guideline on the awarding of the Purple Heart be changed to reflect the changes on the current tactics used by terrorists against soldiers in both combat and non-combat situations. U.S. soldiers deserve much better respect than this.

Here’s a petition site to the US Congress to revise the guidelines pertaining how the awarding of the Purple Heart ought to be carried out. It's time to revise the Purple Heart requirements.


Other past blogs on Major Gregory Stone:

Rob McGovern and Chris Muir
Trial for Murder of Maj. Gregory Stone
The Plannned Murder of AF Maj. Gregory Stone and His Troop
Justice for Maj. Gregory Stone
Please visit Hero Bracelet
The Murder of Maj. Gregory Stone
In tribute of Maj. Gregory Stone

UPDATE: The Anchoress, thank you.

Miss Deaf Texas Killed by Train, Unable to Hear Train Horn Warning Blast

A sad day for the Deaf community. Many bloggers (deaf and hearing) are reacting to this tragedy.

Tara Rose McAvoy was walking along the railroad tracks when she was struck by a Union Pacific train. According to a witness the train sounded its horn right up until the accident occurred. This is a case of failing to hear the train horn's warning blast that got the young woman killed. Being completely deaf, the horn had no affect in getting her attention to move away from the train tracks with the train approaching. Deafness can get you killed if you're not careful.

There were other similar accidents (see here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) involving other deaf people getting killed by a train who were unable to hear the approaching train and the blaring horn. The horn blast is 140 decibels when 130 is the threshold of pain.

People, both hearing and deaf, were killed by trains while on the tracks but with the train's powerful horn blast, at least a hearing person who have the idiocy and the stupidity to be on the tracks has a chance to move out of the way.

If you're deaf and want to walk the train tracks, please don't. Avoid railroad tracks at all times. That's for everybody. A train cannot stop on a dime for you.

RIP Tara.

UPDATE: That's just great. Deaf, unable to hear the train horn's 140 decibels blast, and she was text-messaging while walking alongside the train tracks.

UPDATE II: Folks. Just simply stay away from any train tracks while walking and text messaging at the same time. When I say stay away, try 100 feet, 200 or 500 feet. Not 20 feet. Welcome readers from About.com.

I have a suggestion for train tracks. Why not install woofers which are speakers designed to reproduce very low frequencies or very low bass sounds that vibrates the air around it. You basically feel the sound more than you can hear it. With a large enough woofer and enough wattage, the high intensity, low frequency bass sound (or simply the vibration itself) could vibrate enough ahead of the train, say (just guesssing here) 200 feet or so, where the vibration is directional in front of the train in an area where people are normally struck and give those final advanced warnings to move out of the way. It's easier to feel the sound all over your body than to hear it. You would instinctively want know where it's coming from and move away from it. Something like a non-lethal acoustic weapon?

When Brokeback Trashes Crash over Best Picture at Oscar

Must be a little envy thing going on by the author of Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx, who complained, whined and bashed about the Crash movie that won Best Picture at the Oscar.

"Roughly 6,000 film industry voters, most in the Los Angeles area, many living cloistered lives behind wrought-iron gates or in deluxe rest homes, out of touch not only with the shifting larger culture and the yeasty ferment that is America these days, but also out of touch with their own segregated city, decide which films are good. "And rumour has it that Lions Gate inundated the academy voters with DVD copies of 'Trash' - excuse me, Crash - a few weeks before the ballot deadline. "Next year we can look to the awards for controversial themes on the punishment of adulterers with a branding iron in the shape of the letter A, runaway slaves, and the debate over free silver."

Too bad, Annie. Suck it up. A typical liberal meltdown for not getting what she wanted. Annie, just go under your bed, curl up and give it a good cry.

BTW, I ain't gonna watch that movie. Both of them. Not my cup o' tea. If you have a problem with that, then you really do have problems.

Milosevic and Bill Clinton

Milosevic died on Saturday, March 11, in his jail cell from an apparent heart attack. Now, allegations are swirling about that he was poisoned by medications smuggled to him.

The assessment by Donald Uges -- based on blood tests carried out in recent months -- raised questions about security at the prison and echoed past accusations by the trial's leading lawyer that Milosevic repeatedly ignored medical advice and prescribed himself drugs.

Milosevic was found dead in his prison cell on Saturday, just hours after writing Russian officials a letter alleging that an "extremely strong drug" was found in his bloodstream.

But what is interesting is that a few weeks ago Milosevic's lawyers who have asked the U.N. war crimes tribunal to issue a subpoena to force former U.S. President Bill Clinton to testify at his trial. Milosevic was asking for Clinton's testimony asserting he was privy to vital information about the Balkan wars and that he had ordered the 1999 bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

An interesting turn of events. Will Milosevic be added to this body count? Or simply a mean streak of unfortunate turn of events associated with the Clinton name?

