tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70883109945408369442024-03-14T01:53:05.384-07:00The Fraser FileR. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-17657946101838293532015-02-16T01:29:00.000-08:002015-02-16T01:29:38.481-08:00Attention all CODAs! You're opinions are wanted!<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We as CODAs are well versed in how similar we are. We share a lot of common experiences growing up with Deaf parents and all that comes with it. Yet, no matter how similar the experiences are, no matter how great it feels to hang around each other and share our stories, we are all still very different from one another. It’s not necessarily a good or bad thing, it just simply is what it is. It’s life, and we deal with it. There’s a lot of beauty in the diversity.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>However, I feel that sometimes the differences aren’t always good things, and these are all just matters of opinions. For some CODAs, there are likely certain traits in other CODAs that make them cringe, and for other CODAs it’s something else. For me, it’s watching CODAs who act as if without them, their parents or other Deaf people would just crumble without their ability to take care of them. If you are reading this, a CODA, and are offended, well, I’m not necessarily sorry. I don’t mean ill will, it’s just something I don’t understand, and often times drives me crazy.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The reason it makes me nutty is this. How does a CODA go through life with Deaf parents, know their struggles in a hearing society, know their friends as well they know some of their own closest relatives, and still come out with this attitude of being the caretaker? Its obvious that many of us as CODAs have often had to interpret as children for our parents, or handle phone calls for our parents that children had no place handling, and all of the rest of the things we may have had to do at one time or another. I get that not all Deaf parents raise their hearing children the same as others, or that having siblings can help shape the different roles that particular set of siblings fall into. It’s logical to make the leap that from time to time we may feel like the caretaker, but let’s dig a little deeper. </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I think the part about it that really dumbfounds me is how it comes to be that CODAs who act this way seems to forget that their parents were around before them. Did they need you then? For my experience, at times I had to interpret, take calls, be the face that every hearing person spoke to when they realized I was the only one they could talk to (which often came with that attitude that I wasn’t just the only one they could talk to, I was the only intelligent one in the bunch). That last one always infuriated me to no end because I knew my parents were every bit as competent as any of the jerks I had to make nice to in front of my mom and dad. The only reason the situations occurred was the fact that audism existed, and obviously still does. But I also went to Deaf Club with my parents regularly. I often spent the night at their friends’ homes when we would visit. Thanks to my parents, I know who Deaf people are, and I know that if I wasn’t around to be that bridge for the Hearing, my parents would still have gotten done what they needed to get done, even if it would have been tougher and may have looked completely different.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I also know that some of our parents may play that role that they cannot do things themselves and they need us CODAs to fix it. My parents were from an older generation I saw it occasionally amongst them and their friends. Its just that when I try to see how some CODAs develop this attitude or arrive at the conclusion that they are the glue holding their parents lives together I become seriously agitated. I mean, did some of us, regardless of how intensely proud we are of our parents, how well we sign and everything else, just simply buy into the things that hearing people have said to us our whole lives? I don’t mean we actually deep down believe them, even if a good majority of it came from our extended family. I just wonder if all the years of those ridiculous comments, opinions, and observations somehow etched itself into some of us and became a part of our personalities? I just don’t understand it. </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s not easy to define CODAs, and it doesn’t help that it can be so difficult for us to define ourselves. I know I have that problem in a lot of areas of my life, and I want nothing more than to understand it better. Yet even with all that, I have never let myself believe that my parents would have perished or be significantly worse off without me there, and I know most of us as CODAs don’t feel that way. But it’s evident that some of us do, and when I see it, I want to put a pen through my eye or something much less gruesome and equally painful to distract me from it so I won’t say or do something stupid.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Does audism play a role in this? Could it be some type of CODA privilege that is being subconsciously enjoyed? I’m not sure of the answer myself, and would love to know everyone else's thoughts on the matter. Especially from any CODAs reading this.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One more thing. My opinion here doesn’t mean I hate CODAs who do act that way. I am disgusted with that attitude, and I may not like a fellow CODA because of it, but being CODA is belonging to something unique. I cherish that, and love every CODA brother and sister because of it. I just needed to vent, and even more so, want to have an open discussion about this so we can all understand each other better. CODA hugs and CODA love to you all!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time,</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">R. M. </span></span>R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-60123469270102407292014-07-29T20:54:00.000-07:002014-07-29T20:58:00.743-07:00CODA Advice?Hello Everyone,<br />
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This post is not being done in ASL tonight. I may sign it in a video at a later date, but not now.<br />
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First things first. I am happy to be back. I meandered off of my path for a while. Call it cynicism, call it disinvestment of a sort, I'm not 100% sure myself, but I do know it was a mix of a number of things. I believe the catch-all, one word description is 'rut'. I have been in a long rut. I owe the timing of this return to two recent things. First, the website, <a href="http://si5s.org/">si5s.org</a>, is finally moving forward. Click the link to see what I mean. Second, in response to my enthusiasm about the first event, someone told me today that they miss my writing and want to read more. Do I really need further motivation? Not likely. So thanks are in order to Robert Augustus, for the drive to make si5s an integral part of Deaf culture, and to Dianne, you may only be one of a handful who regularly read these posts, but what you said earlier was taken to heart.<br />
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So this post is a response to Erik Witteborg, who suggested a 'writing prompt'. He's good like that. This one made me think, and even now I don't fully know what I'm about to say. His prompt was this - If you can go back in time to meet your 10 year old CODA self, what advice would you give? This response should just be what it is. No conscious effort to be funny or serious. Thinking back to when I was 10, my parents reluctantly had to move to a town almost a two hour drive away from home. My father had landed a new job in the "Big City" of Bangor, Maine, so they sold the house and we moved. We eventually moved into an apartment complex, but first spent 6 long and grueling months with my mother's parents. The tension in the house was never lost on me. Worse than that, the town was considerably larger, and I had no friends there. This is the me that I would advise, so here goes.<br />
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Hey kid,<br />
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It's ok. Things look like shit right now, but it's ok. The first thing I want you to know is that it's ok to not want to be your parents interpreter. They don't like putting you in that position either, even if it seems like they just expect you to do it. Nevermind their friends who always tell you that you should grow up to be an interpreter. That's crap. Do what makes you happy. Mom and Dad will always be proud of that, and that's ok.<br />
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Second, don't stress out too much about the other kids at school. You know most of them won't even try to understand what having Deaf parents is like, and you DO know they will all ask you ridiculous questions about it. You can't hide it, and you may as well be straight with them. Don't forget to show your pride in them and in yourself. You don't know it now, but later you will begin to meet so many people with parents like yours, far many more than the ones you know now. You will call yourselves CODAs. I'm pretty sure many of them are calling themselves that now. Wear it like a badge, for it is you. It's ok to show them.<br />
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Third, don't back down when something needs to be said. You're gonna be great at this anyway, but don't hold back either way. Please do your best to remember to think about all sides of the situation. Family IS wrong for how they put Dad down, but someday they'll kind of get it, and that will be because you DIDN'T back down. It's ok, no matter how angry you get. Respect will come in the end. It's still ok.<br />
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Last, stop feeling guilty. You will take advantage of situations because you haven't found yourself yet. When you do, remember that was part of the process. Know that Mom and Dad understand this and won't hold a grudge. It's what kids do. Don't let that guilt remain there, even after Dad leaves this world. You don't need to tell him you're sorry. He gets it. He's proud of you no matter what because he believes in you. It's his legacy to you and when you're a man you keep that close to your heart instead of the guilt. Honor the legacy. Teach the world who Deaf people are, through you. The best thing you can do is leave this world better than you find it, and let's be honest, we've seen more than our fair share of shit. Way more. Honor the legacy and help clean it up. Teach the world, and they will begin to clean it up, too. Make it better for future generations. Believe you will see him again, and you will. You will see how proud he really is. Trust me, it's ok. It will always be ok.<br />
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Well, there it is... and it's ok.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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R. M.R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-8261966006729691612013-11-07T14:46:00.000-08:002013-11-07T14:46:47.046-08:00Pride - an ASL VersionHello everyone,<br />
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This is an ASL version of the English poem "Pride" from my eBook "Shadow Boxer & Other Poems". It's a look at a real relationship between a CODA and his deceased father. Please do not look at this ASL version as poetry. It really didn't come out that way at all. It's more like the ASL/Deaf version of spoken word or prose, and quite honestly, I'm not 100% sure how to define it myself. With that said, let's just say "it is what it is". If after viewing this you would like to read the English version, please refer to the 'My eBooks' tab at the top of the page. You can find the link to the book from there, and it is a free download. I hope you enjoy the video, and forgive my near 2 month absence from this blog (assuming any of you still check in, haha).<br />
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R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-43596899121834364792013-09-11T20:29:00.001-07:002013-09-11T20:29:08.617-07:00Thank You Keith and Wink, New AFF Member<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today I want to announce something. You know my roster? Really there’s only one name on the AFF roster. Today I get to announce there’s a new name to add to it. Her name is Norma Boots. She provided the subject for my previous post. She had been reading a book when she came upon a comment the author wrote that was negative toward deafness. She looked up the author’s contact information and sent her a direct email. The author responded, becoming a discussion. Norma stayed strong and positive and did a lot to help the author understand Deaf culture. That’s the point of the AFF - to help eradicate Audism - that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So the two of then discussed what name she wanted. My name is the CODA Kidd, with 2 d’s, because it looks more like a wrestler’s name. So we both thought on it and came up with ideas, but when we shared them we didn’t like them. So we did it again and man, what a waste. Finally, she had come up with one. She is the “Paladin of Justice”, but I prefer to sign “Justice” like this (the sign for equality as opposed to the one that relates to “court”). That’s cool! Her name is The Paladin of Justice! Yeah! So now it can be added to the roster, meaning there are now two people. I’m waiting for more, so who’s out there? Come on, I’m ready!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Recently my wife and I went to Brewer, Maine, for the Keith Wann and Wink show. I bought tickets for myself, my wife, niece, sister, (my mother), and my aunt. She is very special to me. Both of my parents are Deaf. No one on my mother’s side of the family ever really signed, and it was the same for my father’s side of the family, with one exception - his sister (my aunt). My father was the oldest of his siblings while my aunt was the youngest. There’s about 15 years separating them. So when she was a kid, somewhere between 4 and 6 years old, my father taught her ASL. He would show her the alphabet and some signs. She started to pick it up, and then just took off with it. That’s what makes her unique in their family - she is the only one who signed. Very nice. So we brought everyone to the show.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The first performance was the comedy show, which was Wink followed by Keith. It’s such a good experience, but I had seen the same show twice before in Boston and New Hampshire. Despite that, the show was still awesome. Anyways, during the break we looked around at the school the show was held in. It’s an elementary/middle school. The same aunt I just mentioned works there, and has her classroom upstairs on the second floor. She’s the special ed teacher, so it was cool to have her show us her room and the upstairs. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When we came back down, I noticed my mother hanging around and chatting with the other Deaf people there. It was a very good time. It was so nice to see everybody, so many old faces I remember, but I couldn’t recall most of their names. It’s the CODA curse, maybe (what do you think?) because when you’re a little kid at the Deaf Club meetings with your family and you see all of the adults, and play with all the other CODA children, you get to know their faces, all of them - strong remember. But names? My god, I was just a little kid. I didn’t remember any names because no one ever spoke them. You can’t pick it up if it’s not mentioned - but their faces? Oh yes they’re etched in my brain. It was really nice to see so many people. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keith’s comedy performance was the same routine until the very end, where he added a sort of “thank you” to everyone who came. He wanted to show everyone, it’s hard to explain, really. It was beautiful of course, and it bent my heart. To be honest, it did draw a tear from my eye, but it’s ok, I am still a man here, alright? He performed a song and I don’t know its name, but it sounded a lot like country. The words on their own were very powerful, about each person having a candle representing their spirit, and how we should be responsible for finding those whose candles are out, go to them and help them by showing our own light, in hopes theirs will ignite. It was really how he signed it and told the story, though. It was so powerful to see this on stage and realize it was just like watching a music video, like the ones you see on MTV or other stations. When you watch a video, it has its story in English words, but the video itself tells a story, too, just like a movie does. Keith’s performance was just like that - a music video.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I just sat there, jaw on the floor in awe of what I was seeing. So Keith, I just want to say “thank you”. That performance really touched my heart, and that was a wonderful experience, so thank you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Afterwards was the second performance by Wink, entitled “My Father’s Gift”. It wasn’t really a comedy, but a more serious look at his parents, who are Deaf. It was really interesting to see at the beginning of his performance how he explained his parents’ backgrounds growing up (the family dynamic, what kinds of schools they went to, etc). I noticed it was very similar to my family. His father and mine both went to schools for the Deaf when they were 5 years old, so they got to be around other deaf children the entire time, signed, and interacted. The contrast was interesting to see that his mother and my own, when they were of age for school, were both sent to public schools by their own parents, with nothing more than some hearing aids and a push out the door with the hopes they would learn to speak. I’m pretty sure Wink’s mom was in the public school system through graduation. My mother was in public school until about 12 or 13 years old. Her parents noted that her improvement was insignificant, so they felt it was perhaps best to send her to a school or the deaf, and she finally got to go. To see how their stories were similar was really cool, and helped me to relate even more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He told the story of how his parents had met, how his father had fallen in love with her, and that was a beautiful story. Later on they had a baby girl (Wink’s older sister). Wink was the second child. In his performance he became both of his parents. The story truly broke my heart, but knowing how he survived, well, I have to say that his story, compared to Keith’s ASL song, it’s like this. Keith’s brought a tear to my eye. However, Wink’s story had me removing my glasses to wipe the many tears from my face and looking around to make sure no one saw me. That. