Widespread Confusion

Shit My Kids Say

2010-11-21T20:22:00.002-05:00

Isaac: Did you know that Grandma and Grandpa grew up in New York, and then moved to Illinois as adults?

Asher: (nods, knowingly) So that's why they know English.

Social Overload

2008-12-14T20:38:00.002-05:00

I haven't had a weekend this social since the pre-kid days.

Friday night, we had dinner at a friends' house. They've got a music room with two drum kits, two electric guitars, and electric bass and keyboard. Before dinner, we had a kid-driven jam session. Asher sang into the mic and helped me play bass.

Saturday, we hit the usual Shabbat sing-a-long. Then, after Leah's nap, we went to a cookie decorating party in the neighborhood where Asher got in a fight with the host's kid over a train set.

Sunday morning was a latke-making birthday party where conversation drifted predictably to which of the local shuls was best. Later, we stopped by Scott and Nicole's house unexpectedly so that Asher could make use of their bathroom. And, we capped off the weekend with a visit from Amy, Dan, Ollie and Sylvie. The parents ate dinner. The kids wrecked the living room with a mop.

This is my life folks - at it's best.

Potpourri

2008-11-22T21:12:00.002-05:00

Today, I:

accidentally dropped my keys down a storm drain.

took Asher to see Thurston Moore's noise band play a benefit for/at the Windsor Terrace library. It was me, Asher, and roughly 20 other parents who also looked like they dragged their kids because of a twenty-year-old love affair with Daydream Nation.

drank too much wine at Amy and Dan's house and later found myself dancing to Spin Doctors with the kids.

swept the kitchen, then tracked right through the pile of dirt before I had a chance to pick it up.

demonstrated to Asher with a hanger at home how I managed to get my keys out of the storm drain.

did not eat ice cream and a brownie.

did wear Sarah's clogs to take out the garbage.

successfully put Leah down for a nap.

Tomorrow, my parents arrive for Thanksgiving week.

Sixteen Years

2008-11-04T10:48:00.004-05:00

Sixteen years ago, I cast my first vote for President of the United States in the basement of an Evanston, IL apartment building. It took less than five minutes. Later that night, I watched from television production class as President Bush conceded the election to Governor Clinton, and the longest era of peace and prosperity in my lifetime began.

This morning, I stood in line for nearly two hours with thousands of fellow citizens, many proudly defying New York City law by wearing Obama paraphernalia to the poll. Together, we're hoping to end the longest era of war and sustained economic turbulence in my lifetime. Tonight, I will be at ABC News, watching the returns with my co-workers. It's going to be a long night. I hope it will be a good one.

Electric Ephemera

2008-10-31T10:45:00.003-04:00

It would seem that I've all but abandoned this quasi-permanent blog in favor of the very ephemeral Twitter and facebook. Part of that is because blogs are simply not as good at capturing thoughts as they form. Part is laziness.

Part is that I'm not in a position these days to live up to the level of candor that a blog requires.

Quick life update:

We've been in our new home for about a month, and it's wonderful. We're a stone's through from the most woodsy area of Prospect Park, and have gone on a number of extended hikes. The kids (and the parents) love the backyard. The commute isn't noticeably different. And you can't beat double the space.

Work feels like 2001 all over again with this financial climate. But unlike 2001 where we all saw it coming a mile away (too many dumb companies cluttering the market, not enough ad dollars), this came out of nowhere and feels more... panic-inducing.

I'm leaving at 3pm today to take the kids trick-or-treating. Asher is dressing up as the evil Hacker, from the PBS Kids show "Cyberspace."

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Outtake or Asher Stream-of-Consciousness?

2008-10-05T14:09:00.001-04:00

Please put on dress-up like a dentist because you’re doing an x-ray. Please sing the song that you know. Now whatever you want to do you can do. Please sing and play your guitar with your pick and everything else that you want do.

The x’s above are so that you know how to do an x-ray and so that the computer knows where to take it. Please go wherever you want to go or to the zoo or to the pond or to our house every every every single day around perfect green. IT means that you can pick whichever color you want.

Crunch Time

2008-09-10T09:09:00.002-04:00

THURSDAY:
8 a.m. - Movers come
1 p.m. - Close on the apartment

FRIDAY:
3 p.m. - Close on the 10th Avenue house
5 p.m. - Start work on house, Move in and cram all belongings into two rooms

SUNDAY:
2 p.m. - Conclude work on house, unpack. Welcome to Windsor Terrace.

Somewhere in there, I have work and parenting.

It's Not The Economy, Stupid

2008-09-08T16:30:00.008-04:00

I just wrote this email to a friend who was asking me to help her out of these Palin-induced blues:

Unfortunately, I don't have anything for you. Other than this picture, nothing has made me smile since last Thursday.

It is as I feared. Obama keeps trying to make the campaign about issues. Every Democrat tries that. It's NOT FUCKING ABOUT ISSUES! Getting elected President in America is all about personality. And it doesn't even have to be about your personality as long as you (or your surrogates) can effectively lampoon your opponent's personality.

I hate to say this, but we need a thousand Keith Olbermans - loudmouthed jerks with at least some populist sensibility (ie, not Bill Maher), a big megaphone, and a real hard-on for good soundbytes.

We also need to get really, really good at righteous outrage at perceived personal attacks. If you say, "I can't BELIEVE Sarah Palin would stoop as low as to attack stay-at-home-moms" a million times, it does not matter if it's true. The media will cover it, and the McCain campaign will have to respond.

Why Choosing Biden Proves Obama Is Ready To Lead

2008-08-23T10:13:00.002-04:00

Conventional wisdom cries that Biden was a foolish pick for Obama.

He doesn’t deliver any States. He’s not tied to any critical constituencies. He talks too much. He’s a Washington Insider, and he further exposes Obama’s weakness in foreign policy.

Bullshit negativism from the nattering nabobs (and that’s the only time you’ll ever hear me paraphrase Agnew). Here’s why I’ve been so keen on Biden for so long:

Simply put, he’s the smartest guy in the room. He’s got the respect of leaders all over the world, and he knows how to get positive things done in Washington (banking bill aside). In short, he – more than any of the other short-listers - best fulfills the only real requirement for a Vice President: He’s ready to take on the responsibilities of the highest office in the land should something happen to the President.

Anything else is just noise. The bottom line is that Obama chose the candidate most qualified to fulfill the obligation of the office of Vice President. Moreover, he is not intimidated by Biden’s foreign policy credentials, which is a tribute to his leadership. The golden rule of successful management is to hire people who complement you, and who could take over your job. Anyone who doesn’t adhere to that ends up hampered by a team of lessers and sycophants.

This Just In: Life Not Easy

2008-08-15T20:32:00.003-04:00

Roughly a week after our mortgage was approved for the new place, we got word that our buyer's mortgage (i.e., the people who are buying our current apartment) was NOT approved. That means we very well may have to put our current place back on the market, and incur uncounted months carrying two mortgages. Time will tell.

* * *

Sarah's got a gig with the Museum of Jewish Heritage that is exceeding the number of childcare hours available to us. Accordingly, I'm burning through a few days' vacation time to hang with the kids.

Yesterday, Asher and I went into ABC News for about three hours. Things were fine until he got bored with his second DVD and started singing (in his best three-year-old high-volume voice) random words for the entire floor to hear. Later, I took Leah to the doctor for some shots (not fun).

Today, I worked from home for three early morning hours, bought a hundred bucks of kosher meat, took Asher to the transit museum, cooked a kick-ass dinner, put out fires on blackberry all day, un-fucked a budget situation, drank a half bottle of wine AND cleaned the kitchen. Twice.

I am the lizard king. I can do anything.

And now I'm going to watch West Wing.

Chronology of a Credit Card Company Screw-Up (and potentially life ruining consequences)

2008-07-31T16:02:00.001-04:00

Today, my mortgage broker informed me that - a week or so before I'm supposed to lock into a mortgage - my ability to secure a decent rate is in serious jeopardy due to an extremely late credit card charge that just made it's way to my credit score. Needless to say, this charge is fraudulent. Below is a chronology of my attempt to deal with this.

8:49am - Mortgage broker emails me to say that my credit score has very recently gone from perfect (where it's been my entire life) to sub-par thanks to a charge of $20 associated with a Capital One card. The charge came on 2/04/08 on a card that I have not used in more than a year.

9:10am - Capital One Fraud Division agrees that this is likely fraud. They agree to investigate, and remove the late fees from my account. They say they cannot remove the charge, nor can they send a letter that documents the situation.

