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Why can't schools treat high school students who aren't at an advanced level like smart kids with opinions, with things to say? I have spent the past two days attending various panels at The College Board's annual AP Forum (for work). The conference was about 99% teachers, guidance counselors, and college admissions reps, and, oh, me...the lone evil Kaplanite lurking around for test prep ideas to steal more money from high school students. Whatever. Apparently, all teachers, guidance counselors, and college admissions reps are from the Midwest and wear a lot of khaki and bad shoes. And Halloween-themed scarves and pins. By FAR the most interesting panel was this afternoon's Response to the New SAT -- a group of 4 students, a parent, a guidance counselor, and a College Board member. You probably have heard or read by now that the College Board has overhauled the SAT. It now has math up to Algebra 2, no more Quantitative Comparison questions (A is bigger, B is bigger, C i...

Seattle is wet.

I usually know what time it is, time being a thing of mine. The West Coast trip--the California leg of which I am concluding as I wait in line at the Oakland airport, waiting to begin the Seattle leg--has thrown my internal clock off, and last night's end of Daylight Savings has led to a grand total of a four hour swing. Fortunately, Mike and Anna normally go to sleep and wake up four hours earlier than I do, so it worked out pretty well. Scott suggested that next season's 24 should be set on the last Sunday in October, leaving the door open for a surprise extra episode during sweeps' month. Scott counts 24 as one of his addictions. I'd like to blog about the maple syrup smell in New York City last Thursday night and Friday, but I didn't smell it myself Thursday night and I left Friday. I can't even link to articles about it from my cell phone, but go to Google News and search for "maple syrup new york". It's incredibly odd.

My faith in Tyra Banks and the UPN has been tarnished. I was one of your last supporters, T, and you let me down. The stupid panel eliminated sexy sexy Kyle, my favorite from Day One. NEVER MIND that she was by far the best-looking girl on the show -- tall, with fantastic curves and just an undeniable hotness about her. She doesn't a) weigh 50 pounds and have bug eyes, b) look like a 40-year-old man, c) have ears the size of record albums, or any of the other unfortunate shortcomings of her competitors. Tyra wants to reward "edgy," I suppose, which seems to translate to "ugly". My money is now on Kim, a sentimental favorite of some 34 readers. Adam thinks they slated "the lesbian chick to win from the first day," and he may be right. Girl just needs to learn how to stand up straight and stop working her androgony into conversations about, like, what she had for dinner. And, also, she's by far the biggest shit-talker of the group. Tyra will sit you ...

Sometimes, mainly in the '70s, Woody Allen has a comic strip .

If I were Frank Bruni I'd totally make sure not to drop a spoon at the next restaurant I review .

I've never played Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (though I am thinking of picking up The Warriors , if only for the Coney Island scenes), but I have no doubt that this walkthrough for the in-game girlfriend system is completely serious and probably quite useful.