This week, I decided to look up my 2021 “year in review” posts and was shocked — not Casablanca-style fake SHOCKED but genuinely SHOOK — to discover I didn’t write any for the first time since 2011. No year-end Jewel of the Month wrap-up, even though I had conscientiously featured one of my designs each…
COVID-19
Same Time, Last Year: Braving the Outdoors
One year ago today, I ventured out of my neighborhood for the first time in six weeks. New York City had locked down for COVID-19, but I decided activism couldn’t wait any longer; I didn’t want the former guy to become a lifetime dictator with the help of a pandemic. I met up with activist…
Throwback Thursday: Cold-Shoulder Top Has Its Moment
Ten years ago, I wore an outfit that made me look like Blanche Devereaux if she were trying to dress like a New Yorker. On casual day. That cold-shoulder turtleneck was already “old” to me at the time. I had gotten it on eBay years earlier, thinking it was going to look more punk, only…
Republicans Run From Trump Rat
The #TrumpRat and its activist friends forced a Republican COVID-19 super-spreader event scheduled for tonight out of New York City! Unfortunately for Jersey City, the New York Young Republican Club found a restaurant there — Maritime Parc — that was irresponsible enough to host a pandemic gala. Sorry, New Jersey! Source just sent me this…
19 Years Later: Hypocrisy and Community
Nineteen years ago today, I was working at a building complex across the street from the World Trade Center. I was supposed to go to a meeting at my company’s WTC offices, but I decided I’d participate by phone instead. That was a stroke of luck, because that morning, 19 men — 15 of them…
RIP, Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer, a writer and one of the earliest AIDS activists, died today at age 84. You can read his full resume in the many obituaries that have been and will be published but, in short, Kramer was a co-founder of two AIDS activism groups — Gay Men’s Health Crisis, in 1982, which provided support…
Taking to the Streets to Mourn COVID-19 Deaths
More than 90,000 people have died of the novel coronavirus in the U.S., but the White House hasn’t called for national mourning. To make up for that, grass roots activist groups arranged a Day of Mourning today to call attention to our losses. As #COVID19 infections in the US increase to over 1.5m and deaths…
Wednesday, May 20: COVID-19 Day of Mourning
As of today, more than 90,000 people have died of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. Tomorrow is a National Day of Mourning, organized by Indivisible, MoveOn, the Center for Popular Democracy, and other activist groups. As part of that, there will be a 24-hour livestream during which all the victims are named. You can get the…
Trump Lies All the Time
Today I left my neighborhood for the first time since Friday, March 13, to join a few of my friends from the Remove Trump collective and We Will Not Be Silent in making a little statement. Just kidding about the “little” part! This banner is 20′ by 30′ — so it was easy to hold it…
Cuomo: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
I hope people “crushing” on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo were paying attention to the news today. The New York state budget is past due — the deadline was midnight — though this afternoon Cuomo said he’d reached a tentative deal with lawmakers. Under that deal, cuts to Medicaid are still on the table. You’re…