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The story was so powerful, seeing those Deaf have so much inner strength, love and everything else you could mention. It was during that time (part of the story) that his father’s strength was the solitary reason for Wink being born. Now as an adult this is how Wink thanks him. It really is his father’s gift.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I want to sum up here. Keith’s performance really touched my heart. Wink’s was so powerful, not only did it touch my heart, but at the same time, it ripped it open, and then healed it to be even stronger because of what happened in that story. His father’s strength, the love for his family, for his wife, that whole thing - wow - that - really made me feel inspired. It’s really a wonderful story about “Deaf Can”, “Deaf Strong”, and “Do Deaf Need Hearing People? No!” That was impressive. We CODAs carry around a “Deaf heart” inside of us, and that story touched mine, making such an impact that it will be in my mind and heart forever. That’s what I want to say, to Wink, “Thank you. I want to let you know that seeing your performance, your comedy show, and other experiences I’ve had with you whether it was the interview or just hanging out, you’ve left a mark on my life, and that’s a true inspiration for me. Thank you. To Keith, thank you as well. Both of you guys are awesome!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So all this rambling about the show and how it affected me by breaking my heart, mending it, yada yada, does have a purpose. I want all of you - those of you who haven’t yet seen Wink and Keith perform - to go online, right now. Well that’s just dumb of me, you guys are already watching this vlog (or reading this blog). So let’s do this. When this video (or blog) is finished, I want you to go to keithwann.com or winkasl.com. It doesn’t matter which one you go to, just search their page for a tour schedule. If you find that they are coming to your area, by all means, please, don’t be patient, and certainly don’t wait. Grab those tickets. Bring your friends and your family, everybody. Bring them all and watch the show. I know your hearts will be impacted the same way mine has been. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Until next time,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">R. M. </span></span></div>
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-16473633879255825682013-07-20T23:55:00.000-07:002013-07-21T00:04:06.411-07:00From Ignorance to Audism -- and a New AFF Member!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Today’s post started with a Facebook message from a fellow CODA by the name of Norma, who has agreed to let me share this experience with you. Here is her initial message:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;">Hi Fraser!!! How are you??? Sorry to bother you, I know you’re a busy guy, but I think I need your input on something. I was reading a book and twice the term “deaf and dumb” was used. Not as a reference to a Deaf person, but referring to an emotional state (rendered deaf and dumb). Even though I knew what the author meant, it still bothered me. (The book was published last year, and the setting is modern day-cell phones, tablet computers, etc). Then I find out the author has a child that wears hearing aids, so now I’m even more stunned she would use that term---even in an emotional context…Am I over reacting???</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">My response was a follows: </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: orange;">nope, not at all. I'm offended by that. Its likely that the author meant it in the same vein as someone using the word "retarded" to describe an idiot. However, the fact this author has a hard of hearing child may suggest they are straight up oralist. Its a likely dynamic with a HoH child, even more so than with a deaf child. I think it stuns most of us who have a clue about Deaf, because we have a clue about Deaf. I think our problem is that sometimes we don't remember that most people out there don't have any experience with Deaf, and when we see that they might have had some and still say things like that, it seems to us to be unfathomable. Either way, it's Audism, and how offended you are should be influenced by whether it was inherently hateful or just said out of a lack of awareness and sensitivity. Do you mind if I use this in a blog post?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Norma later filled me in a bit more about the details of this incident that I would like to share with you, so here you go:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Here’s part of the sentence I read in the book </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> “</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0px;">…<i>was on the verge of being rendered deaf and dumb by the paralyzing</i>…” </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It definitely triggered something in me, even in that context. I contacted the author thru her website. I wanted to take the opportunity to share Deaf awareness and educate her on audism. We exchanged several emails (that’s how I found out about one of her kids has 30% hearing, and I too picked up on the vibe that she’s probably raising the child orally). She was extremely sweet and kind, she apologized profusely from the bottom of her heart, she agreed with all of my viewpoints, she does NOT believe deaf=dumb.... she talks about being in the head of this particular character. In one of her emails she said “</span><span style="font-family: Times; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>I agree, I think there are certain words or sayings that trigger certain responses in everyone. And you are right, the term “deaf and dumb” does not bother me – in the context in which I meant it. I can absolutely see it coming across as something else, which I promise you, I didn’t mean. Yes, I would completely take offense if the words were used together to describe a deaf person as being dumb. I took a step back when you emailed and completely understood how that would sound if you weren’t right there in my head witnessing how I felt Tag was feeling. He was completely overwhelmed which affected his cognitive abilities because of his reaction. Like I said, I completely understand…</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;">smh, WHAT!!!! I was blown away by this, but at the same time this was the email from her that finally put the puzzle pieces together for me. You said “Its likely that the author meant it in the same vein as someone using the word "retarded" to describe an idiot” …that makes sense to me. The conclusion I came up with was she’s comparing the traits of an overwhelmed hearing person to the traits of a deaf and dumb person. In my last email to her I stated this to her and attached the following two pics…she has not replied back to me. HA!! If you are ok with this and think it’s appropriate, I would love to send her your blog when you finish it. I told her (twice), that I was anxious to discuss this topic with other Codas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;">Looking foward to your thoughts on this!!! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Again, my response:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: orange;">oh wow, it's mainly out of ignorance, but also carries little regard to how offensive it can truly be. It's a typical reaction to first finding out you offended someone, or a group of people, I think.... Thank you for this Norma, this is awesome stuff, and kudos to you on confronting her in a non offensive way. That takes a lot of guts, and it hopefully plants a seed in her mind the next time she intends to use that phrase...</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Norma’s next email to me was this: </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;">“kudos to you on confronting her in a non offensive way. That takes a lot of guts”…hahaha, actually it’s the exact opposite for me, I fear confrontations!!! and I was totally shocked when she replied to me, I honestly thought my email would just sit somewhere or get deleted. My goal was to try to get her in a calm and respectful discussion and fortunately she responded the same way. She has absolutely no control over how I react to words in her book, that’s on me. Does that make sense???? I was trying to figure out why this was a trigger for me, and she helped me figure it out, even though I don’t think she liked my results. *smile* I want to share some more of her words with you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>“…</i></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> I want to clarify something. These words in my term do not go together as in deaf = dumb, but rather their senses were completely overwhelmed…I completely understand your response to the terminology and I want to apologize if in any way it was expressed that the two words related to one another. I definitely agree with your entire email and I apologize from the bottom of my heart if you believe I was referring to the hearing impaired in a negative way. I assure you that I was not. Thank you so much for taking the time to send me the email…</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;">Thank you Fraser for validating my feelings. It makes me feel better. Not sure if offended is the right word for me personally, but I’m sad that she doesn’t “get it”, or maybe she does now, and that’s why she hasn’t replied back to me. I hope the pics I sent her didn’t offend her; I chose them very carefully for a reason. I wanted to show her the Deaf part in me. The word “peace” for her- regardless of our difference of opinion, and the robot for her child. Surely, even oralists can’t be offended by the ILY handshape, right??!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">My response to this:</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: orange;">true, but she may only be an unwitting oralist (she is and she doesn't know it). Either way, it does boil the whole thing down to ignorance a lack of awareness, and thats enough for me to blog about. I put her in the category of people who would likely benefit from Deaf awareness education, and not just a hateful person who will never get it....</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">To sum this up, ignorance leads to not so good things. In this case, it led to Audism, and Norma spoke out against it. I am proud of her for doing so. I know many CODAs who spend their entire lives frustrated with all the hearing people that ask the same questions and make the same comments over and over about being Deaf, sign language, etc. It’s tedious for most of us, I think. I know it certainly has been for me, and thankfully ELF tends to take up the rebuttal (if you will) when I am asked those things now. That’s her contribution to helping end Audism. It’s too frustrating for me to go that route at times, but I find it much easier to talk about in these blog posts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">I believe we all (Deaf, CODAs, Interpreters) have a responsibility to educate and spread awareness about Audism, and what it means to be Deaf. There are plenty of ways to do so that all vary in the amount of involvement. Norma, for example, chose to confront the author of the book she’d read. I write blogs. Many interpreters do answer questions from hearing people regarding Deaf culture. Many Deaf people are politically active, or perform for hearing audiences about their lives and their observances. Some of us just perform what we think is entertaining, and through that the world gets to see how normal and equal Deaf people truly are. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">My point is this -- I don’t mean that all of us as CODAs need to do these great big things in order to achieve this, but I want all of you reading this to understand that if you do feel a responsibility to do something, please find an avenue to do so which works for you, no matter how little or how great the amount of your life you give to it. It’s how we can give back to our parents, and help squash out most of the ignorance that leads to Audism.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Norma, here’s to you and your effort! Cheers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">Until next time,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">R. M.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: orange;">P. S., I need to add one more thing. Norma, you saw an incidence of Audism and you went right and challenged that person. Wow that was brave! You know what you did means? Yea, you’ve become an Audism fighter! So now you can join the roster. Just so you know, you can come up with your own name, you know, like a good nickname, kind of like a wrestling name. You think about it and let me know, and I’ll add it to the blog roster. Congratulations, and thank you!</span></span></div>
<br />R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-27739197089060855762013-07-07T03:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T20:30:05.108-07:00R. M. Interviews Wink (Windell Smith, Jr.)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/DNEy2DSI4Kk" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">For the ASL version of this post, click here</span></a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This post is my interview with Wink (Windell Smith, Jr.). I just want to say to you all that being able to interview Wink was quite an honor for me. He’s a very kind man with a ton of great ideas. He’s done so much work with ASL, interpreting (for the Deaf), and sharing his stories about growing up CODA. It’s amazing and he’s such a powerful performer. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Well that’s all I had to say, so enjoy the interview. Here we go!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM: </b>Hello. My name is R. M. Fraser, and this is Wink. Maybe you know him from his website winkasl.com. Hello, Wink.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink: </b><span style="color: #e69138;">Hello everyone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> So my first question. So I’m a CODA and I’ve always been fascinated by other CODAs family dynamics related to language. For example, in my family, my father was very strong and pure ASL, while my mother follows more old-fashioned signed English. It was an odd linguistic mix for me growing up. I’m curious about your experience. What are your parents like?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">It’s really interesting that you took in both ASL and English. Growing up in my family, ASL was my father’s thing. It was taught at the school for the deaf where he grew up. My mother grew up with an oral background in a mainstream program. Sometime after they (my parents) were married, she was involved in an accident. She lost everything upstairs and had to relearn. She mixed ASL and English. I was very close to my father. I left school in 2nd grade and was home schooled from there. When I grew up, I was with my father at his handyman business. I would be there, and just pay attention to his language. He would always explain how to fix things. He used a lot of classifiers and I took all that in. I never really got the hang of fixing things and that stuff, but I saw and was constantly exposed to that language. From my exposure, I incorporated his way of using classifiers and handshapes, etc, and that’s what comes out of me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> You do “Winkshops”, you perform, and other things. How long have you been doing this?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Aaaahh. I’ve been teaching workshops for about four or five years, and I’ve been performing for about three or four years, too. The workshops did happen first before the performing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> Since you’ve been performing, with all the humor in your stories, and I’m sure these are real life experiences, or at least in part.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Well, yes, but in my comedy show I tend to take what happened and tweak the whole thing. For example, the stories I perform in my comedy show about my father, the story about ‘red’, my father DID say that to me about the SEE sign ‘red’. He DID bang pots and pans and made a lot of noise to to annoy me. But him knocking the door off its hinges and pushing me out of the way DIDN’T which I think the average person can assume which parts are my imagination and fiction. I like to look at these situations and be more creative with the ASL. As for the dramatic performances I do, they are 100% true, but the time frame spans a few decades, I mean, from 1980 something -- well, really it begins when my parents were born right up until more present day. I have to condense all that into a two hour show. So I’ll take things from different times and combine them into one. So everything is real, but the delivery isn’t exactly chronological it’s condense to present the feeling, but it’s still honest. