At least a half dozen people have emailed me the photo of the guy eating at an Olive Garden in Charlotte who got so ticked off after an argument with his date that he propped his menu up so as to not be able to see her face anymore. Until he ordered his chow anyhow.  

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/22/why-has-this-photo-of-a-guy-hiding-behind-olive-garden-menu-fort-gone-viral/

The photo was taken by someone named Adam who then Tweeted it, along with the zinger "A grown ass man is mad at his girlfriend & has made a menu fort." Funny stuff. But it does beg the question: Just how hot was the date that you were on, Adam? Sure, the doofus just had an argument loud enough that it got your attention, and the "menu fort" is, admittedly, difficult to resist. I can see telling whoever you were with what was happening, but Tweeting it? Got some time on your hands there, huh, buddy? Never mind the fact that there is a little something called "invasion of privacy." Even while we are all well aware that privacy is on the endangered species list.

As you can see in the article accompanying the photo I have provided a link to, Adam was more than happy to be interviewed, too, and regale readers with exactly what happened when the menus were snatched up by the waitress after she took the couple's order. "The couple's phones came out and stayed out for the rest of the meal." Presumably this is when yours was put away, Adam? For I do not see a follow-up photo and, alas, no furthers Tweets.

There were, however, more than 1,273 retweets of the menu fort photo. Lots of stones, from lots of glass houses.

A young, adorable couple sat behind me at a concert a few weeks back. They couldn't have been 18. Throughout the entire performance of the opening act they used their respective phones to snaps photos or to shoot videos. Then they stayed on their devices throughout the entire intermission, ostensibly posting the photos/videos, and probably emailing them to friends, along with "I wonder if he/she likes me." Don't worry; he or she will text one of their friends if they do, and then that person will text someone you know, and then they'll text someone and....eventually you'll find out. Not one word uttered to one another the entire time the lights were up.

Maybe I should've taken a photo of them, posted it on Twitter, along with the zinger "Grown ass man taking a photo of two kids on a date who should have left their phones at home."  

While politicians continue to plague us with promises, telling us what we want to hear while on the campaign trail -- only to act incredulous when questioned about it once in office -- one man who keeps his word, who hangs his (alter ego's) hat on honor, remains as reliable as ever. Sadly, yes, he is a work of fiction. http://youtu.be/T6DJcgm3wNY

Why is the timing so perfect for "Superman" to return to the silver screen? One answer is obvious: Box office bank. Look at the "Batman" reboot-cum-trilogy, never mind "Iron Man" and so many more. But I believe it's more than that. We need him. We need the "Man of Steel," as opposed to the litany of Men of Spiel who can be found around every corner these days, emerging from the woodwork at a fevered pitch.   

We need him post-Newtown, post-Boston Marathon...post 9/11. Mad Lib it. Post- ___.

We also need simply to BELIEVE in him. Not a man who can fly, or leap tall buildings in a single bound; not a man who is faster than a speeding (federally regulated) bullet or who can bend steel in his bare hands. Believe in a man who not only knows right from wrong, but sees to it that the former is far more glamorous than the latter.

Competitors and race volunteers were crying as they fled the chaos. Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners, and Massachusetts General Hospital said it had received four patients and was expecting more.

About three hours after the winners crossed the line, there was a loud explosion on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the photo bridge that marks the finish line. Another explosion could be heard a few seconds later.

Smoke rose from the blasts, fluttering through the national flags lining the route of the world's oldest and most prestigious marathon. TV helicopter footage showed blood staining the pavement in the popular shopping and tourist area known as the Back Bay, and the windows were blown out of multiple storefronts.

A bomb squad was en route to the site of the blasts, NBC News reported. The cause of the blasts remained unclear.

UPDATES AND COMPLETE COVERAGE AT NBCCONNECTICUT.COM

Brad Paisley's latest song, featuring a guest rap from LL Cool J, is called "Accidental Racist," and sure does start off swell. But, long before the abrupt and poorly written rap laid down by "Ladies Love" kicks in, it devolves into "Saturday Night Live" sketch territory. Except for the fact that it's not; it's deadly serious. It's also -- which is important to note -- well-intentioned, as well as it is territory mined before, and with much better results (more on that in a moment).

Check it out here: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/04/09/brad-paisley-and-ll-cool-js-accidental-racist-ignites-controversy/

Yes, the song has "ignited controversy" -- not the most difficult feat these days. Folks are offended. Country music fans don't like the description Paisley utilizes for their ilk, nor do African-Americans love the "cover" LL paints that their "book" is being judged by. Plus, there's the time-honored "sell-out" grenade being lobbed in generously by both sides. Sides.....when it comes to a song with a goal of eradicating just that, one that encourages understanding, backing off (and down) and even sitting down and having a beer together.

That last part is what offends me. No, not the concept of sitting down for a beer with someone you've decided you don't like solely due to his or her appearance; it offends me lyrically. LL thinks his Cool can render us susceptible to rhyming "frankly" with "Yankee" and "Red flag" with "do-rag" and "Mason/Dixon" with "fixin.'" There shoulda been some nixin.' Shame on the producer who facilitated this fiasco for not one single objection regarding lyrics!

For the record, I've seen both Paisley and LL in concert before. I fell asleep during the former's borderline-"Hee Haw" extravaganza and had a blast at the latter's "Mama Said Knock You Out" triumphant comeback (even as he declared, "Don't call it a comeback"). As far as personality is concerned, they are both extremely likable and genuine. Musically, I'd rather cue up some Cool J over some Paisley, but that's besides the point. Even on paper a duet would have been laughable to me. Sure, drop the opening of "Sweet Home Alabama" in the middle of a rap record, but a rap in the middle of a Southern-fried ditty is decidedly more difficult to pull off. This doesn't.

As for the subject, the civility implored with music as the mean.: Been there, done that. And better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssqBjaTzOU