By Allen Neece

What do you do when your body suddenly rebels against you? What do you do when you’re instantaneously rendered immobile, unable to walk without the aid of crutches? What do you do when your holistic sense of physical well-being crashes and burns, a smoldering wreckage adding volumes to the L.A. smog levels, leaving a stunned mind grasping to comprehend just what the frickin’ heck has happened? What do you do when a debilitating injury such as a ripped Achilles’ tendon seemingly occurs out of the blue with no plausible explanation, as if the proverbial thunderbolt from above had finally struck down the nay-saying atheist?

I don’t have an answer yet and perhaps I’ll never come up with one. Granted, I’ve spent the past ten days or so lolling around my apartment here in Echo Park, parked on the couch, staring absently out the window at the tree line across the arroyo. If I can see beyond the ridge the outlines of the Santa Susana Mountains across Glendale, across the Valley, then the air quality’s not bad. If I can actually see the mountains, then the air’s good to go. If I can’t see beyond the ridge at all, if I can only see an ominous brown haze, then, well, I try not to think what it means for my lungs. Although the initial shock of experiencing this certifiably traumatic injury quickly receded, I’m now dealing with the aftermath. The surgery took place last Friday and the lower left calf is now fully immobilized. The doctor, being the professional he is, absconded after the operation; I have no idea how many sutures and/or stitches I have. For all I know, he probably lifted tendons from leftover porcine cadavers and stuffed them here and there into my calf. Yes, they do that. Anything to save a buck.

My left leg hurts but not from the injury but from the lack of exercise. Actually, my knee and quadriceps ache from the lack of weight bearing. I can feel, even see, the muscles atrophying day by day. My right gluteus maximus, by contrast, has grown, no doubt from all the one-legged pissing, squatting, hopping and lurching about it has been subjected to (when I start wearing jeans again, one butt is gonna be bigger than the other, a weird sight to behold I’ll be sure). I blow the right ankle, tendon, big toe, or whatever, and I’m truly paddleless up a particular odious, brown creek.

I’m not a religious person. Like I said, I’m an atheist (I just had to say that twice, huh?). Consequently, I can’t say I’ve been sitting around, wringing my hands and tearing my hair out, chalking up this disaster to an act of a peeved God. I mean it’s not like God was up there in his Control Room, scanning the monitors when he happened across the Allen Neece Channel and decided to tap the “Smite” key.

“That punk, this’ll teach the bugger a lesson,” God muttered to himself.

SNAP went the tendon.

I’m tempted to believe this theory as the visuals are awesome and, at the least, it provides an easy way out of deconstructing this whole mess I’m in.

However, I’ve spent enough days now scrutinizing every possibility and I guess the only real explanation I have for this calamity of stupendous proportions is that I need to “listen” to my body more. I don’t do any high-impact sports; the last time I did any was when I was hashing in D.C. six years ago. Nowadays, I do spinning, yoga, stair climbing, swimming, and hiking (all very Californian, yo). In fact, it might have been the 10 and 15 milers that I pulled off when I was up in Big Sur a few weeks back. I purposely sought out the “strenuous” labeled trails and charged up them ranges, carrying along as if I’m still 20 years old, swaggering my 6’4, 230 lbs frame up to the summits; upon return to the tent, nonchalantly neglecting to follow protocol and stretch prudently, thanking my quivering muscles, instead pounding myself on the back and cracking open the waiting frosty brewskis; “Yeehaw!” I screeched and gesticulated to myself in a shrill Deaf voice as I staggered around the fire, alarming the families encamped near-by. Okay, you get the picture.

I teach high school in Los Angeles. To be more succinct, I teach English to deaf teenage Latinos. It’s the toughest job I’ve ever had. Now, add a severed Achilles’ tendon to this picture and it’s suddenly the all-new Tenth Circle of Hell. I can already picture the scenario as I return to work a week from now, lugging myself slowly down the hallway through the gauntlet as my students hoot with derisive glee. They’ll no doubt pilfer the crutches and leave me mewling on the floor. The swine! I’ll like to see them try that.

Good Crom, this is what happens when I stare out the window all day and let my imagination run amok. Seriously, my students aren’t evil and they wouldn’t do anything like that. Hmmm. Of course, there’s always a first time.