Miriam Richards - first deaf person to climb the highest peaks in all 50 states

Book proceeds to benefit a deaf Corvallis (Oregon) climber to help fund her final and 50th climb to the top of Mount McKinley.

Corvallis resident Miriam Richards (deaf since birth) has written a book about her pursuit to become the first deaf person to climb the highest peaks in all 50 states. She has so far climbed the highest mountains in all 49 states and has just one mountain left, Alaska's Mount McKinley (Denali).

She is hoping to raise enough money from selling her book to help pay for the Denali trip in May. The cost can be substantial in funding a climbing which can be between $10,000 to $20,000. Only this time the battle is against time since was diagnosed with Multiple Scerosis a few years ago which is a disease of the central nervous system that can cause extreme fatigue and loss of muscle coordination.

Co-author Damara Paris, Richards has helped chronicle the stories behind each climb in a book called "High Point of Persistence: The Miriam Richards Story."

By ordering the book by March 30, people can help Richards raise the money she needs for the Denali (Mt. McKinely) expedition.

Autographed paperback books are $14.97, plus $4.25 for shipping and handling; hardback books sell for $22.46, plus $7.25 for shipping and handling.

To order a copy, send your name, address and check or money orders to Paris Publications, P.O. Box 7193, Salem, OR 97303 or fax orders to 503-304-1961.

The news of this book came out of Corvallis' Gazette Times newspaper recently.

Stuck on Stupid Terrorist in North Carolina

Michelle has more (and here) on this about the recent hit and run attack on nine UNC Chapel Hill students in North Carolina by Mohammed Taheri-azar. The thing is that makes this so "surreal" is that Mohammed planned this "carefully" for two months. A plan that includes a 5 inch long knife and a pepper spray on the front seat of the rented 4x4 Jeep Cherokee in the event he becomes trapped. Yet only nobody was killed only because they were able to get out of the way. Six only suffered minor injuries and were treated at the hospital and released while three others declined treatment at the scene.

There isn't much to drive around and gain enough speed to hit people since the location of the attack took place between buildings and on narrow roads. Very little open ground to drive around and hit people when they can dodge out of the way, get into nearby buildings or get behind large trees inside "The PIT." See close up satellite views of the "The Pit" and see how narrow the pathways are leading to the "The Pit" where the attack took place.



A closer view here.


With great planning, Mohammed becomes the first "Stuck on Stupid" terrorist of the year. Actually, all of these yahoo terrorists are stuck on stupids. See, they're living in the 14th century and not the 21st century.

What is UNC of Chapel Hill's verdict on this attempted act to kill as many people as possible in the name of Mohammed's religion? The picture below sums it up.

Secularist Wafa Sultan versus Islamic Extremism

Here's Wafa Sultan, an Arab-American female psychologist who battle it out with religious extremists for their backward views saying that there is no clash of civilizations but a clash between the mentality of the backward Middle Age thinking to that of the 21st century. One Iman called her a "heretic." Watch this amazing video dialogue that took place on February 21, 2006. Here is this amazing transcript as well.

This brave lady (ie "not a Muslim but a 'secular human being' ") has more guts than Ayaan Hirsi Ali to go head to head with one of the Imams on the show. These people are the new "Gandis," "Mother Teressas," "Martin Luther King, Jrs," "Rosa Parks" and so on who is willing to risk it. We need more people like these to help people wake up to these invading maruaders of backwardness of Islamic extremism that are seeping into every facet of our life and deny human decency to every man, woman and child by placing them into 14th century thinking.

My favorite part of the dialogue?

The Jews have come from the tragedy (of the Holocaust), and forced the world to respect them, with their knowledge, not with their terror, with their work, not their crying and yelling. Humanity owes most of the discoveries and science of the 19th and 20th centuries to Jewish scientists. 15 million people, scattered throughout the world, united and won their rights through work and knowledge. We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people. The Muslims have turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy. Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people, and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them.

Oh, how so true!

Democrat for Senate Supports Death Penalty for Homosexual Acts

What Merrill Keiser Jr. (who is a Democrat, btw) is trying to do is no better off than what today's Islamic extremists are doing with their continued support of the death penalty towards homosexuals. Even in Britain. But the irony here is that many liberals continue to support Muslim countries/factions who make it patently clear on their stance against homosexuality.

Still Stuck on Stupid with the Mohammed Cartoons?

