Given that the subject of drugs has cropped up in the news today, I think I will flag this entry up again. I stand by what I wrote there: the solution to the problem of drugs is not blunt criminalisation, but tolerance and understanding. To see the tories just dismiss the report calling for a more balanced approach – one on channel four news claiming it had been spun by the lib dems, and in fact supported their intolerant stance – simply goes to show how myopic and pig-headed they are. If you ask me, conservatism does more damage to society than any drug could.

It’s only four but I’m already knackered. It has, though, been an incredible couple of days: I had to go over to the UEL campus right and early yesterday morning to greet the choir coming in, after which they had a few hours setting up and practice. During that time, it was my job to help film the choir for a documentary the rix centre is making. It felt as though I was doing what I had wanted to do for such a long time: they attached a small camera to the arm of my chair, and I was able to zoom about between the participants, getting all kinds of shots. I felt like I was making a music video, and think I managed to get some really good footage.

After that session I was able to come home and freshen up. The day was, however, far from over: the evening saw me return to the docklands campus, this time with Lyn, for the choir’s grand evening performance. It was, I must say, amazing; I was bowled over by the quality of the singing and the creativity of the music. Each piece was unique, having been created by a member of the choir and thus saying something about them as individuals with learning disabilities. I was stunned.

This morning I headed in again hoping to participate in more filming. However, a broken lift at the DLR station I usually get off at (king George v) put pay to that idea. Fortunately yesterday evening Dominik showed me a better – but longer – way to get to campus, so I took that route instead. Had I not known about it, I would have been scuppered. Nevertheless, I arrived this morning towards the end of festivities, feeling somewhat annoyed, too late to help with anything.

Yet these two days have amazed me. We have the makings, I think, of a fascinating film; and in the Apex choir we have an incredible group of individuals. With the editing to start, this project is far from over; I feel thrilled to be part of it.

A week ago after we came home from watching Michael Palin, I wrote that I felt just a little down because that was the last big event we have lined up. It has been an awesome year – indeed an awesome couple of years – in which I seem to have constantly had something great to look forward to. In fact, between python, star trek, the liberty festival and so on I’ve been utterly spoiled: so many great memories. But now, there does not seem that much on the horizon.

However, I’m not complaining. I seem to be becoming busier and busier, with this week being especially busy as the Apex choir are coming to the Rix centre. In fact I might not have time to blog much this week. Moreover, it seems to me that, in this city, you never know when the next bit of awesomeness will come: in London truly incredible things seem to pop out at you from nowhere, or at least are only a google search away; fantastic things the memory of which you will cherish forever. As Lyn once reminded me, however great things may have been, there will always be greater things to follow; having wonderful memories is cool, but you must use them to inspire you, push you forward, whet your appetite. Time, then, to start the search for the next bit of awesomeness.

Unfortunately there is no reference to validate it, but I just came across the following on facebook and decided to share it:

[quote=”no ref”]This comment has just been made on conservatives Facebook it is going to go viral. ”sick of hearing lefties going on about the disabled , get the fk out your wheelchair and start cotributing instead of sitting there with ya grubby little mits out”[/quote]

Behold the arrogance we now have to contend with.

I remember watching Back To The Future when I was little and thinking how cool it would be to have a hoverboard. As I grew older, I naturally assumed that it, like the Star Trek transporter, was firmly in the realm of science fantasy and had little chance of becoming reality. But I was wrong! According to this bbc article, a prototype hoverboard has been created: it uses magnets – somehow – to float. The piece notes that it only works over certain surfaces as yet, but I still find it awesome enough to link to. And of course, I now want to see a hover conversion for my wheelchair. Mind you, I find it interesting how often science takes it’s queue from fiction, turning what we assume to be the wildest fantasies into reality.

As I thought it would be, last night’s Life Story was a treat. There were some spectacular shots, some of them, such as one of a star morphing into an animal’s eye, absolutely blowing me away. Combined with the soothing, timeless yet authoritative narration of Sir David Attenborough, it was the first part of yet another jewel in the crown of the bbc natural history unit. Mind you, rather than write a full review today, I now think I would prefer to wait until the entire series has aired before launching into my usual gleeful ramblings.

