The Daily Top Five

For your reading pleasure:

1. I thought NY was on a good trend under Giuliani and now Bloomberg, but it looks like the nanny state is taking hold. As if a Big Mac and Fries weren't expensive enough in Manhattan.

2. For even more news of the absurd, Joanne Jacobs talks about Baby Spas. Baby Spas, yes Baby Spas. Even typing three times still doesn't alleveiate the absurdity of it all. I am sorry, if parents can't massage their own kids, then maybe they need to rethink priorities both in terms of time and money. Also, while my 38 year old body may needs its chakras aligned, my 18 month old does not.

3. A recent NY Times Magazine article by Paul Tough has touched off a great debate among the edusphere. Kevin Carey looks at a reaction piece, noting that simplistic analysis will not help move the debate over the achievement gap forward.

4. Ever wanted to listen to oral arguments from Supreme Court cases, well the Oyez Project has downloadable mp3 files. For education buffs, the Seattle and Kentucky cases on the use of race to create racially balanced schools can be heard here and here respectively. Links provided via SCOTUS Blog, which also has links to various news items on the cases.

5. Finally, Philip Mella notes "The Dem's Get 'Religion."