Chapter 83.1: Time Passes

A couple weeks ago, an anniversary passed without notice. It wasn't important in any great sense. No parties were deserved. No parades planned. Barely a word was really necessary. But this blog turned five.

Life has been busy for me lately. Those who know me and my family understand why. The parties on that end were deserved, and parades of a different sort took place. As for words — nothing really quite captures the feelings. And blogs aren't the answer to such issues.

But still, it's true that I enjoy sharing the occasional thoughts or words here with the world of mostly strangers, and especially with those few, precious friends who stop by and leave word of their visit.

So happy fifth "blogoversary." And I'll see you as the spring and summer get even warmer.

Chapter 82.7: Matt Recommends: It's All Kids Play

As a new father and an old daycamp director, I know something about how important keeping a child entertained can be. That's one of the reasons I was so eager to check out the new Website It's All Kids Play, which is free to all. Created by Canadian writer (and fellow Agent Query denizen) Jean Oram, the site boasts more than 700 cheap (even free!) things to do when the kids whine, "I'm borrrrrred!"

Of course, many of the ideas are well known by children everywhere. (I think I was born aware of how to make armpit farts, for example. Though I suppose my brothers may have had a hand in teaching me.) But I suspect most American kids don't know about curling, and I didn't have a recipe for Glop.

There are too many sections to review at one sitting — and where's the fun in that? — but the navigation bar is blissfully intuitive. For those who need things even simpler, there's also a site map. Actually, the site map provides a handy source to get the RSS feed.

Not to be missed is the related blog, which includes a tip of the day. Today's was an ice cream sundae. Sorry, folks. I've got to go. I just had an idea.

While I'm gone, check out It's All Kids Play.ca. You and your kids will be happy you did. ... Now, where did I put the chocolate syrup?

Chapter 60.7: The 300; New Liberal Arts

Ok, this will be a disjointed post because I seem to be citing a recent movie (that I haven't seen) and combining it with a phrase that in that context makes no sense. So let me explain: this is my 300th post since starting this blog in 2004. More than some people, a lot few than many others. Self-congratulation is now over.

As for "the new liberal arts," that comes from an interesting post I saw at MIT Online, a publication at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The writer, who is from the university's class of 2007, discusses social entrepreneurism and the importance of the priveleged to give something back to sociey -- not simply make buckets of money. And he recounts an alumnus who told him "Engineering is the liberal arts of the 21st century."

What an interesting comment; it might even be true. I'm becoming more and more convinced that the state of education -- particularly math and science -- is at a dangerous low in this country. I've spoken with people from Microsoft and the former governor of a major manufacturing state as well as others who have similar concerns, and they believe that American students -- and their parents -- have no idea how poor their math and science skills are.

The liberal arts comment points to how broadly necessary those skills are and will become. Technology is at the heart of nearly everything we use today -- this computer I'm typing on, the cash register at the coffee shop where you bought your cup this morning, the blinking voice mail like reminding your co-worker that she's ignoring a client -- and our future is spending it on their hand-held game or their cell phone, oblivious to irony.

We are far from a tipping point, unless it's already tipped to the negative. Getting through to the kids will not be easy. And it's entirely possible they don't care and will blame us for letting their world fall apart. It's not enough that we've taught them to read; we need to help them learn how to think. That requires math and science as certainly as it requires art and literature.

Chapter 55: Happy New Year!

An absolutely incredible story popped up onto the New York Times while I was skimming headlines. The story is about two unrelated Missouri boys who were found after having been abducted 4 and a half years ago. Safe and sound, but silent at the news conference, one of the boys sat with his parents apparently looking very happy to be home.

There are so many questions that pop into mind that it would take a month to ask them all, and then more time to follow up the answers. I can only assume that there'll be a book to come out of this and then a movie, but the most important thing is that two families have their sons back.

I can only imagine the despair those parents must have lived through for all those years. Were they hopeless at times? They apparently created a foundation that works to help other families in similar circumstances. It's amazing how a random action can completely alter one's life plan. What will this do for those people? Will they redouble their efforts to help other families? Will they devote their their time now to their reunited family? It's for them to determine, and there will be no wrong answer. Good luck to both families and to all those who have suffered through years of unanswered questions.