Meep! OMG! LOL! Scrabblenoggers!!! Aarrrggh, matey!

Scrabblenogging - verb, the putting together letters into a new word thinking it exists in a dictionary; the believing that a new word ought to belong into a dictionary. 

Scrabblenogger - noun, a person who tries to force or populate a new word into the general population.

You know the game, Scrabble? Putting together letters into a word and you score points along the way? And remember once in a while a player would put down a word believing it's actually a word unless challenged and the said "word" would be looked up in the dictionary? The challenged player would then be proved wrong. But sometimes a player would be insistent even adamant that the new word thinking it either makes sense and how it ought to be a dictionary or he was sure he'd seen that word somewhere and tries to force players to accept that new word.

That makes him an extreme "scrabblenogger."

Are you a scrabblenogger extremist? Or just a plain ol' scrabblenogger?

Although I may have done some scrabblenogging when I thought a word actually existed in a dictionary but it turned out not to be so. I think many of us have done that if you have ever played the game Scrabble.

Every year new words are added into the Oxford dictionary where words once obscure are now used by millions of people today. OMG! For example, LOL! and meep, are words or acronymns that were very recently added into the Oxford dictionary. Are you following me, yet?

Using Google search engine for "OMG!" turns up 173,000,000 results. "LOL!" comes up with 916,000,000 hits while "meep" gets 1,500,000 results. And, yeah, even high school kids can get into trouble in school for saying "meep" (what is the definition of "meep" anyways?).

Imagine that. 

Now, as a matter of record today, you, the readers, are now my witnesses seeing that I am the inventer of two new words, "scrabblenogging" and "scrabblenogger." Those two words do not exist in any Google search results until today. And I made sure they get added to my blogger.com dictionary database. So there! Feel free to use them as much as possible.

Now, I'm a scrabblenogger. OMG! LOL!

Meep!

So, with all the a-wordism (31,000 results) and "deafhood" (44,900 results) efforts on trying to get them forcefully recognized or else you'll be dangerously labeled with the a-wordist if they don't get tthose words into the dictionary!! I'd say good luck with that. I truly mean mean that. Work hard and get 'er done!

Did you get that message, Beth Scoggins?




I'd just say those words are meeps.

I wonder if they'll stop meeping with themselves? Are you a meeper or a scrabblenogger?

And, so with honor and gratitude I leave you with this video of this Sesame Street character, Beaker, (known for his meeping meeps) singing the song "Ode to Joy" with his meeps. His meeps started many, many moons ago and it took so long until the word "meep" finally landed in the Oxford dictionary a few weeks ago. Don't worry about the song, it's just a bunch of meeps. Just put your own words into his mouth and imagine whatever he's saying since reading his lips would be impossible.

Enjoy your evening, folks!

Hearing blogger hates Marlee Matlin for what she did last night

I'm presuming this blogger is hearing but that doesn't matter. She felt that Marlee Matlin "ruined" her evening (let me get my little wee violin out) and "thousands of other people" (a light chuckle here) because Marlee recommended that Richard Hatch get fired instead of agreeing not to fire anybody that night when given the option by Mr. Trump.

Basically Marlee believes that because she went through hell she should pass it on to others. Great message Marlee. That's right...if get shit on I should shit on someone else. And with that disgusting decision you brought anger and chaos and hate and conflict to what could have been a perfect evening. You are no business woman Marlee, heart is what it takes and you have none. And yes while you might be able to earn big bucks for charity there is no charity in your heart. You ruined my evening and thousands of other people who were watching and hoping you'd do the right thing. What was required was to follow the good feeling the sense of charity and of love. YOU DID NOT and this karma is going to come back and bite you in the ass. I personally can't wait.

This show is about competition and for those who don't live up to the team's expectation get the boot. Pretty simple. This is about making sure that the ASAP team can use every leverage it can get to help ensure they get the upper hand. And if Ms. Obs HER Vation missed it last night, Marlee said "Business is business." It's about winning and getting the upper hand to get ahead and win it for their own charities.  And if it's charity Ms O.H.V. want then she must've missed how Marlee wouldn't be able to live with the fact and in good conscious keep John Rich's $600,000 charity amount that he worked so hard for his charity had she NOT shook hands to agree on keeping each other's charity amount they worked so hard to raise. I'd say that's pretty darned charitable if both of them admitted they couldn't even in good conscious do that to each other and keep the losing team's charity money for themselves.

