A satirist

My workmate has just introduced me to the music of mathematician come satirist, Tom Lehrer. But of equal interest was his comments on the futility of satire, in a recent interview in Sydney Morning Herald, touching on the challenges of modern issues:

The real issues I don't think most people touch. The Clinton jokes are all about Monica Lewinsky and all that stuff and not about the important things, like the fact that he wouldn't ban landmines.

The people who go to comedy shows are kids that don't know anything, I think, and so you have to make jokes about your girlfriend or your family or that kind of thing only, make them as vulgar as possible.

I find it interesting that it seems Tom has noted a change from satire/humour as a form of engagement with thought and politics, to simply crass entertainment.

It is a sobering thought that when Mozart was my age he had been dead for two years.

Update 2Dec07. I thought I'd add what has to be his funniest song (for science geeks).