Saturday, January 24, 2004
Posting other people's stories
Life Lessons: Putting Stuttering into Perspective
by Candace Webster
from Michigan, USA
Life Lessons: Putting Stuttering into Perspective
I have stuttered as long as I can remember. For years stuttering dominated my every thought, career decision and waking moment. During my childhood, teen years and young adulthood, my life centered around my stuttering. However, in my mid-twenties I started experiencing, what I call, life lessons that helped me put my stuttering into a perspective that speech therapists, psychologists and family were never able show me.
In the years since I have learned that stuttering is not terminal. Stuttering is not life nor death. Stuttering is not the end of the world. Stuttering is simply a pain in the @#$%*. If a therapist would have said this to me 30 years ago, I’m certain I would have ran from the office in tears. Because at the time, stuttering was killing me. Not in the literal sense, of course, but with every difficult block a part of my soul died, or so I thought.
Fortunately the life lessons I mentioned before, have helped me put my stuttering into perspective. I no longer feel that my stuttering is life or death, end of the world or killing me a little bit at a time. My stuttering is now simply a personal fact, just like my blond hair, green eyes or big feet.
If you are a teen or adult stutterer, it is very likely you have experienced life lessons that can help you put your stuttering into perspective. You just have to be willing to accept the perspective and to use it to your advantage. This is my story on how I put my stuttering into perspective.
My picture-perfect world changed dramatically at 25. I had married my college sweetheart 5 years earlier and we lived on a small ranch in the foothills of Denver. He was a petroleum engineer and I worked part-time as a graphic artist. We had horses, a beautiful home and traveled extensively. One day I received a phone call that he died in an accident. Suddenly worrying about my stuttering was at the bottom-of-the-heap. It was no longer important. I grieved, I cried, but I survived. I had never experienced anything devastating in my life up until that point. Previously, my stuttering was my devastation and now that paled in comparison.
In the months and years following Grady’s death, I still thought of my stuttering and I considered myself a stutterer, but I now only stuttered if very tired, stressed or on the phone. Even then, my stuttering was moderate. Using the learned perspective, I could now control my stuttering, rather that allowing it to control me. Wow, what a lesson.
Nine years later I remarried. Jerry had attended seminary with a stutterer so he recognized my tricks and pattern of speech as those of a stutterer. But he didn’t care. He was the person that introduced me to the term "controlled stutterer." What a great term, at least for me. Yes, I did stutter, but to some extent I could control it.
After we had been married for about a year, and there was no pregnancy, we began infertility testing and treatment. After two miscarriages and our hopes shattered, we chose to apply for adoption. I just wanted to be a mom. I had always worried about being a stuttering mother and now I didn’t care if I was a stuttering mom, I just wanted to be a mom. Fortunately, we adopted our son Zachary quickly and 14 months later I became pregnant with our youngest son, Nate. Our sons are now 9 and 11. Another life lesson: being a mother is more important than me stuttering.
Throughout these years I worked full-time at very fulfilling positions. I had moved from graphic arts to publication management at a university. I made more money than my husband (okay, I admit it...it was a great ego boost), I developed a national reputation for university print management knowledge and presented workshops on print management at national conferences. On most days my stuttering was a non-issue. There were bad stuttering days, but those were few. At the end of a long tiring day at work, I would come home and have difficulty with consonants, but I was at home and it wasn’t bothersome. Another life lesson: loving my career was more important than stuttering.
In 1998 I wasn’t feeling well and I went to the doctor. I assumed that it was something as innocuous as lack of exercise or early menopause. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It was cancer—leukemia. I began chemo immediately and did two rounds of 6 months each before they told me that my only hope was a bone marrow transplant. The transplant was successful. But the extensive chemo before the transplant was ototoxic (toxic to the inner ear). Within 6 months my hearing diminished rapidly. I now have only 15% to 20% of my hearing. I am functionally deaf. What I once prayed for (deaf people can’t stutter) now is my reality. Hearing aids do help, but they are uncomfortable and amplify everything. Another life lesson: hearing is infinitely more important than stuttering.
I rarely talk about my "life lessons" with people because I’ve discovered that they immediately want to feel sorry for me. There is nothing to feel sorry about. I’ve been told I have horrible luck but I really don’t look at it that way. I’m not angry at anybody. Nor am I pissed at God. My life, though a series of unfortunate happenings, has been and is wonderful. I have been fortunate enough have loved and been loved. I’m a mom to two wonderful little boys, I live in a rambling 1860 farmhouse and I have two dogs that think I walk on water. What more could a woman want? (Okay, winning the lottery would be nice...)
I have written this for a very specific reason: I want to tell stutterers that you need to put your stuttering into perspective. I know, from experience, that it isn’t easy, nor will it happen overnight. But if you allow yourself to concentrate on your whole life (and your whole person) rather than simply your stuttering, you will be able to put your stuttering into perspective.
I have known many stutterers and it truly upsets me when they have told me that because of their stuttering they have little or no social life or are in a dead-end job when they are capable of so much more. I know that the big problem is how others perceive your stuttering. I fully and completely understand this, BUT I also know that how you perceive your stuttering significantly impacts their perception.
I recently watched an Oprah segment about aging and the emotional effect it has upon women. The show had interviewed one particular woman who was very attractive, educated, well-spoken, and quickly approaching 48. She was absolutely terrified of growing old. She felt she was losing her ‘edge’ and that people would look at her differently and treat her differently simply because she was "old." She was so obsessed with growing old that she had lost all her joy for life. I wonder if she had thought about what the alternative was—death. You either grow old and you’re dead. Not much of a choice, but those are the only two choices. Stuttering is much the same. There is no magic cure for stuttering, nor none in the foreseeable future, so your choices are: death, deaf or stutter. Hands down, I’ll take the last one.
I often play a little game with myself. I call it "Which is worse?" It is simply a series of mental questions to remind me of my life lessons and the importance of perspective. Sample questions: Which is worse? A rude operator who has no tolerance at all for your stuttering or sitting on the floor of the tub and pulling out handfuls of your hair after chemotherapy? Blocking in a restaurant while trying to order or hearing from the doctor you’ve just miscarried? I also have silly questions, but you get the point. When I’ve had a bad day, that may or may not have ANYTHING to do with stuttering, I still play this game with myself. It helps me remember what is really important and puts things into perspective.