Personally, I think Ms Obs HER vation needs to calm down.

NFL stars hand out Starkey hearing aids in Rwanda

Truly impressive charity work in Africa with various pro football players from different teams came together on a single mission, to help distribute and outfit hearing aids to those who cannot afford them.

A group of National Football League stars has spent the past week travelling through Rwanda and Uganda fitting free hearing aids on people too poor to afford them.

Notable NFL stars on the trip included: Tennessee Titans' Derrick Morgan, Tampa Bay Bucs' Gerald McCoy, Cincinnati Bengals' Roy Williams, former Chicago Bears' Tommie Harris, San Francisco 49ers' Vernon Davis, Miami Dolphins' Vontae Davis and Minnesota Vikings' Bryant McKinnie and Adrian Peterson.

They travelled through remote areas of Rwanda as well as the capital Kigali as part of an effort to distribute more than 22,000 hearing aids to needy people in Africa.

The initiative was organised by the Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Starkey Hearing Foundation and Pros for Africa, a non-profit organisation based in Okhlahoma City.

And these are truly remote whose families are extremely poor. Even the poorest of towns in the U.S. in Africa would Africans regard them as one of the richest towns in Africa. These are the rays of hope that these guys can give with the help of the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

One single switch of a hearing aid inspires hundreds. Multiply that by 22,000 hearing aids and you have one heck of an inspiration impacting millions of people. Each year Starkey Hearing Foundation give away over 100,000 hearing aids.

Priceless.

No wonder Marlee Matlin supports the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Cringetastic? Star Jones whispers into Marlee Matlin's ear.

There's a short article in Mediaite with a video showing Star Jones whispering to Marlee Matlin which turned out to be quite an embarrassing moment for Star Jones. But I don't see it as "cringetastic" as some other people might feel. I'd say that the communication was so effective in this Celebrity Apprentice show in Marlee's ASAP team with the help of her signing interpreter that people generally would forget that Marlee Matlin is deaf. Only because people were able to talk and communicate with her without any problems. I look at this as a success that Star Jones actually forgot that Marlee is deaf only because communication was quite effective and that everybody was able to contribute easily.

ICED....over.

As many may not realize that I'm happy with what ICED had to say because they made an important step about the acceptance and respect on language and communication. It didn't call for any kind of restriction and that's good. Very good. Even President Hurwitz was keen on this announcement that he shared the key thing that everybody should agree to. Pres. Hurtwitz re-iterated the key point on what ICED issued a global call to "accept and respect all languages and all forms of communication" in the education of deaf and hard of hearing people.

There were no restrictions or specificity against the use of cued speech, oral-auditory, SEE, PSE, AVT, note takers, CART, captioning, texting, voice to text, use of hearing aids and cochlear implants to help communicate and listen, and so on. Nor did it specify or condemn for using one form of communication method over another. Or whether two or more communication methods can be used or that a single preferred communication can be used.

ICED made sure that the message is to accept and respect all forms of communication be loud and clear. Nothing was said about which ones MUST be used but rather they all MUST be accepted and respected. No specific favoritism from this announcement. All forms of communication need to be accepted and respected.

Very nice.

I can live with that one.

Check out this poll about the $1 million dollars donation to Starkey Hearing Foundation on whether people approve or not the donation for free hearing aids to deserving kids from around the world, I'm sure Marlee Matlin approves.

Hmmm?

A Poll: Approve Marlee Matlin donating $1 million dollars to Starkey Hearing Foundation?

On the Celebrity Apprentice show last night Marlee Matlin was able to raise an astounding $1 million dollars and donated it to her favorite charity, the Starkey Hearing Foundation where thousands of free hearing aids will be donated to deserving kids around the world because of her generosity. For more information and captioned video go here.

Captioned: Marlee Matlin interview on "The Talk" show

Captioning courtesy of Kokonut Pundit.

I spent three hours of my time to get this ready by listening to it on YouTube, writing it down, accessing Overstream.net, editing, and adding captions to it. It is a laborious process but it can be done. If I can do it as a one person effort I'm sure others can, too, whether if videos are done in spoken English or sign language. Travesty is when organizations, small or large, that target the deaf and hard of hearing population won't do their captioning. It'd be even worse among the signing organizations or companies who won't even put in an ounce of effort to include captioning for their signing videos. It wouldn't be just a travesty but plain hypocritical of them to behave like that. No excuse in this day and age when communication access is important over the internet for people with hearing loss. None. No excuse for organizations no matter how small or large to not caption their videos with the intention to reach a deaf and hard of hearing audience. Otherwise these organizations would simply be the selfish ones.


