Get those hands off my ...

Now this story has already gotten its fair share of play this week, but we just couldn't resist piling on. Here are the bullet points:

- Young 16yo lad (pictured) gets to jones'ing for some brewskis, and proceeds to procure a 30-pack of Budweisers.

- Lad's dad discovers this stash and proceeds to take ownership of it.

- Young man objects and demands either the return of the beer or monetary compensation.

- Dad refused both offers.

- Lad stabs Dad in the back with a pen knife.

- Dad drives self to hospital.

- Lad is locked up.

Now, once we get over the somewhat humorous aspect of this incident, there are some rather important questions that need to be asked:

1) Was the Lad in his right to require compensation for his persoanl property; and was Dad obliged to provide it? Or does the fact that the Lad is a minor, under Dad's supervision, negate that requirement? What role does the fact that it is illlegal for a 16yo to possess alcohol play in this matter?

2) What exactly is a Budweiser 30-pack?

UPDATE: our crack research team has uncovered a photo of this new consumer product. It has also learned that there is an easy can-dispensing cut-out on it, which ensure the frosties keep on a coming.

3) Is that a mullet the kid is wearing on his head? I thought those things went out the door with that giy who sang Achy Breaky Heart?

The Dance Flurry rides again

One of the region's very best participatory and musical events is taking place again this weekend in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Dance Flurry -- which was on the financial ropes just a couple of years ago due to the effects from an uninvited ice storm -- is back at it, to the delight of the mob of happy feet that have it marked on their 'must-do' calendars each and every year.

Even if one isn't a dancer (but why wouldn't you be, on this weekend at least?), the musical offerings are a fantastic treat. Digging deep into both the Americana and world music playbooks, there are always dozens of acts that you never heard of before but can be guaranteed will soothe your soul upon introduction.

For the third year in a row, I am out of state as this shindig unfolds. Now there's a problem I need to fix, pronto. In the meantime, make a point of sending a "job well done" note to the event's hard working volunteer organizers sometime in the next few days, along with a couple of dollars to support them in making it happen again.



RM



(Photo: Timothy H Rabb, Photographer and the Dance Flurry Organization)

Want to run for office? Hit broadcast school

Tracy Egan? Benita Zahn? Roger Wyland????

All three local news/health/sports-casters have had their names tossed about as potential candidates for elected offices as of late.

I guess that being able to READ news stories qualifies one as being a capable and qualified politican?

This must be the Reagan Legacy I hear so much about.

What's Liz Bishop up to?



KR

The Senate blows a big one

The AP reports:

The Senate voted Tuesday to give a tax break to new car buyers, setting aside bipartisan concerns over the size of an economic stimulus bill with a price tag approaching $900 billion. The vote was 71-26 to allow many car buyers to claim an income tax deduction for the cost of automobile sales taxes and interest payments on car loans.

That loud scream you just heard in the distance was Jim Kunstler and the rest of the sustainable cities /new urbanism movement.

So where's the change when we keep on encouraging the types of behavior that got us into this mess in the first place? What's next, a new tax incentive for home buyers?

Oops, one of those is in the news feed, too.



RM

Classrooms: size doesn't matter

Without getting into the nitty-gritty of a debate on the particulars, I think it is safe to make the following generalization:

"While our nation's elementary & secondary schools are viewed as being failures, our university system is looked upon as being successful in accomplishing its mission."

Point: Many university-level classes (especially at the undergraduate level) are large in class-size, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of students.

Question: Why, then, are we exepected to buy the "smaller class size is the key to improving our local schools" argument?

Theory: Maybe it is because 'smaller class size', by definition, requires a greater number of teachers?


KR


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