I urge you to remember your life lessons and to find your perspective. Life lessons do not have to be cataclysmic--they just have to be yours.
National Stuttering Association
The South Central Minnesota chapter of the National Stuttering Association met on Thursday, January 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The meeting was held on the MSU campus in Armstrong Hall room 103J. Present group members at this meeting included Preston from St. Peter, Todd from Mankato, and Judy from New Ulm. Also present were two communication disorders students, Leisa and Mary from Mankato.
Preston read the opening words. After introductions, the group discussed participating in a panel for an undergraduate stuttering class for either the March or April meeting. It was agreed by those present to participate in the panel. Other members of the group will be informed.
Next the meeting was opened to questions from the students. The first question concerned if and how stuttering had affected the members' careers. The responses were yes and no. One member indicated liking his job, but that interviewing differently may have given him different options. The next question requested members to name people who stutter who they look up to. The role models listed included Jack Welch and John Stossel for their abilities to achieve greatness. Next a question was raised about members' reasons for attending NSA meetings. The reasons included the fact that there is nobody else to talk to about stuttering, it's a place with understanding on the topic, friends have been made in the group, it's therapeutic, and a place for natural interaction. The next questions considered change in members' stuttering in the past five years and possible change in the next five years. In the past five years, stuttering had changed as part of therapy. For one, the change included stuttering more, but not hiding it anymore; he hopes for future improvement. Another indicated that there hadn't been change, but for the future he expects his stuttering to vary as it currently does. The final question was, "feel the fear and do it anyway; what does this mean to you?" Members discussed that the fear is the problem and how being comfortable with yourself makes your listener comfortable with you.
After the questions, the group played the POWERR game from the SFA in order to evaluate its usefulness with adults. The game involved responding to statements or questions from cards in ways that were either "powerful" (positive, good attitude) or "powerless" (negative, detrimental). It was determined that the game was flexible in that it could be appropriate for adolescents and adults, but some of the statements were difficult to respond to and would be too difficult for pre-teens. Additionally, it could be adapted to fit the needs of a particular client or group by choosing statements without the game board. It was thought-provoking and a good way to practice skills without specifically stating that as the goal.
Later the group was given short item from On The Lighter Side on the Stuttering Home Page.. Each person read aloud or re-told the story to the group.
Snacks were provided by Leisa and Mary. Todd read the closing words.
Preston agreed to prepare an activity for the next meeting which will be held in Armstrong Hall, on the MSU, Mankato campus on February 24, 2004. Check in 103 AH in the Communication Disorders office for the room number. The March meeting was tentatively set for March 18, 2004. Anyone receiving these minutes is invited to attend. Call 507-389-5840 if you need directions.
Preston read the opening words. After introductions, the group discussed participating in a panel for an undergraduate stuttering class for either the March or April meeting. It was agreed by those present to participate in the panel. Other members of the group will be informed.
Next the meeting was opened to questions from the students. The first question concerned if and how stuttering had affected the members' careers. The responses were yes and no. One member indicated liking his job, but that interviewing differently may have given him different options. The next question requested members to name people who stutter who they look up to. The role models listed included Jack Welch and John Stossel for their abilities to achieve greatness. Next a question was raised about members' reasons for attending NSA meetings. The reasons included the fact that there is nobody else to talk to about stuttering, it's a place with understanding on the topic, friends have been made in the group, it's therapeutic, and a place for natural interaction. The next questions considered change in members' stuttering in the past five years and possible change in the next five years. In the past five years, stuttering had changed as part of therapy. For one, the change included stuttering more, but not hiding it anymore; he hopes for future improvement. Another indicated that there hadn't been change, but for the future he expects his stuttering to vary as it currently does. The final question was, "feel the fear and do it anyway; what does this mean to you?" Members discussed that the fear is the problem and how being comfortable with yourself makes your listener comfortable with you.
After the questions, the group played the POWERR game from the SFA in order to evaluate its usefulness with adults. The game involved responding to statements or questions from cards in ways that were either "powerful" (positive, good attitude) or "powerless" (negative, detrimental). It was determined that the game was flexible in that it could be appropriate for adolescents and adults, but some of the statements were difficult to respond to and would be too difficult for pre-teens. Additionally, it could be adapted to fit the needs of a particular client or group by choosing statements without the game board. It was thought-provoking and a good way to practice skills without specifically stating that as the goal.
Later the group was given short item from On The Lighter Side on the Stuttering Home Page.. Each person read aloud or re-told the story to the group.
Snacks were provided by Leisa and Mary. Todd read the closing words.
Preston agreed to prepare an activity for the next meeting which will be held in Armstrong Hall, on the MSU, Mankato campus on February 24, 2004. Check in 103 AH in the Communication Disorders office for the room number. The March meeting was tentatively set for March 18, 2004. Anyone receiving these minutes is invited to attend. Call 507-389-5840 if you need directions.
Al Gore invented the Internet and emails for people who stutter
This is a cut and paste:
Subject: [SLPtalk] 14 year old with occassional stuttering
My friend's son is 14 and has an occassional stutter. She is wondering what to do to help him. It'd serious enough that when he answers the phone he says "bruce here" rather than saying "hello" because H is one of the letters that he more frequently stutters on. He manages to hide his stuttering from most people by appearing to be shy and not talking much.
Should she take him for a speech therapy evaluation? If so, is there any specialty that she should be looking for in the SLP's background? Or ask the school district to evaluate? Or maybe join Toastmasters or take a "learning to give Speeches" class?
Reply:
I think he would benefit from therapy. The child seems to be affected in
his behavior, affective and cognitive aspects of stuttering. He is avoiding
words and situations because he has issues that come along with his speech.
When interviewing a Speech Pathologist about stuttering therapy, ask about
their experience and philosophy of stuttering behaviors. How many clients
have they worked with before? Do they address the behavioral, cognitive and
affective components of stuttering?
