Last night was my demotion party as president of my Rotary Club. It was great fun reviewing all of the cook stuff we did during the year and getting roasted. However, I am looking forward to sitting in the back of the room and chit-chatting instead of having 60+ people watch me eat lunch.
I'm at complete loggerheads with a client. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm working with them to get some City money for job training. They have a completely delusional idea of what needs to be in the proposal. Another group is proposing something completely different, yet they want what I write to look like theirs. There have been other issues on the project. From my point of view they're slow turning things around and in paying me. They clearly don't see me as sufficiently compliant.
I've run into this problem a couple of other times in my consulting career (I've been doing this for nearly 20 years). However, at times like this that I wonder if it's me or them.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Libertarian Thoughts
I'm sooooooooooo late on this post. Oh well.
Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that the 2nd Amendment covers individual gun ownership, but that the states can reasonably regulate it. Check out the ruling here. I missed the organized militia part, but that's OK.
This is an area where I stray from libertarian orthodoxy a bit in that I'm not that hung up on everyone being able to have a gun. Self-defense? According to the CDC, your more likely to have your gun turned on you or stolen and used in another crime that deterring a criminal. Sport? If the animal you're stalking isn't armed and you're a few hundred yards away from it, it doesn't seem like much of a contest. Just going outside, getting drunk and shooting at cans, skeet, whatever? Well, whatever turns you on, I suppose. Hunting your dinner? OK, I'm down with that.
What the ruling should have been called is the 2nd Amendment Lawyer Full Employment Act because now EVERY gun regulation in EVERY state is going to be challenged. The ruling makes clear that some regulations are OK with the Court, such as not allowing the mentally ill to have firearms (way to go out on a limb!). But, like with abortion rights, my reasonable regulation is your infringement of constitutional rights.
In some ways, the gun argument's been settled on the street. Anyone who wants just about any kind of firearm can get it, either through a shady gun show or the black market. I completely see the point of law abiding gun owners who complain about all of the hoops they have to jump through when Johnny Criminal just needs to come up with a few hundred dollars to get what he wants. There are always going to be people like my neighbor who want to have a gun for when "they" come down the street (I'm not sure who "they" are, but I'm thinking at some point it will be his son, the budding sociopath).
However, it seems reasonable that just as every other amendment in the Bill of Rights has limits that this one should as well. Previous violent offender? No gun for you. Had a restraining order? Sorry, bows and arrows only. The little voice inside your head told you to get that rifle? Uh...no.
In a related matter, ex-Georgia congressman Bob Barr is the Libertarian candidate for president. Mr. Barr's an interesting choice to lead the party because, well, um, when he was a congressman he didn't exactly let his libertarian flag fly. He led the rallying cry for Clinton's impeachment for coming on a young woman's dress and was a supporter of the war on drugs and the Patriot Act when he was in Congress. He has since claimed a conversion, though some are not so sure.
Like all niche movements, the Libertarian party is probably over concerned with idealogical purity. Also, the long time believers are always skeptical of those who have changed their minds (see Romney and the republicans). One also has to wonder what's the value of completely changing one's positions to run for office that he's not going to win. Maybe he just wants to stick it to the republicans after he was redistricted out of a job. Though helping Obama defeat McCain is a Pyrrhic victory for liberty at best.
Regardless, I'll take him at his word and vote for him. Every vote cast for the party hopefully takes us one step closer to getting the two major parties to think more about individual rights.
Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that the 2nd Amendment covers individual gun ownership, but that the states can reasonably regulate it. Check out the ruling here. I missed the organized militia part, but that's OK.
This is an area where I stray from libertarian orthodoxy a bit in that I'm not that hung up on everyone being able to have a gun. Self-defense? According to the CDC, your more likely to have your gun turned on you or stolen and used in another crime that deterring a criminal. Sport? If the animal you're stalking isn't armed and you're a few hundred yards away from it, it doesn't seem like much of a contest. Just going outside, getting drunk and shooting at cans, skeet, whatever? Well, whatever turns you on, I suppose. Hunting your dinner? OK, I'm down with that.
What the ruling should have been called is the 2nd Amendment Lawyer Full Employment Act because now EVERY gun regulation in EVERY state is going to be challenged. The ruling makes clear that some regulations are OK with the Court, such as not allowing the mentally ill to have firearms (way to go out on a limb!). But, like with abortion rights, my reasonable regulation is your infringement of constitutional rights.
In some ways, the gun argument's been settled on the street. Anyone who wants just about any kind of firearm can get it, either through a shady gun show or the black market. I completely see the point of law abiding gun owners who complain about all of the hoops they have to jump through when Johnny Criminal just needs to come up with a few hundred dollars to get what he wants. There are always going to be people like my neighbor who want to have a gun for when "they" come down the street (I'm not sure who "they" are, but I'm thinking at some point it will be his son, the budding sociopath).
However, it seems reasonable that just as every other amendment in the Bill of Rights has limits that this one should as well. Previous violent offender? No gun for you. Had a restraining order? Sorry, bows and arrows only. The little voice inside your head told you to get that rifle? Uh...no.
In a related matter, ex-Georgia congressman Bob Barr is the Libertarian candidate for president. Mr. Barr's an interesting choice to lead the party because, well, um, when he was a congressman he didn't exactly let his libertarian flag fly. He led the rallying cry for Clinton's impeachment for coming on a young woman's dress and was a supporter of the war on drugs and the Patriot Act when he was in Congress. He has since claimed a conversion, though some are not so sure.
Like all niche movements, the Libertarian party is probably over concerned with idealogical purity. Also, the long time believers are always skeptical of those who have changed their minds (see Romney and the republicans). One also has to wonder what's the value of completely changing one's positions to run for office that he's not going to win. Maybe he just wants to stick it to the republicans after he was redistricted out of a job. Though helping Obama defeat McCain is a Pyrrhic victory for liberty at best.
Regardless, I'll take him at his word and vote for him. Every vote cast for the party hopefully takes us one step closer to getting the two major parties to think more about individual rights.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Dumb Polls
Yesterday, the LA Times screamed that Obama was leading McCain by 12 percentage points in their opinion polls. My first reaction was, "Big fucking deal? It's June." My second reaction was, "Man, could that be any more misleading?"
I do a lot of statistics as part of my job, so bear with me here. The poll is misleading because it was based on national opinions, but that's not how our presidential elections are scored. A more accurate poll would show which candidate is leading in which states and how that adds up in the electoral vote (see Bush v. Gore, 2000). Also, note that not all polls are equally accurate.
Good pollsters divide their samples into many groups (white men over 40, Hispanic females with children, etc) as they have different voting rates, regardless of what they say is their likelihood of voting. This year, one of the big wild cards could be the African-American vote. Obama's candidacy raises the question as to whether African-Americans will vote in greater numbers (which the polls can right now only guess at) in November than in past elections.
