I think something the rioting students are failing to comprehend is that good people can make really bad decisions. I don't know the first thing about Paterno, but his reputation is clearly that of a decent, morally upright guy. And yet he absolutely failed in his moral duty to protect kids who were abused, and that is a terrible thing. It is possible for both things to be true, and the former does not in any way excuse the latter.

I love HFH generally, but my grandparents were the ones who started the HFH chapter in your fair city, Erin! So I like to read about what they're doing today.

Kate, I am sure they will still be working on it tomorrow. Are your grandparents still with you? I will be happy to take a picture! Heck, I'll take a carafe of hot cocoa down in your grandparents' honor.

Oh, you're so sweet! My grandfather died in 2005, but my grandmother is still with us. She's 95 and has fairly advanced senility and memory loss at this point, though she's otherwise remarkably healthy for someone her age. Anyway, if you feel so moved to take the Habitat workers some hot cocoa, I'm sure they would love the gesture!

HFH KC recently built five homes on a street named for my grandparents, in fact, and several family members were there for the dedication ceremony and took lovely pictures. If anyone is interested, here's a nice blog post I found about the street: [link]

(Except that "amateur" is such an incredibly fucked-up concept, and I have a whole other rant about that, and. God I need to shut up and work.)

I believe I know which one you mean, and if it's true, I might be physically ill.

Ditto. Oh, god.

Yeah, I feel sorry that when the coach screwed up and failed someone, he did it in such a huge way. That *is* too bad.

And yet he absolutely failed in his moral duty to protect kids who were abused, and that is a terrible thing.

And he admitted that in his statement, that it was a huge regret of his. Which means, at this point, I have slightly more respect for Paterno than Spanier.

Ultimately, I think this is a reflection of the corrupting nature of big money college sports. After years of turning a blind eye to supporters' supplying cars, apartments, cash and hookers to top players and to professors passing athletes who can't read, your vision gets cloudy.

Actually, Penn State really hasn't had most of those problems you listed. That's been a point of pride here for a while, and usually attributed to Paterno's influence. I'm sure some of it was going on under the radar, but Penn State's team has one of the highest graduation rates, and up until this week, people bragged about how we're one of only two schools that's never had an NCAA violation. The program isn't perfect, but in terms of bribes and academics, it's better than most.

And he admitted that in his statement, that it was a huge regret of his. Which means, at this point, I have slightly more respect for Paterno than Spanier.

Absolutely.

Okay, y'all made me go to HuffPo. I feel nasty. And I've only read the headline. I diverted to read this, which I know doesn't qualify for goodstuff, but it's the sort of shit that makes me cry good tears at the same time as sad ones:

On Friday, November 4th, an unknown assailant aggressively grabbed a 12-year-old female student outside of a bathroom at George Washington Carver Middle School, while she was waiting for a classmate -- in broad daylight.

The man "forcefully pull[ed] her while making a sexual remark," states the LAPD. The young girl fell to the ground and began screaming as the attacker dragged her approximately 15 feet from where he had initially approached her.

The classmate she was waiting for, along with two additional 7th grade male students, ran towards the attacker and joined the struggle. According to the LAPD, the girl's peers demanded that the man release her.

Unfortunately the guy is still on the loose. But the girl is okay. This is how you act, for fuck's sake.

Penn State's team has one of the highest graduation rates, and up until this week, people bragged about how we're one of only two schools that's never had an NCAA violation. The program isn't perfect, but in terms of bribes and academics, it's better than most.

This. It's one of the reasons I'm betting this is hard to accept for a lot of people. But what Kate said is also very true. Paterno being a really good guy and also failing to do a really important thing aren't mutually exclusive.

Cash, was that the article about the further allegations that may break about Sandusky?

Amy, yup.