10 Downing Street

What is 10 Downing Street? It is the most important residence in the United Kingdom -- the official residence and office for British's Prime Minister since 1735. It has been home to Winston Churchill and the current PM Tony Blair as well. 10 Downing Street is the most recognized address along with 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW -- if you do not know what 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW is, your American citizenship is revoked -- immediately!

Was reading "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard" by Nora Ellen Groce today -- I read it for one class at Gallaudet some years ago -- I was bit bored and decided to reread it today.

It mentioned 10 Downing Street that I thought I should share with the readers -- Deaf people were employed by Sir George Downing, an English politician who is well known for running many series of spy networks across London and beyond. Nearly all of Deaf people that were hired by Sir George Downing reported directly to him. Most English politicians feared and respected Sir George Downing because of his political skills and his ability to find information as much as can be.

How did Sir George Downing knew these deaf people? He was from a small town named Maidstone in the county of Kent which is located southeast of London. It was no secret that because of poverty levels, lack of transportation, many Deaf people were born in the county of Kent to a point where many people in Maidstone can sign, hearing and deaf alike. That was where Sir George Downing learned and relied on Deaf people's loyalty to him.

Here is an evidence that can be found in Samuel Pepys's diary, during November 9, 1666 (307 years before I was born), a fire was beginning to consume the city of London, it reads:

There comes in that dumb boy ... who is mightly acquainted here and with Downing; and he made strange signs of the fire, and how the King was abroad, and many things they understood but I could not, which I wondering at, and discoursing with Downing about it, 'Why,' says he, 'it is only a little use, and you will understand him and make him understand you, with as much ease as may be.'"

These group of deaf families from the county of Kent eventually (depending on how you looked at it) emigrated to Massachusetts and settled down on Martha's Vineyard in 1700s. Later, Laurent Clerc was brought to Hartford to set up the first deaf school permanently (Cobbs Hall near my parents' hometown, Hopewell, Virginia is the first) in the country ... large numbers of deaf children from Martha's Vineyard was sent to Hartford to be educated and most of them did not return to Martha's Vineyard.

Suffice to say, the damned Kennedys took over the island eventually. Few friends of mine told me that you can find the gravestones in fingerspelling at Martha's Vineyard near Chilmark and Gay Head. Cool?

R-

Racist Is Racist

Vincente Fox, the President of Mexico, caused an uproar (which I think is very silly) two weekends ago about the jobs that Mexicans took that African Americans and others do not want. African Americans wept that what Vincente Fox said was racially biased. Boo hoo!

It is true. Just look around.

Clifford Terry (eiffilc of Xanga) can be so racist despite the fact that he is African American. He continues to blame the Caucasians of enslaving African Americans. He claimed that it was the whites who started the slavery ... read what he commented on Graystorm's comment box:

"I am not saying that hes correct or not.. Blacks did work hard on this and that when they were slavery. White did nothing. Shud have said, White wont do the work that Mexcians will do. :-P"

Whites should take the blame? I'm like, "C'mon, move on. Get a life already!"

Did you see Jews blaming Egyptians today for its thousands years of slavery? NO, you do not. They moved on ahead with their lives.

I told Clifford that if he observed the history, whites did as much as blacks did, though. I also mentioned that many Blacks refused to do the menial jobs, they gradually graduated to the other level with better opportunities, creating an available of menial jobs for others to fill, the Mexicans and others happened to fill in.

Clifford Terry claimed that he is not a racist. But read this:

R, thats ur opinion.

I'm not trying to be racist. Whites would not have created this country without Blacks or anyone else. Them, white people are too dumb and think they are gods -- the chosen people that should not be doing the hard work. Power to them black people, they shouldn't have to work the "minimal jobs." They already did that years ago. Cheese rice!

Cheese rice? I heard of that racial slur.

I studied the History of Africa under Dr. Joseph Kinner and got an A in it, I could say that the dark-skinned people in Africa were limited and supersitious and they probably needed a leash from someone to teach and tell them what to do with their lives but I do not do that. Because it is racist.

The idea is to work together, do not delegate the whole jobs to hispanics -- there are many caucasians and African Americans that has to work together in order to make the society a better place to live and work with. But to blame the caucasians for your fucked-up truths is not the way to go.

Clifford then commented the absurd idea of his own:

There are many reasons why the Black wont take the jobs that Mexcian would do. I am blaming your parent's parent's parent's parent's. Them white people.

If you did study the History of Africa and got A in it. Then you shoudl know that Africa would have been one of the powerful country if only White didnt enslaved our great-great-great grandmother and grandfather. We would never have this racist comments. White belittled us to the level that they treated our ancestors as animal. Hunted our family backen then like animals. They had guns! They did the same thing with Native Americans. I am sure you can think at least two reasons why Black and Native Americans refuse to take jobs or do jobs for White that Mexcian would.

