Best Intentions

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juliettejacobson:

[ SMS : Dom ] : That’s not a bad idea.  It would keep the students on track. [ SMS : Dom ] : Hm, that might work.  Though it might be a hassle to get the kids approved.

[ SMS : Jules ] : It helps that I have an inside ear. Or eye, rather.  [ SMS : Jules ] : How’s Jermaine, by the way? I never got  chance to ask how his trip home went. 

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maribelvela:

[ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : Great here’s their emails, just remember to mention me.  [ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : That sounds like an amazing experience, very ambitious. Not that that’s a bad thing, and I’m glad you’ve got vision. Has this been a thought for a while?  [ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : My only concern would be consistency. At most, it’d have to start small and maybe stay that way for a while. Not to tone down your fantastic vision but just something to keep in mind.  [ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : Is there a particular reason that suddenly prompted these thoughts? ☹️

[ SMS : Maribel Vela ] : Of course. You’re the best.  [ SMS : Maribel Vela ] : I’m also worried about consistency. There’s lots of kinks, sure. But I think it would be a widely beneficial program.  [ SMS : Maribel Vela ] : Communicating is just... hard. And it seems to get harder with each new generation. I had a kid ask his mom why my hands were dancing the other day. I looked just in time to read his lips. 

[dommoretti-blog]

hans-starke:

[SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : compliment me more and i MIGHT be able to pull some strings [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : whatever

[ SMS : Hans Starke ] : I would offer to buy you drinks, but I don’t drink. I’ll treat you to dinner instead? I can regale the details of how inspirational you are, or you can talk and I’ll listen.  [ SMS : Hans Starke ] : Well. Not exactly listen. I’m a terrible listener. 

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hans-starke:

[SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : i have connections with raytheon, the nra, and big oil [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : i dont know how you got ‘deaf friendly’ out of any of those so that’s on you [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : uh you 100% misunderstood me buddy [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : on your contacts list is the only place i’ll ever be under her bc i don’t WANT to be under her in the real world [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : gingers w no personality isn’t my type

[ SMS : Hans Starke ] : Even if they’re not deaf friendly, word of mouth is powerful. I like having powerful individuals and powerful motives on my side when I go into projects.  [ SMS : Hans Starke ] : If you think it’s too out of reach for oil tycoons to have any connection to the power in accessibility to ASL, you don’t have to be involved. It just never hurts to ask.  [ SMS : Hans Starke ] : Hey. Juliette’s my friend. I think she’s a pretty great catch.

[dommoretti-blog]

nelliott:. 

[ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : It’s like you’re trying to piss me off further :)  [ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : What you’re doing is admirable and I will consider backing your project if it’s any good, but I don’t appreciate having you contact me on these terms nor asking for help I can’t offer. I’m not writing you a fake fucking review or creating an advert for you or am I promising a positive review for a project I’ve never seen.  [ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : I don’t think you’re actually listening to what I’m saying.

[ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : I’m not asking for a fake review now. I’m asking for permission to send it when it is ready for a legitimate review, as I said, and you came highly recommended from a source I trust. Probably too early to ask, but I like having my ducks in a row before diving into things.  [ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : Perhaps it would be better to work with someone who understands how to approach communicative divides without resorting to anger.  [ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : I’ll wait until Mariana or another journalist is free to offer the opportunity to them. 

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nelliott:. 

[ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : Advertisements? I’m not fucking Don Draper, mate. [ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : If you’re doing this on the cheap then go down to one of the universities, pay a few hundred dollars, and they’ll get talented undergrads on it (who actually know what they’re doing) in return for a round of drinks. Then buy newspaper space for it instead of coming to me for a fucking handout. [ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : If you want a good review, create a good product. I’m more than happy to write about something like this, be it a little outside my scope, if you can get the appropriate backing for it (because it’s a good cause) but I’m sure as fuck not writing lies. I’m a little pissed that you have the sheer audacity to text someone you barely know asking as such. [ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : It’s Nicholas actually, but yeah it’s the correct number. Doing a good job at staying in my good books here 👍

[ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : Dude you sound stressed. Actually, scratch that. I don’t know what stressed sounds like. :) [ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : I’ve been saving for this project for a while. I’m not asking for handouts, just expanding my horizons and testing the waters of willingness to back it. It would go far beyond just an undergrad project, I can assure you of that. [ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : But with that said, I’m willing to pay for whatever help or contributions can be offered. I know no one in DC runs a charity. Especially journalists. 

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hans-starke:

[SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : you’re right [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : though I don’t think big oil would be of much help on that front [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : well that’s the only time i’ll ever be under juliette 

[ SMS : Hans Starke ] : Hmm. I assumed you had connections. I guess I overestimated your social proclivity in DC.  [ SMS : Hans Starke ] : You missed your chance by like 3 months. Who knows. Maybe Senator Kline will show his true colors soon. Then maybe you’ll have a shot. 

