Terrifyingly far-right candidate Carl Paladino crushed state GOP-endorsed Rick Lazio Tuesday night and won the Republican nomination for Governor, meaning he will go head-to-head against Democratic nominee Andrew Cuomo for Governor of New York in the November 2nd election. Paladino is known for his “controversial” bigoted comments and extremist stances on the issues. Here’s a snippet of … Continue reading “Republican Revolution II: Electric Bugaloo”
For more information on the mega-crane used to erect the Freedom Tower’s 70-ton “jumbo” steel columns that support the perimeter, click this interview with Quentin Brathwaite, the Port Authority’s assistant director of WTC Construction. These photos thanks to friend Aaron Auslender; he took them on the way to visit me near-by.
WHAT DO WE WANT? WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW! My 9/11 anniversary post is focusing on the new WTC towers in the works now. Click here for new photos of the construction. We want that first tower up ASAP! (first dubbed the “Freedom Tower,” then changed back to the original “One World Trade Center” … Continue reading “World Trade Center, 2010”
You can’t really form productive relationships with many every day folk in the U.S. (nor Mexico, South America and Africa) if you’re completely ignorant of Christianity, and, increasingly, its more charismatic groups, which are seeing explosive growth. Unless you can *get* where people are “coming from,” you won’t understand them, and the spiritual is a … Continue reading “Religious Literacy and Understanding, For Our Own Sake”
Lots of people are, as always, posting about the MDA Telethon this Labor Day weekend (I recommend this piece by Laura Hershey). Usually the focus is on smashing the negative images (pity) that the MDA Telethon often conveys, and that is crucial because the Telethon brings to all corners of the U.S. the most-watched images … Continue reading “This Is All You Need To Know About This Year’s MDA Telethon”
I’m that guy in the neighborhood. Believe it or not, we live in an apartment only 6-8 blocks or so north of the disputed Park51 site, so this is about MY NEIGHBORHOOD and I feel I’m a direct stakeholder in this controversy, so I should weigh in. Knowledge of the neighborhood, and of the culture … Continue reading “Video Blog: Islamic Center on Park Place: Guy in Neighborhood Responds”
Raw Food Police: When Government Won’t Even Let You Choose What’s For Dinner This is the ultimate unacceptable act by a nanny state+police state gone awry. Police Begin “Guns Drawn” Raids on Organic Food Stores in California LA Times: Raw-food raid (features actual surveillance video of the police storming an organic grocery store, pointing guns … Continue reading “When Government Won’t Even Let You Choose What’s For Dinner”
Question: In light of Obama’s plan to expand Medicaid eligibility, is anyone in Congress noticing the MASSIVE state budget cuts to Medicaid across the country and ruminating about how that jives with this impending expansion? I fear that if states have to raise income eligibility and bring millions of uninsured onto the Medicaid rolls, that … Continue reading “Feds Fiddling While State Medicaid Programs BURN”
I’ve been away for quite some time, I know, but I haven’t stopped thinking about public policy and the way things are going. They aren’t going well. I followed the health care reform debate with a magnifying glass throughout, and came away deeply disgusted in both the final product and the process that made that … Continue reading “Nick’s Essay on America’s Decline, with Big Solutions (long)”
I’m not dead, and neither is Superdude. I’m bringing Superdude, my childhood comic book creation, back, and depicting anew his adventures, with the latest computer technology. It’s a sight to see, and you can get a sneak peek here: Superdude Returns: Fall of a Hero An elderly Superdude recalls his final battle with Devilish Dave. … Continue reading “I’m Bringing Super Back”
On the National Dog Show, which airs on NBC every year after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, during the presentation of the dogs in the Herding group, we saw this dog, a corgi. And unlike any of the other corgis in the show, this corgi had human eyes that totally creeped us out. Ever since … Continue reading “Why Does Cardigan Welsh Corgi #11 Have Human Eyes? (eyedog, eyedog, eyedog)”
The ‘swarm has arrived! Bloggers across the globe have united to shine a light on rampant unjust institutionalization and segregation of people with disabilities and ADAPTs Fall Action in Atlanta confronting it! On Disability Unity NextStep blog WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Finding My Way: Journey of an Uppity Intellectual Activist Crip Human Rights … Continue reading “ADAPT Blogswarm, Fall Action 2009”
I’ve been excited by the response to my call to blog to end institutionalization around the Fall National Action! I’m honored to announce the following blogs will be participating: PhilosopherCrip Announcement post The Roving Activist’s Blog Intro Crippled Under The Law NZ Accessibility The Center for Disability Rights Sanabitur Anima Mea Today.com’s Official Disability Rights … Continue reading “ADAPT Blogswarm, Fall Action 2009 Participants!”
ADAPT is going back to the heart of the civil rights movement, Atlanta, to demand that the promises made to Georgians (and all Americans) by the Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W. are kept. Read ADAPT’s page on the action here. Segregating people with disabilities in institutions solely because they need daily help, … Continue reading “Blog To End Unjust Institutionalization!”
