Lyrics, I Thought

While grading today I pulled out some old tunes from my college days - Alan Parson's Project - good stuff!  One of the songs really hit me - seemed to be speaking to a situation I'd dealt with since that time - lyrics I hadn't seemed to catch before:

"Nothing's good that uses bad;
The beat goes on and it drives you mad.
Scornful thoughts that fly your way
You should turn away -- 'cause there's nothing left to say

"You gave the best you have to give;
You only have one life to live;
You fought so hard, you were a slave
And after all you gave there was nothing left to save."

Well, I didn't get it quite right, but it buoyed my spirits while grading nonetheless - and it gave me a new perspective on a difficult time, so it's all good!

Here's a link to the actual lyrics of Alan Parsons Project's "Nothing Left to Lose:"

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/alan+parsons+project/nothing+left+to+lose_20005402.html

Didn't Know How Good I Had It!

 

I love teaching the liberal arts mathematics courses!  They allow me to explore all sorts of ideas with my students.  We're in a geometry unit right now and exploring different ways of defining dimension.  As part of their homework I asked if they thought time travel would ever be possible (time sometimes being considered a fourth dimension).  As I sit here grading the homework now I see a 50-50 split between those who think it will and those who think it will not. 

 

The next question is about whether they would travel to the past or the future if time travel ever did become possible.  I'm getting a lot of interesting answers - again, about a 50-50 split - many people saying they would go to the past and avoid the mistakes they had made.  But I think my favorite answer this year is the following:

 

"I would travel back to the 1980's. I have always loved 80s culture and am kinda bitter I was only around for 3 years of it."

 

WOW!  Given a choice of ANY era from past or future, this person would go to the decade I spent my high school and college years in.  I had no idea how good I had it!!

Wishing!

Tonight Jeopardy! started its "Battle of the Decades" tournament.  I'm so disappointed that I didn't get invited back.  Alas  .  .  .  I guess I'll just reminisce about when I was there  .  .  .

Being questioned by Alex

Daily Double - anybody out there know the answer?

And talking with Alex after the show.  Yes, he really is smart!  It's not just that he has the answers in front of him.  This was quite a conversation!