Studying Ewe Deaf
Denver – Today begins the second installment of my 3-part series regarding DeafRead’s ambiguously vague guidelines. In doing my research, I came across a fascinating group of people, called, “The Ewe.” (click the link to learn more) The Ewe live in and around Nigeria, and have a fascinating culture that perhaps some of you might find relates to Deaf culture in general. And this applies quite well to DeafRead itself, too. So, let’s get to the nitty-gritty details of my research’s findings.
First, the most obvious and shocking finding:
Ya’ll are suckers!
*laughs*
Anyway, I already do enough research reading and writing in school. Heck, I pay seriously good money to have the right to engage in academic research, so I’m not about to engage in “academic discourse” by conducting research online. There is a reason why many people are not accepted into graduate or doctorate programs, you know?
In fact, you can read my previous article, “Are Blogs Academic Journals?” by clicking the link. This might be particularly interesting to Paula from HearingExchange.com, and many of you who are somewhat new to DeafRead itself.
Onwards!
Snowboarding (at Monarch Ski area – the best unknown ski area outside of Colorado) yesterday was awesome! Fresh and virginal powder was everywhere, and there were so few people there yesterday that I did not once have to wait in line at the chairlifts. Perfect! I guess the only drawback was the fact it was so cold early in the morning as the mercury dipped to nearly -5 F before warming up to zero sometime near noon.
But, I want to share an embarrassing episode that happened to me yesterday. I had just come off a steep, black diamond run (double black diamonds are the hardest) and was covered in snow after mis-timing a mogul, flying high into air and noticing Santa Fe, New Mexico from my vantage point, and then rolling down the mountain, literally. In fact, as I tumbled repeatedly over moguls that were not really moguls but huge “puffs” of snow, I began singing a world-famous song whilst I waited to come to a stop.
Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
Well, it happens to the best of us. But that’s not the embarrassing moment I had: after I finished that run, I was gliding towards a flat part of the the same run near the mid-mountain chairlift (the advanced lift), when I saw a hot chick with hot pink lips and in hot pink and “tight” pants.
And of course, it reminded me of the Pink Crowd here at Paotie’s Green Couch, and I made a mental note to myself to remind you readers of the hot chick and her “tight” pants and pink lips. She was hot! And pink!
She made me crash, too! Well, I crash lots and see no shame in crashing, although I confess that crashing on flat areas for a good snowboarder can be quite embarrassing. So, I crashed and ate a mouthful of snow on a flat part of the mountain. For once, I had my ego shoved so far up my ass that I was unsure what I was to do next.
As she snowboarded past me, she asked, “Are you okay?” I nodded and dusted myself off. She asked me something again, but I confess that when people have runny noses (which is common on the ski slopes), it can be rather distracting. Fortunately, she wiped her nose and then my fantasy of the hot chick with hot pink lips and pants returned to my bruised skull as she continued on down the mountain.
*rubs his neck*
But the day went swimmingly well and I had a blast shredding the mountain. In fact, I was hoping a giant blizzard would drop 10 feet of snow over the area whilst I was there so I would have a perfectly good excuse for not returning home – hot pink lips on hot pink chicks wearing “tight” hot, pink pants.
Oh well!
Paotie’s PostScript: I came home late last night and discovered that the Pink Crowd had continued the “Pinking” of Paotie. Words like, “Pinky Smacky,” “licking my juicy lips,” and “titillating” were used.
Shame on you people!
HaHa! Besides, I blame YOU, the Pink Crowd for my embarrassing moment with the hot chick with the hot lips wearing “tight” hot pink pants!
Okie dokie .. a couple of quick notes:
JJ Puorro is now my (only) favorite editor of DeafRead. The man would literally drive 10-12 hours to snowboard with Paotie. Awesome! Buy the man a beer, Paotie!
Also, in my hurry yesterday morning, I overlooked an additional blogger, Ambling Rambler, as a suggestion for you readers to check out. Ambling Rambler is a blogger with a cochlear implant who also lives in New Zealand, where there are even more hot chicks with hot pink lips who wear “tight” pink pants. So, when you get a chance, check that blog out.
Click here to see the Ambling Rambler‘s web site.
Finally, I want to chip in my two cents regarding the Pepsi commercial, AGBell Foundation, and the chorus of idiots orgasming over AGBell’s protest of the commercial. First, the commercial engages in generalizations – something ALL Deaf people abhor, except of course, when it makes Deaf people feel good about themselves.