I’m not even sure what I’m trying to say here. I was trying to wax poetical about debilitating injuries, hoping to share some insights from lying on my butt for days on end, thinking I would try and close this Blog with something cheesy like, “Always accentuate the positive in a negative situation” which is true and good and all, but I’d rather go out with something more substantial like, “the next time you have a bad day, just be glad you don’t have a torn Achilles tendon to deal with”. Somehow that doesn’t quite nail it either but I think you get the idea.

Allen Neece was born deaf in Washington, DC to a hearing family and grew up mainstreamed across the river in Arlington, VA. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Deaf Education from CSUN. He has had a slew of jobs over the years: five summers of life guarding, forest fire fighter in Idaho, fish packer in Alaska, caption writer for the Caption Center, touring member of the National Theatre of the Deaf, among others. He currently teaches English to deaf secondary students in Los Angeles (Echo Park in the house, y’all!). He still nurses a lifelong passion for punk rock, hip-hop, politics, and adventures in the great outdoors. He has only four tattoos.

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

By Fred Royer

My oh my, how times flies! It only seems like yesterday Ricky Williams was once again found passed out on the street, curled around a bong and week four is already upon us. Let’s not waste any more time, and get right down to business.

Arizona at Atlanta:

Smart money is on Atlanta, duh! Even with Matt “one night in Paris” Leinart potentially making his first career start, ‘Zona has no chance to beat ‘Lanta at home. Falcons by 14.

Dallas at Tennessee:

If you’ve got money to burn, bet on the Flaming Thumb Tacks. Otherwise, the Bovine Boys by at least 3 touchdowns.

Indianapolis at New York Jets:

This is something of a curiosity. The Jokes are playing well behind a rejuvenated Chad Pennington. Still, smart odds have the Ponies by 9. Consider yourself lucky if it’s any closer than that.

Miami at Houston:

Please! Houston might as well not even bother to show up, the way they’ve been playing since inception. At least Charlotte had a competitive team from the moment they took the field.

Minnesota at Buffalo:

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Once the losers of 4 straight Super Bowls, they’re now the equivalent of Thurman Thomas looking for his helmet. Minnesota in a blowout.

New Orleans at Carolina:

New Orleans is on something on an emotional upsurge lately, but someone forgot to tell them games are played on paper. Carolina should handle them by 10 points, but don’t be surprised if it comes down to a field goal.

San Diego at Baltimore:

This will probably be the most exciting, closely played game of the weekend. Smart money has Baltimore winning at home, but don’t count out Marty Ball, especially a hard-hitting defense with a nose for the ball. Baltimore by a field goal.

San Francisco at Kansas City:

Ready for a song I just thought up on the spot? Picture Mike Nolan singing: San Francisco, open your golden gates, open your gates and LET ME OUT. Kansas City in a blowout, even with Damon “I’m not Brock” Huard under center.

Detroit at Saint Louis:

The Rams in a laugher. Matt Millen should be ashamed of himself. Did he and Dubya get separated at birth, or what?

Cleveland at Oakland:

If you’re a glutton for punishment, this is the game for you. Otherwise, Cleveland should be able to handle the lowly Raiders.

Jacksonville at Washington:

The Jacksonville defense has a reputation for hard-hitting, witness their Monday night shutout against the Stealers, anyone? Did you see Hines Ward get his bell rung all night? Still, the ‘Skins at home, with Clinton Portis… smart money has them winning by one point.

New England at Cincinnati:

Finally, Marvin Lewis will show how smart he was giving away Corey Dillon. The Bengals will maul the lowly (at least on offense) Pats. Expect another 4 touchdown outing from Golden Boy Carson Palmer, who has finally laid the ghost of Boomer Esiason to rest, despite Boomer being alive and well (sorry Boomer!).

Seattle at Chicago:

Chicago came from behind to beat the Vikings last week and silenced some of their doubters. They will play another competitive team in the Seabirds this weekend, but sadly, without Shaun Alexander getting his 30 touches, it won’t be enough to topple the Monsters of the Midway. Chicago by 10 points.

Green Bay at Philadelphia:

I hope Brett Favre kicks the crap out of the Beagles. Smart money has the Beagles winning by a touchdown at home. Here’s hoping Brett has enough left in the gas tank to show Donovan McNabb what a real NFL QB looks and plays like.

