Tuesday to Thursday

Pick a topic you like, and that's what you're going to read about. Set a minimum word count, and read until you get to it. Start small. Smart easy. First try, it might actually be agonizing.

That's it for the day. Just hit the word count.

Next day, read to the word count again. Read something new! It will be easier today.

And easier the next.

On top of being scammed, receiving accurate medical treatment relies on you knowing how to do your own research, and too many doctors take illiterate patients less seriously.

If you become a victim of a crime or are accused of a crime, you need to be able to read the papers a cop or lawyer puts in front of you. They can happily take advantage of your ignorance if you give them a chance.

This list goes on! Landlords, real estate agents, accountants, car mechanics, bankers, phone companies, customer service, contractors, childcare workers, e.g. any other human you rely on just to live your life will expect you to be literate and capable of making smart decisions. It is not their job to supplement your ignorance. It is not any well-meaning individual's job to make sure you paid attention in the same classes they did. And most of them know this and will not wait for you to figure things out.

Anyways.

Polymorphing pigeons in the park (“Dragonmirth,” Dragon 121, May 1987). The signature appears to be "D Shanahan," a name missing from this issue's credits. This sounds similar to New Yorker cartoonist Danny Shanahan, though his usual signature differed in several ways.

Eileen Myles, “Peanut Butter.” I Must Be Living Twice: New and Selected Poems 1975 - 2014

My Love, Don't Cross That River (2013) dir. Jin Mo-young

Han Kang, “White Hair.” The White Book (translated by Deborah Smith)