Still having problems comprehending the Mohammed cartoons thinking Islamic yahoos still have a right to behead those who disagree with them? Read below if you need help.



If you still don't get it, then go here for further visual explanations. If you don't get it by then, move to Iran. Please!!

Hat tip: M.O.M. (<--ha, very funny..and to the point).

Supreme Court Upholds College Military Recruiting Law

Well, duh...! According to the latest Supreme court's ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts reports:

"A military recruiter's mere presence on campus does not violate a law school's right to associate, regardless of how repugnant the law school considers the recruiter's message."

In short, universities that accept Federal monies cannot ban military recruiters from campus. Learn to live with these recruiters on campus. They're allowed to. Even Chabot College tried to get around this by banning recruiters on campus prior to the rulings.

It'll be interesting to see what these college yahoos will try and do next.

John Kerry to Sell Bulk Email Address Containing 3 Million Names?

Word has it that Sen. John Kerry is raising money for a bid at a 2nd try for a presidential bid. But if his bid doesn't go through he may opt to sell his email list of 3 million names to the next highest bidder as the next candidate for 2008.

During his 2004 bid for president, Kerry raised more than $80 million via the Internet, and in the process compiled an e-mail list of 3 million names. Should Kerry decide to run again, his Internet fundraising capability will be key. If he takes a pass, he becomes a major power broker by deciding which candidate can use (or buy) the list.

Sending bulk email violates the service terms of most Internet service providers. Several states have laws regulating the sending of unsolicited commercial email, which a person may violate by sending bulk email.

But the question remains, is this type of activity illegal/prohibited when it comes to selling list of names to another candidate or group representing a party (e.g. Republican, Democrat, etc)? In other words, are unsolicited emails allowed by the FEC?

UPDATE: From Jason of Generation Why who responded.

From the privacy policy statement on johnkerry.com:

When you sign up on JohnKerry.com, we may ask for your name, address, telephone number, email address, and other information. We use the information you provide to send you the latest news and updates from John Kerry. We work closely with Democratic candidates, parties and allied organizations and may share some basic contact information with them, and they may contact you.

Granted. Permission based marketing use of the email addresses. But are they allowed to profit from it on selling their list of email names?

AIDS and HIV in India

President Bush made a stop in India to do some business. One of them is to provide $7 million dollars for the joint HIV/AIDS fund.

Keen to contribute and improve ways of tackling the delibitating disease of AIDS and HIV, the Bush Administration has agreed to donate seven million dollars to a Indo-U.S. corporate fund for HIV/AIDS.

Both Washington and New Delhi have also agreed to a five-year collaboration in prevention of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and HIV/AIDS.

For those who don't know, President Bush has done more to help combat HIV/AIDS than any U.S. sitting president.

Of course, the naysayers will find ways to downplay all of this. Just watch.

Spike Lee Envies Condoleezza Rice

Looks like Spike Lee is the one who is on crack cocaine.

"I dislike Condoleezza Rice more than [President] Bush. The thing about it is that she's gotten a free ride from black people."

Oh no, he didn't.

"People say, 'She's so successful' and 'Look at her position as a black woman.' She is a black woman who grew up in Birmingham, Ala., and said that she never experienced a day of racism in her life," Lee tells the April issue of Stuff magazine.

"Condi, stop smoking that crack!"

I think it's time that Spike Lee learn to stop smoking his own favorite crack pipe...called envy and jealousy. And that Ms. Condoleezza Rice is never "black" enough for him. Now, Rice never said she never experienced racism while growing up. Just that her parents were very protective of her while growing up. Although that doesn't mean she didn't experience racism and racist attitudes. If cracky Spike Lee take the time to understand Condi's history, he'll see that she was quite the precocious child she was and attended college at age 15. Her world growing up involved intense musical and intellectual up bringing. Spike Lee? Let's say he just would rather rant than to use his brains.

Spike Lee. Put down that crack pipe!!

Male Gay Dress Designer Gropes Movie Actress on Live TV

And on live TV, no less.

LOS ANGELES -- Scarlett Johansson wasn't amused when fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi groped her on the red carpet at January's Golden Globe Awards, but she's willing to forgive him.

"It was definitely in poor taste," Johansson said in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times. "I'd been prepping for two hours with hair and makeup and getting dressed. And the first interview I do, someone who I have never met before fondles me for his own satisfaction."

Poor taste? Indeed.

The actress went bright red after TV reporter Isaac Mizrahi fondled her left boob as she was interviewed before the Golden Globe Awards on Tuesday (AEDT).

Mizrahi had asked the screen beauty what she was wearing underneath her sexy red dress.

