Volume 3, Resources 16: Expirations Dates, Talking About Disability, and Better Allies

This is a public issue of Enthusiastic Encouragement & Dubious Advice. Feel free to share it!

Hi friends! As I write this it is Wednesday evening and by the time this hits your inbox on Friday (for most), I will have had the first day of a two-day in-person work retreat. This is the first time I’ve been around so many people for such a length of time. Nicole and I decided to invest in Flo Masks after reading this review via Violet Blue. It seals really well on me and I am able to get the low-bridge one to work with my glasses.

So, I’ll be looking like Bane from The Dark Knight Rises and sitting apart from people and generally being weird but feeling safe and I’ve come to terms with sometimes I just gotta be the weird one for my own safety/health/sanity. Thankfully the folks I work with are deeply understanding and also committed to not spreading Covid so masks for all!

Also, this happened on Monday:

It’s resource week so let’s get to it!

Resource #1: Planet Money: “Best by, Sell by, Use by”

I’d never expected to be outraged by the milk-related laws of Montana yet after listening to this podcast episode of Planet Money, here we are. I’ve come to learn over the years that globally, there is enough food to feed everyone. The problem is capitalism and the resulting food waste and inequitable distribution practices.

I’ve been thinking about food waste in our own home lately and listened to this episode of Planet Money: “Best by, Sell by, Use by”. I’ve always been skeptical about the dates on certain foods, especially if they “still seem good.” Turns out, they often are.

Resource #2: How to talk about disability sensitively and avoid ableist tropes via NPR

The title of this article pretty much explains it and I think it is a very important read. It has some great resources at the end as well. Ableist language is so deeply embedded in our society and there is so much that I am unlearning. Just today I saw a Tweet that told people not to describe folks as having “lost the battle with cancer” because it implies that the person had a choice if only they “fought” harder. That somehow a person could control the outcome of this battle with a disease that doesn’t give a fuck. Now I know better and I will do better.

Resource #3: Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces

If you have been reading this newsletter for a while you know that I try to stay away from resources about racism written by white people and I also think that people calling themselves allies is suspect because it is a term that 1) we’ve beaten into the ground and 2) should be given, not self-claimed. Anyway, I’m going to make an exception here because it’s my newsletter and I’ll do what I want. I specifically want to highlight the 5 Ally Actions Newsletter. The July 29, 2022 issue was incredibly helpful because it details why interview questions should be shared with candidates before the interviews. I was able to forward it to leadership in my day job and you know me, I love a resource I can share.

That’s it for this week! You can shop any books I’ve mentioned in this newsletter at my affiliate shop, The Infophile’s Bookshop, and support independent bookstores. If you want to send me some snail mail, you can find me at P.O. Box 21481, Oakland, CA 94620-1481. If you are a subscriber and would like for me to send you some happy mail, feel free to give me your address.

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