They also need to look at his language production. Do complex linguistic structures tend to be a factor in his stuttering behavior? The school district can help but then there is time taken away from his classes. If he has an independent therapist working with a school therapist many situations can be incorporated into therapy that will help him in his fluency progress.
Good luck with your friend. I am sure there are many issues that may affect this child's communication that can be addressed by a competent, licensed SLP.
Question 2:
Do you have to write a speech and say it in front of the class in any of the speech language pathology classes...isn't Speech 101 like that? do you even have to take Speech 101? Oh God...I'm so confused...help me LOL!
Answer 2:
Every college is different. But if you don't like speaking in front of groups, don't go in the field. You will find yourself doing some speaking in front of groups-even if it is for an inservice for your school-some presentation where you work.
And don't tell me you can't do it. I am a person that stutters and does it. You may not feel comfortable doing it. and you may dread it. But actually public speaking is a skill everyone can use for any type of job you want. If you are really afraid of it, try and do it. I understand your fear-but you can conquer it. If you are in college or just starting college, the best skills you can get are:, writing skills, public speaking skills and computer skills. Almost every job requires them.
Subject: [SLPtalk] 14 year old with occassional stuttering
My friend's son is 14 and has an occassional stutter. She is wondering what to do to help him. It'd serious enough that when he answers the phone he says "bruce here" rather than saying "hello" because H is one of the letters that he more frequently stutters on. He manages to hide his stuttering from most people by appearing to be shy and not talking much.
Should she take him for a speech therapy evaluation? If so, is there any specialty that she should be looking for in the SLP's background? Or ask the school district to evaluate? Or maybe join Toastmasters or take a "learning to give Speeches" class?
Reply:
I think he would benefit from therapy. The child seems to be affected in
his behavior, affective and cognitive aspects of stuttering. He is avoiding
words and situations because he has issues that come along with his speech.
When interviewing a Speech Pathologist about stuttering therapy, ask about
their experience and philosophy of stuttering behaviors. How many clients
have they worked with before? Do they address the behavioral, cognitive and
affective components of stuttering?
They also need to look at his language production. Do complex linguistic structures tend to be a factor in his stuttering behavior? The school district can help but then there is time taken away from his classes. If he has an independent therapist working with a school therapist many situations can be incorporated into therapy that will help him in his fluency progress.
Good luck with your friend. I am sure there are many issues that may affect this child's communication that can be addressed by a competent, licensed SLP.
Question 2:
Do you have to write a speech and say it in front of the class in any of the speech language pathology classes...isn't Speech 101 like that? do you even have to take Speech 101? Oh God...I'm so confused...help me LOL!
Answer 2:
Every college is different. But if you don't like speaking in front of groups, don't go in the field. You will find yourself doing some speaking in front of groups-even if it is for an inservice for your school-some presentation where you work.
And don't tell me you can't do it. I am a person that stutters and does it. You may not feel comfortable doing it. and you may dread it. But actually public speaking is a skill everyone can use for any type of job you want. If you are really afraid of it, try and do it. I understand your fear-but you can conquer it. If you are in college or just starting college, the best skills you can get are:, writing skills, public speaking skills and computer skills. Almost every job requires them.
Answers to FAQ on stuttering. Stuttering defined (but not solved)
Did you ever have questions about stuttering? Here are our answers to a few commonly asked questions.
What is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by frequent repetitions and/or prolongations of speech sounds, syllables or words, or the inability to start a word. The disruption of speech may be accompanied by distracting sounds, muscular tension, facial grimaces, movement of extremities and head movements such as turning away and poor eve contact. A person who stutters may fear speaking an express frustration and shame. They may use hand gestures to communicate or avoid words and/or situations, such as, speaking on the telephone or before a group of people.
Who Stutters?
It is estimated that over 60 million people in the world stutter and over three million Americans stutter. Stuttering affects people of all ages. 'These behaviors most often occur when children are between the age of two and five, when they begin to combine words and are rapidly developing speech and language. Many young children outgrow stuttering. However, many in this age range do not and far fewer outgrow it that is beyond the age of five. Stuttering affects more males than females and tends to run in families.
What Causes Stuttering?
Although researchers suspect a variety of causes, the exact cause of stuttering is unknown. At present, doctors and speech-language pathologists at the University of Illinois are working together to support evidence that genetics plays an important role in the disorder. n order to find the gene or genes for stuttering, they are obtaining blood samples from numbers of selected families where more than one individual has ever stuttered. Anyone interested in this study should contact Dr. Nicoline Ambrose at (217) 244-2259, nambrose@uluc.ed,Fax: (217) 244-2235.
How is Stuttering Diagnosed and Treated?
A speech-language pathologist will obtain a history of the disorder and a speech sample as well as examine speech and language abilities. This evaluation will vary according to the person’s age.
There is no cure for stuttering, but a variety of methods may help decrease the frequency and severity of the disorder. Early intervention is recommended for children who stutter and can be effective in eliminating the speech disorder. For the adolescent and adult, therapy can improve their ability to communicate and their confidence as a speaker.
What is Stuttering?
Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by frequent repetitions and/or prolongations of speech sounds, syllables or words, or the inability to start a word. The disruption of speech may be accompanied by distracting sounds, muscular tension, facial grimaces, movement of extremities and head movements such as turning away and poor eve contact. A person who stutters may fear speaking an express frustration and shame. They may use hand gestures to communicate or avoid words and/or situations, such as, speaking on the telephone or before a group of people.
Who Stutters?
It is estimated that over 60 million people in the world stutter and over three million Americans stutter. Stuttering affects people of all ages. 'These behaviors most often occur when children are between the age of two and five, when they begin to combine words and are rapidly developing speech and language. Many young children outgrow stuttering. However, many in this age range do not and far fewer outgrow it that is beyond the age of five. Stuttering affects more males than females and tends to run in families.
What Causes Stuttering?
Although researchers suspect a variety of causes, the exact cause of stuttering is unknown. At present, doctors and speech-language pathologists at the University of Illinois are working together to support evidence that genetics plays an important role in the disorder. n order to find the gene or genes for stuttering, they are obtaining blood samples from numbers of selected families where more than one individual has ever stuttered. Anyone interested in this study should contact Dr. Nicoline Ambrose at (217) 244-2259, nambrose@uluc.ed,Fax: (217) 244-2235.