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM: </b>So some experiences may be mixed up. When you think back on growing up, what was the funniest thing that happened that you haven’t shared with the audience? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Umm (long pause), I think of one of the interesting things with my father. He was always very honest with me. My parents were open socially, and always discussed things in front of me, even at age 8! I mean, why? As far as remembering specific stories, well, not really, but I always remember their honesty. They were so open, and if I had a question, they would always answer. They were never vague about anything, Sometimes they were too blunt, and at 8 years old that would kind of confuse me, but it’s interesting, anyway.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> So you’ve made DVDs that relate to your “Winkshops”, right? And it’s really for developing ASL and a bunch of other things. I’m curious because I work in deaf education, and I have been through bilingual education training and I’ve learned that some really good theories involved with education for deaf children involve a media room, with a camera that can record their expressive (language) and make it ‘static’, so they can watch it repetitively. So I’m curious, how do you feel about its importance to deaf education?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Do you mean its importance for... what do you mean?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> Media use and its importance for deaf education.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Oh yes. Media, wow. Well, deaf education aside, in general education, media has failed because of old practices from the 1900s that continue today. It really hasn’t grabbed a hold of media yet. And this ASL group hasn’t either. Honestly, they’re still teaching ASL through books, which is stupid. There needs to be an increase of media when teaching deaf children so it can be seen in 3D instead of on paper. When they (student) don’t understand, it can be modeled. No doubt in how media could really improve this. My company, Winkshop, we focus on that, how to deliver it to Deaf, and hearing people learning ASL. Those two things are very important.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> So “Winkshops”, do you have a sign for that?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink: </b><span style="color: #e69138;">No, I just tend to spell Wink -- (RM: That’s ok, its fine) But really the company is named Wink, and its funny because my name is WInk, I guess it’s one entity to me, or that is how I see it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> So do “Winkshops” really only focus on interpreting, or do you get into more than that?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Well, as I just mentioned, the Winkshop company and I are one in the same. I have many goals and that’s why I set this company up. The reason is that I can’t be the one to address all those goals alone. It’s impossible. There’s not enough time, and someday I will die. So I brought people into the company so it can continue in the event of my passing. I’ve communicated this to them, what to do, etc. So it’s not only geared for hearing people, but in general, too, for Deaf, deaf education, deaf children, Deaf adults in all sorts of genres as well, entertainment, educational, etc. I really go in-depth on all of these goals. In a few months, there will be a broader approach of a new industry that hasn’t really been tapped yet that focuses on Deaf in general. I can’t discuss it yet, but that’s why I set up this company, so that we can do all these things, and if we can, I want to do it all in one place. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> That would be nice to see, for sure.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I saw you perform before in Boston. I really enjoyed it, and felt like I laughed through it nonstop. My belly couldn’t catch a break, but the amount of humor you put into your experiences for the audience, how important is that? (Wink: involve what?) To involve humor in your performances.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Umm... I feel humor is quite powerful. You can say something that’s powerful, but if you add humor to it, it goes to the back of your head while you’re laughing and lingers there for a while and becomes something more that you analyze and try to derive other meanings from it, which is interesting. So, if I can convey something to others that is important and they can grasp, and add that humor in it that makes them laugh, it’ll stick and they’ll really get the message later on. So they’re willing to accept it at first, and later on really get its full meaning. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> I’m curious. How did you meet Keith (Wann)? How did that happen?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">I forget the name of the strip club, no... We didn’t meet as “performers” He was well established as a performer before we met. I was just starting out as a dramatic/comedy performer with my one man show, I have also been a workshop presenter prior to that. Keith saw me from some of the stuff I put up on YouTube and of course we all know his stuff on YouTube. But how we first “met” was back when I was a director of outreach for a sign language interpreting agency. We reached out to Keith’s company at the time “CallVRS” in regards to a few business propositions between companies and a non-profit, we didn’t discuss performing at the time. Keith and I were involved with lots of organizations and projects and always found excuses to incorporate one another in the projects which he was gracious enough to always agree to. Eventually Keith asked “Hey you have been doing this drama stuff for awhile, you ever think about doing comedy?” I didn’t really know how to answer, but then in his very nonchalant way, “Come out next month with some material for a show.” By that time I have learned to just accept and take the offer regardless, just take it! So I went and did a short set of 10 minutes and was off the stage before I knew it. However, one unkind thing Keith did to me was he assembled a powerhouse performance group of Himself, Crom Saunders, and The Peter Cook, he put me after Peter which made me wet my pants because he is just amazing! Wasn’t fun going after somebody who brought the house down, so I half expected everyone to go to the bathroom during my anemic set. However, one thing I must say is that Keith Wann is incredibly supportive! He’s always on the look out for new young performers (I mean as in up and coming) and those that are willing to be apart of the group he will be their first and biggest fan and will show you where you need to go and even work on your bits with you. There are a scat few performers out there with the generosity to do that. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> For yourself, when you look into the future, do you see yourself continuing this work or do you want a change? You said that you want to add more to Winkshop to focus on other goals, but do you think you’ll continue to perform?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">I feel I’ll always go on with performing because I enjoy it so much, I know when I get up on stage there will be someone in the audience who will be impacted, and that’s important to me. I also enjoy creating jokes and seeing how, why, and why not it may work and plow</span></span><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">through that and break it down mentally, I love that process. So I think that’ll continue, and the business will expand, so it’ll be those two things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> So where can people find you on the web? Where can they find your website> This is your time for shameless self promotion, so go ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">My website is </span><a href="http://winkasl.com/"><span style="color: lime;">WinkASL.com</span></a><span style="color: #e69138;">. You can find me on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, email. It’s all there on WinkASL.com. And if you search WinkASL on YouTube, Facebook, etc, you will find me. So I think that’s the easiest way to find more information. My website has a newsletter and you can be notified if I come to your area to perform, or do a workshop or whatever. So thanks for watching. Oh, and thank you R. M. Fraser!. It was an honor to be interviewed and have this exchange. I really enjoyed it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>RM:</b> Thank you. I feel honored, too.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>Wink:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;">Great Work :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Until next time,</span></div>
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R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-27914174498881147582013-06-15T16:53:00.000-07:002013-06-16T16:05:53.867-07:00"I am CODA, and I Know" Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Hello Everyone,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is the first post in the “I am CODA, and I Know” series. Recently I learned that some people informed Alan Abarbanell, or, Abababa (did I sign that right), that I used his poetry work in my blog. To be honest, I love his poem. He calls it a CODA anthem, and I agree. While my work is titled “I am CODA, and I Know”, and his poem is titled “We are Coda, and We Know”, I did borrow it because it’s perfect. I just wanted to share that with you all. I didn’t mean for there to be any commotion about it. To me, it’s a sign of respect. So we (Alan and I) discussed it, and he let me know that he is ok with me using his title. I am going to go ahead with this, so Alan “Abababa” Abarbanell, thank you!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now this blog is focused directly on Noelle’s (Campbell) blog post “War With CODAs”. I looked it over, thought at length about it, and analyzed it. So now I’m going ahead, and setting this up in point-counterpoint style. Here goes...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle) “War With CODAs” </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I am not deaf. I am not a child of deaf adults (CODA), but most of my experience with CODA’s is as a friend of a parent who is deaf. I am generalizing a lot in this article, and it might be more of a rant than actual commentary, so be warned. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Noelle, in this article you say that you make a lot of generalizations, and well, you really do, but it’s not necessary. Your warning disclaimer is done in poor taste. When you make an announcement in public like that and then add a disclaimer to it so you can be excused is inexcusable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>From the perspective of a parent, CODAs overwhelmingly come out of childhood as teenagers who want continual sympathy from both the hearing and deaf community.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: white;">BS! I myself have never tried to get any pity from either the Deaf or Hearing communities. Now some teenage CODAs will seek that out from the Deaf and hearing, but remember, it’s because they are TEENAGERS. It doesn’t matter if they are Deaf or hearing, both look to avoid any consequences from their parents or something like that. That generally is not a CODA specific thing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: lime;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have seen teenaged CODAs refuse to sign to their parents in public, which makes communication a pure bitch for someone who can’t turn their hearing on and off. I know how hard it is to raise a teenager, I have two that are grown and two well on the way to teenagehood, but CODA’s add the additional complication of language barriers.</i></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Huh? What language barriers? Are you referring to refusal to sign in public? Come on! Most teenagers regardless of being Deaf or hearing (or CODA) won’t talk to their parents when they are mad at them. That is a tendency of many teenagers. That really isn’t a “CODA” thing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"> </span><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Teenage CODA’s to their deaf parents, are EMO without the clothes and make up. Imagine ALL your children walking around in skinny black jeans, black dyed hair, listening to mopey music and putting safety pins in their ears, or eyebrows, etc. That is what a CODA looks like from the perspective of a deaf parent, even if they look and act completely normal to you and me - the hearing people. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">In all my experiences being around Deaf parents, none of them have ever complained that their kids were EMO. NEVER. Some of them may even dress up a bit goth in all black, but they don’t continually gripe about it. They don’t complain about it any more than hearing parents of hearing children who act EMO/goth. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As adults CODA’s can be even more annoying. They either make a complete break from Deaf Culture, or become a zealot intent that everyone be as ‘immersed’ in ASL when learning as they were. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Statement untrue! Did some of us break from Deaf Culture? Sure. Did all of us? No way. And you say that CODAs wish to force everyone to learn ASL through immersion and constant exposure? We as a whole do not say that. I have been teaching ASL to hearing people for 9 years, and yes, I really believe that the best approach to learning ASL, for most people, is through consistent immersion in ASL. But think about that. They are in class once a week for 2 hours at a whack. There needs to be constant signing during those times because hearing people don’t necessarily have friends or partners to practice with, so they have little to no opportunity, and therefore it’s important that in class this is the focus. But at times some (my students) have needed to use voice because despite all my best efforts to explain things in ASL, some of it still goes over their heads. So I usually hold the last ten minutes or so of class as a “voice on” time to discuss what was confusing them so that they can understand what it means. It helps them moving forward to gain a better understanding and be able to improve their voice off sign. All of us just don’t think that way, some (hearing) people need it spoken, too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I was learning ASL, it wasn’t the CODAs (who could hear and understand me) that taught me, it was the deaf and some very tolerant hearing interpreters. The children of deaf adults often do go into interpreting, though many shun it because they were forced into the position as interpreter for their parents. I understand the later perspective as a hearing wife of a deaf husband. When we go out, I am interpreter.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">You need to understand something. Many of us CODAs did feel forced to interpret for our parents, but not just for them. We had to interpret for all the hearing people out there, too. The every day constant of fielding ignorant questions from the hearing can become very frustrating after a while. And with the influence of our Deaf parents’ frustrations with hearing people upon us, wow, it is true that some of us CODAs make generalizations and complain about it. I mean, what do you expect? You’re upset with CODAs because they refused to teach you sign? You really need to think about your own ignorance and limitations in your lack of understanding CODAs and their backgrounds. Instead of making generalizations of CODAs, why not respect our differences? You don’t understand us, so just respect that and leave it be. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my experience both in and out of the deaf community, CODAs that become interpreters are remarkably intolerant of people who are trying to learn ASL. Because they are so immersed in Deaf Culture they are automatically deferred to on all issues deaf that interpreters don’t want to address with the deaf. Here’s an example: Kieth Wann is famous in the deaf community as a Comedian. He is a CODA. Recently he engaged in a crusade to stop hearing people (mostly teenagers learning ASL on their own or at school) from posting ASL music videos. Music videos translated into ASL are ADORED by the deaf. Even the bad attempts they will tolerate as a ‘good try’ because there are so many good ones. He didn’t bother to ask his parents if they liked ASL videos - and he doesn’t respond to people who disagree with them, he just puts up a straw man argument about how he is trying to preserve the language.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">That’s funny, because most of the Deaf people I know view amateur posts in ASL (Hey look! I know how to sign!) as a disappointment. Their awkward signing has many mistakes, and other hearing people tune in thinking ‘Oh cool! They’re signing! I can do that too!’, and that it’s somehow fluent sign they are seeing. Then they go ahead and copy that, making all the mistakes they just saw and didn’t realize. It’s not fluent sign. It’s spreading incorrect language to more hearing people, and that’s not right. Leaving that aside, did you approach Keith Wann yourself and ask him if he ever discussed ASL music videos with his parents? How do you know there wasn’t ever a conversation about it? Do you honestly, HONESTLY think the three of them never talked about it? Keith also said that he is trying to keep the language safe, and preserved, and he’s right in that. If amateurs keep posting these videos online, more hearing people who are thinking about learning ASL will be looking there, too, thinking these videos are (examples of) fluent sign. They’re really watching awkward signing rife with mistakes and grammatical errors, and that’s what will spread out amongst the hearing. If that happens, Deaf people will still be alright within their community, but all these hearing people will think they are doing correct ASL when it’s really not. I have a suggestion. All the amateur ASL students and beginning signers should have a disclaimer in the video’s description and title stating that “I am not a fluent ASL signer. I am a beginner.” Let us all know that. That’s fair because anything posted on the internet is ‘public’, meaning all of us should sense an inner responsibility to inform the viewers. Posting these without any disclaimer is irresponsible. So there you go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: lime;"> <i style="font-weight: bold;">All languages evolve - ASL faster than most because it is so young and so heavily influenced by modern culture. You have just as much luck trying to stop it from changing as you do stopping kids from using textspeak in Facebook posts. Instead of encouraging people - as they had in the past when they weren’t whiny little man-childs - they belittle their efforts to learn the language.