Slate lists the 80 most influential people over 80 years old. Including a "Just missed" list and 79ers to watch. I didn't know Maya Angelou was 81.
I particularly relish this because it mocks the incessant list-making in our culture. I mean, some lists are OK. But by and large, they're silly. They're especially silly given it's becoming increasingly clear I'll never be on one. I've already missed 30 wealthiest under 30, (I'm rich with friends!) I don't think I'll be making 40 most interesting under 40 (What? The cult of death in mid-19th century America isn't fascinating?) I do have hope for hottest dudes under 60 (Black don't crack!)
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
Copyright © 2010 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. All rights reserved.
Slate is a little tongue-in-cheek in their summary about James Von Brunn, which makes me a bit uncomfortable.
The DC list surprised me, reminding me how my power ratings ain't nearly as high as my ranking in Pick 'Em. But I was surprised by #50 on the Most Powerful in DC list? Josh Wolman, Director of Admissions at Sidwell Friends. Who would imagine a school's director would be there -
Bearing in mind that one has to achieve the not inconsiderable feat of living past 80, first.... I know nothing about DC or Josh Wolman, but I do suspect that it's possible that some of those listed wouldn't be on the list at all if their competition hadn't, you know, not made the cut off date!
Nah, the DC list is the second list TNC links to, you don't have to be over 80 to get on that. That's why I said Josh Wolman, as the Director of a private school, is a surprising choice. (but the President's children go there, so maybe it's not that surprising)
You're right, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying enough attention. I was thinking "DC list as a sub-list of the over-80 set" -- and God forbid, apparently, that I should click through to the story and check first. Sigh.
Terribly sorry.... Will get more coffee nao.
I was over at the Root yesterday scrolling through the "The Root 100 List" -- there list of the 100 men and women who are changing the world -- and was expecting to see Mr. Coates listed.
http://www.theroot.com/views/meet-root-100
Frankly, after not seeing his name, the list lost all credibility to me. Ok...just joking here. But I seriously do think he should have been included.
**Ms. Angelou looks damn good for 81. You know what they say about that black not cracking thing.
That's my fault. They nominated me. I never got the bio and headshot to em. Yep. I'm trifling.
Omgosh. What?! And here was bad-mouthing The Root's selection process. LOL.
Next time, Mr. Coates, please get them the info they need. No excuses.
Dude. That is just sad.
Huh! I tried to reply to this information thusly: "Dude. That is just sad."
And I got shunted to moderation! Is the system protecting you, TNC? I suspect you are being shielded from mockery.
Nope, mock away. I've got issues. Don't you guys know that by now?
I recently tried to post a Zen-like response of "detachment", which I then expanded to " cultivate detachment", then to a sentence, then to three, including mention of habituation through practice. That much bloviation finally got through, but kinda ruined the hope for Zen.
Ultimately, since that's not the first such instance, I think the moderation screens short zingers.
Also: hee! (Think of it as a tradeoff. We totally got a Shame blogpost in the time that such effort might have been expended.)
Negro, please. You work from home!!!! There was no excuses.
Tsk. Tsk.
Frankly, I like that TNC's not a joiner. He doesn't need The Root or Slate or whatever gimmicky list du jour to tell him his voice matters. He's got a blogful of commenters for that.
TNC, When trifling, delegate. (Spoken from experience.)
I'm sure you'd be on high on a list of "fiercest wielders of the ban hammer"
Hey! I was placed on the "Best Mom in the World" list yesterday! I have documentation -- indeed, my 6 year old daughter gave me not one, but TWO certificates of this fact! (I resisted the urge to show the first to her a little later when she got in trouble with me and I took away a new toy for 24 hours, and she declared me "evil." Hey, little girl: I HAVE BEEN LISTED "BEST MOM IN THE WORLD"!)
To quote the tao te ching--my favorite line (motto) in the whole book: "Neither to be one among many like jade, nor aloof like stone."
CitE, you always add a bit of gravitas and respectability to these threads--even the punchy ones.
I made a list of "Bloggers Worth Reading Every Day" and, TNC, you are on it. Along with all your other Atlantic colleagues. But nobody else! Talk about prestigious . . .
Also, don't discount octogenarians. They have a right to lists too--I am waiting for Sexiest Octogenarian Alive! on the cover of People Magazine. What else is Cialis good for but an erection that lasts for decades. Perhaps given the recent zombie cult following, we could extend that category to the undead.
Inre Maya Angelou, doesn't she write about listening on the radio to Joe Louis beating Max Schmelling? I am 63, and that was definitely before my time; the earliest fight I remember was Marciano knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott.
Gee, thanks for that image.
Here's a question: Is "Black don't crack" an appropriate topic to bring up if you're not black?
That's because in so many ways you are the list. The whole bloody list.
Besides you'd probably loose the packet if someone nominated you any damn way.
Seriously CitE had the right idea. In so many ways you're an uncommon common man. Props.
Don't worry, TNC. You are way hot for a guy in his 60s.
TNC, fear not. You made my list of favorite bloggers. Now that's a short and very select list. You should be proud. :)