Iserotope Extras #69: With Child

Hi everyone! My latest thought is that AP English Language teachers should use Extras as their curriculum. What do you think about that? (This could make me very rich!)

This week, there’s a great assortment of articles from a range of sources. If you liked Fast Food Nation, you’ll love “Dark Meat.” If you appreciated Trapped, you’ll value “With Child.” Then after pizza, check out two articles about what happens when people take on new identities. Extras finishes up this week with uplifting profiles of two outstanding librarians. Enjoy!

Dark Meat

On the deboning line, turkeys move past you at the rate of 51 a minute, and you’re supposed to cut them perfectly each and every time. For Lisandro Vega and many other workers, this means developing carpal tunnel syndrome and other diseases. This article may help you think twice before enjoying another 25-pound (likely dry) turkey next Thanksgiving.

With Child

Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, which struck down anti-abortion statutes in Texas, has had little effect in other states, including South Dakota, where there is just one abortion clinic. This is the story of a young woman named Ashley, the undue burden she faces, and her lonely decision.

Pizza always makes things better.

New Neighbors

This is the story of Ryan and his partner RL, who move into a building in Cincinnati and meet a creepy man named Mike. For the first time, Ryan, who had always dated women before RL, experiences what can happen when the world reads you as gay.

Improv for Inmates Can Work Wonders

I’m not surprised that the Actor’s Gang Prison Project works. The program, founded by actor Tim Robbins, has reduced recidivism by encouraging incarcerated people to act and practice improv. In order to make change, too often we target the mind rather than the body. By taking on different roles, and by acting them out — as this youth rehabilitation program in Texas also does — we can forge new identities.

The Washington Post recommends these 10 books (plus pie & cake).

A Bronx Librarian Keen on Teaching Homeless Children a Lasting Love of Books

Colbert Nembhard is a librarian in the Bronx, and every Wednesday, he visits a local homeless shelter to share books and sing songs with children. Librarians are finding out that they can’t wait for patrons to come to them; they must venture out into the community.

K.C. Boyd: A Leader for Readers

Librarian K.C. Boyd, whose motto is, “Children and books are my business,” has worked alongside students of color in Chicago and East St. Louis in order to promote reading. Read about her inspirational work to help connect young people with books they love. (K.C. also knows e-readers.)

Thank you for reading this 69th edition of Iserotope Extras, and thank you for being a subscriber! If there are other people in your world who might like to receive great articles in their inbox, please let them know. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

Iserotope Extras #68: Teaching Trump

Happy Thanksgiving! I was a teacher for 15 years. Teaching is the hardest thing I’ve done. There is a lot of joy and a lot of pain. Since the election, teaching has gotten even harder. Not only do teachers have to maintain a safe space for all students, but they also have to figure out how to respond. Teaching is political.

Today’s edition of Extras is about teaching after the election. If you’re not a teacher, you may want to, in addition to donating to deserving organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, head on over to your favorite local teacher and slip them a $100 bill for all that they do.

“What Do I Say?” Stories From the Classroom After Election Day

Many teachers I know said there wasn’t enough time between Election Day and the next morning to get ready for their students. Here are poignant firsthand accounts from teachers from Wednesday, the day after — as well as their students’ letters, drawings, and photographs. If teachers take care of children, who takes care of teachers?

What It's Like Teaching '1984' After Trump's Election

Bay Area English teacher Andrew Simmons writes about his experience teaching George Orwell’s 1984, and how he is “ecstatic to be a teacher at this time in American history.” Mr. Simmons believes that “bravery is something that people can be taught,” and that books are “rich, perpetual gifts to those in need of solace and inspiration.”

I prepared these berries all by myself.

Teaching After Trump

Professor Melissa Febos, who teaches literature and creative writing at a conservative private college in New Jersey, discusses how she approaches teaching students who are different from her. Prof. Febos is careful not to alienate; she hides her own identity; she asks for compassion. Though she may get results, I worry she’s not telling the truth.

Most Students Don’t Know When News Is Fake

According to a new Stanford study, teenagers think an online source is true when it (1) contains a lot of details, (2) includes a photograph, and/or (3) it confirms something they already believe. (This is likely true for adults, too.) Professor Sam Wineburg calls for the teaching of critical reading skills in social studies classes. I wholeheartedly agree.

Thanks for reading Extras #68! Please email me back with your thoughts. You may notice that all four articles today centered on a theme. Do you like this, or do you prefer a more random assortment of articles? I’ll keep you posted on where Extras is heading, and in the meantime, have a great week, and I’ll see you next Thursday at 9:10 am.

