March 2 – 6, 2015
“Maybe I’m wrong, maybe hidden in laboratories and in front of chalkboards around the world there are scores of undiscovered hot, charismatic scientists hiding from the spotlight,” says Erik. “We need these people. Because God knows the pseudoscience nut jobs will take them if we don’t.”
Abstruse Goose gets snippy with tech assistance. I, however, have “resolved to save all telephonic unpleasantness for the rat bastards who say they’ll take you off their list but who have an infinity of lists.”
“As the climate changes, so will our vocabulary,” says Michelle. “Here in Washington State, in the Columbia River Gorge, we already need words for ‘the color of bare mountain slopes in midwinter’ and ‘daffodils that bloom in February.’ East Coasters could probably use more words for ‘public-transport-crippling storms’ and ‘the smooth mound of snow covering a long-buried car.’”
“No hot tubs, the experts advised. No queso fresco. No Advil. No deli meat. Limit the caffeine. These losses, so numerous and unexpected, were harder to bear,” says Cassie. “But then the doctor took away something even more precious: my autonomy.”
“Walked. Strode, one might say. As if I were still in Paris, where I’d been the day before. Across a nice slick patch of ice. Nooot the heeeeaaaad!!!! I thought, as I toppled inexorably backward,” says Helen, who’s Fed Up. To. Here.