Driving my youngest and oldest to school.

Youngest: “Daddy, can I get the new Nerf gun?”

Me: “Maybe. What’s new about it, buddy?”

Him: “Daddy. [Sober voice.] It has a flashlight on it. It’s not just an ordinary Nerf gun.”

[Suppressed laughter by me and daughter. He pauses.]

Him: “Daddy.”

Me: “Yes, buddy?”

Him: “Can I be home schooled?”

[More suppressed laughter.]

Me: “Hmmm. How would that work, buddy?”

Him: “I could just stay home and watch lots of educational TV.”

Me: “Well, that’s an interesting idea. We’ll have to think about that, buddy.”

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Dumb.

Man oh man, we’re going to be hearing about this for years.

Sigh.

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I haven’t been much interested in getting involved in the predictable debate about this bilious harridan because, well, it’s all so predictable. (Threatening her with the Criminal Code, as a University of Ottawa appartatchik did, is really dumb, by the way.  It diminishes the legal significance of real expressions of hate, things like promoting genocide.)

Anyway. I’ve noticed a few commentators – many Jewish – who have defended her, her rights, blah blah blah. In my opinion, these commentators should eyeball this YouTube clip, below; it’s quite revealing. As I tell my Jewish friends all the time: evangelical types don’t profess to support Israel, and Jews, because they respect your beliefs. They do those things because they want to get close enough to you to convert you to Christianity.  It’s Scripturally-ordained, even.

Check it out:

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In today’s New York Times.

Opening line: “How does one react to the death of one’s mentor?”

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This morning’s show, wherein Tim attempts to rationalize whiplash-inducing Reformatory flip-flops on Ten Percenters, Internet in libraries, O Canada and womens’ reproductive choice. Strap on your seat belts for this one.

I like that: “Former Chretien advisor.” Has a ring to it.

Linkage here.

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A fortnight after the fact, while in NYC this week, I heard that Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse had killed himself. He shot himself in the heart on March 6, near a friend’s house.

Linkous’ music was arresting, and shambolic, and attracted the attention of everyone from Tom Waits to Iggy Pop. He struggled with drugs and mental illness for most of his life.

Here’s one of Mark’s better-known tunes, ‘Someday I Will Treat You Good.’ Sleep well.

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Remember Bart?  Canada’s best-loved political fish?  Of course you do.  And you miss him, don’t you? I sure do.

My kids are in Jamaica for Spring Break – which, naturally, got me thinking about Bart.  Here, then, is one from the archives.  Maybe my kids have found her by now!

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As we sit here in a blecchy airport in New Jersey, reflecting on life, it occurs to me that the biggest response a wk.com posting received, in recent years, was about Kraft Dinner.

I ate a lot of it in university; I still do, given that I am completely incapable of (a) cooking and (b) learning how to cook. Besides, one box neatly satisfies one single and solitary person, which I decidedly am.

Anyway. Recently, a young fellow I know in Wales asked me about Kraft Dinner. “Still prefer butter over milk?” he queried.

Yes, I replied. Yes, yes, I do. Of course.

Being a person who is (sort of) interested in the opinions of complete strangers, I decided to extend my Welsh inquisitor’s inquisition to you, Dear Reader. I’m that kind of guy. I’m open to other points of view. (Sort of.)

So, then: when you make KD, do you use lots of butter, like I and other smart people do? Or do you – yuck! – use milk instead?

Comment now, comment often!

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We were somewhere in NYC last night, people-watching the St. Paddy’s Day partiers (there were plenty, enough to turn the trip to the Carnegie into a faux-Fenian Hellish ordeal), when word came through that Alex Chilton – genius, god, muse to the Mats – had died. Alex Chilton!

Here’s Westerberg, playing the song that bears Alex Chilton’s name. Rest in peace, Big Star.

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David Olive, one of the best writers around, wonders about me.

Meanwhile, Warren – who doesn’t like anything he has ever written – heads to the Big Apple for St. Patrick’s day. Wonderful.

The interior of the airport-bound cab. Note the timely St. Patrick’s Day display, lower left. Classic.

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