Remember Vonetta Flowers?

In Salt Lake City, Utah where the 2002 Winter Olympics took place ... something cool happened. An African-American from Birmingham, Alabama dreamed of winning Gold Medal in Track & Field but circumstances led her to something daring, something new.

She tried out for bobsledding. By doing that, Vonetta Flowers became the first African-American to win the Gold Medal in Winter Olympics. Perhaps you remembered the famous snapshot of her hugging her teammate, Jill Bakken with tears rolling down her face?

However, Vonetta Flowers is attempting to win her second Gold Medal in that sport in the next Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

But something interesting came up today in USA TODAY.

Vonetta has twin sons, Jaden and Jorden. And Jorden is deaf. In fact, the article went on to explain that he has undeveloped ears due to the premature births. But nevertheless, I am happy to know that Vonetta is communicating with Jorden through the sign language. Jorden, at the age of 2, knew 50 to 60 signs. That is great.

Most parents would not communicate at all until the deaf kid gets to school -- Vonetta seems to take the initiative to do something about it. Good proactive on her part.

Interesting ... and yes, I am the fan of Vonetta Flowers.

About her son, check this.
About her, check this.

Cheers,

R-

Post-Thanksgiving Tidbits

Ewww! I just learned that Nick Lachey's birthday is on November 9. Just like me. I never liked Nick. His smirks has to be nuked. He is getting away with everything just because he's good-looking guy. Disgusting.

Thanksgiving Stuff: McFly asked me last night about my Thanksgiving moments. My worst, favorite or most memorable Thanksgiving dinners? It is not easy to think something like that.

The worst one was the one after my Drandma died, the Thanksgiving Dinner was very somber and surreal. Later after the dinner, the siblings ended up arguing about insignificant things. It was absurd. But I guess we were frustrated in some ways.

The favorite one? I hosted my own Thanksgiving Dinner with some help from Westbury and Manny at our Morris Place -- Carl Denney. We issued many invtations to many people -- so many people showed up. It was great. I believe Toby, Larry and KT were there as well. It was simply wonderful and impromptu dinner. We just go with the flow. And did it very well. Plenty of leftovers for days! Ugh.

The most memorable? Last year at Sarah Pack's. Sarah got in touch with me and made a threat on me to show up for her Thanksgiving Dinner. I did not want to offend her so I showed up. Turns out to be one of the most interesting evenings as we had tons of food to choose and chat with different faces. Wait! There is more. There was a group of Deaf Europeans that followed Sarah's friend to the dinner party about an hour after the dinner ended! So many of us gets to meet these fellows from Europe for few hours.

Suffice to say, when I was done with the party, I headed down to The Hole (now known as The Cock Bar) in East Village for these $10 All You Can Drink all night. Just perfect Thanksgiving for me, really.

Let's Face Music: Who Wants Elton John? I'm not a fan of Music. I can enjoy it. I can rock my head back and forth like Christian Burke do. But do I know the words? Not really. I do not think Elton John is attractive. I think he's like Liberace and Richard Simmons. I do not know why David Furnish finds him so hot. Anyone care to tell me WHY?! Anyway, it was announced that Elton John will marry David Furnish -- they had been together for 12 years.

George Clooney's 2005 Perspective: Actor George Clooney said that 2005 has to be his worst year. I kinda agreed. To me, many adversities has occurred. That is to be expected. But with the death of Sarah Pack, it may confirm what I already said all along -- that 2005 is the worst year to deal with. I so am ready for 2006.

Mr. Miyagi Is Dead: As a kid, I used to have HBO. And it showed "The Karate Kid" too much. My brain was saturated with the comments and antics of Mr. Miyagi in 1980s. And that Pat Morita who portrayed Mr. Miyagi has died as well.

Who Appointed Him As Fashion God? Former FEMA Head Michael Brown is opening his own consulting business on how to handle the emergency planning. This is the same person who wrote an email to his secretary, "I got this from Nordstroms. You'd vomit at it. I'm a fashion god!"

Gallaudet Women's Basketball -- A Joke? It is distressing to note that ever since the Golden Era of Ronda Jo Miller & Touria Ouahid, the Gallaudet Women's Basketball team has not fared very well in the last 5 years. The wins has decreased, the losses has increased. And the team roster has gone down to 8. The tallest player is only at 5'9. The current team is 1-2 as of now.

It means what? It is time to replace Head Coach Kitty Baldridge with someone else.

Taking Gallaudet to NCAA Tournament twice in 29 seasons are not successful. It is dismal failure. Bill Finney coached Women's Basketball team at Marymount University for 22 years, taking the Saints to the NCAA Tournament 12 times, winning 9 CAC titles -- Bill Finney routinely recruited the local players. Gallaudet can recruit anywhere else in the country and we only can get 8 players at its best?