If you look at the American History, there was an influx of caucasians that emigrated to this country after the Civil War -- the majority of Caucasians are NOT responsible of slavery. Clifford or many African Americans cannot hold me responsible for what happened in the past. Cliff has no right to accuse my great-great grandparents who never owned slaves.

Cliff also accused the caucasians of instigating the slavery in Africa which is not true. In fact, for thousands of years, the African tribes always battled against each other, raided against each other and enslaved each other. But when the boats came from India, Arabs and Europeans, the idea of slavery trade has began. Was it the caucasians' fault? No, not really. Back then, the slavery was acceptable practice for many groups. If you want to lay the blame, blame it on Africans for enslaving the others and sell the slaves to Europeans who took them to the United States.

The whole point is that you are racist, Clifford.

R-

C'mon, It is SNL!

I was informed by a certain reader that the NAD found the scene on Saturday Night Live during the Paula Abdul's appearance (which is 2 weeks ago, I believe) where its Weekend Update had a fake deaf character who made racist jokes towards the interpreter who is black, who in turn made fun of deaf guy instead.

Andy Lange, the President of NAD said, "It's stupid and disgusting! The NAD strongly condemns this kind of thing."

Then Andy Lange encouraged members of the deaf community to write and complain to the NBC and FCC about its racist stuff.

My take on this: This is FUCKING Saturday Night Live! Its goal is to entertain people of all backgrounds and sometimes it included making fun of other's tendencies. To me, it implied that the folks now saw us in the mainstreaming world and decided to poke fun at us. That is quite a compliment, all right.

Andy, stop chasing after women whining and be productive about something else -- like working to educate the Republicans about William H. Pryor before he attains the judicial seat in the 11th Circuit of Appeals.

R-

Happy 25th Anniversary, Mount St. Helens!

When I was a kid, I saw the picture of a massive eruption on Richmond Times-Dispatch and asked Dad what is going on.

"Mountain blew up."

I was surprised, "You mean, the mountain get mad and do this?" Dad grinned and said, "No, inside the mountain has hot liquid, save all time then it grew -- mountain can't hold no more. It blows up. Very normal. Many mountains around the world, yes. Name? Volcano!"

Asked Dad, "Kill people?"

"Yes, dumb people who stand too close. They finish true biz gone dead finish! [Dad pointed to the pyrocastic flows] too fast, people no time to escape, impossible. Dumb dumb dumb nitwit pea-brained them!"

I asked if Deaf people was killed or not? "Doubt, many deaf people not dumb stand too close. Only hearing people stubborn always try to see, see but when it blows up, they finish dead. Too bad!"

That was 25 years ago. Thanks to Merritt for reminding me that today is 25th Anniversary of Mount St. Helens eruption which killed 57 people. My good friend, Merritt was in Walla Walla, about 258 miles east of Mount St. Helens. When it erupted, he said that he was in awe of mother nature. It was the first time of his lifetime that he, at the age of 8, realized that mother nature can do whatever it wanted. He could see the ashes plummets into the sky just before it covered the sky. He said that the sky immediately turned into dark like night for the rest of the day.

He went on to explain that the 2nd and 3rd day, it brightened a little but more of "grey days" than "pitch black" on the first day.

Ain't that a grand experience?

If Yellowstone do its job, the whole country probably will witness something like that and Merritt will be one of few people that says, "*Yawn*, been there, done that. Next!"

Cheers,

R-

I rather to have Trump Tower than to have "Freedom" Tower!

When I heard that there would be 1,776-foot tall building in honor of World Trade Center by building a new building that only has 60 stories but the rest of the above is just glasses with irons just to reach 1,776 -- I cringed.

It is another evidence that our patriotism is way overboard. 1,776 is for 1776 -- the year of Independence. Absurd. The name of tower is "Freedom Tower" -- enough is enough. Please. Stop. It.

The design when I first saw it made me barf. I want the massive motherfucking building. When Donald Trump expressed his disgust with the bullshit design, I was relieved. Apparently, the faggots who designed the "Freedom Tower" wanted the building to imitate the Lady Liberty -- what the fuck? Please. Stop. It.

Two planes crashed into Twin Towers. It exploded. It killed thousands of people. Twin Towers collapsed. Shit happens. Move on. Let's just build a massive building and show the world what we are capable of. New Yorkers do not dwell on the past, they reflect but surge ahead in the future with a sense of pride.

That "Freedom Tower" is not the sense of pride -- it is more of "See? We are the land of free!" It is not a sense of pride -- let it go. The majority of New Yorkers do not like this odd sissy looking building.

Its four or five proposed buildings has the roof that seems to tilt downwards -- I dread to imagine if the snow accumulates and it slid off the roof onto people who visited the memorial -- that would be hysterical to see snow maiming the spectators.