How is Stuttering Diagnosed and Treated?
A speech-language pathologist will obtain a history of the disorder and a speech sample as well as examine speech and language abilities. This evaluation will vary according to the person’s age.
There is no cure for stuttering, but a variety of methods may help decrease the frequency and severity of the disorder. Early intervention is recommended for children who stutter and can be effective in eliminating the speech disorder. For the adolescent and adult, therapy can improve their ability to communicate and their confidence as a speaker.
Friday, January 23, 2004
When you stutter and people laugh, smile and laugh with them
"You stutter, you don't like it, but there are much worse things in life, believe me. One day you will realize the insignificance of stuttering and the true meaning of life"
I must have gotten that from somewhere, but that's my personal quote. My other advice on how to deal with (or manage) stuttering:
When you stutter and people laugh at you, don't forget your sense of humor and laugh with them. Ask them whether they know any one who stutters.
When people try to imitate your stuttering behavior, laugh and tell them that they are really good at stuttering.
When you are discovered as a stutterer, don't be afraid to be who you are.
When you tell people that you stutter and they don't believe you, try some voluntary stuttering and demonstrate that there is nothing to be ashamed of. People may be ashamed of your stuttering, but you don't have to be ashamed of yourself.
When you stutter, maintain eye contact with the listener and finish what you want to say, absolutely try to RESIST time pressure. Finish your sentence even after the listener already finished your sentence (or spoke for you). For example:
Stutterer: My name is...........Mi..Mi...Mi....Mi.........
Patience has a limit listener: Mike?
Stutterer: Mi.....Mi.....Mi....Mike. Mike is my name, good guess.
I must have gotten that from somewhere, but that's my personal quote. My other advice on how to deal with (or manage) stuttering:
When you stutter and people laugh at you, don't forget your sense of humor and laugh with them. Ask them whether they know any one who stutters.
When people try to imitate your stuttering behavior, laugh and tell them that they are really good at stuttering.
When you are discovered as a stutterer, don't be afraid to be who you are.
When you tell people that you stutter and they don't believe you, try some voluntary stuttering and demonstrate that there is nothing to be ashamed of. People may be ashamed of your stuttering, but you don't have to be ashamed of yourself.
When you stutter, maintain eye contact with the listener and finish what you want to say, absolutely try to RESIST time pressure. Finish your sentence even after the listener already finished your sentence (or spoke for you). For example:
Stutterer: My name is...........Mi..Mi...Mi....Mi.........
Patience has a limit listener: Mike?
Stutterer: Mi.....Mi.....Mi....Mike. Mike is my name, good guess.
Other, better, more powerful web journals
Web journals like Joshua Marshall's have become indispensable this campaign season: They mobilize supporters, question traditional media coverage and feed the insatiable appetites of political junkies.
A powerful new networking tool for the politically plugged-in and hangers-on, the constant online chatter broadens campaign discourse and accelerates the news cycle.
Such journals, known as blogs, may not be doing much to sway undecided voters, but analysts say they strongly impact the media, campaign consultants and activists.
"A blog's not going to have the same reach as a Washington Post or USA Today or an AP article," said Cameron Barrett, a longtime blogger now with Wesley Clark (news - web sites)'s campaign. "But it does have reach, and people consistently go to online blogs to find information that traditional media ignore."
Consider Marshall, who raised $4,500 from readers and lit out for New Hampshire, laptop in hand. Marshall believes blogs can collectively be as influential as talk radio; his daily audience is about 45,000, comparable to a medium-sized newspaper.
From a Howard Dean rally Tuesday, the morning after the one-time favorite placed third in Iowa's caucuses, Marshall described the subdued tone of both the candidate and his supporters.
In the evening, he remarked on Sen. John Kerry coughing repeatedly during an informal Q&A, and on Wednesday, Marshall published a transcript of his recent interview with George Soros, a billionaire financier who wants President Bush unseated.
Blogs are collections of links and ideas, usually frequently updated. Their most recent entries are on top, and readers can generally post comments. Blogs are increasingly popular, and the software behind them gets friendlier to use by the day.
For Marshall, who has written for such print publications as The American Prospect, blogs let him mix news, opinion and personal observations with no meddling from an editor.
His postings, at TalkingPointsMemo.com, are often written in real time before the event he's chronicling is even over. Readers get a sense of being there.
Some blogs, like The Command Post, seek to be objective aggregators of news. But many make no such pretense.
Dean campaign staffer Allison Stuntz filed frequent pro-Dean dispatches from a press bus in Iowa, while Kerry's blogmeister, Dick Bell, made arrangements for staffers and volunteers in New Hampshire to submit items — pro-Kerry, of course.
Traditional news outlets, Bell said, typically don't have the space or broadcast air time to follow campaigns as extensively as political junkies might like. That's where blogs take over, aggregating items from multiple sources.
Campaigns count on them to recruit activists — and contributors.
Though only 10 percent of visitors to Kerry's site check out the blog, Bell said, those people tend to linger longer.
Alongside campaign blogs are unofficial ones, including ninedwarfs.com run by a conservative, Kevin Schmidt, who has traveled throughout Iowa to poke fun at the Democratic field.
Some news organizations, including The New Republic, have their own blogs, while many independent bloggers devote themselves to slinging barbs at news organizations, occasionally encouraging readers to e-mail or phone reporters about perceived biases or inaccuracies.
Individual blogs even target specific reporters, including Jodi Wilgoren of The New York Times.
"I guess I'm missing something here, but why the hell is it any of our business what role Mrs. Dean plays in Gov. Dean's political life?," reads one post on The Wilgoren Watch, its author commenting on Wilgoren's story about Dean's wife.
Wilgoren has signed up for e-mail notification of new postings and takes such criticisms in stride.
"I do read it," she said. "I'm interested in everybody's feedback about my work."
Some analysts have their doubts about blogs, however.
Larry Purpuro, coordinator of the Republicans' e.GOP Project in 2000, said many bloggers were little more than "armchair analysts in their bathrobes (with) no serious interest in leaving their living rooms to actually help the campaigns."
