It could alway get worse

I saw this sign outside a courthouse in Queens where we were filming yesterday. No comment required.

Back to High School

Recently I read that Epic was re-releasing the last 2 good Cheap Trick albums (they released a bunch after these, but this was the end of the line for them), Dream Police & All Shook Up.

I am happy to report that they hold up quite nicely, even though All Shook Up is really only half of a good record, but the re-release contained all of the "lost" EP Found All the Parts. Dream Police is about 2/3 a good record, but all of those wonderful high school memories... (except the one where I took my old girlfriend to see them at the Ft. Pierce Jai Alai Fronton during the One on One tour and we argued the whole show. They sucked by then, and she was simply a horror show).

Scoff all you want about these guys but I will go to the mat to defend everything up to 1981. Sure, everything is one giant Beatles ripoff filtered through 50 Marshall Stacks, but so what. Listening to Dream Police I can distinctly remember playing along on my Strat to the record so I'm happy I picked them up.

I also picked up the new record by Lewis Taylor called Stoned that my friend Carter recommended. This guy is something else! If you think there isn't enough Wah Wah pedal in today's music, rush out & get it.

Street Cred Baby!!!!

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007898.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thenewswire/#a017349

http://rogerailes.blogspot.com/2006_03_12_rogerailes_archive.html#114240952459493534

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/03/law-order-criminal-intent-to-take-on.html

Amazing what one email can do. Thanks guys. Hopefully that will mean a few more viewers this weekend.

Words Flying Like The Fists of Bruce Lee

Every day brings a torrent of new words from Grace. She will attempt to say any word you give her these days.
2 syllables - No Problem
3 syllables - She'll give it a whack

New words this week include:
Water
Cereal (very clear)
Sorry
Amy
Doggie
Cat
Brocky (broccoli)
Wankel Rotary Engine

Quick Thought

Sarah has a big birthday this weekend.
We are spending it quietly.

Feel free to call her and say hello (Sunday is the day).

Peer Pressure

I have a question.

In the socio-economic group (yuppies who have had kids late) and neighborhood (Park Slope) we find ourselves in, there is a trend to send children to a rudimentary form of school at the age of 2. That's right. School at 2.

It is euphemistically referred to as a "Twos program" and it is essentially 2 or 3 days a few for a few hours.

Many (in fact all except one who is now wavering) of the mothers that Sarah is socializing with are putting their children in such a program. I have voiced my opinion that I think it is essentially a load of rubbish but I am sensitive to the fact that she is experiencing massive pressure to send Grace to this rudimentary form of learning.

Is it wrong of me to think that just because these "schools" charge more than $5000 a year for "schooling" 2 year olds that it is for the most part it is simply a way to part affluent, nervous parents from their money? I don't doubt that there is some value in this, but this plays completely into the irrational fear that modern parents have. It is especially pernicious in urban parents who have had children later in life. They (we) tend to be better off academically & financially. We also highly value education. If Pre-K is good for the kid, how about 2 more years of school? That will really give my child super brainpower (and social connections). The fear then becomes that if your child doesn't go into a 2's program, then perhaps they won't get into the "right" preschool, and then they won't get into the right elementary school, and the next thing you know, Harvard is out and Palm Beach County Community College is their only option. I am not exaggerating.

I grew up in Florida where education was not this competitive, so I freely admit I have my biases on this issue. But I also resent the fact that there is all this pressure on a school decision for a child who still shits its pants. It smacks of am elitism I have never been comfortable with.
There is a notion that "nothing is too good for my child" that I am very leery of. It allows one to rationalize all sorts of poor decisions, from $900 strollers, over vaccination, designer clothing, $100,000 bar mitzvahs, to expensive school for 2 year olds.

It's possible my anti-elitist streak is clouding my judgement. If you have an opinion, I would love to hear from you.

The Quail Hunter

I only have one observation about the "incident". If you or I shot someone in the face while out hunting, and the police showed up to investigate, do you think you could tell them to just go away? And then they would? And do you think they would simply accept all of your friends' version of the event, no questions asked?

I didn't think so.
It's good to be the king (behind the throne).