The Holidays

Staycations aren't so bad. However, I suspect that many of us who stayed home in 2009 rather than spending money traveling ended up spending more money than usual at home on entertainment, dining and various impulse spending.

Who has not thought: Hey, I am saving money because of [staycation or other money-saving plan] so I can spend it on [expensive dinner or other item].

Party like its 1977!

Here I am in my back yard celebrating my 48th birthday with Mark, Ken and Robert. Elvis died in 1977, at age 42, the same year Mark and I graduated from BHS. Ken graduated in 78 and Robert in 76. I am lucky to still enjoy the silliness of my youth with the experience and perspective of age.

Gravity and I took a mid-week vacation

Took an overnight drive to Santa Cruz with two old friends last week. Wonderful to have no plans, no commitments and to be relaxed about activities. Hit a few nice restaurants, some wineries, a bar or two, swam in our motel's pool, wandered the Boardwalk but, most amazingly, enjoyed the Mystery Spot. Truly a camp classic!

One of our party was a skeptic. However, analyzing is paralyzing when it comes to the kitsch of the Mystery Spot. Balls roll uphill, tall men shrink, pendulums don't swing normally. OF COURSE GRAVITY STILL WORKS--but the place is fun and silly.

IT IS AMAZING--I SHRANK!!!

Education Cuts--Republican Elitists

Took a bus to Sacramento with about 50 Berkeley parents to join a state-wide PTA protest of planned budget cuts. Disappointing turnout from the state, maybe only 500-600 people in attendance. Berkeley had the largest contingent of any school district. Some good rousing speeches that were inspiring and sad--how can the people have California paid so little attention to our young for so long? (Because the students who need the most and get the least are Black and Hispanic?) BUSD Mark Coplan gave a good speech about the insanity of having to visit Sacramento annually to beg for a decent education for our children.

Here is the Daily Planet's coverage of the protest:

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-04-25/article/29824

A large group of the Berkeleyans roamed the halls of the state house and communicated with staff representatives for three Republican legislators. Despite the fact that California is 46th in per pupil funding, the republicans believe there are still inefficiencies and revenue enhancement will hurt the state's economy. These are tired old arguments while our students' future is sacrificed for no new tax pledges and take care of their kids in affluent suburban schools or private schools.

The Mighty Mighty IMAX of the Metreon

If you love being enveloped by a movie's images and sounds, I can't think of a better theater than the Metreon's IMAX.

According to its own publicity, it is the largest 3D screen in the world at 80' x 100'. I saw "Beowulf" last year in 3-D and thought the look was amazing. Don't wait for anything on DVD that you can see on the BIG screen.

Easter traditions for secular people

Spent most of Easter with more than 30 old friends and family. This was the fourth or fifth year this gang had gathered to hunt for eggs and drink mimosas. A lovely tradition. As the kids get older, it gets harder to find activities that are fun (not to mention have some meaning) for both of them.

The event started out with the Tiffins making one of their typically generous broad invitations to many friends to come over and eat, drink and be merry. To the left, I am certainly taking care of all three.

The gathering has grown and now many of the kids who used to be delighted to find an egg, now enjoy hiding them for ever younger kids.

Despite the hardships facing many, we all had a great time and were comforted by each other's ongoing friendships, support and community.

Asbestos plaintiffs are greedy bums

Some of the cases I work on concern claims that asbestos caused a disease.

However, given that most truly ill asbestos plaintiffs are old and have died or brought their suits long ago, the typical asbestos plaintiff in 2008 has no disease other than shadows on an x-ray that only crooked doctors can see. Most of these older white men are greedy who think they are entitled to even more of our country's largesse.

These guys typically had high-paying union jobs, were able to pay nice houses, send their children to school, always had health coverage and retired with good pensions (hell, many sue while they are still working) and now want more.

Most of the retirees have moved to conservative rural counties and I have no doubt they are Reagan Republicans. Big government was good while it rewarded them.

These old guys are lucky and should shut up and go quietely into their retirement.

The work they did in the 50s and 60s is now being done for less money by immigrants who can't afford to rent an apartment in the Bay Area. The new guys have it hard--the old guys mostly had it pretty good.

College is Coming! College is Coming!

Middle-class kids used to be able to attend college without too much anxiety about financing their educations. No more.

When I went to Cal in the early 1980s, fees were less than $1,000 a year and the cost of living for me was less than $15,000 a year. Today, the fees are more than $6,000 and the increase in the cost of living in the Bay Area (and elsewhere) is obvious to all.

Law school fees were less than $3,000. Today, UC law schools charge in excess of $20,000.

The saddest part of the increase in costs is that poor Americans are being priced out of a good education. The ability of Americans to overcome poverty is being dimished in so many ways, but the increasing costs of higher education is particularly horrendous. If you have an affluent family, like mine has become, your children will be able to go to a good college without the stress of making ends meet.

If you are poor, or even middle class, your kids will settle for less. Their opportunities will be less. The American Dream becomes a little harder to achieve for a large swath of our society.

70 is the new 50?

My mother recently celebrated her 70th birthday at Yosemite with her three kids, her brother and sister-in-law, three grandkids and a niece and her partner. Despite typical family issues, which should not be aired in blog, it was a wonderful time. I am delighted for my mother that she is happy and healthy at 70. I have no doubt that I get my desire to stay fit, and that good health corresponds with happiness, from my mother. There is little doubt that without considerable effort most of us grow up to take on the characteristics and perspectives of our parents. I am still working on sorting out what to adopt and what to reject.

You can't choose your kids' passion

Kyle at center at Pittsburg HS Jamboree

I have avoided being much of a football fan for the past decade: too violent, lousy local teams and I didn't want my son to become a fan and play. I was hoping basketball or baseball would be his game.

For whatever reasons, mostly probably his size and he loves physical contact, his passion is football. At Berkeley High, mostly African-American kids play football (sports segregation has gotten much worse in the last 20 years, it seems) and Kyle's enthusiasm has taken the family by surprise.

However, I couldn't be more happy for him. He has done this on his own in an environment where his intellectual gifts are only minimally valued (he is the center, which is the leader of the offensive line, though).