Yesterday the new Harry Potter movie opened all over the country.

I would be happier to relate that yesterday I picked up the Suz from the Shotz Brewery promptly at 4:30 to race off to the local bookshop to stand in line with the delegates from grade 3 to obtain a copy of the new Harry Potter book (which, I believe is scheduled for completion about 6 days after the Big Dig) instead we were off to the nearest cineplex to stand in line with the delegates from grade 3 to obtain movie tickets. I would also like to take this time to relate that the cineplex nearest the Shotz Brewery looks like the kind of place that should serve PBR on draft, but they won't because I'm not in charge.

This post is not about the Harry Potter movie. The best part of that was when the Suz was fidgeting with a rubber band she found in her bag and it made a daring getaway. To the man in the 9th row, aisle seat, we offer humblest apologies.

This post is also not about my dismay at the inavailability of Junior Mints at movie theatres these days. What IS that, anyway? Junior Mints are an integral part of the moviegoing experience. What else am I supposed to eat with my popcorn? Either get the Junior Mints back or offer sugar on your popcorn like they do in the UK.

Honestly.

No, in this post I want to ask a serious question. I saw a trailer before the HPM promoting what can only be a cinematic tour de force called Daddy Day Care. Does anyone else think there's something a little surreal about the fact that Eddie Murphy is now a kiddie hero? I'm not saying that I didn't find the whole Dr. Doolittle thing amusing. And I am glad to see him back in heavy rotation, because I like Eddie. But I have to say that I find something unsettling about the fact that the man who made Raw, which my 13 year old self had to see late at night when my parents were out on a bootlegged videotape my friend Nix made for me so that I could acquire my favorite multipurpose part of speech, is now making films that I can watch with said parents and not blush once. This is the man who said back then to tell Bill Cosby to shut the fuck up, and now he is Bill Cosby.

No swearing. No Junior Mints.

Am I the only one who suspects that American Civilization might just be in decline?