The evidence is there -- we needed a better coach. Kitty Baldridge is done for. Let's just retire her and put someone else in. If she refused to surrender the position, the alumni and students reserve the right to fire her from the position.

I am aware that there are several students at Gallaudet who are capable of playing basketball but chose not to because they do not want to play for Kitty Baldridge.

C'mon, let's do something to preserve what is left of the program. E-mail James DeStefano to do something about the dismal failure of Kitty's teams. Don't let Kitty run the program into the grounds. If she does, it will take years to rebound from this. Do it now.

Leaving for New York: I'm leaving for New York tonight for obvious reasons.

Cheers,

R-

Last Night ...

Last night, before I hit the gym for a Wednesday workout, I rushed to Appomattox Regional Library. That library was the place where I usually go during the summertimes when I'm extremely bored at home.

Since I graduated from high school in '91, I had not been to that library in 14 years. Until last night, that is. I was delighted to learn that the Appomattox Regional Library is going to move in a new building with everything that seems to be all-new right next to the current library. The current library would be demolished, I believe.

The new building will feature a 17th century ship in its Children section. About time if you ask me. If you're wondering about the boat, you can cruise this link.

However, there are some images that I cannot forget out of that library. Among these are The Presidents of the United States by John and Alice Durant, Volume One: George Washington to William McKinley.

In George Washington's section, you should see this image where you can see George Washington smiling a little, extended his right hand to Martha Custis Washington as Martha's daughters and granddaughter watched in bliss. The picture has been somewhat stuck on my mind for years.

Here is the image, click on the picture to enlarge if you would like to.
The Washington Clan at Mount Vernon

And last night, I was searching for the name of the person who drew the portrait of George Washington, Martha Custis Washington, her daughters and her granddaughter.

Believe it or not, I cannot find the name and I'm stumped. Anyone knew of this?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

R-

Barry Strassler Is Hilarious

I stopped reading Barry Strassler's postings except to scour the job postings. But a friend of mine told me today to check a certain comment that Barry Strassler made about Rosa Parks.

I found it -- and it amused me to no end.

Barry wrote:

ROSA PARKS' LEGACY

Rosa Parks has been pretty much lionized in the news for changing the course of civic rights. All this woman wanted to do, one day in the fifties, was to sit down on a city bus.

Did she help the deaf? Indirectly, yes. Her actions sparked groups of disabled to fight for their own rights. And when disabled groups fight, it also rubs off on the deaf. And we, in turn, advocate for our rights.

It all started one hot summer day in Alabama with Rosa Parks.

Thank you, Rosa.

When did December 1, 1955 become one hot summer day in Alabama?

Says it all, eh?

Cheers,

R-

Pictures of Hunger Strike in Flint

See Michelley?
Simple Message In Frigid Climate
Show Some Support

I'm sure the group needs some kind of contributions. Anyone care to enlighten the readers on how to reach these people who might need our help during the strike?

Cheers,

R-

Thanksgiving Tidbits

Survivors' Christy Smith To Join Hunger Strike! It was reported that CBS' Survivors (The Amazon) contestant Christy Smith has left Colorado for Flint, Michigan to join the hunger strike with Ryan Commerson. Among the participants are John Clark and Adrean Clark, the owners/editors of The Tactile Mind Weekly who had been promoting, for years, to recognize ASL as the primary language to teach Deaf children.

Suffice to say, the battle has begun. I received the pictures from Michelley. I need to do some fix on these images before I upload it -- stay tuned for this tomorrow.

Michigan School for the Deaf asked for this.

Remember To Vote for Lee Trevathan! The Poll is still open. Vote for David "Lee" Trevathan, even if you're heterosexual -- we need a deaf bloc to win the whole thing -- after all, if he wins, he owes me few drinks!

Here Is The Picture of Nery & Edward: They were arguing about something else in Spanish language, I believe. When they do, their movements are swift, agile and smooth.

It is always interesting to watch Nery and Edward converse even with the fact that they are in 80s.

Virginia's New "Welcome" Sign: I hate the current one in Virginia -- it is so plain and dull. Virginia is going to change -- if you vote something other than "existing" one. I chose "Mountains". Click this for the vote.

Thanksgiving Facts? Many thought that the first Thanksgiving took place in Massachusetts between the Pilgrims and the Natives. That is not even true. The first one is in Virginia. It happened on December 4, 1619 at Berkeley Plantation. Berkeley Plantation is about 30 miles east of my parents' residence.

It was also reported that Thanksgiving was not supposed to be a "feast" but a "fast" -- by whom? Benjamin Franklin!