Enjoy the interview.

Meatloaf meltdown over Gary Busey and his hearing loss?

In the upcoming Episode 5 sneak peak you have Meat going into an utter and complete meltdown over Gary (who ironically made a memorable if not funny quote in a previous episode saying, "I am at risk every time I wake up.")  in what it appears to be over the issue of paint. And Mark McGrath had to step in between Meatloaf and Gary before Gary gets another head injury. Lots of expletives from Meatloaf so not exactly sure the real reason of his meltdown but perhaps due to the lack of communication with Gary that he finds so grating.

Now, if you remember from an earlier episode Gary admitted to having a hearing loss and wears a hearing aid upon the advice of Marlee Matlin when his hearing loss was addressed and confronted by her who of all people suggested that he get a hearing aid. Now, I'm wondering whether Gary's hearing loss led to his poor performance as a Project Manager for the Camping World challenge in Episode 3 and by not being able to hear completely what his team mates were saying created communication problems that led to Gary getting bad rating as a Project Manager. His hearing loss is obviously bad when he had to ask up close Star Jones a few times for her to repeat what she said when she said "She's class and graceful" (about Niki Taylor when she was fired in Episode 3). And I'm wondering whether Gary even wore his hearing aid in Episode 4 around the 3:15 mark when he asked Jones to repeat what she said. I've begun to notice how he reacts to people around him in previous episodes and how he seems to think he heard what they said or in this probably doesn't care. This probably explains why Mark McGrath's comment in Episode 4 making the claim that Gary is unable to focus or remember anything. Probably it's because he can't hear much?

So, in reality there are two celebrities with hearing loss on the Celebrity Apprentice show, Marlee Matlin and Gary Busey - who is at risk every time he wakes up or probably more accurately at risk every time he doesn't listen carefully and face the expletive wrath of Meatloaf.

Addendum:

Check out this poll about the $1 million dollars donation to Starkey Hearing Foundation on whether people approve or not the donation for free hearing aids to deserving kids from around the world, I'm sure Marlee Matlin approves.

Marlee uses her voice on Celebrity Apprentice

I've begun to catch up on the Celebrity Apprentice show only because Marlee Matlin is in it. I normally don't watch that show but while watching the episodes I noticed that Marlee has used her voice several times and no signing at all. Sometimes I hear her when she uses her voice talking but the show doesn't pick it up with their captions.

One example of that is captioned as seen in a screen capture of her saying "Okay. We're home" as seen in the screen capture in Season 4, Episode 4 ("Off the Hook") at the 10:05 minute mark as seen on the Hulu video.

Sometimes she uses her voice at the same time with her signing such as in Episode 4 (48:40 mark) during the commercial making challenge for the ACN video phone by voicing to her daughter on how much she missed her.

Now, nothing wrong with her using her voice but I simply noticed this of hers and whether anybody else picked up on that as well. It's good that she is using her voice and not be afraid to use it for fear of some crazy public backlash. Just like not being afraid to show her support for the Starkey Foundation on giving out free hearing aids to kids from around the world, too. She even wears Starkey hearing aids, too. At least she's busting the stereo-type that all deaf people are unable to use their voice to communicate just like most people can.

Episode 5 should be interesting on testing her leadership qualities as the Project Manager. My wife enjoys every bit of any shows or movies with Marlee Matlin in it. After all, both my wife and Marlee Matlin knew each other in high school as school mates and friends while living in Chicago.

Addendum:

Check out this poll about the $1 million dollars donation to Starkey Hearing Foundation on whether people approve or not the donation for free hearing aids to deserving kids from around the world, I'm sure Marlee Matlin approves.

Deaf Twitter Cyberbullies?

This shouldn't be new nor should it be a surprise when online cyberbullying manifests itself in various forms for various reasons. Some of them may be due to hate. Others due to jealousy. Others due to wanting to maintaining certain powers or control and what have you.

You have your blog cyberbullies. You have your typical online cyberbullies. And now it's the Twitter and even Facebook cyberbullies. Sure, this is "old news" but there's a twist in all of this.

