I didn’t think of my brother Karl’s cleft lip and cleft palate as birth defects or disabilities. These birth defects a disability, or not? Guest blog by Barbara Schonborn** Part One: From Infancy to early surgeries. A Princess Usurped. Until I was almost two years old, my life was idyllic. My mother read to me often—I sitting in her lap, a book in mine. She sewed clothes for me, cooked for my father and me, and took me to the Sunday nursery at our church in Boise, Idaho. I knew how … [Read more...]
Cocaine, mental illness, trauma: What killed Carrie Fisher?
I'm working on a memoir tentatively titled Four Murders and a Funeral. In one of the murders, powdered cocaine plays a role. At least that's what the defendant and his attorney would like us to believe. Whether the drug was to blame for the murder and whether addiction was involved is part of the story I tell. Cocaine Carrie Fisher's use of cocaine never became much of a criminal justice issue. Some feel celebs get a pass for behavior that lands others of us in … [Read more...]
Cleft lip dad adopts cleft lip baby.
This cleft lip news out of Atlanta made my Father's Day last Sunday. The day had been marred by the death of my best friend's wife the day before. However, I then noticed this news about cute-as-a-boot Hattie Pierce, pictured below. Like myself and so many others, Hattie was born with a cleft lip and palate, . Hattie Pierce w cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip dad & daughter duo get surgery at same hospital. She was adopted by Brian Pierce who'd had his lip surgically restored long … [Read more...]
Criminologist Yablonsky carried switchblade before seeing the light.
Lewis Yablonsky honored me by writing the forward to my first book as a criminologist, Dealing with Violence back in the '70s. We taught together and enjoyed one another's company. He died in 2014.As part of a series on great colleagues and teachers, I offer this obit of Yablonsky by William Yardley. Lewis Yablonsky, teaching at California State University, Northridge, in 1984. His books include “The Violent Gang.” CreditGary Friedman/Los Angeles TimesSociologist and criminolgist."Lewis … [Read more...]
Today is World Book Day! Some advice.
Today is World Book Day. It's a global celebration of readers, authors, and books. It's an event recognized in over 100 countries around the globe. For school kids, it began this year on April 17 and lasted 5 days. World Book Day—Things to Do. Join me in reading a good book. In case you have nothing lying around to read, I've got an idea. Why not download the e-book version of. Former Secretary of State John Kerry calls it "A poignant, heartfelt tale. Learn more about … [Read more...]
Revenge serial killings by a doctor: precision knife attacks.
I've been studying revenge serial killings lately for a project I'm doing. They're one of the several types researchers have uncovered since multicide started being a media phenom in the '70s. Among others, types of serial killings include Visionary, Mission-oriented, Hedonistic, and Power/control. I'll explain other types of killings in future posts regarding the "arch villains" of our era. Today's villainous person is an unlikely character. He's a doctor.Serial killer motivated by … [Read more...]
Prison life is hard. Outside can be harder. CSP revisited.
Prison life gone bad? I've known, and been a victim of, someone who has reoffended (relapsed, recidivised. Recidivism refers to committing a crime after being "rehabilitated" in prison and released. When it comes to prison life, recidivism is a big "No No." It is to everyday taxpayers, to new and old victims, to ideologues supporting prison reform, and to criminologists like me who study this sort of thing. Recidivism is a sign of corrections failing to "correct," a sign that … [Read more...]