Let's Go, Lesko!

If you've lived in the DC area any amount of time and watch any TV late in the evening, you'll eventually see or hear a commercial by one Matthew Lesko.

Senor Lesko wears a suit filled with questions marks and such, our own local version of the Riddler, but instead of questions, he has answers. Apparently his gig has been to help people find money through the government. He collects this information (various grants and such) and sells it to those who want money.

Admittedly, this sounds like a scam if you've ever heard one. I don't mean in the usual sense. I mean, sure, this money is probably available, but if it's so available, why doesn't he get it for himself? Is it because he can make more money selling access to this information? Maybe he simply likes the publicity.

Now, to be honest, after all these years in Maryland, I hadn't much paid attention to these ads. My brain tends to filter this stuff out.

However, being a Maryland kinda guy, Matt Lesko has two sons: Morgan and Max. Though it's hard to imagine quite what growing up in the household must be like, the two kids have gotten involved first in anti-smoking (in particular, cigarette machines near schools) then anti-drug campaigns. And they've done this since they were like 8 years old, and even met the President (Clinton, in those days) due to their vigilance.

Now, as it turned out, I was teaching a class in programming and Morgan Lesko was a student. At the time, Morgan probably sported some blond tints, as was the fashion with some guys some ten years ago, and was shockingly cheery. Computer science at Maryland tended to beat people down, and yet he seemed happy. Who knows why?

But it goes to show that even if your dad likes to get in wacky outfits and drive his kids in his wacky car, he's still interested in their well-being and education.

Of course, with a dad that loud, the kids tend to be far quieter, and Morgan, while not exactly shy, wasn't exactly shilling his dad's products or any products for that matter.

This thought mostly came to me while I was driving and listening to the radio and the Lesko ad came on. Up to that point, I hadn't thought that much about it. But that's what blogging is all about. You hear something. You blog.

So here's to the Leskos!