The whole thing reeks of hypocrisy on cyberbullying when you have certain, um,  deaf/hh people with an increasingly unhealthy obsession towards a few particular deaf/hh individuals in the deaf/hh community. This is tantamount to stalking which begs that very "cyberbullying" question here.

The irony gets even more profound when one Twitter account under the name of "Safe Deaf Cyberspace" run the gamut of producing links that lead to a site that is obviously libelous (they know that its not true which makes it even worse yet they still left the link in); links from people who deride and mock other people which is nothing more than a stomping ground to encourage people to personally attack individuals which is a form of cyberbullying, by the way; use strong-arm bullying tactics against others who disagree or have other alternative opinions by encouraging people to boycott against DVTV and DeafRead, for example; or make note that  "DVTV is a dysfunctional family" when the same thing could be said about the SDC Twitter account seeing how people respond thinking it's all about cyberbullying but really it's mostly a matter of differences of opinions.

That is an unhealthy obsession on what I'm seeing. I'm sure many others would agree. An example of this is easily seen when there are over 70 references to Tayler Mayer. The irony is palpable when you read through the responses in "Safe Deaf Cyberspace" Twitter page such as actually whining about another person's opinion of how other people whine. Can't get any more gold out of that one.

There is a time when people recognize cyberbullying for what it is and a time when it is not and recognize that it's simply a matter of differences of opinions, point of views and perspectives.  Abusing the use of a Twitter account in the effort to "strong-arm" others into compliance is not only unhealthy but raises plenty of red flags that points to, ironically, the pervasiveness on using cyberbullying tactics as being "acceptable." Complaints become more subjective and not objective.  You have people who condone the ridiculing, the mocking and the personal and sometimes petty nastiness against individuals.

That Twitter account isn't about cyberbullying because it is mirroring itself as one in more ways that one.  Making valid objective complaints are one thing but to condone such questionable responses and elicit certain behaviors to continue its course are another thing. It has ironically become a cyberbullying tool of choice for others by targeting people they simply do not like by encouraging harassment.

Not cool.

In the example of DVTV/DR, it is impossible for that site to please everybody. Like Bill Cosby famously said, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." That's exactly what ASLRocks tried to do and as a result it fell short of its first anniversary but it was fertile ground for massive number of cyberbullying examples that went unimpeded and that people secretly or openly condoned the open cyberbullying atmosphere.

Here's the thing. You become more dysfunctional in the effort to please everybody and end up marginalizing yourself instead.

What kind of a life is that?

If you want a true Twitter page on cyberbullying without all of the innuendos and nastiness but from a more "professional" approach then go here.

Delay in NAD's response to Seattle Police Chief

Took them that long to respond?

NAD wrote a letter on March 15, 2011 for the Seattle Police Chief....7 months after the killing of John T. Williams.

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) sent a letter to the Seattle Police Chief John Diaz regarding the tragic killing of John T. Williams, a hard of hearing First Nation artist, by then Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk on August 30, 2010.

Here's the March 15th letter.

I suppose it's better late than never as they say but I am curious as to the time it took them to write a letter to the Seattle Police Chief.

Marlee Matlin to speak at diversity summit in Portland

Marlee Matlin is coming to Portland, Oregon "to speak at Maximizing the Power of a Changing Workforce: Diversity Summit 2011 presented by Portland General Electric. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Oregon Convention Center. Tickets are sold at the PGE’s website.

Although tickets won't be cheap if you want to attend. It'll set you back at $249.00.

Portland General Electric describes Marlee Matlin:

Academy Award®-winning actress, activist and ambassador for the deaf community, shares her personal life story, emphasizing achieving inclusion, diversity and access for all.

Speaking of diversity, Marlee Matlin made absolutely clear on diversity and choices in her recent tweet.

@Starkeyhearing does not deny ASL or deaf culture; they provide hearing aids. BTW, lots of ASL users wear hearing aids.
And just as an FYI @starkeyhearing tests hearing when parents can’t afford tests for kids and gives out FREE hearing aids.
I sign, I support deaf culture. And I support ALL CHOICES of communication, all kinds of people. If you don’t like my choices, well….

One smart cookie. That's diversity for ya! Did you read that? All choices of communication. Sounds familiar?

Yet some culturally deaf people get all snippy about her support of Starkey's philanthropic mission on giving out free hearing aids. They simply do not see the bigger picture here. Amy makes an obvious point about Marlee Matlin:

If you have a twitter account, go and check @MarleeMatlin, and she has 91,772 followers. She has a clout. People started taking ASL classes, parents decided to sign to their young Deaf children, and celebrities complimenting her.