The MDA’s 44th annual Labor Day Telethon was on the TV. Since my family and I were on the local (Mobile, AL) MD Telethon several times, and my mom served a year as Mobile MDA’s president, I thought I should comment. Many activists attack the MDA for fundraising based on pity. It’s true that their … Continue reading “It’s MDA Telethon Time Again!!”
How many months have I been institutionalized? The number of the day August 28 marked a full year I’ve been in a NYC rehab hospital. It was a bittersweet anniversary: sweet because it’s one year since I succeeded in changing my life and moving close to my girl, and bitter because of the myriad of … Continue reading “A Year In An Institution”
My biggest beef with Health Care Reform right now is that we’re building a new tower on top of a broken foundation. Medicare and Medicaid are badly broken, and we’re building more programs on top of that. Bad idea. Insurance company bureaucracy is even worse, but federal programs have to be significantly better in the … Continue reading “Fix The Broken Foundation Before Building A Skyscraper On Top Of It”
My friend Dan will love this. In Scrooge McDuck’s first **named** appearance in a cartoon (his first actual appearance was in Spirit of ’43) he teaches Huey, Dewey and Louie about the economy, from the origins of the types of the currency to taxes to inflation, budgeting and investing. It’s good stuff. Great primer on … Continue reading “Financial Advice From Scrooge McDuck (1967)”
My other half and I have been playing and singing this ode to anesthesiologists (called anaesthetists in Britain) for over a week now! It’s really a classic parody! Video available in HD: My favorite lyrics from the song (sung to the tune of Total Eclipse of the Heart) are: ’cause we sometimes check the screen … Continue reading “This Song Has Been Stuck In My Head For Over A Week!”
Once upon a time, I was sitting in class at Spring Hill College, and overheard some pre-class chatter that included a girl mentioning that she worked as a “pharmacy technician” at the CVS Pharmacy my family and I frequently used. Given that this particular girl was not a day over 20, and was about as … Continue reading “Are Pharmacies Operated By 19 Year-Old Girls Safe?”
I’ve been on this ventilator for over 14 years. Some of the topics discussed may be advanced for you, so feel free to ask me any questions you have in the comments (whether about PEEP, low pressure, high pressure, anything)
The media was once controlled by the government. During WWII, the Walt Disney Co. was under U.S. government contract for 32 short propaganda films at $4,500 each, which would save the studio after they spent four times their budget on Fantasia, which had pushed them close to bankruptcy. The films did their best to boost … Continue reading “Donald Duck As A Nazi. Really.”
So, the U.S. has now signed on to the historic UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD). People are saying this is wonderful, the ACLU is saying that it marks America’s return as a world human rights leader (by the way, the Senate has yet to ratify the treaty). I’m concerned that … Continue reading “Is The U.S. The World Leader In Disability Rights?”
I’ve inadvertently stirred up some shit controversy at one of the major medical blogs, Happy Hospitalist (a hospitalist is a relatively new term for a doctor specializing in the care of hospitalized patients). Don’t get me wrong, this story is not black and white; there’s plenty of value in much of what “Happy” writes, I’ve … Continue reading “Nick And The Not So Happy Hospitalist”
July 28 marked my 11th month in a NYC rehab hospital. Here’s hoping I’m out before I pass 12! Nick
Obama Administration Signs the CRPD Treaty, But Is In Flagrant Violation Of It, The ADA, Olmstead, and Its Own “Year of Community Living” PR Campaign, As Arbitrary Termination of Medicaid Home Care Services at Age 21 Continues Unabated The recent addition of the U.S. as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of … Continue reading “Disabled Still Forced Into Institutions Just For Turning 21: Open Letter To The Disability Community, August 2009”
Nadina LaSpina (NYC ADAPT) gives a powerful, stirring speech about how far disability rights has yet to go, and Elaine Kolb sings an insightful song about the medical-institutional complex at the 19th ADA Anniversary Event in Central Park, July 26, 2009.
Congratulations, Regina Benjamin!! I couldn’t think of a better candidate for Surgeon General than Dr. Benjamin, and I was surprised and pleased that someone from my old hometown that I am familiar with hit the big-time! Dr. Benjamin works in a clinic in Bayou La Batre just south of Mobile, Alabama (where I’m from). As … Continue reading “Alabama’s Own Regina Benjamin, Advocate For Nick’s Crusade, Named Surgeon General Of US”
44 years ago, Congress passed several historic amendments to the Social Security Act, the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Back then, there were no home ventilators, there were few medications for managing disease, there were no home Hoyer lifts, and Congress couldn’t imagine the elderly and disabled living at home successfully and independently. The technology and … Continue reading “Democrats Ignoring Long-Term Care, Activists Respond. LET MY PEOPLE GO!”
There is, deservedly, much talk this ADA anniversary of the broken promise that the ADA guarantees people can live in “the most integrated setting” and how Obama just signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) while continuing to ignore long-term care (and the CRPD’s article on community choice). But what … Continue reading “The ADA Turns 19. Are Businesses Listening?”