Eagles Spirit

Today was Eagles Spirit day at Zach and Phoebe's elementary school, and we realized yesterday that Zach has outgrown his Eagles gear.

This meant that Phoebe was going to be in fine shape for Eagles Spirit day, as she was able to sport Zach's old Westbrook jersey. It also meant that we were compelled to go on a shopping trip for a new Eagles jersey for Zach last night.

Before we went, I had two suggestions for Zach.

First suggestion: Jerseys aren't cheap. And while the Eagles' veteran superstar players like McNabb, Westbrook, and Dawkins are terrific, they might only be around for another year, maybe two at best. Go with one of the young players, like DeSean Jackson (the promising rookie WR), Stewart Bradley (Peter King's pick for All-Pro at middle linebacker this season), or Trent Cole (who is probably the team's best defensive lineman).

Second suggestion: Go with the classic green or white jersey. Not that bizarre canary yellow and powder blue throwback jersey they wore for one game last year (in recognition of the Eagles 75th anniversary). And not that green-on-black "alternate" eyesore they've been dressing in once a season, ostensibly for the purpose of increasing jersey sales among the aesthetically challenged.

Ultimately, though, it was going to be Zach's jersey to wear, so I gave him complete autonomy over the decision.

He wore his new alternate green-on-black McNabb jersey to school today.

An independent thinker, this one is.

In A Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Last night, Linda, the kids and I joined a bunch of the kids' cousins at the Star Wars exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

The exhibit included props and costumes from the Star Wars movies, as well as interactive stations which demonstrated R2 D2-like robotics, vehicles which use magnetic levitation, the planning and construction of Curasant-like cities, and other advances similar to the futuristic technologies depicted in the Star Wars universe.

Zach's favorite station featured a computer game which was played by placing special cards on a rotating table. Each tile represented a building -- things like power generation stations, or farming machinery, or a shelter. A camara pointed at the table, and rendered the buildings on the monitor, creating a virtual spaceport, or moisture farm community, or Jawa settlement. During the course of the game, the player had to re-align the buildings to maintain the optimal balance between various production, security, and social factors. Very cool game.

Phoebe liked riding the "Air-chair", which floated on a cushion of air (not unlike Luke Skywalker's landspeeder.)

And Ben's highlight was undoubtedly when we bought him a souvenier light saber on the way out of the building.

I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of a Princess Amadala exhibit, which (naturally) would have involved Natalie Portman look-alikes.