Archive for December 2010
Topless, frigid and amusing
As a season ticket holder, I sit in the same seats at every Patriots game. As a new season ticket holder, those seats are far from the field. My friend, Shep, and I sit on the 45 yard line, four rows from the very top of the stadium. To be honest, we like the seats…
Read MoreI did not grow up with children’s books
Am I the only person in the world who has seen the film version of Where the Wild Things Are but has never read the book?
Read MoreMy 2010 Christmas haul
My wife is the best gift giver on the planet. In addition to getting me tickets to the last two Connecticut Forums in 2011 (Temple Grandin/Steven Pinker and John Irving/Jonathan Franzen/Azar Nafisi), she stuffed my stocking with three items that are my three favorite gifts of the year. A Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure pin…
Read MoreJewish infiltration at the North Pole, perhaps?
My daughter, Clara, and I spent part of Christmas day watching the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer TV special. My wife is Jewish. I celebrate all holidays involving anthropomorphic creatures and gift-giving. As a result, our children receive a mixed-bag when it comes to holiday celebrations. I think it’s great. The best of both worlds. My…
Read MoreHow to turn a toy gun into an appropriate gift
A few pre-Christmas observations: 1. Men are simple creatures. As I meander up and down the aisles of Toys ‘R Us, I continually to stumbled upon toys that I would love to receive as a gift. Remote controlled helicopters and cars, sling shots, Nerf guns, yo-yos, jump ropes, board games, skateboards, video games and more.…
Read MoreBest Christmas gift of the day
I will write about the outstanding gifts that my wife gave me later today (they really are outstanding), but the best Christmas gift that I have received thus far has been listening to my 23-month old daughter count to 20 for the very first time. And then the second time. And then a third time.…
Read MoreI constantly dream about the apocalypse. Is this normal?
A friend of mine recently expressed concern when I told her that I dream about the apocalypse a couple of times a week. But it’s not always nuclear holocaust that fills my dreams. Giant asteroids, air-born plagues, alien invaders and zombie infestation are just a few of the horrors that fill my sleepy time. It’s…
Read MoreThe essence of me, as distilled by my wife and my high school sweetheart
I was speaking to a professor and researcher who are investigating the possibility that people who hated school make better teachers. This is a theory that I have long espoused, and I was both shocked and pleased to hear that others share my belief. In talking about this research with friends over dinner, I was…
Read MoreWhat would Emperor Hirohito think?
I’m happy that I am able to watch so much BBC programing here in America, but I think US television networks are missing a golden opportunity by not broadcasting more Japanese game show insanity.
Read MoreWhat will your last words be? Are you prepared?
Richard Holbrook, American diplomat and primary architect of the Dayton Peace Accords, died following emergency heart surgery. He was serving as a special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan at the time of his death. His last words: “You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan.” This story got me thinking about my possible last words,…
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