It was a good thing I went to visit Mom today. She says it's time to get a new TV, because this one isn't working anymore. I said that's great because it's an old TV, one that I bought in Boston in 2003 and gave to my parents when I moved back to Calif in 2006. It was super expensive then, but it was a flat-screen LCD, and was a revolutionary product. But it's 9 years old. They make much better TVs for much less these days. And I love buying electronics. So I was excited to get to buy a new TV for Mom. A chance to learn what's new in TVs, if anything.

So we went to lunch and talked about lots of things. I asked what was wrong with the TV. Turns out her remote needed new batteries. So no new TV now. She's happy with the one she has.

Then we sat down to watch basketball and she put on CBS and I thought this picture really sucks. I know she has FIOS and I know they have HD. So I looked at the channel lineup and we switched from Channel 2 to 502. What a difference!

So Mom got the big upgrade anyway.

Moral of the story -- it's a good idea to visit your mother from time to time. She may have HD and not know it, and her remote might need new batteries.

 3/31/2012; 7:23:33 PM.

The more I learn about Paul McCartney, the more I believe we have misunderstood our music. At least in the life of someone, such as myself, who grew up with the Beatles while they were still The Beatles.

It relates to the piece I wrote a few days ago, about living the life you dreamed of when you were young. Paul McCartney is doing that, and his dream wasn't to be a rock musician. He dreamed of making popular music. Rock came along later.

The latest installment is this week's Terry Gross interview with McCartney, who is at a piano in his studio in England. I wish he would do more interviews like this. Tell us the story of the music.

As I write this I'm listening to The Long and Winding Road. It sure is!

 3/31/2012; 10:59:02 AM.

The latest Republican hyperbole making the rounds is that the US has the highest corporate tax rate.

Now how likely is that?

As we NYers like to say -- give me a fucking break.

Here's how it works.

Let's pass a law, in two parts.

1. Corporate tax rate == 100 percent.

2. You don't have to pay it.

Why did they do such a silly thing?

Probably so they could put out the kind of bullshit they're putting out now.

 3/31/2012; 10:36:44 AM.