However, the NHU aside, I must say I am fast loosing patience with the beeb, and especially it’s news. I used to be something of a fan of it, being instinctively supportive of the way it is funded; but lately it seems to have become a Tory an ukip cheerleader. On this afternoon’s news bulletin, it enthused about how the economy was recovering and things were doing so well despite may people across the country being in absolute desperation due to the Tories. It gladly towed the government’s line on the money we owe to the EU even though it is part of the rules we signed up for and is by far outweighed by the revenue we get from being part of Europe. And on every one of it’s political panel shows like Daily Politics or Question Time, it has either Farage or one of his Neanderthaloid lackeys, despite ukip only having one seat in parliament. Compared with, say, the greens, ukip is being disproportionately represented in the media, and is thus punching far above it’s weight. By rights, the bbc and other media corporations should be deriding them as a laughing stock – after all, this ‘party’ includes members who advocate wife beating and the mandatory abortion of babies with disabilities – but instead they are all dancing to ukip’s abhorrent tune. I might have expected this from other channels, but from the bbc, the corporation of Attenborough, Palin and Python, the channel upon which I first saw Star trek and who helped produce the 2012 olympic opening ceremony, the media outlet which I once respected above all others; that is almost too much for me to take. It seems the bbc, too, has lost it’s way, and I am horrified at what is happening with our media.

I am really looking forward to watching David Attenborough’s new program, Life Story, at nine tonight. It is wonderful to see him still making natural history shows – if anyone deserves the title ‘national treasure’, Attenborough does. I’ll probably detail what I thought of it here tomorrow, although many, including the writer of this somewhat cynical, almost bitter Guardian article are predicting it will be the great man’s swan song. Who could blame him if it is, but after over sixty years of fascinating natural history television, it would certainly be a sad farewell.

I don’t think I have a choice other than to direct you here. Ukip is attempting to block a group of comedians criticising them from touring. Despite Nigel Farage insisting politicians should ”let people tell their jokes,” The Stop Ukip Comedy Tour has apparently been inundated with complaints from party supporters targeting venues. The hypocrisy is astounding: the week Ukip releases a single so racist and offensive it had to be withdrawn, causing them to complain vehemently about pc-driven censorship, they try to prevent people trying to draw attention to the folly of their policies. It would seem they only support freedom of speech if it is ukip speaking.

A couple of days ago, it was reported in the news that the government is going to try to crack down on internet trolling. They decided that abusing people over the internet would now be made criminal somehow. I was quite shocked when I heard this, as I see it as a very dangerous, unwise move. While I know many of us have encountered trolls and know how offensive they can be, the danger lies in how you define trolling and abuse. Name-calling and insulting are quite straightforward, but what about other forms of criticism? My fear is that this new law will be used to stop people attacking the government, holding them to account.

I know I can be as guilty as anyone of insulting people online, especially tory politician, but I would argue that that rage is a reflection of my frustration with their policies, not them personally. They must be held to account. But what if I or bloggers like me were termed internet trolls and hauled in front of a judge? It would be a great way for the government to prevent themselves being criticised – they would just have to term what write abusive to shut me or anyone like me up. What is certainly true is that I will have to be very careful about what I say online from now on, and that worries me very much indeed,

You may remember my entry describing how I tried to get tickets to see Michael Palin’s talk about the latest volume of his diaries, and how I was turned away because they said there was equipment in the wheelchair spaces. I was furious at the time,but shortly after I posted that entry I got an email from the theatre, apologising, explaining that the matter had been resolved and inviting me to buy tickets. That is how, last night, Lyn, I and Dominik got to see one of my all-time favourite people talking eloquently and evocatively about his life on television. As soon as I entered the space, I was taken instantly back to those warm, happy Sunday evenings with my parents when we used to watch his tales of places so far away, yet so tantalising that it made my feet itch with wanderlust. Palin is a man whose work I love; as soon as I heard his voice last night, that warmth and joy flooded back.

Rather appropriately for a talk about travel, I got there a few minutes late having decided to take the bus rather than the tube (a mistake I will not make again!). Fortunately I only missed a little, and when I got there Mr. Palin was already in full swing. (Having taken the overground, Lyn and Dom were already there). He was regaling the enthralled audience with a sequence of short stories from his travels, each accompanied by a picture projected on to a screen at the back of the stage. Unfortunately, I could only see half of that due to where I was sat, but nevermind – it was the man I had come to see. Some of them I knew from his books and tv programmes, while others I was unfamiliar with. He sometimes veered off on tangents, telling, for instance, how it was through an act of theft that Britain overtook brazil in rubber production. Did you know, too that before they asked palin to go around the world in eighty days, they asked noel edmunds. I found it fascinating, like watching some great pioneer tell of his adventures.