[dommoretti-blog]

juliettejacobson:

[ SMS : Dom ] : I don’t know.  Maybe you could just do the video lectures without the textbook? [ SMS : Dom ] : Oh that’s a really cool idea!  I don’t know if you’d be able to pull it off though.  It seems like translating the president would be something that shouldn’t be left to students.

[ SMS : Jules ] : Yes... or include the textbook online? Or provide sources for interactive journals? Where they can log their achievements and track their progress?  [ SMS : Jules ] : Ideally, they would be fourth or fifth year students. Students with enough knowledge to translate the pardoning of the turkey or acceptance of the White House Christmas Tree, you know? 

[dommoretti-blog]

nelliott:

[ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : Sounds like a solid idea.  [ SMS : DOM MORETTI (DEAF) ] : I know jackshit about computer programming and very little about education though so I’m guessing you selected the wrong contact. Although, if you were to create such a thing, I’d be more than happy to write something to raise some awareness for the programme.  

[ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : I was hoping you could man up advertisements, actually. Or, an advertisement. Write a review or make it sound legitimate.  [ SMS : Nick Elliott ] : Luckily, I picked the right contact. As long as this is Nick Elliott? Not to offend you, but I texted Mariana first and she passed me along to you. 

[dommoretti-blog]

maribelvela:

[ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : I’m honoured you’d think of me and it sounds fantastic. I’ll give all the help I can! 😀 [ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : I can give you some contacts of mine who run bilingual Spanish-English programmes back home. All about accessibility. I tried to get my kids enrolled in one but they were too old. And I wish I’d learned ASL properly, then again finding an instructor is difficult.   [ SMS : DOMENICO MORETTI ] : What’s the issue behind video discussions?

[ SMS : Maribel Vela ] : That would be amazing! My main issue within anything regarding the program is accessibility. I want the program to be available to any group of students who want to learn Sign Language. Regardless of their level of education or mental capabilities.  [ SMS : Maribel Vela ] : I’d also like to include some immersive activities that go beyond just video lessons, though. I’d love it if the students could interact with Deaf communities and see the hands-on benefits of knowing ASL.  [ SMS : Maribel Vela ] : I’m terrified that ASL will become a language that’s only learned by people who have to know it. I’m terrified that ASL will cease to exist as a language and merely be an accommodation for deaf people. 

[dommoretti-blog]

hans-starke:

[SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : uh [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : congrats on making the world a better place? [SMS : DOMINECO MORETTI (liaison???)] : not sure why you’d ask me, though

[ SMS : Hans Starke ] : Well you’re dashingly handsome and seem to have a way of making shit happen.  [ SMS : Hans Starke ] : Plus your name is right beneath Juliette’s and I accidentally clicked it. 

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juliettejacobson:

[ SMS : Dom ] : When I was in college I took a refresher beginning ASL course for my language credit.  Figured since I already knew it I’d have an easier time managing it than starting a new language.  Worked wonderfully since I still ended up taking French.  Anyway, the textbook included a disk of video lectures that went slow and taught the basics.  No reason you couldn’t do something similar at a much lower price point. [ SMS : Dom ] : I would tell you not to procrastinate, but I’m procrastinating right now too.

[ SMS : Jules ] : That’s a good idea. How does one go about writing a textbook, though?  [ SMS : Jules ] : I even briefly entertained the idea of seeking permission to open up a work based study where ASL students could come here and translate presidential speeches to groups of the younger deaf population. 

[dommoretti-blog]

juliettejacobson:

[ SMS : Dom ] : Can’t you just use your webcam to record the videos?  I’m sure whatever school you work through could provide download access for the students. [ SMS : Dom ] : But I can see if I can help you.

[ SMS : Jules ] : I feel like that’s not... nice enough. Like maybe I should be doing more? I’m trying to think of more ways to make it interactive?  [ SMS : Jules ] : I’m supposed to be reading over this prompt to get ready to interpret it, but I’m procrastinating. 

[dommoretti-blog]

juliettejacobson:

[ SMS : Dom ] : That’s a really good idea.  I mean…it’s an important language for people to grasp the basics of at the least. [ SMS : Dom ] : I don’t know much about education either, but I can help with some basic tech issues.

[ SMS : Jules ] : Thanks. I hope it works out. I’d really like the change the game for the deaf population. Make things more accessible. [ SMS : Jules ] : I need to design some sort of software that can be downloaded easily. I should probably hire someone.  

[dommoretti-blog]

Text || Domineco & --

[ SMS : -- ] : I’m thinking of starting an online American Sign Language course that could be offered at any high school or college.  [ SMS : -- ] : Apparently there’s an increasing interest in ASL across the nation; getting the curriculum down and finding instructors who are open to video discussions is difficult.  [ SMS : -- ] : But I know nothing about education or computer programs, help. 

[dommoretti-blog]

Happy Thanksgiving