Unproblematic Whiteness

Snow day! OK, they're not actually letting us out of school, but still. As Jake says, a student will have to die before D.F. delays classes like every other government entity in town. And it's not unproblematic, but when I start thinking about the people without heat I just get depressed. We've set up a blanket box for our neighborhood stray on our porch, but our oppressive indoor cat will never allow him inside. But still, it's so pretty! And it's supposed to be 19 degrees for the next few days, so we get the (brief) feeling of being back in Boston. This is especially nice because it was virtually balmy when I was on the East Coast in December and we've hit 60 many times in the last few months (what global warming?) so it's nice to get a little dose of "real" winter. Unless, you know, you don't have heat, which is not required by law here as it is in Boston. OK, I really am Debbie Downer. On a lighter snow note, I recommend listening to "This American Life" from last week about "The Super" -- particularly the second act which involves a carrot-nosed snowman who can bench press hundreds of pounds. It's worth it. And the third act says as much about the alienation inherent in capitalism as Marx. Good times.