Inside Pulse to Link to Kokonut Pundits on Series Blogging on Matt Hamill

Breaking news! Inside Pulse to Link to Kokonut Pundits on Series Blogging on Matt Hamill. Inside Pulse contacted me recently about linking my bloggings on Matt Hamill to their nationally recognized sports column website that's covering the TUF3 competition. It is now up!

There's been a lot of talk about Matt Hamill around the internet. Matt, aside from the coaches, is clearly the star of the show so far (and we haven't even really seen him fight). His situation is interesting and the personality he's shown engages a lot of viewers. I was recently contacted by a hard-of-hearing martial artist and blogger by the name of Mike McConnell. He's written some posts about Matt Hamill in relation to the deaf community on his blog Kokonut Pundits. His Hamill-related posts: 1 2 3 4. Obviously, I'm a little behind, as he updates faster than I do. I'll continue to link to his blog entries weekly in case you're interested in his unique perspective. My older sister is deaf, so I'm also personally excited that Matt, as a deaf athlete, is getting a lot of mainstream recognition.

Indeed. Matt is getting lots of attention and very favorable reviews so far (aside from a few deviants). A nice honor to be mentioned on Inside Pulse. Welcome Inside Pulse readers!

Check out all of my up todate Matt Hamill bloggings.

Matt Hamill -First Deaf UFC Fighter? Blog #4

There was more of Matt Hamill in Episode #2 last night on Spike TV. However, there was one embarrassing incident where Matt was talking about the two British fighters at the reality house as being from "New England." This was a painfull demonstration to the audience watching the TUF3 show that in the world of no sound it's very hard to discern what is going on or what is being said by a group of guys cracking jokes and having fun. A few tips could be gleaned and understood from reading someone's lips and their body language to try and get the gist of the situation.

This leads to Tito's epiphany that Matt needed an interpreter. I don't know what was the time lapse from the time Tito picked Matt first from the lineup to the moment of "inspiration" that Matt needed an interpreter. Those few precious days or weeks(?) were lost in helping Matt get the best training had he been given an interpreter on the day he showed up on TUF3 for filming. Thus, making him look like a total dork among the sea of yakking hearing TUF3 contenders.

But after getting his interpreter, did Matt's training and enthusiasm increased substantially. Every fighter acknowledged that Matt needed an interpeter so he could effectively be a part of the Tito Ortiz team. Even one British guy on the Tito Ortiz team acknowledged that this would make it more "haaarder" (with his thick Britsh accent drawling that word out) on him because Matt will now get more valuable info on the finer points of MMA from coach Tito Ortiz. I wonder what Ken Shamrock would've done had he picked Matt if the opportunity was reversed? Lots of yelling? Never can tell. He already did that in Episode #2 to his team. At least Tito "mimed" and "gestured" his way to the best of his ability on communicating to Matt on the finer points of grappling and boxing defensively. Getting an interpreter earns Tito brownie points from the deaf community. Tito now can communicate with Matt more effectively and efficiently believing that he can help Matt be a serious UFC contender. Watch out Bisping.

Next comes the deaf nay-sayers "fans" (very, very few I might add) in the deaf community who are "anti-Hamill." They are only "anti-Hamill" only if they are gay (or sympathizers) or for some other reason they don't like him because of this guy who claimed (note: "fish story") that Hamill is virulently anti-gay or a "homophobe." Of course, as with any fighters, you will have your supporters and haters of MMA fighters.

After I started my 2nd blog series on Matt, I contacted Amy Robinson informing her about my bloggings on Kokonut Pundits on Matt Hamill from a deaf/hard of hearing person's perspective and with my background in MA, weightlifting and wrestling I'd be the person to look up to. I never once indicated to Amy about this guy by naming him specifically or gave out his blog address or link in my email to her (or on any other MMA forums for that matter). Never did I say he was "anti-UFC," either. This guy has lied and twisted Amy's email response by posting her email response on his blogsite without her permission! (more on that later) just to suit his agenda against me. He has gotten it wrong about me time after time after time....never right but always wrong in his attempt to twist facts and scenarios. If you can't stand the heat, then don't be an idiot and open your mouth about wishing a slow and horrible death on a TUF3 contender for the UFC ring. Talk about a bone-headed move.

After my first email contact with Amy Robinson she proceeded to my blog site, read my blog and retrieved this interesting link off of my Kokonut Pundits blogsite for the Sherdog forum. She created a thread called "Deaf Community Bloggers anti-Hamill campaign" (note the thread's title, it says "anti-Hamill" and not "anti-UFC" as this guy has claimed) and posted the Google cache link for posterity sake.

Now, whose fault was this? Well, I wasn't the one who was blabbing about wishing horrible and slow death like Schiavo on Matt Hamill who is competing in the TUF3 show. It was this guy. What is posted on the very public internet stays on and gets "Googlized" quite quickly. Either way, he needs to learn to be responsible for his own mess (and mouth). He said it. Not me. Cleanup on aisle 13!

