How would you like to take this class?

Great story. Bates College in Lewiston, ME is offering a class through their history department called "Red Sox Nation: Baseball and American Culture." Also cool, Tufts University offers "Mathematical Analysis of Baseball." Makes me want to go back to school. Kind of. Anyway, makes me think -- what were the most memorable classes you took in college? My all-time favorite was my English class on Alfred Hitchcock, hence the obsession with all things Hitch. I also loved Biochemistry and Principles of Pharmacology, but I'm a nerd like that.

Banned Books Week

In case you didn't know, September 29-October 6, 2008 is Banned Books Week. This is a great week to celebrate the First Amendment (freedom of speech!), intellectual freedom, and the freedom to read any book you choose -- even if (GASP!) that book challenges your worldview. This is also a great week for protest, as a certain vice presidential candidate has repeatedly tried to ban/burn books in Wasilla, Alaska. (Sorry for the aside, but let me get this straight: certain political parties don't want the government to intervene in any part of their lives but are more than to content to pass moral judgements and push laws that would limit intellectual and personal freedoms?) For a nice list of challenged books, browse through this website. I assure you, you'll be surprised by what you see! Happy reading!

Zero

Saying Goodbye to Summer

We're a little late posting pictures from our first jaunt to Cape Cod. Since labor day weekend, the temperatures here in Boston have turned cooler and fall has now arrived. But, alas, we say one final goodbye to another great summer and look ahead to our favorite season!

downtown Falmouth

Falmouth Public Library...I know, impressive right?

Time for Price's birthday brunch at Betsy's diner!

Pinot grapes at the Cape Cod Winery

Venturing towards the coast

it's a beach day

Nobska Lighthouse

beautiful view


Clambake with Price's lab

Lobstah!James, Kamil, Price, and Louisa

breathtaking sunset

relaxing on a 43 ft. sailboat....nice!

An Uplifting Message

SnagFilms

I was alerted to a great website on Monkey See, a blog on NPR.org. The website is called SnagFilms and it offers hundreds of documentaries for free viewing.  You can also "snag" the movies and embed them on your own blog or website.  I haven't had a chance to browse through the offerings, but it looks like there are many full-length PBS and National Geographic documentaries, in addition to documentaries produced by independent filmmakers.  Today, they are highlighting 9/11 documentaries if you're interested.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Visits the RNC

Funny stuff.

Part 1:


Part 2 (Even funnier):

Yes We Can!

We've heard enough from the media pundits this past week about how Sarah Palin has energized the GOP base. I didn't think the Democratic base would need energizing considering the broken state of our country, but recent polls might suggest otherwise. Therefore, ponder these phrases and consider how they make you feel:

RISING UNEMPLOYMENT -- MOUNTING NATIONAL DEBT -- DECLINING DOLLAR -- DEREGULATED HOUSING MARKET -- RECORD BANKRUPTCY -- FOUR- DOLLAR GASOLINE -- TRILLION DOLLAR WAR -- RE-EMERGING TALIBAN -- GLOBAL WARMING -- KATRINA -- TORTURE -- INFRINGEMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS -- GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF PERSONAL CHOICES

If those phrases, those issues, don't make your blood boil then I won't call you unpatriotic -- that would be too vitriolic, too Rovian -- but I may question your grip on reality. Now think hard: which administration, which political party, has wrought such havoc on our country? The answer's pretty easy. 

No matter what John McCain tries to tell you, he is running as a Republican (not a maverick independent), he has supported George W. Bush's policies over 90 percent of the time, he is complicit in Bush's disastrous record, and he promises 4 more years of similarly horrific policies and results. This election is not about which candidate has a more compelling personal story, which candidate served in the military, or which candidate has more executive experience. This election is about ISSUES. And the fact of the matter is, John McCain has been on the wrong side of every major issue for the last 8 years. It's time for change, and by that, I mean real change -- not failed policies cloaked in the mantle of change. 

Make no mistake about it, this election will shape the direction of our country for many years to come.  If you look around and don't like the direction our country is going, if you look around and don't see the world you envisioned for your children and grandchildren, this is our collective opportunity to change things.  Bev and I urge all of you, wherever you may be -- especially those in the all-important swing-states (read: Virginia) -- GET INVOLVED: donate $5 to the Obama campaign, volunteer to register voters, SPREAD THE TRUTH, expose the lies, STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

Just stand up to Cancer