If it is 1,776 foot tall, then by all means, make the use of spaces above 60 stories. Don't stop it at 60! I know some tenants are afraid to move in, but give it time -- it will be full in no time. Be proud, be tough, surge ahead! But stop using "freedom", "1776", "Lady Liberty" and all that shit.

It is a slap to the real New Yorkers. Nobody cares about that any longer. They just wanted a great, massive and cool building that reflects the determination of New York, not reflect the patriotism of America outside of New York! After all, they did not do anything for us -- New Yorkers had been always fending itself for years and has been and always will!

Let's face it. The "Freedom Tower" is not cool. It is so barf.

Bring Donald Trump in and he'll shock the world with brazen ideas. At least, it is better than that crapola.

C'mon, New Yorkers!

R-

Guess Who I Am?

After taking the test, it computed that I am none other than ...



Did not surprise me, really.

And the scary part is that GayOrbit is Anakin Skywalker and I am Darth Vader -- well, I am a notch better than he will be. And I do not advertise nor ask readers to spread the words about my blog like he did. I let my performance do the job.

R-

C'mon, It is Bullshit

Conservatives are crying a river about Newsweek's retraction related to the comments flushing the Koran down the toilet. One conservative guy (You kno who he is, right?) IMmed me out of amusement, I guess, with a line: "Newsweek Lied, People Died!"

Is this a line they stole from Liberals who said, "Bush Lied, People Died. Clinton Lied, Nobody Dies!"?

And let's see ... no weapons of mass destruction, 1,500 American soldiers dead, thousands injured, untold numbers of Iraqis civilians dead which the US Armed Forces treated as animals by refusing to count them as well ... and you Conservatives whined about Newsweek's retraction?

Where were you when Bush lied about the weapons of mass destruction, Bush's enthusiasm to occupy Iraq on false and misleading information which some of the CIA operatives claimed that were pressured by the Bush Administration?

Spare me the hypocrisy, Wojnar.

There were theories on some blogs that the Newsweek were pressured by the Bush Administration to retract or face the wrath of being unpatriotic through other means.

Sounds like ... a typical of Sith?

Remember a while ago I compared Siths with Conservative Republicans? Well, the press are coming out with the exact comments that I said before I even saw the Episode III. You see, I am always right. I was always right. And I will be always right!

When GW Bush said "If you are not with us, you are with the terrorists." -- I was alarmed by that white/black category. Well, when Anakin Skywalker said, "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy." Obi-Wan Kenobi echoed my exact sentiments, "Only a Sith thinks in absolutes."

I have to be a Jedi or something better than Yoda. Hell, I can still remember my Mother weeping when Yoda finally died after living for 900 years. I was stunned when she wept as I saw someone leaving a wallet on the floor, I thought to myself, "My force is indeed dark." I took it. Mom saw it and grabbed it -- I yelled and gestured violently that "Finder-keeper! Finder-keeper!" Mom said, "No, no ... God whacks you if you do not give it back -- !!" Suddenly, the guy came back to look for it -- I grabbed the wallet from Mom and gave it to him, thus making myself look good and Mom looking bad. That guy gave me $5 for safeguarding the wallet. $5? That cheapskate hearie!

When I was a kid coming home for the weekend from deaf school, I told my older brother that I heard about the "famous movie people like titled wars star something?" My hearing brother talked about it and corrected me that it was not Wars Star -- and Mom took us to Ridge Cinema just right across from Regency Square Mall in Richmond, Virginia -- Yeah, Mom paid 6 of us siblings to see the flick along with Mom. When it opened with the famous line: "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ..." -- then its famous few yellow words that rolled up from the bottom to the top -- if you can read the tiny words at the top of the roll, you must have an excellent vision! Then suddenly, a ship rolled in -- bam! You see the lasers shooting back and forth from this small ship and the scary white X-ian shit (c'mon to think of this, the destroyer ship looks like a cross if you analyzed it bit more) -- chasing down the vulnerable ship.

Yes, this was done without the captions. We rarely go to the cinemas unless it is worth the time to figure out what one is being said to the other. Hearing people took things for granted -- grr!

You know, a part of me likes Emperor Palpatine because he manipulated others for his needs -- when he said to Luke in Episode VI, "If you cannot be turned to the dark side, then your sister shall be." Luke raised his lightsaber as Darth Vader gets in a fight -- you could see Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally. That is me. Guess what, I digress once again. I am getting caught in Star Wars hype, obviously.

Back to the subject, my dear dirty Conservatives, filthy Republicans and wacky Xians -- where were you when there was no weapons of mass destruction? Where were you when more than 1,500 American soldiers died? Where were you when GW Bush joked at a fundraising dinner that he thinks the weapons of mass destruction is in this dining room?

So be quiet for a change.

R-