That’s all, folks! As always, these are not to be used as betting purposes. Unless I’m taking the bets.

Fred Royer is a Navy brat who graduated from WT Woodson High School and Virginia Commonwealth University (Class of ‘99, BA in Philosophy) and has returned to the area after several years of wanderlust, including an epic cross-country drive to Alaska where he stayed for 5 months near Denali. Fred is currently a defense contractor in Falls Church, Virginia .

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

*before I go on with writing this piece. I’m fully aware that it might cause some controversy. I just want to say that EVERYONE is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs that you might not agree with. *

This was brought on after I finally finished A Million Little Pieces written by James Frey. Now this wasn’t an easy book to read. First it took me almost a month to read, I never take that long reading a book. It wasn’t an easy read because it was full of emotion, exhausting to think about, heart wrenching, and not glamourous at all. In a way, I felt that author, James Frey, was true to himself more than any other author who has written about this kind of thing.

Here’s an excerpt from his essay about his book —

“I have never seen about addiction or alcoholism that I felt was true to the experience that I had lived. Books always glamorize it or romanticize or make it seem cool. It is not glamorous. It is not romantic. It is not cool or even close, it is just fucking awful.”

It is more true than anything.

The part that grappled me the most about this entire book was when he had a conversation with his counselor while he was in treatment. The counselor was insistent that alcoholism and addicition is a disease. He said he just wanted to scream at them and say it is not a disease. It’s a choice to be addicted to drugs and alcohol. It goes on and on, but he never says anything to them. He really wants to tell them, it’s not god or a 12-step program that will help you cure your disease. It is your will.

Here’s my point of view, I think any sort of addiction is in your head. It all has to do with whether you say yes I will do it or no I do not want to do it. It has to do with your will. The will of whether or not you want to take a drink, shoot up or do some blow with a hooker. No one is holding a gun to your head and saying, here, you absolutely have to do this. Maybe a tiny part of it has to do with genetics. But if you have a strong will and do not want to fall prey to alcohol or drugs or even sex addition, then it’s all up to you.

Granted I’m not saying that it is an easy thing to do, it really isn’t. Especially when you are in high school or college where there is peer pressure. Come on, it feels really good. it tastes good, it’s a great high. and so forth. It’s so easy to fall prey to do any of those things. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t do it or that you should do it. It’s a matter of will, do I want to do it or not?

This book was HONEST. This is how he saw his life, this is how he thought it happened, this is how it affected him, this is how he chose to deal with it, this is how he told his parents, this is how he survived.

I did not enjoy this book because it was almost too real. There were parts in there I would rather choose to believe do not exist. I’m not naive. I know these things happen, but I would like to believe that they shouldn’t happen.

another point of this book that Frey really made the most sense to me was when he doesn’t believe in god. he finds it hard to believe in something that doesn’t exist or there is no proof. He much rather believe in himself and have the will to say look I’m gonna have a drink, or not? He uses his will to make himself better to stop his addiction. and for him, he was successful. Now it might not work for everyone, but for him, it worked.

I don’t think alcoholism is a disease. I don’t think addiction is a disease. I think it has a lot to do with whether or not you want to have a drink, or you want to take a hit. it’s all you and no one else.

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

I am going to talk a little football here, so please be patient with me (have to get it off my chest!).

Despite being a Cowboys fan, I was not too pleased when our acquisition of T.O. was announced last year. I felt that we were paying an exuberant amount for a talented yet troubled player, and drama was definitely not what Dallas needed. Was it all worth it?

First, came his issues with 49er QB Jeff Garcia and then coach Steve Mariucci.

He pissed off the Ravens by spurning them.

Then his issues were with McNabb and Andy Reid in the Eagles.

He antagonized the Eagles’ fan base by wearing Michael Irvin’s jersey after they were beaten by the Cowboys.

In Dallas he started the season off with a broken finger and now he attempts suicide?!?!

When I first read this, three questions sprang to my mind:

1. Is he doing this just to get attention? (as he is notorious for this)
2. What was Jerry Jones thinking? (considering Parcells is good at working with players who are difficult)
3. How much is enough for T.O.?

