I'm creating a presentation on the impact of paid digital singles on CD purchasing. If I call it "Pop Will Eat Itself," do you think anyone will get the reference?

Sarah and I tried to get tickets to the opening night of Shakespeare in the Park's free production of Hamlet last night. No dice, but her parents offered to watch Asher anyway, so we went to Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night's Swing instead.

Midsummer Night's Swing is another great, free, summer event that NYC has to offer. Jazz or salsa bands mount a stage in Lincoln Center's courtyard each week, and thousands of people come to dance, talk, socialize, and listen to the music. Sarah's a big fan. I think it's pretty cool too, as long as she doesn't make me dance.



Moving on... Our neighbhors have invited us up to their summer house in the Catskills this weekend. Should be relaxing - good hiking, no car alarms, a big yard for Asher to conquer.

Now playing: Keren Ann - "Greatest You Can Find"

On Saturday, Sarah and I went to see a stunning and affordably priced (as far as NYC-area goes) house in Montclair, NJ. It was perfect.

The neighborhood was perfect - walking distance to the train and the commercial district. The neighbors were perfect - a young-ish couple, one from University of Chicago and another from Portland, Oregon.

But, I'm not ready to move from Park Slope, yet. Maybe, in a few years.

"The wire transfer of funds has been initiated."

And with that email, I close the door on a decade of Centerstage Chicago ownership.

We've sold the company to a major media company who shall remain nameless for at least a bit longer.

What that means to me: Cash, baby.

What that means to you: Start using the new email address to keep in touch - isaac - at - parkslopeproductions dot com (written out to minimize spam crawlers).

A huge shout out to one of my partners Mark Roth who brokered this deal. Mark, you displayed an incredible sense of class and professionalism, and I thank you.

Is this the way to win a mid-term?

In the latest news from our nation's capitol, Republicans are delaying a vote to renew the Civil Rights Voting Act, and once again refused to raise the minimum wage.

Keep it up boys! Keep it up.

What motivates you to do a job?

For me, it's three things - passion about the subject, quality of life, and ego.

Money, career advancement, feeling like part of a team... all of those things are incidental, except when they collide with ego.

It's funny what answers you find when you ask yourself these kinds of questions.

Makes it easier to come to career decisions.

Pressing CD Collection Question

Would you file David Bowie narrating Peter & the Wolf under:

Prokofiev in the Classical section

Bowie in Pop

Bowie in Children’s

Someone inexplicably suggested that I file it in all three places to catch walk-by traffic. Of course, the Josephson household only has one of these CD’s, and our walk-by traffic has looked for it in all three places at various times. Actually, there’s a forth place, but that’s just because Asher can’t reach past the Ws in Pop.

Help!

Final Friday

Today is the last Friday I get to spend with Asher before I return to a five-day work week.

We started the morning off with muffins at Cousin John's Bakery, made a quick trip to the co-op (where we buy food, not where we live) for tonight's dinner, then headed up to Prospect Park where we chased dogs, ran into old friends (mine and his), and hung out in the playground.

These Fridays have been instrumental in restoring some modicum of balance and sanity to my life. There's nothing like running around a park with your kid to take your mind off work and anything else that ails you.

For Fax Sake, Man!

I just faxed two important personal documents. One will bring our co-op (where I live) back from the brink of technical default of the mortgage. Another, when it's delivered to the appropriate parties on Monday, will mark the end of a decade-long saga and require me to change my personal email address.

New Release Tuesday

I've got a backlog of new releases to go through before I even get to this week's crop. An hour into this morning's listening session, here are my thoughts:

The Walkmen (A Hundred Miles Off) - What's up with the Dylan imitation? I guess it was always there, but hiding behind layered guitars. Not a good idea to bring the vocals up, guys.

Jackie Greene (American Myth) - If Jack Johnson had a soul, he'd be Jackie Greene. And I must be getting old, because I like it.

Slaid Cleaves (Unsung) - Would that he had taken the advice of his own title.

Portastatic (Original Film Score For Who Loves The Sun) - Interesting, pastoral compositions from indie pop icon Mac McCaughan (Superchunk). More John Adams (the 20th cent. composer, not the founding father) than Merge Records. "Nice" and "harmless" are probably the most appropriate adjectives here.

This week marks my three-year anniversary at NPD, and matches my record for the longest I've spent at one particular job. In fact, I've spent exactly three years at each of my two previous jobs.

Another slow-but-relaxing weekend in Park Slope. Yesterday, we had a cookout with a bunch of friends in the park. Much like his father in first grade, Asher got dissed by a girl named Amanda. I wonder if his will turn out like my Amanda who a few years later became the only girl in Springfield to sport Liberty Spikes.

I spent the first half of today getting some work stuff out of the way while Sarah and Asher hit the playground. In the afternoon, we went back to Prospect Park, watched the kites and chased after dogs.

No travel this week. Just meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting.

Whew, what a week...

A trip to the Heart of Darkness.

Unreportable turmoil at work that is likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

The Country narrowly avoids a near-death experience.

A democrat loses a special congressional election by only 4 points in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by 15 points.

And now, it's time for another Friday with Asher.

Homeless in Texas

So, I'm flying to Amarillo, Texas tomorrow for meetings on Monday night and Tuesday, and I just now checked my travel itinerary. Seems our travel people forgot to book me a hotel. I wonder if this will be a problem.

Corn Dogs, Cannibalism and Toddler Eating Habits

From: Sarah Josephson
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 2:04 PM
To: Isaac Josephson
Subject: Asher's eating

Spoke to my mom a little while ago. He gave her a hard time with lunch but she persisted until he had tasted everything in her refrigerator. Finally she resorted to baby food and he ate a couple of jars worth.

---------------------------------------------------

From: Isaac Josephson
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 2:18 PM
To: Sarah Josephson
Subject: re: Asher's eating

When are you guys gonna learn that the boy has a very limited palate!? He reliably eats: bananas, cheese, peas, bread, spinach, eggs, avocado, fish sticks, applesauce, pasta, and bath toys.

Come to think of it, that's a wider variety than my father eats. Be thankful he's transcending those genes.

---------------------------------------------------

From: Sarah Josephson
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 2:35 PM
To: Isaac Josephson
Subject: Asher's eating

"you guys" ????
3 things:
1. I'm the mom, I know what he likes.
2. Despite genetics, he is a New Yorker and to fit in here it is best to have a varied palette and eat like a gourmand, a connoisseur of fine food and drink, a foody, a SNOB.
3. He can't live forever on eggs and spinach.

---------------------------------------------------

From: Isaac Josephson
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 2:52 PM
To: Sarah Josephson
Subject: Asher's eating

If we're talking about nature vs. nurture, celebrate the fact the boy does not eat horseshoes, corn dogs, or other people - all culinary delights with origins in Springfield according to Wikipedia.

By the way, this entire thread is being posted to my blog.