Airbag

Police officers in Colorado Springs have found the root of all crime, at least at home: music. The New York Times reported today that police officers in Colorado attribute rising gang violence to the growing hiphop and rap scene:

“We don’t want to broad-brush hip-hop music altogether,” said Lt. Skip Arms, a police spokesman, “but we’re looking at a subcomponent that typically glorifies, promotes criminal behavior and demeans women.”

Ok, first off, Skip Arms? Is that your name? Seriously? Secondly, Skip, based on your data, you might want to watch out for anyone listening to The Velvet Underground (the potential perpetrators/listeners are probably of your generation). Consider Heroin from the former rock sensation:

I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And Ill tell ya, things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like jesus son
And I guess that I just dont know

Clearly, that's a totally different situation though, right? They're only singing about putting a highly addictive and mind altering substance into the bloodstream. That's totally legal... And after listening to the VU, there surely wasn't anyone curious about heroin.
Skip's colleague had this to say:

“When you have music that says it’s basically O.K. to treat women poorly, to steal things and to confront and shoot police officers,” said Lt. Harris, “you’ll attract a small percentage of the population that wants to lead the thug life.”

Right on Harris! You've got it. The key word is small. As in, if Colorado Spingers were listening to opera and the lyrics involved throwing massive amounts of tea into the bay, the idea would cross a fractional number of listeners' mind. Whether they acted on it or not is up to them, not the music. The point here is that there's always been edgy music exploring taboo subjects, it doesn't make people want to kill or whatever. In fact, it's probably better than just suppressing the ideas until there's some kind of eruptive meltdown and all hell -which until then had been retained- bursts out causing chaos. But you're probably right. So go ahead, blare the siren when Tupac is on the radio, Alex and his droogs must definitely be on the street. It's all in a day's work for Colorado's finest.

Who Loves the Sun?

"Who loves the Sun? Who cares that it makes plants grow? Who cares what it does since you broke my heart?"
--"Who loves the Sun" by The Velvet Underground

Enter Spring with all its wonder. Enter the cool, refreshing breeze. Enter an ever optimistic Sun. Enter girls in tank tops and summer skirts. Enter frolicking.
It's all so disgusting isn't it?
Despite its reputation, Spring doesn't act as an aphrodisiac uniting otherwise singular souls in long overdue relationships. But it does lift burdens, brighten moods, and lure the populace out of their respective hovels and caves.
A freshman skipped his calculus class to listen to music, soak up the sun, and watch the birds flutter around from the open window of his dorm.
Another freshman was in total awe that Earth once again permitted her to walk the streets without protective covering, "It's absolutely amazing! finally I can walk to class without my face freezing."
Nothing besides the weather changes though. Employees still punch-in in the morning and count the seconds until they can punch out. Students still squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep by slamming their ringing alarms against the wall. The world still turns in the same way it did during Winter. But it's changes like these that make everything a little easier. People need something to celebrate, something to look forward to, something to hate and something to love. Spring is something to both look forward to as it nears and celebrate when it arrives.
A small minority of the local populace, one self-proclaimed complainer among them, are slightly disappointed with the Spring weather. This is it? Just warmer weather, bluer sky, more comfortable journey to and from class?
After years of the same reaction on the same type of day it's probably better to just appreciate it for what it is. If we don't enjoy the good -but not great- day then there are even fewer reasons to look forward and celebrate.
If you can, go forth, lay down your usual desires, worries, and obligations -even for a little bit. Spring is partially wonderful because it's a time of renewal and change for the better. Even as the day to day operations don't change it's still a fine time to change an attitude or behavior.