The thing about T.O. is that he is an excellent and talented player. The extra baggage that comes with it is not pleasant. He gets paid well, and he repeatedly fails to do his job. As an athlete his responsibility goes beyond just the performance at the games. He has to respect the fans who helped put him where he is. Somewhere he lost his sight and I do believe he is going the Ricky Williams way: CFL anyone?

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

I was just thinking about Juanita’s blog, “Fumble In Deaf America” and how she feels that people in the deaf community are spoiled and expect too much.

I beg to differ.

Simply because of most of my deaf friends, we had to work even harder to prove ourselves. When I was younger, I went to MSD and basically breezed through 6th grade. I felt like I wasn’t being challenged enough, so I made the decision to try out a public school and see if it would be better. And it was. Middle school was a good experience, but still I had to prove myself.

However when I got to high school, I had to prove to my peers that I was just as smart as them. It wasn’t easy (in fact, i kind of think college was easier than high school). I had to step up and start taking AP classes as well as get a head start on some college classes at Hood college. It was even harder because I had to speak up in English classes. They always graded based on participation, and it is usually hard for me to keep up with the discussions that were going on in class, but I managed. There was constant competition, but I was up for the challenge.

It’s a lot of work to stay awake in classes because you have to pay attention to the interpreters and it’s really not that easy on your eyes. When you have interpreter, you have to work harder to focus and pay attention, and that can be exhausting. In the meantime, my peers could easily close their eyes and continue to listen to the teacher. It is exhausting to constantly do that and you still have to read your homework assignments.

Then when it comes to sports. Oh it’s interesting to play with a team of hearing people. Granted I could speak and I could hear but when it’s game time, all I can hear is the crowd. Volleyball’s a sport that requires communication with your teammates, so are all other sports. I was the key setter on my team. The setter is usually the most aggressive player on the team, because they have to be at the drop of the second ball no matter where it is on the court. I had to set up a system of communicating with my coach when there wasn’t an interpreter, it worked. But i definitely had to stay on my toes. In any sport you play with a team, communication is essential. The deaf people on any hearing team definitely have to work harder so they know everything that is going on.

Now in the real world, I still have to work harder than my peers. Not because I’m proving myself to them, but to myself. It’s interesting because I find myself working more than them because they’re able to talk while they work. Of course, I can’t really do that. I envy hearing workers because they can talk to one another without having to look at each other or talk on the phone instead of having to wait for an email from one of the executive directors. But you know we all still do the work, we all have to make sure it is done. The deadlines are no joke here.

I am not complaining that we have to work harder, I’m glad I have to work harder because I know it’ll take me to some really good places. It always feels good when I run into classmates from high school (although I will admit if I run in to them, I try to run in the other direction), and I can tell them how far I’ve gotten.

I think accessibility is important. I’m glad all the shows I go to make an effort to try to provide an interpreter if I request one. I don’t think I’m spoiled by that. As for the seats, I’m glad I get good seats and I pay the same price as the person sitting next to me. I’m the one who makes an effort to call when the tickets go on sale, usually within 1 or 2 days of when the tickets go on sale, it shows that I pay attention, this is the kind of stuff that is important to me.

And whatever else is important to you, the shows you see, the games you see, if you have the accessibility, enjoy it.

Why should we not have the same privileges as a hearing person does?

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

I just went to the rally this morning at the Federal Communications Commission that is protesting the exemption of over 300 television programs simply because they are produced by nonprofit organizations and captioning the programs could cause “significant difficulties for these entities.”

Representative Edward J. Markey (MA) said about the recent FCC decisions:

“…there are reports that in the last week the Commission has sent out dozens, and perhaps hundreds, of letters granting waivers to closed captioning obligations. I understand that these exemption requests were filed and considered without public notice and therefore interested parties did not have an adequate mechanism for addressing potential problems or any deficiencies in the requests. The Commission also apparently failed any public notice about the reportedly large volume of approval letters that were granted and mailed out in the last week.

I also understand that several entities seeking exemptions were ultimately willing to comply with the closed captioning obligations and only sought temporary waivers. Netherless, the Commission apparently granted such entities permanent waivers.”