9:31am - Capital One Account Management agrees to fax me an "emergency lender" letter that documents the following: (1) The charge to my card is being investigated for fraud; (2) The late fees have been removed from my account; (3) Prior to the mystery charge in Feb '08, there had been no account activity for seven months; (4) In my ten year history with the card, I had never been late on a payment.

2:30pm - Letter has not yet arrived. I call the Capital One Fraud Division (the only phone number I have available). They have no record of any of the above. They hang up on me twice.

2:50pm - I talk to a supervisor at the Capital One Fraud Division. He agrees to refer me back to the Capital One Account Management Division who eventually finds a record of the morning conversation. It had been misfiled. The Capital One account manager informs me that my request for a letter had been denied. Paradoxically, they cannot send an "emergency lender" letter until the Fraud investigation has been concluded, which usually days 30 business days.

3:15pm - I talk to a Senior Account Manager at Capital One Account Managment. He says that the request was denied, because it is not company policy to reveal account information about fraud investigation or about the client side of account history. I ask then what an "emergency lender" letter is. He says that he does not know.

3:30pm - The Senior Account Manager at Capital One agrees to send me a letter stating that the late fees have been removed from my account. He claims that my mortgage lender will accept this, and that all other information is irrelevant. I should receive this letter via fax by 6pm tonight.

Stay tuned.

Things to Remember

2008-07-29T20:19:00.002-04:00

1. The smell in the kitchen is probably attributable to the poop diaper that's been in the garbage under the sink since 5am.

2. Don't ever try to put kids to bed after a Johnny Black and a beer.

3. Twitter sucks.

McCain's VP? Just a guess...

2008-07-22T10:59:00.002-04:00

The McCain campaign is desperate for something to re-set the playing field and dampen the Obama love-fest.

Policy is not going to do it. Slick ads won't do it.

The only proactive thing they can do at this point is to be incredibly bold with the VP pick:

Joe Leiberman - Nah. That guy doesn't even excite the Jewish community any more.

Mitt Romney - Not terrible, but not great. The guy suffers from the same "say anything to get elected" malady that's taken McCain from maverick to mediocrity. One of my colleagues says this could buy the GOP a chance at Michigan, but I disagree.

Tim Pawlenty - A solid bet if you're doing the electoral math (puts MN in play). Also, a very boring bet. Look - the GOP picked a Midwestern White guy.

Bobby Jindal - Young and and (sorta) exciting. But at the end of the day, what does a 37-year-old Indian-American from a State in the deep south and five years of legislative experience buy you?

Condi Rice - This would take over the news cycle indefinitely. Sure, she's black, female, gay, and a concert pianist but hell - this is a change election. She's got the respect of the cloth coat Republicans, the admiration of (some) feminists, and so on. Even though she was shoe shopping during Katrina, she'll get a pass on domestic issues. Her realpolitik will soften McCain's war mongering on the foreign issue front. Bottom line: It's the ONLY pick that would make a story good enough and big enough to break Obama's stride.

Health Care Sucks Fa La La La

2008-07-17T09:53:00.002-04:00

Four doctors of mine over the past two years have stopped accepting Cigna, the insurance offered by (family friendly) Disney.

I've had pink eye for two weeks.

Kinetic or Frenetic

2008-07-12T11:55:00.004-04:00

I'm staring at a stack of unpaid bills that owe their status solely to disorganization rather than lack of available funds. Beck's Modern Guilt is playing in the background. Leah is sleeping. Asher and Sarah are at the park.

Life continues to drift closer towards the frenetic end of the kinetic/frenetic spectrum. I'm more invested in work than I have been in a while. The real estate madness is reaching an apex. Leah has become one of those kids who tears off in a random direction the second you turn your head. Sarah's freelance gigs are piling up - and on top of each other.

Asher is..., well... three.

Since I can't talk about work in this public forum, let's check in on real estate: Our buyers go before the co-op board some time in the next two weeks. On the flip side, we're still not in contract with the new house. Logistics have held us up thus far, but now it looks like there may be a minor sticking point in the contract. Hopefully, that will be resolved on Monday.

If all goes well, we will be out of the old and into the new by the end of August. Everyone's invited over for dinner.

Playing with Fire

2008-07-03T20:38:00.002-04:00

It is appropriate, I guess, as we approach the Fourth of July that I am playing with fire.

Zeitgeist

2008-06-19T16:51:00.002-04:00

There's a guy whom I've never met face-to-face, a friend-of-a-friend, a business contact who is now linked to me through facebook. This guy, it turns out, also has kids. He also lives in Park Slope. He also logs onto facebook around 7am while his kids are watching Sesame Street. And, he also occasionally updates his facebook status with some riff on what Grover (or Big Bird, or Elmo) is doing on screen at that moment. We finally noticed the shared experience a few days ago. Amusing.

Our bid was accepted on a house. Our friends Amy and Dan (who live a block over and have two kids ages 4 and 1) are also moving two blocks from this house. Now we REALLY have to sell our place. Come on, make me an offer.

The first of my two business school-bound team members leaves tomorrow. Still no replacement.

We're taking the kids up to the Catskills this weekend for a little hiking, swimming and general family time. Should be a good break from Brooklyn.

I Was Born Too Late

2008-06-12T15:27:00.002-04:00

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY

Washington, DC 20503

For Immediate Release:
Thursday June 12, 2008

New Report Finds Highest-Ever Levels of THC in U.S. Marijuana

Increased Potency of Smoked Marijuana May Be Responsible for Serious Mental Health Consequences for Teens

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released the latest analysis from the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project, which revealed that levels of THC – the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – have reached the highest-ever amounts since scientific analysis of the drug began in the late 1970s. According to the latest data on marijuana samples analyzed to date, the average amount of THC in seized samples has reached a new high of 9.6 percent. This compares to an average of just under 4 percent reported in 1983 and represents more than a doubling in the potency of the drug since that time.

Leah Walks

2008-06-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

Leah walks for the first time from Sarah Josephson on Vimeo.

Biden the Prophet?

2008-06-04T08:54:00.002-04:00

Did we just nominate "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" (thanks, Biden) more or less because he is, err.. the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy?

Did we nominate someone who won't be able to carry Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Michigan or Minnesota?

Did we just kick someone to the curb who would make a serious play for those states, plus Arkansas?

Did we just put New York State in play?

Did we forego someone who can play the politics of soundbyte and image with the best of 'em in favor of soaring rhetoric and honesty?

Did we nominate the best person to win?

Did we?

Friday Night With The Josephsons

2008-05-30T21:38:00.003-04:00

Sarah's editing a wedding video while I contemplate our checkbook with confusion and mounting dismay.

The L.A. trip was not as painful as expected. The weather was nice. The corporate rah-rah was toned way down. The professional conversations were more substantive than not, and the comradeship was nearly real.

Our meetings were at a hotel within the Disneyland complex. Some of my colleagues ducked out to go to Space Mountain one night. I settled for a beer, a book, and an early bedtime. Alone time is so rare, that I'll take it whenever I can.

I'm presently faced with a question: Which is more important - to love what you do or with whom you do it? And what about the gradients? Is it better to be okay with what you do and not despise your colleagues, or like what you do and revile some key co-workers? Ah, vagueness. It's been a while since you've shed your gauzy light on this blog.

* * *

At any rate, the weekend's here. Maybe, we'll go to the duck pond in the park...

"How Are You Today?"

2008-05-23T09:19:00.003-04:00

For some reason, Asher is asking this question to everyone he sees. I suppose it's polite. It could be cute. I think it's a little odd in a Stepford sort of way.

Let's see...

We're scrambling to put together bids on the aforementioned houses. We got lowballed on our place. That's real estate.

I have a new office, with a window, some space, and enough privacy to play Stephen Malkmus at the appropriate volume. I'm flying to California next week for a Disney-ABC TV Digital Media offsite. It's being held at Disneyland. That's work.

Leah's cutting more teeth, which means she's cranky. Asher has a bit of a cold, which means his moods are a mixed bag. Sarah's got a ton of freelance work. We have no solid plans for the weekend other than to spend quality time together. I think my old high school friend JR - recently back from a stint in Iraq - is in town and may swing by on Saturday. I think we may go to a beach or something with Pinko and her family on Sunday. That's family life.

