To get this out of the way first, thumbs down to all of you tailgating drivers on Fairmount Avenue in Lakewood. Yes, traffic there sometimes slows to a crawl because of sidewalk and driveway reconstruction. But no matter how snugly you sit on the bumper of the car ahead of you, traffic will not go any faster.
So back off.
Thumbs up to the chance adults have this weekend to go fishing with their kids for free. The state usually charges $5 for a day of fishing for New Yorkers who are 16 years and older. Visitors are charged $15 for a one-day license.
But this is the annual free fishing weekend in New York for everyone. Today and tomorrow are a great time to dig up some worms and take the kids to test the waters, so to speak. You might discover it would be worth spending the $29 needed to buy a license for the whole season to make fishing a regular family activity.
Another fun - and free - activity today is Olympic Day at Charlie's BMX. Registration is 5:30 to 6:30 with a free race at 7 p.m. The race is free to all riders and the event is geared toward those who would like a better understanding of the intricacies and strategies that go along with the sport. You will need your own bike and a helmet, and you should wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Gloves are suggested.
And so thumbs up to Charlie's BMX, 4400 Dutch Hollow Road, Bemus Point, for offering this sampling of the sport to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games, which, for only the second time, will feature BMX competition. For more information, check charliesbmx.org.
And, finally, thumbs down to the parents of one of the four young adults who were arrested by police in New Castle, Pa., on a charge that they squirted a strong-smelling liquid on a woman and her young brother, who were standing in their yard. While the Associated Press called them "teens," we note that they ranged in age from 18 to 24. They squirted the chlorinated water from a car when they drove by.
What lesson do you suppose the accused young perpetrators took from the fact that when police were questioning them, one of their parents yelled insults at the officers and ordered the police to get off his property?