You see. When people see Marlee sign on a tv show or in a movie that get them interested on wanting to know more about sign language. But that's not enough for some die hard nuts on trying to mold her into their own "deaf image." There is no need for them to get all upset because she supports all choices of communication. Those people need to grow up and get with the program.

Good point, Amy.

Go Starkey!

Patti, it's not trashing.

I can see how some of my blogging on Gallaudet University could be construed as "trashing" but I and others do not even see it as that. Instead, it's about not being afraid to discuss sensitive issues. It's asking the hard questions while others would prefer to look the other way as if it never happened.

What I provided in my past blogs about Gallaudet University are mostly in the form of facts and figures along with some opinions.  Go ahead and type in "Gallaudet" in the search box in the left column of my blog page (scroll down until you see it) and you'll find all the blogs I wrote that have the word "Gallaudet" in them over the years. Naturally I'll discuss issues pertaining to Gallaudet University since I graduated from there. I do have opinions and valid concerns regarding Gallaudet University, after all, I am an alumnus which makes me a representative of Gallaudet University.

Better get used to that idea.

What's rather curious in my observation is that some people seem to prefer to see such data or information not be publicly exposed or discussed further when it comes to issues or things related to Gallaudet University. Why is that?  What is exactly the message being sent out there in the effort to silence such criticisms? That any criticism of Gallaudet University is off-limit? If that's the case then rape at universities or colleges, specifically Gallaudet University, shouldn't be discussed based on facts and figures as if rapes never occurred? Isn't that a rather cold and heartless thinking? Behind all those rape numbers is a human being and not some faceless statistic.  And what about discussing at length why Buff and Blue choose to keep quiet (it's been three months and counting....) the removal of the Wirick article rather than make a public declaration on explaining to the readers the reason for the removal? Sounds like a preference to keep things mum and out of the light as much as possible.

No, Patti. It's not trashing.

I have my own POV and I look at things differently.  Aren't alternative viewpoints great?! Although what's rather a curious thing to witness about the claims of "trashing" is when Patti wrote out "Kokonutty" in reference to me and my blog. Even though I've always made the effort to call people by their names correctly as well as the names of their blogsites without the need for colorful, euphemistic name calling. What's the point of doing that anyway? Patti, you do know that my name is "Mike" and that my blog is "Kokonut Pundit" and not "Kokonutty," right?

for those of u who have not been properly introduced to the Kokonutty pundit – no loss. enjoy living in the real world and count ur blessings

Not only once, but twice (technically so) the name "Kokonutty" was used by the same person. Must be an example of that infectious "love" and "peace" thing going around, no? Can't say "Agree to disagree"?  Or is this a bitter tea we're talking about? And isn't calling me as "Kokonutty" getting a tad bit too emotional and personal? Isn't the above an example of personal trashing? Is that good?

Me think not.

Nay am I the naysayer. Nay, I say! Nay! Nay! Seriously, just think of it as a POV instead and you'll live a happier, healthier life! Gotta save that stomach from getting ulcers, right?

People can have opinions about other people whether it's positive or negative and be firm about it. Sure. I've no qualms about that. Although I question the wisdom on turning it into a personal thing looking more vendetta-like than not.  But, seriously, how hard can it be to address a person by his or her name or the name of the person's blog without any trailing name callings in its wake using colorful, euphemistic connotations?   If it were me I'd get away from using my blogs as an emotional platform by targeting people the things I do not agree with.

CCAC Introduction

Rarely do I compliment a blog/website and when I do consider that as a honor. I've known about this organization called "Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning (CCAC) for awhile and so I've decided to put their CCAC logo on my blog seen on the left column that links to their blog page.  This is the one admirable and doable goal that reaches across all boundaries for people with hearing loss from mild to profoundly deaf.  This about helping ensure on creating the greatest number of  access for everybody since captioning does reach out to the most number of people in an audience. And without the worry about petty internal politics or discrimination and segregation based on hearing status, amount of "deaf experience" you have or whether you know sign language or not.

Captioning is the single most accessible and acceptable form of communication for most people with hearing loss. Their core concept is based on accessibility that reaches out to the greatest number of people in an audience and thus practices the goal of inclusion to those who need it which is essentially anybody and everybody.

The CCAC states 5 simple goals and actions that makes common sense for everybody.

