Signs of the Times

A Bully in the Community: Mighty Mouth!
Signs of the Times P.S. It probably wouldn't matter if Mike lost his hearing ability because he'd be quick to say: "I want an implant!" No questions asked!
Language Tech Culture Wed, Jun 18 2008 hide this blog

Mighty Mouth: The Super Unhoo!
Signs of the Times I just saw a movie of Mighty Mouth, the super unhoo, strolling near Dog Canyon in the Sacramento Mountains. In this cartoon Mighty explains the difficulty of being a cartoon in a real world. He explains to the many illustrators that they should not worry how their cartoons turn out because they can always modify or change what they don't like about them as they draw...
Audism Art and Storytelling Tech Culture Wed, Jun 18 2008 hide this blog

ASL, Captioning, and the Puppetmaster.
Signs of the Times Hello!*ahh*Excuse me.*removing the plant in the way*Thank you.Okay, I'm here today because we have been discussing Closed Captioning.CC Closed Captioning, read my lips can? CLOSED CAPTIONING. CC.Perfect!You know those who speak and hear?Those who throw upon us the English language.You know Deaf people?Can they skillfully write in English?Yes, there are.In fact, many o...
Language Audism Tech Culture Mon, Jun 16 2008 hide this blog

Unhoo and the Rolling Hoos
Signs of the Times Testing... Testing...Testing One Two ThreeTesting... Testing...Testing One Two ThreeBa-Ba-Ba Bar-bara Ann...Ba-Ba-Black Sheep...Ba-Ba-Ba...Bah! Bah! Bah!That's the sound of rejection.Riding down the Alcan Highway, we're rolling onward towards the Last Frontier. Me sisters are playing make-believe and me folks are tuned in to the radio while I'm juggling thoughts in m...
Language Audism Art and Storytelling Culture Sun, Jun 15 2008 hide this blog

Powerless Bully Bully Bully...Bull$hiT
Signs of the Times Have you meet those bullies? The ones who are deaf and "logical". The smart fools who write great idioms and amazing ironies. The intellectual idiots who write comments to belittle those who have less than perfect English. Those Fulla-Bulla.The Boastful Unhoos.The ones, with brown smudges on their knows, who walk around the hearing world and scavenge for what is cu...
Language Audism Art and Storytelling Culture Fri, Jun 13 2008 hide this blog

Deaf Pillage and other dopamines
Signs of the Times Pay O. TayHey! Okay!*sipping on the tea**smoking from the pipe**offering you the smoke*Hours and Ours, Hours and Ours Remember Alice?Beautiful.Remember Rachel?Terrible.They gave her ASL.They gave her a T.V. (w/ no cc)Signing planted seed of smiles.Legendarily.Speaking granted need for smiles.Momentarily.Where are we?You and me.Walking through and through.Passing hoo. ...
Audism Art and Storytelling Culture Mon, Jun 09 2008 hide this blog

Swimming in the Sea of D
Signs of the Times The day they took us out of the ocean, they began their experiment. They transported us in trucks with small reservoirs. We sloshed and splashed the whole way to the laboratory. They then grabbed us by our arms and legs and carried us into the pool. We were kept in a large barren tank full of water. One end of the pool had a window and a camera.There were many of...
Art and Storytelling Sun, Jun 08 2008 hide this blog

Reach Hell? Chai? *cough*....and umm...Deafthatiam
Signs of the Times *DAMN!*(another psychadelic relic)I wanted to be hearing.I wasn't.Deafthatiam.I wanted to fit in.I couldn't.Deafthatiam.I wanted to belong.I didn't.Deafthatiam.I need to be heard.I haven't.Deafthatiam.They tell me things...They lead me on...They lie to me...I show them where.I show them how.I show them why.They want me to be like them.I Am NOT.Deafthatiam.Where are yo...
Art and Storytelling Wed, Jun 04 2008 hide this blog

A Cowboy named Audismo
Signs of the Times There was a cowboy named Audismo who spent his whole life on a saddle and did nothing other than the grazing and exploitation of his cattle. You see, this old dude was a leather-necked fellow, who hardly gave a damn about what you thought. He had to beef up his cattle, take them out on a prarie and let them tear up the natural growth on the land. It was not the cat...
Audism Art and Storytelling Mon, May 19 2008 hide this blog

