The iBot’s, and Mitch’s, 15 Seconds of Fame

I think it is supposed to be 15 minutes of fame, according to Andy Warhol, but you take what you can get, right?

A couple of months ago I was contacted by a producer for the History Channel show called Modern Marvels.  They were doing a piece on the Segway (a cousin of the iBot wheelchair that I own) and wanted to license some of my iBot footage. 

Of course I agreed.  Any publicity for the iBot is welcome.  I'm working with a group of people to try and save the iBot from extinction (click here).  I made my case with the producer that the iBot technology and the iBot story were much more compelling than the Segway technology or the Segway story.  I didn't get anywhere though. 

So the piece recently went live.  Click here to view it.  The Segway story (which is good, just not as good as the iBot story would have been), begins at time 11:35.  My brief appearance (if you look quickly you’ll see Kim too) begins around 14:20.  

So it was cool to be on the History Channel, but I want more.  I want the iBot technology and the iBot human interest story to be told on Nightline, or 60 Minutes, or made into a full length documentary.  The world needs to hear the story of how disabled people were given an incredible gift, only to have it unceremoniously ripped away from them. 

Who do I call?  How do we get this story told?

Merry Disabled Christmas 2010

Image via WikipediaThis year I endured disabled surgery

And read disabled books
I contributed to a disabled charity
And thwarted disabled crooks

I sailed on a disabled cruise
And piloted my disabled iBot
I sat for disabled interviews
And the good disabled fight, I fought

I starved myself on a disabled diet
And took a disabled shot at a deer
I appreciated nature, and disabled quiet
And quaffed many a disabled beer

I hand-peddled my disabled bike
And hand-drove my disabled van
I spent disabled time with people I like
And I was a loyal, disabled, sports fan

I spent too much money on disabled wheelchair parts
And I made many a disabled friend
I touched a few disabled hearts
And a thousand disabled emails, I did send

It’s not that life is unfair
As you know, I’m not one to complain
You play the cards that are dealt you
If you live in the jungle, you better enjoy the rain

So during this holiday season
I urge you to seek out contentment
Don’t spend time searching for a reason
To feel self-pity, jealousy, or resentment

I’ll end my cryptic verse right here
And offer this sentiment to those most dear
I wish you a Merry Disabled Christmas
And a Happy Disabled New Year!

I Was Interviewed About My CCSVI Experience

I was interviewed by a Canadian magazine about my experiences with MS and CCSVI. The overall story starts on page 16. My input is on pages 34 - 36.  Click here to read.