While this guy claimed that Matt is a virulent homophobe, one Sherdog forum poster in the same thread named "NVME44" said the opposite about Matt:

Im from Loveland and grew up with Matt and his family i keep in contact with...He is definately not a homophob...And he isnt cocky at all, actually totally the opposite...Very genuine guy and will do anything for anyone...As far as the last i heard he has been back and forth from Cincy and NY...He has been traning at both places...

Moral of the story? Everything is hearsay at the moment. But as for credibility? This guy's credo is completely shot by being purposefully deceitful to Amy, me and to the rest of the deaf community about the whole affair. He can be "anti-Hamill" for whatever reasons. But to make up stories to suit his agenda?

A little history here if you're still confused.

Again, anybody who says otherwise that I posted elsewhere on MMA forums, emails and such that I specifically mentioned this guy and posted his blog address is a LIAR! All info are in my Kokonut Pundits blog as the source of the information and direction to this guy's blogsite. That's the end of his conspiracy theory.


Previous blogs on Matt Hamill and other related items:

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter? Blog #3

Matt Hamill, TUF3, UFC and Opening Your Mouth Too Wide with Hatred

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter? Blog #2

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter?


Note: Be sure to check for newer blogs on Matt Hamill by clicking here and scroll down for the latest updates.

Check out all of my up todate Matt Hamill bloggings.

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter? - Blog #3

Be sure to watch Episode #2 TUF3 tonight at 10 pm Eastern Time on Spike TV to see Matt Hamill in action to be the first deaf UFC fighter. Check out Spike TV's schedule for other times should you miss it tonight.

Gygax, a Fight Forum moderator, has more inside scoops on Matt Hamill on his recent wins (2 - 0) in other MMA contests plus a picture of him beating the snot out of some big black dude with his back on the floor.


Previous blogs on Matt Hamill and related blogs on MMA (mixed martial arts):

Matt Hamill, TUF3, UFC and Opening Your Mouth Too Wide with Hatred

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter? Blog #2

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter?


UPDATE: Welcome Impulse Readers! Be sure to check out Blog #4 on Matt Hamill.

Check out all of my up todate Matt Hamill bloggings.

Pack Test and Wildfires!

Finally finished my "pack test" yesterday and passed the test. So, now I'm qualified to fight forest fires. This is done every year in order to get our "Red Card." In this test I had to wear a 45lb pack and do 3 miles in 45 minutes or less. Timed myself well with my watch so I don't have to go on a mad run. Finished it with one minute to spar. Not bad considering that I'm 30 lbs heavier than last year. Essentially I was carrying an extra 75 lb load. Fared very well.

Speaking of wildfires. It's unreal on how many acres burned so far this year. Already over 2,000,000+ acres were burned when the 10 year average from January to this April 12th is 310,000 acres. We're already way ahead. Normally by the end of the fire season we'd be looking at anywhere from 5 to 7 million acres burned. But we're already at the 2,000,000 mark and we have 6 months to go. But what's really interesting is if you compare this year's current year-to-date statistics to previous years, especially year 2000 when it was remembered as a very bad year, you'll be shocked at the comparison.



Check out the long term fire statistics from 1960 - 2005.

If you want to check on the daily wildfire report, go here. Or if you want colorful maps and easy reading, go here. Updated wildfire reports begin at 8:00 AM Mountain Time (or 10 AM ET).

If you live among the trees in the mountains, especially out west, watch out for this year's forest fire season. It looks deadly.

Officer Who Was Attacked by McKinney Considers Legal Action

Good. I hope the officer who was attacked by Rep. McKinney goes ahead and file suit against her for ruining his reputation when McKinney basically called him to be a "racist cop," and among other implied innuendos. How nice when the Capitol police are there to protect some of the overly dramatic and de-sensitized liberal nuts. They have to put up with them even though they risk their lives everyday to protect them.


Previous blogs on McKinney.

Rep. McKinney - A Master on Red Herring

McKinney Plays the Race Card While 42 Black Congress Members Stay Quiet

Matt Hamill, TUF3, UFC and Opening Your Mouth Too Wide with Hatred

Lately, I've been getting lots of specific hits about Matt Hamill and his bid to become the first deaf UFC fighter on my blogsite. Now, a certain somebody is wailing and claiming that I went to a MMA forum or anything other similar Martial Arts forum just to inform people there about what this guy said about Matt Hamill and now, about other people, too.

Few hours ago, I had to set up the moderation in order to control the comments. Apparently, the little bitter boy named McConnell informed someone on some Mixed Martial Arts forum that I’m anti-UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) and many idiots came in to throw some anti-gay comments....Matt Hamill still sucks.