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Again, huh? You think ASL is evolving faster than other languages? How do you know? Do you have any research proving this? That is a biased opinion, and really ignorant to make such a statement in public. And you think that all of us CODAs refuse to encourage hearing people to learn ASL and sign? You really know nothing about us. Most CODAs want hearing to learn ASL because it’s more beneficial, far more respectful to our parents, and better communication all around. Plus, we (CODAs) won’t feel so (as you put it earlier) ‘forced’ (to be interpreters).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It isn’t as if ‘poor language’ use is unique to ASL. My Abuelo would get very terse with me for my poor Spanish skills, but he never made fun of my accent or my efforts when I actually used Spanish with him because he wanted me to speak to him in the language he was most comfortable with. This is the problem with CODA’s. They aren’t ‘most’ comfortable with ASL, they grew up FORCED to speak it. And I understand, almost universally, at one point or another in their young life, they resented having to use it when it made them stand out. But really, how is this different from being a Muslim who wears a hijab, or a Sikh who wears a turban? How is it different from being black in a white community or white in a black community? Everyone has their burdens, but while a black person might be able to get sympathy from one or the other race he is ‘forced’ to live in/with, he can rarely get sympathy from both cultures. That isn’t true for a CODA.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Honestly, I am ‘most’ comfortable with ASL over English because it is my first language. I didn’t feel forced to learn sign any more than any hearing child feels forced to use the language their hearing parents use. Its a pretty equal scenario. I wasn’t FORCED. You can think about it in two different ways. One being ‘forced’, and one being ‘it is what it is’. There is a big difference there. Any time I had to use sign in a situation that put all eyes on me was never an experience I hated, because in every one of those situations my parents were always proud of me. I never resented their pride in me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i>I go to a deaf branch of the LDS church because it is easier for my husband to socialize with the deaf and use ASL. I am his interpreter there, but I am also a Sunday School teacher supervising the CODA’s in Primary (ages 3-11). When we discussed doing songs in ASL for a program so the deaf parents could understand, the interpreter brought up a concern that the CODA’s don’t like being put in a position where they HAVE TO sign. I countered with “so what?” The hearing kids don’t like to be put in a position where they have to sing for parents. I made the case that the program wasn’t being put on for the kids, it was for the parents to see how much the kids had learned, and the deaf parents wouldn’t know how much they had learned if they refused to sign it.</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Whoa, first off, if the interpreter that said that to you is a CODA, then fine. If that interpreter isn’t a CODA then they have no experience or background with it, making them just as clueless as you are. Are you really taking their word for it? That’s a bit messed up. It’s true that most people, regardless of being hearing, Deaf, or CODA, don’t like being ‘forced’ to do anything. It’s natural. It goes back to my previous point, so let me elaborate some more. When I was in 4th grade, my school was putting together a show for all the parents to come and see. I was to stand on stage and sign two of the songs. Whew! At that time, my family had just moved to town, so the school was only few months old to me, and I hadn’t made many friends yet, just one or two. There was a part of me that was uncomfortable having to do this and hated the idea. (That part of me) didn’t want to do it. But did I have any resentment or regret for doing it? No. I saw my parents watching me sign away on stage and I could see the pride in their faces. That was a really positive experience because it really built my character. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The interpreter wasn’t a CODA, but being a terp, she knew all the sad sob stories of CODA’s. Every kid has a sob story. I bet even Donald Trumps pampered princess could tell us some sob stories that would evoke the utmost sympathy from us.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">Come on! These repeated generalizations are so ridiculous and unnecessary!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;">(Noelle)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: lime;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If our goal in life is to get sympathy, no one has it down better than CODA’s. But if the point of life is to learn, grow and move on from your experiences, then many CODA’s have some serious growing up to do. In the end, my experiences have shown that CODA’s (even my own who act decidedly CODA when I’m not around or when they think I’m not around) are just as troublesome, beautiful, heart-wrenching and redeemable as any child. It’s just trying to get through those struggles with them (or watching them happen to friends) that’s the hard part.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="color: white;">Again, I’ll go back to my previous point. I didn’t hate doing these things, and I never sought sympathy from anyone while growing up. I’m very proud to be a CODA. If there’s one thing I’ve learned form my experience growing up it was this: the thoughts and opinions of all you bigots out there don’t really matter. It’s nothing I really need to see again and again. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You said that if the goal of life is to learn, grow and move on from our experiences, well then, that is just good advice. It really is. Perhaps you should follow it yourself. Your making these generalized comments (about CODAs) in a public forum. Think about what’s happening. You have a responsibility, too. Your statements ARE your responsibility. Do you remember a man from decades ago called Jimmy the Greek? Well, instead of me taking time to explain who he was, you can Google it yourself, then you’ll understand what I mean.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: white;">Until next time,</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white;">R. M. </span></span></div>
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-68156615065952802602013-05-09T20:09:00.002-07:002013-05-09T20:29:11.095-07:00Response to "War with CODAs", at Least the Beginning, Anyway...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having technical difficulties with video uploads. You can view the ASL version of this post at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYnS1lwyzDI"><span style="color: lime;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYnS1lwyzDI</span></a><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Recently my attention has been on an ongoing issue. I want to respond to it, but I need to take time and think about how I should respond. A little while ago, on Facebook, someone in my circle of friends posted a link to a blog post. The woman who wrote it is hearing and is married to a deaf-blind man. The post is titled “War with CODAs”. When I saw that, I thought to myself, “War with CODAs? Who am I at war with?” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I admit it’s true that I have an agenda because one of my goals is to help hearing people with no Deaf experience understand what Deaf people are like, how they live, and what struggles they go through. What I hope is that they will develop a measure of respect that will change their perspective, and maybe that will help reduce Audism. So maybe I do have some adversaries worthy of going to war with, but I really don’t feel that way.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“War with CODAs” was written last year. However, it’s only been recently that people have really taken notice of it. I saw many responses posted by CODAs who were irate at being insulted in this way. I don’t feel any different about it myself. I am a CODA, and I was insulted, too. I don’t want to yell at this person, and I want to be fair, so I thought about what I should do. After reading the post again I wondered if she had other posts related to Deaf and/or CODAs. So I checked through the blog and I found quite a few. I read them all. And I noticed something common popping up in every post. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I feel like her attitude, after reading her commentary, shows that she doesn’t really understand Deaf culture. She’s really ignorant of this. Some of the other comments made me feel as though she is a deep-rooted Audist. You know, sometimes it’s not so easy to separate Audism from ignorance, but I will give it a try.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So my plan is to start at the beginning of this with the “War with CODAs” post and evaluate it. I will discuss those comments that exemplify her ignorance and Audist attitude. From there I will move on to the next post, and the next one, in chronological order, and do the same type of evaluating. I’m going to call this series “I am CODA, and I Know”. I don’t say this to mean “Hey! Look at me, a CODA who knows everything!” My point is to use my experience growing up in two worlds, hearing and Deaf. The cultures are different, but I am involved in both of them. I am going to use this unique experience as my viewpoint, but do so in an objective manner. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One thing I do want to say to the woman who wrote the post is this; “Just so you know, I read your blog posts, and noted how many times you said things like ‘I’m just ranting’, or ‘I’m just expressing my opinions’, or even ‘My blog only has like 40 followers, so really not very many people read this, it’s no big deal.’ That’s ok, I guess. You DO have a right to free speech, but at the same time, you DO have a responsibility. Yes, you do. When you make generalized comments that stereotype different groups of people on a blog, you’ve also made it open to the public. Imagine if you will a time long ago when there wan’t any real technology. There was no internet, but there big printing press machines. So you decide to print up an article declaring that all Deaf people act the same and insult you, and therefore should just go away, and that all CODAs are a bunch of little whiners and ‘Damn! What’s wrong with all of you?’ So then you take that printed article and bring down to town square, where you proceed to find a post (maybe a light post, perhaps, or something suitable) and tack it up by its corners. Well everyone who sees it is going to come walking by and see it. Some will be curious and read it, only to be seething with anger by the end of the article, and will end up coming to your house, knocking on your door just top say ‘Hey! What’s up!? What’s your problem?, etc etc. Now you’re going to act surprised and be angry with them? That’s straight up not fair. You know that hearing people have a saying... ‘People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’.” I think that sums it up well.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The next post will be up soon and will address “War with CODAs”. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">R. M.</span></div>
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R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-79864340894411484702013-05-05T09:07:00.000-07:002013-05-05T09:15:43.721-07:00RM Interviews Keith Wann - SuperCoda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">I want to say first that I apologize for not having a video of my interview with Keith Wann. I stated previously that all English blog posts in the future would have a corresponding ASL vlog to go with it. The interview began last year and slowly completed a few weeks ago, all via email, so unfortunately no video was taken. With that in mind, I want to say a few things about Keith before the interview. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Early on after my first few blog posts I quickly realized that one of my goals was to give insight to hearing people about the Deaf community. As a CODA, I am very familiar with Deaf culture and my local Deaf community. I am still and always will be a part of it. One of the things I know is that most hearing people don’t get it. Please don’t take offense to that if you are one of those hearing people because it’s not your fault. You just never had any experience with it. But if you read these posts and get something meaningful from them, then I have accomplished that goal. This is where Keith Wann comes in. He is a CODA like me and very involved in his Deaf community. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Anyone who has seen one of Keith’s performances, or watched any of the plethora of videos he has online can tell that ASL and Deaf culture are huge parts of his life. Through his work he is doing the same thing I am, and reaching a much bigger audience, I might add. He does it in his way, through humor, performing, and storytelling. I have been watching him now for several years and wondered if I could convince him to take time to let me interview him. So, I found him on Facebook and sent him a message, asking him for an interview. His exact response was this -</span><span style="color: #454545;"> </span><b><span style="color: lime;">“</span></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: lime;">sure thing! I would be honored - let me know what I need to do!”</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">Well over the last year we have finally completed this thing. Keith is a very busy person who wears many hats, and almost all of those hats involve Keith giving his time to others. Whether through performing/touring, his ASL radio program (which I just learned is no longer airing), his work with LegalShield, or with his family, he is giving everything he has of himself to other people, and that’s an invaluable contribution to humanity. I have a very deep respect for him, especially after meeting him recently. Anyways, I’ll end my ramble here and get on with the interview. Here goes....</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc;">Yes. My mother became deaf at the age of three - german measles and pneumonia. My biological father is hearing, (we) never met. The man who I call dad who raised me was born deaf.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: white;">RM:</span></b><b style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: orange;"><b>As a CODA, and knowing other CODAs, we have all had some similar experiences growing up. Could you speak of these and how they affected your childhood?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span> </b><span style="color: #cccccc;">I believe having similar experiences allowed me to have more empathy as a person later in life. I could hear someone and even if I didnt have that same experience I could understand that was their world and what they experienced. For me this came as a lesson to me at the CODA Conference Hawaii 2004 - when I was asked to get on stage and do a bit of my show. I said sure! and then I was asked to voice and not sign...which blew me away...I always sign my show. Then I was told there were codas in the audience that didnt know sign language so I had to be accomodating to them. I was floored... I thought all codas had the same experience as me, deaf and ASL. Lesson learned. </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #cccccc;">For those that did have the same experience I always feel that kindred spirit. The stories I do in my show are not all mine - they are OUR stories.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc;">Can't really name one - made a career out of sharing millions of the childhood stories - I do remember my parents buying me a radio and telling me to listen and learn to talk - they didnt know about the dial tone and didnt teach me either, so I listened for days to a station that played country that wasnt exactly on the dial - so the static was louder then the music. Week later (an) older coda came over, and saw the radio and gave me the "lesson".</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;"> I was just flapping my hands as an interpreter and one night after bombing the gay and lesbian comedy festival since at that time I had no background in teabagging and tossing salads I decided to try out for a local asl improv group. From there we traveled up and down the state of california until one night we were asked to each do a 10 minute solo from our childhood - my first story was the unplugging the vacuum story and the rest is history.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: white;">RM:</span></b><b style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: orange;">I think it's safe to say that Peter Cook is considered one of the best ASL storytellers today. What is it like to work with him?