'America's Got Talent' Deaf Singer Mandy Harvey

Deaf singer, Mandy Harvey inspires America's Got Talent judges and earns Golden Buzzer.

LOS ANGELES, California -- America's Got Talent 2017, Mandy Harvey, Deaf singer follows her dreams and earns a Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell with her original song "Try." The original video clip is already going viral in Deaf and Hard of Hearing community across the country and globe.

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In the clip, which aired on Tuesday night’s episode of the show, Mandy Harvey, a contestant, spoke through a sign language interpreter to one of the show’s judges, Simon Cowell, and described becoming Deaf in her late teens because of complications from a health issue.

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“After I lost my hearing, I gave up,” she said. “But I want to do more with my life than just give up.” She explained that after a period of not performing, she learned how to sing again by using tools such as “visual tuners”, and added that she performs without wearing shoes so she can feel a song’s beat through floor vibrations.

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She then broke into a song that she wrote, “Try.” The judges and some audience members appeared visibly shocked by her lucid notes; some could be seen wiping away tears. At the end of the clip, Mr. Cowell hit a golden buzzer, sending Ms. Harvey to the show’s next round. Music swelled as Mr. Cowell, known for his grumpy demeanor, joined Ms. Harvey onstage to tell her that her performance “was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen and heard.”

The clip gained traction online after it aired, and was trending on YouTube on Thursday, where commenters showered Ms. Harvey with accolades. On Twitter, some users predicted her as the winner of the show. Celebrities including Tyra Banks chimed in:

Hey @MandyHarvey! You’ve got the world talking, and believing that yes, you can do anything! See you at the live shows, lady! #AGT --Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) June 7, 2017.

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Though the show may well make Ms. Harvey famous, it isn’t the first outlet to discover her talent. NBC Nightly News profiled the singer, who has released several albums, in 2015, as did the BBC, this spring. And she has performed in prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center.

“I sing to encourage other people; that’s what makes me happy,” she told the BBC in its feature on her. “My passion, the whole reason why I sing, is so that I can say, ‘Hey, this is what I’ve done; I really hope that I can encourage you to do the same.’”

SOURCE - The New York Times

Video Credits:
America's Got Talent
SuperbLyrics

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Presidential Debates - Trump Versus Clinton

Donald Trump Versus Hillary Clinton promo trailer, bring on the 2016 Presidential Debates live-video streaming this fall.

WASHINGTON -- The dates and venues have been announced for the 2016 Presidential debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The date for the Vice Presidential debate between Tim Kaine and Mike Pence has also been announced. Note the broadcast times and channels are identical for the Presidential debates and the Vice Presidential debate. Here's a promo trailer.

The 2016 Presidential debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be on September 26th, 2016 at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, October 9th, 2016 at Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO and October 19th, 2016 at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV.

The media will coverage on each debate will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, as well as all cable news channels including CNN, Fox News and MSNBC among others. SOURCE.

NEW YORK -- The First Presidential Debate: Presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton face off in the first of three scheduled presidential debates from Hofstra University. Moderated by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt.

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ST LOUIS -- The Second Presidential Debate: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump square off on Oct. 9, Sunday, 9 p.m. EST at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri in the second presidential debate of the 2016 election.

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LAS VEGAS -- The Third Presidential Debate: Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump.

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NBC News is a leading source of global news and information. Here you will find clips from NBC Nightly News, Meet The Press, and our original series Debunker, Flashback, Nerdwatch, and Show Me. Subscribe to our channel for news stories, technology, politics, health, entertainment, science, business, and exclusive NBC investigations. Check Out Fact-Checks and More: http://nbcnews.com/debate

View the candidates' polls, stances on key issues, campaign fundraising, political backgrounds. Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump - Candidates Comparison.

RealClearPolitics - Election 2016 - General Election: Trump vs. Clinton.

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Comcast Data Caps Make Life For Deaf Difficult

Deaf News: Comcast's data usage caps may be a hindrance to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

PHILADELPHIA -- It’s hard to find a Comcast Internet customer who doesn’t loathe the idea of the company’s forthcoming data usage limits, but usage caps may prove particularly painful to one group: the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Comcast’s data usage caps for its Internet customers will expand to eight more cities Tuesday. The caps limit users to 300GB of data monthly, with the alternative of facing fines or paying a steeper rate to get unlimited access.

And unlimited access is especially crucial for many in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community who use Video Relay Service, or VRS, to conduct phone calls. The calls are facilitated using a sign language interpreter on the other end - and that requires an Internet video feed.

