Dropping It

In competing with countries who have solid national health care systems, Americans have one hand tied behind their backs. Or maybe I’m wrong.

Feets

My first year teaching, someone bought and delivered chairs, rugs, bookcases, and blinds to my public school classroom. What began as the set for a cut-rate Soviet public service announcement began to look more like a pleasant learning environment. Books by the dozens also appeared, the most popular of which is definitely Parenthood by Bill Cosby (it reads well in 30-minute bursts), and then Do Fish Drink Water? , which I haven’t read, so I don’t know if they do.

Awareness

I don’t think Americans need to be any more “aware” of cancer. In fact, we’re the world’s leaders in finding cancer that wasn’t doing no harm to begin with, and carving it out of our bodies to convince ourselves that we can cut or burn or medicate our mortality away.

Money (That’s What I Want)

There’s this scene called “Dad paying the bills” that we all know. (Yours might be called “Mom,” or “Grandpa,” but it’s quite similar.) In this scene, you have a note from your teacher at school that explains how you have screwed up, and Mom tells you, “Oh, not now. Dad’s paying the bills.” What does […]