This morning I learned that most of these exemptions were given to religious organizations, most of which likely belong to a Christian denomination. I am flabbergasted; don’t Christians want to spread the gospel to everyone in the world? If that is the case, why would Christian organizations purposely exclude deaf and hard of hearing people from the gospel?

Christian organizations that requested and have been granted exemptions may be abandoning the words of Jesus by excluding deaf people from their programming. According to Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus calls on his followers to:

“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

“All” includes deaf people does it not?

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

In nearly thirteen months since hell spat out floodwaters on New Orleans, the city has yet to recover completely. The Lower Ninth Ward still resembles a desolate wasteland, full of strewn garbage and damaged lives, waiting to be rebuilt.

Tonight, at 8:30 pm EST, the city of New Orleans welcomes its pride and joy — the Saints. The first professional football game in the city in more than a year happens tonight.

With the ground-shaking playmaking of the Barry Sanders-clone, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush aptly titled the savior of New Orleans, leading the 2-0 Saints against the Atlanta Falcons, also undefeated, led by rushing quarterback Michael Vick. This provides to be a must-see.

Michael Smith of ESPN has declared this game “the rebirth of New Orleans.”

This game is more than the first of eight four-hour distractions this fall. For many, it’s the rebirth of ritual. The Saints are as much a part of New Orleans as Mardi Gras, jazz, Cajun cuisine. Just like with Mardi Gras in February, the Saints’ playing here again is another step toward normal, whatever this city’s new normal will be eventually. As the Saints go, so goes the mood of this city. It’s on a high through Wednesday when they win. Sunday — or Monday — nights are quiet when they lose.

While I cannot deny how important the New Orleans Saints or even Reggie Bush, with his new rebuilding program partnered with Diet Pepsi (see www.yardbyyard.com), Bush has capitalized on his instant fame, even before he earned a yard in an actual game.

Smith and everyone else in New Orleans and those affected by the devastation truly need this whole thing to help New Orleans recover. But, to pin this all “rebuilding” and “the city’s savior” on the Saints or even on Bush is unfair and grossly overrated.

Where is the recognition to the overworked police force? The first responders (and no, I’m not referring to FEMA) after the hurricane? The EMTs, firemen, ordinary people who put aside their personal belongings and their lives to rescue people stranded in attics and rooftops, and even Mayor Ray Nagin. For all the hot air and his bluntness, Nagin won re-election earlier this year, restoring faith in his constituents to rebuild New Orleans.

All of the credit should go to those involved, not to the Saints alone. Yes, the Saints deserve credit for what they are doing, but to market the Saints as the saviors of Big Easy, is plain wrong.

Of course tonight I’m rooting for the Saints. And, for the people of the city of New Orleans to grow from their tragedy and triumph over adversity.

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

Tu firmamento del azul.
Tus bosques muy sombrios.
Sembrados tan magnificios.
Montanas muy bravios.

America, America
Con tu fraternidad.
Del mar al mar, el dios ha,
Creado libertad.

America Linda - King Platypus

---

Your sky of blue.
Your forests, so shadowy,
Croplands so magnificent,
Mountains so bold.

America, America,
With your brotherhood.
From sea to sea, the Lord has
Created liberty.

---

My deaf family and I have been in America for a few years now. I love life as a American. I had a sordid past. Today, there are times when I want to ascend the highest mountain if not the top of the Washington Monument and scream, “Dios, Thank God, Almighty, I’m free at last.”However, I’m saddened to see how spoiled and litigious some deaf Americans have become.

Take, for example, the recent class-action lawsuit filed by the National Association of the Deaf on behalf of three football fans. With all due respect to NAD, this lawsuit may be questionable. This action among others may suggest that the NAD is an important, influential organization that doesn’t have its priorities in check.

The lawsuit contends that the Washington Redskins team is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide captioning for the deaf during football games. This is true. The ADA says that the facility must provide accommodations.

But with that said,

• Did you know that there is a school outside of Guadalajara that forbids its deaf students to play football (soccer) simply because they are deaf?
• Did you know that there are many deaf individuals who live in Eastern Europe who sign to each other under restaurant tables for fear of reprisal?
• Did you know that traditional relay services via TTY (and not VRS) have just become available to deaf New Zealanders?

