Best Pieces: Medieval, Cult of Compliance, Personal, Disability Rights

I had 93 essays published in 2017. Whew. I published 55 in 2016, so it’s fair to say that things have escalated dramatically. I am still developing as an essayist, but am grateful to my editors, collaborators, interlocutors, and especially the folks who read me. Thank you. Here are a few pieces of which I … Continue ReadingBest Pieces: Medieval, Cult of Compliance, Personal, Disability Rights

More on Disability and Disaster Response

Yesterday, a piece on disability and disaster response was published at Pacific Standard. I opened with Angela Wrigglesworth’s story of rescue as the Hurricane Harvey waters rose. By chance, Disability Visibility Podcast, one of my favorite podcasts, also had Wrigglesworth this week, along with Alecia Deon. They shared their stories. Must listen! (Transcript here).

Disability and Disaster

I wrote a long feature for Pacific Standard about disability and disaster response: There are four basic different types of needs related to disability that emerge in the aftermath of disasters: health maintenance (medicine, electricity, medical care), ability to move in and through physical areas, effective communication access, and what the experts call “program access.” … Continue ReadingDisability and Disaster

Online Hate

I wrote about Facebook, Twitter, Google, and ISPs for Pacific Standard. Hate proliferates and they claim they can do nothing. There’s a @facebook group that claims Jews ritually murder Christian babies. We’ve been reporting it for years. Nothing happens. NEW @PacificStand (1)https://t.co/OpMs0QQ68n — David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) December 16, 2017 But they can do something. … Continue ReadingOnline Hate

Bad Historical Metaphors: Galileo

I am tired of powerful men worrying about “due process” by comparing great historical iniquities such as lynching, witch hunts, the Inquisition, Internment, and the death penalty to the social scorn and professional consequences of men being outed as bigots and abusers. It happens constantly and I’m going to start blogging them. Here’s todays. One:  … Continue ReadingBad Historical Metaphors: Galileo