Though I posted one just a few days ago, I've decided to post another "Some Good News" report from John Krasinski so that I can catch up. He's now done four episodes, and at last so have we. This one takes a slight turn, and not surprisingly it's a joyous one. There's also a very funny buried in here with one of his guests, but subtle joke that I don't want to give away, but I'll just say that it's related to some of his previous work.
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This tweet from Ricky Gervais is pretty amusing, but a little odd. However -- well, I'll hold off for a moment, before I say anything more.
Okay, However...now, scroll your eyes down and look at the date it was written and sent. I think they appropriate word is "Yipes." This is the annual reprint of a column originally written on The Huffington Post in 2009. And this year is the 16h anniversary of the actual event itself, Some stories simply demand repeating. Or better put, demand not being forgotten. This is one of them. And so, once again, here 'tis. One additional word. happily Maurice Cheeks is still in the NBA. He's currently the assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who made the playoffs this season (though alas were knocked out this week). He also had a strong career as a solid player, and is 13th on the all-time list of assists with 7.392. But though this doesn't count on that list, it may be his best assist of all... * * * April 25, 2009 Oh, Say Can You Sing? A National Anthem to Remember As I prepared to write about an act of uncommon decency by a professional athlete, I realized that calling it that was unfair, that it diminishes what happened, because this was simply an act of uncommon decency, period. That it happened on such a high level and under such a bright microscope might likely stir the heart more, but it's the act itself that is ultimately what stirs us to begin with. Who it was and when it took place simply moves it up the pedestal. Today is the sixth anniversary of Maurice Cheek's moment on the pedestal. There is in the American consciousness for notable performances of the National Anthem at sporting events. Jose Feliciano's evocative singing at the 1968 World Series in Detroit was the first to interpret the "Star Spangled Banner" before a national audience. Because 1968 was one of the most tumultuous years in U.S. history, many at the time were so outraged that it took his career years to recover. Today, the rendition not only seems tame, but one of the most tender and beautiful. (And among the least known. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and click here to listen.) Whitney Houston gets mentioned often for her rousing rendition at the 1991 Super Bowl, during the Gulf War. For many, Marvin Gaye's deeply soulful performance at the 1983 NBA All Star is the most memorable. But for sheer emotional joy, it's hard to top what happened on April 27, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs between the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks. Context only adds to the story. So, once again: This was the playoffs. This is what all professional athletes live for, what their year is about. The regular season is a prelude, an effort to get into the post-season and be in place to win the league championship, to become a part of your sport's history. Everything centers on this. As the start of each playoff game nears, as the roaring crowd is at its highest pitch, as players put on their proverbial "game faces" and the battle is moments from beginning, all external thoughts get filtered out, and focus is completely, solely on their task ahead. The National Anthem, for most athletes, must be one of those external influences. More than most of us, who hear the "Star Spangled Banner" largely on special occasions, professional athletes have heard the National Anthem played before every single competitive game they've played. Game after game repeatedly each season, and season after season, for decades. Relentlessly. As meaningful as the song is, it is also just part of the ritual for a professional athlete, focused on the game, geared up for the game, anxious to start the game. Silent, not singing, maybe not even hearing the music. Waiting for the National Anthem to be played, and finished, so that they can finally start what they're there for. It's likely as much background noise as it is patriotic uplift. And so it must have been as the Trailblazers and Mavericks prepared for their playoff game to start. Stepping out onto the court was Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old girl. Just another National Anthem, just another youngster who won a contest, just another two minutes the crowd wanted to get past for the game they were there to see, to start. And she started fine. A little hesitant, since it's a frightening occasion for a child, with a national audience, flashing lights and a military guard. But in her wavering voice, she was prepared. Except that a few lines in, the high pageantry of the moment got her, and something went very wrong. She totally, thoroughly forgot the words. A young 13-year-old child, standing in front of over 10,000 people, lost. Alone. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Maurice Cheeks had had a very good NBA career as a player. He played for 15 years and was selected to four All Star games. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in steals and fifth in assists. He averaged over 11 points a game. And then he later became a coach, the position he was currently in for the Portland Trailblazers. It was Cheeks who was responsible for his team, responsible for keeping them focused on the game, responsible for guiding them. But he saw a 13-year-old girl in trouble. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Immediately. Cheeks always had a reputation in the NBA as a good guy. But he was about to prove it on a national stage. And what happened next - not just with Maurice Cheeks, but eventually with all the jaded players whose minds had been previously-focused on their game, an entire stadium of basketball fans there to see basketball, even the opposing white-haired coach Don Nelson - is just enthralling. The moment is wonderful, but how it builds and surprises is even better. And at the end, this tiny girl looking up at the giant of a man - who stayed around, refusing to leave her side and return to his team - with her face awash with relief, a huge hug, and the clear words mouthed, "Thank you," is all you need to see to why it's hard to top what happened on April 25, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs for sheer emotional joy. Six years ago today. Since people are pretty much homebound these days and doing without restaurants, cooking for themselves, I figured it's a good time to head back into the kitchen for another "50 People Try..." video from Epicurious. Today, we take a look at 50 people trying to do something that I suspect a whole lot of people are trying to do these days -- make a smoothie. Now, you'd probably think that not much can go wrong -- hey, it's a smoothie. You'd be wrong.
