I'm strongly opposed to homeschooling, with the exception made for extremely bad local schools and no other options. Or in a case where a kid was getting badly harassed and there was no other recourse. I'm sure there are other exceptional cases I'm not thinking of, but as a point of education philosophy I'm agin it.

I think it's bad for the kid, and it I think it's bad for our culture. I think public schools are one of the great democratizing forces and any kind of school is going to be a huge part of your socialization.

But I particularly dislike it when it seems to be motivated by fear and paranoia. It seems so controlling, and trying to keep your kid in a bell jar. When I think that the best way to teach your kid how to deal with the world is by putting them out in it.

Anyway, I hope Emaryn gets to go to school next year. The lack of friends is a huge red flag to me. The social part of Emmett's school experience is a huge part of his emotional development.

Aside from my philosophical opposition, I just hope that things work out for Gud's kids to their best benefit. It does sound like it would relieve a lot of stress, though, if Emaryn could graduate from homeschooling.

So I'm waffling on tour. It's a once in a lifetime thing, and a tax write-off, but I think I should see how it does out-of-the-gate in July, first.

Surely you could do a kind of fannish tour. There was an article about Jonathan Coulton, among other people, in the NY Times a few weeks ago, and it talked about how he's able to book shows in places where he has a guaranteed audience, thanks to his web presence.

If you could stay in a few big cities with Buffistas or other friends who'd help generate buzz, that would help keep down the expense.

Dana's points are good ones, Allyson.

Amusing possibly to a lot of us, esp. those of us named ita: check out the #1 hot TV dad: [link]

Well, are all kids everywhere equally exposed to DARE? Or is DARE primarily used for kids who are already at a higher risk of drug use?

We had an anti-drug lecture back when I was in grade school. I'm pretty sure it predated the whole DARE thing. The lecture was given by a pair of officers from the local police precinct who came in with a slide show.

The slide show consisted of the most hideous pictures you can imagine of people's bodies damaged by drug use.

I don't know how successful the program was overall but I know that I've never done a single illegal drug in my life. Blech.

So I'm waffling on tour. It's a once in a lifetime thing, and a tax write-off, but I think I should see how it does out-of-the-gate in July, first.

What Dana said. I'm sure there are plenty of Buffistas who would love to put you up and take you out to dinner.

There was an article about Jonathan Coulton, among other people, in the NY Times a few weeks ago, and it talked about how he's able to book shows in places where he has a guaranteed audience, thanks to his web presence.

And I was at the show he did in Chicago! He was so cute, boggling at how many people were in the audience.

That is a great idea, I can't believe I hadn't even thought about it.

And they have all kinds of neat programs for science, math, the environment, plus all kinds of art stuff.

And check your local library system and find out what kind of programs they have. I know our library system has all kinds of programs for kids of all ages (of course the only thing I can remember right now is the teen poetry slam).

I know Dallas would be way far down the list, but my comic book boyfriend has an in with his store.

Plei, love that wallpaper. I don't think it's ugly at all, and used sparingly would look awesome in a room.

Hot tv Dads: Coach Taylor belongs waaaaaay further up that list. Also, re #1 AWESOME!

Never had a DARE class. Had a 17 year old sister in 1977, though. So I learned that pot makes people silly when I was 7.

Gud, I hope you guys find a comfortable, workable solution to the educational issues. It's tough.

Allyson, sorry about the subtitle issues. Still, book=awesome.

I'm sure there are other exceptional cases I'm not thinking of, but as a point of education philosophy I'm agin it.

We get a lot of students who have health issues that prevent them from physically making it to school on a regular basis.

I was in an anti-drug-and-alcohol program in high school. Mostly I think we were sanctimonious little pricks. But I did manage to stay away from drugs. (The alcohol, not so much, but that wasn't until well into college.) Oh, and also develop a violent Pavlovian response to Bonnie Tyler's "Turn Around."

If you want to come to Nowhere, OH, Allyson, you can hang with Cash and I.

If you want to come to Nowhere, OH, Allyson, you can hang with Cash and I.

I say we pimp the book at Mid-Ohio Con. I'll wear a sandwich board and Ailleann can hand out flyers.