I’m grounded today for medical stuff. I’m trying distract myself from making poop jokes by concerning myself with other frivolous matters. So, I might squeeze out a Royal Family Post later this afternoon.

More links on the terrible impact of school closures on children, college students, and families. Public schools saw a drop of 1.5 million students; Pre-K experiences 22 percent decline. They have no idea what to do with kids who missed all that school – flunk them or push them ahead? A staggering drop in college enrollment.

Elite public schools in New York City have lifted generations of poor, immigrant families out of poverty. Now, they’re under attacked by the woke police.

Steve is feeling very proud of himself for his cut-off jean shorts. He’s finally trendy.

I really, really don’t want to talk about Critical Race Theory or the 1619 Project. I think it’s a loser topic — one with raving mobs and moving goal posts. Landmines everywhere. Career-defining landmines everywhere. But I will say that I agree with Matt Yglesias, who wrote: “By the same token, it is true that Nikole Hannah-Jones’ lead essay for the project contained a factually dubious assertion about slavery as a motivator for the American Revolution.” Honestly, I stopped reading her essay and the magazine once she made that point. She had zero evidence for that rather huge and mistaken statement. And it wasn’t just a minor point, as Yglesias implies; this falsehood defined her whole project.

This is my old neighborhood in Manhattan.

Watching: The Bad Batch will be the next TV show to watch with the kid, after we finish Loki and Doom Patrol.

Shopping: Bamboo shades for the office windows. Black sandals – Frye and Birks. New running shoes. A good t-shirt, inspired by Doom Patrol.

Eatings and Drinking: At last Saturday’s graduation party for Ian, we came back to our house after a restaurant dinner for coffee, cakes, and a signature cocktail. We had a ready-made cocktail in a mason jar, along with the usual bottles of wine. Steve made Old Fashioned, because that’s his dad’s favorite drink. It was too sweet. Next time, we’re going to try something else.

Picture: New office windows.