Some principled journalist I am.

I can’t help it, OK? I have to see Shattered Glass, and now that it’s out on DVD, I can. I already read the book. And you can bet your shorts that I’ll be reading Jayson Blair’s book, and Jack Kelley’s too, if he ever writes one.

These guys are fascinating — they’ve got the entire journalism world at their feet, and they spit on it and throw it away. Doesn’t that make you want to know why? I suppose that’s why I gobble this kind of trash up — the need to know what makes these guys tick.

That, and the helpful morality tale they provide.

Dr. Ink: “USA Today Scandal A Threat To White Privilege, Mediocrity” from Poynter.

March 31, 2004 | Filed Under minutiae | 4 Comments

Birth control

Well, the ugly shoes method doesn’t work. And the dime-between-the-knees method isn’t so hot, either. The Pill works pretty well, though.

My friend Natalie has written a terrific little column on the issue over at 210 West; I urge you to check it out.

March 31, 2004 | Filed Under check it out | 1 Comment

Stop the Beltway, I wanna get off!

Wow. So everytime I go off on some quasi-political topic I feel the need to temper it with a touchy-feely personal post.

Feelin’ the need, but ain’t got much to say. As per usual, I had a bunch of interesting thoughts on the drive home from work today, but was so confident I would remember them that I didn’t write them down in the little notebook I keep in the car for that express purpose. Of course it goes without saying that I can’t remember a damned thing.

In fact, the only thing I do remember from the drive was hearing Joss Stone’s pseudo cover of the White Stripes’ “Fell In Love With a Girl.” It was pretty cool. I’ve seen plenty of photos of the blonde songstress in RS and the like, but hadn’t heard any of her stuff ‘til today.

Now I’m tired, and have about 104 more pages to read of “Brave New World” before I hit the hay. And pardon me for having yet another personal thought, but I have to figure out what I’m going to wear to the happy hour tomorrow. Pretty fucking lame, huh?

This post brought to you by: 100 Years from the album “The Battle for Everything” by Five for Fighting.

March 31, 2004 | Filed Under minutiae | Leave a Comment

Woo hoo, I’m a drain on society.

Maphet pointed out this gem of an article: Two Is Enough: Why large families don’t deserve tax breaks.

It’s long been known that kids from large families perform worse in school, but it has been impossible to explain why. That’s because research about the relationship between family size and children’s educational achievement has been plagued by a nagging issue: Large families tend to be different from small families on a number of fronts—religiosity, commitment to education, orientation to the future, maybe even intelligence level. [emphasis mine]

Ah … someone just called my momma an idiot. Stand back.

I just love when so-called experts trot out the ol’ smaller-is-better argument when it comes to families. First off, they completely fail to take into account one big factor: Not all children are pre-planned. This is due to sub-factors such as unreliable or expensive birth control; abstinence-or-else sex ed; religious beliefs; cultural beliefs that value children and humankind as individuals, not fiscal liabilities; and plain old Acts of God.

I’m the oldest of six children, all of us borne of the same mother and father. Now, I can’t say that life is peachy when you share a house with seven other people and a dog. I can’t say I always treasured taking care of babies and toddlers throughout my formative years.

But I can say that coming from a large family was a blessing, not an economic setback. And I can most definitely and without a doubt say that my folks aren’t stupid, and my momma didn’t raise no fools.

The reasons that additional siblings hamper the intellectual growth of children (and particularly middle-borns) are fairly obvious—parental resources are a fixed pie, and children do better when they get more attention (and money). The conclusions to be drawn are more controversial. For example, we always talk about the goal of raising test scores and the overall “intellectual” or “human” capital of our population to fit the needs of the new information economy (and to compete with other nations in math and science), yet our tax policy does the exact opposite: It gives tax credits for additional kids. We have to confront the possibility that a more powerful educational (and antipoverty) policy is a tax structure that acts as a disincentive to have more children.

Let me just lay it out for you: Two of us kids have graduated cum laude from college. The third is acing his third year of biochemical engineering study at a technical institute. The three youngest are still in school and scoring in the top percentiles on their tests.

I dare you to tell me that we’re not prepared for whatever “highly skilled” jobs the U.S. economy can throw our way. And I dare you to tell me that my parents’ love and attention and resources are a “fixed pie,” and that each of us children suffers the more when another is born. The jury is still out on half of us, but history is showing that we’re doing pretty damn well, despite our “disadvantage.”

Look. I am a person, not a cash-flow problem. Telling me that the government should punish my parents for having brought me or my siblings into this world is pretty damned harsh. Clearly, it’s just as harsh to say that lower-income families don’t deserve to have as many children as they can, or choose to, or can afford to, or are surprised with. Reproductive rights, including the right to choose how many kids you’d like to have, is one of those “inalienable” things the Constitution speaks of.