The second half of the evening concentrated on palin’s earlier life, and monty python. As a python fan, I loved this too, but, forgive me, I won’t even try to retell any of his stories. The history of python is long, fascinating and complex, but now I know where ‘ni’ came from. I found it utterly engrossing. As when I watched Monty Python Live two months ago, I feel so privileged to have been there last night.

Indeed, when I think about it, it astounds me how lucky I am: last night saw one of my all-time favourite people talk, a man whose work I have loved and been inspired by since I was small. Before then, I watched probably the last ever performance of the greatest comedy troupe ever. Possibly most importantly, just three weeks ago, I met and talked to sir Patrick Stewart: thinking about it, given my work on him in my masters and what that scene in First Contact means to me personally, I now think that meeting was one of the most significant, important and special events of my life. I just feel so lucky to have done all this, thanks largely to Lyn; it astounds me when I think about it.

Yet, last night saw probably my last big event of the year: now that Python, Star Trek and Palin have happened, I don’t have much more lined up. As Lyn reminded me last night, though, there will always be something more, something to find, something to look forward to.. she is right, of course. What that will be I don’t know, but after last night inspired by that fascinating man and his stories of far off places, my wanderlust, my urge to go out into the world and explore, has returned. My feet itch again.

I think I better flag this trailer fo ‘Unstoppables’ up. Having watched Lyn gradually compose the score for it all those months ago, it is truly brilliant to hear her work in the background. Plus, from what I can see, her music appears to capture the mood of the piece perfectly; my jaw dropped when I realised how well it fitted. I’m very, very proud of Lyn; it appears that I have my very own Jerry Goldsmith or Howard Shore. And, of course, it’s great to see the film itself doing so well.

Lyn is just setting up to start doing her online radio show. You know, she really seems to be in her element when she does it. Just as I use my blog to express myself to the outside world, Lyn expresses herself through music: the tracks she selects and the order in which she plays them say so much about how she is feeling. More to the point, I rarely see her as happy as when she is in her studio bashing out the tunes; her relationship with music seems to be far, far more profound than I ever thought possible in a human being. This, then, should be a wonderful afternoon of music. At the risk of repeating myself, tune in here

Lyn’s soft rock online radio station launched this evening, and is now broadcasting live. Tune in here! Tune in.

It has been a long, tiring yet awesome day. As I mention here, one of the projects I’m involved with over at the Rix centre is a film about the Apex choir, a group of singers whose members all have autism and/or learning difficulties. The group comes up from Cornwall the week after next, so today was a serious planning session.

I’m starting to get properly excited about it: the film we make can say so much, achieve so much. Like the Paraorchestra, it is all about breaking down barriers. Indeed, while I think the ethos behind them are slightly different, I cant help but compare or link the two, for I feel the same sense of potential with Apex that I did with the Paraorchestra – and look how awesome things turned out with them!

Lord Freud should resign or get kicked out over this. According to him, people with disabilities should be paid below the minimum wage – as little as two pounds per hour. Of course, the tories will try to put their spin on it, saying he was quoted out of context and so on, but it is still highly condescending. Intentionally or not, Freud has implied that people with disabilities are of less value as employees, and that we could be paid some derisory sum just to keep us happy. No wonder the crip community is outraged; we have fought long and hard against such patronising attitudes. If he or his party had any honour at all, news of his resignation or sacking will appear on this evening’s news bulletins.

While Lyn and I did not go, I’d just like to flag this new video up of the Paraorchestra in Qatar. As I’ve said before, Lyn chose to step back a bit from the Paraorchestra to concentrate on composition, although links still remain. They appear to have had a great time there, and performed some awesome gigs – they appear to be going from strength to strength, and seem to me to be becoming excellent ambassadors of the British disability community and British disability art across the world.

I was quite disturbed to just see this story in the lunchtime news. A mother who admitted killing her three young disabled children will not face murder charges. While I have a lot of sympathy for her, disabled or not, these kids could have gone on to have happy lives; by letting her go free, the court has given the green light to the murder of people with disabilities and has lessened the value of our lives. Moreover, I know mothers of disabled children – among the bravest, strongest people I’ve ever known – who would be horrified at this news. I may not know everything about this precise case, but on the face of it, I must say I’m frankly petrified.

I spoke to my parents earlier, who recommended I watch Marvellous. Over Facebook, Esther had suggested that I watch it too, noting that they used the outside of Crewe Alex as the old Stoke football stadium, so I thought I would give it a whirl. However, now that I have, I must say it is as problematic as I suspected it would be. It caused a few rumbles in the disability community, and I can now see why. It’s portrayal of a man with learning difficulties as a bungling yet lucky idiot – the Potteries’ answer to Forrest Gump, as it were – left a nasty taste in my mouth. Yes we need greater representation of people with disabilities on tv, but not in this cliche, patronising, laugh-at-the-lucky-fool way. I’ll probably rewatch it and read about it, in case I missed something, but for now I must say I found it very problematic indeed.