Don't necessarily be thrown by the excitement in the primaries as the turnout between them and the general election is not as highly correlated than you think. Also, Republicans only tend to get a sliver of the African-American vote (Bush got about 9%, and that was after some serious ass-kissing with some black evangelicals) anyway, so it's not as if Obama will get a much higher percentage. The big question is whether more African-Americans will come out and vote. The pollsters who have a bead on that will be the most accurate.
Newspapers and websites LOVE polls because they are a short-cut to discussing the real issues. Just be sure you read a bit more into them before deciding if they are telling you anything meaningful.
I do a lot of statistics as part of my job, so bear with me here. The poll is misleading because it was based on national opinions, but that's not how our presidential elections are scored. A more accurate poll would show which candidate is leading in which states and how that adds up in the electoral vote (see Bush v. Gore, 2000). Also, note that not all polls are equally accurate.
Good pollsters divide their samples into many groups (white men over 40, Hispanic females with children, etc) as they have different voting rates, regardless of what they say is their likelihood of voting. This year, one of the big wild cards could be the African-American vote. Obama's candidacy raises the question as to whether African-Americans will vote in greater numbers (which the polls can right now only guess at) in November than in past elections.
Don't necessarily be thrown by the excitement in the primaries as the turnout between them and the general election is not as highly correlated than you think. Also, Republicans only tend to get a sliver of the African-American vote (Bush got about 9%, and that was after some serious ass-kissing with some black evangelicals) anyway, so it's not as if Obama will get a much higher percentage. The big question is whether more African-Americans will come out and vote. The pollsters who have a bead on that will be the most accurate.
Newspapers and websites LOVE polls because they are a short-cut to discussing the real issues. Just be sure you read a bit more into them before deciding if they are telling you anything meaningful.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Scratch Any Cynic and You’ll Find a Disappointed Idealist
I was resisting writing about George Carlin's passing for two reasons. One, it totally lacks of originality and doubt I have any additional insights. Second, the one time I saw him, he sucked.
I loved watching him, whether on the first SNL, on an HBO special or in Dogma. This all made the live performance even more disappointing. It was in Vegas and my wife and I got the sense that he was just starting out some new material for a special and it just wasn't quite good yet. The political observations were run of the mill and the language wasn't sharp. It was all cunt this and bitch that. It just seemed below him.
The only similar experience I had was seeing Bob Dylan when I was in grad school. I was never a huge Dylan fan, but I figured it was a unique opportunity. Oh, and the woman I was fucking was into him. I understand that he's not Mr. Warm and Fuzzy on stage, but it was like he didn't give a shit. He just kind blew through the songs and that was that. But, I digress.
Besides being funnier than hell, Carlin showed us how words really matter and how euphemisms take the place of truth. That made him valuable and entertaining. Now go out and shout the 7 dirty words you could never say on TV.
I loved watching him, whether on the first SNL, on an HBO special or in Dogma. This all made the live performance even more disappointing. It was in Vegas and my wife and I got the sense that he was just starting out some new material for a special and it just wasn't quite good yet. The political observations were run of the mill and the language wasn't sharp. It was all cunt this and bitch that. It just seemed below him.
The only similar experience I had was seeing Bob Dylan when I was in grad school. I was never a huge Dylan fan, but I figured it was a unique opportunity. Oh, and the woman I was fucking was into him. I understand that he's not Mr. Warm and Fuzzy on stage, but it was like he didn't give a shit. He just kind blew through the songs and that was that. But, I digress.
Besides being funnier than hell, Carlin showed us how words really matter and how euphemisms take the place of truth. That made him valuable and entertaining. Now go out and shout the 7 dirty words you could never say on TV.
McCain Quits California
It's not as if he was going to win the state anyway, but John McCain officially quit trying to win California in November by announcing that he would try to lift the ban on off-shore oil drilling. Like the liberals in Cape Cod who don't want their views ruined by a tiny windmill in the distance, the conservatives along the CA coast don't want to look out at oil rigs. The guys with the money remember the Santa Barbara spills and almost all of the elected Republican officials here are against it, including Ahnahld. It's really a non-starter here.
McCain's strategy appears to be to "sacrifice" CA in order to appease folks in Ohio or PA or other close states. But, here's the thing: drilling off the coast of CA, TX or FL may have an effect on oil prices in the future, but it won't do shit about them now. Also, it's pandering because lifting the moratorium leaves drilling up to the states and there's no way CA would go for it. FL's governor Crist has obviously started his campaign for VP by changing his position on the issue, but there's no guarantee that they would allow drilling.
This also shows that McCain thinks more about tactics (get more oil) than strategy (how do we become less dependent on fossil fuels) when it comes to his energy policy. When we chase a finite resource (oil or ethanol) there will always be shortages and price spikes because of supply and demand pressures. The huge run-up in food prices should be teaching him that. There will be ancillary costs to using any type of energy (even solar power requires the manufacturing of collectors and use of habitat for solar farms and transmission), but at least the source is as close to infinite as it gets. With this change in position, McCain shows that he's only interested in an energy policy that will keep the tank full for the rest of his life.
McCain's strategy appears to be to "sacrifice" CA in order to appease folks in Ohio or PA or other close states. But, here's the thing: drilling off the coast of CA, TX or FL may have an effect on oil prices in the future, but it won't do shit about them now. Also, it's pandering because lifting the moratorium leaves drilling up to the states and there's no way CA would go for it. FL's governor Crist has obviously started his campaign for VP by changing his position on the issue, but there's no guarantee that they would allow drilling.
This also shows that McCain thinks more about tactics (get more oil) than strategy (how do we become less dependent on fossil fuels) when it comes to his energy policy. When we chase a finite resource (oil or ethanol) there will always be shortages and price spikes because of supply and demand pressures. The huge run-up in food prices should be teaching him that. There will be ancillary costs to using any type of energy (even solar power requires the manufacturing of collectors and use of habitat for solar farms and transmission), but at least the source is as close to infinite as it gets. With this change in position, McCain shows that he's only interested in an energy policy that will keep the tank full for the rest of his life.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Playing Dress-Up
I wrote yesterday about getting all dressed-up for an event. BTW--the HB chose the Tabasco tie.
The event was OK, but poorly planned. First, it was $95/person, and that didn't include parking or wine with dinner. Second, there were only two bars for about 250 people which was far short of what was necessary.
Afterwards, we took advantage of the free babysitting (the HB was at the nephew's) and went looking for a bar downtown. In LA this is tougher than you would imagine. One place was jam packed since the nearby theater just got out, and another place about a block away was closing up, even though it was close to the theater (this was before 11pm). So, we went to the bar at the Biltmore. It's got great wood floors and a fabulous ceiling. The band was OK (better if you are into Sade and the like), but it was cool and the drinks were good.
The event was OK, but poorly planned. First, it was $95/person, and that didn't include parking or wine with dinner. Second, there were only two bars for about 250 people which was far short of what was necessary.
