So I've had a lot of reaction to my earlier post about young Atticus becoming Greek Orthodox. Seriously, emails and calls have flooded in. I feel I should clarify the situation and part of me feels I should not. I spent the good part of yesterday up in the North Shore talking to my friend Al about social work and teaching. The town we were in is a very strange town indeed, very insular and protected and I think the kids are a mirror of that with their emotions. For all you residents if this town out there I am hardly trashing the place. It is a lovely town just very removed from my daily life in terms of income and values. Being there made me think about Atticus and about the large and varied reaction I've been getting.

My sister clarified her opinion to me, she wanted to make sure that the kid understood and knew of his Indian and Hindu background. I get that. I too want him to understand that. He will understand that and I understand my sister. Absolutely.

Other reactions have me puzzled. You'd think I'd said my kid was going to be a Maroon 5 fan (sorry donaldson). Religion is a tricky subject. In this current climate religion often equals the right or conservatism. Faith seems to have become a dirty word. Those who really know me know that I am not a religious person. I am however a very spiritual person. I do not like organized religion but I have nothing against god. She seems pretty cool. Am I going to raise a compassionate conservative? Hardly. Will he believe in god? That's up to him, only him. We will show him the fireworks and trimmings that go along with it all. I'll also show him the wonders of Dostoevsky and Ganesh and the Buzzcocks and how to make noise with two turntables and a kaoss pad. If he wants to embrace it, good for him. I have equal love for everyone. For people to imply that religion and religious people are persona non grata and red state republican freedom fry assholes....that makes them, well, republicans (oops, did I say that out loud?) I welcome any comments on this subject either here in my blog or directly to me.

In other news and on a lighter tone, let's talk about Bono and Bill Clinton. Did you know that Bill Clinton keeps his own blog. At least I think it's his. It could all be a joke. Check it out for yourself and tell me if this tale of Bill, Bono and Tony Blair jamming to Angel of Harlem is for real.

Also, I know I mention it a lot but Fingertips is one of my favorite sites and it has this amazing song from Devin Davis. I'll let them do his bio.....from the site:

Chicago bedroom rocker Devin Davis opens his mouth and Ray Davies all but tumbles out. This is a fine thing in and of itself, as I am kindly disposed to anyone properly inspired by the Kinks. But Davis (and isn't come to think of it "Davies" pronounced "Davis" in the U.K.?), to my ears, has much more going for him than a Kinks fixation, a fact made clearest by his achievement as a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/arranger/engineer/producer. Technology has made it easy enough to be a one-person band in your own home studio, but rarely will you hear a bedroom rocker who sounds as loose and unfettered as Davis does. Think of it: to do all this yourself requires incredible precision and repetition; how do you then produce something that sounds so loose and alive? Playing the part here of a crestfallen turtle who appears to have lost his true, inter-species love, Davis delivers a song buzzing with spirit and life. From the quiet, bouncy-sad electric piano intro through to the heart-opening chorus, with its stirring melody and ramshackle feel, he not only transcends his influences, he transcends his technology. "Turtle and the Flightless Bird" comes from Davis's debut CD, Lonely People of the World, Unite!, set for release on (of course) his own Mousse Records imprint next week. The MP3 is available on his web site.