Must be a Freud thing about him and Matt. And no. I didn't go to a MMA forum or anything like that. Why would I? I have no interest. No masquerading on my part. Sorry to burst this guy's convoluted bubble on this. Would be nice if somebody can tell me where I can find this "info" on one of those MMA forum sites that linked to my site or the other guy's site. Somebody else must've picked my blog piece and saw the link, and put it in one of those forums or got it off of Google (see my update in that link by scrolling down) and placed the link into one of the MMA forum sites.

Open your mouth too big and you'll certainly get results. I report in my blog. They decide. What a funny, unexpected outcome. Made my day.

UPDATE: Looks like I found the MMA site. Go here. And click on the link. Don't know if there are more MMA sites that has a similar discussion on Matt Hamill. Will look and let you know.

UPDATE II: Look at the join date by the guy who made the link. It was in 2005. It's certainly not me! Go figure. And I only got interested in this TUF3, MMA, only because we now have a potential deaf UFC contender.

This guy who doesn't like Hamill can say whatever he wants to say. I report. They decide. And yet, he still gets it wrong about me.....every.... single...time. McWeenie it ain't. I am just beside myself laughing at everything he says. He lives to exaggerate his stories. Big time.

Check out all of my up todate Matt Hamill bloggings.

Burqas, Chris Muir, Day by Day and Bodychecking

Here's an interesting perspective from a foreigner trying on a Burqa for the first time and how suffocating it is to wear it. And not to mention how easy it is to stumble in that thing. Interesting thing is how male Muslims have their own way of "bodychecking" women in Burqas. Is this how some male Muslims have a chance to "feel up" their women in some sort of weird, sex fetish way to get their jollies while bumping them in the streets and sidewalks of the Islamic world?

"After a few hours beneath the burqa, my sight has adjusted and my feet seem to have grown eyes. But my shoulders are sore from the dozens of men who have bumped into me full force. After two weeks as a foreign woman in Afghanistan, no man has ever bumped into me before. Now, in my burqa, I cannot pass five minutes without being plowed into. Does this mean, as I suspected, that women here, faceless under the burqa, may as well be invisible? Or is this just bodychecking for fun?"

Will Chris Muir of Day to Day cartoonist include this part? Bodychecking. I hope so. Seems like the character wearing the Burqa is learning some hard realities about Burqas and how they are designed to demean women and how they are supposed to be "invisible" to the world of men. Yeah, right. Male Muslims get their jollies bodychecking female Muslims in Burqas. If liberated women here in the United States and elsewhere do not mind Burqas, then please, they should wear them and throw away their Calvin Klein jeans. We certainly don't mind if they became invisible for awhile.

If you have missed the Day by Day cartoon episode on the Burqa episode, check it out in the April 2006 series starting on April 8.

As for the male Muslims, perhaps the Abu Ghraib prisoners ought to have been forced to wear Burqas instead? The MSM and liberals will probably scream something about it being worse than wearing underwear on their heads. Why don't the enlightened male liberals wear Burqas for awhile, too?

Yeah. It'd be as sillier as a "Brokeback" moment.

When Deafness Can Kill

Sad and utterly tragic. An Italian deaf tourist was killed and numerous other deaf tourists injured when a century-old tree fell on a group of deaf tourists in central Italy on Sunday, killing a man and injuring seven deaf people. None of them heard the warning cries from a bus driver warning them to get out of the way of the large Chestnut tree apparently falling slowly toward the group until it was too late.

When the "Anything but Bush" Vote Meant a Vote for John Kerry

Yes. Remember the good old days when liberal diehards were running around screaming something about "Anything but Bush" vote? At a time when weeks before the November election in 2004 that John Kerry would be your guy for the next President of the United States? And now, let's look what Kerry had to say in NY Times on his faith and how it influenced his politics and you'll soon realized just how close you came to God that day had he been elected the next President:

Kerry is not only a Roman Catholic but also an ecumenicist. Once again I rely on the Times: Kerry asserted that "the Koran, the Torah, the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles had influenced a social conscience that he exercised in politics." My God, what bullsh*t politicians feel obliged to utter! Or maybe the bullsh*t is already second nature, or even first. But since Kerry raised it, let me ask: What hadith of the Prophet influenced him the most, and why? And here I have a personal interest: Which of the injunctions of Leviticus and who among the Prophets have the most meaning for him? Ordinarily, of course, I wouldn't ask such personal questions of a politician. In the spirit of Jesus, Kerry will certainly forgive me for doing so.

Yes, that close. All I can say is "Holy crap!"

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter? Blog #2

The deaf community’s reaction to Matt Hamill who wants to be the first deaf UFC fighter to reach the “Octagon” ring seems to be a very favorable one. While the minority few Deaf people are not as favorable toward Matt's endeavors. Even wishing a slow a death of some sort like Schiavo’s, and perhaps even exaggerating the story a bit as well just to generate some hatred. One deaf forum is already talking about the show. You could almost hear the deaf community rooting for Matt Hamill. I am, too. How often do we get to see this happen? Not very.