Iserotope Extras #67: White Won

My friend Jenn reminded me this week about the power of reading, and about our shared interest in curating and sharing good articles, and how building a community of readers can be an act of love and resistance.

My friend Susan challenged me to get my voice out there more, to share my point of view, to resist the urge to hide behind the articles. I like this very much and look forward to figuring out what this might mean.

This week’s issue focuses on the election and asks four questions: (1) What happened? (2) Who is America? (3) Should we despair? (4) What now? I hope you enjoy.

White won.

Jamelle Bouie gets it exactly correct. This election wasn’t about rural or working class people wanting change against the Establishment. This was white people promoting white supremacy. The past eight years, like the years after the Civil War, brought progress, and now was time to stop it.

Trump’s win is a reminder of the incredible, unbeatable power of racism

This excellent piece by Jenée Desmond-Harris rebuts the counterargument that economic distress led white voters to cast their ballots for Donald Trump. Her conclusion is particularly strong: There will be an urge to understand Trump supporters in an effort of unity, but that will serve to normalize racism and protect white supremacy.

My book club completed this puzzle at our annual retreat in Santa Cruz.

Revenge of the Forgotten Class

This profile of white working class people in Ohio and Pennsylvania does a good job highlighting their support of Donald Trump’s seeming transparency vs. Hillary Clinton’s seeming obfuscation. The problem is that it’s likely that both Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton were not always truthful, and it’s OK to lie when you’re being racist and sexist.

A frank conversation with a white nationalist

This is what happens when you start talking to an educated, seemingly reasonable man who happens to dream of a separate white nation. Al Letson, host of the Reveal podcast, speaks with Richard Spencer, a 38-year-old white nationalist leader. Mr. Spencer’s main claim is that the United States was built by European Americans.

I don’t recommend books unless they’re great. This one is my favorite of 2016.

What Does Donald Trump's Election Say About America?

“You learn a lot about America on its country roads,” writes Vann R. Newkirk II. He continues, “This is who we are. Racism is a force that has always shaped this country. This is the same country that killed Emmett Till, and the same place that gave us Jim Crow.” A white guy can be perfectly kind to an African American neighbor so long as everyone knows their place.

Farewell, America

In case you want to wallow in despair, check out this article, which argues that the election killed America — our values, what we stand for, our place in the world. Except as I read this piece, I wondered how much of the American myth is just like any other country’s myth — important, of course, but really just a story, one that we can construct anew.

This puzzle was a bit more challenging. (I was no help.)

On “Woke” White People Advertising their Shock that Racism just won a Presidency

One tip to white people, from a white person: Don’t use the word “woke” unless you’re saying, “I woke up this morning.” From Courtney Parker West, the author: “Dear liberal white people whom I often love: advertising your shock and surprise that racism, sexism, xenophobia, and bigotry are pervasive…is a microaggression. Please stop.”

Autocracy: Rules for Survival

We’re all trying to figure out what’s next, and how to proceed, and what to do. I liked this piece by Masha Gessen, who says we should treat Donald Trump like Vladimir Putin, whom she has written about extensively. The most important thing to do: Believe the autocrat. And then: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality. And finally: Be outraged. Seems right.

Hope you made it all the way through! Extras #67 is done. As always, please email me with your thoughts. They push me. I’m thankful that you subscribe! If you think someone else might like reading this digest, please feel free to forward them this issue. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am.

Iserotope Extras - Issue #66

Welcome to this week’s edition of Iserotope Extras. I’m waiting a bit to include articles about the election; good writing takes time. This issue focuses on funeral rituals, academic interventions, library policies, and government’s role in science. Please enjoy!

When Death Doesn’t Mean Goodbye

In general, Americans fear death, choosing to say goodbye quickly, moving directly to the funeral. In Indonesia, on the other hand, the Torajan people honor their dead relatives by keeping them in the house as part of the family. To them, death is a part of life, and the deceased represent a connection between the past and the future. Trigger warning: This article includes photographs of dead people.

Nudges That Help Struggling Students Succeed

Being a teacher is hard work. Wouldn’t it be great if you could wave a magic wand and help all of your students? UC Berkeley professor David L. Kirp seems to think it’s possible — with small interventions that help students combat stereotype threat and encourage them to re-imagine their future prospects.

Waffles are the best.

