In other (embarrassing) news, I'm having my ass handed to me in first Words with Friends game ever. I'll just be over cradling my humiliation to my chest.

You should play with me: I lose to all Buffistas.

Paterno's official statement:

“I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.

I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.

That’s why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can.

This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.

My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University.”

sumi, maybe later! We can suck together!

Exactly!

People I know really like him. People who will be harmed by the 9 9 9 thing, as far as I can tell. They say he seems like he doesn't take any shit

I'm fantasizing that Cain will win the nomination, because if he does, Obama will tapdance on his head. It will be like that season of West Wing where Bartlett ran against the empty suit.

As for Penn State, I heard a long piece on either TAL or Radio Lab last winter about Penn State as a party school; the story was mostly about college binge drinking, but they positioned Penn State as the epitome of the syndrome. Tailgating got called out specifically.

Anyway, there's a great piece in Grantland from the pov of a writer who grew up in College Station. It's mostly about his own reactions, but I suspect it's representative. When you place so much of your identity on an outside institution like that, it's going to be a real shock when it turns out to be so flawed.

I wonder if Paterno will sacrifice his retirement compensation. Or does he think he will need it to hire a legal defense team?

a short blooper reel of astronauts tripping and falling on the moon.

[link]

my inner 6-year-old laughed.

I'm fantasizing that Cain will win the nomination, because if he does, Obama will tapdance on his head. It will be like that season of West Wing where Bartlett ran against the empty suit.

I wish I could agree. However, twice before in my adult life (1980 and 2000), I've seen presidential candidates who "can't win" end up in the White House. There's at least a chance Romney could be a good president, depending on which Mitt showed up at the Oval Office on which days.

As for Penn State, I heard a long piece on either TAL or Radio Lab last winter about Penn State as a party school; the story was mostly about college binge drinking, but they positioned Penn State as the epitome of the syndrome. Tailgating got called out specifically.

Penn State is a very large school, correct? I imagine that it's kind of like the University of North Carolina -- big enough that you can find evidence to support any generalization you care to make. Party school? Check out frat row. Haven for jocks? Check out football (Penn State) or basketball (North Carolina). Center for budding politicians? Point to politicians among the alums. Intellectual center? Point to the mental celebrities among the alums.

Retirement at the end of the season is not good enough. He needs to be outsted, and now. Spanier too.

(I do note that Spanier did take the step of postponing - though not cancelling - the banquet with big donors in his honor that was scheduled for next week.)