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;"> I still cannot believe that Peter is my personal mentor. He is such an inspiration and support that I now try to be with others that I work with. He has set the bar for ASL performing. To have him treat me like an equal and ask my opinion on how he should change his story is an awesome feeling. To be able to travel with him and see how he thinks, how he treats people, and to see how genuine he is about life, I am one of the luckiest people. He became a close friend, was the pastor at our wedding. His work ethics is outstanding and something all of us need to strive for!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span> </b><span style="color: #cccccc;">Anything that one person takes away and it changes them. I can be proud of one particular piece but it might be for another reason, a simple statement, sign, or story that another person takes and it changes them. Gary Sanderson gave me a gem early in my career and he wasnt aware of it, and I was so happy I was able to talk to him years later and thank him for it. I had someone approach me a year later after one of my shows and say "thank you for pulling my sister up on stage (a silly improv asl song I do) - I am deaf and she is hearing and after you involved her she jumped into ASL and now we have regular sister -sister conversations without mom having to interpret." I get those kind of thank yous all the time and that is what I am most proud of.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;"> Seems to be if a deaf person can talk they feel they are higher in the pecking order since they are 'closer' to hearing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"> </span><span style="color: #cccccc;">A way for the hearing world to hear more about our ASL world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span> </b><span style="color: #cccccc;">That I go blind.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span> </b><span style="color: #cccccc;">More behind the scenes stuff and ASL children's book literature - my 10 years of being America's funniest ASL comedian has been a great ride and I have no problems helping the next generation of ASL performers like Wink and Austin Andrews have their 10 years...there is plenty of room for 100 more ASL coda performers - My show was never about me, but us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="color: white;">Keith:</span><span style="color: #cccccc;"> </span></b><span style="color: #cccccc;">I look forward to learning, growing, and sharing more with our ASL Community.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">I was saddened to learn recently that the Keith and Wink ASL Radio Show is no longer happening. Its concept was great and its delivery medium was original, to say the least. Hopefully the good people of Florida got a lot out of it. Awareness of the Deaf community among hearing people is, in my opinion, the best way we can fight Audism. Power to the Deaf and ASL!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">The above picture is (hopefully obvious) myself and ELF with Keith at his show in Cambridge, MA. The other performers, "Wink" Windell Smith, Jr., and Gregg Spera, both put on exceptional performances. They had us laughing all night long. I was able to make a connection with Wink, and we set aside some time before their next show in Manchester, NH (April 26) to do a video interview. That post should be coming within the next month. It could be a while. I need to go back through and translate all the signing for the hearing people who don't know ASL. Once that is more finalized I will let you all know of a date for that post, so keep checking back!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">I want to personally thank Keith for the time he gave to this interview and the inspiration he has been to many of us. Don't stop performing. People need to know, and laugh about it, too! Find him at </span><a href="http://keithwann.com/"><span style="color: lime;">keithwann.com</span></a><span style="color: #cccccc;">, and watch any of his many videos on youtube. It's great stuff!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc;">Until next time,</span></div>
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R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-18065447783456732762013-04-19T22:46:00.001-07:002013-04-19T22:46:09.923-07:00Si5s.org and its Relation to Deaf Education<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="color: lime;">The following is a video I made several months ago. I decided to post it under the "ASL Vlogs" tab, and the following is a translation in English. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m curious... has anyone in this group seen the book ASL Write? I think that’s the name... well the website is si5s.org. A Deaf man invented a writing system that matches ASL. I checked out the website, and it was pretty cool. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I work in deaf ed, so I approached my boss and showed her the website. She looked it over and agreed that the school should order the book. I’m still waiting for it to arrive. My plan/goal is to read through all of it when it gets here. I want to know if it really matches up with ASL. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If it does, I want to know if other Deaf people have looked it over or if any of you have. My gut feeling is that it’s truly important for deaf education to have an ASL writing system. Currently Deaf around the world have no writing system and kids don’t know of one. But if they knew, if they could learn it, then wow... ASL, signed language, that would feel more, really - no, that’s the wrong sign - LEGITIMATE. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The proof would be right there. Just like with spoken language, English speaking and writing, Spanish speaking and writing, German speaking - and well, writing, and signing and writing... they would be equal. I feel that would be a good self-esteem booster for Deaf people. That would be one thing. The second thing would be more media access through writing. It would be possible for them. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let me think of other things. Well really, I know that in American deaf education, there’s a huge focus on learning to read and write English. It’s important, but English is really a second language for Deaf people and not the first one. So, I know some Deaf people who have spot on English reading and writing skills, but most that I know, whether they are children or adults, reading and writing skills in English are shaky at best. So my thought is that if Deaf people have a writing system of their own that matches ASL, well wow... they would have a fully accessible writing system. For Deaf people, there’s limited to no access to spoken language, and therefore access to its writing system is limited to none, as well. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It makes me feel like this - how can we expect them to learn to read and write a language without full access to it? But writing in ASL would provide full access. That means that learning to write a fully accessible language first would allow skills to be transferred to the second written language, and wouldn’t that mean more successful results for the second one? </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My theory is yes, if there is a strong foundation in reading and writing ASL, then there would be an improvement in reading and writing English, too. They would both benefit. What do you guys think?</span></div>
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R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-18945355424332409462013-04-13T13:50:00.002-07:002013-04-13T13:50:57.260-07:00The Fraser File Vlogs and Blogs IdeasComing soon...<br />
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What's the plan? I'm thinking of having three tabs. The first one is the English blog, which is the ongoing posts I've been typing up. The next tab is "ASL Vlogs". This means all new posts I create will be done in ASL first, then translated to English for the main page. Third, I am thinking of a tab for "ASL Blogs", The reason for this is because ASL writing is now out there in America, whick I am now learning. If anyone has feedback for me, please let me know.<br />
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Thanks!<br />
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R. M.R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-75997117714920234892013-04-07T15:52:00.000-07:002013-04-07T15:52:15.010-07:00A Wonderful Night With Three Great Performers<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It has been forever since I have posted anything on this blog. Much of what has been taking my attention away from writing is finally over, which gives me some much needed free time. So this post is me spending some of that time so I can share with you a wonderful experience that ELF and I had about two weeks ago.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ever since I heard the term CODA, it gave me a sense of belonging to something. For the most part, that tie is to Deaf people. Deaf people who use ASL, but mostly my family, my parents’ Deaf friends, and the many Deaf friends I have made here in the Boston area. There is another tie, just as strong and as unique to my tie with Deaf people. It’s the tie to other CODAs, and it’s uniqueness comes from our common shared experiences. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It’s because of these ties that I have become increasingly interested in ASL performances. Most everything I have seen has been via the internet, watching ASL poems, storytelling, and comedy routines. One of my favorite performers has been Keith Wann. Any CODA reading this likely knows exactly who I am talking about. He may be one of the funniest performers I have ever seen. It’s been a dream to see him perform live, and two weeks ago I finally got to when he came to perform at Harvard University. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The first surprise came after ELF and I parked the car in a local garage and began walking towards Sever Hall where the show would be. On our way down Quincy Street I had noticed and pointed out to ELF two Deaf women just ahead of us on the sidewalk. We had no idea where Sever Hall was, but knew they were on their way there, so we decided to follow them. In about another 200 feet, one of them got into a car, and the other one turned around to make her way to the same vehicle. That’s when I recognized her face. As a young child, my family spent a lot of time with hers. Her father and my father were good friends all through school. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I waved her down and introduced myself. Before I could finish spelling my last name, her face lit up in surprised recognition and she immediately began to relay it through the car windows to her friends inside. The group turned out to be her husband, who had been a more recent fishing buddy of my father’s, her mother whom I haven’t even seen since childhood, and another couple who were also good friends with my parents and hers. They had made the four hour drive from Bangor, Maine to Boston just for the show. We had a great conversation on the way to the hall and while waiting inside before the show began. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was great catching up with all of them, and before I knew it, one of them expressed his thoughts to me on my father, his good friend, and what it meant for him to miss him. His little speech on this caused me to choke back some nearly uncontrollable tears on the verge of crashing down in front of everyone. It was a very thoughtful gesture, and I’ll never forget his words. Loosely translated, he said that he really missed my father, would always remember his laughter, and pointed out that I must miss him dearly. That’s when the flood came for me, and as I was nodding yes he hugged me out of nowhere. I hadn’t seen this man since my father’s funeral service over five years ago, and I’m pretty sure we didn’t even hug then, but it was a very welcome thing nonetheless. I mean, where else can one find such a small community closeness? For me, there isn’t really any other place that lives up to that Deaf community standard. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Well, anyways, after that it wasn’t long before we were allowed into the lecture hall for the show. It was a small audience, maybe about 100 people or a few more. It turned out to be a great show. I was surprised to see one Gregg Spera perform an opening act (very good one-of-a-kind performer, by the way) before another man named Wink performed. If you’re familiar with Keith’s work then you may recognize Wink as well. They have been working together for some time now on an ASL radio show in Florida. The show broadcasts over the radio for the hearies and podcasts on the internet for all the ASLers. Wink is a CODA as well, and his stand up routine had me laughing almost constantly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When Keith went up to perform it was no different. The man is incredibly funny, and between the two of them I identified with so many CODA experiences. Everything they said and did was funny, but to relate to it so well just made the laughter all the more special. I really felt at home, so to speak. After the show ELF and I hung around to meet them, and to our surprise we were invited to hang out with them at a local restaurant. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This second surprise was something I couldn’t turn down, despite how late it was and the fact that ELF and I had to be up early the next morning. So we threw caution to the wind and had ourselves a good time. I do want to say that Keith seems like an incredible guy, and he was very down to earth. We just hung out and ASLed for a couple of hours, occasionally attracting the attention of hearies trying to figure out what all this hand-flying around stuff was all about. One guy literally stopped outside a window to look in on us with his mouth wide open. Well whatever, I’m used to that, I suppose. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What turned out to be an amazing evening of surprises had just one more for us after we parted ways. Keith and Wink returned to their hotel room, Gregg went home, and the other person who was there led us back to the path to our garage. Enter surprise number three; the garage was locked and the security doors down. No way in or out while raining in late March at twelve-frickin-thirty in the morning. So we did the only thing we could do - I called a friend out of bed to come pick us up and bring us home. Thankfully he answered the call. It even turned to snow for a short time before he finally made it there to pick us up. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It didn’t damper the experience at all, however. It was quite a stamp to put on at the end of the day, but we had a great time. The only thing that made it better that it already had been was the fact that not at any single moment did ELF need anything interpreted. She has come such a long way, and I am so proud of her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There is one other piece of news that I wish to share with you all. About one year ago, I contacted Keith Wann in the meager hopes that he would agree to do a blog interview. Well, he agreed to it on the spot, and that was a wonderful surprise. I mean, the CODA Brothers didn’t respond at all, and here was this guy ready to go. So I sent him some questions via email, and over the course of the past year, we finally found time to complete the thing. I will be posting this interview 28 days from now, on May 5th. Not sure by what time, but look for future posts either here or on facebook. If I decide on something, it will be mentioned either here or there. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until next time,</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">R. M.</span></span><br />
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-28501208886437056922012-12-04T20:36:00.001-08:002012-12-04T20:36:32.947-08:00Alliance for Deaf Children Petition to the White HouseHello everyone,<br />
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It's been so long since I have posted, but life happens. Then today, I find out there is a petition to the White House requesting that President Barack Obama and the rest of the federal government recognize American Sign Language as a language and as the language of instruction for deaf babies and children. This petition was put together by the Alliance for Deaf Bilingual Children. It was brought to my attention in an e-newsletter from the Deaf Bilingual Coalition. In order to be recognized for consideration by the White House, there needs to be 25,000 signatures. They only need another 8000+ to reach that goal, and I am calling on all of you readers (regardless how few there really are on this little blog) to do your part and show your support for the Deaf community by telling the government that deaf children should be ignored and misled no longer. I will post a link at the end of this rant. It will require you to sign up for a whitehouse.gov account, but it seems to just be a way for them to account for signature verification. i just did it myself and it took only a minute.<br />
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I cannot stress the importance for this enough. We live in a country where signing for hearing babies has become a popular option for many parents, yet all this time and historically it has not been considered appropriate for deaf children (go Audism). Many schools for the deaf refuse to recognize ASL as their language of instruction. Nearly every audiologist in the country makes no referral of deaf children and their parents to meet someone who is culturally deaf so that they can learn about more than just assistive hearing technologies like hearing aids and cochlear implants. Audism such as this has created a gross imbalance in what parents of deaf children receive for information on all the options available to them. ASL and the Deaf community almost never get equal representation. This petition could be a huge first step in laying a foundation for equality to be built upon.<br />
