Sorry sorry sorry
I know I’m late; I’ve been in meetings this morning, and am shortly off to another one. This morning I stood at the trolley stop for a long time and then got shuffled around by SEPTA so it took an extra long time to get to work. As I was waiting I was making small talk with two women, and I referred to someone as looking “like a stripper.” I was immediately embarrassed. Isn’t that sort of retrograde, to refer to someone that way? I imagined that these two women—probably cool feminists—were offended by that characterization. I wanted to say, “Some of my best friends are strippers!” But I didn’t think that would go over well. Maybe one day I can have a conversation that isn’t marred by insistent thoughts like, “Was that a dumb thing to say? Am I an idiot?”
This photo is from a series called Imitation of Life, in which I take pictures of dead things or stuffed things in a way that makes them look alive. Jeez, how brilliant. This is a striped bass, which was very dead during this picture, I assure you, and very delicious once eaten. The photo has nothing to do with anything. My apologies.
liz | 11:16 AM | Uncategorized
Wal-Mart: Not evil enough to ignore
You might dislike the politics of Wal-Mart, but I feel honor-bound to tell you the store’s pharmacies will be selling some generic antidepressants at $4 for a month’s supply. Check it out:
Wal-Mart Lowers Cost Of Happiness To $4
liz | 3:38 PM | Uncategorized
Foot, brain … whatever
From the New York Daily News (check that headline):
Foot doctor fraud afoot, state says
ALBANY – A Hempstead health care provider whose foot doctors were accused of prescribing drugs for schizophrenia and other conditions unrelated to feet has been barred from the state’s Medicaid system after overbilling by $1.3 million, state Controller Alan Hevesi said yesterday.
The controller’s audit found four podiatrists working for the company Signature Health Center had violated state law by prescribing 164 drugs used to treat acid reflux, high cholesterol, depression, erectile dysfunction, schizophrenia, sleep disorders and other ailments.
liz | 2:33 PM | Uncategorized
Song of the day: “Lullaby of the Leaves”
Anita O’Day, my favorite jazz singer, died a few days ago, and I didn’t even know about it. Nate Wiley, Robert Altman, Bebe Moore Campbell, now Anita O’Day … so many of my favorite people are gone.
Cradle me where Southern skies can watch me with a million eyes,
Oh sing me to sleep,
Lullaby of the leaves
Cover me with heaven’s blue and let me dream a dream or two,
Oh sing me to sleep,
Lullaby of the leaves.
liz | 1:16 PM | Uncategorized
Call for info
Anyone out there live in Norfolk, Va.? I got a TTWS reader who wants information about support groups for childhood victims of abuse in that area. Suggestions?
liz | 11:12 AM | Uncategorized
R.I.P. Bebe Moore Campbell
Writer Bebe Moore Campbell died yesterday at the age of 56 from brain cancer complications. I can’t believe it; she’s always been such a hero to me. She was a novelist with keen insight into the human condition, but she was also a tireless crusader for people with mental illness. She wrote adult and children’s book to fight stigma and prejudice, and she did public appearances to reinforce her message. She also co-founded a NAMI chapter, and spoke out literally every chance she got about the plight of the mentally ill.
Talking to Time magazine’s Andrea Sachs last year, Campbell compared mental illness to slavery: “Bottom line: you can’t get out of either one of them alone. You absolutely need help. In the same way that slavery had absolute control over human beings, mental illness has absolute control over human beings, and in fact, turns many people into completely different people.”
She got involved in mental health issues because she had a relative with bipolar disorder. She saw first-hand the kind of struggles people go through when the system is inadequate. She could have walked away from that struggle, and continue on her path of trying to conquer racism. But she took it on, with bravery and grace.
She was a great woman and a great crusader for human rights. She truly made a difference. She’ll be missed.
liz | 10:18 AM | Uncategorized
Bipolar Made Me Do It: Rob the pizza man
A teenager from Greenwich, Conn., participated in three robberies in the last two years. One of them was committed with seven other teens; they used a BB gun to hold up a delivery driver. Walter Jones was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after the arrest, which always makes me suspicious. But his attorney says he’s a changed person now that he’s on meds.
Teen faces reduced sentence for robbery, other crimes
A Moveable Feast: The story of a pizza guy [Philadelphia Weekly]
liz | 10:03 AM | Uncategorized
R.I.P. Malachi Ritscher
Thanks to Amara for sending me this story about Malachi Ritscher (pictured), a 52-year-old activist who self-immolated on Nov. 3. He meant his suicide to stand as a political gesture, but there seems to be a question of whether his motivation for ending his life was partly due to depression. The Associated Press’ Ashley M. Heher writes, “Mental health experts say virtually no suicides occur without some kind of a diagnosable mental illness. But Ritscher’s family disagrees about whether he had severe mental problems.” Whatever the cause, Ritscher clearly lived a life filled with passion and dedication to his beliefs.
He was also an active presence in Chicago’s music scene, due in part to his website. Check out Peter Margasak’s blog (linked below) to read a debate currently going on in the comments section about whether mental illness was the cause of Ritscher’s suicide.
Activist’s fiery death prompts questions [AP]
Malachi Ritscher’s apparent suicide [Peter Margasak c/o Chicago Reader]
liz | 4:50 PM | Uncategorized
