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Pegasus (Part 74)

I slowly opened my eyes. At first, I struggled to understand what I was looking at. It was the ruins of a city obscured by a thick white mist. I looked backward to see what state my companions were in.

Our newest companion’s eyes were set wide open. Rivers of blood flowed from her gashed head. I reached out to touch her but her body had already gone cold. I could just about look past her to see Tabitha who was slouched back.

Impulsively, I called out “Tabitha, Tabitha.”

She jostled slightly before responding “I am here, you okay?”

My heart which had been beating ferociously calmed.

“We need to get out of here,” I shouted.

I struggled left and right but was strapped in. I looked closely at the bright visual display. I knew there must be some button that I needed to press to get out of this predicament. It was just a matter of finding it. I thought I had it but merely and very briefly turned on some sort of alarm. Still, I persisted.

I pressed this option and then that one. Finally, the straps recoiled in place and the overhead hatch opened up.

Immediately, I was hit by a rotten smell. Myself and Tabitha gingerly made our way out of the ship. I could hear a motoring sound in the distance.

Tabitha looked at me, concern etched across her face.

Pegasus (Part 73)

But the Emperor’s fighters remained in hot pursuit. Their laser fire coming closer and closer. The devastating effects of being hit could be seen in the massive explosions when errant shots hit unintended space stations.

“Go there.”

Their new companion leaned forward and pointed to a massive space habitat in the distance. There was no time for questions. I just obeyed and hoped for the best. It was just one of those things.

I continued to weave this way and that as randomly as possible. Our destination was coming closer now. It was huge but looked somewhat ominous, its atmosphere an unhealthy-looking grey color. There were what looked like dilapidated mega-cities on its surface.

Then one of the laser shots grazed one of the ship’s wings. I nearly lost control of the ship but just regained control as we entered its atmosphere. The fighters pulled back and didn’t follow us. An emergency siren went off.

“Prepare for a crash landing,” I yelled.

And then things went blank. If it had been any other ship, we’d have been killed. Its emergency systems were legendary. It’s AI must have taken over to mitigate damage.

I can still remember regaining consciousness. It was a slow and painful experience. The first thing I felt was a throbbing headache.

Never Know Your Place

Well readers, fear not I am back again. It has been a while. I had an interview and stuff. Didn’t qualify, I apparently failed the Working Through People question. Which is ridiculous because I’m great at getting others to do stuff. I hate actually having to do things myself.

So, the above is the memoir of Martin Naughton. My last post was a review of a play about his life. First things first, the Kindle price was way too high, almost the same as the printed version. Like I purchased it, but I’m a fanatic. The price really needs to be reduced.

The book is much more thorough than the play. In fairness to the playwright he has to tell the whole story over a short time frame but it contains inaccuracies I find frustrating. This is a pivotal character and to me, his life must be detailed correctly. Likewise, the play mentioned occurrences the memoir may have left out. For instance, Martin decides not to go to America to live in the play but it omits the importance of a few visits that he did make. Also, the girlfriend goes to move to America without him in the play but this is not mentioned in the memoir. However, I feel that the incident in the play where the porter wouldn’t help Martin toilet, which is not mentioned in the book is the kind of thing that probably really did happen.

Although it is a memoir, certain aspects and periods of his life are almost completely omitted. It details his first romance, who becomes a lifelong friend but no other. In the notes at the end, it states that there were others but they are not included to protect the privacy of the women. This is somewhat disappointing for a memoir. He could have provided insight into why they didn’t work out or how his disability impacted them.

It starts with his early life in Spiddal. From an early age, he was a good organizer and he made many of the decisions during the construction of the new family home. Unfortunately, signs of his progressive disability were already clear. It appears that it ran in the family, with older sister Mairead, and younger sister Barbara also affected.

He was sent across the country to Baldoyle Hospital with his sister Barbara ostensibly to be rehabilitated but in truth to be institutionalized. This also meant moving from what would have been a very strong Gaeltacht at the time to an English-speaking world. Two major adjustments for any nine-year-old and he is clear about his nights of anguish.

Life in the institution was highly regimented and repetitive, and they were forced to be in their beds long before night had fallen. It was run by an order of nuns. These must have been very dark times for him psychologically. At least there are no allegations of sexual abuse though. Terrible things were happening to children in other institutions at the time.

Gradually his English improved and fortunately, some good volunteers came to the hospital. Two characters, Kitt and Dermot were to play a crucial role in his life. Dermot managed to get the Celtic European Cup-winning team to visit the hospital. This was to have a huge ripple effect leading Martin and others to create a soccer club.

Martin became the chief organizer. It was never really about the sport for him. It was about giving the children in the hospital a better life and their integration with the nondisabled children living in the wider community.

Gradually, his role becomes a paid role and he resides in the hospital as a staff member.

It is clear from the book that Martin has a keen intellect. He leaves that job and takes on a role in the “outside”. This necessitates organizing 24-hour volunteer support. A very formidable task that he managed to do.

