I just posted a comment about this topic on the maniac at kids’ game story. I’d say you’re reading my mind, but you say this all a lot more cogently.

I grew up next to the town baseball diamond/soccer field/outdoor skating rink. If we weren’t playing sports we were breaking off sticks of bamboo from the woods behind it to have ninja battles. I was talking to some of those friends recently and, while we wish we’d had the opportunities for travel teams and ODP and…

Friends pulled their 5 year old from a league this year after the coach—used to U16 or whatever—was ignoring the “everyone plays”until he was up 10-0, favoring only the older/advanced kids, and trying to institute position play by screaming about defensive shape with kids that don’t know kindergarten-level shapes yet.…

And, from experience, if your kid isn’t trying out there, it may not be the right time, the right sport or there could be other issues.

You can find any example you want among a population—schemers, cheats and losers abound among the poor like they do among the rich. Most of the people I met (in a dozen years at legal aid) who were receiving government benefits for the poor, like food stamps or TANF, would do just about anything to get out of that…

I’m generally with you, but for the Romeo and Juliet. People who know how to run a drill press but don’t have any broader education aren’t going to be valuable citizens. A well-rounded education that has a trade component is a great thing.

do it fer the trewps!

Because I like my parents having a house that isn’t my guest room?

>>Sharon Reed is baking a turducken of blackness.

Our last congressional election:

I feel for you both, coming from a very red area in a blue state. We’re “saved” by the larger population but still have no real local representation because the zealots that get sent to Albany and DC from our area don’t try to govern, just to score points.

Lots of high school kids in my town went door-to-door for GOP candidates because that was what our parents taught us. Fortunately most managed to get to a point where they could make their own decisions.

Ah, yes, the CQX40 small SUV, the JX&&! crossover, the ? sedan...

As long as it’s not “Hey Girl.”

Remember when Ben said he passed the protocol with flying colors and the doctor said no? Ben took over testing after that since he clearly understands it better.

My secret shame is that I can never figure out the rules of basketball to get into it. I’m from a basketball-mad area and my teen rebellion was not caring about it and I’ve never been able to get into it.

I’m with you. I still flip channels if there’s nothing else going on, but I’m not playing fantasy or looking up league news or having any engagement.

Oh, I’m sure they’ll point out you should have bought an Aveo instead of a Cobalt or Hydrox instead of oreos and these moral shortcomings have brought about your doom.

No, it’s a clueless old person who talks like it’s 1962.

I can agree with this, even if sometimes i get redistribution rage because the lack of empathy combined with dollar hoarding creates issues. I’m stunned by the relatively successful people in my little town who have either no concept or complete denial that they benefited where others didn’t.