When she replied, "Not much", he said: "Not much, except there's something going on underneath".

As stunned fans looked on, the presenter cupped the star's breast in one hand and said: "It's built in, I just wanna feel it - oh, I just love that."

He says he's gay? Try "pure idiocy." But he says he has his excuses.

Riiiiiggghhht.

Man in Wheelchair Loses His Service Dog Overweight by Two Pounds

Here's a story that should get everybody upset of how this non-profit group "Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota" took away a man's beloved service dog named "Ozzie" only because the dog was literally a couple of pounds "overweight." Grewing, who is deaf and uses a wheelchair when doctors had to removed his legs due to diabetes complications, cannot get his dog back. Even after getting state Rep. Doug Meslow, a lawyer, who volunteered to represent him at no cost. Here's a part of the story below.

The weight thing, it was a non-issue. He was doing his very best to manage that situation," the veterinarian said of Grewing. "(Ozzie) was the center of his life, from what we saw. It was crushing to him."

Grewing, 45, is confined to a wheelchair because his legs were amputated due to severe diabetes. A cook by training before his health deteriorated, his toes, feet, lower legs and a knee were removed in a series of surgeries.

After Grewing was warned about the dog's weight, his friends said, he redoubled his efforts to exercise Ozzie daily. The pair were often seen rolling and walking together along the sidewalks and through the parks of White Bear Lake.

The service dog helped him with everyday chores, fetching the phone and picking up dropped objects. And once, when Grewing's blood sugar level spiked, Ozzie licked his face, keeping him conscious until the ambulance arrived, he said.

"Ozzie changed my whole life around. Ozzie and I were busy all day long," said Grewing. "I always will love Ozzie with all my heart and soul."

The Watchdog has heard from more than a dozen people who object to the way this situation was handled. One of those is James Hansen, a White Bear Lake bait shop owner who considers his own dogs part of the family. "If somebody came and took my dog, it would break my heart," Hansen said.

Peters founded Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota in 1987 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people with significant disabilities. Dogs are trained, then matched with clients from a waiting list and trained further to respond to clients' specific needs. Then the dog goes home with the client, and after a year, the dog is the client's to keep.

The nonprofit organization gets no state or federal funding and relies on individual and group donations to cover the $15,600 it costs on average to train a dog, Peters said. Volunteers, many of whom pick up the food and veterinary costs, raise the puppies. The group places 25 to 30 trained service dogs a year, he said.

A last-ditch attempt to resolve the dispute came to naught in January. Peters sent Meslow a letter asking what it would take to satisfy Grewing, who responded he wanted Ozzie back, a copy of his file and for the agency to move to the top of its list another man who also claimed his service dog was taken for no reason.

Meslow said Peters indicated that Ozzie already had been placed in another home, and that he could not comply with either of Grewing's other requests.

"He said 'no' to everything and he hopes we're satisfied with that," Meslow said. "It's pretty clear that he never had any intention to make any attempt to resolve anything."

Grewing has started the application process with Helping Paws, another Minnesota service dog organization. Program director Eileen Bohn said Grewing will be treated like any other applicant. Helping Paws places 10 to 15 dogs a year, and the wait can be two years.

Grewing is trying to remain optimistic, but said he has a hole in his life. The Watchdog will stay on the story and try — with readers' help — to fill that gap.

This is a story that bears repeating. Please spread this story. If you're a deaf/hh blogger, be sure to contact others about this appalling story to other bloggers who will print this story.

Contact the Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota to send in your complaints at:

Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota

2537 25th Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55406

(612) 729-5986 (Voice)

(612) 729-5914 (TTY and Fax)

e-mail: info@hsdm.org

Maybe collectively the situation will get resolved and Grewing gets his dog back.

When MSM Attack Bush

Drudge Report issued this report:

Clarification: Katrina-Video story

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) _ In a March 1 story, The Associated Press reported that federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees in New Orleans, citing confidential video footage of an Aug. 28 briefing among U.S. officials.

The Army Corps of Engineers considers a breach a hole developing in a levee rather than an overrun. The story should have made clear that Bush was warned about floodwaters overrunning the levees, rather than the levees breaking.

The day before the storm hit, Bush was told there were grave concerns that the levees could be overrun. It wasn't until the next morning, as the storm was hitting, that Michael Brown, then head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Bush had inquired about reports of breaches. Bush did not participate in that briefing.

Rather than say "clarification" why not just say "Erroneous reporting corrected"? Or put it in big, bold red letters saying "We're WRONG!"

Nice to report the errors during the weekend.

Keep moving. Nothing to see here. Just be sure to remember the March 1 story...and not the correction. Keep moving.