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As I mentioned earlier, I could not say enough in support of this petition. I hope what I have said is enough to help you seriously consider clicking the following link and sign the petition. Here is the link<br />
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<a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/officially-recognize-american-sign-language-community-language-and-language-instruction-schools/CRPw2JLk?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl">https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/officially-recognize-american-sign-language-community-language-and-language-instruction-schools/CRPw2JLk?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl</a><br />
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Please show your support!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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R. M.R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-34396846789726637202012-10-19T18:10:00.001-07:002012-10-19T18:10:29.817-07:00Come on App Store, really?<div><p>Hello to everyone,</p>
<p>Long time, no time. My apologies. There will be some more book reviews coming, but not until sometime in November. </p>
<p>I am posting this via my mobile app. Not sure how to entirely use this, but as long as text will post, the blog will happen. I was looking at certain mobile apps that teach people American Sign Language. There were some made by people I recognize from DVD programe, etc. Others just looked flat-out awful. For the most part, I have to say I'm disappointed with what's out there. </p>
<p>One app description actually claimed that American Sign Language is a language for people who cannot speak or hear. My first thought was "Really? Only for those who can't speak or hear?" So, from one perspective it came off as this is something for those who are disabled. I don't know, it must just be the CODA in me, but that's a ridicuklous statement. If that's their approach and understanding to Deaf people and ASL I am scared to see what's inside. </p>
<p>This did get me thinking about other things, though. First, I need to do something to put something correct about ASL and Deaf awareness in the app pool. I'm thinking its about time I learn to develop my own apps and get them out there. This needs to happen. The current available apps for the most part, are giving Deaf culture and ASL a bad reputation. So I'm going to try and bend the curve the other way. Besides, the next best thing to a Deaf person making a good quality ASL app is to have a native ASL signing CODA do it. Perhaps there can be an app for other things, too. Time to brainstorm! </p>
<p>Until next time,</p>
<p>R. M. </p>
</div>R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-80047725781728658092012-09-29T08:07:00.000-07:002012-09-29T08:07:07.217-07:00Book Review: Armor of God - The Paladin by Tracy LeschHello everyone,<br />
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Time for another book review. I do have to apologize again for the inconsistency in my posts as of late. Work has been very busy, and it affects everything else. So I guess just don't expect a weekly post for some time. I will do my best. The book to discuss is titled <i>Armor of God - The Paladin</i> by Tracy Lesch.<br />
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<i>Armor of God - The Paladin</i> was a finalist in the 2012 Global eBook Awards. The book follows Jean Baptiste, a monk turned warrior in service of the Christian God, battling demons and evil wherever he goes. </div>
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There isn't any more I wish to divulge in the description, but I do want to say this - I am not a very religious person, if at all. For that reason, I was very hesitant reading this book, What I decided to do for myself was to take the perspective that this was really no different than reading any mythological based story. If it's good for Zeus, Odin, and Roman Deitys, why not Christian ones too? It really did allow me to open up to it, and look at the book objectively.</div>
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With that being said, I am very glad i took that approach. What I found was a really good story of loss, revenge, and work towards self-redemption. Lesch's story is told by Baptiste himself, in first person, which adds a nice perspective to things. It also narrows the view down to that of the main character, but in this case, it felt essential in learning about Baptiste's past and the events that led him down his path. The battle scenes are quite descriptive and painted wonderfully vivd images in my mind. There are certain moments when the story almost has a <i>Bram Stoker's Dracula</i> feel, where the hunt is on. </div>
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Overall I have to say this book is quite a good read, and worth the time. I look forward to Lesch's sequel, <i>Armor of God - The Heretic</i>. I give this book 4 stars. If you can deal with the religious component, give this book a go. You'll be pleasantly surprised.</div>
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This book is available at the Smashwords website for the cost of $2.99. Not a bad price if you ask me. Here is the link: <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/113682">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/113682</a></div>
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Until next time,</div>
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R. M.</div>
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-42611406144915819852012-09-19T16:10:00.000-07:002012-09-19T16:10:23.969-07:00Book Review / Author Interview: War Outside My Window by Dea Dickinson / Christy SloatHello everyone,<br />
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Today's post was a little bit late, and by that I mean perhaps a week or more. My apologies to anyone who may be reading. I had a short interview with Christy Sloat, author of The Brown House. I also recently read a short poetry book entitled War Outside My Window by Dea Dickinson. It seemed like a good idea to combo these two into one post so as not to come off to brief, and to possibly make up for the recent lack of posts. Let's have the interview first.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1) When did you first start writing?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I
have been a writer for as long as I can remember. Always making up
little stories of a kid. My imagination always ran wild. But I started
my first novel, The Many Lives of Avery Snow, three years ago. I wanted
to write and to put my thoughts to paper. Then low and behold I had a
novel. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2)
As I had stated in my review of The Brown House, I am not a fan of the
paranormal romance/young adult genre. I know that many people who follow
The Fraser File are, so I gave the book a go. I think you're a great
writer and very technically sound. I also think you hit the nail on the
head in writing this as a first-person narrative. You really seemed to
be able to get into a teenager's (Brylee Branson's) mindset. Did this
come easily to you?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank you, I hope there are more readers who havent tried books in this Genre that give it a shot due to your review.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To
answer your question, yes it did come easily to me. I am by far not a
teen, but I have a teenage neice who I watch and mentally take notes.
Her behavior is much like Brylee. She was my inspiration for her. Not
every teen is like Brylee. Brylee sees the world in the honest way that
it is. The nitty griddy tough life we all live, that most teens don't
see. Brylee saw because her life fell apart all at once.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's easy to write as a teen
because I think I read so many YA books and I adjusted my head to that
genre. I love to read them because they make me remember my youth. You
can never be too old for YA. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3) I understand there is a sequel to The Brown House. Are there or will there be more books coming in this series?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes
I plan on doing a short novella in the early spring on one of the
characters, Kayla. Her story just
has to be told so I decided to do a short story on her life. I am also
planning on debuting the next novel on this series in the summer of
2013. So many people want me to hurry up and write it. But I have 2
series going at the same time. I only have so much time in one day. I
can't say how many books we will end up with this series, only time will
tell.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4) What other books have you written and what genres are they?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Many Lives of
Avery Snow and Ianni. They are paranormal romance and I enjoy writing them too. But I love writing suspense more.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5) Lastly, if you could tell the readers where they can purchase The Brown House and your other works. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My
books are available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook, Barnes and Noble,
Books-a-million and more. Pretty much everywhere. I have also been
accepted to be on the shelves of Barnes and Noble for my first book and I
am super
excited about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christy-Sloat/e/B0071MMCU6/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1348094682_0">http://www.amazon.com/Christy-Sloat/e/B0071MMCU6/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank you for the interview, Christy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ok, now for part two. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I want to go on record that I am not as much into poetry as I used to be. I have written quite a bit of my own, but over the years I have gravitated away from it somewhat. This book was a gift from my sister, who shall remain nameless. After reading War Outside My Window by Dea Dickinson, I decided a review is in order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's definitely a straight-forward book of poetry. Poetry for me is hit or miss, and a lot of what I read in this book didn't appeal to me. There are some that did however, especially the title poem. The ones that I enjoyed weren't for the flow or rhyming schemes, however. It was for the content. In some of her other pieces the rhyming scheme came off a little underdeveloped. I find it tough to use that word sometimes, though, because there might not be enough time in the world to fix how cheesy a rhyme sounds. Certain ones are just not meant to be in a piece. I've committed this same flaw in several of my pieces, and either found a better scheme, or just avoided it entirely. What really draws me into a poem isn't the words themselves or the rhyming schemes in general. It comes back to the content. If it can give me a clear mental image of what is being conveyed and the content is interesting to me, then I tend to enjoy it. I feel that Dea Dickinson did a pretty decent job of that in some of her poems, and out of those, some had content I related to or found interesting. I'd have to say that a good chunk of what I didn't care for was more to do with content than writing style, et cetera.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In light of that, and knowing that poetry is a very subjective thing to review and comment on, I will give it 3 and a half stars. It wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but it might be for you in you enjoy poetry at all. It's at least worth picking up and reading. Decide for yourself from there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The ebook is available for purchase/download at <a href="http://shop.authorstand.com/search.aspx?searchTerms=&searchGenre=&searchAuthor=dea+dickinson">authorstand.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">for $!.50.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is also available on <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type=&keyWords=dea+dickinson&x=0&y=0&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=">Lulu.com</a> in paperback and ebook (pdf)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until next time,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">R. M.</span>R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-677003791720728372012-09-06T18:05:00.001-07:002012-09-06T18:05:53.167-07:00Book Review: Picker by Chad SchimkeHello everyone,<br />
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Time again for another book review. This is again, not a review of a work involved in the Global E-Book awards, more of those are still to come. This post in particular is a review of author Chad Schimke's<i> Picker.</i><br />
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Picker is somewhat of a crime thriller. I look at it as more of a crime drama, but that's probably just splitting hairs on my part. The setting is New Mexico and follows Fernando, a young man who has just inherited the role of crime boss from his father via his mother, who somewhat held it all together until he was of age to take on the responsibility. Fernando is in a position in which he can't escape, despite his desire and effort to be someone normal.<br />
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As for my take on this novel, I thought it was ok overall. There were some things I really enjoyed about the book, and it was mostly Schimke's descriptions of the New Mexico area, as well as when he touched on Native American life of tribes indigenous to the area. I found that Schimke has a knack for the historical aspect of fiction, which was refreshing for me, as I was pretty well parched out from many of the other books I have been reading recently. Schimke has a lot of potential as a writer.<br />
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Having said that now brings me to the not so good aspects of <i>Picker</i>. The story jumped around a lot, going from historical Native American settings, to Fernando's father's past, and to Fernando's present itself. There was a theme going on, and I could pick up on it, but it was very convoluted. There were so many things that Schimke could have done in his writing to explore the relationships and contrasts further. If he had done this, I would have been a much bigger fan of the story. Instead, what I read was something that felt way too short and needed so much more. Despite the strength of his settings, backgrounds, and writing style in general, it had too many gaps in the story and not enough ties. I can appreciate an author's attempt to not become lengthy and long winded, but in my opinion, a great author recognizes that it's the story itself that needs to be told, and that will dictate how lengthy it needs to be. My gut feeling is that Schimke wasn't quite there yet in this novel.<br />
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I do believe that Schimke has a high upside if he continues to write, so I hope he does. As for <i>Picker</i> itself, I am only giving this book 3 stars. It was ok. I hope he lives up to his potential in future books, and I plan to check in on one and find out for myself someday.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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R. M.<br />
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-36698399085894056832012-08-28T22:04:00.000-07:002012-08-28T22:04:51.387-07:00Book Review: The Brown House by Christy SloatHello everyone,<br />
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I had the opportunity to read and review The Brown House by Christy Sloat. The book is definitely not in a genre I normally like to read. There are very few YA books that I have ever gotten into. Paranormal is hit or miss for me. Romance novels are almost always out of the question for me, too. However, the reason I decided to take this on was for you readers out there. I have a very mixed crowd of followers, but I am aware that many of you book lovers who do read this are quite fond of YA, paranormal, and romance genres. This one has all three, so I figured as a "thank you", I'd swallow my aversion to these genres, and give it a read.<br />
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Tghe story is about a teenager names Brylee, who moves with her family from California to New Jersey. She didn't want to come, but soon makes friends with the girl next door, Lyn, and then of course, there is the romantic interest in her older brother, Ephraim. The house Brylee now lives in seems to be haunted, and it's up to her to solve the mysteries of the home's past occupants. Sorry for not giving more info, but I hate to give any story away completely.</div>
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For starters, I have to say that I really did not enjoy this book. This doesn't mean it wasn't good writing. In fact, Sloat is an excellent writer in my opinion. My problem was the genre. Unfortunately, I still have a hard time finding any YA novel that interests me. I found the content boring because I don't really relate to it. This story was narrated in first person (Brylee), and Sloat seemed to really catch the essence of a teenager's perspective on things. Her descriptions of scenery were adequate for a YA novel, and even the romance portions were written well. The haunted and spooky aspects of the story were developed well, and the ability to carry this plot into a sequel looks so far to me to be a good choice. One thing I did notice was that at times I felt more character development was needed for the supporting cast. Maybe Book Two does that, but I will never find out. </div>