Deaf Children ought to...
Signs of the Times ...wake up and see...There in the East is the morning sun,where fast is the run of that virgin shine.There in the West is the doing done,where slow is the fade of that ancient sign.The Darkness falls with a Moonrise. Sound is Light.The Spirit calls with a surprise.Love is Right."Child, look and me and feel my words. We all shine differently. Your star is there and t...
Art and Storytelling Culture Mon, May 19 2008 hide this blog

Barb DiGi, Experience and the Safety Net of ASL
Signs of the Times Thanks to Barb DiGiovanni for a wonderful presentation of her interview with her grandmother. Thank You!The value of Deaf people's experience and the Safety Net of ASL.All of us have experiences and stories to share in regards to the experiences we have with audism. Our experiences should be worth something to those who want to understand what is effective for deaf ...
Culture Fri, May 16 2008 hide this blog

The Present Era
Signs of the Times
Language Art and Storytelling Wed, May 14 2008 hide this blog

ASL Champ!: The Testimony of the Hoos.
Signs of the Times Two of my hoo friends ran up to me the other day with great news:" Jeff! Jeff! *waving hands* "I look across the street and notice my two good friends, Alwyne and Evan. They are hoos, yes, but signing hoos. They're a special kind of hoos because they are first of the heart before they are of the mind. I take that note as a criterion for who of hoos that are capable of...
Language Sun, May 11 2008 hide this blog

Papo This Papo That, Meet Deaf Papo!
Signs of the Times Jesus Antonio Velasquez de Navarrete*A Deaf child.Born in 1999 in Tucson, AZ.Both parents Mexican citizens.Neither of them speak or understand English.A doctor discovers Papo has hearing loss.A few months later:En meses mas andelante:A doctor says through a Spanish speaking interpreter;"He is a perfect candidate for an implant.""El es un candidato perfecto a un implan...
Art and Storytelling Education Tech Sat, May 10 2008 hide this blog

Your Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Signs of the Times Okay, in this post, I will share with you something I read in one of my favorite books on leadership. This is something that I feel all of us, whether hearing or deaf, should read and I hope you all will take the time to wholly digest this information.I've selected a few important notes from the book, Leadership: The Outward Bound Way, to share with you all.Please rea...
Language Wed, May 07 2008 hide this blog

Old News? FDA sues Advanced Biotics
Signs of the Times Maybe you all have already read about the FDA and Advanced Biotics but I didn't see this until this morning. I thought I'd kindly share it with you all.I think this is an interesting read as it deals with an industry that pays little respect to Deaf culture, American Sign Language and Deaf identity. If you've read it before and consider it "old news", then forgive m...
Language Tech Culture Tue, May 06 2008 hide this blog

Kurt Hahn and Deaf
Signs of the Times Now, before you go ahead and read what is below, I would like for you to be well aware that I am introducing you to a hearing man who has no cultural exposure to the Deaf. I will include below a quote of his that mentions an observation he made of a deaf student at the Aberdovey Outward Bound Sea School. in the U.K . I would also like for you to first remember, as I'...
Culture Tue, May 06 2008 hide this blog

Voice vs. Silent
Signs of the Times I shall write tonight about discrimination.Voice vs. SilentVoice and Silent go and apply for the same job. Silent has more experience and education than Voice. For the job interview, Silent requests for an interpreter and Voice opts not to.2 weeks later.Voice has a job and Silent is still without.What say you?Who reinforces this discrimination?Why do we allow it to ...
Culture Sun, May 04 2008 hide this blog

Letter to Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf...
Signs of the Times Geoffrey A. Robertson309 Redla StreetPrescott, AZ 86301May 1, 2008Alexander Graham Bell Associationfor the Deaf and Hard of Hearing3417 Volta Place, NWWashington, DC 20007Attention to the Board of Directors:President - Karen Youdelman, Ed.D. (OH)President-Elect & Treasurer - John R. "Jay" Wyant (OH)Vice President - Steven R. Rech, J.D. (TX)Vice President - Robert ...
Culture Thu, May 01 2008 hide this blog

*Flicking Eight*
Signs of the Times *Flicking Eight*It's '08?What a year to state!*Flicking Eight*Celebrate?They desecrate!*Flicking Eight*This Our Plate?Let's all congregate!*Flicking Eight*Call it fate?Can't we all relate!*Flicking Eight*It's '08.What a year to date!*Flicking Eight*It is Great!You know Flicking Eight?Perhaps you do?May it be true!Celebrate ASL!
Language Art and Storytelling Wed, Apr 30 2008 hide this blog

