The reason why I assume a certain number of lemmy users can name every element of the periodic table
this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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Almost every, since he wrote that song more have been discahvered
It's one of the reasons Dan Radcliffe got cast to play Weird Al.
Here's the clip from Graham Norton: https://youtu.be/rSAaiYKF0cs
I guess we won't all burn together after all. He always has fun songs. New Math was a favorite of mine.
Ironically, the adults singing New Math today are the ones who grew up with the new math that Lehrer was singing about back then
It's also funny because that new math while unintuitive to adults is great at making math more intuitive. It teaches you to understand mathematical relationships and build number sense
It's even funnier because Common Core is another attempt to make arithmetic more intuitive, and is treated much like New Math by the generation that learned New Math as simply "math"
"I can't even do my kid's math homework" well yeah, you weren't at the lesson and we're trying to deal with the fact that a lot of Americans suck at math.
Smut is as relevant today as ever before
https://bsky.app/profile/radosh.bsky.social/post/3luxpjmhb4k2l
It is a sobering thought that one of his NYT obituary writers died two years ago.
It's hard to be sad, the man made it to 97 and was still doing stuff in his 90s. He had a long life and his music will remain cherished
Tribute song by filker Robert Osband, who himself passed away a few years ago:
WHATEVER BECAME OF TOM LEHRER?
Tune: Whatever became of Hubert? ( https://youtu.be/hF3sEZ7M4h0 )
By Robert Osband, Copyright 1978
From The NESFA Hymnal, page 174.
Whatever became of Tom Lehrer?
Has anyone heard a thing?
Is he dead? Still a Prof?
Does he make bucks enough, that he don't need that stuff he sings?
A satirical, jocular singer
Who's been through the political wringer,
It is hard to record a new disc
When Harvard brings down its big fist.
Whatever's become of you, Thomas?
We miss you, so tell us please:
It is Harvard, your boss,
Why you're gathering moss
While your waiting applause lies in freeze?
Does Tommy, recalling when he was big time,
Think "They won't like my singing,
For my songs, give a dime."
We all think that a comeback is due!
Tom Lehrer, what happened to you?
“Life is like a sewer: what you get out of it depends on what you put into it.”