It's Never Easy (Real Estate Redux)

2008-05-19T09:26:00.002-04:00

We got outbid (just barely) on our preferred house. Now, our choices are:

1. A house that's 2/3 the size in the same neighborhood for virtually the same price as the one that we got outbid on.

2. A Park Slope house that needs some serious work.

Sigh.

Sunny Side Up

2008-05-07T09:35:00.002-04:00

Things have been pretty hectic lately. And while I don't only report the positive here, sometimes it's better to say nothing if you've got nothing good to say, eh?

But fear not, dear readers, the sun is shining again!

Per Obama's NC victory speech last night, he's got his game back.

Leah is this close to walking.

We may be able to sell our apartment and buy a great house one block from Prospect Park.

It's 65 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Sarah's got a steady stream of freelance work.

Asher is fully toilet trained.

Two ABC News projects I've been championing for nearly a year may actually launch soon.

Quick Hit

2008-04-18T10:09:00.002-04:00

I've got a nasty cold.

My boss quit, and is not being replaced.

It's really nice outside.

Warning: Do Not Read If You Are Not A Parent

2008-04-10T15:04:00.002-04:00

I got back from a meeting this afternoon, and had the classic toilet-training voicemail waiting for me:

(says Asher in his excitable, 3-year-old voice) "I pooped Daddy! In the toilet!"

No hello. No goodbye. No "It's Asher." That's it.

It was awesome.

It Got Better

2008-04-10T07:12:00.004-04:00

It's going up to 67 degrees today.

Leah's illness is a thing of the past.

It's 7:15, and Asher's still sleeping. He's got five minutes until I wake his lazy three-year-old ass up.

Leah's Birthday

2008-04-07T15:39:00.002-04:00

Leah's first birthday party was this past weekend. It was an intimate affair - family only. Asher and Sarah baked a cake. There was rye bread and lox aplenty.

The only problem: Leah got sick the night before, and spent her entire party either sleeping, crying, or enveloped in Sarah's lap.

April 4, 1968

2008-04-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

The anger of the Lord flared against Israel, and He made them wander in the desert for forty years until the entire generation who had done evil in the eyes of the Lord had died out. (Numbers 32: 13)

Panel

2008-04-03T16:52:00.002-04:00

Hey - I'm on a panel next month with some important, smart people.

Being on panels is nothing new, but something tells me that this one will be especially well-attended.

Anatomy of a Birthday

2008-03-29T22:45:00.004-04:00

4:15am - Leah wakes up with a scream. Sarah rolls over and grunts, "happy birthday." Irony before 6am. Heh.

6:00am - I go back to bed, and hand Leah over to Sarah.

7:30am - The kids wake me up by climbing all over me and screeching "happy birthday!" We make pancakes, some of which are shaped like Mickey Mouse.

1:00pm - Nap time for the kids. I clean up a bit, then dash off to get a haircut.

3:00pm - Kids wake up. Sarah puts together an impromptu birthday party for me, with the kids clapping as I blow out the candle on a delicious coconut cream pie fashioned by Asher and Sarah.

4:00pm - We hook up with Sarah's sister Debbie and head up to Prospect Park for a little playground and soccer fun. Leah masters the slide.

8:00pm - Kids are in bed. Dan comes over to babysit, so Sarah and I can catch Roy Hargrove play around the corner at the Brooklyn Conservatory.

10:30pm - We get home. Dan leaves. Leah starts screaming. Sarah's in with her now. And there's wet laundry in the basement. And the kitchen still needs to be cleaned.

All in all, my best birthday in years. Seriously.

Happenings

2008-03-28T14:31:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow's my birthday.

Yesterday, I went to a taping of The View and saw Obama get fawned over by the ladies.

Today, I'm trying to figure out the most productive way to tell a peer to shut the fuck up.

Quick Test...

2008-03-25T10:03:00.002-04:00

Pay no attention... This is a quick test of MSNBC and CBS embed capabilities....

But What About the Homer Simpsons?

2008-03-24T10:44:00.002-04:00

Atlanta Journal Constitution journalist Cynthia Tucker said this about the Obama Speech, yesterday on "This Week":

This Speech was not aimed at rank and file voters. It was aimed at political elites, mostly superdelegates.

It's a great point.

To be blunt: Unless Obama tattoos a swastika on his forehead, declares allegiance to al Qaeda AND cheats on Michelle with a white boy, Clinton is not going to surpass him in pledged delegates, popular vote, or States won. The only immediate political exigency he has left is to shore up enough support among the superdelegates to block his opponent's last path to the nomination. Obama needs to (re-)assure them in a measured and intelligent manner that he has the social, intellectual and rhetorical capital to rise above the "scary Black man"/anti-American motif planted by the Rev. Wright controversy. This is exactly what an Obama candidacy will face in the general election, and there has been growing concern that it would cost him (and the Democrats) the Presidency.

The Democratic superdelegates are people who pride themselves as having an intellectual streak, roots in the Civil Rights movement, and a hankering to rely on their "better angels" (yes, even class-A in-fighters like Rahm). And among them, I think the Speech was successful (witness Richardson's endorsement).

That said, there was a secondary and a terciary audience for whom the Speech was a mixed bag.

Among Obama supporters (regular citizens and journalists alike), it also reassured them. To paraphrase one excitable blogger, it was like giving the ball to Michael Jordan or Joe Montana with seconds left on the clock, holding your breath, and then sighing in relief when they came through as you knew/hoped they always would. Don't discount this secondary audience. Their support is critical to maintaining positive reinforcement in the media echo chamber.

The tertiary audience is, as Fox News and George Stephanopoulos (!!) has so frequently reminded us, the dominant voting block in a general election - white, working-class males. For these guys, there's a paradox: One Speech isn't going to do it (in fact, certain de-contextualized points of the Speech exacerbate the problem). But a few more of these Speeches, and Obama becomes "the Black candidate" - something that will undoubtedly sink his chances in the general.

Hmm...

The Speech

2008-03-18T17:06:00.003-04:00

Barack Obama spoke today in Philadelphia about race in America.

Did you see it? Did you read it? Here it is.

Do you think America will realize how incredible that speech was?

Do you think America will realize how incredible it was that someone rose to write it and deliver it in such a fashion?

My Trusted Sources

2008-03-18T09:21:00.005-04:00

Where do you go for your political information and punditry?

Here's my list:

Podcasts:
Now (PBS)
Bill Moyers Journal (PBS)
Face the Nation (CBS)
Countdown with Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)
Hardball (MSNBC)
Meet the Press (NBC)
On the Media (NPR)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
This Week (ABC)
Brian Lehrer Show (NPR)
World News Webcast (ABC)

Websites:
New York Times
Talking Points Memo
Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish
Political Punch (ABC News)
The Note (ABC News)
Daily Kos
My DD
Powerline
The Corner (National Review)
Red State

Saturday in the Slope

2008-03-15T21:31:00.004-04:00

It was the first nice weekend day of the year, and Asher and I hit the road in search of the Prospect Park waterfall to celebrate. On the way, we picked up his friend Charlie, and the three of us "hiked" about 3/4 of a mile into the park and towards our stated goal where we threw sticks in the water and talked about why woodpeckers were probably sleeping in their tree homes ("Because it's winter?" Umm, yeah, that and it's still fucking 9 o'clock in the morning on a Saturday)

Afterwards, we hooked up with Charlie's parents, his baby sister, Sarah and Leah, and lounged around a bit before heading home.

Post-nap, Sarah, Leah and I followed Asher on his tricycle up to the new frozen yogurt store on the corner, stopped by the Brooklyn Conservatory fish pond (where Asher taunted the fish and I picked up tickets to the 3/29 Roy Hargrove show), and then found our way to the playground where we ran into, well, everyone.

Back home... leftover chicken for dinner. Baths, Frog and Toad for Asher, a colors book for Leah, and then bedtime for the kids. Now, I'm drinking scotch and forcing my way through intellectually deadening schoolwork.

Oh... Asher was the "Shabbos Aba" at school on Friday. That meant Sarah and Leah got to come for the Shabbos celebration. Asher had to wear a kepah and a tie, and once again, I ask myself, what the hell kind of place is this pre-school?!?!

Quick Hit

2008-03-11T22:25:00.005-04:00

Online Community Resume

2008-03-10T10:57:00.004-04:00

Another Monday, another room full of people talking about "online community" who have never participated in one beyond a stale facebook profile, created when ABC signed a partnership with them....