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I want to stress how good of a writer I think Christy Sloat is. I remember feeling the same way about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I tried to read it when it first came out and before the movie was released. I remember thinking that J. K. Rowling was an excellent writer, but I was bored by the fact that the characters were kids. Sloat is a very competent writer, and it shows in her work. I wish I was into the genre even a little bit more than I am, because I would have really gotten into it, I think. With Sloat being an independent writer and having little exposure, I can't use popularity as a basis of comparison, either. But I know what I read, and it was technically quite good. If Sloat wrote about medieval fantasy, I'd definitely give it a shot. I suppose the only other way to describe it is to liken it to how I feel about music. I'm sure that many of you can appreciate bands who are very good in there genre, even if you dislike it. For example, I would take classic Gun's N' Roses any day of the week over anything else. I also loathe country music in general. However, there are times when I am stuck having to listen to country music, and I do notice that some bands/performers out there are just far superior than others. Despite the fact that I hate country music,. I can appreciate the quality of product that some country artists come up with, and I'll still turn the radio dial to something more favorable every time I have the opportunity. </div>
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So I guess that sums it up, really. The Brown House is, in my opinion, a good YA/Paranormal Romance read. I have no doubt that Book 2 is/will be just as good as the first. So for those of you who love this genre, I believe it to be worth your time. I have to give Christy Sloat 4 starts on this one. She is a good author and more people need to discover her. </div>
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Available at Barnes & Noble; <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-brown-house-christy-sloat/1112134916?ean=2940044689930">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-brown-house-christy-sloat/1112134916?ean=2940044689930</a></div>
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Available at Smashwords; <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/173544">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/173544</a></div>
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Find it on Amazon; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brown-House-Visitors-Series-ebook/dp/B0089FV9JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346216471&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Brown+House" target="_blank"> http://www.amazon.com/Brown-House-Visitors-Series-ebook/dp/B0089FV9JY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346216471&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Brown+House</a></div>
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Also available at Kobo and other online ebook retailers.</div>
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Until next time, </div>
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R. M.</div>
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-66856263768357822142012-08-23T08:23:00.001-07:002012-08-23T08:23:57.918-07:00CODA Not Acceptable?! Says Who?!Hello everyone,<br />
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I would like for you all to take a moment and look over this picture I downloaded from Facebook. Just read through if you can.<br />
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As I read this, I began to feel somewhat offended. A Deaf person is telling me that the term CODA is wrong because it is sound based? Whoa, hold on Deaf person, let me see if I can explain my perspective on this.</div>
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I grew up in a very rural area with two Deaf parents. Throughout my childhood, I always signed it "mother father Deaf". I was about 17 or 18 the first time I saw the term CODA. It was presented as an acronym, Child Of Deaf Adult/s. When I saw this, I immediately identified with it. It made me feel validated. Always signing "mother father Deaf" was really telling everybody that "yea, my parents are Deaf". CODA, on the other hand, says that "I AM that child of Deaf parents". Let me see if I can put it another way for you.</div>
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CODAs often refer to themselves as living in between two worlds; the Deaf world and the hearing world. Many of us feel as though we are never really quite fitting in fully with either one. </div>
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For myself in the hearing world, I do things differently than most other people I know because I do them in a more Deaf way. I am very blunt with hearing people, and a lot of them are put off by that. All my life I have been criticized by hearing people that I look angry all the time, when in fact I am not. It's just my tendency to wear a "Deaf face". I have given up on explaining this to hearing people, because most of them don't understand it. Most of them can't even wrap their heads around it. The end result is that it leaves me misunderstood and left out of a lot of things in the hearing world. It's been a very frustrating experience.</div>
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For myself in the Deaf world, I do things a little bit differently than the Deaf do, especially when I was a kid. I liked my music to be loud and I sang in front of my parents when I listened to my music. I had hearing friends, etc etc. One thing my parents never did for myself or my sisters was give us name signs. I noticed that some of my parents Deaf friends would speak with their own CODA children instead of sign with them. It was very weird in a lot of ways that I cannot readily explain, but often times I felt like I just wasn't one of them. Much like I wasn't a hearing person, either. That's what it means to be between two worlds. Where the hell was my identity?</div>
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Ever since I learned the term CODA, I have dropped "mother father Deaf". Every Deaf person I have ever met either refers to me as a "CODA" or asks me if I am Deaf myself. I take great pride in the latter because it makes me feel like signing is so native to me, that Deaf person had no idea I was hearing. I believe my deceased father is looking at that from somewhere and smiling his ass off. In all seriousness, I have never met a Deaf person who was offended by the term CODA. I have met some who didn't know what it meant, but I would then explain "mother father Deaf" and they would say "ok, now I get it". I have never seen a sign for CODA. I have always just fingerspelled it, and it comes out like a fingerspelled loan sign, like "bus" or "bank". The fingerspelling is its own sign. The sign that this Deaf person has seen that is the ASL sign for "self-esteem boost" is one I have never seen before. But I must say, I kind of like it. To me, that's a very ASL way of saying "I am a CODA. Very proud of both worlds to which I belong." I'm not sure how it can be viewed as inappropriate or offensive, but this Deaf person's criticism is a shining example of what CODAs mean when we say that sometimes we don't feel accepted into either world. For me personally, I know many Deaf people who accept me for who I am fully, hearing experiences included. I feel it's a very small minority of Deaf people who don't fully accept that. </div>
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So when I see that term CODA, I feel that yes, it is somewhat English based, but you know what? That's ok because I AM hearing. I love the fact that it is also a term used in music, because I love music, and that's another "CODA" thing. In general, we love music! The fact that I fingerspell CODA like it is an actual sign shows it's somewhat Deaf based, too. And apparently this newly used sign for CODA is very ASL based. You can't criticize it for not being fully ASL. ASL is beautiful, and true CODAs NEVER forget that. But you can't be mad at us for creating our own identity. Just because we identify with hearing in many ways does't mean we disrespect or reject our Deaf identity, and just because we identify with Deaf in many ways doesn't mean we reject or disrespect our hearing identity. Stop making me feel crazy! I will not pick one over the other. I am who I am and that's both! Accept it Deaf! Accept it hearing! If you can't, to hell with you for being so narrow minded!</div>
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Just another sliver of what it means to be a CODA.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-42685033158237071652012-08-22T18:37:00.000-07:002012-08-22T18:37:43.021-07:00100 Followers!!! Call to Fight Audism from the AFF!Hello to everyone,<br />
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This is just an in-between reviews post. Today marks a milestone for me, as The Fraser File now has 100 followers! I'd say that's pretty good in less than a year's time. I want to thanks every one of you who have decided to follow the blog. Not sure how many continually read it, but that's ok. I'm getting enough comments from time to time to make this a worthwhile venture.<br />
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I guess the next question is, how do I celebrate this? Well, back when I reached either 20 or 25 followers, I held a giveaway of my ebook, <i>Allesandra's Bequest</i>, to five people. The only thing I have done this far is send messages to <b>vintage books</b> and <b>KindleMom</b>, who are my 99th and 100th followers. I have no way of knowing who was number 100, but as a thank you to them I have offered free copies of the same book.<br />
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So for the rest of you, I want to do something a little more interactive. You see the AFF logo on the right hand side of the blog? Previously I had stated that if anyone finds an Audism related ad on my page and reports it to me, I would make them the latest Superstar on the AFF roster, proving your worth as an Audism Fighter. It's a take-off of my a guilty pleasure of mine - professional wrestling. Also, check out The Frog's (his album cover at the bottom of the page is a link) album, T3RD, and hear his song "Professional Wrestling".<br />
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Ok, got off track there for a second. What I have noticed is that I have yet to see an Audism related ad since I started blocking them. I assume that so far, no one else has seen one. I could be wrong, but I go with what I have in front of me.<br />
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So here's the deal. If you find an act of Audism anywhere on the internet (should't be difficult if you are actively looking for it), leave a comment with a link to the website. I will break down all the horrible Audist aspects within it, and place you on the AFF roster, complete with cool wrestling nickname! This is also in addition to finding an Audism related ad on this site. As an additional thank you and in celebration of reaching 100 followers, the first 5 Superstars added to the AFF roster will also receive a copy of <i>Allesandra's Bequest</i> for free!<br />
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Again, thanks for following the blog everyone! I want to make one last comment about the petition from change.org that you can see on the right hand side of this page. The petition is intended to help stop St. Martin's Press from publishing Kristin Henson's <i>Super Smutty Sign Language</i> book. I have posted on this before, and it's Audist for sure! The petition needs 10,000 signatures to go forward. Initially this petition got a lot of signatures, but has slowed down immensely over the last few weeks. If you haven't done so, please sign it. If you have any friends that would like to help the cause, get them to sign it to. Clicking the ad on this page will link you to where you can sign the petition for yourself. The more signatures means the louder the voice will be telling St. Martin's Press and Kristin Henson herself that this book is offensive to culturally Deaf people everywhere. As CEO of the AFF, I urge you to sign the petition! Hahaha!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
<br />
R. M.R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-26091250407120161452012-08-20T13:42:00.000-07:002012-08-20T13:42:43.381-07:00Book Review: Milk and Oranges by Charlene Wexler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,</div>
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The Global E-Book Awards are over and the winners announced! I'd like to say congratulations to you all and it was an honor to be a judge for this awards ceremony. Having said that, let the reviews follow.<br />
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This week I am reviewing <i>Milk and Oranges</i> by Charlene Wexler. This a collection of short stories. Most, if not all, are from the author's own life. There were two stories that really got me. The fist was called "The Cruel Club". It was an amazing short that made me cry (yes, this guy does that once in a while). It dealt with grief and loss, more specifically mothers who have lost a child. In this case it was related to cancer. I found the emotional part of it gripping, to say the least.<br />
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The other story was entitled "Motorcycles are Dangerous". It is somewhat related to "The Cruel Club". It's about her dying son (leukemia), who wants a motorcycle. It's a very short bit, but the emotion is again raw and I found it interesting.<br />
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Unfortunately these are the only good stories from this book. For me, the remaining thirty-three stories were not good. I found many of them to be poorly written, and not because of poor editing (editing was good) or poor command of the English language. It was just that the stories were relatively boring. If there was something special about these stories they were lost on me. Maybe "I had to be there", or something like that. I find it somewhat difficult to say that an author should have gotten more in depth when it comes to short stories, but a little more wouldn't have hurt. If Wexler wants to make these more interesting to the reader, they need a little more punch or something. I just wasn't seeing it. There was also a slight hint of "holier than thou" attitude in some of the stories. It wasn't present in all of them, for sure. But it reminded me of one of my aunt-in laws and how she is always keeping up appearances. It's weird, but it didn't sit right with me. It actually made me kind of dislike the author.<br />
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I wish I could give this book more than two stars, but I can't. That's where it is. If "The Cruel Club" and "Motorcycles are Dangerous" were their own book apart from the other thirty plus stories, I'd give it four stars. So if you really want to read those two stories, I'd say go get her e-book. I believe it is available at most online e-book retailers. Otherwise, if your reading tastes are anything like mine, good luck.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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R. M. </div>
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-52787869589428501222012-08-17T11:44:00.000-07:002012-08-17T11:44:08.977-07:00Update and Dragon Naturally Speaking
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I just wanted to give a short post today to let all
of you know that for the first time I am trying Dragon's Naturally Speaking
software. This is very new for me and this may be very awkward and take some
time to get it together. I'm finding that what I need to do is to retrain my
brain to have a complete sentence ahead of time before I speak it, otherwise
what comes out on screen is not very good in either spelling or grammar, or
word recognition. I just said the word "text is" and what came out
was "taxes". I have said plenty of things that are also screwing up
as well, but I won't get into those now. Suffice it to say that Dragon's
Naturally Speaking software does not recognize CODA speak.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My goal for using the software is to help me write
future e-books. Currently I am working on a novel about my life as a CODA. What
I found so far in my writing process is that my typing is horrible. I am a very
slow at this and my brain processes ideas faster than my fingers can type. The
end result is that by the time my typing catches up to where my brain is, I've
either lost a good portion of, or the entire idea completely. So hopefully this
software will help me to be able to get my ideas on screen quicker, and
therefore I can retain most of my ideas before I lose them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So far this is still going slow, but it still faster
than I can type so it's already a plus. I am very confident that as I continue
to use the software I will be able to speak more smoothly and quickly, which
will leave me with some minor editing to do after I'm done speaking. I am already
noticing that the software is picking up my accent a little more clearly the
more I speak, so hopefully this will make a big improvement in this process as
well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For those of you who do write and do not have this
software, I suggest finding a copy of it and giving it a try. So far I am
having fun with this new software and I expect it to be a big help to me in the
future. Hopefully this will translate into possibly having more frequent posts
on this blog. Even if it doesn't I should still get these things done quicker,
and that's a huge plus for me. So here's to hoping that I will be writing more