On the Net:
The Command Post: http://www.command-post.org/2004/2004_print.html
The Wilgoren Watch: http://wilgorenwatch.blogspot.com
Dean speech parody:
http://homepage.mac.com/lileks/.Public/Yeagh.mp3
A powerful new networking tool for the politically plugged-in and hangers-on, the constant online chatter broadens campaign discourse and accelerates the news cycle.
Such journals, known as blogs, may not be doing much to sway undecided voters, but analysts say they strongly impact the media, campaign consultants and activists.
"A blog's not going to have the same reach as a Washington Post or USA Today or an AP article," said Cameron Barrett, a longtime blogger now with Wesley Clark (news - web sites)'s campaign. "But it does have reach, and people consistently go to online blogs to find information that traditional media ignore."
Consider Marshall, who raised $4,500 from readers and lit out for New Hampshire, laptop in hand. Marshall believes blogs can collectively be as influential as talk radio; his daily audience is about 45,000, comparable to a medium-sized newspaper.
From a Howard Dean rally Tuesday, the morning after the one-time favorite placed third in Iowa's caucuses, Marshall described the subdued tone of both the candidate and his supporters.
In the evening, he remarked on Sen. John Kerry coughing repeatedly during an informal Q&A, and on Wednesday, Marshall published a transcript of his recent interview with George Soros, a billionaire financier who wants President Bush unseated.
Blogs are collections of links and ideas, usually frequently updated. Their most recent entries are on top, and readers can generally post comments. Blogs are increasingly popular, and the software behind them gets friendlier to use by the day.
For Marshall, who has written for such print publications as The American Prospect, blogs let him mix news, opinion and personal observations with no meddling from an editor.
His postings, at TalkingPointsMemo.com, are often written in real time before the event he's chronicling is even over. Readers get a sense of being there.
Some blogs, like The Command Post, seek to be objective aggregators of news. But many make no such pretense.
Dean campaign staffer Allison Stuntz filed frequent pro-Dean dispatches from a press bus in Iowa, while Kerry's blogmeister, Dick Bell, made arrangements for staffers and volunteers in New Hampshire to submit items — pro-Kerry, of course.
Traditional news outlets, Bell said, typically don't have the space or broadcast air time to follow campaigns as extensively as political junkies might like. That's where blogs take over, aggregating items from multiple sources.
Campaigns count on them to recruit activists — and contributors.
Though only 10 percent of visitors to Kerry's site check out the blog, Bell said, those people tend to linger longer.
Alongside campaign blogs are unofficial ones, including ninedwarfs.com run by a conservative, Kevin Schmidt, who has traveled throughout Iowa to poke fun at the Democratic field.
Some news organizations, including The New Republic, have their own blogs, while many independent bloggers devote themselves to slinging barbs at news organizations, occasionally encouraging readers to e-mail or phone reporters about perceived biases or inaccuracies.
Individual blogs even target specific reporters, including Jodi Wilgoren of The New York Times.
"I guess I'm missing something here, but why the hell is it any of our business what role Mrs. Dean plays in Gov. Dean's political life?," reads one post on The Wilgoren Watch, its author commenting on Wilgoren's story about Dean's wife.
Wilgoren has signed up for e-mail notification of new postings and takes such criticisms in stride.
"I do read it," she said. "I'm interested in everybody's feedback about my work."
Some analysts have their doubts about blogs, however.
Larry Purpuro, coordinator of the Republicans' e.GOP Project in 2000, said many bloggers were little more than "armchair analysts in their bathrobes (with) no serious interest in leaving their living rooms to actually help the campaigns."
On the Net:
The Command Post: http://www.command-post.org/2004/2004_print.html
The Wilgoren Watch: http://wilgorenwatch.blogspot.com
Dean speech parody:
http://homepage.mac.com/lileks/.Public/Yeagh.mp3
Thursday, January 22, 2004
I can type so fluently and Fearfulness Quotations
Like I said, this is not a quote page. This is just an online journal. I am one of six billion and I happen to stutter.
Fearfulness Quotations:
Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person.
- Dr. David M. Burns
Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and why? Just as the seed of health is in illness, because illness contains information, your fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore them.
- Marilyn Ferguson
It is when power is wedded to chronic fear that it becomes formidable.
- Eric Hoffer The Passionate State of Mind
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
- Eric Hoffer
Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.
- Michael Pritchard
Let the fear of danger be a spur to prevent it; he that fears not, gives advantage to the danger.
- Francis Quarles
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
- Bertrand Russell
Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt.
- George Sewell
The fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself.
- Publilius Syrus Maxims
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge.
- Marie Ebner von Eschenbach Aphorisms
Fearfulness Quotations:
Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person.
- Dr. David M. Burns
Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and why? Just as the seed of health is in illness, because illness contains information, your fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore them.
- Marilyn Ferguson
It is when power is wedded to chronic fear that it becomes formidable.
- Eric Hoffer The Passionate State of Mind
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
- Eric Hoffer
Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.
- Michael Pritchard
Let the fear of danger be a spur to prevent it; he that fears not, gives advantage to the danger.
- Francis Quarles
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
- Bertrand Russell
Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt.
- George Sewell
The fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself.
- Publilius Syrus Maxims
Fear not those who argue but those who dodge.
- Marie Ebner von Eschenbach Aphorisms
If you are here by accident, please excuse me and don't expect anything
Oh, I can type so fluently on the keyboard. This is just a place for me where I can type, nothing interesting or special. This is not a jokes or quotes page, there are other sites. I have some good stuttering quotes, but don't expect anything. When you expect the worst, the worst always happens (self-fulfilling prophecy). When you expect nothing, you won't be disappointed.
This is a stuttering journal about me just for me. This is not a recovery from stuttering journal. Do I and will I ever be a recovered stutterer? Maybe in a few years down the road. But the more important question is: will I be superman if I don't stutter.
Maybe one day I will share this with other people who stutter. There was a site called www.mystuttering.com, and I thought about writing my thoughts there.