Secondly, the Pepsi commercial will tell hearing people all over the world the all-important and unknown truth about us Deaf people: we ALL speak in subtitles and drive around neighborhoods and honk randomly at night because .. ALL Deaf people speak in subtitles.
Seriously, I think too many people are raising too much of a fuss over a stupid commercial that will in the end, generate more profits for Pepsi – not promote Deaf culture. Deaf porn will promote Deaf culture perfectly well, and I intend to ensure that Deaf porn promotes Deaf culture.
Why? Because Deaf porn does the same thing as the Pepsi commercial: teaches hearing people that ALL Deaf people speak in subtitles and think in cartoon balloons.
So, the moral for today? Be careful for what you wish for.
Okay! I’ve got to go, but I hope you all have a terrific Friday!
And remember ..
Be good .. or be good at it.
Paotie
Sphere: Related Content
*Laughin*
Knock, knock…
Who’s there?
Ewe
Ewe who?
YOU ROCK~
*laughs*
Who, me or ewe?
Noo .. YOU ROCK!
Paotie
Paotie, thanks for the article link. I read it and what stood out most to me was this line, “Why people feel threatened by my blogs reveals more about themselves than it does about me. ” This can be expanded to include not just our blogs, but our comments and also any organizations we belong to. The current refrain at DeafRead blogs about AG Bell and “countering” AG Bell borders on ludicrous. Is AG Bell or hearing parents working to counter NAD? AG Bell’s announcement on the Pepsi ad was a stand to say that not all deaf people belong to one community, a notion that I encounter with regularity. I don’t blame them for speaking up, after all, isn’t that what they’re about, speaking?
From what I’m reading, it appears that many bloggers are just looking for an argument, have no interest in engaging in reasonable dialogue and aren’t using their energy to promote positive outcomes. Maybe they think that pushing ASL and/or bilingualism on parents is a positive outcome but in actuality, they’re driving parents away from the very culture they feel is or should be native.
Ahem, Paula. You should see my recent video blog. Also, read the latest comments over there, too.
*whistling Dixie*
Paula ..
I agree. I think too many people simply react and not think things clearly. Pepsi has the most to gain from any “controversies,” and I seriously doubt Pepsi gives a rat’s ass about Deaf culture, or even Deaf people.
And I find it quite amusing that people claim AG Bell Foundation “bans” ASL. Stupid. AG Bell Foundation is an OPTION, same as a CI, a walking cane for the blind and even an interpreter for the Deaf. If parents want to send their kid to AG Bell Foundation, that’s their choice to not focus on ASL – AG Bell Foundation DOES NOT BAN ASL.
Besides, that’s why I don’t really do “discourse” in terms of academic or scholarly or even political terms. I write what I see – nothing more or less. If people don’t like it, that’s fine. If they do, that’s fine, too.
And yes, your final point is one that MANY of us have been telling some in Deaf quarters – that they tend to drive hearing parents away from Deaf culture with their freakishly stupid orgasms that invariably result after a fly lands in their Deaf soup.
Paotie
Pink, pink, pink, pink, pink… hahahahaha… we did a good job zapping your mind or you’d not notice the pink lady, huh? ;o)
Pffft about Pepsi commercial… I am sorry that some people took it too personally. However, I wonder if it would make hearing viewers to question themselves about us. I just hope that they’d see it just a good commercial for a good laugh, like other commercials for good laughs, nothing more.
Yes, some deaf bloggers are stupidly waging an all-out war against AGB; however, I *do* take issue with AGB’s public statement toward PepsiCo and its urging toward members that they contact PepsiCo to interject their two-cents. Best case scenario would’ve been for the organization to either smirk at the commercial or alter their statement so that they don’t come off as being petty beings. *That* is why some bloggers have raised this issue — not all of them, though.
Be sure to weed out the reasonable from the unreasonable.
Right.
“Some” bloggers have raised the issue. Very good, and I appreciate that point.
Generalizations within Deaf culture are a no-no, unless of course, it’s all good and positive towards Deaf people. But make a negative generalization about the Deaf, and people go bonkers.
Hypocritical to say the least.
Paotie
That brings me to the point… I remember a few years ago (or is it many years ago? I don’t remember which) some poeple took an issue with SuperBowl’s beer commercials which made men look idiots, even though we all knew it was not true (well, maybe it was true in some instances… with a tongue in my mouth) but the point is “generalizations”.
