I was handed a survey in one of my morning classes. Its title was “How Comfortable Am I?” and it asked the survey-taker about how comfortable they would be in social situations with supposedly differing people; people such as math tutors or exotic dancers.

America draws strength from its cultural diversity. Diversity has made our nation a more vibrant and open society, ablaze in ideas, perspectives, and innovations. But the full potential of our diverse, multicultural society cannot be realized until all Americans, including racial and ethnic minorities, gain access to quality health care that meets their needs. According to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, racial and ethnic minorities have less access to mental health services than do Whites. They are also less likely to receive the care they need and if and when they do get it, it is more likely to be poor in quality.…

The birds in my yard love taco shells. And the crusts off of my brother’s toast. And Cheetos. But just like me, they do not really care for bell pepper. How do I know this? I know this because these are just a sampling of the food waste we put in our family’s compost pile, and from our kitchen window, we can see what discarded food excites the local wildlife. It takes bird watching to a new level, but that is not why we do it.