Toshio must've been good this year - check out what Santa brought him, below. Our very first Lulu merch item, a mug bearing Lulu's logo that was handmade by Tosh's mom.

Some Portland kids have made a documentary about how people view disability, as part of Project Youth Doc, which aims to get under-18s involved in filmmaking.

The kids were in control, conducting man-on-the-street interviews and discussions with disabled teens. One of the movie’s directors, a sophomore at Riverdale named Nate Higby (who happens to be deaf), says he wants docu-goers “to think about people who have differences…and maybe see the advantages of some differences over others.” Sounds prime.

Project Youth Doc Showing
1 PM Saturday, Nov. 15
New Columbia Community Education Center
4625 North Trenton St.

Source: OregonLive

One of my favorite comedians/bloggers/persons is the beautiful and audacious Margaret Cho. I've been lucky enough to see her live twice, once at the Portland Art Museum (hella weird location for comedy) and then at Reed College. The latter of those performances will forever be etched into my memory as one of the most validating and poignant nights of my life. Margaret was solitary on stage in fabulous high heels that looked horribly uncomfortable. She had a completely improvised set comprised of picking questions from the audience randomly out of a hat. My question got chosen. "Lulu asks: who do you think would win in a fight: Foxy Brown or Lil Kim? Hmmm neither. I choose Princess Superstar cause she's the shiznit." Margaret won my heart with her fearlessness and compassion. She did not shy away from addressing traumatic events in her past and showed extreme courage along with her usual hilarious outbursts. So when I found out she was going to have her own show on Video Hits 1, I was ecstatic. Even more exciting was the news that the vivacious and charismatic burlesque star, Selene Luna would be on the show as Margaret's "assistant." Selene is, as her bio reads, "a small package with a very big presence." At less than 4 feet tall, Selene is a stylish smartass who aside from being easy on the eyes, is also consistently hysterical. Plus, she doesn't just defy disability stereotypes, she shatters them and makes fun of them (check her act where she dresses up like a baby in a pram smoking a cigar). Based on her all-around-awesomeness, Selene gets the first Lulu award for disability representation in media. Thanks Ms. Luna! The world needs more people like you.

Last Friday I had a great time talking with Paul at KBOO for his monthly radio show, Sounds of Awareness. He was rad enough/man enough to devote his entire program to Where's Lulu and that show will broadcast in December after Obama's elected. We'll keep you posted on when to listen to me wax philosophical about Lulu! Paul lives out in Vancouver, WA and initially I was going to go over to his house to record the interview (and eat his wife's homemade biscuits, which I was assured were buttery and delicious). Transportation proved to be difficult though, as I couldn't figure out how to connect Portland's trimet with Vancouver's C-tran buses. I don't have a car. I considered taking a cab but that's expensive and kind of a nightmare trying to RESERVE a wheelchair-accessible taxi. Finally I decided I didn't want to worry about it any more and Paul graciously agreed to interview me via the telephone. Transportation is such a huge barrier and source of frustration for myself and my people. Recently I had to miss out on seeing my beloved band TV on the Radio (please marry me, Tunde Adebimpe) for the SECOND time because I couldn't figure out a way home from the concert. And I really didn't feel like getting trapped at 2am chillin' with the myriad sexual predators on Burnside. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed. One day I hope to own a wheelchair-accessible van because it sucks to *always * have to rely on public transport, even when said transport is pretty fantastic in comparison to other cities (Hi to all my BFFs on the #16!). So if any rich entrepreneur reading this feels like buying a little lady a van, I'm available....

I'm very wary of media representations of disability. I tend to avoid movies relating to disability out of fear of being disappointed and alienated from popular culture yet again. It seems like regardless of the format (movies, tv, whatever), it's always predictable, always stereotypical, always wrong. You either have the 'inspirational cripple,' who hates being disabled but manages to 'overcome' obstacles much to the delight of ablebodies (what's up Christopher Reeve) or the 'angry cripple,' who's so pissed off at being disabled he makes everyone around him/her miserable (see every other movie made w/ an ablebodied person playing a disabled person for examples). Therefore, I was happily surprised at how awesome this past week's episode of King of the Hill, "Dia-Bill-ick Shock " was. The premise revolved around Bill discovering he's a diabetic and becoming a wheelchair user. Prior to that he had spent his life as a lonely, nondisabled man afraid of women and lacking confidence. Once he becomes disabled, he meets up with a group of rowdy, wheelchair-rugby players who teach him how to flirt with the ladies, the power of camaraderie and more simply, just how to be happy. He even gets one of those super-rad Murderball chairs. Upon seeing Bill's sweet new ride, his friend Dale (whom I have to say is an accurate representation of a particular breed of southern men) remarks, "Question: Are those wheels angled for stability or just to make you look cool? Answer: BOTH." If you missed the hilarity, (or just want to watch it again like I did) you can watch it on hulu! It's a great way to spend 22 minutes and contains one of the best lines I've heard in awhile, "You just made walking seem lame."