MyStuttering.com provides a medium where stutterers, former stutterers, and non-stutterers alike can freely communicate their thoughts, support one another and educate the general public about stuttering.
There should be subgroups of stutterers (different types like covert, overt). I have to admit, stuttering is a really complex disorder that is hard and difficult to understand and comprehend. It takes a stutterer to know another stutterer. There was a story where a stutterer drove 3 hours to meet with another person just to talk. The man has been married for 15 years and his wife doesn't know that he stutters. Sound incredible and unbelieveable. I believe the story and I think I know why.
This is a stuttering journal about me just for me. This is not a recovery from stuttering journal. Do I and will I ever be a recovered stutterer? Maybe in a few years down the road. But the more important question is: will I be superman if I don't stutter.
Maybe one day I will share this with other people who stutter. There was a site called www.mystuttering.com, and I thought about writing my thoughts there.
MyStuttering.com provides a medium where stutterers, former stutterers, and non-stutterers alike can freely communicate their thoughts, support one another and educate the general public about stuttering.
There should be subgroups of stutterers (different types like covert, overt). I have to admit, stuttering is a really complex disorder that is hard and difficult to understand and comprehend. It takes a stutterer to know another stutterer. There was a story where a stutterer drove 3 hours to meet with another person just to talk. The man has been married for 15 years and his wife doesn't know that he stutters. Sound incredible and unbelieveable. I believe the story and I think I know why.
Gung hay fat choy!
Happy Chinese New Year. The Year of the Monkey. I was born in 1980 and I am a monkey. Boy, shit, I had a really rough day, but tomorrow is tomorrow and tomorrow is another beautiful day.
Another Sheehan quote:
"Stuttering is a communication problem, not a speech problem."
My comment: I would say that stuttering is a speech problem that can negatively affect communication. People speak to communicate.
stuttering>speech problem>communication problem>all problems
Stuttering is a speech problem for some people. People who stutter often have a speech problem and a communication problem (disfluent and lacking good communication skills). Many people don't know how to communicate with other people, not just People who stutter. Communication involves the speaker and the listener. Half of communication is listening. Your body language and nonverbal gestures are also important in communication.
Of course, good communication does not only mean fluency or the ability to talk fluently and flawlessly, but fluency does help indeed (because stuttering can be a distraction to the listener and the speaker). For example, I am often so ashamed of my stuttering that I only focus and pay attention to my blocks and my listener's reactions. Also, I think over and over in my head what I am going to say and changing words that might give me trouble (rehearse, rehearse, and over rehearse exactly what I am going to say when I open my mouth).
One possible solution would be to accept yourself as a stutterer who sometimes stutter and accept your stuttering and nondysfluencies. That would mean reducing your fears (words, people, situations) and avoidance behaviors. You have to feel comfortable about yourself and your stuttering (make joke about your speech problem?) if you ever expect others to accept and feel comfortable when you do stutter severely.
Stuttering is a complex listener<>speaker dynamic. Why do you not stutter when you whisper?
Another Sheehan quote:
"Stuttering is a communication problem, not a speech problem."
My comment: I would say that stuttering is a speech problem that can negatively affect communication. People speak to communicate.
stuttering>speech problem>communication problem>all problems
Stuttering is a speech problem for some people. People who stutter often have a speech problem and a communication problem (disfluent and lacking good communication skills). Many people don't know how to communicate with other people, not just People who stutter. Communication involves the speaker and the listener. Half of communication is listening. Your body language and nonverbal gestures are also important in communication.
Of course, good communication does not only mean fluency or the ability to talk fluently and flawlessly, but fluency does help indeed (because stuttering can be a distraction to the listener and the speaker). For example, I am often so ashamed of my stuttering that I only focus and pay attention to my blocks and my listener's reactions. Also, I think over and over in my head what I am going to say and changing words that might give me trouble (rehearse, rehearse, and over rehearse exactly what I am going to say when I open my mouth).
One possible solution would be to accept yourself as a stutterer who sometimes stutter and accept your stuttering and nondysfluencies. That would mean reducing your fears (words, people, situations) and avoidance behaviors. You have to feel comfortable about yourself and your stuttering (make joke about your speech problem?) if you ever expect others to accept and feel comfortable when you do stutter severely.
Stuttering is a complex listener<>speaker dynamic. Why do you not stutter when you whisper?
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Bob Quesal talks about stuttering
Click on the title to go to Dr. Robert Quesal's writing on stuttering.
Here is the cut and paste section that I liked:
I wanted to share a story that many of you may have already read or heard.
A man was walking along the beach and found a bottle. He looked around and didn’t see anyone so he opened it. A genie appeared and thanked the man for letting him out. The genie said, "For your kindness I will grant you one wish, but only one."
The man thought for a minute and said, "I have always wanted to go to Hawaii but have never been able to because I’m afraid of flying and ships make me claustrophobic and seasick. So I wish for a road to be built from here to Hawaii." The genie thought for a few minutes and said, "No, I don’t think I can do that. Just think of all the work involved with the pilings needed to hold up the highway and how deep they would have to be to reach the bottom of the ocean. Think of all of the pavement that would be needed. No, that is just too much to ask."
The man thought for a minute and then told the genie, "There is one other thing that I have always wanted. I would like to be able to understand stutterers. Why do they seem so similar yet so different, why does therapy work for some and not others, why are there so many different ideas about stuttering? Basically, what makes stutterers tick?"
The genie considered for a few seconds and said, "So, do you want two lanes or four?"
Here is the cut and paste section that I liked:
I wanted to share a story that many of you may have already read or heard.
A man was walking along the beach and found a bottle. He looked around and didn’t see anyone so he opened it. A genie appeared and thanked the man for letting him out. The genie said, "For your kindness I will grant you one wish, but only one."
The man thought for a minute and said, "I have always wanted to go to Hawaii but have never been able to because I’m afraid of flying and ships make me claustrophobic and seasick. So I wish for a road to be built from here to Hawaii." The genie thought for a few minutes and said, "No, I don’t think I can do that. Just think of all the work involved with the pilings needed to hold up the highway and how deep they would have to be to reach the bottom of the ocean. Think of all of the pavement that would be needed. No, that is just too much to ask."
