Macklein

This past Weds. I was off to see the new Australian modernized version of Macbeth over at the Quad cinema but made a stop at Sony Wonder on 56th and Madison to check in on the robotics gang who were there for the day in the atrium doing exhibitions of FIRST Robotics and FIRST LEGO League. Kids, parents and teachers from Stuyvesant, Lehman HS, HS of Computers and Technology and MS 217Q.

So as I enter the atrium, a few of the teachers come running over, "You missed him. You missed him."

"Missed who," I said?

"Klein. (NYC Schools Chancellor) Joel Klein was here."

"You mean Joel Klein made a special trip down here to see the kids and the robotics," I said disbelievingly?

"No, He just happened to be passing through, checking his Blackberry. We tried to engage him and get him to stop by to talk to the kids but he said he had to catch a plane."

Aha. Serendipitous corroboration that Joel Klein has absolutely no interest in seeing what kids are doing unless it can be used for public relations. And since he didn't have his massive PR core with him, why give even 30 seconds of his precious Blackberry time to stop and say hello to the kids?

These teachers were being polite (and they still work in the system.) Lucky I missed him. I wouldn't have been.

(You can read the feel-good part of the story at my Norm's robotics blog.)

As for Macbeth, a fine movie. We've had our own version here in NYC playing for the past 5 years. In the leads? Who have had the most blood on their hands? YES! BloomKlein in the lead. And do I have to tell you the top choice for Lady Macbeth?