Having just lost Ed  a few days ago, this answered many people’s “bad news comes in threes” beliefs.

I am not one of them, mind you.

But the two who died today were both very important cultural icons, and they bear some manner of tribute.

First, Farrah.

You can her in depth biographical data here.  As one of Charlie’s Angels, she become a sexy TV heartthrob for the guys, reinforced with ”the poster”, which must be the most recognizable pinup shot of our generation. 

To the ladies, she was a role model of femininity and beauty, inspiring a still lingering feathered hair style (the “Farrah Do”).  Her early roles may have been weak, but her later works showed a serious actress, notably the morally complex Extremities, and the similarly stunning abuse anthem, The Burning Bed.

For the guys of my generation, she may not have been the prettiest or the sexiest, but she definitely one of the most memorable.

She died of cancer.

Next, a slightly harder bit to write:

Michael Jackson.  While I am not quite willing to say good riddance, I am unable to really feel saddened.

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As much as Johnny was the center of the Tonight Chow, Ed was only slightly less important.  It was as much their chemistry that made that show such a vibrant and wonderful institution.

Another great one has gone.   He will be missed.

So it’s Dad’s day again.  This year mine was a bit slow and relaxed, but in the end very satisfying.

I cooked two of my kids dinner, and unexpectedly my oldest son, the Navy guy, showed up and had dinner with us as well.

Good thing I made enough.    I did on purpose, actually.  I intentionally cooked the larger roast, and made extra veggies and potatoes.  I think I knew somehow that he was coming.  Or maybe I just hoped.

He walked in 2 minutes after we sat down to eat.  Good timing.

This year I really thought about what it means to be a father.  I sometimes feel like if the score cards were to be evaluated, I would be a failure.  As  provider did I really provide enough?  I always felt like we struggled more than we should have.  Was I a good enough role model?  Did I teach them the lessons they need?

And while I believe I could have done better, apparently my kids think I did OK.  I guess that’s how you really measure it.  My kids are well adjusted and doing OK.  They make mistakes but they recover, the regroup and they move forward.

Updated below:

I think he did a much more credible job of showing his remorse.  I will add only one slight caveat, that he missed one aspect of it completely.  I’ll get back to that.

Here is the text as transcribed by TV Week,  with my comments to follow:

I took a trip last weekend to unwind and perhaps to unload some pressure in myself that had been building.  The separation, the stresses at work, general money and living stresses, all combined to set me a bit on edge, to put it gently.

I left here on Saturday morning headed south on I5 to Oregon.  My route was kind of up in the air till the last minute but eventually chose to go to Kelso, cross the Columbia into Oregon and head to Astoria, where I would pick up Hwy 101 south.  The trip was very relaxing, and the LSU mobile was in fine form with a fresh oil change.

I ate a quick lunch in Longview and crossed over, stopping to admire the Columbia river.

Hwy 30 to Astoria was a lovely trip, and I wish I had more time, as I saw some fascinating photo ops that I want to revisit soon.

I also found Astoria to be a lovely town, and next time I plan to find the Goonies house, just to say I did.

I just bought a new flag for Memorial Day, as mine was getting pretty old.  I always fly one and always will.

I understand the free speech conflicts in the whole flag burning debate, but for me, the flag will always be a symbol of intense pride.  I will always fly it with pride.

Here is a tasty clip I posted last year.

Hot Air remembers too.

Here is something I heard read during an assembly once when I was in the Air Force.  I recently found it again:

I am the flag of the United States of America
My name is Old Glory
I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings
I stand watch in America’s halls of justice
I fly majestically over institutions of learning
I stand guard with power in the world
Look up and see me

I stand for peace,
honor, truth and justice
I stand for freedom
I am confident
I am arrogant
I am proud
When I am flown
with my fellow banners,
My head is a little higher,
My colors a little truer

LSU has joined the Troopathon by linking with Hot Air and the Hot Air Steamers to help get as many care pacakages for our troops as we can.

Click on the image here, or on my sidebar to go to the Campaign Store and donate a care package for our troops.

Here is more information on Troopathon.

On June 25th, Move America Forward will be holding our 2nd annual “Troop-a-thon” titled “Honor their Service.”

This cutting edge live webcast event brings together talk radio hosts, megastars of film and television, musical guests, journalists, military and Gold-star families, pro-troop groups and many more.

The goal of this charity fundraiser is to send the largest ever shipment of care packages to our brave men and women of the armed forces serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay.

Viewers are encouraged to sponsor care packages (donations are tax deductible) for the troops and each one includes a personalized message and items that our troops have requested that make their life a little easier while they are far from home, such as sun-screen, Gatorade, deodorant, coffee, cookies and much more.

The summary of this is that former VP nominee Gov Sarah Palin was in New York with her family and Letterman couldn’t resist the chance to poke at her a bit in his top ten:

Letterman Top Ten: Palin has a “slutty flight attendant look” 

I bet Ashley Herzog’s bummed he didn’t pull this a day earlier, huh? It would have made a sweet addition to her latest column. The best part: Letterman wondering why Slutty Flight Attendant didn’t stop by the show.

I guess if you can’t make ‘em laugh anymore, you might as well make ‘em wince. You missed your calling as a writer for Playboy, Dave.

Good point actually.  Coming on the heels of the hate f*ck column at Playboy, this is another indication of the lack of respect offered to conservative women.

And exactly why does he make a connection to “flight attendant” and “slutty”?  I have a friend who is an FA and she is hardly slutty, and from recent flights, I cannot recall seeing any that were dressed thus.  I wonder where the FA unions are in this?

So after making a big production of support for Miss California Carrie Prejean, Trump has fired her anyway, claiming she is not living up to her contractual obligations.

She and her attorney dispute that and claim to have an E paper trail supporting her.  She claims this is the final punishment for her gay marriage comments.

Maybe.

If so, if Trump and the pageant industry was trying to appease Perez Hilton and the gay community, they may not have gotten much traction on that as the new Miss California, Tami Farrell seems to be of similar mind.

New Miss California: Marriage between man, woman

Tami Farrell: ‘The right thing to do is let the voters decide’

Tami Farrell, the newly crowned beauty queen who is replacing the ousted Carrie Prejean as Miss California, apparently holds the same view as her predecessor, Carrie Prejean, and President Obama that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Fox News host Neil Cavuto asked Farrell, who is Christian, on his show today:

“[Prejean] went out and said that a marriage is between a man and a woman. Do you share that view?”