Now, it takes balls, the homemade steel kind, to enter into the Octagon ring not knowing what the outcome will be when it could literally be your last breath. Professional boxers have died from getting punched in the head. Imagine getting punched, kicked, choked, and slammed onto the mat. But one thing for sure, it's not easy training in the mix-martial art where you literally puke your guts out during intense training exercises. I've been there. It ain't fun. These are not wimps training for the UFC contest. Wimps are the ones who insist that lifting 10lb dumbells and a 10 minute stationary bike run constitute as an exercise program. Until you actually puke and can barely crawl up the stairs the next day because every muscles in your body is screaming with pain, then you will understand what a real exercise program is like. Rule#2 - never under-estimate what a person can do to you. See Rule #1.

If you have missed the first episode TUF3 show on Spike TV. Fear not. You still have a chance to grab the first show on Monday. There are 12 episodes altogether. Lots of opportunity to watch!

Season Schedule (Eastern Time):

Thursday, April 6th @ 10:00 pm-Episodes 1
Thursday, April 6th @ 1:00am-Episode 1
Saturday, April 8th, @ 10:00 pm-Episode 1
Monday, April 10th,@ 11:00pm-Episode 1
Thursday, April 13th@ 10:00pm-Episode 2
Saturday, April 15th@ 10:00pm-Episode 2
Monday, April 17th @ 11:00pm-Episode 2
Thursday, April 20th@ 10:00pm-Episode 3
Saturday, April 22nd @ 10:00pm-Episode 3
Monday, April 24th@11:00pm-Episode 3
Thursday, April 27th @ 10:00pm-Episode 4
Saturday, April 27th @ 10:00pm-Episode 4
Monday, May 1st@ 11:00pm-Episode 4
Thursday, May 4th@ 10:00pm-Episode 5
Saturday, May 6th@ 10:00pm-Episode 5
Monday, May 8th @ 11:00pm-Episode 5
Thursday, May 11th@10:00pm-Episode 6
Saturday, May 13th@ 10:00pm-Episode 6
Monday, May 15th @ 11:00pm-Episode 6
Thursday, May 18th@ 10:00pm-Episode 7
Saturday, May 20th @ 10:00pm-Episode 7
Monday, May 22nd @ 11:00pm-Episode 7
Thursday, May 25th @ 10:00pm-Episode 8
Saturday, May 27th @ 10:00pm-Episode 8
Monday, May 29th @ 11:00pm-Episode 8
Thursday, June 1st @ 10:00pm-Episode 9
Saturday, June 4th @ 10:00pm-Episode 9
Monday, June 5th @ 11:00pm-Episode 9
Thursday, June 8th @ 10:00pm-Episode 10
Saturday, June 10th @ 10:00pm-Episode 10
Monday, June 12th @ 11:00pm-Episode 10
Thursday, June 15th @ 10:00pm-Episode 11
Saturday, June 17th @ 10:00pm-Episode 11
Monday, June 19th @ 11:00pm-Episode 11
Thursday, June 22nd @ 10:00pm-Episode 12
Friday, June 23rd @ 9:00pm-Episode 12
Saturday, June 24th @ 9:00am-9:00 pm- Marathon
First blog on Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter?

UPDATE: Apparently, some people are thinking that I went over to MMA or other similar Martial Arts forums where I "informed" them about this link I provided in this blog earlier. I have no interest in getting in MMA forums and did no such thing. I have no interest in doing so.

Now, if you go on Google and type in "UFC" and "TUF3" and "Hamill," you'll see the search results put me at the top. Or type in "UFC" and "Hamill" and I'm at second from the top search result. Or "TUF3" and "Hamill" where the search results put me at the top. You can see why people are raining on this one guy's parade.

I report. They decide. Apparently, whenever you open your mouth a wee too big, especially if you go after UFC guys (wrong and very boneheaded move), you could find yourself in a heap of trouble. Nothing bitter about what I wrote. Just that there are people who are either supportive of Matt Hamill's endeavor or not inside the deaf community. I just blogged about it.

Enjoy.

Check out all of my up todate Matt Hamill bloggings.

UFO Crashes into Bushrod Park in Oakland, California.

It's true. Unbelievable! An unexplained falling object slammed into the grounds of Bushrod Park in Oakland, California. Officials and upset observers who arrived at the scene of the impact could actually see little green stuff and white parts as far as 20 feet away from the source of the impact which left an impressive crater 3 feet by 3 feet by 2.5 feet deep.

When Whinners Scream About The So-Called "Leak" By President Bush

Now we have some deaf and hearing bloggers screaming that it was president Bush who leaked classified information in the Libby case. Now, for those who do not understand, it's impossible for the president of the United States to "leak" classified information soley by virtue of an executive order from 1982.

