This was Simon (age 7) on Christmas Day 2008. Chinese-made but fits him like a glove.   read more »  

Alameda must have the highest density off-campus blogger-to-populace ratio in the American West.

Heated commentary and discussion used to be contained to a handful of hyper-local blogs and "media" sites, all competing for the dish, the scoop, the gotcha... the Crown Cleverest.   read more »  

I finally let Simon and Henry (ages 7 and 5) watch the Star Wars movies, and unfortunately they got more hooked than expected. It's all about the light sabers, who'd a thunk? So I may be an idiot dad, but I can't help pointing out all the stupid things in Star Wars.

For example, if they have these big giant spaceships with powerful weapons, why do they send out all these tiny spacecraft and little man-sized robots with dinky guns to launch attacks? So much of Star Wars doesn't make logistical sense -- and they are hip to it -- but it doesn't matter. They love all the sliding doors and gliding ships and humming light sabers and I suppose that's normal for little boys.   read more »  

The following playlist (just click play to listen) contains 48 performances (2.4 hours) of Benny Goodman leading small groups from 1939-1941 over the radio. Lionel Hampton is all over this and Louis Armstrong shows up too. Just hit the arrow next to "Play All 48" in lower left corner... and enjoy.   read more »  

Subscribers to global warming theory will be happy to know that Australia is going to combat the emissions gushing out of their livestock.   read more »  

Just launched a new website for one of my all-time favorites -- Bad Livers -- who are playing shows together again.   read more »  

Our school PTA is hosting a Silent Auction fundraiser on Friday, March 20th, 2009 from 5-9pm at Lum. We actually have some cool stuff. If you click through to list of items up for auction, check out the demo videos on "In The Mix Movies." There are also a couple of nautical adventures and assorted other reasonably cool thangs.   read more »  

Here are two t.v. shows are worth watching if you are grappling with the financial shakedown, even if you don't have a t.v. The Bill Moyers interview with Simon Johnson does a good job of focusing on the big bankers and how they work with our government.   read more »