Afterwards, we took advantage of the free babysitting (the HB was at the nephew's) and went looking for a bar downtown. In LA this is tougher than you would imagine. One place was jam packed since the nearby theater just got out, and another place about a block away was closing up, even though it was close to the theater (this was before 11pm). So, we went to the bar at the Biltmore. It's got great wood floors and a fabulous ceiling. The band was OK (better if you are into Sade and the like), but it was cool and the drinks were good.
Belated Brewing
Last Sunday I just had the hankering to brew. I figured I would invite someone over to help out or hold off until Thursday when my normal brew buddy came over. But, my neighbor was up for it, so we brewed.
We whipped up a brown ale (think Newcastle, but with more hops). The recipe was interesting in that it called for the grains to be steeped in a separate vessel from dissolving the malt. Usually I'll steep then add the malt in the same pot. Using smaller amounts of liquid made the temperatures easier to manage, so if this comes out good I'll use the technique again.
I'm a little concerned about the heat and its effect on the fermentation. It's fermenting in a closet in a north facing room, so it's the coolest place in the house. But, yeast likes things at about 72 degree Fahrenheit, and I know that it's warmer than that in there now. Things should start cooling down tonight, so I may just have to give it an extra day or two for the yeast to get going again.
I'll bottle it in about a week or so (after fermentation), then it would be ready to drink in two more weeks after that. But, I'll give it another 4 weeks so the tastes really start to come together.
All this beer talk is making me thirsty. I'll make my next post after I pop one open.
We whipped up a brown ale (think Newcastle, but with more hops). The recipe was interesting in that it called for the grains to be steeped in a separate vessel from dissolving the malt. Usually I'll steep then add the malt in the same pot. Using smaller amounts of liquid made the temperatures easier to manage, so if this comes out good I'll use the technique again.
I'm a little concerned about the heat and its effect on the fermentation. It's fermenting in a closet in a north facing room, so it's the coolest place in the house. But, yeast likes things at about 72 degree Fahrenheit, and I know that it's warmer than that in there now. Things should start cooling down tonight, so I may just have to give it an extra day or two for the yeast to get going again.
I'll bottle it in about a week or so (after fermentation), then it would be ready to drink in two more weeks after that. But, I'll give it another 4 weeks so the tastes really start to come together.
All this beer talk is making me thirsty. I'll make my next post after I pop one open.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Hot Saturday
LA's having record heat this weekend. Which means it's in the mid-80s at my house. It was 20 degrees hotter at my client's about 20 miles inland. Today's better with a nice breeze, but still warm.
Tonight the wife and I have a black tie optional event. I'm going for the option (hmm...Warner Bros., Cat-in-the-Hat or Tabasco tie...you be the judge). The guy who is throwing it is WAY too much into playing dress up. But, it should be a fun night.
The buddy of mine came over the other night gave me the hot tip on the Guitar Hero III cheats, including one that added a bunch of newer songs (including Killswitch Engage...woot!). I'll go online and try to find some more (let me know if you have any cool ones).
Speaking of music, note the MP3 update. I added the new North Mississippi All-Stars. I also got on a serious Bad Religion kick, so I just added a bunch of their songs (primarily from The Empire Strikes First, New Maps of Hell and Recipe for Hate). I was cranking them as I was surfing some data yesterday and it made me VERY happy.
OK, off to take the HB to the nephew's for a sleep over (the gas driving him is still cheaper than a babysitter). Back atchya later.
Tonight the wife and I have a black tie optional event. I'm going for the option (hmm...Warner Bros., Cat-in-the-Hat or Tabasco tie...you be the judge). The guy who is throwing it is WAY too much into playing dress up. But, it should be a fun night.
The buddy of mine came over the other night gave me the hot tip on the Guitar Hero III cheats, including one that added a bunch of newer songs (including Killswitch Engage...woot!). I'll go online and try to find some more (let me know if you have any cool ones).
Speaking of music, note the MP3 update. I added the new North Mississippi All-Stars. I also got on a serious Bad Religion kick, so I just added a bunch of their songs (primarily from The Empire Strikes First, New Maps of Hell and Recipe for Hate). I was cranking them as I was surfing some data yesterday and it made me VERY happy.
OK, off to take the HB to the nephew's for a sleep over (the gas driving him is still cheaper than a babysitter). Back atchya later.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Humiliation
Being a fan of a sports team is a very abstract concept. It's not like the players/owners give a shit about me (well, maybe a tiny bit if I buy a ticket or buy a beer at the game). Rather, it's about the team somehow representing you (geographically or by history) and the times you spend with your buddies/family watching the games.
I'm pretty consistent when it comes to my teams and, with the exception of the University of Tennessee, I root for the teams I started pulling for as a kid: Angels, Lakers, Raiders, USC (football), UCLA (basketball). I won't bore you with, "I remember when such and such happened," but trust me when I tell you that I've stuck with them through thick and thin. If you root for a good team long enough you are going to have your share of great joy and heartache.
That said, the Lakers losing to the Celtics was really a kick in the gut. I didn't think the Lakers were going to win the series (note my previous, not-very-heart-felt Laker in 7 prediction). However, the way they lost this one was humiliating. First, they blew a 24-point lead at home in game 4. Then, last night, they didn't even bother showing up in the deciding game and got their asses handed to them.
You would think they, especially Kobe would have had more pride than that. Apparently not.
Speaking of lack of pride, chalk up another to all of the PGA players not named Tiger. Turns out that not only was he recovering from knee surgery at the US Open, but he had two stress fractures. How can the rest of those guys say they are truly competitive when they can't beat a guy who is that hurt? They put asterisks next to the names of whoever wins the next two major tournaments (British Open and the PGA). They just shouldn't count as much.
I'm pretty consistent when it comes to my teams and, with the exception of the University of Tennessee, I root for the teams I started pulling for as a kid: Angels, Lakers, Raiders, USC (football), UCLA (basketball). I won't bore you with, "I remember when such and such happened," but trust me when I tell you that I've stuck with them through thick and thin. If you root for a good team long enough you are going to have your share of great joy and heartache.
That said, the Lakers losing to the Celtics was really a kick in the gut. I didn't think the Lakers were going to win the series (note my previous, not-very-heart-felt Laker in 7 prediction). However, the way they lost this one was humiliating. First, they blew a 24-point lead at home in game 4. Then, last night, they didn't even bother showing up in the deciding game and got their asses handed to them.
You would think they, especially Kobe would have had more pride than that. Apparently not.
Speaking of lack of pride, chalk up another to all of the PGA players not named Tiger. Turns out that not only was he recovering from knee surgery at the US Open, but he had two stress fractures. How can the rest of those guys say they are truly competitive when they can't beat a guy who is that hurt? They put asterisks next to the names of whoever wins the next two major tournaments (British Open and the PGA). They just shouldn't count as much.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Hey World, Come on Over
One of the cool things about the Rotary International Convention are the Home Host Events (HHE). For the HHE's, club's can invite Rotarians and their families to any sort of event or party. The kicker is that it's all pretty random. My Club didn't know who was coming (we could put a limit on the attendees) until the last minute and the people who came didn't know which HHE they were going to until they got their registration packets. The committee that organized it assigned people to HHE's based on the hotel where they were staying for easier logistics.
