However, having nothing to say has never stopped me in the past.
First, a somber note. If you read the comments attached to my last post, you'll know that Jim Beattie, the owner of Rain City Collectibles in Woodinville, was killed on the 30th in a car accident. His wife and 2 young girls will have a tough Christmas this year. If you are religious, please send a prayer their way. He will be missed.
Here's a surprise: Cellphone usage tied to deadlier roadways. This was in yesterday's Seattle Times. I also saw it on the TV news as I woke up. The thing is, it isn't really the cell phone use as much as it is an assumption on the part of many drivers that they don't need their full attention while driving. I suspect that most people cannot safely drive while using a cell phone, but they also can't safely drive while putting on make-up, shaving, or reading the newspaper... all stuff I frequently saw when I commuted during rush hour. Even now, with my commute during off-hours, I still see behavior that constantly makes me wish there was a police car around. Or makes me wish that I could get on my cell phone and call the police... d'oh!
There was an article in the Times today about a shortage of brides in India. I was reading it, thinking it was kind of silly, until the article got into the reason for the shortage. It seems that many Indian couples use ultrasound gender tests to keep up with a cultural desire for males. In other words, they are killing their daughters before they are born, so they can have sons instead.
One particular paragraph hit me hard: As noted in a recent UNICEF study, South Asia "is the only region that defies the global biological norm ... so that 74 million females are 'simply missing.' " As many as 50 million of the "missing" females are from India.
I've always been anti-abortion, but pro-choice. I think abortion is a form of murder, but legislation to stop it only made things much worse for a time. It didn't stop the killing. Education is the way to stop abortion... but how do you change an entire culture so they won't kill their little girls?
I don't have the answer. But I can cry for the 50 million dead Indian girls.
Wow, I'm really a downer today, aren't I?
In the shop today I saw a baby in a stroller, sleeping peacefully. Every once in awhile while I watched him from across the room, the corner of his mouth would quirk upwards in a smile. I envied him for the happy dreams he must have been having, but he also made me smile. It was good to see someone having a good time, even if it was in a dream!
I must say, I'm not in nearly as bad a mood as I'm making myself out to be. Tomorrow the new comics come out to the comic shop, and if I'm really lucky, I might get my hands on one particular preview comic from DC's preview package. If I'm lucky, and it comes. I'm crossing my fingers. Even if it doesn't come, I've got seven comics coming tomorrow to read! A normal week is 3-4, a slow week is 2 or less, and a good week is 5 or more. We've had a couple of good weeks in a row lately.
I've been compiling a collection of good Christmas songs for a CD to play in my car on the way to work. My biggest problem is that I can't find a version of "O Holy Night" that I like. I love the song, it's by far my favorite Christmas song, but every version I've heard recently seems... overdone. The best version I ever heard was during a church service. The singer had only a piano to accompany her, and the piano arrangement was sparse, letting the singer use her voice to emphasize the music. So I've been looking for some kind of version to get and add to my collection that fits my criteria. If you know of any, please let me know.
Some of my choices so far, though, are quite satisfactory. I've got Bon Jovi doing "Please Come Home For Christmas", Eartha Kitt singing "Santa Baby", Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas", Meg Davis' "Other People's Children", Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song", Burl Ives' "A Holly Jolly Christmas", Brenda Lee singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", and the Eurythmics version of "Winter Wonderland".
I think I might include Dora Bryan's "All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle". I also might grab something from the Star Wars Christmas Album, it's between "What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Has A Comb)" and "Merry, Merry Christmas". I'm not sure I want to have Wierd Al's "The Night Santa Went Crazy" on my compilation. We're big Wierd Al fans, but it seems a little much. But then, I'm seriously considering "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek" by the Go Go's (not those, another group). Hmmm, maybe I'd be better off making one serious compilation, and one not-so-serious... Perhaps I'll post more on this later, as I figure out what I want on the compilation(s).
Christmas Wish List: A warm coat. My raincoat is very nice, but it's not very warm. I'd like a coat that hugs me. I haven't had a really good coat since I was a kid. And, as long as I'm asking for a good coat, I wouldn't mind some nice gloves to go with them. My current gloves are getting a bit thin, but they are serviceable for another year or so, I guess.
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