My latest issue of Wired Magazine had some suggestions about how to enliven one's blog. One suggestion was to go off topic occasionally and deal with a new issue. I thought I'd give it a try but it misfired.
Usually I write about education and education reform in particular. Occasionally I've used sports metaphors and in particular the data driven movement in sports. I thought I might turn to the local-Boston-sports scene for my digression. First I turned to baseball but the Red Sox lost in the divisional layoffs against Anahein 3-0. I thought the New England Patriots , quarterbcked by the rejuvenated Tom Brady, might provide an outlet in football. Unfortunately they lost to the wild card Baltimore Ravens in the first home playoff loss in 40 years. Things weren't going well.
Some may argue that at least both teams made the playoffs. In most cities the season ended much earlier. My position is that making the playoffs heightens our expectations and an early loss is devasting. One and out really hurts. Add insult to injury, the Yankees won the World Series and the Jets are in the AFC Championship Game.
I figured I could count on the Garnett/Allen/Pierce Celtics who won it all two years ago. Unfortunately they've lost five of their last seven and I had to turn the TV off last night as they trailed and eventually lost to the lowly Detroit Pistons.

The only out was politics. I was proud to have voted for George McGovern against Richard Nixon in'72 as Massachusetts along with the District of Columbia were the only states that supported the Democrat. We're the state of JFK, Teddy, Mike Dukakis, and John Kerry. Teddy died before his term was completed so we had a special election between popular Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakely against Republican Senator Scott Brown. It seemed like a no brainer. No! Scott Brown won and became the 41st Republican Senator and breaks the filibuster proof Democratic dominated Senate.
Oy! I think I'll stick to ed reform.