Jul
31
2009
Dear Mr Obama,
I am writing in the hope that you will consider recalibrating your government’s stance over the proposed extradition of the UK citizen Gary McKinnon.
You will not doubt be aware that people with Asperger Syndrome are often far more vulnerable than initial appearances would suggest, frequently isolated, often bullied and sadly many experience severe mental health problems if they do not get the right support. Many consider that his extradition is unnecessary, avoidable and disproportionate as such a process has not taken place in other similar cases.
I too am one of those people. I have Asperger Syndrome, co-morbid with other mental health issues, and like Mr McKinnon, have a deep fascination and extreme skill with technology. Were it not for my heightened sense of clinical paranoia, I too would probably have done just what Mr McKinnon did in his search for what he perceived to be the truth.
The fact that a number of the systems that he accessed had default passwords - that is a blank field - shows recklessness on the part of the systems administrators responsible for your national security, all the way up the chain of command.
Without a wholesale overhaul of these systems and censure of those responsible, your government’s actions appear to be persecution of one of the most vulnerable members of our or any society for highlighting the failures of others.
Mr McKinnon is now a scapegoat for pointing out that the Emperor’s new clothes were in fact illusory and so I implore you to reconsider your government’s request for his extradition.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Springham
Jul
03
2009
Apologies to my followers and readers for being out of the loop for so long, but I have been - finally - working on my autobiography.
“Between the Cracks” is a bit of a (so far!) life-long work in progress, having undergone a range of name changes, abortive starts, diversionary tactics and writers’ blocks.
Synopsis: I am an adult survivor of extended childhood abuse. I only started addressing these issues in 2005, undergoing psychotherapy and taking legal action against the local authority responsible for my childhood “care”. They settled out of court in 2008. I have obtained access to most, if not all, of my early life records and am compiling them into a book – along with my thoughts and recollections, art and photographs – to highlight how easy it is to fall “between the cracks” and be failed by the social and other services.
This is in part to encourage the others as well as to help me continue to come to terms with the pervasive after-effects of such neglect, oversight and exploitation.
Jun
01
2009
The European elections are on the 4th of June which is our chance to influence the future political and environmental direction of Europe when electing our local representatives.
Will members use it as a means of punishing their local and national leaders or to direct European representation? On the other hand, will they ignore it as just another opportunity for the self-serving to line up at the trough.
What are the dangers of a low turnout allowing single-issue and extremist parties wielding disproportionate power?
May
28
2009
Herewith some of the latest outpourings from the brush, pen & mouse of yours truly:
“Rear Window” or “Work/Life Balance” (Preliminary sketch)
“Enough!” Fight against the stigma of mental health (in bad Spanish)
May
11
2009
What a week! Missed out on a job performing online support within the public sector because I was “over experienced.” Then I had an application for help with essential flooring materials turned down. To top it all, one of my potential long-term clients has “run out of cash” just before launching their innovative scheme to direct vulnerable young people towards positive rôle models and life choices and have decided that the new aim is to provide a few links without any of the social bookmarking, geomapping and streaming video that I have spent months developing …
The immortal words of Tony Hancock spring to mind: “stone me! what a life …” or to misquote Frankie Howerd, “Twitter ye not!”
It’s only being so cheerful that keeps me going when surrounded by such shining examples of what the ancients called a “Causas Banjo “
May
02
2009
Had myself a lumbar epidural yesterday. First night I have slept comfortably for a very long time. I can move my body without pain; let us hope I can extend this metaphor to the rest of me.My wife accompanied me to the hospital and - once in & getting prepared for the ordeal - left to allow me time to centre and find my own space, which I did, quite successfully, with a mixture of prayer, positive thought and realisation that May Day is always a good basis for anything revolutionary and victorious. The thought that I was having an epidural on Labour Day cheered me no end.
The process was odd. There is no other description for the sensation of having someone ferret around your spinal column with a great big needle, anaesthesia or no. I would feel the internal structural workings of my body - albeit second hand because of pressure rather than touch - in a way not experienced outside of the dental chair or the orthopaedic ward.
Perhaps the closest approximation is the “No sh!t Sherlock” moments one encounters in psychotherapy when the blindingly obvious is finally revealed and the explanation for life-long confusion or Muppet-like behaviour becomes painfully apparent.
That said, something else positive came out of the experience: inspiration for a new painting, which I have reduced to three colours in nine areas: that is two regions more than usual: progress indeed!
The walls of the room in which the procedure took place were fascinating on a visual level. They had what was probably originally a floor covering: off white with small black streaks. I presumed the streaks to be the clawing finger marks of previous denizens in their frantic attempts to escape; informed otherwise, I considered using the pattern for a background motif. That is probably for a later date.
To centre myself before the procedure, I explored the geometry of the ward, especially that of the door through which patients passed on their way to and from surgery. I had the proportions and colours set in my mind’s eye when a young African porter pushed a metallic trolley through the double doors. The trolley bore the legend “Dirty Instruments.” Thus, a picture was born, along with the continued realisation that - once again - I would be “forever changed”
“Dirty Instruments” (c) Ian Springham
Preparatory sketches
May
01
2009
May is “Mental Health Awareness Month” - a fact of which I was reminded by Chato B Stewart (Mental Health Advocate - Cartoonist - and a few other things! http://www.mentalhealthhumor.com & http://www.mentalhealthcartoons.com“Using Humor to Heal and Educate with badly drawn cartoons.” - Chato B. Stewart)
Replied to as follows:
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So, back to my new year resolutions …
… I have a new title for my book: “Forever Changed” inspired - of course - by Arthur Lee, Love, Lou Reed & John Cale - film at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzupngqP6VA
Apr
15
2009
I finally got around to hanging two of my best bits of Personality Disorder Artwork: both acrylic on canvas (50cm x 40cm)
“You DID this” and “Ain’t no cure for love”
Photographed together here for the first time. Your thoughts and comments - plus serious offers of money for them - are welcomed, as always.
As with everything else, the paintings are (c) Ian Springham - as is the photograph, natch.
Mar
06
2009
Call over ‘blacklist data’ row
The Government has been urged to take immediate action to outlaw the blacklisting of workers after new evidence that the practice was “rampant”.
Other headlines from
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/p-news-uk.html
Are they in any way related?
Mar
06
2009
“The information watchdog has shut down a company which it says sold workers’ confidential data, including union activities, to building firms.
A raid on The Consulting Association in Droitwich, Worcs, revealed a serious breach of the Data Protection Act, the Information Commissioner’s Office said.
The ICO said a secret system was run for over 15 years enabling employers to unlawfully vet job applicants.”
From http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7927487.stm
Concerned that the recruitment industry might be using similar blacklists more widely, I followed up the story with the following post to the BBC’s website:
“One thing that concerns me is that this practice may be more widespread and extend beyond the construction industry: Information Technology and financial services would seem the most natural users of such data.
I would have assumed that, collectively, the recruitment and human resources sectors would operate such blacklists in the same fashion as credit reference agencies; arguably for their clients’ protection.
We can only hope that these revelations regarding the actions of The Consulting Association open up the metaphorical floodgates relating to protectionist policies.”
As well as political affiliation and activity, other personal data such as economic factors, physical and mental health status, disability and other issues - many of which are subject to anti-discrimination legislation - might well be secretly traded between recruiters and their clients. Does anyone have any evidence or experience of this?
