Just A Friendly Reminder

 On Wednesday evening, Jay Matheson will be the emcee and pitch 20 questions for Halloween Trivia at Thyst Bar Zoom.  

Each question is valued at $3.75. 

Last week, Delanne Woodall Hamlow won $25.

Cheers,

R-

Allegations about VMI's Conduct May Be True

 The Washington Post had an article that focused on Virginia Military Institute's institutional racism especially on African Americans. It was reported that some filed complaints only to see lack of action to discipline or expel the students or staff who had done the acts of racism. This prompted the Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to issue an order to open the investigation on VMI. The President of VMI"s Board of Visitors denied that there is systemic racism.

VMI basically glorified Confederate Stonewall Jackson claiming that they honored him because he's "staunch Christian" and "military genius" - if he was military genius, then how come did he die during the battlefield and his Confederate Army was routed by the Union Army?

For a long time, I always regard VMI as high class school. In fact, dozens of my close friends knew that if I was hearing, I would end up going to VMI. 

Which was the reason on why I was thrilled to learn of my good, Deaf friend who announced on Facebook that her CODA daughter was accepted at VMI last spring and her CODA daughter went to VMI last August.  

After staying for six days at VMI during the Hell Week, her CODA daughter left VMI and declined to talk about her experiences at VMI. She has decided to attend James Madison University (JMU) instead. I was surprised and bit confused. I thought VMI has opened its doors to female students. 

For about two weeks after she abruptly left VMI, she started to talk about what's going on. She was quite humiliated and terrified of several incidents that happened during the Hell Week.  She went on to tell one incident with her Deaf mother who was stunned and furious about it enough for her to tell me the story.

Each female freshman is required to take a shower for only one minute (60 seconds) in a hurry. But it was never 60 seconds, it was always 35-40 seconds before a female upperclassman opened the door with half-dozen of male upperclassmen standing behind her looking at women taking showers and yelling insults and obscenities at her and other female freshmen in the shower area. That is sexual harassment, folks. 

Her CODA daughter said that it was pretty much acceptable behavior at VMI, even the staff knew about it. She can't handle it so she left after six days. 

Oh, VMI claims to be a staunch Christian military school?  Really?

Cheers,

R-

About Steve Florio, Kappa Gamma and CSDR ...

Someone asked me about the incident with Steve Florio's dismissal of his job as Commissioner for Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing after he was placed on administrative leave after I posted the image of him doing the nazi salute with his Kappa Gamma brothers back in 1989 on my blog.

My response?  It was a long overdue. It was necessary and justified. Many people do lost their jobs after they did do the racial things so why treat Deaf people differently?  

Patrick Costello, Bill Millios and now Steve Florio were dismissed from their jobs. Many are still holding their jobs.  One asked me if I felt bad for them, my answer was simply ... no, not at all. I had been trying to get jobs at many deaf-run functions and these people managed to keep me jobless for a long time. Now I'm doing well on my own, do I really feel bad for them? Fuck, no.

The worst and biggest joke is in Riverside where the California School for the Deaf-Riverside (CSDR) Superintendent Nancy Hlibok-Amann (herself Phi Kappa Zeta, her brothers, husband and children are members of Kappa Gamma) announced that an investigation on the image where one of her staff members, Timothy Hile, showed him doing the Nazi salute back in 2006, has concluded and that there was no wrongdoing on Tim Hilo's part and that he is to resume his job at CSDR. 

This is coming from the person who has surrounded herself with the connections of Phi Kappa Zeta/Kappa Gamma and she handled the investigation without a touch of bias?  Really? 

I have to break this news to you all - many Deaf people considered CSDR, CSD, TSD, ISD, MSSD and MSD as one of the best Deaf schools in the nation.  Except that it is not exactly true.  If you check CDE's website and do the comparisons, you would realize that the worst public (elementary) school in Los Angeles County has fared better than CSDR and CSD altogether. 

So each time they roll out the graduates of CSDR/CSD, I always smirk to myself.  Little did they realize that they thought they were all that smart when they were taught by incompetent staff members at these schools as evidenced by CDE's website.

Cheers,

R-

Austin Adamson?

 This kid was one of these Adamsons who nearly injured my Mother on her scooter at Maryland School for the Deaf's Benson Gym in Frederick, Maryland when she was like 68 years old ... one of the retards at MSD pushed Austin off the bleachers - and landed in front of my Mother.  What if my Mother rolled ahead ... ?  Adamsons are from Philadelphia, Frederick and Austin - they're what you would call ... "trash elites". Austin's father is Johnny Adamson, a well known con artist who stole his father's social security number and was eventually arrested in Frederick for that shit.

And Austin Adamson created this website?  Really?

Cheers,

R-

Each Time Gallaudet Begs Me for $, I send it to VAF

 This is kinda cool.  But I want you folks to know something ... After 14 years, I have come to the conclusion that Dr. Jane K. Fernandes would make a great President at Gallaudet University.  

Yes, Virginia, people do change over the years.  And from what I observed, JKF has done a tremendous job of doing many great things at two schools in comparison with what Ms. Cordano has done at Gallaudet - which is why I refused to make any donation to GUAA or Gallaudet University - each time, that school asked me for $, I send $25 to VAF.  

All I can say is ... good riddance.

Cheers,

R-

10-23-2020 Tidbits

I look forward to the day when Karma exacts its ugly head towards Laura Egbert. When it happens, I'll be there to smirk at her. She deserved it. And more.

* * *

Thyst Bar will feature Jarom Matheson as the Emcee for Halloween Trivia on October 28, 2020.  

You're more than welcome to dress up for Halloween as well. 

Last Wednesday, the winner of Thyst Bar's Books Trivia was Delanne Woodall Hamlow, she received $25 via cash app.

* * *

HandSync, run by Lil Lou Covarrios, will host its second livestream focusing on deaf drag queens & kings this coming Saturday.  Admission?  $10.  Check this link for further information to purchase and attend the event.  

* * *

Commissioner Steve Florio has been relieved of his duty at MCDHHH and is now without a job as MCDHH announced the new search to replace him.

Cheers,

R-

Dion Needs Our Help

 A well known Deaf blogger, activist and MASLED student at Gallaudet, Dion Williams has requested the public for help in getting donations to cover his grandmother's funeral expenses.  His grandmother, Delores Lois Biscoe, has passed away due to the complications with COVID19.  I made a donation right away as quickly as I learned of his grandmother's passing.

Long story short, I was in touch with Dion on the first days when his grandmother was admitted into the hospital. We talked a lot and his frustrations were valid when he noticed the disparities in medical service between the whites and the blacks. He repeatedly told me his fears about what would happen to him or his family members. And in end, he was right. 

Little did Dion and his family learned that his grandmother's insurance policy has lapsed and because of that, they are unable to have a decent and proper burial for her.  And they are in urge need of $8,000 to help out with the funeral expenses. For many years that I have come to know Dion, he is quite protective of his grandmother and mother.  He frequently talked about how much they made an impact on his wellbeing.  

There is another Deaf person who has terminal liver cancer and is dying - his family made a plea for donations and was able to raise more than $35,000 in less than a month. Never mind the fact that he has a great job, has stocks and homeowner in his right and plus, he's white. And he was able to raise $35,000. 

And Dion only asked for $8,000.  He has a long way to reach the goal. Time is of essence.

I plead you to do the right thing and help out with this. If you have the sense of decency, you will do the right thing. 

Cheers,

R-