His new job led him to pay for his own Assistant after some time.

During a visit to his sister in the States, he comes into contact with the Independent Living Movement. They explain the philosophy to Martin and he spreads it back to Ireland helping to create, although not officially a founder of the first Center for Independent Living in Ireland. He wanted to be free as an independent actor. They apply for European funding to employ Personal Assistants and after a well-run campaign the Irish Government rows in behind it to provide permanent funding. This is what he is justly renowned for.

But what of the movement now?

He admits that there are still problems. Too many are in institutional settings against their wishes. It’s about choice. Some may wish to remain. The likes of Cheshire Homes have changed significantly over the years and now allow more freedom. But many will want the freedom to choose their own lives and that was what Martin Naughton was about.

He stands out as a beacon, not just to those with a disability but to all Irish people.

The disability community now needs future leaders to step up.

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No Magic Pill

Ladies and gentlemen, you shouldn’t be reading this because well I’m supposed to be studying. I have a real problem with my mind jumping from place to place. And apparently, this is where it’s at, at the moment. Really I should be thinking about majestic topics such as the difference between revenue and capital accounts. Please give an example of each. Tell me about a time you should initiative. And no chasing skirt is not what they are thinking of.

I have an important interview coming up. All part of Project Mark. The Masterplan. Except my plans tend to be more meandering in nature. Anyways back to “No Magic Pill”.

It’s a play I went to yesterday in Longford in thick fog and down some very narrow roads. I think Google Maps wanted to build the suspense. Mr R and some mates accompanied me.

It tells the story of Martin Naughton, institutionalized from a young age, and the part he played in creating the first CIL or Centre for Independent Living. This was the first time Personal Assistants (PAs) were provided to people with disabilities. This is very pertinent to me as PAs have greatly helped me in my life. I consider him, and the others in those early days to be heroes. So, this post may be somewhat partisan.

Firstly the venue. The staff were courteous and pleasant. There were some drawbacks, lack of delineated wheelchair parking (I know Mr R, I know) and I had to go around the back and use temporary ramps. Not full marks for inclusion. More pointers for future improvements rather than criticism. Let’s call it a post-event review. I hate those things.

The play is about how the movement for independent living began and has a love story as somewhat of a subplot. The acting was excellent, especially by the actor playing Naughton. It’s mostly played by actors who actually have disabilities or else they should get Oscars. Something is intoxicating about plays. So much better than television.

It shows how he ended up in an institution, the effect it had on people, and how he strived to improve things for both himself and others, against considerable odds. I knew quite a lot about this before going in and have met some of the people depicted. The subplot revolves around a girl who likes pushing his wheelchair from place to place and becomes one of his first PAs. Then they start a relationship.

I do have some criticisms of the play.

The general understanding is that Naughton learned about Independent Living while visiting the US. However, in the play he never does. Instead, it’s held out as a mythical place, kind of like disability heaven where he’s stuck in a conundrum about whether to pursue his dream or save his friends. It might be to make the play more dynamic but I’m a stickler.

It indicates that the independent living movement was created by Vietnam Vets who lost limbs. This is a myth and underplays the role that those born with disabilities played in the movement. It was actually started by students at a California University. I’d recommend you read the biography of Judith Heumann if you want to learn more. I think that the distinction is important.

I didn’t like the ending. It’s too abrupt. There is too much left up in the air. The last few lines leave open whether the romance works out or not. And, it stops before the Government agrees to continue financing the services. I think it’s even worse for those who wouldn’t know the story as well as me.

I’m still recommending you go see it and learn about a true freedom fighter.

Now back to those budgets and Maslows Hierarchy of Needs.

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Pegasus (Part 72)

A few moments later we were traveling through the launch tunnel, under intense laser fire. Then just seconds after we were in the vacuum of space surrounded by a vast array of large space habitats and stars. It was with much amazement that I spotted the moon for the first time. I thought I could just about make out some of the settlements on its surface. Then Tabitha’s voice brought me back to reality and to the predicament we were now in.

“Where will we go?”

On the face of it, there were boundless opportunities but I knew that wasn’t the case.

“Any rebel bases near here? I asked in hope rather than expectation.

I looked back and she nodded “no”.

Much to my horror I could see one of the Emperor’s fighters with two large laser cannons on its wings behind us. It had his colors and his insignia, the crossed swords on its front.

“What’s wrong?” our new female companion asked.

I turned around and put the thrusters on. My head jolted back. For a moment I felt my body getting hot but I started to breathe more slowly to try to calm myself. The ship was easy to control and I was soon weaving my way in and out of the different space habitats and stations.

Left.

Then right and right again.

Pegasus (Part 71)

Sure enough Uncle Robbie had not let her down. It was a Select 5 Raptor. This was my first time to see one in the flesh as they were totally illegal. For a moment I froze. This model spaceship was something that I had dreamed about when I was young. It’s a sleek design, with a polished black carbonate exterior, it was just perfect. Two large thrusters waited patiently to the rear.

