So, Daniel recently bought a new leather jacket. It's a shortish jacket, with buttons up the front, and lapels - more casual than a blazer. Cut a bit like a denim jacket, I suppose, but in reasonably shiny black leather.

I think he looks quite good in it, but what I wasn't prepared for is that it apparently makes him irresistible to toddlers.

This weekend, Daniel wore it when we went out for sushi, and the 4 year old boy in the booth behind him kept reaching over and tapping him on the shoulder.

Then, this morning, he was wearing it while we were sitting at Starbucks, talking about politics. At some point I became aware of the adorable three year old girl standing next to our table, fixed on Daniel like she was memorizing every word of his proposed strategy for the Democrats to recapture the presidency in 2008. I looked at her, and smiled, and she scampered off. She returned not long after, though, and stayed until her mother collected her.

I can't help but wonder what's going on here. Surely some producer of children's television could make use of this effect.