Friday, March 17, 2006
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.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
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
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
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?
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.
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.
"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.
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?
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?
Thursday, March 09, 2006
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
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.
Monday, March 06, 2006
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).
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: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."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."
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.
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.
Granted. Permission based marketing use of the email addresses. But are they allowed to profit from it on selling their list of email names?
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?
Sunday, March 05, 2006
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.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
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."
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:
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.
Clarification: Katrina-Video story
ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON (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.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
A Matter of Fitness of Body and Mind
I wonder what's Hillary Clinton's exercise regimen is?
versus Condoleeza Rice?
I wonder how long til Hillary come up with an exercise regimen just to show that's she's into all that fitness stuff, like her husband tried to? One thing for sure, she'll never be as fit as President Bush during his Administration since when do has-been hippies exercise?
versus Condoleeza Rice?
I wonder how long til Hillary come up with an exercise regimen just to show that's she's into all that fitness stuff, like her husband tried to? One thing for sure, she'll never be as fit as President Bush during his Administration since when do has-been hippies exercise?
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