Who gets to say what? Under what circumstances? When are opinions warranted? When should we keep our mouths shut? Does being right matter? Is the relationship between parent and child more cogent than knowledge and authority? I got well-deserved pushback on two articles last month. I wrote about eating disorders
One of my snarky children—oh, wait: that would be all of them—remarked that there are only four topics that I write about on this blog. “There’s a fourth topic?” one of the little cherubim piped up. “You read dad’s blog?” queried another. “It’s the same thing every week,” said the
Longtime readers will acknowledge my predilection for jokes, the older, the sillier, the better. Here’s one of my favorites from junior high: What’s the difference between an elephant and a grape? Answer: If you don’t know, I’m not sending you to the store for grapes. The absurd implication, that someone
A counselor relates the stats of a stellar candidate:. Applied Early Decision Full pay, did not apply for and would not qualify for need based financial aid. 4.5 weighted gpa; 3.8 unweighted. Five years of French. Four years orchestra, viola, many performances, church choir. Nine AP exams, mostly 5s, some
Would you like to play poker on Tuesday? Do you have twenty dollars? Answer the second question first. Because if you don’t have twenty dollars, it doesn’t matter whether you would like to join our friendly game. One of my running buddies taught me this important paradigm when discussing the
What the hell you talkin’ about? I got a han’bill says they got good wages, an’ little while ago I seen a thing in the paper says they need folks to pick fruit. Is understated irony among the greatest of Steinbeck’s gifts? Readers of the Grapes of Wrath from 1939
Thomas was shy, didn’t want to give a valedictory speech. So, he deliberately enrolled in “only” five advanced placement courses as a senior, allowing some of his peers to get “ahead” of him by taking six APs. Tommy was graduated fourth in his class thereby, mission accomplished. Somebody else got
Warning: the newsletter this week contains material that may be triggering to some, offensive to others. This essay contains references to eating disorders which, as someone for whom weight issues are professional rather than personal, may be seen as insensitive. No offense is intended. Feel free to delete if this
The Marshall Plan didn’t kick in until April, 1948. The war in Europe ended in May of 1945, giving people who had plenty of practice being hungry since 1939 a chance to perfect their ability to starve. Supply chain issues—defined today as a failure to acquire a toy with the
How much is that doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tale? How much is that doggie in the window? I do hope that doggie’s for sale. Patti Page’s concern for protecting her absent boyfriend by buying him a doggie may have been the primary issue in 1952.
Copyright © David Altshuler 1980 – 2024 | Miami, FL • Charlotte, NC | (305) 978-8917 | [email protected]