Meow! Meow! Meow!
Pinky Smacky? Am I one of the pinky troublemakers? Betcha.
You’ve made my heart throbbing!
Today is Feb 1st and it’s the heart awareness month. You fool!
you sucker……hee, hee, hee…..
Welcome back to Paotieland, Mike Mc C.! You did good. You shunned from the pinky world.
BTW, really, AG Bell foundation does *NOT* ban ASL? I want to see the substantial source.
The chaos in DR about the commerical does not bother me at all…..all I am saying is “W”.
Glad I listen to you.
White Ghost ..
Let me ask you: where does it say on AG Bell Foundation’s web site that they specifically “ban” ASL?
Troublemaker you!
Paotie
Actually there is NOTHING in AGBell’s site that “BANS” ASL. Ugh. Of course, AGBell encourages speaking… nothing wrong with it. Same as DBC encourages signing… nothing wrong with it. It is how the groups use publicity, to attract people, not to repeal them. It is HOW people react and interpret the information.
Not only does AGB not ban sign, but Dr. Bell himself signed. GASP! Oh my! Could it be? He made a special glove for a child to help him utilize a different finger alphabet (he was blind, also, I believe). While he endorsed and helped deaf individuals learn to speak because his wife and mother had shown him that it was possible and could be very normal, he also went on the record as saying that children should not be sequestered away from their families in boarding schools, but that they should be in the bosom of their family (no, Paotie, not a pink bosom, just metaphorical here) and that there were many ways to communicate and integrate more into society. How do you think he spoke with Helen? It’s not like she had a CI!
Oh well, it’s more fun for some people to malign a dead guy. So what if all those geneticists of today are the direct descendants of those evil “eugenicists” and that many famous and admirable people were eugenicists. Today a geneticist might tell you the same truth: two deaf individuals are more likely to give birth to a deaf baby than two hearing people. So what? It’s just statistics. If people hang out with the same people all the time they will marry those people, and that’s why Jewish kids are counseled prior to marriage about their genetic makeup (it’s the law in Israel). I guess some people would say that they’re being “like Hitler.” Well that would be pretty weird, wouldn’t it? It’s a slippery slope argument. Studying genetics doesn’t make one like Hitler any more than walking goose-step does.
Love your stuff Paotie. Wish I could have been on the slopes, too.
I googled the Monarch Ski area and find it is the small town.
My family owned our “2nd” home, San Moritz condo in Crested Butte when I was young. My family sold in years ago. We used to ski. Loved it alot.
Here it is:
http://www.sanmoritzcondos.com
Anyway, I googled AG Bell foundation and they did *NOT say that they banned the ASL. Sounds to me is that the AG Bell lets AVT to decide whether they prefer to use ASL or not. It’s up to them……that is what I think. Dunno…..whatever.
Off the point….very phunny. It got this from Seek Geo’s blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9_amg-Aos4&feature=related
Oh, I’d love to buy myself a Hawaii chair!!!!
Hah!
I won’t tell you what I thought when I saw the Hawaii chair!
Paotie
Yeah, a vivid imagination, huh?
What!?!?
Well, I was thinking of a tummy-ache.
What were YOU thinking?
HaHa! I like your mind, Karen!
Paotie
haha.. I can’t stop laughing watching this video over and over. Who would actually buy it ?!
Hey White Ghost, oh no don’t need to apologize, he he! I love to share!
Imagine if I sit on that chair while vlogging? Hmmm
-SG
Maybe it will be a BAD idea.. don’t want to give Paotie a “tummy ache”
-SG
I think we should call the chair “A Alka Seltzer Chair”
Don’t think it will be selling better and get some profits.
Seek Geo — Thanks and Hugs.
Actually to be honest, my back has been bothering me all day today and just looking at the chair just makes me imagine twising my waist to get the knicks out of my back… might be comfortable.
No, I rarely have back problems… just hit one today and I dunno why.
Karen Mayes,
Aw, I’m sorry about your back. Have you figure how it was caused? Maybe slept in wrong way last night or something since you rarely have back problems?
Take it easy and I hope the pain will goes away in no time.
