Q1 2025

Hugh David Schoenberg, February '25

Colleen and I are delighted to report that our son Hugh David Schoenberg arrived safely and soundly on Wednesday, January 22nd 2025.

Colleen did most of the work that day, if I'm honest. But I kept myself hydrated, which was key.

Hugh appeared just before the midnight cutoff, ensuring we missed a second proper night in the hospital. A fine first contribution.

In the second photograph above, Hugh sports his preferred English Premier League getup: an Arsenal onesie gifted to Hugh by his friend Frank Ebby (8 months old). Frank is an Everton supporter, but the men managed to put tribal allegiances aside for their love of the game.

Hugh and I have been discussing football tactics regularly and his early insights, albeit limited in scope, bode well for a high pitch IQ.

What follows are two cultural recommendations: one that Colleen and I thoroughly enjoyed watching together during our first six weeks of parenthood, and one that Colleen probably wishes I'd enjoy reading a bit less than I do.

Shaun Evans and Roger Allam, photo via Google Images

British crime dramas and mysteries are staple viewing in the Schoenberg household and Endeavour ranks among best we've seen. It's a PBS Masterpiece production available on Amazon Prime.

Set in mid-60s Oxford, Endeavour is a prequel to the highly regarded Inspector Morse (1987-2000) television series. Both productions are based on the Inspector Endeavour Morse novels written by Colin Dexter.

Morse is a caustic, at times arrogant, brilliant investigator, a loyal friend, and dedicated copper. Shaun Evans stars as the young Constable Morse and delivers the right combination of reserve and charm that endears us to the prickly constable right away.

Playing Morse's mentor in role of Detective Chief Inspector Fred Thursday is Roger Allum. Allum's performance is fantastic. His solid, measured nature complements Morse nicely.

This father-son duo is the heart of the show, and a very fine heart at that.

Anton Lesser portraying Chief Superintendent Bright is worth mentioning too; he offers one of my favorite television character arcs.

Acting in this show is subtle and deft, the dialogue is excellent, and the key relationships develop beautifully. The show is relaxing to watch yet compelling.

Some of the early cases Morse and Thursday investigate are resolved with Agatha Christie levels of complication, but as the show progresses the plots become more grounded and include impressive season-long and even multiple season threads that deliver worthy payoffs.

Each episode is 90-minutes. We appreciated the long episode run-time; it may take you a few minutes to adjust to the style and pacing of the production. The pilot drops you into a sweeping plot following a murder with little introduction or backstory.

We used subtitles throughout the series to avoid missing investigative details and catch unfamiliar lingo.

As with most successful drama series, the early seasons are the strongest. We came for the murder plots, but stayed for the characters.

Whether taxpayer funding of PBS remains appropriate is a matter of debate.

Regarding Endeavour, taxpayer money well spent. Highest of recommends.

The Inimitable Jeeves, Norton paperback edition

I try not to recommend the most well-known works of culture, but occasionally my hesitation is overtaken by events. Hugh's lack of interest in sleep is one constant event.

Overtired, I turned to familiar fare: the comic novel series Wooster and Jeeves by British author P.G. Wodehouse.

These first person stories describe the affairs of our narrator Bertram (Bertie) Wooster, an aristocratic professional loaf, and Jeeves, who describes himself as a “gentlemen’s personal gentlemen”. Jeeves is a valet, and peerless in every respect -- most notably, his intellectual gifts.

Bertie and his similarly idle pals perpetually land themselves “in the soup” and require Jeeves’s orchestration to extract them. Typical soup ingredients: complicated romances, soothing of relations with a benefactor aunt or uncle, and the perils of English countryside weekends. 

During my delirium, I have reread the first two books in the series: The Inimitable Jeeves (1923) and Carry On, Jeeves (1925). Both are short story collections. They lay the foundation for running jokes and returning characters, though the series peaks with novels 6 and 7 with Right Ho, Jeeves! (1934) and The Code of the Woosters (1938), respectively,

You can jump right into any of Wodehouse's novels. I read Right, Ho first during my initial run through the series.

The Jeeves stories are as funny as anything I've enjoyed, in any medium.

It doesn't thrill Colleen that after rocking Hugh to sleep for half an hour (as I read) I suddenly burst out laughing, threatening to rouse the potato.

Ah well. Hugh will love these books someday.

The Foreman Family, photo via Google Images

My personal website is up and running, thanks to the tremendous work of Dave Freedman. If you have video or web design needs, be sure to contact Dave through his company Elevated Film Productions.

One of the projects listed on my website is a recording of my first 5-minute comedy showcase, filmed at Helium Comedy Club here in Philadelphia.

In the clip, I discuss George Foreman. The showcase was recorded on October 20^th, 2024, almost exactly 5 months before George Foreman passed away on March 21^st, 2025. He was 76.

Foreman lived a remarkable life. Two-time heavyweight champion of the world, Olympic Gold medalist, Pentecostal Minister, entrepreneur, and dedicated family man. It seems like too much to accomplish in one lifetime.

A truly great American. Rest in Peace, Mr. Foreman. 

If you’d like to send me comments or your own recommendations, please do so using the link below.

I'm also accepting advice on how to be a better father.

I encourage you to forward this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested; they can sign up for NCQ by contacting me via the link below.

Hoping that spring brings you the renewal we all need after a long winter.

Until summertime, my friends.