So, about 50 people from all over the world (US, Canada, Nigeria, Nepal, Thailand and Sweeden) came to our party (our incoming president has a big house with an awesome view) as well as about 30 people from my Club. I cannot tell you how cool it was to talk with the guests about their countries, how Rotary works there, etc. The HB totally got a kick out of it as well.
BTW--the HB blew his first bubble yesterday. He's obviously psyched.
So, about 50 people from all over the world (US, Canada, Nigeria, Nepal, Thailand and Sweeden) came to our party (our incoming president has a big house with an awesome view) as well as about 30 people from my Club. I cannot tell you how cool it was to talk with the guests about their countries, how Rotary works there, etc. The HB totally got a kick out of it as well.
BTW--the HB blew his first bubble yesterday. He's obviously psyched.
The Day Civil Rights Were Born (in CA)
Gay marriages were performed in CA yesterday. Strangely, the sun still rose in the east today.
I was at a party last night (see next post) where a friend of mine compared it to the day women got the vote, blacks were allowed to register, etc. Since gay marriages had already been performed in Mass. I didn't think it was that historic, but I got her point. Groups that are sponsoring the ballot initiative in CA to change the state constitution were not pleased. They wanted a judge to block the marriages until the vote. Obviously, they are afraid that straight people who might be opposed to gay marriage will see that after it's been allowed for several months that nothing horrible has happened. God forbid that people who love each other have equal rights.
Of course, the politics of it are in full force. Apparently there are those who worry about the p.r. who are telling people that it's OK to be gay, just not too queer. My sense is that after a week or two the media will lose interest in the weddings themselves and will get obsessed with the politics. That's perfect. That way gay people in love will get married and divorced (now THAT will be a big story) and go about their lives. As it should be.
I was at a party last night (see next post) where a friend of mine compared it to the day women got the vote, blacks were allowed to register, etc. Since gay marriages had already been performed in Mass. I didn't think it was that historic, but I got her point. Groups that are sponsoring the ballot initiative in CA to change the state constitution were not pleased. They wanted a judge to block the marriages until the vote. Obviously, they are afraid that straight people who might be opposed to gay marriage will see that after it's been allowed for several months that nothing horrible has happened. God forbid that people who love each other have equal rights.
Of course, the politics of it are in full force. Apparently there are those who worry about the p.r. who are telling people that it's OK to be gay, just not too queer. My sense is that after a week or two the media will lose interest in the weddings themselves and will get obsessed with the politics. That's perfect. That way gay people in love will get married and divorced (now THAT will be a big story) and go about their lives. As it should be.
Father's Day
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a little late here...sorry.
Sunday morning I slept in a bit. No super special breakfast as we were getting together with my parents for brunch. But, the presents! The wife and the HB got me the new North Mississippi All-Stars disc and, more important, Guitar Hero III for the Wii. The HB and I had a great time playing it. Of course, he was pissed that I beat him, but I have the advantage of knowing all of the songs.
We had brunch with my parents at a great deli near their house. Delish. My dad liked his book and my mom was ecstatic over the gift certificate my bro and I got for her for her birthday (which was a few days earlier). It was to her favorite store (Chico's) so she can buy some new stuff for their upcoming cruise.
That afternoon, we took a family trip to the Rotary International convention. Things were a little zoo-ey downtown between that and the Laker game (and they won!), but we were able to find a good place to park not too far away. We were there so we could see the NZS in the parade of flags and so I could buy some thank you gifts for my board of directors.
So, we worm our way into the hall for the parade (my wife and the HB didn't have tickets because it would have cost almost $700 for the 20 minutes of what we wanted to see) and see the NZS. There were more flags (people from 140 countries attended) than kids, so we saw the NZS several times. But, get this. No one took the time to coordinate their order so the students would carry the flag of their country! So, the NZS didn't even present the New Zealand flag. That was just dumb.
Afterwards, we grabbed the world's slowest sandwiches at a local supermarket. My wife insisted on having a sandwich made from scratch by the world's slowest sandwich maker instead of grabbing a pre-made one like I did. She got a bit of a stomach ache that night...heh.
When we got home I powered through the US Open and the Laker game on HD-DVR. I can't believe that Tiger still won that tournament (the next day) with a bum knee. What's next, he can only play in a tournament if he promises to swing with only one arm?
Sunday morning I slept in a bit. No super special breakfast as we were getting together with my parents for brunch. But, the presents! The wife and the HB got me the new North Mississippi All-Stars disc and, more important, Guitar Hero III for the Wii. The HB and I had a great time playing it. Of course, he was pissed that I beat him, but I have the advantage of knowing all of the songs.
We had brunch with my parents at a great deli near their house. Delish. My dad liked his book and my mom was ecstatic over the gift certificate my bro and I got for her for her birthday (which was a few days earlier). It was to her favorite store (Chico's) so she can buy some new stuff for their upcoming cruise.
That afternoon, we took a family trip to the Rotary International convention. Things were a little zoo-ey downtown between that and the Laker game (and they won!), but we were able to find a good place to park not too far away. We were there so we could see the NZS in the parade of flags and so I could buy some thank you gifts for my board of directors.
So, we worm our way into the hall for the parade (my wife and the HB didn't have tickets because it would have cost almost $700 for the 20 minutes of what we wanted to see) and see the NZS. There were more flags (people from 140 countries attended) than kids, so we saw the NZS several times. But, get this. No one took the time to coordinate their order so the students would carry the flag of their country! So, the NZS didn't even present the New Zealand flag. That was just dumb.
Afterwards, we grabbed the world's slowest sandwiches at a local supermarket. My wife insisted on having a sandwich made from scratch by the world's slowest sandwich maker instead of grabbing a pre-made one like I did. She got a bit of a stomach ache that night...heh.
When we got home I powered through the US Open and the Laker game on HD-DVR. I can't believe that Tiger still won that tournament (the next day) with a bum knee. What's next, he can only play in a tournament if he promises to swing with only one arm?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Is Freedom a Strength or Weakness
On Thursday, the Supreme Court bitch slapped the Bush administration for the 3rd time over holding uncharged prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The ruling basically says that the government cannot hold foreign nationals on US soil (the court previously ruled that Gitmo was essentially US soil) without charge.
For insight into the minorities viewpoint, Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the court didn't have the authority to overrule the commission in Gitmo given that the Congress and President approved them. Really? I thought one of the purposes of the Supreme Court was to ensure that laws were constitutional. Otherwise, Congress could just pass a law instituting slavery and the Supreme Court would say it's OK.