Don’t forget to tune in here at nine tonight!

[img description=”undefined image” align=”centre”]/images/lyn rock tonight 2.jpg[/img]

IT’S GONNA ROCK!

I am very worried indeed about the news we all woke up to this morning. The country seems to be falling for a con: it is being duped by a beer-drinking toff and a party of bigots, seeking to return us to the politics of the nineteen-fifties. We should all be appalled by everything UKIP stand for, from their blatantly xenophobic stance on Europe to their ultra-neoliberal stance on economics to their draconian stance on education and their ambition to restore the outdated unfair grammar and secondary-modern system. Yet people seem to be falling for such shallow selfishness in their droves, so that now we have one of them befouling the palace of Westminster. The question is, what do we, who value multiculturalism, who want to participate in something bigger than the state, we who see individualism and neoliberalism for the childish greed it is, we who see the value of every person in this country regardless of gender, skin colour or ability, we who cherish the NHS and welthfare state; what can we do to counter these unthinking heirs to Goebbels and their cheap, easy yet unthinking solutions? How do we stop this growing madness – what can we do other than watch the news in growing horror, hoping that everyone soon comes to their senses and sees UKIP for the xenophobic folly it is?

While I’m still looking for a new niche obsession, it might be time to revive one of my oldest. I just came across this report that the Ghostbusters franchise is being rebooted (indeed, what franchise isn’ these days?) Ghostbusters was one of my childhood obsessions: when I was four or five, I was mad about it, demanding the toys, the videos, Ghostbuster birthday cakes. At the time, I didn’t realise it was pastiche but took it deadly seriously. Of course, I eventually outgrew it, but now that a reboot is in the works – with an all female main cast, for some reason – it may be time to divert my attention away from Bond, Star Trek* and Lord of the Rings. It could be quite interesting to see what they do with it, how they handle it, and how the project evolves. Naturally, I’ll need to dig out the original two films for reference too, not having seen them in over twenty years. Joking aside, this could be an interesting little project. I note that there is already a website highlighting the film’s thirty year anniversary; it will be interesting to watch how this all plays out.

*Although yesterday I came across this interesting article pondering the future of the franchise, and it’s prospects.

I know that mental illness is very real. It is a serious issue; in many cases it is tragic. Yet, forgive me, but I am beginning to worry that it has began to supersede disability in the wider sense. That is to say, as an issue mental illness is taking more prominence; and those with physical conditions are beginning to get elbowed out of the disability rights movement we founded. Look at the Lib dem confidence, where mental illness is being pushed to the fore. I Suppose it’s fair enough – the mentally I’ll have rights to fight for too, certainly – yet I am worried that the voices of those with physical disabilities are at risk of being drowned out, our movement overtaken, not in any overt, conspiratorial sense, but just as a general trend.

When I first started blogging, I set myself a couple of rules: I told myself to blog at least once every couple of days, and to use pictures sparingly. I thought if I used too many pictures people would accuse e of being lazy, so I restricted myself to only using a picture once the last picture had disappeared off the bottom of the page (ie one picture every six entries). I broke that rule yesterday – what a naughty boy I am! Yet, as I see it, Ive been blogging regularly for over ten years when many blogs just last a few months, so I reckon I’m due a little leeway. Besides, what’s wrong with my blog becoming a tad more visual? – they were both pretty awesome images, you must agree. And after all, uni taught me all about the power of an image. Henceforth my new rule is that images can be used as much as I like, but I’ll try to include writing with them so I don’t get lazy.

Today I just want to flag Lyn’s new internet radio show up. Lyn Rock is on every Saturday from 9pm to 2am, and can be listened to here! Join us on a musical journey…

[img description=”undefined image” align=”centre”]/images/lyn rock.jpg[/img]

Yesterday I decided to go to star trek London again. Mitch suggested going with his brother John, and I though I’d take the opportunity to make sure I hadn’t missed anything saturday. With any luck, I reasoned, there was a chance I could speak to Sir Patrick Stewart again. We got there quite late, and by then the convention was winding down; none of the cast members were there any more. i got to talk to a few people though, and teach John the Klingon word ”Qa’pla”. I also got to forfill another of my longest-held dreams – to sit in the captain’s chair, on the bridge of the Enterprise! I cannot tell you how happy I am with this image, with what happened this amazing weekend; it somehow makes me feel complete.