CCAC Goals and Actions:

1. Ensure that captioning is mentioned and included regularly in all the places we need it; universally; as a common everyday practice.
2. Have captioning mentioned and included in all the places that sign language is mentioned and used now.
3. Support consumers to learn about and ask for captioning, and get it, without all the hassle encountered now in too many places.
4. Push captioning into a "respected" resource/language/technology.
5. Encourage professional providers and also those offering systems to expand services.

What naturally makes sense and we all know this is that captioning should a common everyday occurrence no matter where you go. Technology and greater awareness will make that a reality someday soon.

I like #2 goal. One of the biggest misconception and myth about people with hearing loss is that all of them know sign language.  This is simply not true. This same kind of myth (that had an unfortunate unintended consequence) is perpetuated in one Superbowl commercial which had the potential to leave an impression that all deaf/hh people know sign language as their preferred mode of communication. Not even close. In fact, the signing segment of that population makes up a very small minority when compared to a population of 36 million people with hearing loss in the United States. This goal also makes clear that "sign language only" access isn't acceptable form of alternative communication access if the target audience also includes deaf and hard of hearing people whether done live or in a video format such as on YouTube.

The rest of the goals and actions listed are just as good with large doses of common sense. 

In closing, I encourage you to spread the word about the CCAC organization because it does BENEFIT you in more ways than you can imagine. This is the kind of advocacy organization worth joining.

Deafhood supports cochlear implants and oralism

The philosophy of "deafhood" as it pertains to a deaf or hard of hearing person's journey based on his/her hearing loss experience explicitly acknowledge and support the use of cochlear implants and even oralism. Nothing about "deafhood" ever said anything about rejecting cochlear implant or oralism since they are a part of the whole diversity facet that makes each deaf and hard of hearing person unique in many ways. One of the many valid ways of how a person with hearing loss live his/her life. It becomes a part of that person's identity. Not only that such a philosophy also lends support regarding the diversity and acceptance of Cued speech, SEE, PSE, use of hearing aids, AVT, speaking, talking and listening over the phone, CART, note takers, closed captioning, open captioning, subtitles, and so on. Even living the full and rich life as a person with hearing loss not ever having the need to use or even learn sign language certainly fits the "deafhood" philosophy. The same can be said of those who use ASL. Nothing is rejected under that philosophy but supported and acknowledged instead. It makes no distinction or specificity.

The true philosophy of "deafhood" accepts diversity. A person's journey is a deeply personal one that cannot be pidgeon-holed or boxed in for convenience sake. The problem with "deafhood" nowadays it's no longer seen as a neutral philosophy. It has become a political and ideological machination bent with a money motive designed in mind to segregate and discriminate people with hearing loss based on certain criteria (e.g. not "Deaf-centric" enough). The concept of "deafhood" has de-evolved away from the concept of diversity and acceptance and into the maws of power and politics. If it were about diversity it would have been plainly obvious for all to see.

The mask has fallen off.

Deaf musicians, a contradiction in terms?

I got a heads up from somebody about this little interesting tidbit of history and how music really isn't a part of cultural deaf make-up or so it seems here. But today there is a deaf band called "Beethoven Nightmare. And there are deaf/hh musicians such as Evelyn Glennie, Sky Mundell, and even myself.  How many more deaf/hh musicians are out there whether they speak, know sign or not?  There are plenty and I know them.

From the Gallaudet Press article on how Alexandrea Hermann essentially "lost" even though she won the Miss Deaf California pageant crown in 1991 due to a "technicality" or rather more like people had a bit of snit-fit over her winning the crown.

Those who deviated from this model faced increasing challenges. For example, Alexandrea Hermann won the Miss Deaf California pageant in 1991, playing piano for the talent portion. After the pageant, however, members of the community roundly criticized for her “mainstream lifestyle”—reading lips and speaking, attending a hearing school, and socializing primarily with hearing people. Hermann was informed that she could not use her piano talent for the national competition. She did not win the national title. In the following year, a Deaf Life poll asked readers whether they felt pageant contestants should be allowed to sing or play music as part of their talent routines. Although most (62 percent) answered yes, a strong minority (39 percent) disagreed. One former judge in state deaf pageants suggested that contestants be aware that “some kind of fallout [might occur] if they decided to sign or play music.” Another opponent of “hearing”-style performances answered with an emphatic “No!” The respondent continued: “Most Deaf audience do not benefit from it [sic]. . . . They will talk to each other until the next contestant comes on stage with respect and pride in her culture!” This attitude pervaded many state and national pageants. As a current description of the pageant notes, “This is not an ordinary contest . . . beauty, poise, gracefulness are desirable qualities, but the biggest point is one’s cultural talent performance” and that “the women are judged across a broad spectrum of categories including . . . knowledge of deaf culture.”

