Where do ideas really come from?

For sure, the idea is not singular, it is networked. Rather, the first idea is ill-formed and the complete idea is fully formed by the network. But the temporary ownership of the idea is essential for the idea to take hold in the world. This reinforces the idea of the narrators: people who can connect and explain the idea and communicate more or less exactly the idea as far as it can be understood by those taking an interest. In this way, the idea can take hold. -Tim Greenhalgh, YouTube user comment 

Steve Johnson takes some time in this TED talk to analyze, scrutinize and utterly break apart the notion of an idea as a single moment in time: a "eureka," a "lightbulb" or any number of terms used to suggest a singularity in concept of any particular idea. Rather Johnson argues for networked creativity wherein one idea might be borrowing from another and groups in the same way, might be cross-pollinating, if you will, with other groups.

This blog, while sometimes strong in its advocacy and championing of those with disabilities, is ultimately about championing difference as a form of unique contribution to the world and its various cultures. This video exemplifies that particular aim.

Roll on!

50 Things I'm Going to Do Today

This free lecture by free-thinking intellectual "shakerupper" Brian Johnson lists 50 of the most comprehensively motivating things for us, abled however we are, to do today. I agree with most of the things on this list except the whole "Stop milking the cow" part -- for I doth love me a milkshake now and again.

Listen here.

Roll on with yo' 50 things!

The Bucket List Series: The Bucket List Book by Angie Webb

Paulo Coelho is the author of one of my favorite books, The Alchemist

Here is some boisterous and beautiful inspiration from an inspiring person whom my fiancee had the pleasure to meet  and befriend while working at a youth summer camp recently:

The Bucket List Series: The Bucket List Book:   THE BUCKET LIST FOR EVERYONE: 100 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU KICK THE BUCKET

Roll on!

Henry Rollins INSPIRES YOU LIKE CRAZY in under five minutes!

No matter how hard life has been to you, you have been given tomorrow as a sign to NOT give up!



Roll on!

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Reblog - Let me tell you a story about moving past limitations

Check out this reblog and as always... roll on!

The Wheelchair Philosopher: Let me tell you a story about moving past limitati...:   This image of rapper-singer Drake is taken from an anonymous source on Facebook. Copyright is granted in full to the original owner of ...

Photosophical: Your life is yours to live

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State.com calls out ESPN on its lack of Paralympics coverage

The Paralympic Games of 2012 have been going on in London since August 29, but judging from the media coverage or more precisely, the lack of it, no one in the US would know that. While this kind of omission is not uncommon for unpopular topics in news, it is however a little glaring. Yet, honestly, I can't say I'm surprised any more than I would be at America's lack of interest in UK cricket. There's no reference point and no public outcry amid the home runs from early September Major League Baseball and touchdowns of the first few weeks of NFL football.

The following piece from Slate.com takes a stance of inexcusablity toward ESPN, its affiliates and subsequent sponsor relationships therein.  The piece points to the usual inspirational go-tos: indomitable spirit, the triumph of the will over the hardships of the flesh and body, etc. But  as someone who has competed in similar games and as your wheelchair philosopher, I ask that you reserve your judgment until after you read the article below.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/09/07/paralympics_2012_espn_s_lack_of_coverage_is_totally_indefensible_.html

Like the Paralympics' wheelchair events... roll on!

Photosophical: Have an open mind

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Dr. Wayne Dyer talks about being a no-limit person

Here is a great talk from Dr. Wayne Dyer given decades ago that still resonates today.



Stay tuned and roll on!

Pro Wrestler Nick Dinsmore discusses playing 'special needs' character Eugene

Nick Dinsmore as Eugene in WWE
Photo source: BBC

For most of you who read this blog, you know that I am very much an avid, diehard wrestling fan and because this is, after all, the Wheelchair Philosopher blog, disability is logically the common thread that binds this biosphere of topics together on most occasions.

Quite a few blogs back I profiled professional wrestler Colt Cabana's interview with fellow ring warrior Gregory Iron, the first professional wrestler born with Cerebral palsy in real life. But today, another detour in the journey of disability in professional wrestling is taken with fellow professional wrestler Colt Cabana's interview of Nick Dinsmore who portrayed "special-needs" character and wrestler Eugene for several years in World Wrestling Entertainment.

According to Dinsmore, Eugene's persona may have been modeled after one of WWE's writer's autistic son as a way to show triumph of the will in a new light for a new era. The premise of Eugene's story was that he would be a guy with a disability who grew up idolizing his favorite wrestlers and mimicking their moves with savant-like perfection so while having the disability, once in the ring, he would dominate his competition by being a harrowing hybrid of every great wrestler he grew up watching.

Colt and Nick discuss the controversy of the potential exploitation of a character such as Eugene and also the positives that have come out of the role.

Listen to the Art of Wrestling podcast with Nick Dinsmore at the link below.

Roll on!

From the podcast:

Eugene was a WWE superstar. Nick Dinsmore portrays the special needs character, Eugene. Dinsmore [has] been wrestling a long time and is full of fun stories. Find the origins of the character along with much more as Nick and Colt sit down and talk wrestling.

http://tsmradio.com/coltcabana/2012/08/22/aow-109-eugene/