A reminder to make math skills a priority for my children

I just went to McDonald's for a drink.  My change was $2.64 and they were out of dollars in the register.  So the cashier sent a manager for ones. In the meantime, as the line grew behind me, I said, "I'll take quarters for my change, no prob."  

With a stricken look on her face she began counting out coins for my change.  After several seconds she looked at me very earnestly and said,"can we just wait for the ones? I'm bad at counting."  

So we waited for the bills and now I am sad.

A wise rule to live by

I am traveling for work this week and, because the weather is bad and I am slightly afraid of flying, I am feeling tense. Which translates to grouchy.  So imagine my surprise (chagrin) when I found that my gate area is being accosted by a lady troubadour, playing her guitar and singing in that clear, earnest lady tone that is so popular among coffee shops and cereal bar commercials.  So, being the grumpy wart that I am, I tossed a quick text off to my likeminded, sourpuss spirits - my mother and sisters, describing the live music situation in terminal A. This was my sister's prompt response:

"In general, people should not assume that the world will find them delightful."

Which, ironically, delighted me more than anything I've read in a long time.

Some People Are Funny, Some Are Not & Gender Has Nothing to Do with It

I recently switched jobs and will no longer be writing on a daily basis for a news organization.  But I like to write, so I am pledging to (maybe) do a better job of updating this blog in an attempt to keep up with putting thoughts and ideas into printed words. It is an exercise I believe to be important and hope to pass on to my offspring.

So here goes:

Recently, Netflix suggested I watch "Women Aren't Funny," a documentary made by comedian Bonnie McFarland. Since I do everything machines tell me to do, I watched it.

The goal of the film was murky because McFarland admitted to shying away from doing much actual research on the topic, but seemed to take blind stabs at disproving the theory that (see title of doc.)

Why do we continue to validate this notion with soundbites from hilarious women addressing the topic?  Who cares if you can get a string of screechy interviews with self-loathing male comedians eschewing the worth of female stand-ups?  In the words of the fantastic Amy Poehler and quoted by Tina Fey, "I don't f---ing care if you like it."

Here's a theory of mine: Country pop music is pandering, monotonous crap. Lots of people agree with me, as noted by the amazing YouTube mash-ups proving my point.  Still, that doesn't stop it from being a billion-dollar industry and somehow I doubt Florida-Georgia Line is going to take time out of their profitable touring schedule to offer a soundbites about how I'm wrong and people should stop saying it.

So instead of shaky-shooting your way through a fumbling documentary - in which you use a confusing amount of footage of your stand up comedian husband - and demanding female comics be validated, why not just admit that we don't actually care whether idiots and have idiotic opinions?

The world does not work in absolutes. Many comics aren't funny.   Many are. And what equipment is lurking in their underpants offers no clues as to who is who.

Go see funny comedians.