Interesting history. I guess her identity as a pianist, preferring to read lips and speak, ability to socialize among hearing people isn't up to deaf culture standards, hence, no "deafhood" for her because her own personal journey doesn't jive with theirs. Yet they still want their music, too.  So, tell me, where's the contradiction here?  Maybe Beethoven's Nightmare isn't really a deaf culture thing and it's really all about practicing the a-wordism. No? With more and more deaf and hard of hearing people wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants nowadays, perhaps some rule changes are needed for these deaf pageant competitions?

I wonder.





ADDENDUM:

More questions about the pageant win.

Many objected when the woman chosen Miss Deaf California played a Bach piano concerto for the pageant's talent competition. Should the title have gone to someone with enough hearing to play music, or picked for her ability to do something that other hard-of-hearing people could not appreciate?

And what about make Beethoven's Nightmare then?

Star studded performance to benefit cochlear implant recipients

Vanessa Williams to give a Benefit Performance where "a portion of the proceeds goes directly to the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation dedicated to help hearing impaired children transition to a world of sound and life through the use of cochlear implant technology."

More on Barton G. Weiss and his $5 million dollar donation to help kids (and parents) with cochlear implantation.

Last year Barton G. Weiss who is a noted restaurateur announced that his Barton g. Kids Hear Now Foundation has committed $5 million dollars to establish the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center at the Miller School's Ear Institute.

Weiss made the announcement at the Clinical Research Building, during a morning news conference attended by UM President Donna E. Shalala, Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., UM Ear Institute Director Thomas Balkany, M.D., and Miller School Department of Otolaryngology Chair Fred Telischi, M.D.

Weiss, whose Barton G. company is renowned for its event-management, restaurants, and off-site catering prowess, has a three-year-old daughter, Jadin, who was born unable to hear. Today, Jadin is not only hearing, but she converses in English and Spanish thanks to a cochlear implant procedure performed by Dr. Balkany.

“Three years ago my world was turned upside-down when my daughter was born profoundly deaf,” Weiss said. “It left me feeling helpless, overwhelmed and filled with fear. So today really is a dream come true.

“I am honored to help establish the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center,” Weiss said. “My hope is that this will allow all families, regardless of their social or economic background, to have a resource, as well as support.

“My deepest appreciation goes to Dr. Thomas Balkany, who was the surgeon who implanted my daughter – she’s a little chatterbox!” Weiss said to laughter from an audience of roughly 100 people that included many media representatives.

“It is a pleasure to be here today with my good friend Barton G. Weiss, a longtime supporter and friend of the University of Miami,” Shalala said. “Over the years, Barton has donated not only resources, but also his talent and time.

“Today he has taken that support a step further by making an incredible gift to the Miller School of Medicine.”

The goal of The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation, which Weiss launched in 2008, is to have a direct impact on transitioning deaf children from an existence without sound to a hearing world, through the use of cochlear implant technology.

“When a child is born deaf, a cochlear implant can restore hearing and enable a child to develop normal speech, when the procedure is performed at the appropriate time,” Dean Goldschmidt said. “Barton G. Weiss knows firsthand what a parent faces when they learn their child is deaf, and that is why he formed The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation — so no other parent will have to go through the process alone.”

Personal money was donated, star studded performances to help raise money to help benefit cochlear implant recipients, more donations, more charitable organizations and greater exposure on the miracle of cochlear implant just keeps getting better and better every year.

Addressing deafness in the field of regenerative medicine

From the medical journal "The Development of a Stem Cell Therapy for Deafness":

Medicine is at the doorsteps of a phenomenal revolution, brought by the advances in the stem cell field and the development of new technologies to engineer cells and tissues into more complex organs. The promise of a true regenerative approach to organ damage and loss of function is closer than ever of becoming a reality. The auditory field is participating of these developments with high ­expectations. Since the cochlea is an organ of difficult access and with very limited regenerative capacity, conventional therapeutic approaches have failed and, currently, the only treatments available are in the form of hearing aids and cochlear implants. The potential restoration of hearing by the use of exogenous stem cells will offer a solution to a condition that has very limited options. In this chapter, we are reviewing the increasing volume of research on this emerging field and discussing the key elements that need to be developed further, in order to translate the basic science into a clinical reality.