Simply put for the Simpletons, when the president of the United State says something classified and he broadcasts it, it is immediately declassified. It is well within the President's powers and granted authority to declassify such information and use it to answer the questions of the press. President Clinton did the same thing to justify his actions on the bombing of the al Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan! So what did president Bush do? He informed Cheney to pass on the now declassified information to the press.

Get with it folks. Stop being hypocrites by playing up with the MSM press motives to try and slam president Bush at every turn. Again, it's IMPOSSIBLE for a president of the United States to leak information since a president has the sole authority granted to him/her by act of Congress signed in 1982 and under the Constitution.

Classified information belongs to the executive branch. Under the Constitution, the executive power is vested in a single official, the president. As Justice Scalia pointed out in his classic dissent in Morrison v. Olson, this does not mean some of the executive power; it means all of the executive power. The president can make a bad de-classification decision, but it is his decision to make. (In this case, it happens to have been a good decision, made to balance the misinformation put into the public domain by Joseph Wilson and others trying to mislead the public about Iraq’s nuclear intentions.)

The word "leak" as in leaking of classified information really belongs to the MSM press and those outside of the Executive branch authority since it is they who do not have the authority to leak classified information in the first place. And they are the ones who ought to be either shot or jailed. Scooter Libby never had any authorization to “leak” information from the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate.

Administrations leak — or, better, disclose — sensitive information in response to political conditions. All presidents do it, and there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it is hilarious to hear the media, which constantly carps about government secrecy, now complaining about government disclosures.

I agree. If ya'll want to be a part of the stuck on stupid crowd, be my guest.

UPDATE: Again, once more for further clarification for those who have not been following the news for the past 2 1/2 years on the Libby case is that the so-called leak authorized by President Bush had nothing to do with Valeria Plame but in fact the, gasp!, "leak" actually covered Iraq war intelligence that was mostly already in the public domain. Even the perpetual "Stuck on Stupid" CNN's Jim Clancy tried to pass on this breaking live news "discovery" to the public that the leak was about Valeria Plame's identity. Not so.

Please! The President of the United States did not "leak" information to Cheney or Libby regarding the identity of Valeria Plame. And as a further hint, I support that a U.S. President has the power and authority to declassify any classified information just by talking about it to the public. This includes president Clinton as well if you hadn't noticed.

Prison official punished over 'Brokeback' screening

Prison official punished over 'Brokeback' screening. Correctional Officer broke prison protocols on which films are appropriate for prisoners. Don't want to get those sexually and violence deprived prisoners all riled and sexed up, do we? Ugh. Ain't gonna watch that film, either. Double ugh. I think it's time prisoners watch Disney movies with Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse from now on.

Matt Hamill - First Deaf UFC Fighter?

I just watched TUF3 on Spike Tv tonight with Matt Hamill who wants to be the first deaf UFC contender and be the first to make it to the "Octagon" ring. Should be an interesting season to watch and see the results. Also, somebody took up http://www.matthamill.com and parked it. Better hope that guy is friends with Matt to do that stunt.

At my gym where I work out, there are several people who are training for upcoming "UFC" type competitions here in New Mexico and Texas. I talk to them whenever they come out of their converted racquetball court sparring room to get a drink of water and discuss with me the injuries, fighting techniques, etc. I've even sparred with them a few times while I did my Aikido martial arts (since 1997) over there. My Aikido is hold right now while I do my strongman thing. But 90% of all fights usually go down to the ground. Little did they know about my background other than Aikido when they tried to spar with me. That's for you to find out. Rule #1 - Don't think you know everything about the person you're about to attack. But if I were younger, it might have been fun to try this type of mixed-martial art competition. But since when you get older, you have a harder time recovering from injuries. You start to feel it by your mid-30s. Even harder still to try and recover after a hard workout session.

Check out all of my up todate Matt Hamill bloggings.

Veteran Rock - Rock Solid Patriotism

Check this one out. It's not Plymouth Rock but it's known as "Veteran Rock." Inspirational and patriotic paintings honoring our history and those who gave their lives to ensure that America is still the land of the free with law abiding citizens. We even remember Hispanic American soldiers who gave their lives for a free and law abiding America. So did black Americans. Asian Americans. European-descent Americans. Native American Indians. And so on. Anybody who burns the U.S. flag also insult every ethnic groups who have given their lives in wars in defense of America.

Education Poll Among Deaf and Hard of Hearing Readers

If you are deaf or hard of hearing reader of Kokonut Pundits, what is your highest level of education? Select your answer here and see the poll results!

Rep. McKinney - A Master on Red Herring

McKinney continues to flap her mouth, again, along with her friends backing her up thinking everything was set up just to get her. Set up? Oh, please. Enough with the race card conspiracy theory. I think McKinney and friends are trying to make as much noise as possible because the security tapes that her lawyer had probably seen might be quite damning that support the Capitol police's action in stopping her.

