Humans, they warn, seem to be developing digital brains with new circuits for skimming through the torrent of information online.

—from Serious reading takes a hit from online scanning and skimming, researchers say

So many parts of this article’s tone bother me, but most overwhelmingly the implications that all humans are interacting on-line, that this is happening to the species. I have no objections to people embracing or fighting against the impact of on-line reading on the brain and behavior of those who are doing it. But the implication that humans are changing seems overblown to me.There are millions of non-readers still with us in the world, and millions of non-connected people, too. They’re still human.

I’m going to want to look back on this day when you canceled your plane ticket to take care of the family,  and we kissed at the airport. “Be badass,” you said, and I said “Be supportive and nurturing” and I believed that we both could. I love you.

Assuming the airlines are flying I leave tomorrow. I still need to pack my own things. Assuming the airport is open in Port-au-Prince, I arrive on Wednesday morning. I haven’t been able to sleep well for the last few days. When I made up my mind that I’d just stay home, the sleep came easily.

It sounds like the situation has stabilized for the time being, although this is something about myself that I don’t understand. The rioting has stopped, people are still starving. Why do I feel easier?