San Francisco Public Library owed $4.5 million in overdue fines; amnesty period proposed

Back in March, Extras included an article that criticized San Jose Public Library’s policy to punish patrons with outstanding library fees. Now it seems like the San Francisco Public Library is facing a similar challenge. What’s the best way to collect overdue fees and missing library items without turning patrons away from the library? (Answer: Give everyone Kindles?)

Dr. Orange: The Secret Nemesis of Sick Vets

For decades, the military and the Veterans Administration have repeatedly turned to one man to guide decisions on whether Agent Orange harmed vets in Vietnam and elsewhere. His reliable answer: No. This great ProPublica article raises questions about what possibly happens to the truth when government and science interact.

Thank you very much for reading today’s issue. Also, please welcome new subscribers Sage and Matt! I really appreciate every single subscriber. Have a wonderful week, and see you next Thursday at 9:10 am.

#65: Zingers

Hi there, and welcome to Iserotope Extras #65! The backlash against tidying-up extraordinaire Marie Kondo has caused mayhem and disarray. Read all about it, plus feast your eyes on immunotherapy (to cure cancer), uncomfortable racial truths (one last time before the election), and tasty chicken sandwiches (but only in Pakistan). Please enjoy!

The Soul-Deadening Magic of Tidying Up: A Response to Marie Kondo and Her Fans

Chris Lehmann doesn’t like Marie Kondo. Author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Ms. Kondo believes that we should declutter our spaces, and throw away most of our belongings, in the pursuit of joy. According to Mr. Lehmann, this practice is anti-intellectual (Ms. Kondo doesn’t like books), classist (the poor “hoard” needless things), and ageist (old things don’t spark joy). Maybe it’s true that it’s possible to be tidier-than-thou.

Jim Allison and the Search For the Cure For Cancer

If you read this article, you will learn a lot about cancer, immunotherapy, and Dr. Jim Allison. After his mother died of cancer when he was a kid, Dr. Wilson pursued medicine, becoming interested in helping our immune system to eradicate cancer cells. Forty years later, with the emergence of Keytruda and ipilimumab and other drugs, immunotherapy offers hope.

We Gon' Be Alright is a book I recommend! It’s about resegregation.

Trump’s Inconvenient Racial Truth

The #1 rule at Iserotope Extras: Publish everything by Nikole Hannah-Jones. In this piece, Ms. Hannah-Jones says that it is not just Donald Trump who is disrespecting African Americans. The Democrats are (and have been for a long time), too. Her claim: “For all he gets wrong on race, the Republican nominee got one thing right: The Democratic Party does take black Americans for granted, and that’s a problem.”

The KFC Chicken Sandwich That Ate Pakistan

KFC is big in Karachi. So is its Zinger Burger, which barely exists in the United States (St. Louis, Charlotte) but is huge in Pakistan. Zinger burgers are so big in Karachi, in fact, that there are zinger burger competitors, including Burger (not Pizza) Hut, and zinger spinoffs, like zinger biryani. Reading this article made me want to write a petition to bring zingers to SF.

That’s a wrap on #65! Hope you enjoyed this issue. Just a few people last week submitted new names for Iserotope Extras, so I’m keeping the contest open. Email me your ideas. The prize is a large one! See you next Thursday at 9:10 am. By that time, we’ll have a new president-elect!

Iserotope Extras #64: Dangerous Patriotism

Last week’s edition of Extras was very popular, so let’s keep up the reading momentum! This week focuses on definitions of patriotism, perspectives on survival, responses to hate, and visions of hope. Click on one or more of these articles, and let me know what you think. Also, please welcome new subscriber Nora!

How the Obama era gave us a dangerous patriotism

I’ve been looking for some good writing about Colin Kaepernick and his protest of the National Anthem, and here’s the first piece I like. Author John Blake argues that kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner is as patriotic as standing, given that our country was founded and built on dissent.

We live in Aleppo. Here’s how we survive.

This gripping firsthand account of living under siege in Aleppo reminds us that our world is a very big place, and that war and strife and suffering are all very real things, and that maybe we should check ourselves a bit before going on and on about our own small inconveniences.

Oakland student Chi likes her Kindle. Donate $10 to paypal.me/kcp so she can request another book to read!

Arizona Republic: A response to threats about our presidential endorsement

After the Arizona Republic endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, the first time that the conservative newspaper supported a Democrat in its history, the newsroom received threats of violence. Here is the publisher’s thoughtful response, which brings me hope that the old-fashioned press may help in healing our democracy.