The Deaf Implants
Signs of the Times Just what is a Deaf Implant?How does it work?Is it 100% successful?Before I elaborate on this, allow me to mention a few things here. It is true, in general, the culturally Deaf have the tendency to congregate near a Deaf community, Deaf school, or nearby where there are opportunities for them to thrive as members of society.These communties provide us with a sense of...
Language Culture Tue, Apr 29 2008 hide this blog

Deafreed
Signs of the Times Audism,I'm sick and tired of the way you have treated us.You laugh when the Deaf resort to some spit and cuss.I've had enough and I'm sure everyone else certainly agrees.Your demands and expectations, we will no longer choose to please.I'll never forgive you for the pain you started.You treat us like we're really dumb and retarded.I was born into this creation and wit...
Audism Art and Storytelling Culture Sun, Apr 27 2008 hide this blog

Tree #258
Signs of the Times Never doubt the wisdom of a tree,for they are oft much older than thee.Especially Tree #258, which helps us all relate:Truth: the body of real things, events, and facts.D is the 4th letter of the alphabet.There are 4 things we cannot live without; Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.There are 4 directions to travel; North, South, East and West.There are 4 corners at the cente...
Art and Storytelling Culture Sat, Apr 26 2008 hide this blog

ImplantRead
Signs of the Times Ladies and Gentlemen,Boys and Girls,Friends of DeafRead,I would like to dedicate the following song to all our friends who can truly appreciate the hearing world. It's been a wonderful pleasure having them visit DeafRead but now it is time to say "Farewell".They've places to go,They've things to do,They've people to show,how they can hoo.May your travels be safe and f...
Art and Storytelling Tech Thu, Apr 24 2008 hide this blog

Hearing Parents need to...
Signs of the Times Deaf kids with the most success in life are the ones who can come home to Moms and Dads that use American Sign Language. These successes are not measured by the type of education they receive, their speaking or lipreading ability, or even the amount of money they earn but more specifically, by the quality of their relationships with their parents.Yea! If a child can't...
Language Tech Culture Wed, Apr 23 2008 hide this blog

Who is Deaf?
Signs of the Times One warm and sunny Spring afternoon...High above the Chasm of Nature, an eagle gracefully soars,over coyote dreams and roadrunner dashes.Deep inside the Gorge of Being, an unforgiving rapid roars,over herons wings and cliff swallow flashes.There are cumulonimbus all around us,calling out for thunderheads to stir the dust.The juniper trees begin to sway and fuss,warnin...
Art and Storytelling Culture Tue, Apr 22 2008 hide this blog

Native American Wisdom
Signs of the Times As I have mentioned in previous posts, there are certain similarities between the sentiments the Native Americans had towards the whites as the Deaf have towards the hearing. These similar sentiments can be found in the following quotes. Please make note, before you toot your horn, that not all Deaf people may feel this way.Perhaps it's just those of us who haven't b...
Culture Mon, Apr 21 2008 hide this blog

"Just say 'No' to Deaf Culture"
Signs of the Times I sat by the fire last night listening to stories from other children. Each one sharing a great presence in the circle. The passing of stories, the sharing of lives and the sense of togetherness was contagious, however, I noticed in the corner of my eye, a face that stood just on the edge of the fire's light and warmth. I saw a curious child with bright eyes watchi...
Language Art and Storytelling Culture Sun, Apr 20 2008 hide this blog

His Name Was Happy
Signs of the Times Irony Irony IronyIron Knee Iron Knee Iron Knee.Only to impress those well dressed.*brushing the dandruff off your shoulder*Upon the pedestal, A Big Letter V.Vuh Vuh VuhVee Vee VeeCan't you see that Big Letter V?Failed.She have ready voice!WooHOO A BIG WOW!A Jimmy Jimmy POW!Now, Now, Now,...Shall we stroll to meet a troll that lives beyond the knoll?Himself what?Grunt!...
Language Art and Storytelling Tech Fri, Apr 18 2008 hide this blog

