The Role of Early ASL Learning and Linguistic Competence of Deaf Individuals
by Jean F. Andrews (http://deafinprison.wordpress.com)
Map of the USA in ASL (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
American Sign Language (ASL) is seldom learned early by parents of deaf children when the diagnoses of hearing loss occurs. As a result, few deaf children have strong ASL role models in the home. This has important educational implications. But it also has criticaL repercussions when the deaf child grows into a deaf adult and gets caught in the criminal justice system.
In almost all (with the exception of one), cases where I interviewed deaf suspects or inmates, I have found that they had learned ASL after the age of five. Some even learned it later in junior high or high school. Most all had English reading levels of 4th grade or below.
ASL plays a…
View original post 472 more words
“I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO HOLD MY GRANDCHILDREN!” Don´t let Virgil die in prison!
William Bradford, last deputy governor of the colony and first deputy governor of the state (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Petitioning.
The legislators and Governor of CA
This petition will be delivered to:
Prisoners to Remain on Rikers Island As Hurricane Sandy Heads for New York |
At a press conference this afternoon on New York City’s preparations for Hurricane Sandy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was asked about the safety of prisoners on Rikers Island, which lies near the mouth of Long Island Sound, between Queens and the Bronx. Bloomberg appeared annoyed by the question, and responded somewhat opaquely: “Rikers Island, the land is up where they are and jails are secured.” Apparently unable to fathom that anyone’s main concern would be for the welfare of the more than 12,000 prisoners on Rikers, Bloomberg then reassured listeners: “Don’t worry about anybody getting out.”
The last time a major hurricane was headed for New York–Irene, in August of 2011–Bloomberg gave a similarly terse response to a question about the island prison. “We are not evacuating Rikers,” he declared even as other shoreline communities and City…
View original post 286 more words
Lies of Plutocracy: Exploding Five Myths that Dehumanize the Poor
Lies of Plutocracy: Exploding Five Myths that Dehumanize the Poor.
“Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking; where it is absent, discussion is apt to become worse than useless.” – Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi – (1828-1910) Russian writer Source: On Life and Essays on Religion
Mom Found ‘Guilty’ By Court After Refusing TSA Pat Down On Daughter
Mom Found ‘Guilty’ By Court After Refusing TSA Pat Down On Daughter.
Woman put on probation for standing up to security theater procedures
By Steve Watson VIDEO
October 25, 2012 “InfoWars“ — A woman who stood up to TSA screeners and refused to allow them to grope her or her 14 year old daughter has been found guilty of “disorderly conduct” and sentenced to one year of probation by a court in Tennessee.
DIV.wnSlideshowCanvas > DIV.wn-share-pane {
DISPLAY: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .addthis_toolbox A {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 2px; PADDING-RIGHT: 2px; CLEAR: none; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
.WNWidgetsContainer IMG {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px !important; PADDING-LEFT: 0px !important; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px !important; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; PADDING-TOP: 0px !important; -moz-box-shadow: none; -webkit-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .clear {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .pager {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container DIV {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container UL {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container LI {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container SPAN {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container IMG {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container A {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .pager A {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .pager DIV {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .pager .page-numbers {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .pager .page-numbers LI {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .pager .page-numbers A {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px !important; CLEAR: none
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container IMG.thumb {
MARGIN-TOP: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px
}
#WNStoryHeader .wn-gallery .video-page-container UL LI SPAN {
PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1em; PADDING-TOP: 3px
}
#WNStoryHeader DIV.wn-gallery DIV.pager UL.page-numbers {
MARGIN: 0px auto
}
.wn-widget-headline {
BORDER-BOTTOM: #dadada 1px solid; POSITION: relative; BORDER-LEFT: #dadada 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: “Lucida Grande”,”Lucida Sans Unicode”,”Lucida Sans”,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: #dadada 1px solid; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-RIGHT: #dadada 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
.wn-widget-infopane {
BORDER-BOTTOM: #dadada 1px solid; POSITION: relative; BORDER-LEFT: #dadada 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: “Lucida Grande”,”Lucida Sans Unicode”,”Lucida Sans”,Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12px; BORDER-TOP: #dadada 1px solid; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-RIGHT: #dadada 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
.wn-widget-headline-title {
POSITION: absolute; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden; TOP: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; LEFT: 6px
}
.wn-widget-headline-time {
POSITION: absolute; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; OVERFLOW: hidden; TOP: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; LEFT: 6px
}
.wn-widget-headline-time {
TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; WIDTH: 47px
}
.wn-widget-infopane DIV {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px !important; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px !important; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px !important; PADDING-TOP: 0px !important
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-image {
POSITION: absolute; TEXT-ALIGN: left
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-textinfo {
POSITION: absolute; TEXT-ALIGN: left
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-image DIV {
TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000; COLOR: #fff; FONT-SIZE: 14px
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-title {
OVERFLOW: hidden
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-summary {
OVERFLOW: hidden
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-image {
OVERFLOW: hidden
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-title {
TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase
}
.wn-widget-infopane .wn-widget-infopane-time {
VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom
}
–>
WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports
Back in July 2011, Andrea Fornella Abbott of Clarksville, was arrested by Nashville airport authorities for expressing outrage at the TSA procedures.
A police report stated that Abbott would not allow her daughter to be “touched inappropriately” or have her “crotch grabbed”. Abbott also refused to submit to a full body scan, saying that she did not want her or her daughters’ naked bodies revealed by the scanner.
The report noted that she attempted to take cell phone video of the incident but was prevented from doing so by the TSA screeners.
When police were called to the scene, Abbott reportedly cursed at them and referred to the TSA screeners as pedophiles, leading to her arrest.
