35

Continuing a weird tradition I started a couple of years ago (33, 34), today is my Reggie Lewis birthday.

It was hard finding a good No. 35. It's not a very popular number. Reggie Lewis was a great player, but he died from cardiac arrest at age 27 -- not exactly the type of thing you want to think about as you turn a year older.

Here's to No. 35...

A wonderful story about a lady falling

Have you've seen the story about the lady who fell into the mall fountain while texting? Of course, you have.



It's one of those great viral videos that has turned into one of those great fables of modern America:

• Lady absorbed in technology makes an ass of herself
• Lady gets digitally shamed on YouTube
• Mainstream media sees lady's video and gets excited
• Lady comes out of hiding to do interviews
• Lady ponders lawsuit on morning shows
• Media digs into lady's past and finds out she's got a rap sheet
• Lady is currently facing charges for going on a Target spree with a coworker's credit card

It's classic fun and a great distraction from that messy "Man With the Golden Voice" scenario from two weeks ago. That guy's problem was he just did Dr. Phil's show too early. He should've at least waited until the Entertainment Tonight crews lost interest.

Anyway, this screenshot pretty much sums up the whole experience:

On Sarah Palin, dingleberries and improving civil discourse

I think the President and my daughter were trying to teach me something this week.

First, it was the President with his perfect speech in Tucson. It reminded us all why he was the only choice two years ago and proved he's still got the right vision for this country -- no matter how difficult it will be to make a reality over the next six years.

Then, it was Sofia with her commentary on this morning's Meet the Press.

During a brief break from begging me to "turn on some kids' cartoons," she spotted some Sarah Palin b-roll.

Sofia: Hey, that's Sarah Palin.
Me: Yeah, she's a dingleberry.
Sofia: Why is she a dingleberry?
Me: Because she's stinky and not very smart.
Sofia: Pew!But, I think I like dingleberries a little bit.
Me: Why? They're so stinky.
Sofia: Well, I like their glasses.
Me: OK.

I may not like Sarah Palin's glasses, but I know a lot of very decent people who do. They're good, honest, hard-working Americans. I understand that their beliefs about her frames come from an earnest place. At the end of the day, we can respectfully disagree about the merits of her eyewear, but understand we must find some common ground to move this country forward. Afterall, we're all Americans.

Some of us just have perfect vision.

Lance Cpl. William H. Crouse IV

I knew him as Billy, a sleepy-eyed new student in my second period American Lit class during my short-lived career as a high school English teacher.

Billy and I bonded because he was from northern Indiana, just like me, and I knew what it was like to be the new kid in high school. I distinctly remember the look on his face when he found out I was from Indiana. It was that look that teachers talk about when they talk about "the light bulb coming on." Unfortunately, it wasn't because I actually taught him something. It was just the surprise of being from the same far away region of the country. It was enough to wake Billy from his slumber and get him to listen to me ramble about some boring ass Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," hell-is-real Puritan sermon bullshit. And that was enough for me.

I didn't last long in school. Billy did better. He was the big fullback on the football team that needs a big fullback. He graduated, became a Marine and recently died a hero while searching for bombs in fucked up Afghanistan.

It makes me angry. It's sad. It sucks.

Here's part of the story.

Rest in peace, Billy.

New Quadron video

I really enjoy Coco in that marching band jacket.

Quadron - Tone [ Directed by Joslyn Rose Lyons ] from Joslyn Rose Lyons on Vimeo.

Mecano

Snow day today in South Carolina, so we might as well enjoy this awesome song from the Spanish new wave group, Mecano.

WARNING: This video includes mimes and mime-on-mime situations.

The Dude on PBS

I'm on a Jeff Bridges kick right now, so this episode of PBS's American Masters, titled "The Dude Abides," is kind of exciting.

Watch the full episode. See more American Masters.