Doctors and Policemen


The Killing Joke: I read “Infinite Jest”


“Sublime Recovery and Banal Recovery”: I’m in AmCon


From “Infinite Jest”


“Most People With Addiction Simply Grow Out of It–Why Is This Widely Denied?”: Maia Szalavitz

because it's boring? But no, this is a great reason for both friends and governments not to immediately leap to, "Maybe you have a problem and need help," when somebody has their first realization that they have maybe strayed into 1 Party 2 Many territory. I've made the over-interventiony mistake at least once (I think it's fairly normal for those of us who actually did need to completely quit drinking/using) so it's worth keeping in mind that most people who think, "Whoa okay, I need to get it … [Read more...]

From “Infinite Jest”

Exec. Director [of Ennet House Drug and Alcohol Recovery House (sic)] Pat M. is due in at 0900 and has application interviews with three people, 2F and 1M, who better be showing up soon, and Gately will answer the door when they don't know enough to just come in and will say Welcome and get them a cup of coffee if he judges them able to hold it. He'll get them aside and tip them off to be sure to pet Pat M.'s dogs during the interview. They'll be sprawled all over the front office, sides … [Read more...]

Clone High: Roxana Robinson’s “Cost”

Look, I have to level with you people: This is a fairly good and poignant novel about family miscommunications and thwarted love, wrapped around a disingenuous, mediocre, and kind of infuriating novel about heroin addiction.Good stuff first, I hear that substance abusers lack self-discipline so let's eat our dessert first. The book is about a once-wealthy New England family riven by divorce; patriarch Edward is insufferably smug, his wife Katharine is losing her memory, their daughter Julia … [Read more...]