Good morning. “Manual competence” is the ideal Matthew Crawford speaks up for in his excellent 2010 book, “Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Iinto the Value of Work.” Crawford’s a mechanic and a philosopher. He has no truck with craftsmanship or artistry. He speaks instead for the importance of trade work — “work that is…
The New York Times is investigating the costs associated with testing and treatment for the coronavirus and how the pandemic is changing health care in America. You can read more about the project and submit your medical bills here. When Debbie Krebs got the bill for a March emergency room visit, she immediately noticed something…
It begins with a mild fever and malaise, followed by a painful cough and shortness of breath. The infection prospers in crowds, spreading to people in close reach. Containing an outbreak requires contact tracing, as well as isolation and treatment of the sick for weeks or months. This insidious disease has touched every part of…
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. When Food & Wine magazine declared last year that “Historic Filipinotown is L.A.’s Next Great Dining Neighborhood,” an unseen player in this rise was neither a chef nor a restaurateur. John Eric Swing spent the…
[If you are a patient, go here.] If you’re a health provider, how, if at all, has the pandemic changed the way you provide care? Please share your story below. My colleagues or I may get in touch with you to hear more about your experiences.
Have a bill you want to share? Go straight to the form. Americans have been battling surprise coronavirus bills for nearly as long as they’ve been fighting the disease itself. I know this because I’m a reporter who has been writing articles about those bills since mid-February. My first focused on an American man and…
I’m not sure whether to call this the good news or the bad news, but Covid-19 is not the only thing that parents need to think about right now. Summer regularly brings up a set of safety concerns for children, and that is as true this year as any other. Of course, this year is…
I’m a lifelong extrovert who readily establishes and relishes casual contacts with people I encounter during daily life: while walking my dog, shopping for groceries, working out at the Y, even sweeping my sidewalk. These ephemeral connections add variety to my life, are a source of useful information and often provide needed emotional and physical…
Telemedicine is having its moment. Over the last few months, millions of people have relied on video or telephone calls to talk to their doctors. But as the pandemic moves across the United States, and eventually recedes in some places, how long will the moment last? While patients used virtual visits to avoid overcrowded and…
The owner of Men’s Wearhouse and JoS. A. Bank, which once dominated the market for affordable men’s suits, filed for bankruptcy protection late Sunday, as demand plummeted for its corporate clothing with the coronavirus pandemic keeping America’s office workers at home. The company, Tailored Brands, had approximately 1,400 stores and 18,000 employees. It had already…