The Last Whale Hunt for a Vanishing Village

The Alaskan village of Kivalina, which lies above the Arctic Circle, will succumb in 10 years to climate change. Before that inevitability, its 468 residents would like to do something that hasn’t happened for more than 20 years: catch a bowhead whale. (This article is a little out of this world.)

OK, Loyal Subscribers: It’s time that Iserotope Extras gets a new name, and it’s time that we brainstorm together! Email me with your ideas! Here are a few to get you started: Acumen, Things That Matter, A Matter of Words. Go at it, and I’ll see you next week on Thursday at 9:10 am!

Iserotope Extras #63: Voter Suppression

Hi and welcome to Iserotope Extras #63! Let’s welcome new subscribers Allison (via Olivia) and Dawn! This week, enjoy articles on voter suppression (a new interest), school re-segregation (not a new interest), trigger warnings in college classes, and Nayib Bukele, the young, idealistic mayor of San Salvador. There’s never a dull moment at Extras!

Texas’s Voter-Registration Laws Are Straight Out of the Jim Crow Playbook

Since Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which gutted the Voting Rights Act, Texas and many other states have passed restrictive voting laws. Most of these laws involve requiring people to show identification in order to vote. In this excellent article, Ari Berman explores an additional way that Texas curbs the franchise: by making it harder for people to register to vote. Mr. Berman suggests that Texas would be a blue (or at least purple) state if voter registration weren’t so limited.

The Desegregation and Resegregation of Charlotte’s Schools

Author Clint Smith argues that the recent police killing of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte can be traced to the community’s decision to resegregate its schools in 1999, after decades of successful integration beginning with Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education (1971), when the Supreme Court ordered busing to enforce Brown v. Board of Education. If we abandon public schooling, Mr. Smith suggests, we abandon the possibility that our society can improve.

I did not take this picture of the Milky Way. Joe Marquez (New York Times) did.

Hey U of Chicago: I’m an academic & survivor. I use trigger warnings in my classes. Here’s why.

Last year, Extras featured an Atlantic article that argued that colleges coddle students instead of encouraging them to grapple with challenging issues. This year, the University of Chicago wrote a letter telling students that they needed to engage in difficult topics instead of asking for trigger warnings and safe spaces. In this piece, an adjunct professor argues that trigger warnings and challenging material should not be mutually exclusive.

Fighting Violence By Fighting Poverty: Nayib Bukele, Mayor of San Salvador

Unless you teach in the Bay Area, you may not care about what’s going on in El Salvador. But if you ask Oakland kids if they know about Nayib Bukele, the 35-year-old mayor of San Salvador, they’ll say of course, and they’ll have rave reviews. Mr. Bukele is fighting the city’s gang and violence problem with pro-youth and anti-poverty programs, including skating parks and 100% Illuminado, which puts a streetlight on every block.

Did you enjoy this issue? If so, email me a quick message. Or, if you’d like to talk about the voter registration article, head on over to the Iserotope Extras Forum (via Google Spaces). See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!

Iserotope Extras #62: Please Don’t Flip Your Bat

Hi everyone! The theme of today’s issue is selfishness: (1) People enjoying Blue Apron aren’t thinking of the people packaging their food, (2) It’s OK for African American children to bus to the suburbs to go to school, but it’s not OK for White children to bus to the city, (3) Our zeal for iPhones leads directly to respiratory illnesses among people in China; (4) If you’d like to flip your bat after hitting a home run, it’s best if you go to South Korea. Please enjoy!

In Blue Apron’s Chaotic Warehouses, Making Dinner Easy Is Hard Work

For just $10 a meal, Blue Apron sends you all you need to make home cooking easy as pie. But behind all the tiny containers with two tablespoons of EVOO are the people who prep the food and pack the boxes. This Buzzfeed exposé uncovers the working conditions at the Richmond, CA plant — and management’s meager response, with racism thinly veiled.

Looking Back On 50 Years Of Busing In Boston

School desegregation is mostly a thing of the past. But for 50 years, the METCO program in Boston has worked toward integration by busing mostly African American children from the city to attend schools in the suburbs. (White suburban kids don’t take the bus into Boston.) The program serves 220 new students per year, and there is a very long waiting list.

I like typing.

China Pollution Caused By Graphite Mining for Smartphone Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries, which power smartphones and cars and Kindles, contain graphite, and most of the world’s graphite comes from China. This article focuses on people who live near graphite factories — how their water is undrinkable, how they can’t wash the soot off their food, how their tables at home are never clean, how their breathing suffers. The demand for graphite will continue to grow as we clamor for devices with better battery life. (See last week’s article on cobalt.)