The Bush administration's argument has consistently been that we do not have laws that apply to to the war on terror because the combatants are not part of an army nor are they fighting for a country. Bush argues that since the combatants' goal is to destroy our country and way of life, providing them with the same rights as other citizens (in the case where the combatants are US citizens) or prisoners of war (where they are captured on the battlefield) is soft-headed. We don't have to prove they were out to murder US citizens because that's their proclaimed goal. We didn't arrest privates in the German army for shooting at Americans in WWII. We either killed them during battle or threw them into POW camps for the duration of the war.
Bush also claims, correctly, that during previous wars presidents have taken great leeway in suspending parts of the constitution. For instance, Lincoln took advantage of a clause in the constitution that allows for the suspension of habeas corpus during a rebellion and Roosevelt put all Japanese-Americans in concentration camps without any evidence of guilt. In essence, his argument is that the constitution is not a suicide pact and that rights must sometimes be temporarily suspended to protect our liberty.
The opposite view is that any crisis involving our country is temporary and that preserving our liberties is more important than any bit player in history. If we proclaim the values of democracy and freedom during peacetime we should also do so when we are at war. It is important that we set an example to the counties that we want to become democracies that we always live by laws and not the whims of whoever is in power.
Unlike Bush, I do not think that democracy makes us weak. Rather, it shows our strength in the face of these fascists. I also believe that if these guys we capture on the battlefield claim to be part of Al Queda, or something similar, we should interrogate (but not torture) them and then send them back to their home countries. Just as we would want our fighters returned.
This is probably the last ruling that the court will make on Gitmo during Bush's term. My sense is that McCain will continue similar policies and try to continue to trim the Constitution. With Obama, who knows. Democratic presidents always like to prove how tough they are after they get into office.
Why these guys have a hard time with the concept that our Constitution has served us well for over 200 years and will continue to do so without their meddling is beyond me.
For insight into the minorities viewpoint, Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the court didn't have the authority to overrule the commission in Gitmo given that the Congress and President approved them. Really? I thought one of the purposes of the Supreme Court was to ensure that laws were constitutional. Otherwise, Congress could just pass a law instituting slavery and the Supreme Court would say it's OK.
The Bush administration's argument has consistently been that we do not have laws that apply to to the war on terror because the combatants are not part of an army nor are they fighting for a country. Bush argues that since the combatants' goal is to destroy our country and way of life, providing them with the same rights as other citizens (in the case where the combatants are US citizens) or prisoners of war (where they are captured on the battlefield) is soft-headed. We don't have to prove they were out to murder US citizens because that's their proclaimed goal. We didn't arrest privates in the German army for shooting at Americans in WWII. We either killed them during battle or threw them into POW camps for the duration of the war.
Bush also claims, correctly, that during previous wars presidents have taken great leeway in suspending parts of the constitution. For instance, Lincoln took advantage of a clause in the constitution that allows for the suspension of habeas corpus during a rebellion and Roosevelt put all Japanese-Americans in concentration camps without any evidence of guilt. In essence, his argument is that the constitution is not a suicide pact and that rights must sometimes be temporarily suspended to protect our liberty.
The opposite view is that any crisis involving our country is temporary and that preserving our liberties is more important than any bit player in history. If we proclaim the values of democracy and freedom during peacetime we should also do so when we are at war. It is important that we set an example to the counties that we want to become democracies that we always live by laws and not the whims of whoever is in power.
Unlike Bush, I do not think that democracy makes us weak. Rather, it shows our strength in the face of these fascists. I also believe that if these guys we capture on the battlefield claim to be part of Al Queda, or something similar, we should interrogate (but not torture) them and then send them back to their home countries. Just as we would want our fighters returned.
This is probably the last ruling that the court will make on Gitmo during Bush's term. My sense is that McCain will continue similar policies and try to continue to trim the Constitution. With Obama, who knows. Democratic presidents always like to prove how tough they are after they get into office.
Why these guys have a hard time with the concept that our Constitution has served us well for over 200 years and will continue to do so without their meddling is beyond me.
Like a Kid Again
Even as an adult, there are many kid-like things I still do. For instance, I still love to get dirty and go on roller coasters.
Another thing I did as a kid was that I wouldn't read the sports page the next day after my favorite team lost. As if not reading it meant it didn't happen. I have not read the sports page or watched SportsCenter since the Lakers blew that game to the Celtics. I've even had to type fast when launching my browser since ESPN.com is my home page.
Hopefully the Lakers will show some pride and win at home tonight.
Another thing I did as a kid was that I wouldn't read the sports page the next day after my favorite team lost. As if not reading it meant it didn't happen. I have not read the sports page or watched SportsCenter since the Lakers blew that game to the Celtics. I've even had to type fast when launching my browser since ESPN.com is my home page.
Hopefully the Lakers will show some pride and win at home tonight.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Friday Meme
Borrowed from Lola. Jen, consider yourself tagged.
1. What do you want for your Birthday?
A big party with all of my friends present.
2. Who will be your next kiss?
The wife, I would imagine. Or, the HB.
3. When is the last time you went to the mall?
Wow...this is a hard one. Lemme think...I honestly don't remember. I hate those fucking places.
4. Are you wearing socks right now?
Yes, ankle high athletic socks.
5. When was the last time you went out?
Last Friday to a wine bar.
6. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?
Yesterday we took the HB to see Kung Fu Panda.
7. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Iced tea.
8. What are you wearing right now?
Very sweaty workout clothes, including a University of Tennessee t-shirt.
9. What was your last purchase?
Chips and diet Coke for me and the HB after hitting some balls at the driving range.
10. Last meal eaten?
Tuna melt w/fruit.
11. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Lola.
12. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?
No.
13. Do you have a pet?
One, Nugget the Pug.
14. What’s the last sporting event you watched?
Watching the Dodgers/Tigers right now.
15. What’s the most played song on your iTunes?
Hm...wouldn't be on iTunes, but on my MP3, Wings Pt 2 by Tool.
16. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
On the beach in the south of Spain drinking great wine.
17. What is the last thing you purchased online?
My dad's Father's Day present ( Everything They Had: Sports Writing from David Halberstam)
18. One thing you hate about yourself?
I ruminate way too much.
19. What’s your favorite soup?
Chicken noodle w/matzah balls
20. Do you miss anyone?
Yes.
21. Last play you saw?
Duck Variations and Keep Your Pantheon (they were playing together).
22. What are your plans for the day?
From now, make dinner and watch a movie with the family.
23. Last person you msg’d?
The NZS.
24. Ever go to camp?
Yes, but it wasn't so great.
25. Were you an honour roll student in school?
Nope
26. What do you know about the future?
That it is coming.
27. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
Nope.
28. Where are your best friends located?
All over the country.
29. Do you have a tan?
A small one.
30. How old do you want to be when you have kids?
Can I go backwards on this?
31. Who was the first person who made you cry?
The doc who slapped my ass.
32. Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
Not any more (used to have an ear pierced).
32. Have you ever drank your pop from a straw?
I'm sure I've drank my soda from a straw before, but normally don't (unless I've gone through the drive through).
33. How do you like your pop?
Cold.
34. Do you like hot sauce?
Absolutely--hotter the better.
35. Next time you’ll take a shower?
In about 2 hours.
36. What’s the last movie you saw at home?
It's gonna be Gremlins II (yech) in about 10 min.
37. What is your current mood?
Happy w/endorphines flowing.
38. Are you someone’s best friend?
Yes.
39. Have you ever been to Virginia?
A few times.
40. What are you doing right now?
Typing.
Slipping Away
When I wrote that I had a bad feeling about the Lakers-Celtic series, it did not include the Lakers coughing up a 24 point lead at home. Watching it made me sick. LA's now down 3-1 in the series and are pretty much done. Hopefully they'll have enough pride to win the next one and send it back to Boston. At least now I can focus some on the U.S. Open.
I have the HB this morning...not sure what we're going to be up to, but it would be a nice day to take the bikes to the beach. Then a lunch meeting and work.
I have the HB this morning...not sure what we're going to be up to, but it would be a nice day to take the bikes to the beach. Then a lunch meeting and work.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
If Everything is Special, Nothing Is
Today was the 'graduation' for the HB's Indian Guides tribe. I was talking to one of the other dads who has a younger kid and he was telling me about the big whoop-dee-doo his son's school made of kindergarten graduation (gowns and everything).
I'm a believer in celebrating real accomplishment. Making a huge deal over just showing up (like kindergarten and Indian Guides) diminishes the recognition of really achieving something (like earning the grades to graduate H.S. or college). Let's get real--5 y.o. kids don't give a rats ass about graduating kindergarten. It feeds the parents' ego. Though, I could never understand why ANYONE would think it's a big deal...unless it's the first kid in the family to go to kindergarten.
I guess at some point this trend will turnaround. It won't be fast enough for me.
I'm a believer in celebrating real accomplishment. Making a huge deal over just showing up (like kindergarten and Indian Guides) diminishes the recognition of really achieving something (like earning the grades to graduate H.S. or college). Let's get real--5 y.o. kids don't give a rats ass about graduating kindergarten. It feeds the parents' ego. Though, I could never understand why ANYONE would think it's a big deal...unless it's the first kid in the family to go to kindergarten.
I guess at some point this trend will turnaround. It won't be fast enough for me.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Touch Down
The travel gods were with me today in that I hit the BART train/airport shuttle right on time. Due to the storms in the midwest some flights were delayed, including my scheduled one, which allowed Southwest to put me on an earlier one without paying any extra $$. On top of it all, I got home just in time to watch the Lakers beat the Celtics. Woot!
It was good day at the conference. I got my call done in the am and got packed up. Lunch with my web developer was awesome. We (including her bf) went to the cool brewpub and sat outside. It was a great day to be out and we talked like we'd been friends forever.
Back at the conference I heard some good talks and gave out an award (and got a new computer briefcase). Even made a good new business contact. Of course, everything couldn't go well. The old gf had to cancel due to a impending deadline...sigh...we were both looking forward to getting caught up.
Tomorrow should be good. I have the HB for the day and I'll take him to Rotary (where he'll get a gigantic PB&J). We'll definitely have some fun after that.
It was good day at the conference. I got my call done in the am and got packed up. Lunch with my web developer was awesome. We (including her bf) went to the cool brewpub and sat outside. It was a great day to be out and we talked like we'd been friends forever.
Back at the conference I heard some good talks and gave out an award (and got a new computer briefcase). Even made a good new business contact. Of course, everything couldn't go well. The old gf had to cancel due to a impending deadline...sigh...we were both looking forward to getting caught up.
Tomorrow should be good. I have the HB for the day and I'll take him to Rotary (where he'll get a gigantic PB&J). We'll definitely have some fun after that.
Road Trippin'
Greetings from Oakland. I'm at a conference with a fun group of people. Don't know how much biz I'll get out of it, but it is a good time.
I caught a bit of the Lakers-Celtics game last night. The Lakers are just sucking. I don't think they'll be able to pull it together to win the series. Then again, a seven game series doesn't really begin until the home team loses, and LA has the next 3 at home. Oh, and LSU kicked UC Irvine's ass, so the Anteaters are NOT going to the college world series.
This morning I got an e-mail from a client who wants me in KC on Wednesday. Note that the HB is out of school and my wife's chasing him around for Mon and Tues while I'm in Oakland. She needs to get shit done at work as well and I already told her that I would take care of him on Wednesday. So, I tell the client that I'm unavailable. She's a working mom so I explain why and she's totally good with it. Well, her boss REALLY wants me there, so he writes back with, "Well, we'll pay you an extra $500 to come out for this meeting." Umb, it's NOT about the money, asshole. What part of I CAN'T BE THERE don't you understand? You can tell that his wife is a stay at home mom.
Tuesday's gonna be jam packed. I have a conference call with a client in the morning, then for lunch I'm going to meet a woman who does some of my web programming. Not a big deal, except I've never met her face-to-face and we've worked together for the last 3 years. She is very cool and I'm looking forward to having lunch with her (hm...maybe at the cool brew pub that I can see from my hotel window).
I'll catch some afternoon conference sessions and I get to present an award as well. After that, I'm meeting up with the woman I regularly slept with in grad school for happy hour. No, nothing like that's gonna happen. We resolved our shit many years ago and she's married to a great guy. She and I get together every couple of years or so just to get caught up, etc. Then, I have the 8 pm flight back home.
I caught a bit of the Lakers-Celtics game last night. The Lakers are just sucking. I don't think they'll be able to pull it together to win the series. Then again, a seven game series doesn't really begin until the home team loses, and LA has the next 3 at home. Oh, and LSU kicked UC Irvine's ass, so the Anteaters are NOT going to the college world series.
This morning I got an e-mail from a client who wants me in KC on Wednesday. Note that the HB is out of school and my wife's chasing him around for Mon and Tues while I'm in Oakland. She needs to get shit done at work as well and I already told her that I would take care of him on Wednesday. So, I tell the client that I'm unavailable. She's a working mom so I explain why and she's totally good with it. Well, her boss REALLY wants me there, so he writes back with, "Well, we'll pay you an extra $500 to come out for this meeting." Umb, it's NOT about the money, asshole. What part of I CAN'T BE THERE don't you understand? You can tell that his wife is a stay at home mom.
Tuesday's gonna be jam packed. I have a conference call with a client in the morning, then for lunch I'm going to meet a woman who does some of my web programming. Not a big deal, except I've never met her face-to-face and we've worked together for the last 3 years. She is very cool and I'm looking forward to having lunch with her (hm...maybe at the cool brew pub that I can see from my hotel window).