For the record, here's a partial of my online community resume:

1991:
First post to rec.music.gdead
Vote to establish rec.music.phish

1992:
Founding member and prolific participant in rec.music.phish

1994:
My site, Centerstage Chicago, adds user reviews of Chicago-area arts/entertainment establishments, becoming the first site to do so.

1995:
Senior thesis completed. Topic: practical applications and philosophical implications of online community
First WELL account

1996:
Head of online community for the Rolling Stone Network of sites (Rollingstone.com, TheSource.com, Downbeat.com, JAMtv, Tunes)

2000:
Led the listen.com redesign, adding community functions to the site.

2003:
Joined Friendster

2006:
Joined facebook

2008:
Active participant in facebook, Park Slope Parents listserv, Bay Ridge Parents listserv, Flatbush Families listserv

Toss the Maxells?

2008-03-08T15:53:00.003-05:00

In 2003, just before Sarah and I moved here from Berkeley, I gave away most of my Phish and Dead tapes to an eager beaver who responded to my Craig's List ad ("FREE! Phish/Dead Collection Needs A Good Home"). But, I couldn't bear to part with some of the "gems."

Five years later, what that means is that I have an annoying stack of crappy-sounding cassettes collecting dust in a critical corner of my increasingly tiny apartment.

Should I just toss them?

I haven't listened to this stuff more than twice since we moved to NYC.

Should I take the last remnants of my care-free youth and kick them to the curb?

Can I do that?

Washington DC

2008-03-07T09:21:00.002-05:00

I took the Acela (high-speed) train down to DC for some meetings yesterday. The trip took roughly 2 1/2 hours, and I spent it sitting in a plush chair pulled up to a sturdy table, laptop, blackberry and cellphone at my fingertips. It was very productive (the trip itself and the DC meetings), and very 21st century.

DC is a beautiful town - very clean, calm and civilized. The sidewalks aren't packed to the gills with people hurrying along at 60mph. There's no trash strewn across the gutters. People smile. You can see the sky.

Why do I live in NYC, again?

Wow, Has It Been That Long?

2008-03-03T09:15:00.003-05:00

I'm certainly getting out of the blogging habit, aren't I?

What's new? Let's see...

Work:

I'm still trying to hire some solid product managers. We're pretty close with a couple of folks, and should know more this week. If all goes well, more hands will revolutionize my existence.

We're entering the thick of our annual long-range-planning. It's a fairly useless exercise for the business, I've learned. But, it's invaluable in that it keeps Corporate informed about and comfortable with the track that ABC News is on. For those unfamiliar with long range planning, here's what it means: We construct a five-year product roadmap, attach revenue/profit numbers to it, and run it up the flagpole. Hopefully, we will be able to show a scalable business with a healthy profit margin.

School:

Eh. This week's assignment was (more or less) to sketch a campaign strategy for Obama in the General. My response? Run to the right on foreign policy. Remember the missile gap in '60? We've got a security gap.

Home:
Business as usual. We're still consumed by real estate conversations - when we're not cleaning up after kids, or putting on puppet shows, or changing diapers, or disabusing the notion that grown-ups wear diapers during long car trips.

Happy Birthday, Asher!

2008-02-20T14:18:00.004-05:00

Asher turned three today. The party's on Sunday, but we've scattered a few gems throughout the week.

On Monday, he got his first tricycle. "I have a bicycle because it's my birthday," he shouted to everyone he passed that day.

This morning, we sang happy birthday to him while Leah threw Cheerios.

My parents are coming in from Illinois tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, kiddo. This year's going to be a great one for you!

Blah

2008-02-14T16:53:00.002-05:00

A few friends have complained about my lack of blogging. Apparently, it's the preferred method of staying "in touch" for some of those crazy West Coast folks.

Part of the reason I've laid off lately has been that I've been crazy busy, of course. But perhaps moreso, I feel like if I put the proverbial pen to paper, I will have to acknowledge that my life is largely a boring, monotonous cliche these days:

I work. A lot. And don't seem to get much done.

School is (once again) unsatisfying. Though, this semester's class at least holds the promise of being less time consuming.

I have kids. They're cute. They also require a lot of care and feeding.

I have a wife. We exchange hurried conversations, smiles, and the occasional embrace seconds before one of us drops from exhaustion.

I'm still trying to buy a house. Current candidate is mired in "estate issues" that involve squabbling siblings, lost wills and real estate agents of questionable integrity.

I think I really need a long vacation. It's been two years since I've had one.

Wait For It... Wait For It...

2008-02-05T09:10:00.002-05:00

Never Ask Me Again What's Going On With The Democratic Nomination

2008-02-03T14:34:00.001-05:00

In the run up to Super Tuesday, the media has coalesced around five priorities for both Senators Obama and Clinton: (1) Each needs to project momentum. (2) Both have been saddled with the paradox of backing off aggressive rhetoric while still managing to sharply define their differences. (3) With the shift from retail to national politics, quantity/quality of surrogates and airtime is more important than policy discussions. (4) Win over Edwards supporters. (5) Rack up delegates, cuz next Tuesday ain’t going to decide it.

The funny thing about momentum is that the media talks about it as though they simply report rather than generate and define it. In Clinton’s case, the press has boxed “momentum” into her ability to position Florida as the canary in the coal mine. She won more decisively among Whites, beat Obama in the younger demos, shored up the older voters, and took a slightly bigger piece of African Americans. The Clinton campaign largely lost that battle for “the big mo” in the first 24 hours after the Florida primary, but has gained some ground in subsequent days by forcing at least a bit of discussion about whether or not to seat the Florida delegates.

Obama’s momentum is more of a multi-pronged beast, with the media pushing narratives of success in South Carolina, Inspiration/Camelot, a glut of high-profile endorsements (specifically Ted/Caroline and the red state senators and governors), record fundraising in January, and tightening poll numbers in both key states (California, New York) and nationally. All of these are being coaxed along, of course, by the Obama campaign (Plouffe, Axelrod, etc) in process stories, though not generally made explicit by Obama (thank “JoeMentum” for killing that tactic).

On the fight/don’t fight paradox, there appears to be universal agreement that the Clinton campaign needs to tone it down. With Obama, the media says two things – often in the same breath: He needs to stay above the fray/look “Presidential,” but also show that he can really mix it up so that voters don’t think he’d get steamrolled in the General. Both candidates seem to be tacking pretty close to this advice. Much to the surprise of the cynics, Bill Clinton has kept largely quiet since his post-South Carolina Jessie Jackson comment (although has been attacking Obama surrogates, notably Senator Kennedy for his support of No Child Left Behind). Hillary Clinton has passed on a few Grand-Canyon-sized opportunities to attack Obama, and there have been no Sheehan- or Bob-Johnson-like smears SO FAR.

Obama on the other hand, has been cool and collected during the larger press and campaign events while his surrogates (Plouffe, Kennedy) have taken thinly veiled jabs at Clinton. Perhaps the most interesting manifestation of Obama’s “fight” motif though, was a few sarcastic cracks he aimed at McCain during a campaign stop in Albuquerque. New polls out in the back half of the week showed Obama falling considerably behind Clinton in the “strongest leader” category (a result of the pre-S.C. chicanery from the Clinton camp?), so look for him to come out with more aggressive rhetoric in the final 72 hours before the voting starts.

When it comes to surrogates and airtime, Obama has it down pat. Not only have his volunteer spokespeople been high profile and actively engaged, but they also reinforce his message of unity and electability. McGaskill, Conrad, etc. all hail from traditionally red States with small African-American populations. His campaign has purchased television advertising in 21 of 22 states, with different messages in different markets.

With the exception of her husband and outspoken California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the press has largely ignored Senator Clinton’s endorsements – even those from the remainder of the Kennedy family. Her television advertising is similar to Obama’s in scope.

Before we move on to Edwards supporters and delegate grubbing, its worth noting that both candidates have ignored press assumptions that policy falls by the wayside in the final days before Super Tuesday. The final debate was a wonk’s wet dream, and campaign stops on both sides have been marked as much by substantive discussions as by out-and-out rallies (though it’s the latter that the media reports).

In death as in life, Edwards’ rhetoric continues to push the Obama and Clinton camps toward more progressive territory. Each has mentioned him (respectfully, endearingly) by name several times. Clinton even composed a love song to him, written special for the CNN debate. The press goes back and forth – and discusses how they go back and forth – on whether Edwards’ exit means good things for Obama (progressive rhetoric) or Clinton (white voters), though everyone knows its anyone’s game.