The man thought for a minute and then told the genie, "There is one other thing that I have always wanted. I would like to be able to understand stutterers. Why do they seem so similar yet so different, why does therapy work for some and not others, why are there so many different ideas about stuttering? Basically, what makes stutterers tick?"
The genie considered for a few seconds and said, "So, do you want two lanes or four?"
Monday, January 19, 2004
what is stuttering?
This is a good brief explanation of what is stuttering:
Stuttering is a disorder of fluency characterized by various behaviors that interfere with the forward flow of speech. While all individuals are disfluent to some extent, on the surface what differentiates stutterers from nonstutterers is the frequency of their disfluency and/or the severity of their disfluency. However, the other factor that differentiates stutterers from nonstutterers is that almost invariably the disfluencies that the stutterer regards as “stutters” are accompanied by a feeling of loss of control. It is this loss of control, which can’t be observed or experienced by the listener, that is most problematic for the stutterer.
This is a good suggestion:
Williams’ solution to this dilemma was to ask clients to talk about stuttering without using the words “stuttering” or “it.” This would require the client to use more descriptive language, but initially that descriptive language may be animistic in nature. For example, instead of saying “I stuttered” the client might say “my throat locked” or “my tongue got stuck.” To deal with this, Williams said that we have to emphasize the total process of speaking. Our clients have to know and describe what people do when they talk, and what our clients do when they talk. The goal of therapy, then, becomes not one of “getting rid of stuttering” or “improving stuttering” but of doing more and more of the things that nonstutterers do when they talk. Williams also pointed out the importance of having clients become better observers of “fluent” speech. Not only is fluency important, but other factors like rate, rhythm, and inflection are important as well. And all these things vary in different speakers. By having clients observe speech and speakers in this way, it was possible for the stutterer to develop a different, perhaps broader, understanding of his own speech, and to focus on the many things involved in talking, rather than just focusing on fluency or the lack thereof.
Stuttering is a disorder of fluency characterized by various behaviors that interfere with the forward flow of speech. While all individuals are disfluent to some extent, on the surface what differentiates stutterers from nonstutterers is the frequency of their disfluency and/or the severity of their disfluency. However, the other factor that differentiates stutterers from nonstutterers is that almost invariably the disfluencies that the stutterer regards as “stutters” are accompanied by a feeling of loss of control. It is this loss of control, which can’t be observed or experienced by the listener, that is most problematic for the stutterer.
This is a good suggestion:
Williams’ solution to this dilemma was to ask clients to talk about stuttering without using the words “stuttering” or “it.” This would require the client to use more descriptive language, but initially that descriptive language may be animistic in nature. For example, instead of saying “I stuttered” the client might say “my throat locked” or “my tongue got stuck.” To deal with this, Williams said that we have to emphasize the total process of speaking. Our clients have to know and describe what people do when they talk, and what our clients do when they talk. The goal of therapy, then, becomes not one of “getting rid of stuttering” or “improving stuttering” but of doing more and more of the things that nonstutterers do when they talk. Williams also pointed out the importance of having clients become better observers of “fluent” speech. Not only is fluency important, but other factors like rate, rhythm, and inflection are important as well. And all these things vary in different speakers. By having clients observe speech and speakers in this way, it was possible for the stutterer to develop a different, perhaps broader, understanding of his own speech, and to focus on the many things involved in talking, rather than just focusing on fluency or the lack thereof.
Anytime you don't want anything you get it
"Anytime you don't want anything you get it" by Calvin Coolidge
My comment: the quote is self-explanatory, Coolidge must have been President
Nothing special today. I did purchase two stuttering videos today and I will probably show it at the East Bay meeting next month. The hard part is getting people to show up at all.
Within a week or so, I will be able to watch "No Words to Say" NTSC VHS (54 min.) and "Joseph G. Sheehan's Message to a Stutterer" NTSC VHS (34 min)
The weather is getting better. I think I have survived the worst of winter time weather. If you stutter, you should definitely check out http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfrwq/nsp98.html and read Quesal's story.
My comment: the quote is self-explanatory, Coolidge must have been President
Nothing special today. I did purchase two stuttering videos today and I will probably show it at the East Bay meeting next month. The hard part is getting people to show up at all.
Within a week or so, I will be able to watch "No Words to Say" NTSC VHS (54 min.) and "Joseph G. Sheehan's Message to a Stutterer" NTSC VHS (34 min)
The weather is getting better. I think I have survived the worst of winter time weather. If you stutter, you should definitely check out http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfrwq/nsp98.html and read Quesal's story.
John Kerry won the Iowa battle but will not win the war
Kerry, Edwards, then Dean at the Iowa caucus. Howard Dean will likely win the Democratic presidential nomination, but it doesn't matter. Bush is going to win re-election and nobody remembers the losers (e.g. Bob Dole, Al Gore).
When I had (free) cable, I used to like watching Pardon the Interruption (PTI) and around the horn hosted by Max Kellerman. Now, I don't have cable television anymore, but I have been watching the chinese channel. Chinese tv series at night, it can become addictive. I also watch Jeopardy (old favorite), pbs, and local news.
I don't think I will go to SF tomorrow night, maybe next month. Tomorrow is a beautiful day no matter what.
When I had (free) cable, I used to like watching Pardon the Interruption (PTI) and around the horn hosted by Max Kellerman. Now, I don't have cable television anymore, but I have been watching the chinese channel. Chinese tv series at night, it can become addictive. I also watch Jeopardy (old favorite), pbs, and local news.
I don't think I will go to SF tomorrow night, maybe next month. Tomorrow is a beautiful day no matter what.
cold cold shower tonight
There was no hot water today and I had to take a cold shower tonight. Taking a cold shower did not feel good, I felt cold. I like taking hot showers even when the weather is hot. I didn't even try to get a good shower (wash entire body) because it was so cold. Hopefully, there will be hot water tomorrow or very soon
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Here is a good quote
"All Progress Occurs Because People Dare to Be Different" by Harry Millner
My comment: !% of the population stuters, the other 99% does not stutter. People who stutter just speak differently. Stuttering is a different way of talking.
