Some minor notes.

The reason they're making your son take chemistry?  Because they're mean.  Or perhaps because they hold to some archaic notion that education is about broadening one's horizons and tempering the intellect, not just about preparing one for any particular career path.  I haven't decided. 

Small-molecule synthetic chemistry in the NY Times?   A pleasant surprise to see in the national newspaper of record, at least last I checked. 

Microbial physiology via NMR.  So cool.   Also, kind of jealous.  I really need to get some awesome stuff done sooner rather than later.

I think that will be all for the evening.