Take a peak inside and read a few pages from the Regenerative Medicine journal on how far along stem cells are and how close the reality is on restoring hearing loss using stem cells.

A public relation message to the deaf and hh community

A skill....

Each of us has a particular set of skills that we are either endowed with or worked hard to develop them over time.

Let's start with music.

Some of us are not into music. Others are. And some truly enjoy playing their musical instruments and thrive off of that. Look at Evelyn Glennie, a world renowned professional percussionist who happens to be profoundly deaf.  Should I or others be jealous of her musical ability and skill? No. Why should you be? Why feel negative towards her just because she has a skill when others do not have such a musical skill?  Do you find yourself drifting toward negative thoughts about her musical ability as a deaf person? Why?  What about pianists such as myself or Sky Mundel who are deaf/hh? Do you find yourself feeling angry or upset towards other deaf or hard of hearing musicians as well? Why? Jealous? Conflicting feelings? Exactly what makes you harbor these negative feelings and thoughts?

There are skills we don't have when others do.

Let's look at oral speaking skill among deaf people by taking the case of Stephen Hopson who was born with a profound hearing loss who worked hard over the years growing up and into adulthood the power of speech and became known  transformational and inspirational speaker. Should you be jealous of him or harbor negative thoughts towards him because of his ability to inspire people in the audience? Why?

Kathy Buckley, a known comedienne in the comedy circuit who do these speaking stand up comedy acts who happens to be deaf/hh. Should you get angry because she choose to use her speaking skill to her audience and not sign? Why?

Trix Bruce, a known ASL story teller. Born profoundly deaf. She puts on an inspirational show about her personal challenges, learning experiences and embarrassing moments. Her goal is to give the insight of the deaf world to those who can hear and not hear and help people throughout their life journey. She acts out situations and tells stories using ASL while her partner, Kenan Pekoz, translates the ASL into captivating spoken words. Should anybody be angry about her ability to sign, and how she gets her message across? Or have negative thoughts about her particular set of skills?
No. Why should people behave like that?

If you have these certain internal angsts or negative thoughts about people who value speaking and/or listening then perhaps it'd be better for you to focus on something else for a change. If you have certain negative thoughts or angsts about Deaf people's ability to sign or express themselves through signing then perhaps its time you ought to focus on something else, too. It goes both ways here but the key is to understand that each of us is different and have particular preferences in what we do.

I've always recognized that each of us, deaf, hard of hearing or hearing people, has a particular set of skills that we are endowed with. And deservedly and rightfully be proud of them. Or skills that we worked hard to develop over hundreds or thousands of hours of practicing earn that right and be proud of our accomplishments. I make no distinction over people's preferences to use their voice or sign. I don't begrudge anybody's musical ability. I don't condemn or begrudge people if they sign in SEE, PSE or ASL or whether their signing happens to be more PSE than ASL. If you are striving to sign purely in ASL, good for you! Yet I can see how people easily mistake for noticing signing to be more PSE than ASL as a condemnation when it's not but rather noting a distinction in signing style. I make no condemnation of people who strive to improve their signing style just as I make no condemnation of people who strive to speak and listen better or develop their speaking skills and become an inspirational speak. Or become a musician regardless of whether one can hear or not.

You see, that's the difference between myself and other people. I don't care if you choose not to speak or use your voice, or not wear your hearing aid or cochlear implant. It's personal choice if you want to go all "organic" or not. Just as well for those who strive to use their voice at every chance they get or the chance to hear with their hearing aids or cochlear implant at every opportunity. There is nothing wrong with that. Nothing superior about it. Just a preference.

I recognize that each of us has a skill and how we use it is really up to us and that we shouldn't be condemned for doing what we are comfortable with. I don't spend a whole lot of time focusing on what I cannot do but rather I focus on the things that I can and want to do. If people don't like that and get angry about it, then perhaps they need to prioritize in what they do in life and focus on the positive for a change.

Meanwhile, why not learn a musical instrument? 

I've played the violin, snare drums, xylophone, saxophone, and piano. I've also did the bass drum while in the high school marching band where we competed in marching band competitions in the southeast. Just because you have a hearing loss isn't a good excuse not to try.