today's wisdom

actual words spoken by Mildly Nutty Professor Man (not to be confused with Crazy Professor Man, for whom N. is a grader) today, at the end of a monologue on humans' affinity for order and the application of this affinity to the study of language systems:

"For those of you who are inclined to spend a lifetime on the -- noble -- goal of reducing phonemic analysis to a computer program ... you're going to die disappointed."

:-D

the voter's dilemma

voter: a bit left of center.

incumbent: republican. bit of a rightie. (and the thing is, even assuming the individual doesn't bug me, the party really does make me squirm.)

independent candidate 1: nuts.

independent candidate 2: utterly bonzo.

democrat: none.

... what's a girl to do?

memo:

Dear Educated Adults:

Yes, it's true, motorists should pay more careful attention than they often do to others using the road, including other drivers and especially cyclists and pedestrians. And lately, around here, especially after those two professors were hit in the crosswalk (same crosswalk, different times; both injured, neither killed, thank god), people are driving more carefully -- yielding at crosswalks, imagine that!, even yielding not at crosswalks, to the point where pedestrians pretty much have the run of the place.

I don't actually have a problem with that. In fact, when I'm on foot, I'm all in favor of it. But here's the thing:

When it's night, and it's raining, and the nearest streetlight is a block away, and the speed limit is 35, and you're dressed in black? For the love of god, don't trot out into the street where there's no crosswalk! I'll drive carefully, and I'll stop if I see you, but if I don't see you, how am I going to know you're there, you know? Damn.

signed,
Fox