Naturally, once I started putting together my Christmas CD, I found last year's version (which never got quite done) and a whole bunch of songs I'd already gotten ready. It took some doing, but I finally got the list down to something that will put me in a holiday mood without driving me nuts. For a week or so of driving to and from work, that is. After that I may need a different CD.
While looking for Christmas music, I started to run across math-related songs by Tom Lehrer. Now I've got a serious hankerin' to do a Math Music album for my boss (who is a math enthusiast). Only problem is, three Tom Lehrer songs do not an album make. I could throw in some Schoolhouse Rock, but that only goes so far in making it fun... so maybe it won't happen after all. But it's amusing to think about. Anyone know of any good math-related songs that aren't Tom Lehrer or Schoolhouse Rock?
A couple of recent news items have really gotten on my nerves. I'll take them one at a time.
First is the young man who decided he was an atheist, but wanted to stay in the Boy Scouts of America. There was a big fuss about the Boy Scouts, with people ranting and raving about how unfair and prejudiced they are. The truth is, they are what they have always been: A Christian organization. Once the young man decided he was no longer Christian, he should have simply left the Boy Scouts. By fighting to stay part of a group he no longer agreed with, he compromised his own morals and became, essentially, a liar. The Boy Scouts, on the other hand, stayed true to their beliefs. You may completely disagree with their beliefs, but they have never forced anyone to join. They have their rules, and if you want to be a part of the scouts, you follow those rules. You may say that they are state-sanctioned, or some such nonsense, but they will probably go on even if all non-religious support is taken from them (and, to be honest, I don't think any state or local government should be supporting them anyway). People trying to force the Boy Scouts to become something they aren't annoy me. If you feel that strongly about it, support another organization (and there are many out there) that has rules you agree with.
The second news item involves a police officer's wife, a cell phone, and a deadly crash. It's all over the news up here, and it happened only a few miles from my home. A woman, who happens to be the wife of a police officer, was allegedly chatting on her cell phone while racing along on the highway in her SUV when she crashed into a broken-down car, killing the family of four inside the car (actually, she killed the mother and the two young girls that night, the father didn't die of his injuries until almost three weeks later). She received a $490 ticket.
She was charged with negligent-driving for "speeding, talking on her cellphone and possibly tailgating"... but according to prosecutors: "there was no evidence of recklessness or disregard for the safety of others". HELLO. Speeding while tailgating alone should be considered recklessness, add in talking on the cellphone and you've got a criminal disregard for the safety of others. What will it take for people to understand this? If you refuse to pay attention while driving and kill someone, you should be held completely accountable for their deaths!
Here's the original news article about the crash, and a very sad follow-up, along with the news that caused all the fuss.
To be honest, I feel very sorry for the woman. She's going to have to live with this all her life. But I don't think a small fine is an appropriate punishment. She should, at the very least, spend some time in jail. She should also have her drivers license taken away until she has taken a class on "paying attention while driving". And she should probably do some community service, as well.
Well, is that a depressing enough morning for you? I'll be happier when I get home tonight, since I'll have some comics to read. I'll be posting more then...
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