About Time If You Ask Me! It is official. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey is going to divorce. Of course, they both cheated on each other for months. I disliked Nick Lachey's smirk -- I hope it goes away for a long time.

Pastor Pow! A Pastor in Russia did not expect this one -- he was preaching and one of the audience leaned in and socked him in the eye. The pastor went on to preach with a blood streaming down his face. About time someone gets to do that to a pastor. Know why? For years, the pastors, preachers, priests always preached that being gay is sinful. Then the audience picked it up and bashed the gays with baseball bats and all that stuff. And these people who spewed so much hate always exonerated itself using the freedom of religion. It is nice to know that someone exercised something different -- whack a pastor out.

Moral of the Story: Don't Argue In The Car! Check this out.

Interesting Subject? I was reading Richmond Times-Dispatch in the last few days -- there is a controversy out of a prestigious school here in Richmond, namely the University of Richmond. Many alumni hated the current President. In fact, the alumni donations has plummeted after UR President William E. Cooper has attempted to steer the different policies to attract the prospects from the Northeast rather than the local ones. He also wanted to raise the academic and athletic standards (Richmond is pretty classy ...) which did not appeal to the alumnus.

And the recent blunt of Dr. William E. Cooper's comments to the staff members, "The entering quality of our student body needs to be much higher, if we are going to transform bright minds into great achievers instead of transforming mush into mush, and I mean it."

They are losing the alumni funds. See the pattern? If we do not like the policies of Provost Fernie, Vice-President Paulie and President Irvie at Gallaudet -- all we have to do is to stop donate and talk to the media about their lackadaisal problems. Especially with Provost Fernie.

If the University of Richmond Alumni can do this, so can Gallaudet Alumni -- the students of Gallaudet cannot succeed without the backing of Alumni to fire Provost Fernie.

Think about it.

Cheers,

R-

New Information About Sarah

Today, I had an opportunity to talk with Sarah's brother, Chris. The family is going through the difficult times. They are pretty in shock about the whole thing. But I was able to get some helpful information that may make us feel much better.

Sarah Pack died at 7:40 AM last Sunday of Embolism. What happened is that she had a clot in her leg, it eventually got in her lungs. The doctor said that she died instanteously.

She will be cremated and her ashes will be sprinkled in the ocean as per her wishes. In fact, she will have three services. One will be on Friday in West Haven, Connecticut. And the other one on Saturday in Manhattan, New York. The last one will be determined by the family regarding honoring Sarah's wishes.

Chris has indicated that the family is aware that Sarah's friends knew more of her desirable charities than the family do and he'd appreciate that I could get the exact information on her favorite charities and I'll be able to turn them in for Chris to follow up with the family.

The main reason why the recent donation in lieu of flowers be donated to "Gateway Christian Fellowship. In the memo, please note for Ukraine orphanages and/or services for Deaf children." is that the family is aware that Sarah was touched more about this particular one: Deaf children in Ukraine.

But he is willing to add more if anyone could email me with specific information on what kind of charities that Sarah loved.

For Sano, Chris has requested that if you wanted to donate flowers, you may do so for this Saturday by making the arrangements via the Internet or your local florist shop to connect with New York. The address is St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, Deaf Church, 213 East 83rd Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues) New York City, N.Y.

Otherwise, the family is taking one step at a time. Like everyone else, they find it hard to believe that Sarah has departed as well. But the family is aware that Sarah has many friends scattered across the nation, Canada and Europe and few more as well.

I was cleaning the boxes in the closet -- I came upon the comic book, Wonder Woman #73, where I recalled seeing a beautiful panel of Wonder Woman leaving her home (the story has that her home, Themyscira Island has disappeared for some reasons unknown to her -- later, she found out why, though). You could see her flying away but she turned her head to look at us all. You knew someday, she'll be back. That's how I feel about Sarah.

One time, we were so bored and we hung out on her rooftop facing the skyline of Manhattan -- she asked me what kind of comic book character would I love -- I said, "Mordru, of course!" She rolled her eyes and said, "That was one dumb question, right?" Sarah once joked that if she was so thin, she'd be hot like Wonder Woman. But to me, she is Wonder Woman.

Farewell But We Shall Meet Again

Hope this message helped you in any capacity regarding Sarah.

Now is the time to celebrate her life. What is done is done, let's rock and roll. That's what she would wanted us to do. Oh, to lighten up the mood -- Sarah and I always teased each other -- many friends can attest that I do this frequently -- I tend to greet her with a line like, "Hey, you fakey ho, whassup?"

She always shot me back that this unique line, "Nothing much, you Pepperoni ho!" She is right. I have the soft spot for Pepperoni. Not in my ass, but in my mouth. Hell, I'll eat Pepperoni over anyone's cock! And Sarah was right as always!

Cheers,

R-