Tell me....
Signs of the Times Mama told me it was only for the best.Daddy didn't know a thing about the rest.I've been manipulated to the bone and trained to read every little tone.My speech is clear they tell me. They say its really good yet why do all the people look at me funny whenever I use my voice?Why do they not understand my speech when all of the therapists say its really good?Can someb...
Language Art and Storytelling Sun, Apr 13 2008 hide this blog

One Deaf
Signs of the Times Dinner is served. Come and get it!Hands and faces are washed before the routine communal gathering. One by one we take our places around the perimeter of a rectangular slab of finely polished oak held upright by four smoothly carved legs that appeared to be talons gripping a ball. We look left and right to see that we are in synch with the picture of hooness. A pr...
Art and Storytelling Sat, Apr 12 2008 hide this blog

"Talk about.."
Signs of the Times I do fear the sneer of those who "hear".Oh my dear, what is IT that we have here?"Talk about the ASL deaf community.. la. la. la."What does that sound like? I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but is there something wrong with the ASL Deaf Community?I don't think there is anything wrong with the ASL Deaf Community.I do think your tone is wrong and I don't think you unde...
Language Audism Art and Storytelling Tech Thu, Apr 10 2008 hide this blog

KODA Boy!
Signs of the Times Chisos Jack, 17 months old, is a KODA with quite a personality."hey" *he shakes his wrist waving his hand up and down*"hey" *he shakes his wrist waving his hand up and down*"outside." *he signs and points through the window*I respond to him by signing back:"You want outside?"He nods and shakes his wrist and waves his hand once more.I sign again:"Your shoes where?" I...
Language Sun, Apr 06 2008 hide this blog

Open Minds and Closed Hearts
Signs of the Times Some of you may feel that I write about the same old same old and I wouldn't disagree with you. It does get old and tiring to see the same idea or the same thing over and over yet persistence does pay off. You can't tear down a brick wall with just the one smash of a sledgehammer. You have to hit it again and again and again.Over and Over.Again and Again.Until you...
Sun, Apr 06 2008 hide this blog

Dear Mister Bell,
Signs of the Times Dear Mister Bell,I write to you with much dismay and find it to be terribly unfortunate that this letter has come to you much too late. However, despite its tardiness, I will continue to write it with hopes that you and yours will accept the Truth and put an end to the misunderstanding between the hearing and the deaf.You see, you say it is possible to assimilate a d...
Culture Thu, Apr 03 2008 hide this blog

A.G. Bell was a white man too.
Signs of the Times I often notice parallels in the relationships between white man/native americans and hearing/deaf. It is not hard to see the similarities between the two relationships. White man established indian schools where the indians had to lose their native names for white ones, where they had to abandon all they had been taught for something that was "better", and where the...
Sat, Feb 09 2008 hide this blog

Does somebody wake you up in the middle of the night...
Signs of the Times Does somebody wake you up in the middle of the night because they hear a strange noise?Does somebody walk away from you in the middle of your story to answer to their toys?Does somebody laugh and not explain why they laugh?Does somebody think you should read lips well in Math?Does somebody talk privately in front of you thinking you don't know?Does somebody treat you ...
Language Culture Sun, Feb 03 2008 hide this blog

fk that
Signs of the Times Fix me.Tell me why they don't believe me when I say I'm deaf.Forget Me.I use my hands, face and body to fully understand and be what I am.Fry me.I don't even know who that is.Fill Me.I want nothing but the truth.Fix me.Tell me why they won't let me do what I need to. Fk Me.They'll only see what only they may see.Who? Hoo.True Who?The Deaf can connect with many.They ar...
Language Audism Art and Storytelling Culture Thu, Jan 31 2008 hide this blog

Clueless Hooness
Signs of the Times We all know that having any level of hearing loss, whether hard of hearing or deaf, that the discrimination is constant. This is credited to the fact that hearing people cannot fathom how certain things are accomplished when sound is absent. You see, the hearing mind is brought up to think that sound acquisition is necessary to accomplish certain things for certain jo...
Audism Art and Storytelling Tech Mon, Jan 28 2008 hide this blog

The Power of Being
Signs of the Times Imagine you're in a circle of 1000 people and each person represents their own spoken language from their own part of the world. These people have gathered to discuss the global issues that are affecting our planet. Imagine that there are no interpreters or translators present to faciliate in this gathering. The task of conveying the group's mission is a difficult one...
Audism Sun, Jan 20 2008 hide this blog