Korean Bat Flip: The Art of Letting Go

In the United States, if you flip your bat after you hit a home run, that’s a big no-no. Better to be staid, respectful. But in South Korea, the code is different: bat-flipping is not just part of the game, it’s a joyful art. This article explores how bat-flipping became popular in South Korea and what it says about Korean vs. American culture.

#62 is done! Today, I’d like you to try to read at least one article all the way through and then to leave a comment on the article by clicking on the discussion bubble next to the headline. You might like it! See you next Thursday at 9:10 am.

Iserotope Extras #61: Someone Who Thinks Like Me

Welcome, everybody, and all you need to know this week is that the Giants are in the playoffs! (Good job, Mr. Bumgarner and Mr. Gallaspie.) Also, I have 4 great articles for you: (1) how voting machines are terrible, (2) how Trump supporters may have mental illness, (3) how our love for iPhones is killing people in Congo, (4) how a boy comes of age at Paris Fashion Week. Please enjoy!

The Computer Voting Revolution Is Already Crappy, Buggy, and Obsolete

After 2000 (hanging chads), tons of money went into voting machines, and since then, there have been major problems with miscounts. This story is about Memphis and its voting machines’ decade-long tendency to undercount African American votes. It is extremely worrisome to me.

‘Finally. Someone who thinks like me.’

This profile of a Trump supporter attempts to humanize a poor white middle-aged woman from western Pennsylvania, except it becomes clear early on that Melanie Austin has severe mental health issues. Like many Trump supporters, Ms. Austin believes deeply in conspiracy theories (including that Barack Obama is gay and that Michelle Obama is a man) and spends too much time on the Internet.

Look, everyone! The Parthenon is in Nashville.

Cobalt mining for lithium ion batteries has a high human cost

The lithium ion batteries that power our smart phones, laptops, and electric cars contain cobalt. Sixty percent of that cobalt comes from mines in Congo, where 100,000 men (and sometimes children) labor in dangerous conditions for about $2.50 a day. While tech companies investigate their supply chains, people are dying. (If you’re claustrophobic, don’t watch the first video.)

My Son, The Prince Of Fashion

Read this delightful piece by author Michael Chabon (Telegraph Avenue, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay), who takes his son, Abe, to Paris Fashion Week. Abe, 13, cares deeply about fashion, but unfortunately, his father is indifferent. Read all the way until the end of this article and you realize this is a double coming-of-age tale.

That’s it for Issue #61! Hope you liked it. Feel free to email me with your thoughts or share this issue with others. Also, let’s please welcome Erik, who joined Extras this week! Have a great week, and see you next Thursday at 9:10 am.

Iserotope Extras #60: Man vs. Rat

In this week’s Iserotope Extras, enjoy articles about the eradication of rodents, the revolution in the food industry, the unfair discipline practices of many charter schools, and the denouement of President Obama’s time in office. Also, in the middle, take in a short poem about Eric Garner and #BlackLivesMatter.

Man vs. Rat: Could the long war soon be over?

Many Extras subscribers know about and appreciate my aversion to rodents. Perhaps as a method of exposure therapy, I read this article, which focuses on researchers studying contraception as a viable way to eradicate rats. Where do I send them all my money?

The People’s Cheeseburger

So much to say about LocoL, the restaurant featured in this article. Motivated by goals of social justice, chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson envisioned bringing high-quality, nutritious food to the masses when they opened their radical burger joint in Watts. It’s too bad that the Oakland version gets only 3 ½ stars on Yelp. (I’m going anyway.)

Thank you, Extras subscriber Peter, for sending in this poem!

Charter Schools Suspend and Expel More Often in Black Communities

Usually I shy away from articles that bash charter schools, but this one is fair. It offers statistics from several cities where charter schools are suspending and expelling too many students, particularly African Americans. The no-excuses charters (like Success Academy and Achievement First) are worst, particularly on the East coast.

Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview

If you’re sad that President Barack Obama’s two terms are almost over, or if you like history, this interview is a great read. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals, offers President Obama a chance to reflect on his legacy. I especially like his answer to Ms. Goodwin’s question about the different types of ambition.

You have successfully made it through the 60th issue of Iserotope Extras! Let me know if were moved by one or more of these articles, and feel free to get the word out. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am!