Returning to the cool stuff

I've been reading the September issue of National Geographic, and I've noticed something: the preponderance of ads for arthritis medication, knee replacement technologies and hearing aids. What is the deal with that? I love all of the aided hearing/replaced knee/arthritic readers out there. I do. In fact, I love them extra because they are apparently the only people who understand what's important.

Parents, why are you not buying National Geographic for your kids? Why have we, Gen X and the Millennials, abandoned all the cool stuff?

For heaven's sake, get off Facebook for a half hour and read National Geographic, if only to be reminded that you don't know even close to everything, that, in fact, there are all KINDS of things in the world that you never imagined. Here are a few good reasons:

• One of the stinkiest and weirdest looking plants in the universe. 
• A really good reason not to touch armadillos, in case you needed one.
• Another great reason, this time demonstrating why you (and your kids) should eat more vegetables.
• A thoughtful look at the bizarre weather we've been having.
• Mind and heart twirling photography.



Photograph by Kim Eijdenberg, Your Shot

Several of those things I had to find on various sites online, but National Geographic collects all this fascination in one place for you. It costs $15. A year. You spend more than that on lattes or iTunes every week, and you know it, neither of which puts the wide, beautiful, fascinating world between your two tiny human hands once a month.