AIDS Exceptionalism - Ben didn't take my bait to discuss AIDS and civil liberties last week. I'll just point out a dated article I found which takes note, as I did, of the remarkable political life of AIDS and HIV against the backdrop of standard operating procedures of epidemiology. Traditionally, when a disease strikes the population, public health concerns have been ascendant over concerns for privacy and individual liberties. AIDS turned that calculation on its head - a fact commonly attributed to its unique origins in the gay community. To learn more, check out Randy Shilt's harrowing history of the epidemic years, a book that should be read by every gay man.