David Lubar's Blog, page 46

Obama -- you can check off my daughter's name

President Obama has called for our youth to perform community service. Since I'm sure he reads my blog, I figured this would be the easiest way to let him know he can put a check mark next to my daughter's name. (I can never get through to his Blackberry.) Yesterday, she left her classroom at University City High School in Philadelphia for the last time. She finished her two-year stint with Teach for America. I'm proud of her for sticking with it, but horrified at the conditions she had to

Of corpse not

I just learned from Lisa Yee's blog that there's a plant called the "corpse flower." In my new book, I made up a plant called, yup, the "corpse flower," which grows only on Bezimo Island. No real harm here, but I wish I'd checked. There are several times when I was glad I checked to see if something existed in the real world, and other times when I wish I had. In my short story, "Dear Author," I made up a name for a kid's favorite author. Digby Morgan. Just to be safe, I Googled the name

Super program.

Okay, the name itself is a mouthful. Yesterday, I was in South Carolina at the State Superintendent of Education Writing Award Program for the Summer Writing Institute. The event itself was invigorating. I spent two sessions with 5th and 8th graders (actually, 6th and 9th, since school was out for the year) who were district-level winners of an essay contest. Smart kids. Fun kids. It is just so energizing for me to speak to groups like that. There is hope for the future.

Conrad add an hour

The subject is a non sequitur, but I couldn't resist, or find the energy to make it fit in a convoluted way. So, anyhow, I had no idea who Lauren Conrad was until I read a blog post by Alex Flinn, who quoted an Entertainment Weekly article about this celebrity and her YA novel. There are plenty of folks who will talk about this, and I'd be happy to join the mockers, but a tangential aspect of the story caught my attention. There's an article in my local paper, syndicated from the Chicago Trib

First thought of the morning

A picture book you'll never see:

Cat and Moth are Friends

I saw a dead moth on the floor as I was going to feed the cats. This is unusual. Normally, the fluttering plaything is ingested at the end of the battle. I suppose there are those who would rescue a moth from the clutches of a cat, but I never interfere. Our cats may be killers, but our clothes have no holes.

I'm all wet

It rained wherever I went this year. Every time I got off a plane, the skies darkended, and torrents fell. I can't even guess how many times I heard someone say, "It was beautfiul here yesterday." I've been home for a week, and I just realized that the rain has now decided to dog me even when I'm not traveling. I'm off to South Carolina on Monday. Check the weather. I'll bet it rains.

By the way, let me bounce a random question off you folks. If you were going to be reading a three-minute

Urgent need for help

I'm starting work on a new book. This means the normally available methods of procrastination are inadequate. I'm running out of ways to avoid getting started. I'd appreciate it if all of you would try to blog a couple extra entries this week. Any topic would be fine. If you made toast this morning, I want to hear all about it. Links are great. Especially links to quizzes. Comments here would be dandy, too. I'd definitely enjoy comments that require a reply on my part. Come on -- if yo

Speaking of physics

It struck me this morning that Bob Saget might be an oxymoron. Can something bob and sag at the same time? A field trip to the beach might be in order. Technically, I suspect that while something is bobbing it is sagging half the time, during the phase of the cycle that brings more than half of it below the center line. I guess that makes Bob Saget a semi-oxymoron. (Please note that none of this is meant to imply anything negative about the man himself. I like his work. This is just a cas

Gorilla my dreams

This story, like the head of a bull, has two points. I suspect most people will focus on only one of them. First, a bit of background. Republican activist Rusty DePass (I believe the last name is pronounced "deep ass"), made a stupid, ugly comment on his Facebook page. Referring to news of an escaped gorilla, he said, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless." He later issued a lame apology and claimed that he was merely quoting the first lady, who often spoke of

I give the digital transition a single-digit salute

I'm so glad the digital transition has arrived. Not because I care how TV is broadcast, but because this means an end to the barrage of ads telling people to get ready for the transition. It's sort of like the day after an election, when all the campaign ads stop -- except we now get to enjoy the zen-like nature of the post-transition messages. It's sort of amusing to watch newscasters telling viewers, "If you can't see this broadcast, here is what you need to do."