The hysteria over swine flu has spread much faster than the virus itself. People as far away from the disease as Malaysia and Spain are donning surgical masks in public. In Mexico City, the epicenter of the outbreak, troops are fanning out all over the city to give commuters surgical masks. The problem is, SURGICAL … Continue reading “Stop Wearing Surgical Masks, It Doesn’t Protect Against Swine Flu”
Remember, Blogging Against Disablism Day (BADD!) is this Friday, May 1st (though since it is on GMT–Britain–you might want to make your submission late Thursday). Ablism (discrimination based on ability) is one of the dumber forms of injustice. Speaking out against it is the right thing to do. Please blog about ablism/disablism this Friday. Nick
Transcription (as captioned): This is Nick, of Nick’s Crusade blog. This is day 243 of me being in an institution in this lovely blue hospital gown. Right now, ADAPT activists are protesting in Washington, DC to end unnecessary institutionalization, like I’m experiencing, and making care available in the community. 10 years ago, there was a … Continue reading “Second “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: ADAPT Action and the Olmstead Decision”
For Immediate Release: April 28, 2009 (Tuesday) For Information Contact: Bruce Darling 585-370-6690 Marsha Katz 406-544-9504 http://www.adapt.org 99 Arrested as ADAPT Blocks Independence and Constitution Avenues on the Hill, then Crawls Up the Capitol Steps Washington, D.C. — ADAPT, the nation’s largest cross-disability, grassroots disability rights organization, took the fight to include long-term services in … Continue reading “ADAPT Press Release: Tuesday’s Protest Blocks Independence and Constitution Avenues”
For Immediate Release: April 27, 2009 For information contact: Bruce Darling 585-370-6690 Marsha Katz (406) 544-9504 http://www.adapt.org 91 Arrested When ADAPT Told Obama Administration Won’t Support Inclusion of Long Term Services in Health Care Reform Washington, D.C.— Ten members of ADAPT met with Obama Administration officials in the White House today, and came away disappointed … Continue reading “ADAPT Press Release: Monday’s Protest at the White House”
I’ve been asked this many times over the years. The answer is this: I don’t know how to consistently write things that AREN’T about injustice. I’m driven to right the wrongs around the world, like the fire drives a locomotive. I’m, at my core, an activist for social justice; and I run a blog about … Continue reading ““Why Is Your Blog So Depressing?””
New York City’s hospitals, already strained and overcrowded, are experiencing a spree of closings, felled by the economic crisis. St. John’s Queens Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital have gone bankrupt and boarded up the entrances. This leaves Queens-dwellers with few options, and those few options in an awful overcrowding situation. “It’s a real failure of … Continue reading “More NYC Hospitals Lost To Economic Crisis”
Last night I spent lots of time filling up the blog’s sidebar with content. Added: Facebook badge with photo Text explaining the blog Media Coverage of Nick Links to web, newspaper, radio and TV stories about what I’ve done Sites I Read A list of my favorite blogs and news sources, but, unlike many blogrolls, … Continue reading “Lots Of New Links On The Blog’s Sidebar”
Might Tell You Tonight – Scissor Sisters Dedicated to my girl. “…want to burrow like a sparrow.” Nick
Americans are fed up with banks double dipping off them, pulling down billions in bailouts from taxpayers, while also squeezing us with increased fees and interest. The backlash is now being expressed in Congress: BAILED OUT BANKS U.S. banks that issue credit cards have received more than $120 billion in taxpayer funds since October, money … Continue reading “Public Rage At Banks And Bailout Expressed in New Laws”
Nick’s Crusade Blog – April 21, 2009 from Alejandra Ospina on Vimeo Transcription (as captioned): Hello, and welcome to Nick’s Crusade blog. This is a video blog of day 236 here in the hospital. I’m here in the hospital because I’m waiting for community services, and the [Medicaid] waiver that I’m on just seems to … Continue reading “First “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: Day 236 in Hospital”
I like Barack Obama; I voted for him because I wanted a fresh start beyond the stale 1960s debates, Olbermann vs. O’Reilly daily “hot button issue” and endless socialism vs. capitalism rock ‘em-sock ‘em robots that lead us nowhere and accomplish nothing. We can’t afford that crap in times like these. And I wanted a serious … Continue reading “Obama’s Blunder: Hiring Too Many Cooks”
How is Obama’s Afghanistan plan supposed to work, when similar plans were EPIC FAIL for the Soviets, British, Alexander the Great and others? Former CIA Mideast operative Robert Baer (played by George Clooney in Syriana) writes in TIME Magazine: The Pashtun are a big, sprawling, insulated tribal people. There are some 40 million of them, … Continue reading “Understanding Pashtuns Critical To Avoiding Afghanistan Quagmire”
Over the years, I’ve had gay friends and family and seen them struggle. It never seemed to me a path someone would “choose,” but what do I know? But this quote from TIME Magazine proves to me, it’s NOT a choice: I don’t care about the militias anymore because they’re going to kill me anyway … Continue reading “Proof It’s Not A Choice: The Gays Of Iraq”
Months ago, a serious incident happened on Unit A13. Suddenly, I heard the operator blast over the loudspeaker “CODE BLUE A-APPLE-13!! CODE BLUE A-APPLE-13!!” Aides frantically checked all the patients, coming to me first (because I’m in the first room). They ran up and down the hall. Everyone was fine. “WHERE’S THE CODE??” It wasn’t … Continue reading “Medical Personnel’s Hands So Tied By Liability Concerns They Hesitate To Save A Life”
peoplewhositinthedisabilityseatswhenimstandingonmycrutches.com is a hilarious blog that highlights people who won’t get up and cede the disability seats on the subway. I love it. It’s the kind of guerrilla citizen journalism that I would love to see more of from the disability community; don’t just gripe about barriers, document them! I’d like to do this sort … Continue reading “People Who Sit In The Disability Seats…”