Yesterday...
Signs of the Times The Deaf will always be Deaf no matter how much you try to work it or change it or fix it or whatever-the-heck you do with it and the hearing will always want to make something that is, what it isn't. This story is the same one from Milan 1880 and it will always be the same......that is,... ...unless people begin to accept the blessing of a Deaf child....unless people...
Language Audism Art and Storytelling Education Tech Fri, Jan 18 2008 hide this blog

The "IF" you missed
Signs of the Times Good Morning Everybody, Good Day DeafRead,When I read the blogpost titled "If", I was very much appalled by the pompous attitude and the air of superiority which it contained. While this woman may enjoy her cochlear implants to an extent that makes her feel so much a part of the hearing world and totally unable to comprehend the human existence without sound, I felt h...
Language Culture Thu, Jan 17 2008 hide this blog

The Economy of Audism
Signs of the Times Do away with ASL.Its hearing aids we sell.Continued arroganceThe endless ignorancePraise praise praiseyay! yay! yay!whoa whoa whoalielielieDo away with state schoolsJust label all them foolsHearing NationPatronizationClap! Clap! Clap!hey hey heyyou you youSly.Sly.Sly.Take away the Deaf teachersReplace with audist preachersLost aspectDisrespectnay nay nayyo yo yofor? f...
Art and Storytelling Wed, Jan 16 2008 hide this blog

Hoo Hoo Lube
Signs of the Times Has it been too long since you last checked your Hoo machine?Have you grown since your last inspection and need another?Did you have an accident and need some serious repair?Is your machine currently outdated by newer and better technology?If you've answered "YES" to any of the above questions, then you've got a friend in us.At Hoo Hoo Lube, we treat you right!Our exp...
Tue, Jan 15 2008 hide this blog Moved from DeafRead Extra

I NEED an interpreter!
Signs of the Times As a deaf person who grew up speaking and lip-reading, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about hearing people and their ideals for deaf children. These ideals might be reasonable for the child with minimal hearing loss where oralism could be deemed effective in the long run, however, I know that the habit of denying misunderstanding comes in place when pride k...
Art and Storytelling Culture Fri, Jan 11 2008 hide this blog

What I Got From Where I Came
Signs of the Times My Grandparents lived in the house that my Granddad was born in. It was June 24th, 1912 when he was born and he died on January 16th, 2006 in the very same room. The history of my family is seen in every room and the scent of the house is uniquely aromatic due to pipe tobacco.A big front porch with a swing on its end and a real doorbell with a turnkey that rattles the...
Thu, Jan 10 2008 hide this blog Moved from DeafRead Extra

The Holidays of ASL
Signs of the Times When d becomes a D,they begin to clearly see,the Holidays of ASL.Where is Ma and Pa?Nobody really knows.We are here and they are far.T'is the way it goes.When d becomes a D,Their wings are surely freeon Holidays of ASL.The yesterdays have gone and past.Such cloudy days they were.Today is here with the morrow fast.A voice has ceased to slur.When d becomes a D,the child...
Art and Storytelling Wed, Jan 09 2008 hide this blog

Oral School Reunions
Signs of the Times Let us walk through the grounds of the Barke School for the Deaf.bark! bark! bark!Whoop, there it is!This school has provided oral training and speech therapy for deaf pupils for over 140 years.They enforce a no signing policy and encourage students to communicate solely using verbal means."Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 20th year reunion of the Barke School's c...
Language Education Sun, Jan 06 2008 hide this blog

How come you don't have one?
Signs of the Times They usually ask me the following questions:"I think there is some kind of device they can give you to help you hear. Would you want to try that?""They got this thing that you get with surgery that helps you hear. Why don't you get one of those, man?""I would expect there to be something to fix hearing loss since they've made such tremendous accomplishments in technol...
Audism Art and Storytelling Education Tech Culture Sat, Jan 05 2008 hide this blog

ASL: It's everything you need to see.
Signs of the Times An Implanted Child:Specialists appointments.Follow-up appointments.Audio Visual Training.Speech Therapy.Parts Replacement.Batteries.Follow-up surgery.Implant Removal.Psychological Evaluations.Clinical support.Prescription Drugs.Chemical Dependency Treatment.Hey, Somebody Pays.A Deaf Child Accepted = PRICELE$$
Art and Storytelling Fri, Jan 04 2008 hide this blog