I'll catch some afternoon conference sessions and I get to present an award as well. After that, I'm meeting up with the woman I regularly slept with in grad school for happy hour. No, nothing like that's gonna happen. We resolved our shit many years ago and she's married to a great guy. She and I get together every couple of years or so just to get caught up, etc. Then, I have the 8 pm flight back home.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Act II
The HB's second performance went well. They have alternate casts so that they can spread out the bigger parts. In cast two, the HB had fewer speaking lines, but was on stage more. He had a really good time but was clearly whooped by the end of the evening.
So, I'm off to Oakland in the morning for a conference. I was asked to serve on this organization's board last year. I'm a big believer of saying Yes when asked to do these things in volunteer organizations, but I'm close to regretting this one. Things are in turmoil (we just got kicked to the curb by the umbrella organization--which is a good thing) so we have a lot of ground to cover. But, we don't meet frequently enough, and the president isn't directive enough, for things to get done. Perhaps the crisis will force us into meaningful action.
I just hope I can make it to a bar with a TV and watch the Laker game after the meeting.
So, I'm off to Oakland in the morning for a conference. I was asked to serve on this organization's board last year. I'm a big believer of saying Yes when asked to do these things in volunteer organizations, but I'm close to regretting this one. Things are in turmoil (we just got kicked to the curb by the umbrella organization--which is a good thing) so we have a lot of ground to cover. But, we don't meet frequently enough, and the president isn't directive enough, for things to get done. Perhaps the crisis will force us into meaningful action.
I just hope I can make it to a bar with a TV and watch the Laker game after the meeting.
Showtime
The HB's play is today and he's very psyched because his theater group is performing today. OK, he gets up at the crack of dawn every morning, but when I asked him he said he was excited. Break a Leg, HB!
After dropping him off at rehearsal last night, the wife and I went to a new wine bar. The good was good, as was the ambiance, but the wines by the glass weren't that spectacular. The place was hopping early. There was a table of (at least) once, but not currently, married women having a good time. Several couples were snuggled in the corners and there were some other parties. A band started playing samba music at 8, which was cool. We nibbled on some dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in prosciutto and a cheese platter and went through a few glasses of red wine. We'll definitely go back with some friends who are also into the grape.
When we went to pick up the HB, we saw them rehearse the second act. The kids were having a great time, so today should be fun. The woman who puts this together is amazing...there must be 30 kids (between ages 6 and 15) in the two casts and somehow she pulls it all together.
The Lakers are looking to bounce-back tomorrow night against the Celtics (I'll be watching in Oakland--the subject of another post). The whole story about Pierce and his knee is pretty hilarious. The Boston fans are such drama queens. I think the Lakers will win on Sunday.
I'll have the play review later.
After dropping him off at rehearsal last night, the wife and I went to a new wine bar. The good was good, as was the ambiance, but the wines by the glass weren't that spectacular. The place was hopping early. There was a table of (at least) once, but not currently, married women having a good time. Several couples were snuggled in the corners and there were some other parties. A band started playing samba music at 8, which was cool. We nibbled on some dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in prosciutto and a cheese platter and went through a few glasses of red wine. We'll definitely go back with some friends who are also into the grape.
When we went to pick up the HB, we saw them rehearse the second act. The kids were having a great time, so today should be fun. The woman who puts this together is amazing...there must be 30 kids (between ages 6 and 15) in the two casts and somehow she pulls it all together.
The Lakers are looking to bounce-back tomorrow night against the Celtics (I'll be watching in Oakland--the subject of another post). The whole story about Pierce and his knee is pretty hilarious. The Boston fans are such drama queens. I think the Lakers will win on Sunday.
I'll have the play review later.
Friday, June 6, 2008
NBA Finals
Dammit. I was going to blog about this BEFORE last night's game, but I had some unexpected HB duty and TON of work to do. So, you'll just have to trust that this is what I would have written before the Lakers lost to the Celtics.
I'm psyched that the two are playing. It's was a great rivalry in the 80s (quite frankly, the Lakers were the Celtics bitchez before that) that has faded. I'm not sure that this edition will fully rekindle it if only because the Celtics championship window is likely to be short given the ages of their best players. Also, the star power in this series (Kobe, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce) isn't nearly as bright as twenty years ago and all of the Hall of Fame players in that version (Magic, Bird, McHale, Jabbar, Worthy, Parish, Walton, etc.). However, it does bring back great memories.
A lot of the media have the Lakers in a cake walk since their path to the championship was easier. Perhaps it was, but this is not a good match-up for the Lakers. For starters, Pierce always kills them (he grew up almost in the shadow of the Forum, where the Lakers used to play). The Celtics also play really good team defense, which may frustrate Kobe into shooting more bad shots than he has earlier in the playoffs. When he forces the ball, the offense stagnates and he other guys don't get involved.
I can't pick against the Lakers, but this will be struggle for them. I'll say Lakers in 7, but it won't be easy and I won't be surprised if the Celtics win it all.
I'm psyched that the two are playing. It's was a great rivalry in the 80s (quite frankly, the Lakers were the Celtics bitchez before that) that has faded. I'm not sure that this edition will fully rekindle it if only because the Celtics championship window is likely to be short given the ages of their best players. Also, the star power in this series (Kobe, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce) isn't nearly as bright as twenty years ago and all of the Hall of Fame players in that version (Magic, Bird, McHale, Jabbar, Worthy, Parish, Walton, etc.). However, it does bring back great memories.
A lot of the media have the Lakers in a cake walk since their path to the championship was easier. Perhaps it was, but this is not a good match-up for the Lakers. For starters, Pierce always kills them (he grew up almost in the shadow of the Forum, where the Lakers used to play). The Celtics also play really good team defense, which may frustrate Kobe into shooting more bad shots than he has earlier in the playoffs. When he forces the ball, the offense stagnates and he other guys don't get involved.
I can't pick against the Lakers, but this will be struggle for them. I'll say Lakers in 7, but it won't be easy and I won't be surprised if the Celtics win it all.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
School Daze
Before I started blogging, my wife and I went on the great school search for the HB. This is a ritual among families in LA because while the public schools generally suck, there are some islands of good schools and a fair amount of school choice (charter schools, magnet schools and private schools). My wife and I, being analytic types, poured over school data and visited what seemed like 20 schools. One of the ones we really liked is actually very close to us. It's a charter/magnet, which meant we had to apply to a lottery where points are awarded in a fairly byzantine way. Oh, and you lose your magnet points if you turn down an official invitation to a magnet school. We're not sure if this includes being called from a wait-list.
Of course, we didn't win the lottery. This was not a surprise as when I looked at the ratio of applications to spots, well, let's just say the HB has a better chance of getting into Stanford. But, one of the the private schools we liked accepted him and that's where he's been. The school is excellent and we're happy with it, but it ain't cheap. Also, as he got rejected each year by the charter/magnet, we accrued the points so that, theoretically, he would eventually get accepted there (which we had lost hope in because the school has a transfer rate of nearly zero) or we could use for high school (his current school goes through 8th grade).