I think it’s time for all Congress members to walk through metal detectors just like everybody else and avoid all this nonsense the next time it happens. And if it does happens, then I'm sure many members are not going to look too favorably at McKinney for starting all this brouhaha nonsense. Maybe a BS detector would help, too, as well but I digress. But, if they are serious about the security of our nation’s Capitol and the Halls of Congress, they should go through metal detector as a show of support rather than favoring conveniency. They shouldn't be above law for the sake of conveniency. They're already pampered enough. If they are forced to take off their shoes at the airport before getting screened, then they certainly can walk through a metal detector inside the Capitol building entrance. If McKinney and her friends gets away with this using her Red Herring tactics, then this may create hesitancy for any Capitol police to try and stop a well dressed black woman (or man) who avoided a metal detector without the lapel security pin while inside the Capitol.

I urge you to contact, conveniently hyperlinked on one page, all of the 41 black House of Representative members that they support the Capitol police for their work on helping keep the Capitol and the people inside secure.

Now, what do I want? I want to see the security tape of the McKinney scuffle!!

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets – Part III of III

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets – Part III of III

The biggest problem is that not all victims report rapes on or off campus to the proper authorities, and thus colleges and universities' official tallies do not necessarily reflect the true and full extent of the crimes that have occurred on campus. Diane Clark, a professor at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., says that "Part of the problem is simply underreporting," She also says that victims are somtime confused about what constitutes rape and that universities often fail to inform them on the issue. (Campuses May Be Developing Tactics to Hide Rapes. Gretchen Cook. Women ENews. 5/25/03). "I'm not convinced that many college students really understand when their rights have been violated and that they don't feel they're at least somewhat to blame," says Clark who have conducted a study on how male and female students perceive sexual assault. (Campuses May Be Developing Tactics to Hide Rapes. Gretchen Cook. Women ENews. 5/25/03).

In the past "..little effort has been made to monitor the crime nationally," according to Women ENews. "It wasn't until 1990 that the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act was passed, named after a student at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., who was raped and murdered in her dorm in 1986. The law requires any schools receiving federal aid to notify victims of their right to report their assaults to law-enforcement authorities. Schools must also issue annual reports on crimes committed on their campuses."

Since rape and sexual assault crimes are a national problem on all college and university campuses. But for a college campus full of deaf students who live in dormitories breed their own special problems when it comes to rape and sexual assaults. The biggest problem seems to occur in the dormitories as one the more common places for a rape to occur. Dormitories are seen as central meeting places for socialization (and sometimes fraternization) among students and their invited (or uninvited) guests. Environmental settings and circumstances make rape more likely to occur in dormitory rooms.

The night would began innocently when a deaf female student invites her male friend into her dormitory room on a Saturday night and the two would engage in long conversations into the wee hours of the morning, at a time when her deaf roommate has since long retired and already asleep. A moment such as this provide an opportunistic moment for the male (deaf or otherwise, student or not) to commit a sexual assault against the female student. The victim’s roommate who is soundly asleep unaware of the muffled noises of desperation, screams of help and the shouting and signing of "no" her male acquaintance who is raping her. The whole dormitory is full of deaf students where screams or cries would virtually go unheard. This example has actually happened but not only once but many times. The screams or cries could never be loud enough to attract attention for potential witnesses to see the assault occurring.

This sexual assault tactic may have been a common occurrence in deaf dormitories whether in deaf residential schools or on university campuses simply because the attacker took advantage of other people’s deafness and surroundings. And sometimes these incidents occurred when the victim, the attacker or both were drunk or had taken drugs which worsened the situation to the detriment of the female victim.

During a national survey on how rapes are reported the National Baseline Study on Campus Sexual Assault reported that "Research shows that the accused and/or the accuser were likely to have been using alcohol or other drugs prior to a sexual assault. In order to have an additional gauge as to the degree to which alcohol or other drugs use is a factor in sexual assault cases, participants were asked to report the number of cases heard in the past three years in which alcohol or other drugs use by the accuser or accused was a factor" (National Baseline Study on Campus Sexual Assault: Adjudication of Sexual Assault Cases. A Study by the Inter-Association Task Force of the Association for Student Judicial Affairs. Sophie W. Penney, Ph.D.; Lawrence Tucker, Ph.D.; and John Wesley Lowery. 2000).

There are supporting data regarding rape on school campuses but many are anecdotal evidences from the victims themselves who have come forward. This could have been literally a silent epidemic going on campus for many, many years where everybody knew it was going on but nothing much was being done to counter it. The environment on deaf campuses makes it harder for rape not to occur. The empowerment and knowledge must be given to students entering college for the first time and to live in dormitories such as the case for RIT where there is a large presence of deaf students. However, in reality, many of those who were brave enough to report the sexual assaults were often dismissed because of "insufficient evidence" in a student-led judicial court. Many of the offending attackers were reprieved from charges of sexual assault due to the lack of or insufficient "evidence." Often time witnesses were in short supply. And in the end it often turns out to be the male attacker’s words against the victim’s.

