The first time I saw Jonathan Richman perform, nigh on 30 years ago, he was in his “second childhood” phase, and got down on all fours to sing “I’m a Little Dinosaur.” He did children’s matinees. He refused to do any material from his seminal first album, no matter how much people begged (and they did, with Freebird-like consistency). For me, it was love at first sight. At the height of the punk movement, when cynicism and nihilism were in vogue, here was a performer, a founding light of that movement (the Sex Pistols even covered him!), who reveled in hope, optimism and childlike innocence. Later, he dropped the overt references to childhood, but never lost that sense of innocence and wonder. (Even in the midst of his divorce, when he vented through bitter songs like “True Love Is Not Nice,” he still managed to pen paeans to the little things like “The Lonely Little Thrift Store”.) Today, Jonathan turns 57. And he’s still touring, recording—and glorying in the little things. If you’re not familiar with him, check him out. Now is the time. Here in the morning of your life.

I don’t talk about my day job too much here, but this is one case where I’m willing to make an exception: ConsumerReports.org has won the People’s Voice Award in the Guides/Ratings/Reviews Webby Award category. I’ll let someone else craft the five-word acceptance speech and get back to working on the (award-winning!) site. Congrats to Yelp, which won the “regular” Webby in this category, and to all of the other winners.