Finally, the least sexy, but most interesting, part of the coverage and tactics in the week prior to Super Tuesday has been the realization that the nomination will not be decided come Wednesday morning. Neither camp expects a blow-out, and both have the funds to continue on. Accordingly, the Clinton campaign has been very active in Obama’s home state of Illinois, as has Obama in New York. Five or six delegates may make a big difference.

When It Rains, It Pours

2008-01-28T09:35:00.001-05:00

Asher had a stomach bug all weekend.

Leah threw up on me this morning.

And then a bird shit on my head while I was walking to the subway.

What's next?

Primaries Prediction

2008-01-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

On the Democratic side, it's going all the way to the convention. Clinton will have more delegates, but not the number needed to win the nomination. Edwards will play kingmaker.

On the Republican side, it's McCain.

In Defense of Senator Obama

2008-01-18T11:04:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago, Senator Obama gave an interview to a Reno newspaper where he said the following:

Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. I think they felt like with all the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think people, he just tapped into what people were already feeling, which was we want clarity we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing.

Liberal press outlets like Democracy Now and the Huffington Post and certain activist friends have jumped all over this as an indicator that Obama is a wolf in sheep's clothing:

They say when he mentioned "the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s" he was referring to the civil rights and women's rights movements.

They say that Reagan was a union buster, and Obama's statement is tacit approval of such tactics.

They say that Reagan did more than any other President to roll back social progress in this country, which means Obama will also head in that direction.

Here's what I say: You're smarter than that, guys. Don't fall into the same decontextualized, gotcha mentality that drives political dialogue 99.9% of the time.

Obama was making an academic statement about an historical moment in this country where the confluence of public attitudes, political message and personal charisma caused our country to move in a fundamentally different direction. He was suggesting that the country is ripe for another such categorical shift, and that he is best positioned (because of his message and his charisma) to make that shift happen.

This is exactly what I was suggesting when I mentioned Reagan in an earlier post.

Obama is not anti-union.

Obama is not pro-corporation.

Obama is not anti civil rights/women's rights.

In fact, there's more in John Edwards' record than Obama's record to suggest that HE'S a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I don't think either of them are. I'm just sayin'.

Please, stop practicing the same gotcha politics that already hampers real discussion. And start thinking about this in a bit more rational terms. All three viable Democratic candidates agree what the big picture problems are in this Country. The nomination comes down to a question of style:

Do you think we need an activist to tackle our problems head-on? Then Edwards is your candidate.

Do you think we need someone to inspire us, which will give an Administration the political will to address our problems? Then, Obama is your candidate.

Do you think that we can triangulate our way out of our problems? Then, Clinton is your candidate.

Photo Break

2008-01-14T19:44:00.001-05:00

In Defense of Senator Clinton

2008-01-14T10:15:00.001-05:00

The opening segment of this weekend's On the Media broadcast touched on a subject that's baffled and frustrated me for sixteen years now - the media's Clinton coverage and the public's response to it.

For eight years, the mainstream press gleefully repeated false, ad hominem attacks against both Bill and Hillary Clinton. Depending on the month, they were money launderers, extortionists, murderers, liars, cheaters, sexual/social deviants... the list goes on (after all, eight years is a lot of space to fill with false charges). And when they weren't parroting bald and baseless accusations, the mainstream press was making snide remarks about the pair's supposed politicking, about their private relationship, or about their theoretical hidden agendas.

Congress spent more than $80 million in taxpayer dollars investigating these charges, and never found a thing. Two special prosecutors overturned every single rock, and came back empty-handed. Did the press report that? Technically yes. But, it never made the kind of headlines that the accusations made, and the general public was left with, at worst, a sense of impropriety, at best, Clinton fatigue.

After Clinton left office, the press soldiered on with its attacks. Remember all of those reports about the Clinton administration trashing the White House and Air Force One on their way out? All false. Congress spent another few million bucks digging into that one.

Along with millions of other Americans who still supported President Clinton after his impeachment (approval rating of 73%), I asked myself, "what the fuck?!"

In 2000, Hillary Clinton became Senator Clinton, representing my great state of New York. In 2006, she was re-elected by a landslide, carrying many of the traditionally Republican counties upstate. Why? Because she listened, she worked hard, and she transcended false perceptions to get real things done for real people. She is, as anyone in or covering the Senate will readily admit, a workhorse and a Senator worthy of respect. Before her Presidential campaign began (and the media trash talking came back in earnest), she enjoyed a 72% approval rating, including half of the State's registered Republicans.

The average approval rating for a Senator is 53%.

Is any of that being reported during her Presidential run? Of course not. In the past few weeks alone, we've seen flat out repugnant mainstream coverage of the Clinton campaign.

During the ABC News debates before the NH primary, every major press outlet spun an exchange she had with Senator Edwards as an example of her being "shrill" or "losing her cool" or "getting angry." Anyone who actually watched the debate knew that hers was an excellent, even-keeled response to the empty-headed sound-byte politics of the moment. Don't believe me? Did you watch the debate?

When Senator Clinton showed emotion in the day before the NH primary, every single publication and broadcast spun it as her crying under pressure. The headlines were disgusting. "Hilllary Gets Teary," "Hill Weary And Teary," "Hillary's Soft Side: Cold, Calculated, Crying." Hey you - public: Watch the video and make your own call. I think it was a very real exchange (where ZERO tears were shed, by the way).

President Clinton, stumping for his wife last week, called the media meme of Obama's steadfast and vocal disapproval of the Iraq War "a fairy tale." Senator Clinton, in a separate conversation, noted that Martin Luther King Jr did not achieve civil rights reform on his on, that he had a partner in President Johnson. Immediately, the media spun these two remarks as racially coded, which set off a maelstrom of anti-Clinton rhetoric from the Black community. Bullshit, all of it. Listen to the full quotes. Listen to the context. You will see.

I am not a supporter of Senator Clinton's Presidential aspirations. But the media's consistent disrespect and appalling misrepresentation of her campaign are causing me to re-examine that. She *has* been an agent of change for 35 years. She *has* served my state of New York well. She *has* earned the respect and admiration of her Senate colleague on both sides of the isle for the work she's done there. She *has* been tested on the international stage. Why am I - and so many others who seek a more progressive platform - so dismissive of her?

In my case, I think it sadly boils down to what I've been writing about here: A President has to unite. A President has to inspire. A President has to achieve. And as long as the media continues to go full bore against Senator Clinton, she will never, ever have the opportunity to do this. She will always be fighting false charges. She will always be refuting ridiculous and irrelevant attacks - or ignoring them and seeing her silence dominate press coverage. We cannot have a leader that's hamstrung like this.

What's Wrong With John Edwards

2008-01-06T20:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, Pinko et al, here are some not fully-baked thoughts on Edwards and why my loyalty will likely lie elsewhere when the time comes:

When in the course of modern American politics has populism or righteous anger ever netted anything more than disappointment? Jennings Bryant was a failure. For all of his trust-busting talk, Theodore Roosevelt fell far short of his promise. Debs never got more than 6% of the popular vote in his runs for President. Malcolm X and Bobby Kennedy were gunned down before they could effect change. Nader has become at best a gadfly.

On the other hand, look how far LBJ got by working the system, MLK got with his platform of non-violence, and so on. Hell, look what Reagan netted with his inspirational, inclusive rhetoric.

No Wonder I Was a Teenage Stoner

2008-01-06T18:55:00.000-05:00

I grew up watching stuff like this:

See if you can tell who the guy is at around 27 seconds.

Here's another one with him entering at about the one minute mark:

And, for good measure, a few other classics from my formative years:

Debate Thoughts

2008-01-06T12:04:00.001-05:00

Here are some random thoughts about last night's Presidential debates on ABC:

One pot shot at Romney was enough. The rest just made the shooters (esp. McCain) look stupid.

Despite the statement above, someone should be measuring Romney for his coffin. The guy's finished.

Ron Paul was the only grown-up on stage during the Republican debate. I'm not one of those Paul-ites by any stretch, but the man is refreshing and intelligent. He's not beholden to the politics of fear, nor is he bound by theocratic ideals. Too bad he's against public education, and public everything else for that matter.

Why is Fred Thompson in this race?

Did anyone count how many times Guiliani mentioned 9/11?

Someone made Huckabee do his homework on foreign policy. Finally.

Senator Clinton had the best answer when it came to questions of nuclear proliferation.

Obama looks Presidential. And sounds it, too. Loved his response when Clinton unloaded all the oppo research: "That's a legitimate policy dispute we have. There's no need to go distorting each other's records." Talk about deflecting.