Clearly, there are some differences on how sexual assaults occur on deaf college campuses and deaf residential schools but they all share a common thread and that’s "Deaf culture." Deaf culture is not a religious group of any sort. It is a vibrant community. However, many people may see Deaf culture as being the "cultish" type of society with very different mindsets that exist apart from the hearing society. Common themes reported from deaf students who were sexually abused in the past or were raped while attending at a deaf residential school:

"If I report my rape or sexual assault then the school may close."

Their love of Deaf culture was so great, some would fear more for the loss of their Deaf residential school or the college’s reputation than themselves. It is almost akin to a wife or girlfriend that gets beaten but will not leave the abuser because she says, "I love him too much." The Deaf community loved their residential schools so much that even rapes would not budge them into action until many, many years later to the point when it became possible to report these incidents without fear of reprisal or fear for the loss of their school.

Now, this may be somewhat an unfair description on why many do not report these sexual assaults. Other factors were involved compounding the problems with the constant history of rapes and sexual assaults. Some schools or college campuses had little or no support for the protection of students because they lacked the proper awareness or the educational means to inform the community. Victims were often too distraught to report a crime. Apathy sometimes compounded the problem. Threats from abusers prevented many victims from reporting to the proper authorities. Schools sometime had improperly planned protection of students or had poorly designed programs to help reduce the risk of crimes against students. Often times it was the embarrassing stigma of being a rape victim that prevented the victim from reporting or warn other students, even years later, about the perpetrator. Despite all of these possible factors, people must acknowledge that there were certain ideological holds that were quite strong within the Deaf community. It was so strong that many Deaf people had to suffer first so that the ideology of a Deaf culture would continue uninterrupted. This may have helped further the perception that the Deaf community is a "cult" of some kind. Rape among the silent community should never be a silent crime.

Rape on campus is not to be overlooked or shoved to the side simply because it’s not news anymore. Or believe that administrators on deaf school campuses have a fix on these things when in fact official reportings of crimes have gone up while student population have gone down. Rapes and sexual assaults on campus are just as bad of an experience for the victims today than when it happened in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. There is always a victim who suffered. Rape is about power and dominance. Learn how to protect yourself before becoming a victim. Learn to report a sexual assault to the proper authorities as soon as possible no matter how minor the incident may seem to be. Sex abuse, assaults and rapes are not to be taken lightly. If you know somebody who got raped or sexually assaulted, it’s important to try and help that student report the rape as soon as possible.

© Copyright 2006 Mike McConnell

Deaf Residential Schools and Other Dirty Little Secrets - Part I

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


If you have a story about your rape on deaf college campuses, please send your email to Kokonut Pundits. Or if you are a deaf or hard of hearing blogger and want to report your rape experience, please link your story to my blog.

Knowledge is power.

Sick People with HIV

It's a delusion to say that with HIV cases dropping in San Francisco constitutes as an "improvement" when we have sick people going around like bunnies.

"It looks like we're on the waning side" of this wave in the epidemic, said department epidemiologist Willi McFarland.

But here's a potential irony.

One possible downside to the apparent drop in HIV cases: If cases dip below certain thresholds, San Francisco could lose federal dollars for prevention and treatment, and city funds could be shifted elsewhere.

And I bet if that drop ever happens, a big if I remind you, I'm sure there'll be an outcry against the Federal government for making such a move by calling them homophobic people, gay-killers, etc... They'll probably do a condom burning or something like that just to protest the funding pull.

Hey, if you get HIV. Whose fault is it? Look in the mirror when you say that. Stupid people will do stupid things. Lots of sick people we have out there. Even in San Francisco.

McKinney Plays the Race Card While 42 Black Congress Members Stay Quiet

Georgia Congresswoman (D) Cynthia McKinney may likely face an arrest warrant against her for striking a police officer in a "scuffle" last week. She tried to get past metal detectors which is what Congress people are allowed to do but didn't have her lapel pin on her identifying her as a congresswoman. A Capitol police officer "body blocked" her after the officer asked her three times to stop. Miffed and angers, probably so, she struck the officer. This story gets more and more ludicrous while she and her lawyer go on about playing the tried and true but very, very old race card tactic.

Her lawyer, James W. Myart Jr., said, "Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, like thousands of average Americans across this country, is, too, a victim of the excessive use of force by law enforcement officials because of how she looks and the color of her skin."

A lot of hot air and full of baloney, too. Was it excessive when a Capitol Police officer manning the metal detector booth asked her to stop, three times, all because he didn't recognize her when she went around the metal detector? All Congress members wear lapel pins identifying them as Congress members so they can quickly go around metal detectors at the Capitol entrance. McKinney didn't wear hers. And now she's on the defensive saying all this is a black thing.

Members of Congress wear identifying lapel pins and routinely are waved into buildings without undergoing security checks. McKinney was not wearing her pin at the time, and the officer apparently did not recognize her, she has said.