It was the model that had once been predicted to transform Earth’s orbit from a multitude of quasi-independent habitats to a more unified political entity. Every citizen would own one. But it was thought that such freedom would be a threat to the Emperor’s order and then through a flood of new regulations the dream was stifled and then died.

So, it was with relish that I jumped into the front passenger seat and encouraged Tabitha to climb into the rear.

Our new companion got into the driver’s seat but then looked at me, her eyes enlarged.

“Do you know how to work this thing?

I didn’t require a second invitation.

We quickly changed seats. I could hear the echo of steps coming towards us in the distance.

Fortunately, in my past life, I had watched videos about the different panel controls on various ships never thinking it would become of practical use. I took the control lever in my hand. The ship jerked forward forcing me to break causing Tabitha to bang her slightly.

Now there was gunfire.

Instinctively I drove it onto the launch runway. The hood of the ship closed and I ignited the thrusters.

Review of “Alien Romulus”

It was with much delight that I found the film “Alien Romulus” available to view last night. I was in the perfect mood for a bit of gore and vodka. Oh, these are the days. I immediately thought of Sigourney Weaver and all of her brutal battles with the Alien. But times have changed.

My first thought was that the main characters looked like they should be in secondary school, not in some dark mining colony. Rain Carridine is informed that her work contract has been extended thus almost guaranteeing her death on the remote and hostile planet that her colony resides on. Determined to escape, she joins a plan with her adopted brother Andy—a malfunctioning android reprogrammed by her father—her ex-boyfriend Tyler, his pregnant sister Kay, their cousin Bjorn, and Bjorn’s adopted sister Navarro. The group commandeers the hauler Corbelan IV to reach Renaissance, a space station split into the modules Romulus and Remus, intending to steal hibernation equipment to survive the multi-year journey to Yvaga III, an apparently idyllic planet many light years away. All the time, blissfully unaware of the threat awaiting them

What follows is pure Alien franchise gold. There is everything that you want to see meshed in a cocktail of fear, dread, and bloody violence. Oh, the nostalgia!

I don’t want to ruin the joy but rest easy knowing there are only a few survivors. Just the way we like.

An evening well-spent, five stars out of five for me.

The Secret Life of a World of Warcraft Gamer

This is a new documentary that has just dropped on Netflix. Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life when they started receiving messages from online friends around the world after posting a message about his death on his blog.

The secret life of the young World of Warcraft gamer is vividly reimagined using the actual conversations he had from the game where he role-played a character called Ibelin. The game was his sanctuary where he was free from his disability and felt that he could relate to people on an equal footing.

At his funeral, his father relates how his parent’s greatest sorrow was that he would never know love, never have friendships, or make a difference in another person’s life. But they were wrong, he had found a way through his own resourcefulness.

What follows is the story of his alternate life in this virtual told in his own words and by those who knew him. It is a life of ups and downs, with the black cloud of him physically getting weaker in the background.

I’m giving this documentary, a tale of success against adversity five stars and strongly recommend you watch it.

Pegasus Part 70

Finally, after what seemed like an age, a ladder appeared in the distance. The pace of their crawling suddenly picked up in anticipation of reaching their destination. Sure enough, there was a hatch above them. Tabitha tried to open it but it was locked.

Tabitha banged it with her hand. No response.

She looked back with a frown.

Then she banged again more vigorously.

There was a clinking noise and the sound of noises. Then the hatch door opened and a foul smell entered the tunnel.

A voice came from above. There was a sense of fear and dread.

“Come quickly. Come on.”

It was a pale white freckled woman with red hair. When I clamored out of the hatch I was met with a scene of devastation. The charred remains of purple people were strewn across the floor of a spaceship hanger. The lighting was flickering on and off. Tabitha was staring blankly at me.

The red-haired woman was in a frenzy now.

“Come, come. We need to get off this station!” she implored.

We followed her out of instinct. She was now the only one with a plan.

She talked as she ran.

“Uncle Robbie, he told me there was a ship here that I could take. They’ll be back. We need to get outta here.”

Pegasus (Part 69)

We had to get on our knees and crawl in an illuminated shaft. Zen roared after us to say to tell the others that he had sent us. Then there was the sound of a thud as the hatch closed behind us.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“You okay?” Tabitha whispered looking back over her shoulder at me.

“You know how I love cramped places,” I replied with a wide grin quite unsure if she could see it.

And on we went.

The surface was hard, and my hands started to feel sore, blisters were almost a certainty. There was no end in sight.

“Come on, Tabitha whispered.

We didn’t know it but above ground, a massacre was occurring.

The Emperor had decided that an example needed to be shown to all the other space stations in orbit. Men, women, and children were all being mowed down without hesitation. Crowds were trampling over all those who fell.

“Hear something?” I quizzef Tabitha.

“No why?”

I continued, “I thought I heard someone scream.”

“You are projecting. There is nothing to hear down here. There would want to be something very wrong happening for you to hear it in this place.”