efficiently and more quickly. It's given me my first good feeling in quite some
time that the CODA novel will be ready and published much more soon than I have
been recently expecting it to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More book reviews soon become as tomorrow is the
Global E-Books Awards ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. This means that I
can post reviews of all the e-books I read and judged for the GEAs. I believe
there were eight of them, and I plan is to post one e-book review per week. So
that will be a good two-month stretch, if not a little more when you factor in
books I'm currently reading. I am looking forward to being much more productive
over the next few months. Hopefully you readers will be seeing that as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">R. M.</span></div>
R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-39292933546081227852012-08-11T21:08:00.000-07:002012-08-11T21:08:52.331-07:00Audism Experiment and Book Review Update: Red Leaves and the Living Token by Benjamin David BurrellHello everyone,<br />
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I wanted to update all of you in regards to the Audism Experiment posts, which were done to show how Audism is such a deep seeded part of every day life by seeing what happened with content related ads presented by Google AdSense. I have looked into options for blocking those sites that promote Audism and/or that are Audist in nature (my apologies if Audi car ads still show up). What I found is that I can block whole categories of ads.<br />
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So what I decided upon for now was to block everything health-related. The medical profession is one of the worst Audism offenders out there, and it seemed that most, if not all, of my Audism related ads were from that group type.<br />
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I understand that this will likely be far from a fool-proof plan, and that more Audist ads will leak their way onto the page. I will be regularly checking the site myself for these ads, but more sets of eyes are better than just mine, so I need the help of all of you readers. Anyone who informs me of an Audist ad on my page will be forever memorialized on this blog for all readers to see as an "Audism Fighter". Just imagine, you could kind of be a superhero, with unheard of fame (seriously, there's only 96 followers right now)! Still cool in a nerdy sort of way if you ask me, though, and I'd be proud to put your name up. I should make an Audism Fighter logo to go with it. It could be something like a badge for everyone who makes the page! Cue symmetrical H-As repeating away from my maniacal laughing Joker face! It can be combined with my favorite guilty pleasure, professional wrestling! Instead of TNA or the old WWF, it can be called the AFF - the Audism Fighting Federation! We can all be superstars with great nicknames! Mine can be "R, The Mallet, Fraser", otherwise known as "The Audism Smasher" (kind of like what Gallagher did in his stand up routine). Or how about "The CODA Kidd"? That would be so cool! My finishing move could be boxing someone's ears to make them go Deaf! BWAHAHAHAHA!<br />
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I do have one other update. This in regards to Benjamin David Burrell's novel, <i>Red Leaves and the Living Token</i>. After posting my recent review, he contacted me and gave me some new excerpts that is currently being added into the book as a revised newer addition. I had an opportunity to read through them, and they helped to round out the story in certain small areas of the book. I wouldn't consider it enough to change my review of the book, but I am very excited to read book 2 of the series now. previously I had been trying to weigh the book as it was with what I hoped would be a better writing effort shown in the sequel. The fact that Burrell went out of his way to show me these excerpts tells me that he is very serious about his writing, which is all the proof I need to know that he has a good upside in his future writing career. At some point I will be purchasing book 2 of this story, and I have a gut feeling I won't be disappointed.<br />
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Please remember to report any Audism related ads that you might come across on my page. The AFF will soon be on the map!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
<br />
R. M.R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-87130308955771673832012-08-05T20:52:00.000-07:002012-08-05T20:52:09.634-07:00Book Review: Red Leaves and the Living Token - Benjamin David Burrell<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had the opportunity to review the story Red Leaves and the
Living Token, by Benjamin David Burrell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's a good story with a lot of potential. It is the first in what
appears to be a series of three.</span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The story is a about a man named Raj, and his son, Emret, who is
in a hospital for a disease that is threatening his life. It's much like you
would see with young cancer patients in our world. In this world, there are
three main races of people, the Petra, Zo, and the Botan. It seems to be like
our modern world in many ways. Then again it seems old fashioned at times as
well. Emret is desperate to find a cure, and will do anything to find it. Raj,
on the other hand, is a very protective parent in hopes of a medical
breakthrough. When Emret disappears from the hospital with his favorite nurse
in search of a legendary cure, Raj is out of his mind in order to get his dying
son back safely. In the interest of not spoiling the story, I will stop there.</span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I said before, this story has a lot of potential.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to it. From a fantasy aspect, it's
nothing I would call typical, which is a good thing. The bad thing was how
underdeveloped the setting was and the background aspect of things. I'm not
sure if that is coming across correctly. What I mean is how the three main
races were never really described at all, and I felt as if I was imagining the
characters incorrectly. Correction, I was. I found myself picturing them as
regular humans. A little more background information and/or description of them
would have helped considerably.</span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another detriment to the book was the obvious lack of editing. I
often found spelling and grammar mistakes. Some were so obvious that I wasn't
sure if it was edited at all. I find this to be a common theme among indie
authors, and I assume it's mostly caused by financial restraint or just knowing
someone who is qualified to lend a hand in proofreading. However, there is no
need for it to be as bad as it was in this story. I can understand some things
being overlooked, but contend that standards still need to be met by indie
authors.</span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What the author did do very well was getting into the emotions of
the main characters, especially Raj, Emret, and Rinacht. There were some points
in the story where I expected him to delve a little deeper and he didn't, yet
then he would go further in unexpected spots which rounded it out nicely. To me
this is one of the author's stronger aspects in his writing, and that kept me
going through the book. </span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Overall, I am giving Red Leaves and the Living Token 3 stars. I
found the story to be 'ok', everything considered. I am still undecided on
whether or not to continue reading this series. However, if I do, it will
be because of my curiosity about the fantasy aspect of the story, and whether
or not the author improves on it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For those of you who wish to take a look at this book for yourselves, it can be found on several ebook websites, including <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/161224" target="_blank">Smashwords.com</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-leaves-and-the-living-token-book-1-part-1-benjamin-david-burrell/1111398970?ean=2940033234196" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Red-Leaves-Living-Token-ebook/dp/B008216N7I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344224810&sr=8-3&keywords=red+leaves+and+the+living+token" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. There is also his website <a href="http://www.benburrell.com/">www.benburrell.com</a> if you would like to learn more about the author himself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until next time,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">R. M. </span><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7088310994540836944.post-31315371762233129552012-08-02T20:26:00.000-07:002012-08-02T20:26:15.069-07:00Guest Post: Sadie Forsythe<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone,<br />
<br />
Please welcome guest poster for today, author Sadie Forsythe. Sadie has written <i>The Weeping Empress</i>, which is her only work thus far. I asked her if she would do a post here, and I now know what this post will be about. I'll let her say the rest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge51MRV-9G_iSGHw-Fl1m1z1jIHD4meeKaRIqr45XKH_sx6p_g9XRc5xOUOTQXD2JKpSmhA_C4U3jNulOG0eyCTcrWK2AtKI5IckVCFuE6XnR9Tt_3gB808rmAgcU0PUsxMiiys7nvCxg/s1600/SF+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge51MRV-9G_iSGHw-Fl1m1z1jIHD4meeKaRIqr45XKH_sx6p_g9XRc5xOUOTQXD2JKpSmhA_C4U3jNulOG0eyCTcrWK2AtKI5IckVCFuE6XnR9Tt_3gB808rmAgcU0PUsxMiiys7nvCxg/s320/SF+pic.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">I don't have a lot of time
recently. Who does, right? But one of the things I do in my scarce free time is
read a ridiculous amount of manga (and the occasional manwha). I'm especially
drawn to those dark, twisted tales that make me shutter to think what might
actually go bump in the night. While I've never been the type to easily real
off titles and mangakas, after a little thought and a quick glance at the
electronic shelves to remind myself who drew what, I've come up with a list of
my twenty favou<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7088310994540836944" name="_GoBack"></a>rite dark mangas.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">But before we get on with the
morbid goodness, a few caveats. This list is obviously restricted to those
mangas that I happen to have come across. There are no doubt tons of good
titles out there that belong on this list, but aren't there because I haven't
read them yet. Additionally, it is also limited to the ones that I happen to
recall at this precise moment in time. It is almost a certainty that tomorrow
I'll think of one I loved and wish I had added. Too bad you'll never know, but
I will. Lastly there are a few fabulous and unquestionably dark mangas that top
every such list--I'm thinking </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=208"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Gantz</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">*, </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=41"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Death Note</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">, maybe even </span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1037"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Claymore</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">--I'm excluding them. We all
know they're fabulous. Why say it again? This leaves more room for other less
know stories.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">So, here they are in no
particular order. (Honestly, picking out 20 favourites was hard enough. Asking
me to rank them among themselves would be beyond hellish.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1789"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Alive</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Takahashi Tsutomu</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=984"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Gunslinger Girl</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Aida Yu</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1628"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Blade of the Immortal</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Samura Hiroaki</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=88"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Berserk</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Miura Kentaro</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=15631"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> Dokuhime</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Mihara Mitukazu</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=25921"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Kurobara Alice</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Mizushiro Setona</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.</span></span><span style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=355"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Hellsing</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Hirano Kouta</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1380"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Dogs: Bullets & Carnage</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Miwa Shirow</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=387"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Vagabond</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Inoue Takehiko/Yoshikawa
Eiji</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1525"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Homunculus</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Yamamato Hideo</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=40128"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Wolf Guy</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Tabata Yoshiaki/Yugo Yuuki</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=1974"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Concrete Garden</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Kotobuki Tarako</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=67189"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">A Fairytale for the Demon Lord</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Kim Yong-Hwan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=12654"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Lamento - Beyond the Void</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Nitro+Chira/Chayamachi
Suguro</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">15.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=2044"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Cossette no Shozou</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Katsura Asuka</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">16.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=50759"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Kami no Kodomo</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Nishioka Kyodai</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">17.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=61131"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Kara no Kyoukai</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Nasu Kinoko/Tenkuu Sphere</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">18.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=3090"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Dance in the Vampire Bund</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Tamaki Nozomu</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">19.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=45027"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Kiyomerareta Yoru </span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">by Motoni Modoru</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">20.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=5741"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #1955f2; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Hotel</span></a></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> by Boichi</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">So there they are, my top
twenty. The list probably tells you more about me than an afternoon full of
conversation. While the stories cross the genres, each is dark in its own way,
the art is relatively similar - there are no wide-eyed Shougo heroines here. On
that front I suppose I could easily have simply said "anything by Mihara
Mitukazu, Ktobuki Tarako, or Mizushiro Setona," and have had just as
honest a list. But if, like me, you find the darker side of man appealing check
these out first.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What do you think - disagree,
something not quite dark enough for you, have something to add? I'd love to
hear about it. I'm always on the lookout for the next best read.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">*I'm
linking to Baka-Updates simply for the ease and convenience of having all of
the synopses in one place. If you like what you see there (and are able) you
should of course buy the book and support the artist.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
Thank you, Sadie for your post! I hope there are other anime lovers out there reading this besides myself. You've expanded my knowledge of this subject a great deal. For those of you who feel the same, please leave comments here for Sadie. If you would like to see more guest posts from other interviewed/reviewed authors on this blog, please let me know in the comment section. I'd be more than happy to accommodate.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
R. M.<br />
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<br /></div>R. M. Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425046521284447194noreply@blogger.com0