Kevin Bloody Wilson

Back in my junior year of high school, a friend's family was a host to an Australian exchange student named David. David was a likable sort. Some kids made fun of his accent, the girls all wanted to hear it. He brought with him a cassette of a performer named Kevin "Bloody" Wilson (warning, Wikipedia link has some profanity). Wilson is an Aussie comedy singer whose profanity-laden songs became quick favorites among my friends, all of whom got copied cassettes of his best stuff. I still have mine, though it's very worn out.

Last night, I searched iTunes on a lark and found they had just recently added several of his CD's, including "The Worst of Kevin Bloody Wilson," which has several of my old favorites listed. I was almost giddy. I immediately downloaded it. My favorites include a Christmas song by a small boy and girl who curse Santa for not bringing them what they asked for Christmas and one about a man who loses his telephone service after cussing out a phone operator with a hearing problem.

Ah... nostalgic profanity-laden crude holiday songs... and timely too...

Cell Phones and School

Today I went to lunch solo. It happens on occasion when everyone else is out. I bought a newspaper and watched a painful Showcase Showdown at Skyline. I hate to say it, but Drew Carey isn't doing well on "The Price is Right." He has no energy, everything he comments on is flat, even when reading the cost of the showcase. I feel he lacks the showmanship that Bob was famous for, but I digress...

I read an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer about the local ACLU being concerned that a local high school is reading the text messages from cell phones confiscated from students during class. The ACLU claims this violates the students' First Amendment rights, the school says that they are not reading the messages except in rare occasions when something shady seems to be going on.

The First Amendment excuse wouldn't have flown back in the day of passing notes between students in class, so I question whether this form of communication is any different. Any thoughts?