The Associated Press reports that the prosecution argued that Abbott’s behavior “prevented others from carrying out their lawful activities,” and held up two security lines for thirty minutes.
“You can speak your mind, but you can’t do it in an illegal manner,’ said Assistant District Attorney Megan King, adding “What the defendant did was a crime.”
The defense argued that Abbot was exercising her right to free speech. “Telling a police officer your opinion, even in strong language, to me that’s a First Amendment right,” Abbot’s attorney Brent Horst told reporters.
Abbott herself admitted that she may have cursed at police officers, but considered the exchange to be a “normal conversation” regarding the inappropriate nature of pat-downs on children.
Horst presented surveillance video of the incident, and claimed that Abbot was the one being yelled at by police. Although the video had no audio, it showed that other passengers were walking around Abbot and the police officers, and that security lines were still moving.
“It’s clear from the video … she wasn’t preventing anything,” Horst said. In closing arguments the attorney stated “Since 9/11, we’re losing a lot of freedom, and we have to draw the line somewhere,” before praising Abbot for standing on principle.
As we have documented, people who opt out of body scanners or those who simply fail to display the proper level of obedience to TSA screeners are routinely subjected to punishment by means of invasive grope downs or other forms of retaliation.
Journalists who are critical of the TSA have also been singled out for retribution.
The TSA is also operating bizarre obedience training programs, including the ridiculous “all stop” policy where travelers are ordered to freeze on the spot for no reason whatsoever. Again, the TSA has admitted that travelers are not mandated to comply with these bizarre displays of security theater.
The TSA has characterized people who do not fully comply with airport screening procedures, no matter how bizarre or invasive, as “domestic extremists.”
The verdict in Andrea Fornella Abbott’s case sets a dangerous precedent along the lines of First amendment rights not being applicable at security checkpoints. The verdict essentially paves the way for criminally punishing anyone who questions TSA procedures, no matter how bizarre they are.
This article was originally posted atInfoWars –
Martin: Texas prison system could use real reform
Martin: Texas prison system could use real reform.
Some lines from there:
Martin: Texas prison system could use real reform
- By Steve J. Martin
As the 83rd regular session of the Texas Legislature approaches, Texas prisons are filled to the brim, and I am reminded of William Faulkner’s prescient words in “Requiem for a Nun” about an African-American unjustly accused of murder: The past is never dead. It’s not even past. In 1990 and 2000, I penned Statesman commentary pieces on the rates of incarceration in Texas, particularly for African-American males. Fast-forward another decade and I find myself tilting at the same windmill. …
“I Am Ready To Go To Prison” : Information Clearing House: ICH
“I Am Ready To Go To Prison” : Information Clearing House: ICH.w
Yesterday I published the article about Leah Lynn Plante…(reblogged from deafinprison.wordpress.com) I am glad that great names put this casus!
By Will Potter
|
October 11, 2012 “Information Clearing House” – Today (October 10, 2012) – Leah Plante will again appear before a federal grand jury in Seattle, Washington, for the third time, and refuse to testify about her political beliefs and political associations. It is likely that she will be imprisoned for her principled stance against what she calls a witch hunt against local anarchists.
The grand jury is investigating anarchists in the Northwest, following FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force raids in search of “anarchist literature.” Two other anarchists, Matthew Kyle Duran and Katherine Olejnik,have already been imprisoned for refusing to cooperate.
Plante wrote a powerful statement to her friends and supporters in preparation for today’s hearing. Here is an excerpt:
On the morning of July 25th, 2012, my life was turned upside down in a matter of hours. FBI agents from around Washington and Oregon and Joint Terrorism Task Force agents from Washington busted down the front door of my house with a battering ram, handcuffed my house mates and me at gunpoint, and held us hostage in our backyard while they read us a search warrant and ransacked our home. They said it was in connection to May Day vandalism that occurred in Seattle, Washington earlier this year.
However, we suspected that this was not really about broken windows. As if they had taken pointers from Orwell’s 1984, they took books, artwork and other various literature as “evidence” as well as many other personal belongings even though they seemed to know that nobody there was even in Seattle on May Day. While we know that knowledge is powerful, we suspected that nobody used rolled up copies of the Stumptown Wobbly to commit property damage. We saw this for what it was. They are trying to investigate anarchists and persecute them for their beliefs. This is a fishing expedition. This is a witch hunt. Since then, thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request, we have learned that this Grand jury was convened on March 2nd, 2012, two months before the May Day vandalism even took place…
I do not look forward to what inevitably awaits me today, but I accept it. I ask that people continue to support us throughout this process by writing us letters, sending us books, donating and spreading awareness.I cannot express in words how grateful I am to all those who have shown us support and solidarity, especially our friends, partners and loved ones. We will all get through this together. I know I am a broken record with the following sentiment, but I feel like it’s worth repeating. They want us to feel isolated, alone and scared. I know that even though Kteeo has been held in what is essentially solitary confinement, she does not feel alone. I know that Matt does not feel alone. I know that I will not feel alone. When they try to mercilessly gut communities, we do not scatter, we grow stronger, we thrive. I view this State repression like this: The State thinks it is a black hole that can destroy whatever it wants. In reality, it is much more like a stellar nursery, wherein it unintentionally creates new, strong anarchist stars.
My convictions are unwavering and will not be shaken by their harassment. Today is October 10th, 2012 and I am ready to go to prison.
You can watch Leah’s statement here: – Learn how you can help.
You can support Leah by sending her letters to:
Leah-Lynne Plante
#42611-086
FDC SeaTac
PO Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198
And check out her web journal from prison at www.freeleah.org
My Blog Inprisonedwomen.wordpress.com 
Recent Comments