"Congresswoman McKinney, in a hurry, was essentially chased and grabbed by the officer," Myart said. "She reacted instinctively in an effort to defend herself."

Several Capitol Police officials have said the officer involved asked McKinney three times to stop. When she did not, he placed a hand on her and she hit him, they said.

She certainly makes it sound like as if inside the Capitol building is a place where people are routinely mugged. So much for her "self-defense" excuse. And the officer "attacked" her bcause of the change in her hair style?

Congressional staffers who have worked with McKinney said several factors may have contributed to the officer's failure to recognize McKinney as a member of Congress.

McKinney usually does not wear the special lapel pin given to members of Congress to make them easier to identify, and she apparently was not wearing it Wednesday morning, congressional and police officials said. Kerri Hanley, of the House sergeant-at-arms' office, said members are not required to wear the pin, though most do.

Police also keep books with pictures of each member at security checkpoints in the Capitol and in House and Senate office buildings to help them recognize lawmakers. However, even if the officer had consulted the book, he may not have recognized McKinney, who has altered her hairstyle since her official House photo was taken, congressional aides noted.

This is not the first time McKinney has had an encounter with Capitol Hill police. When she first arrived in Congress in 1993, an officer failed to recognize her because she was new and not wearing the congressional pin. After she complained, police put pictures of McKinney up at each security checkpoint to ensure it would not happen again.

McKinney also once ran into problems at the White House. USA Today reported that when McKinney, who is African-American, and a young white aide arrived at a welcoming ceremony in May 1998 for then-Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, the guard at the gate deferred to the aide as the person of authority. Once in the executive mansion, McKinney said, another guard tried to stop her until Rep. James Moran (D-Va.) stepped in.

"I am absolutely sick and tired of having to have my appearance at the White House validated by white people," McKinney wrote in a complaint to then President Bill Clinton. "I don't need to be stopped or questioned because I happen to look like hired help."

The White House apologized to McKinney.

She was just angry because some police officer had the audacity to stop a black Congress member from attending her duty. Gasp! The thing is. She is not the only black Congress member to work inside the Capitol building. And all of them do, supposedly so, wear lapel pins identifying them as Congress members rather than the color of their skins. "What’s a surefire way to identify Members of the House amid the swarm of faces on Capitol Hill? Look at their lapel."

Currently there are a record number of 43 black or "African-American" congress members that serve in the 109th Congress with 42 in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. Freshman Senator Barack Obama of Illinois is the first black, male, Democrat to serve in the Senate. While fourteen black women serve in the 109th Congress, all in the House. One of them is lunatic fringe Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Black Congress members make up nearly 10% of the total House of Representative population of 440 members.

Maybe we should ask these black Congress members for their opinions on this McKinney matter that this was all about racism? Here are the names.

Black Congress Members, 109th (2005 - 2007) - House:

Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
Corrine Brown
Julia M. Carson
Donna Christian- Christensen
William Lacy Clay, Jr.
Emanuel Cleaver
James E. Clyburn
John Conyers, Jr.
Elijah E. Cummings
Artur Davis
Danny K. Davis
Chaka Fattah
Harold E. Ford, Jr.
Al Green
Alcee L. Hastings
Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Sheila Jackson Lee
William J. Jefferson
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Carolyn Cheek Kilparick
Barbara Lee
John Lewis
Cynthia McKinney
Kendrick Meek
Gregory W. Meeks
Juanita Millender-McDonald
Gwen Moore
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Major R. Owens
Donald M. Payne
Charles B. Rangel
Bobby L. Rush
David Scott
Robert C. Scott
Bennie G. Thompson
Edolphus Towns
Maxine Waters
Diane E. Watson
Melvin L. Watt
Albert R. Wynn

Black Congress Member, 109th (2005 - 2007) - Senate:

Barack Obama


The whole thing will be resolved soon enough because the whole incident was captured on security camera to see whether there was any "inappropriate" touching according to McKinney.

"Let me be clear. This whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black congresswoman," McKinney said. "I deeply regret that this incident occurred."

I think she keeps digging a deeper hole everytime she opens her mouth. And now points to her "afro" hair as another reason for the "racist" attack by a Capitol police officer who attempted to stop her.

In a draft of a statement that McKinney did not release, she said the officer "body-blocked" her during the incident, and she blamed his failure to recognize her on a recent makeover.

"It is ... a shame that while I conduct the country's business, I have to stop and call the police to tell them that I've changed my hairstyle so that I'm not harassed at work," McKinney said in the draft, which was obtained by WSB-TV of Atlanta and posted on its Web site.

Will McKinney ever stop flapping her mouth and just let the investigation continue its course? Next time, McKinney, if you don't have your identifying lapel pin on you that identifies you as Congress member, better listen to the Capitol police next time. They are only doing their job to protect and secure the Capitol building. Wear the lapel pin. Makes it a whole lot easier on everybody.