Okay, I am going to bed. I get to sleep late tomorrow morning.
My comment: !% of the population stuters, the other 99% does not stutter. People who stutter just speak differently. Stuttering is a different way of talking.
Okay, I am going to bed. I get to sleep late tomorrow morning.
Click here for more books on stuttering
This week's recap:
Eating no meat is the right thng to do, but it is not always the easiest thing to accomplish and maintain. It will be very hard for me to be a vegetarian. The plan right now is to be vegetarian/seafood eating 50% of the time and 50% meat eating. I know that one of my resolutions this year is to work towards CTM. But achieving CTM in TM this year is going to difficult. Doing baby steps is good, so right now the goals is to do five speeches for the next six month.
For the month of January, I am 3 for 3. It will be 4 for 4 if I go to the SF chapter meeting. On Wednesday night, I went down to SJ for their NSA chapter meeting. There were 8 people present. That was good because the East Bay only had 2 people. At the meeting, they mentioned that some people who stutter have business cards that stutter. This is a joke, but for example:
Dr. J-J-J-J-oe Smith
Stuttering University
Stutterville, ST 97026
Professional Stutterer (mild, moderate, severe, very severe)
Specialize in silent blocks, whole and part word repetitions, prolongatons, and all secondary behaviors.
On Thursday, I had to meet with two sales representatives and I totally blocked on a word. I remember the word is illegally. That's too bad. I probably should have somehow worked the fact that I am a stutterer in the beginning. It is hard because stuttering is hidden most of the time. On Friday, I had fish sticks with fries for lunch. Today, I woke up at 8:45. This morning, I was at TM. TM was held at a buffet restaurant today because of new officers installation. I thought the food this morning was good. Two things I don't like about TM is that they do "I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America" thing at the start of every meeting and the amount of responsibility you have if you become an officer. But TM is still good. I mean, they haven't kicked me out yet because I stutter. Stutterer are still people.
This afternoon, I was at the CSUH library reading journals on stuttering. I remember starting reading about stuttering in 2002. First, I went to the psychology library. They had some books on stuttering but CSUH has more books and journals on stuttering because they have a communicative sciences and disorders department (and Berkeley don't). The Journal of fluency disorders is all about stuttering. I subscribe, but the subscription rate is like $200 per year.
Alright, that is enough for today. To be honest, I am getting a little sick of blogging. There are six bilion people in the world, and my life is not very interesting.
Eating no meat is the right thng to do, but it is not always the easiest thing to accomplish and maintain. It will be very hard for me to be a vegetarian. The plan right now is to be vegetarian/seafood eating 50% of the time and 50% meat eating. I know that one of my resolutions this year is to work towards CTM. But achieving CTM in TM this year is going to difficult. Doing baby steps is good, so right now the goals is to do five speeches for the next six month.
For the month of January, I am 3 for 3. It will be 4 for 4 if I go to the SF chapter meeting. On Wednesday night, I went down to SJ for their NSA chapter meeting. There were 8 people present. That was good because the East Bay only had 2 people. At the meeting, they mentioned that some people who stutter have business cards that stutter. This is a joke, but for example:
Dr. J-J-J-J-oe Smith
Stuttering University
Stutterville, ST 97026
Professional Stutterer (mild, moderate, severe, very severe)
Specialize in silent blocks, whole and part word repetitions, prolongatons, and all secondary behaviors.
On Thursday, I had to meet with two sales representatives and I totally blocked on a word. I remember the word is illegally. That's too bad. I probably should have somehow worked the fact that I am a stutterer in the beginning. It is hard because stuttering is hidden most of the time. On Friday, I had fish sticks with fries for lunch. Today, I woke up at 8:45. This morning, I was at TM. TM was held at a buffet restaurant today because of new officers installation. I thought the food this morning was good. Two things I don't like about TM is that they do "I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America" thing at the start of every meeting and the amount of responsibility you have if you become an officer. But TM is still good. I mean, they haven't kicked me out yet because I stutter. Stutterer are still people.
This afternoon, I was at the CSUH library reading journals on stuttering. I remember starting reading about stuttering in 2002. First, I went to the psychology library. They had some books on stuttering but CSUH has more books and journals on stuttering because they have a communicative sciences and disorders department (and Berkeley don't). The Journal of fluency disorders is all about stuttering. I subscribe, but the subscription rate is like $200 per year.
Alright, that is enough for today. To be honest, I am getting a little sick of blogging. There are six bilion people in the world, and my life is not very interesting.
Sharing the Journey
I usually don't buy many books, I like to go to bookstores and check out books from the local public library. However, the next book I am going to purchase is a book by Lon Emerick called Sharing the Journey: Lessons from my Students and Clients with Tangled Tongues
The reason: A rollicking, often poignant look at a former university professor's journey through life. This delightful journey is highlighted by 10 maxims or guidelines for good living, gleaned from students, clients and colleagues, illustrated from the author's experiences as a severe stutterer in his youth, encountered during a long career in the Alice in Wonderland world of academic life, including 30 years at Northern Michigan University, as a speech therapist, in a variety of unusual jobs to finance an education, and from a life-long immersion in nature, the greatest teacher.
About the Author: Lon L. Emerick is a Professor Emeritus of Northern Michigan University, after a long career teaching university students in speech pathology and audiology. A severe stutterer until receiving therapy in his college years, he then specialized in stuttering therapy, rehab after strokes, and counseling with parents of young children who were non-fluent.
The reason: A rollicking, often poignant look at a former university professor's journey through life. This delightful journey is highlighted by 10 maxims or guidelines for good living, gleaned from students, clients and colleagues, illustrated from the author's experiences as a severe stutterer in his youth, encountered during a long career in the Alice in Wonderland world of academic life, including 30 years at Northern Michigan University, as a speech therapist, in a variety of unusual jobs to finance an education, and from a life-long immersion in nature, the greatest teacher.
About the Author: Lon L. Emerick is a Professor Emeritus of Northern Michigan University, after a long career teaching university students in speech pathology and audiology. A severe stutterer until receiving therapy in his college years, he then specialized in stuttering therapy, rehab after strokes, and counseling with parents of young children who were non-fluent.
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