All pundits' comments about Clinton's "shrill" response to the Obama/Edwards double-team are bullshit. She *has* been getting her hands dirty with progressive issues for 35 years. She *has* been around the block. And her response was not shrill; it was very crisp, and exactly what was called for.

Despite the statement above, I still don't think she's got my vote, the nomination, or the Presidency. There's too much bad blood with the media, too much fatigue with the public, and too little, well, inspiration there.

Iowa

2008-01-03T09:16:00.000-05:00

Tonight at 7 pm CST, Less than 250,000 citizens in Iowa will set the tone of the 2008 Presidential primary races.

I love everything about the Iowa contest - From the living room candidate forums to the caucus itself, true, citizen-fueled democracy is in effect.

FDR had his proverbial fireside chats, but in Iowa, campaign stops include actual fireside conversations, where serious candidates come into your neighbors' homes, sit down for tea and cookies, and address serious challenges posed by real Americans. Some of them like Joe Biden and Chris Dodd might not make it out of Iowa, but will go down in history like Webster and Clay (well, maybe Cabot Lodge, Vandenberg and Wagner) for their contributions to our country. And Iowans will have a chance to speak one-on-one with them. Others, like Romney or Clinton are ivory-tower politicians, buttressed by billions of dollars and rarely available to us common folk. But you might run into them at the pizza shop in Iowa.

The caucus is also a phenomenon, a true public sphere. Everyone in your neighborhood packs into a school gym and declares allegiances in plain sight. Arguments are made. People are persuaded. And at the end of it all, winners emerge.

We shall see what happens.

New Year's Eve - Tired Parent Style

2007-12-31T08:47:00.000-05:00

I've rung in the new year in Paris, Madrid, and Amsterdam.

I've thrown and attended crazy New Year's parties with all forms of hedonism you'd think possible of a liberal-but-not-stupid straight white guy.

I've seen some great live music. I've been to some most excellent, decadent bourgeois, dinner parties to mark the beginning of a new year.

Tonight, I'm going to try to get both kids to bed by 8pm, myself to bed by 10pm, and prey we all sleep through the night.

Tomorrow, we're having some other tired parents over for brunch where we might have the obligatory mamosa.

Not Exactly a Vacation Destination

2007-12-27T10:20:00.000-05:00

After Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, I spent some time reading up on Pakistani politics. That place is a very scary political mess, and has been for a generation.

Aside from an almost constant state of war with India, there was a military coup in 1956, a civil war in 1971, another coup in 1979 that resulted in the death of Bhutto's father - the prime minister of the time, and a third military coup in 1999.

It's got this 10,000 square mile region of territory (the Federally Administered Tribal Areas) that it is technically responsible for, but can barely control. A portion of this territory called Waziristan is where Osama Bin Laden is thought to be hiding.

Oh yeah, and they've got about 50 poorly secured nuclear warheads.

This Year in Music - Help!!!

2007-12-24T11:50:00.000-05:00

Friends and Lurkers (You too, Wonder Twins!) -

Maybe it's the new job. Maybe it's the stepped-up family responsibilities. But, for the first time in twenty years, I have ZERO idea about recent releases. So tell me - What came out in 2007 that's worth listening to? If you've got a top ten list - or even a few faves, let me know, and help this music industry refugee retain some modicum of connectivity.

So far: The new Joe Henry and Wilco disappointed. The Shins are nice. Band of Horses was not for me. Still need to check out the National, Spoon, White Stripes, Iron & Wine, Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Modest Mouse, Rufus Wainright, Rilo Kiley, PJ Harvey, John Vanderslice... Ugh! Help me sort through this madness!

You Know You're Lame When... (and other thoughts)

2007-12-21T13:19:00.000-05:00

My business meetings in L.A. ended early, and my colleagues went out for a posh dinner. You know the scene - a bunch of thirtysomethings a continent away from familial obligations, awash in booze and eager to relax on the corporate dime.

Me?

I opted for a quick ahi tuna appetizer at the hotel bar, a hot shower, three pages of "The Economist" and eleven hours of sleep. Oh yeah!

The flight home was only delayed by five hours, which meant I got into JFK at 4:30 am. On a positive note, I managed to talk my way into first class.

Quick update on a few other fronts:

I am in dire need of good product managers. Know any?

Our apartment is officially on the market. We've got an open house on Sunday. Stop by.

Leah's got an ear infection. Asher has choo-choo train underpants. Sarah's working on a Bar Mitzvah video.

Life... goes on.

Travel Time

2007-12-16T21:35:00.000-05:00

I leave for L.A. tomorrow morning at 5 am. It's my first business trip since Sarah was pregnant with Leah. Thankfully, it's a short one; I return late Tuesday night. Might be just enough time to hit Amoeba.

This weekend was another rough one. All four of us are sick. No one's sleeping. We're trying to sell our apartment, which means we have to keep it relatively clean. At least Sarah and I got some time alone - Her parents babysat on Saturday night while we went down the block to the delectable Rosewater for some duck and halibut.

Did I spell delectable right?

In other news, Asher now knows the word "weltanschauung."

From the Onion

2007-12-13T17:01:00.000-05:00

Poll: Bullshit Is Most Important Issue For 2008 Voters

Ron Paul, John Stossel, and Me

2007-12-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

I just sat in on a 60 minute interview that John Stossel did with Ron Paul. It will be available next week, exclusive to abcnews.com (not aired on television).

It's not often you get to see a Presidential candidate be granted a full hour to discuss his beliefs/positions in an unfettered fashion. If you're interested in hearing that from Ron Paul, go to the site on Monday.

Morning Snapshot

2007-12-04T07:30:00.000-05:00

Grover's at the bottom of a stairwell, wearing a white t-shirt and yelling "Stella" while Asher watches, nonplussed.

Leah's chomping on a wooden train. I'm frantically throwing things together to get out the door, and Sarah's taking a lukewarm shower.

We've all been up since 5:30 a.m.

What's your morning like?

From Poop Jokes to Profound Epiphanies

2007-12-01T20:42:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, Asher was singing "Do Re Me" and replacing the last word in each sentence with "poop."

Traditionally, you deal with this sort of thing by ignoring it. The kid eventually loses interest, and moves on.

I was doing just that until he got to, "Me, a name, I call my poop," at which point I collapsed in hysterics.

* * *

Later today, he asked me why the sun went down every day, which resulted in a fantastic exchange about astronomy.

Life, with a 2 1/2 year-old...

I Ran Into Bill Richardson

2007-11-29T17:22:00.000-05:00

... in the halls of ABC News. It was cool.

Other than that, this has been a pretty shitty week.

Off to Philadelphia

2007-11-21T22:27:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow morning, we pile in the car and head over to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving with my brother Micah, his wife Janet, their dogs, and my parents who are visiting from Springfield.

Sarah passed out an hour ago, and I haven't really made a dent in packing. I do know, however, that we're taking more toys, books, and baby food than clothes.

Real Estate Update: We found (yet) another place we like in Windsor Terrace. This one's 3,300 square feet, and a bit above our price range. But, we're working on some things that might make it doable.

Social in the Slope

2007-11-18T22:04:00.000-05:00

This morning started off ominously, with Asher getting all of us up at 3 in the morning. Of course, everyone except yours truly managed to fall back asleep, and so I was primed for Leah duty when she woke up again at 5:30. If you've never experienced minding a newly mobile infant in a cluttered living room before the sun rises, you're lucky.

But it got better.

In the late morning, we headed over to Scott and Nicole's for brunch. Asher tried out their girl's trampoline, and they tried out Leah (held her the whole time). The net result of this was that Sarah and I had a relaxing meal.

We got back just in time for both kids to nap, and me to hit a few open houses ($1.3MM for a house in Windsor Terrace, anyone?). By the time I got back, Dan, Amy, Oliver and Sylvie were on their way over. Oliver and Asher get into all kinds of mischef together, but can generally be trusted alone with minimal damage.

Just as Oliver et al were leaving, Gaby showed up with her two girls, one of which is a year older than Asher. Chaos swept through the apartment, but again, no lasting damage. Although, the six dozen stickers I had to peel off Asher's bed were kind of annoying.

School tomorrow. Will probably prove more annoying than six dozen stickers.

ABCNews.com

2007-11-16T21:11:00.000-05:00

Slight redesign just launched. With no interference, we went from conception to completion in eight weeks. Unheard of at a place like this. Good stuff.

Business School? Come on...