So, I get a call from my wife yesterday. The charter/magnet school called and said, "We have a spot for the HB, but you have to let us know by 2 pm tomorrow." So, my wife and I rush around and get together for lunch. Funny, she never calls with an urge to get together for lunch so we can have sex, but that's a different story.
I had this HUGE rush of anxiety as I had put the school search stuff in the deep recesses of my mind. I figured the HB would stay at this school until 8th grade, then we'd do the great search one more time. But trying to decide in 24 hours made my head hurt.
So, we decided to call the school back to see if we could get a tour, etc. and also have our cool neighbors over as their kids both went there. We also wanted to pick their brains about middle schools (their daughters ended up going to different ones). At this point, she's leaning towards moving him and I'm leaning towards keeping him where he is. From her perspective, she's concerned about the money and her constant state of dread that she'll run out of work. I'm thinking that moving him would put us on a path with fewer choices for middle school.
My wife calls the school and the assistant principal who called her is a total bitch. First, she puts her on hold a couple of times and holds a side conversation or two. Then she says that she can't meet with us or arrange for a tour because they are so busy. IHU LAUSD. So, before our neighbors come over, we decide to cruise by the school (the HB was a kindergartener the last time we were there) and take a look around. Turns out that they are having an end-of-the-year open house. You'd think that Ms. Cranky Pants would have been more than happy to have someone take us around...but noooooooooooo.
The big reminder of going through there was that it's a pretty good school, has an innovative curriculum and has class sizes that are way too large (about 30-35 per class at his grade). The kids learn mostly through projects and it's pretty self-directed. The HB doesn't always focus as much as he should, so I'm thinking this might not be the best place for him.
Our friends came over with their kids and we talked about the charter/magnet and the middle schools. The girls' mom does some special ed work with LAUSD, so she knows a lot about the schools and the system. The most interesting thing that came out of the conversation was how much the LOVE the middle school where their youngest goes to. It's public, but is also a magnet. So, if were were to keep our magnet points we could apply there in a couple of years. She seemed to think that you don't lose the magnet points for turning down a wait-list spot, but said that she would call the district and check for us.
So, as of now here's what we're gonna do: Keep the HB in his school for the next two years. Apply to the good magnet middle school. If he gets in, great. If not, we'll stay at the current school.
Whew....
Of course, we didn't win the lottery. This was not a surprise as when I looked at the ratio of applications to spots, well, let's just say the HB has a better chance of getting into Stanford. But, one of the the private schools we liked accepted him and that's where he's been. The school is excellent and we're happy with it, but it ain't cheap. Also, as he got rejected each year by the charter/magnet, we accrued the points so that, theoretically, he would eventually get accepted there (which we had lost hope in because the school has a transfer rate of nearly zero) or we could use for high school (his current school goes through 8th grade).
So, I get a call from my wife yesterday. The charter/magnet school called and said, "We have a spot for the HB, but you have to let us know by 2 pm tomorrow." So, my wife and I rush around and get together for lunch. Funny, she never calls with an urge to get together for lunch so we can have sex, but that's a different story.
I had this HUGE rush of anxiety as I had put the school search stuff in the deep recesses of my mind. I figured the HB would stay at this school until 8th grade, then we'd do the great search one more time. But trying to decide in 24 hours made my head hurt.
So, we decided to call the school back to see if we could get a tour, etc. and also have our cool neighbors over as their kids both went there. We also wanted to pick their brains about middle schools (their daughters ended up going to different ones). At this point, she's leaning towards moving him and I'm leaning towards keeping him where he is. From her perspective, she's concerned about the money and her constant state of dread that she'll run out of work. I'm thinking that moving him would put us on a path with fewer choices for middle school.
My wife calls the school and the assistant principal who called her is a total bitch. First, she puts her on hold a couple of times and holds a side conversation or two. Then she says that she can't meet with us or arrange for a tour because they are so busy. IHU LAUSD. So, before our neighbors come over, we decide to cruise by the school (the HB was a kindergartener the last time we were there) and take a look around. Turns out that they are having an end-of-the-year open house. You'd think that Ms. Cranky Pants would have been more than happy to have someone take us around...but noooooooooooo.
The big reminder of going through there was that it's a pretty good school, has an innovative curriculum and has class sizes that are way too large (about 30-35 per class at his grade). The kids learn mostly through projects and it's pretty self-directed. The HB doesn't always focus as much as he should, so I'm thinking this might not be the best place for him.
Our friends came over with their kids and we talked about the charter/magnet and the middle schools. The girls' mom does some special ed work with LAUSD, so she knows a lot about the schools and the system. The most interesting thing that came out of the conversation was how much the LOVE the middle school where their youngest goes to. It's public, but is also a magnet. So, if were were to keep our magnet points we could apply there in a couple of years. She seemed to think that you don't lose the magnet points for turning down a wait-list spot, but said that she would call the district and check for us.
So, as of now here's what we're gonna do: Keep the HB in his school for the next two years. Apply to the good magnet middle school. If he gets in, great. If not, we'll stay at the current school.
Whew....
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Post Secret on Facebook
For those of you with Facebook accounts and are into PostSecret (OK, my secret is that sometimes I go to the site on Saturday night hoping the new ones are up):
"Join the new PostSecret page on facebook and see more secrets and post your comments."
Enjoy.
"Join the new PostSecret page on facebook and see more secrets and post your comments."
Enjoy.
Early Bird
Long time readers will remember me RAVING about a great Thai restaurant I would frequent when putting together a new Rotary Club. Well, the got a nice write-up in today's LA Times. The first night we went there, we told them what we were up to, and how the new club might meet there. The owners started feeding us like it was a wedding. And the food was unbelievably good.
The new club got going, but moved into digs which are better suited for meetings than Jitlada. But, the food's just not as good. Sigh...
Tomorrow begins the HB's last week of school. It's a busy week because his play performances are Saturday and Sunday. They call is Miracle Week to get the last few scenes down, which is a bit disconcerting that it would take a fucking miracle to get it together, but it seems to work.
My week's busy as well. Data collection ended on two projects last week, so needles to say they are both anxious to get their results. One pissy client's been underground last week, which means they'll rear their ugly head by mid-week, I'm sure.
The new club got going, but moved into digs which are better suited for meetings than Jitlada. But, the food's just not as good. Sigh...
Tomorrow begins the HB's last week of school. It's a busy week because his play performances are Saturday and Sunday. They call is Miracle Week to get the last few scenes down, which is a bit disconcerting that it would take a fucking miracle to get it together, but it seems to work.
My week's busy as well. Data collection ended on two projects last week, so needles to say they are both anxious to get their results. One pissy client's been underground last week, which means they'll rear their ugly head by mid-week, I'm sure.
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