“It’s really important to the Deaf community because it provides visual communication,” said Dan Hoffman, the American Sign Language and Deaf Studies program coordinator for Utah Valley University.

VRS does not use that much data - 5-10 megabits per second, according to Sorenson VRS, one of the leading VRS companies - but that adds up when you're also using your connection for normal browsing.

“Hearing people can call using their phones any time they want to…they don’t have any cap like that,” said Hoffman, who is Deaf and also a Comcast customer.

For Hoffman and others in the Deaf community, equal access means that if hearing people can communicate without time limits using telephones, that the Deaf community ought to be able to also. He said rather than pay Comcast's steeper rates for unlimited use, many Deaf people would simply transfer services if a cap were in place.

The Federal Communications Commission does have protections in place to ensure the adequate provision of telecommunications services to the Deaf community, but from a cursory read, it is unclear if capping VRS use is an Americans with Disabilities Act violation. The communications agency was not able to comment on the story.

SOURCE

SNL's Deaf Signing Skit "Childish & Insulting"

Marlee Matlin calls Saturday Night Live's Deaf Signing Skit "Childish & Insulting."

NEW YORK CITY -- Deaf actress Marlee Matlin is criticizing Saturday Night Live for the NBC show's recent Deaf signing sketch, which spoofed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's sign language interpreter Lydia Callis and her animated signing during the Hurricane Sandy press conferences as on Lydia Callis: Bloomberg's interpreter goes viral.

"I don't mind fun poked at me, as I poke back," the Dancing with the Stars alum tweeted Sunday. "But at the language, that millions use? It feels childish and insulting."

"Sign is not mime; it is a legit language," Matlin also tweeted. "Deaf people HAVE a sense of humor. Ever see me on Family Guy or Seinfeld? But faking signs that we use isn't the same... Read The Full Story .

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Super Bowl: NBC Discriminate Deaf Community

Outraged on the NBC-Super Bowl XLVI discrimination the Deaf community.

INDIANAPOLIS -- At Super Bowl XLVI, The NAD Miss Deaf America, Rachel Mazique performed the anthem America the Beautiful in American sign language, so very disappointed as Rachel Mazique wasn't on TV the national broadcast, which is not the first time the NBC has done it at major event. "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson rendition of the national anthem unsurprisingly finished her version clocked in at one minute, 34 second less time than Rachel Mazique's lengthy one minute, 54 second version of the song.

The National Association for the Deaf announced that the NAD Miss Deaf America, Rachel Mazique, will perform the national anthem and America the Beautiful in American sign language (ASL) at the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on February 5, 2012. The NAD in partnership with PepsiCo worked closely with the National Football League to ensure that America's songs would be delivered in ASL at Super Bowl. The NAD hopes that the national broadcast will include the signed performance. A video clip showed Rachel Mazique wasn't on TV.

Rachel Mazique unseen on television at Super Bowl.

Numerous Deaf people of community in the United States very disappointed with the NBC didn't show Rachel Mazique signing the National Anthem at Super Bowl as seen on video clip. Must be a more reason to hate it, not even camera was focused on her.

NBC didn't even try to get Rachel Mazique on TV. Is NBC anti-deaf? Is AG Bell, and HB 1367 has been agreement with the NBC to avoiding sign language performance on the national broadcast? The NAD and PepsiCo typically meaning of failing cooperation with the NBC/NFL as well. The Deaf community wonder what the NAD are working with? or an epic fail? Deaf people hopefully the NAD give an explanation why does Rachel Mazique isn't on TV after all.

UPATE: Statements from Ms. Rachel Mazique's Facebook Page. She was posted at FB:

"To my family, friends, fans, supporters: Thank you for rooting for me. I'm as disappointed as you are that American Sign Language gained no exposure. ASL was also not shown on the JumboTron inside the stadium as far as I know. I have poor quality videos of me signing...blurry...signs and face cut off at some points.. shaky film because my mom was being pushed around on the sidelines...not sure if they are worth posting.."

"I am so sorry you didn't get the chance to see me on TV and I thank you all for your support and excitement. I'm re-posting this from someone's comment on my status: "Post your videos! And I got this off someone else's status: Found this email address in case you are interested in writing NBC regarding Rachel Mazique not being shown in the pre-game: nbcsportshelp@nbcuni.com." Some are also tweeting to NBC. If enough people in the general public express their disappointment, next year's performer should get air time." As seen on Facebook: https://facebook.com/pages/Miss-Deaf-America-Ambassador-Program/.

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