2007-11-15T10:37:00.000-05:00

I've had three people come to me in the past week for recommendations to business school.

What the fuck? Why is b-school back in vogue? I thought it was a last refuge for out-of-work dot commers or an opportunity to change careers from teaching to business.

Will someone (other than me) please tell these people that if they're smart, already embarked on their chosen career, and just the least bit business savvy, they don't need to blow $60k on a piece of paper (and make me go hire someone else while they do it)?

Random Notes

2007-11-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

The Family

Sarah's feeling better. Asher's getting sick. Leah forgot how to sleep again, which means we're all up from around 3 a.m.

Quote of the morning: "Buggers go in a tissue, not on your sister."

The Job

The older I get, the more I realize it's all about communication.

There's a "protester" outside my building with a sign that reads, "America Needs More Big Daddies. Enter Regis." Anyone know what that means?

The Class

I am extremely uninspired, and finding it difficult to come up with a paper topic that can be executed by December 10.

The Race

Here's to hoping Hillary's support falls apart after Iowa.

When will Romney start attacking Rudy for being an irascible asshole more steeped in mindless patronage than Bush is?

Jefferson Jackson Dinner - Iowa, 11/10/2007

2007-11-12T13:24:00.000-05:00

If you're still the least bit uncertain about the differences between each of the top Democratic candidates, watch their speeches at Saturday night's Jefferson Jackson dinner:

Crazy Train

2007-11-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

Sarah's sick, which means I've got sole responsibility for the kids this weekend. Work is piling up. Asher's refusing to go to bed. The kitchen's a mess. Dinner's cold, and I have to run out to get chicken soup fixings.

Someone tell me it gets easier.

Sarah's New Business

2007-11-07T22:29:00.000-05:00

Sarah's new business is up and running.

Monday Morning Kid Photo

2007-11-05T13:15:00.000-05:00

facebook status updates

2007-11-01T17:42:00.000-04:00

The thing about facebook is that updating my status with vague or pithy phrases has started to take the place of longer blog entries.

So, here's an expansion on the last few status updates:

Isaac is bummed because his low ball bid was not accepted.
We bid $300k below asking on a Windsor Terrace house. Our bid was not even dignified with a counter-offer.

Isaac is feeling cleansed after working the maintenance shift at the food co-op.
Our lovely Park Slope food co-op gives you six months off from working when you have a baby. Last night was my first day back on the job. I clean bathrooms and empty recycling bins one night a month. It's actually a pretty good time. Very cathartic to just be the guy that takes out the garbage. I've been doing the same shift with the same people for four years now. We've got this great relationship where we only see each other for two hours a month, and truly enjoy each other's company.

Isaac is just plain making it up.
No fuckin' clue.

Isaac is purging political preferences.
Apparently, wearing your political preferences on your virtual sleeve (a.k.a. facebook profile) is frowned upon when you work at a major news organization. Damn.

Damn You Netflix - Redux

2007-10-26T14:48:00.000-04:00

Seventeen video stores, four libraries and 3 big box retailers later, I've finally found a copy of The China Syndrome to watch for class. Now, if I can just get to Igor's video store in south Brooklyn by 6pm...

The thing that really baffles me is, this ain't Un Chien Andalou. It's a modern-day movie that broke box office records, was nominated for four Oscars, won at Cannes, and featured three silver screen super stars (Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon).

What the hell??!!

Isaac Comes Alive

2007-10-26T12:08:00.001-04:00

Check out my playlist this morning:

Frampton Comes Alive
Muswell Hillbillies (The Kinks)
Ooh La La (The Faces)

Damn You, Netflix!

2007-10-24T12:28:00.000-04:00

I have to watch The China Syndrome for class next week (yes, it's a lame assignment).

Every video store in Brooklyn and near my office has been put out of business by Netflix - and Netflix does not have The China Syndrome.

My only option appears to be paying for it on Amazon.

Two Kids

2007-10-23T12:49:00.000-04:00

Here's another video. This is a short piece that Sarah did on our kids. She's hoping to use it as a sales/marketing tool, and get paid to put things like this together for parents around town.

I'm biased, but I think it's adorable.

Berkeley Album

2007-10-23T10:09:00.000-04:00

In the weeks before we left Berkeley to move to New York City, Sarah and I shot some random footage from around town, and threw together a short piece. It's not dazzling, but it's a nice reminder of the paradise that we once had at our fingertips.

A few explanatory notes: The pool was at the end of our block. The guy in the grocery store is my dad. The grocery store is this great place called Berkeley Bowl. It has more variety and volume of produce than you could imagine.

Response to Anu's Well-Intentioned, But Condescending Comment

2007-10-22T10:13:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, I posted something glib about Mamaroneck being rife with zombies.

My friend Anu responded in the comments section with a head-patting note that roughly said, "you can choose whatever you like, Isaac. If you move the suburbs, it's YOUR choice."

I'm not sure whether Anu has been reading this blog regularly, but my post about Mamaroneck (and all of Westchester, actually) was not an indictment of the suburbs. It was how I felt about that particular option. And it was, by the way, vindicated and shared by Sarah after Saturday's excursion.

Conversely, we're actually quite keen on the Maplewood/Montclair (New Jersey) option. It seems to have the diversity and community we seek, the good schools, the proximity to nature, and the affordable housing. Right now, there are two things holding us back: (1) It puts us much farther away from friends and family, which means much less help with the kids; (2)It would add 30 minutes onto my already long commute.

Another option surfaced this weekend. It's a house in Windsor Terrace - a neighborhood next to Park Slope, and on the southwest side of Prospect Park. Stay tuned.

Anu, I know this is a choice. I also know it's a tough one. And I'm glad that you're here on this blog to share in my decision making process.

Slinking Towards Oblivion

2007-10-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

Sarah is big on Westchester these days, and has lined us up with a realtor in Mamaroneck for tomorrow.

Sick And Tired

2007-10-18T13:37:00.000-04:00

Literally.

I've got whatever nasty cold is going around. And Leah has forgotten how to sleep at night, which means I've slept less than 6 cumulative hours over the past three days.

So, I'm working from home. No, really. I actually am working. Okay, it's true that I can't count to ten right now, and I've just spent five minutes trying to remember how to spell "cumulative" (did I get it right?). Nonetheless, it has been a relatively productive day. I've worked on some user-generated video/broadcast tie-ins, video ad inventory stuff, ABC News archives, and a bit of Politics/Elections.

It also helps to have access to all of my music. iTunes is on shuffle. So far I've heard Autumn Defense, Miles Davis, Belle & Sebastian, Ultramagnetic MCs, Elf Power, Mendelssohn, and more.

Hudson Valley Apple Picking

2007-10-14T19:28:00.001-04:00

Life Update: The Al Gore Edition

2007-10-12T06:48:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, it's hard to find time for meaningful posts these days.

But despair not - there are vague indications of a return to normalcy. Leah is sleeping better. I'm two books ahead for class. And work... well, the bloom is off the rose, but we're about to come out with some tweaks to the site that will (finally) make me proud to give out the URL.

On another work note, ABCNews.com was the only site to have its own byline for the Al Gore Nobel Prize story this morning. The competition all leaned on AP, but we had a four-pager in the can - complete with the greater context of the 2008 Presidential election. Smart. Does it make a difference? Probably not, but it makes me feel better that we're on top of things.

Other random notes:

Sarah's now jazzed about Mamaroneck. Aside from a hipper cache than New Jersey (which is debatable, btw) and proximity to water, what's it got that Maplewood ain't got?

If the weather holds, we're off to pick apples this weekend in an orchard north of town. Classic Autumn Fun.

Indian Summer on the Brooklyn Stoop

2007-10-09T19:52:00.000-04:00

You Think You've Heard It All...

2007-10-04T07:47:00.000-04:00

This New York Times story is going to become a really big deal.

Choice tidbits:

When the Justice Department publicly declared torture “abhorrent” in a legal opinion in December 2004, the Bush administration appeared to have abandoned its assertion of nearly unlimited presidential authority to order brutal interrogations.But soon after Alberto R. Gonzales’s arrival as attorney general in February 2005, the Justice Department issued another opinion, this one in secret.

Later that year, as Congress moved toward outlawing “cruel, inhuman and degrading” treatment, the Justice Department issued another secret opinion, one most lawmakers did not know existed, current and former officials said. The Justice Department document declared that none of the C.I.A. interrogation methods violated that standard.

