Americans are accustomed to tipping for a wide array of services. We understand that our gratuity makes up an important percentage of the wages earned by many different types of laborers: massage therapists, Uber drivers, hair stylists, tour guides, room service providers, valets — the list goes on. Much of the time, we don’t just add a tip because we’re adhering to a cultural norm but rather because we genuinely …
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For those who haven’t yet seen Hulu’s dramatic series Fleishman Is in Trouble, it’s really about the different forms of existential crises people face in middle age. The show contemplates the challenges of maintaining a marriage, parenting in the digital age, job dissatisfaction, and suburban listlessness, and how a responsible adult might reconcile these dilemmas and chart a new course forward. It manages to explore these weighty themes with earnestness …
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On August 30th, Uncle Xi Jinping stepped into many Chinese living rooms and asked hundreds of millions of his nieces and nephews to hand over their video game controllers. Three hours per week is all they get now. According to a press release from Xinhua state news, he promised to give them back on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for an hour each evening.
Now to my ear, that sounds a bit …
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We had a bit of a reprieve, but now it’s over. The chorus of pots and pans that applauded our efforts during the height of the pandemic has long since faded into silence. The brassware has been put back in the cupboard, and the chest-thumping of the American malpractice gorilla has come back into focus, even louder than ever.
Just flip on the television. Personal injury solicitations …
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In New York City, each evening at 7 p.m., the sound of people banging on pots and pans can be heard from apartment buildings within earshot of hospitals all over the city. The cacophonous clanging is a salute to the beleaguered health care workers changing shifts on the asphalt below. The ritual conveys appreciation and thousands of idiosyncratic messages of hope.
And that’s great. The gesture does, no doubt, positively impact …
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