Such “research” and proposals — that we should penalize families for having more than two children — is heartbreakingly callous, and far from the enlightened approach author Dalton Conley seems to think it is. Pardon me for mentioning it, but there are other countries which cap procreation at two children — Communist China comes to mind.

Now, if that’s the economic future he foresees for the U.S., please, count me [and my five “extraneous” siblings] out.

March 30, 2004 | Filed Under politics, sappy crap | 1 Comment

Last holla for the meetup.

Dean McKenzie put it nicely:

Baltimore Bloggers Bombard Brewers
This Wednesday - TOMORROW - 3/31
Brewers Art - 6:30 PM - until whenever
Directions are here.

Ispygemini’s got a reminder for ya, too, as does The Baltiblog. Just keepin’ you on your toes.

If you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine.

March 30, 2004 | Filed Under minutiae | Leave a Comment

Honky-tonky frame of mind

Back to Baltimore again. Had a lovely trip; ate well, slept well, got up early every day, listened to WCKY a little too much, perhaps? Did a little shopping, saw a bishop and a lovely Toledo cathedral and the K of C, spent some QT with fam and friends … you know, the usual.

Now have tons of pictures to post, but won’t likely have time soon, because Monday and Tuesday are work-intensive days. And I have to focus on making up a list of things-to-do and then getting them done.

Have the blogger meetup on Wednesday to look forward to, and a hasty, 4-day Florida road trip in a week and a half to prepare for. And then a bridal shower the week after that.

Lots to say, but not a hell of a lot of time in which to say it!

This post brought to you by: Rodeo from the album “Double Live” by Garth Brooks.

March 29, 2004 | Filed Under daily grind | 1 Comment

Letters from home

“Home is the place where, if you go there, they have to take you in.”

I don’t remember who said that, but it sure is true. At my sister’s apartment right now, doing another quickie update before I finish watching my sister’s copy of “Bottle Rocket.”

Iain honey, I’m sorry we can’t enjoy this together. But I’m working on that.

Let’s see. I took some notes today during the drive, but nothing really worth putting up here. I’ll just hit the highlights [from memory]:

All the cows at the farms beside the turnpike seemed to be lying down. I thought cows didn’t do that.
One of the two guys who have “Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco” painted on his barn repainted the slogan. Did not see the barn that reads “Chew Nail Pouch tobacco.”
Seen on the back of a semi: “INEDIBLE NOT HUMAN FOOD.” What in tarnation was he hauling?
Random thoughts about: anti-intellectualism [having finished “Flowers for Algernon” last night]; age, youth culture and the changing of the guard; the Hirsute Princess [a story idea I can’t do anything with]; and whether or not my new jeans are … well, words fail me.

OK, time to have a snack, watch the movie and go to bed. Have a busy day of hanging with the family and visiting with Ska tomorrow!

March 26, 2004 | Filed Under daily grind | Leave a Comment

Oooh, a quickie!

All right, I have seven minutes to get my heinie out the door and skooch over to Precision Tune and get my oil changed prior to burning rubber. After that, it’s the wide open road, all the way into the calming flat lands of Ohio, where the men are men, the women are men, and …. oh, how does that Garrison Keillor quote go?

Just wanted to say that I’ll miss you, sweetness. Enjoy your happy hour, and I’ll be back soon.

Jeffro: Sorry I didn’t return your call, I’ll call from my parents’ house tonight. Ska, ditto that. P.K. and D.H., I brought cards. L.L., thanks for the digits. Ma and Pa … hope the sofa is ready for me!

XOXO
MB

March 25, 2004 | Filed Under sappy crap | Leave a Comment

At least I’m getting up earlier

Returned, but only for a moment.

West Virginia was hella fun. We stayed here. We slept on an air mattress. We met 22 cool people. We played a lot of cribbage, euchre, air hockey and even sheepshead.

I may post some photos later.

In the meantime: Gonna get my Ohio on this weekend, see my folks, chill with Jen and Dani. Looking forward to girl time, Pollyeyes stuffed breadsticks [I’m bringing home as many as can fit in a cooler] and Easystreet’s grilled cheese.

Down the road: Once I get these, Iain and I can go camping.

Side note: Watched The Hours again today. Cried my fucking eyes out. A good movie to watch if you’re irrationally sad and depressed. … Or maybe a really, really bad movie to watch if you’re in that condition.

Posting this week is likely to be strange and sporadic, as I’ve got a million things to do and an eight-hour drive [one way] to make. But I’ll be thinking of you.

This post brought to you by: Color Bars from the album “Figure Eight” by Elliott Smith.

March 24, 2004 | Filed Under daily grind | 5 Comments