Congress and the Supreme Court have intervened repeatedly in the last two years to impose limits on interrogations, and the administration has responded as a policy matter by dropping the most extreme techniques. But the 2005 Justice Department opinions remain in effect, and their legal conclusions have been confirmed by several more recent memorandums, officials said. They show how the White House has succeeded in preserving the broadest possible legal latitude for harsh tactics.

It adopted the new measures without public debate or Congressional vote, choosing to rely instead on the confidential legal advice of a handful of appointees.

Never in history had the United States authorized such tactics. While President Bush and C.I.A. officials would later insist that the harsh measures produced crucial intelligence, many veteran interrogators, psychologists and other experts say that less coercive methods are equally or more effective.

Mr. Comey strongly objected and told associates that he advised Mr. Gonzales not to endorse the opinion. But the attorney general made clear that the White House was adamant about it, and that he would do nothing to resist.

Why My Career Won't Move Forward

2007-09-28T21:49:00.000-04:00

You know how the real nutjobs end up in Psychology, the sociopaths end up in politics, and the closet homosexuals end up in the Republican Party?

Along those lines, I find it ironic that my chosen profession is communication, when I suck so bad at it.

I'm not talking about constructing an article, telling a story, or articulating a business need. Those - no problem.

It's with the soft stuff - fly-by chatter, back-slapping small talk, and most of all, office politics - that I'm left feeling like I'm still in fourth grade, stuck at the table next to the cool kids, but inexplicably unable to break through unless one of them needs help with their homework.

That shortcoming, combined with my unswerving practice of walking out the door at 6:30 p.m. no matter what's going down (gotta see Asher before he goes to sleep), does not a good New York media career make.

Too Old For Fifteen Hour Days

2007-09-24T23:06:00.000-04:00

Tonight was a school night after a very long day at work. Like the other classes in this program, this one isn't exactly academically rigorous. We spend most of the time talking about election fraud - the theme of the professor's latest book. So far, I haven't learned anything that I hadn't already read on Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo or Mydd (Sorry, Mark).

Tomorrow, I've got two presentations due, followed by six hours of meetings and a mandatory social dinner that I'm still debating whether or not to attend.

Had a great weekend with the family. Leah and I are really starting to bond, and Asher has been an incredible pleasure to hang out with. Conversations included why some people (grown-up men like Daddy) have hair on their chests and others (boys, girls, and grown-up women like Mommy) don't, the relative merits of Jackie Wilson, and why rock 'n roll rarely features a trumpet (and a sample of Beulah as the exception).

Teaching

2007-09-21T09:08:00.001-04:00

The question of schools always factors heavily into our discussions of real estate here in the Josephson family. And the more we touch on that topic, the more the fact that teachers barely get paid a living wage shifts from an abstract social ill to a concrete, vein-pulsing, focal point for dinner table rants.

Check out high school teacher/slam poet Taylor Mali's response to a lawyer that belittles his earnings at a party. "Come on," says the lawyer. "Be honest. What do you make?"

"I make a difference," says Mali. "So fuck you."

Twerp

2007-09-18T22:34:00.000-04:00

Isaac (reading from "Where the Wild Things Are"): ... and Max was lonely, because he wanted to be where someone loved him most of all.

Asher: With his Mommy?

Isaac: Yes, and what about his Daddy?

Asher: No, he's at work.

Isaac: ...

News?

2007-09-17T10:24:00.001-04:00

As I might have mentioned earlier, I'm on this ABC News internal breaking information distribution list. Last night, the emails were flying fast and furious. With equal volume and fervor were the notes on A.G. nominee Mukasey and O.J. Simpson's arrest.

I'll give you one guess which story the site led with this morning.

Academic Endeavors

2007-09-10T11:56:00.000-04:00

School starts up again today - for both Asher and me.

One of us will be taking a class with the notable intellectual-turned-bomb-thrower Mark Crispin Miller. Texts all center around the notion that the media is the willing lapdog of corporate interests and malevolent government officials (who are in turn the lapdogs of corporate interests, of course).

The other one will be singing songs, learning about cooperation, and executing various arts-and-crafts projects with Jewish themes.

I hope both of us have a good time and take our respective lessons with a grain of salt.

2007-09-05T22:09:00.000-04:00

My older cousin just sent over a photo of me, age 3, at his Bar Mitzvah. Rockin' pants!

In the haze of the past few weeks, I forgot to mention that my uncle - his father - died.

I never knew Uncle Alan well. My mother lived with him and her big sister Judy after her parents died. And by the time she finally left for college years later, there was enough stress and baggage in those relationships to color their interactions for the rest of his life.

Thankfully, my older cousin Matt and I have become friends on our own.

2007-09-01T21:08:00.000-04:00

Parenting Sucks

Leah still isn't sleeping through the night, so we decided to let her cry it out last night.

The good news - She only woke up once.

The bad news - SHE NEVER WENT BACK TO SLEEP!!!

Little Miss Josephson screamed her head off from 1:15 a.m. until the sun came up and our patience wore out at 6:00 a.m.

We're trying again tonight.

Good times, my friends. Good times.

ImaginaryGirl, how's your newly-acquired-child rearing coming along?

2007-08-31T14:30:00.000-04:00

Come On, Larry! The Clock's Ticking!

It's the Friday before Labor Day weekend. If you've got bad news, best get it out now while the country's not looking.

White House spokesperson Tony Snow is out - to be replaced by Springfield's own Dana Perino. I wonder if she'll have any more luck explaining this administration's many insanities. Poor Tony had better poise than his predecessor Scotty, but he still looked like a beaten puppy half the time up there.

Virgina's last Republican holdout, Senator John Warner announced that he will not seek re-election in 2008. This opens the door for the ragingly popular ex-governor Mark Warner - a Democrat. This is a big pickup opportunity for the Democrats.

Republican operatives have been providing soldiers and civilians in the Iraqi Green Zone with oppositional research on all Democratic congressional leaders who visit. And if that weren't bad enough, it turns out that most of the stuff they're putting out is not true.

Paging Senator Larry Craig. There's a podium and a press conference with your name on it.

2007-08-29T17:25:00.000-04:00

This is a great little piece two young friends of mine did for a show on ABC News last night. It's based on submissions to our i-CAUGHT section. We asked people to upload themselves displaying three words that conveyed their thoughts, activities, or feelings during the past week.

2007-08-27T12:57:00.000-04:00

The Death of Self-Image

Sure, Gonzalez resigned this morning, and we're all very happy about that. But it's no shocker.

The shocker of the day came when I dragged my ass out of bed this morning before 6 a.m. to deal with the kids, glanced in the mirror, and saw this:

Unshaven, unwashed, overweight, hair mussed, hanes undershirt stretched by tiny hands perpetually pulling me down, my reflection looked more like Khalil Sheikh Mohammed than the once-young-and-dapper Isaac I used to know.

Sigh.

2007-08-20T09:10:00.000-04:00

Where Where You When...?

Ten years ago this month, Phish performed for two straight days at a festival of their own making in a remote corner of Maine. Called the Great Went, the event marked the end of a long and winding summer tour - my last one with the band. I was at the Great Went with my then standard Phish travel partners - Josh, Giles and Susie. The music was mediocre. I got separated from my friends and lost in the rain for a full twelve hours. And, we had to drive for 30 hours straight to get back to Chicago in time for work. All in all, not the greatest experience. But, an experience nonetheless.

Twenty years ago this month, Def Leppard released the multi-platinum LP Hysteria. I was never a big fan of big hair metal, but these guys were the exception. Tom, Dave and I stood on line from 4 a.m. to get tickets to their concert at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center that summer. We went to the show with some Catholic school girls we'd been hanging with. One of them - a thirteen-year-old tramp-in-training named Julie, threw her bra onstage.

Twenty five years ago this month, the CD was born. It took me until college, though, to get my first CD (Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magic). I was a cassette guy through high school, and still have yet to convert some of those old Husker Du, Smiths, and Modern English releases.

Thirty years ago, Elvis died. Shortly before that, I allegedly visited Graceland and threw a tantrum because I wanted to play the piano.

2007-08-14T08:52:00.000-04:00

Today's Meeting Schedule

9:00 - Discuss potential expanded Health section

10:00 - Weekly Video Player check-in

11:00 - Product Task Force check-in

12:00 - ESPN video call

12:30 - special project template discussion

1:30 - Elections products and schedules

3:00 - Evaluation of Company X

4:00 - Video ad discussion

5:30 - Archives logistics

Shit. I'm going to be late for my 9am!