[quote=”Star trek generations”] Kirk: Captain of the Enterprise, huh?

Picard: That’s right.

Kirk: Close to retirement?

Picard: I’m not planning on it.

Kirk: Well let me tell you something. Don’t! Don’t let them promote you. Don’t let them transfer you. Don’t let them do *anything* that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you’re there… you can make a difference. [/quote]

Music

Life just keeps getting better and better, cooler and cooler: Lyn playing at the paralympic closing ceremony; going to see The cat Empire; watching Monty Python live. All these events are truly, truly awesome, but yesterday I think capped it all. To be honest I was about to suggest we head home, as we had ‘done’ the convention, spoken to the Klingons, seen the stalls. Lyn and paul were, at that point, outside the main convention hall drinking coffee playing with their Ipads, and I was flitting between them and the exhibition. It was getting late, so I thought I would head back in one last time to try to get just a glimpse of Sir Patrick Stewart. There was an autograph area along one side of the hall, where the cast members sat. Earlier in the day I had spoken to Tim Russ there, who had kindly autographed a photo of himself for me. But, having written and thought so much about him for seven years, I really wanted to meet sir Patrick.

He had been away from the area throughout the day, apparently giving talks. Yet that last time he was there. I told the staff that I wanted to meet him and why, showing them my thesis on my Ipad. That obviously impressed them, as after a few consultations with those in authority, I was escorted to the desk, skipping the queue; and there I met Sir Patrick Stewart.

My hands were shaking as I typed into my speech app, but I explained as quickly as I could who I was, about my masters and so on. I wanted to say so much but knew time was a constraint – there was a long queue behind me. I explained the basics to him, and about my relationship with the Ahab scene. He seemed to understand. I wished I’d brought a copy of my thesis with me for him to sign, or perhaps even keep, but I had thought actually meeting Sir Patrick would be so unlikely that it was not worth it. I also wished Lyn and Paul had been there to witness it, but alas. Yet it was a very special moment for me, having grown up watching him play Picard on tv, and then writing quite extensively about him for my masters. I wish, too, that I could have a photo or video of it, but both were prohibited. But at least I have the memory of our conversation, of our handshake, of Sir Patrick congratulating me for getting my masters; it is one I will cherish forever.

My hands shake as I type this, on our way home from Destination Star Trek london. About thirty minutes ago, my dream came true: having somehow blagged my way to the front of a long queue, I got to meet Sir Patrick Stewart. My fingers shook as I told him about my thesis, about the part about him, and how much it meant. I couldn’t show him much, but he seemed genuinely impressed, giving me time to type. He congratulated me heartily on my ‘outstanding achievement’. While I unfortunately couldn’t record the amazing moment with a photo or video, what just happened has made me happy beyond words. He seemed a genuinely nice guy, and I feel honoured to have shaken his hand. It feels as if something has been made complete.

Today I go with Lyn to my first official star trek convention. Believe it or not, despite a large part of my MA being about star trek, I’ve never been to a proper trek convention before. I’m very excited; I have a feeling that today will be another of those awesome, awesome days I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Part of me is dying to meet Sir Patrick Stewart – Captain Picard himself – although I know that’s rather unlikely. I still want to show him my thesis. Anyway, I can’t wait – expect a full account of today’s events on here tomorrow!

No doubt most of us have seen it by now, but, staying with politics, I really have to flag this supreme piece of editing up. CaMoron’s conference Rap has gone viral in about 24 hours. I’m truly impressed with whoever made it; of course I agree with the sentiment, but viewed purely as a creative piece it is astounding, especially given that it was made so quickly.

I got all the way to New Cross before I convinced myself to stop being silly and turned back. But I had been all ready to go up there, to tory headquarters, and insist they leave office. The sight of CaMoron spouting lie after lie from that podium in Birmingham earlier had been too much; trying to tell the country that he and his party are decent human beings when their greed-motivated cuts lead to so much suffering. Thinking they had a right to laugh at those who did actually care. Portraying greed as good; conservatism as somehow altruistic. At one point I was shaking with rage, feeling angrier than I had ever felt in my life. I was heading up there to take direct action – those unelected shits were going!

Yet, halfway there, I realised it was pointless. What could I achieve? they would just ignore me. I got off the bus, crossed the road, and came home. I’d wanted to rid us al of the vermin currently inflicting their selfish policies upon us, but what could I have done? Fuck all, that’s what; and now I’m back I still feel furious, but I also feel utterly powerless.