London 2012 Paralympics

Well here we go again. I'm was even more skeptical this time, but yet again won over by the opening ceremony. This time with a theme of the enlightenment with Prof Hawkins doing his awesomeness of a universe from nothing thing - 'brilliant mind in a ruined body.'Lot's of Newtonian apples and references and the fabulous Ian Drury song - Spasticus Autisticus, banned on the BBC when he first did it; now an anthem."Before a new flame was lit in this magical London summer, the words of an Ian Dury song rang out around the Olympic Stadium last night. 'Hello to you out there in Normal Land,' the lyrics to Spasticus Autisticus went, 'you may not comprehend my tale or understand.' Normal Land watched on. Not with distaste. Or disdain. Those kinds of emotions began to seep away a long time ago. Not even with indifference. No, Normal Land gazed at the Opening Ceremony for the London Paralympics with admiration, even a little envy."It was great stuff and I'm now waiting for a bit of shock and awe.

Hi guys - I read a tweet from a journo over here that there are no US TV networks covering the Paralympics - is that correct ?

I've only even heard of it on the internet.

Is there a Paralympic event for the spelling-impaired? (That's "spellins" to you.)

Bah.

Well I've watched a couple of events - including our first gold medal.I'm ashamed to say that we spend quite a lot of time playing the "and what's wrong with him?" game.

I play the "embarrassed" game.
Today I watched a swimmer with no arms swim faster than I can.
Tomorrow I will watch a man with no legs run faster than I can.It is a sad indictment of my fitness.
And it is a fantastic display of their ability to overcome their disability.Edited by Panda, : No reason given.

Knock, Knock...
Who's there?
Not that guy...- Oni

It was him Oni - it's just that his dick's bigger than yours, and he used that

Well then we know what he used to swim so fast. Heyooo!- Oni

So much of this is new to me, the humour is fabulous and simultaneously frighteningThe programme 'the last leg' is genuinely and origionally hilarious and shocking because it takes the piss out of disability and deals with it in a really slanted way.They have a section called 'is it ok' and talk about the stuff that's embarassing to us normals. "Is it ok to ask how a guy with no arms wipes his arse?" apparently, yes.Check out #isitokAnd also#youcanonlypisswiththecockyouvegotThis is the most interesting TV I've seen for ages.

I went to the wheelchair rugby yesterday with my 6 year old son. I wasn't expecting much really. I got the tickets free through work and was going along more to see the Olympic park in action than for any great love of, or interest in, wheelchair rugby. But I have to say it was great fun.A sort of cross between basketball, rugby and Formula 1. Crazy collisions, frantically fast wheeling around, some genuinely impressive dodge-maneuvering and the occasional need for a welder (I kid you not). Bizarre but enormous fun.

Just when I thought knock knock jokes were below professional comedians..... (although, the dick joke was better. Maybe give him your gig?)

I'm on another level son! What? My joke was creative, some would say even genius. His joke was filthy potty humor. I like to keep it clean, thank you very much.- OniEdited by onifre, : No reason given.

This isn't about the London Paralympics, but it's going on at the same time and is on the same theme. A soldier who lost a leg in Afghanistan and an athlete who lost a leg playing softball are serving as ball boys/girls at the US Open. I've been keeping my eye out for them on TV, but haven't seen them yet. Here are pictures and articles. Ryan McIntosh: http://espn.go.com/...n-ball-boy-goal-inspire-other-amputeesDenise Castelli: Error - New Haven Register--Percy