Those were the days... 

My older son bought a classic Sonic collection -- old Sega Genesis games now available for the X-Box. He has this nostalgic 5-year-old's look on his face and claims that his thumbs somewhat remember what to do. I certainly remember the music.

I remember Adam at about six or seven one time in a Toys R Us store wearing the same dreamy sentimental look. He was gazing on the Ghostbusters toy section. By that time he was on to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Ghostbusters were so last year (and for a 6-year-old, think about it, a year is a huge percentage of your life -- I think that's what made summers seem like years). I'll never forget his face and demeanor, this peaceful look with his head tilted a little, sometimes his eyes drifting up as if he were trying to recapture a sweet memory. Of what, it's hard to tell, maybe some exciting play scenario with Egon whizzing down the pole in the firehouse and diving into Ecto 1.

Famous podcasters in leather 

And now for something completely different, the Podcasters in Leather 2006 Calendar in PDF. Roger Smalls by way of Madge Weinstein.

Blogger soldiers 

This weekend on This American Life. From the radio show's teaser:

What War? Though we all know that we're at war in Iraq, for those of us without family in the military, the reality of that war is easy to ignore. This week, we return to what's happening there. ... we hear from American soldiers who blogged from Iraq, including Trueman Muhrer-Irwin who blogs under the name "Rebel Coyote," and Colby Buzzell, a machine gunner who has published a memoir called "My War."

Rebel was injured and has been discharged, but he's still blogging. This is the machine gunnner's book.

2,000 and counting 

We hit 2,000 military casualties in Iraq today. MoveOn has info on starting or finding a vigil tomorrow night.

'Down with podcasting!' 

More on podcast naysayers in the academy. Wesley Fryer says educators have a professional obligation to embrace podcasting. I don't think I'd go that far.