[...] Filmchen habe ich auf Behindertenparkplatz entdeckt, das Blog, welches bei den Blogawards der Deutschen Welle kürzlich als bestes deutsches [...]

[...] Nicht-autistischen Menschen wird – im Gegensatz zu autistischen – nachgesagt, dass sie sich in andere gut hineinversetzen können, dass sie wissen, was ihr Gegenüber denkt und fühlt, und ihr Verhalten entsprechend anpassen. Wenn so etwas behauptet wird, fehlt in der Regel ein Hinweis auf die Voraussetzung für dieses Verhalten: Solange das Gegenüber “normal” ist. Und wenn nicht? Hier ein Video von Disability Rights Commission (DRC) “TALK” – zum nachfühlen, wie das ist, in einer Welt aufzuwachen, in der man nicht (mehr) “normal” ist. Gefunden auf dem Behindertenparkplatz. [...]

[...] I found in the blog of a german journalist living in London, writing about what happens if you have a great zest for [...]

[...] wahrnahm und die zu mir jemand sagte war “You’re very brave.” Ich kannte den Satz aus diesem Film und musste deswegen unvermittelt laut lachen, was mein Gegenüber natürlich nicht [...]

[...] Owen Hatherley’s experiences at a job centre are very different to mine. I don’t think the Germans are big on motivational training courses (yet), and certainly not those held in ex-branches of the Royal Arsenal Co-op. We’re handed a sheet of paper headed ‘STAYING ON TOP WITH SWOT ANALYSIS’. SWOT being Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. In the midst of the discussion of Swot analysis another is thrown out: GROW, which is made up of Goal, Reality, Options, Will. While we’re taught how to GROW, we’re handed out extracts from Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Later, another mnemonic explains that, in interviews, ‘you have to communicate STAR in order to be the Star’. That’ll be Situation, Task, Action and eventually, Result. – at Sit down man, you’re a bloody tragedy. One time full-time Trotskyist, now with a Labour membership card, Dave Osler notes on the trial of ‘lyrical terrorist’ and WH Smith cashier Samina Malik: Malik, for her part, wished to be known as the Lyrical Terrorist. The reason? Because, as she explained to the jury, ‘it sounded cool’. At that age, what better reason can there possibly be? I remember being an anarchist for approximately six months in 1977, after the first Sex Pistols single came out. Had the internet existed then, I might well have written up my urge to ‘destroy the passer-by’. Back in the early 1980s, I used to hang around the polytechnic bar clad in a Brigate Rosse T-shirt. These days, that might constitute prima facie evidence of the offence of glorifying terrorism. – along with 147 comments, at Dave’s Part. Madam Miaow, in ‘We love your food but youse can sod off’ mentions the anti-Chinese bigotry that got aired when Britain’s first Chinese MP had the cheek to complain about an Orange march route affecting some of her constituents’ attempts to get to work. She had written a letter complaining about a previous parade which had prevented one of her constituents getting to their job at the hospital. With their tiny brains short-circuited by the uppity ethnic, revenge would be swift and lumpen. The Chinese can rest assured that the march is not racist now that the organisers have said they will probably have a nice takeaway afterwards. – ‘casting a sharp eye over the culture and naming the guilty parties’, at Madam Miaow says… Christiane Link (in German) mentions the major differences between Britain and Germany when it comes to treating disabled people. I was asked recently why I’m treated differently in England than in Germany. My answer was that one reason might be because many Britons don’t see my being disabled as causing problems, but they see various circumstances that need to be changed, e.g. the design of and access to buildings. Now I’ve found a film, which shows exactly this viewpoint, by turning reality on its head. In another post she mentions how her local branch of NatWest didn’t have a ramp, so the staff offered to deal with her banking needs outside on the pavement. She obliged – by closing her account. Unlike the rest of the blog, the film (filmed seemingly at PCS union headquarters) is in English. – ‘I think you’re very brave’, at Behindertenparkplatz. And, briefly, the Berlin blogs. The strange German affliction of über-anglophilia has been dealt with: I had a cup of tea yesterday and the waiter gave me an egg timer so that I could time the infusion just right. Fascinating. – ‘Being British’, as experienced by Bowleserised. The art of murder in the 1970s, the reasons behind it and (in the comments) the sexyness (or otherwise) of tweed were considered, probably in the wee small hours in a break between translations: But I can’t drive, which is why I don’t go about killing all and sundry. Which scores me morality points both for greenery and for sparing life. Plus what if I got played by Christopher Biggins in the reenactment part of the programme from Minnesota? So I don’t kill, for a number of reasons. – the briefly named ‘Coat’, at Broke in Berlin. Moving house is hell, especially if your name is Ed Ward. About twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to see an old woman leaning on a cane, and a well-dressed younger man with her. The woman started shouting. “You started that fire! I’m calling the Kripo [Kriminalpolizei] and having you charged with arson!” And who, I asked the man, are you? “I’m her lawyer.” Do you speak English? “Yes.” Does she? “No.” Good, let’s speak English. – BerlinBites, on ‘Rats’. Yet another all-night Automaten, for buying stuff when the shops are shut. Eisenwarenhandlung Günter Menge in Pankow is at your assistance. With pictures. – ‘The misc stuff vending machine’, at the Berlin FAQ blog. And last of all, two excellent posts by Janine. First, on the failed prosecution of Stewart Lee’s Jerry Springer:The Opera by some Christian fundamentalists, and then on London Underground’s plans to shut a train-shed load of ticket offices, and a No. 10 petition against this. Please sign it, and if you feel extra keen, email your whole address book asking them to sign it too. And plug it on your blog if you’ve got one. Pleased to oblige. – over here, at Stroppyblog. Here’s a direct link to the petition. If you’re abroad, just select “Expatriate” and type in “Germany” (or wherever) in the address bit. Blimey, that took ages. I could have written something myself in all that time. [...]

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[...] (Via Behindertenparkplatz, dort gibt’s auch die Langversion des Spots in zwei Teilen.) [...]