---

• Did you know that most deaf people in the world have never been to a football game, let alone any live professional sporting event?
• Did you forget that most deaf people in the world live in poverty and have average life spans that are half of that of the average American?

---

• Did you know that my son didn’t have a sign language interpreter on his first day of university?
• Did you know that my deaf neighbor who is a wheelchair user got fired from his job because of the unreliability of the Metro elevator at Federal Triangle?
• Did you know that a deaf woman, two nights ago, was wrongfully arrested by the local police and unable to communicate her innocence until 3 hours later because she was handcuffed?

---

---

I try to stay ahead, I try to stay on top
I try to play the part, but somehow I forget
Just what I’m doing it for and why I want more
This type of modern, deaf life - Is it for me?
This type of modern, deaf life - Is it for free?

---

The ostrich often buries its head in the sand, and sometimes the flag.

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

The Forbes 400 is out again and for the first time everyone on the list is a billionaire. Net worth of the entire list is 1.25 trillion. I noticed that the 4 of the top 5 are college dropouts. Warren Buffett is the one with the degree. I guess this means that there’s hope for the college-kids-who-shall-not-be-named.

Top 10 Net worth, in $Billion

William Henry Gates III, 53.0, Microsoft
Warren Edward Buffett, 46.0, Berkshire Hathaway
Sheldon Adelson, 20.5, casinos, hotels
Lawrence Joseph Ellison, 19.5, Oracle
Paul Gardner Allen, 16.0, Microsoft, investments
Jim C Walton, 15.7, Wal-Mart
Christy Walton & family, 15.6, Wal-Mart inheritance
S Robson Walton, 15.6, Wal-Mart
Michael Dell, 15.5, Dell
Alice L Walton, 15.5, Wal-Mart

Juanita Garcia, 0.00000000001, investments? (I wish)

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.

“Things are quiet and peaceful in small-town Jericho, Kansas, but when a baffling explosion occurs in the distance, Jericho’s residents are plunged into social, psychological and physical chaos. No one knows what to think, and fear of the unknown takes over the town, especially because its isolation cuts it off from outside help. When nearly everything they know seems gone, will the residents of JERICHO band together to face their unfamiliar and mysterious new world? Skeet Ulrich (”Scream,” “As Good as It Gets”) stars.”

So reads the synopsis of CBS’s newest show (or one of the newest fall shows) Jericho. What’s so special about this show? What warrants me writing a blog about it?

Shoshannah Stern.

A beautiful Deaf actress who plays Bonnie on the show. She will be a regular on the show, and already newspapers are touting her for the next possible love interest of the main character, Jake played by Skeet Ulrich.

After much pondering about what a show of people living after a nuclear blast could be about and curiosity of how the role of Bonnie (played by Shoshannah) would fare, I watched the hour-long series premiere of Jericho last night. Shoshannah only showed up in very short scenes. [NOTE: I just remembered that Shoshannah had a scene in the beginning of the show where Jake (Skeet) visits and says “Bonnie you’ve grown up.” Shoshannah’s on her sidekick and she looks up and smiles. That’s a nice one.] Most of them were close-ups of her reactions to the mushroom cloud, the uninterpreted phone message from a neighbor boy’s mother who apparently dies in the blast (she does sign “my boyfriend!” which isn’t captioned for the non-ASL users), and the mayor consoling a distraught town. There’s not much signing going on just yet, which leads me to wonder how Bonnie’s following all this. If it were me, I’d be demanding people tell me what was happening. But because the camera isn’t on Bonnie much, we could reasonably assume that people are talking with her off-camera (*ahem*).

As for the rest of the show, the premise is interesting. The writing isn’t all that original. Some of the acting isn’t that great. But it’s only the first show. There’s still time and room for improvement.

I have no doubt in Shoshannah’s ability to play the role well.

But I do have doubt in CBS’s ability to capitalize on her skills as an actress. I plan on being a faithful fan (Skeet… let’s admit it, is cute! And he even drove a bus when he was about to pass out from countless injuries. I was flinching while watching him drive the whole way home!! Okay I think the line between fiction and real-life has just been blurred…) and rooting for Shoshannah.

—
© Copyrighted material. This article cannot be copied, reproduced or redistributed without the express written consent of the author. As with every blog on this website, this blog does not reflect the opinion of DeafDC.com.