But there was no joy in Mudville

A number of Wife's relatives* are probably depressed this morning, after the sad demise of Ohio State's (American) football team. As I have muttered previously, saying that the game is important, National Championship and all, sort of suffers a reality check when there's a gap of nearly two months** between the end of the regular season and the bowl game...

In other news, a black ice morning after yesterday's rain. They say we might have winter again next week.

*Her father actually played for the Buckeyes, 'way back when giants walked the earth***.

**Last previous OSU game was in mid-November, against Michigan.

***I don't think he played against Jerry Ford, but that's the general era.

Department of Big Brother _Is_ Watching -- and taking notes

Our beloved and forward-thinking City Council has enacted, after debate and with a fair-sized majority, an ordinance making it illegal to smoke in your own car if anyone under 18 is incarcerated therein.

Okay, I don't smoke and I don't have anyone under 18 available to poison anyway, so this doesn't affect me. But the civil rights issue bugs the hell out of me. Next thing, you can't smoke in your own _home_ if you have children?

Plus, they made it a primary offense, which means the cops can stop you on suspicion.

I bet they'd have more positive effect on infant and child mortality by outlawing cell phone use in cars....