-SG
Oh, Geo, it will go away… I was lifting and moving a few boxes in the closets yesterday so I guess it must have happened. Well, I am approaching 43 years old and I am already thinking of jogging outside… My mind is too young for my body’s aging, so I have to exercise more. I have a few DVD’s of yoga so I should do them after my kids leave for school in the mornings to keep my body flexible…
That chair is WEIRD! Is it the real thing or a joke? I’m thinking it makes you do the hula better, maybe?
*laughing*
Good sharing.
I’m here for my dose of pink power and thanks to you guys.. you all rock! Tactile love!
LOL, one can get a milk shake done by holding the shake canister while on the Hawaii chair. Reminds me of that commercial in which the farmer shakes the cow’s body to do the stupid version of a milk shake. Thanks for the laugh, Seek Geo!
As for AGBell, the organization doesn’t exactly “ban” ASL, it just doesn’t mention it in its website, as far as I can tell. Correct me, if I’m wrong. But I do know it was a policy for many speech clinics to have parents follow the no-ASL restriction if their deaf child was taking speech therapy and lipreading lessons in my day.
Pink Thursday was a real treat, Paotie. Delayed gratification can have its rewards, especially after a full day’s hard work.
I’m slowly catching on Paotie…you don’t spend a whole lotta time on research….you like to ski/snow board….you are an aspiring writer…and you like making us gullible (sp??). have I got that right??? heh heh….well I’m stuck on you like others.
On a serious note…agree about the negative reaction that some deaf people project on DR is unnecessary. However, I thought it was a good idea to send in an (positive) email to PepsiCo letting them know we appreciate their effort to recognize the deaf community and that we like the ad. As for AGBell…correct, they do not say “do not learn ASL” but if you read between the lines they “discourage” parents from using sign language with their babies/children and promote spoken language. The bigger problem is 90% (I’m guessing on the percentage here) of deaf children come from hearing families and many have minimal exposure to deaf centers, deaf schools where they can learn more about their options. Whereas, in today’s internet society….reading AGBell’s website give hope to hearing parents that their deaf child can be taught to hear and speak. All I can say is some will get lucky and meet a great deaf mentor that may direct them in the right places or live in a great town/city with all the support from the deaf community and others just won’t. Life is what you make of it.
Hawaii chair…..gasp, what’s next??
saw the referrals coming in from your site the other day. so decided to check you folks out. very nice site! thanks for the props on my photography and i shall endeavor to continue to tickle your eyeball delight with more photos!
A G Bell doesn’t have to ban sign. The people who come for information know that the option exists; they are coming to AGB for information about how to speak with their children. It is a place for people who have chosen to utilize listening and speaking. The organization wouldn’t need to ban anything because the people involved are there because they want information on a different methodology. People seek out AGB.
It would be like saying that the NAD bans hearing people. Well, no, but they are there for those who are deaf and want advocacy and support for issues surrounding that. You don’t have to ban them; they just aren’t usually going to be interested (unless they are advocating for another deaf individual, etc).
Parents DO check out all their options when they have a deaf child. They visit deaf schools, read information, check out a variety of websites, talk with people in different camps. And some choose AGB because they see that it espouses what they do. Most early intervention specialists will try to steer parents toward sign language, actually, so the parent is relieved to find a group in their “corner” if they have chosen to allow their child to learn and enjoy their families’ spoken language. Then, the parents are so grateful that they join up, and perhaps years later donate larger sums. That’s how it works– it’s by the people, for the people (who like it).
Alright Paotie, you and Mike totally left me behind when all this DeafRead shit starting happening. I can’t keep up with either of your pages.
That said, what is the deal with all the estrogen flesh you’ve been posting lately? Is something missing from your life these days dearie?
It’s McConnell’s fault with his poll!
HE started the DeafRead shit!
And umm .. I’ll post more manly men pictures, I promise. I swear!
The only thing missing is your commentary, which I’m glad to finally see again.
Paotie
Aww, ain’t you sweet?
Paotie….where art thou?? Did you get swallowed up at the Monarch or are you wrapped up in someone’s pink boa?? Come back….
Rushing in the classroom of Paotie out of breath saying I’m sorry for being late (being D culturally appropriate by explaining WHy for everything). . .
Do me a favor, find a topless picture of Sawyer of LOST to post in your furure post. He’s HOT!
After Anna S gets what she wants….
Be sure to add Jack Shepard! He’s to die for!
Oh, yeah, those ‘lost” guys are hawt.