And so yesterday, it can to pass that Trump suggested that people could fight the coronavirus by using ultraviolet light or shining powerful lights into their body -- or by ingesting bleach, disinfectants or isopropyl alcohol, better known as rubbing alcohol.
No, really. This is not The Onion. It's not a Saturday Night Live sketch. (Though likely will be, even with their isolate-at-home restrictions.) It's not just a bad dream. It's very real. And ghastly that Trump went around asking each doctor as his press briefing if it was something they could look into. They had to be mortified, though no one shouted out, "THIS IS INSANE, IT WILL ALL KILL PEOPLE." Instead, they sort of mumbled that yes, testing ultraviolet rays can be looked into. And yes, testing for powerful light can be looked into. Though even they had enough and were silent when Trump asked about testing for using disinfectant and bleach. He clearly caught on that there was no "Yes" forthcoming, but turned back to the microphone -- with the big "The White House" seal behind him, giving a sense of Authority -- and comment how it was a very interesting idea. Very interesting. It’s just inexplicable. While I can understand the doctors sitting there not saying anything about being outraged in front of him at that moment, I sure hope they are asked at tomorrow’s press conference, because they have to express how dangerous this is – because otherwise there will be people who try taking bleach and disinfectants and die. What was fascinating in all the press coverage I read is that almost everything made the story not about what a horrific suggestion this was, but about taking the opportunity to warn people Not To Do this. Speaking of which, just because I think it's required to say this in every article on the subject -- Please, no one, do not try this at home. Do not try it even if Trump decides to try it out first. It is very dangerous. And "The White House" seal behind him doesn't make it any less so. It makes it sick, ignorant and borderline criminal. Social media was falling over itself. This tweet from Dr. Rachel Ann Bender Ignacio expressed very well what was covered in most. "If you are reading this: DO NOT ingest or inhale bleach or isopropyl alcohol. Not only does this have a good chance of killing you within hours, it could severely damage brain, eyesight and lungs. Please do not act on these musings that are NOT APPROVED by TOXICOLOGISTS." Most of the responses from the media, doctors and public focused on the bleach, disinfectants and rubbing alcohol, because that's the part that's most blatantly obvious and accessible. But make no mistake, suggesting UV rays or “really powerful light” is almost as bad – the only reason it’s better is because people don’t have equipment for UV rays sitting around in their kitchen. But just to be better informed (what a concept, I know, when dealing with someone like Trump in charge...) I read up a little on the subject, and it’s insane. In short, there are three types of UV rays -- the most common A and B and the rare, powerful C. And yes, it’s believed that UVC rays may work as a disinfectant in the air and on surfaces – but for God's sake, not on human bodies, let alone inside them! It can kill you just like ingesting or injecting bleach. Dan Arnold is an expert who works for UV Light Technology in the United Kingdom. The company provides disinfecting equipment to hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturers. He was interviewed for an article and said -- “UVC is really nasty stuff – you shouldn't be exposed to it. It can take hours to get sunburn from UVB, but with UVC it takes seconds. If your eyes are exposed… you know that gritty feeling you get if you look at the sun? It’s like that times 10, just after a few seconds.” It's remotely possible that UVA and UVB may be able to disinfect. But that's "disinfect" the surface of objects -- not by shining a powerful light inside you! If you didn't see Trump's suggestion, it's worse than my typing the words. Because you can see he's so blithely nonchalant of it all and so ignorantly certain he's brilliant. And you can see and hear the doctors off to the side. Probably begging that they're not called on individually. Though you're waiting for them to leap up and scream bloody murder. Literally.
And here are those same words again. I don't offer them so that they are drilled into your consciousness in case you didn't believe it was real or because it's critical that you remember them. That's a valid reason to do so, by the way, but I present them again in this completely different format because I think it's the best way to hear them and to understand them in their absolute fullness. It's notable, too, that Sarah Cooper -- a writer and comedian -- goes by the Twitter handle of "sarahcpr," abbreviating her last name. Given the subject matter here, "CPR" is about as appropriate as it gets.
And we finish with this wonderful, and eerily prescient sketch from Saturday Night Live during the 2016 election. It features Kate McKinnon as 'Hillary Clinton' in a parody of the movie Love, Actually. Stick with it to the very end. They call the sketch "Hillary Actually." And it's pretty much the banner headline of this administration. |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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