As Whit alluded to below, blogging ain't that hard, though we sure have made it seem that way lately. Well, here's my contribution to Gheorghe's "write whatever the fuck we want" mantra, though this tact it is often welcomed with silence from the "we won't read this drivel" crowd. Screw 'em...today I salute the best of the non-seeing from all walks of life (be it real or imagined):Matt Murdock, Attorney at Law - The comic book fans amongst us will know Mr. Murdock by another name, Daredevil. Try for a moment to forget that Affleck movie was ever made (even I, who saw Fantastic Four, avoided this comic book flick), sullying this Marvel Comic legend's good name. Quite simply, Daredevil is a bad ass, the only blind super hero I am aware of, and frankly one of the best comic book characters ever created. OK, I'm done...need to go book my Comic-Con tix.
Stevie Wonder - It could be this entire post was inspired by the ad I saw in the DC Express today - Stevie is playing the Verizon Center tomorrow night, and I am angling for box seats any way possible at work. I'm pretty sure Stevie's 1976 epic double LP "Songs in the Key of Life" is one of the ten best albums ever created, but we can argue later. And yes, I consider Stevie a notch above everyone else's favorite blind musician, Ray Charles...but that could change if they ever do "Stevie" starring Tommy Davidson.
Helen Keller - What, you think this post is taking a serious turn? Think again...
[Afternoon Update - The Brawny Barrister just emailed me this humorous Helen Keller YouTube clip...I laughed quite a bit at this.]
Ray Charles - Like I mentioned above, Ray falls a tad below Stevie Wonder on the "blind soul/R&B" musician list, despite his terrific turn in the Blues Brothers. Sure, I've never even seen the Jamie Foxx movie, but my disdain of all things Foxx muddies the waters. As does Ray's work in those "You Got the Right One Baby" Pepsi ads. Still, his version of "America the Beautiful" is one of the most powerful songs you'll hear. And his prolific procreation would make Travis Henry blush.
Jake Peavy - Really, he's legally blind (without contacts). It's well documented.
Louis Braille - Perhaps the most important blind person to have ever lived. Nice work with the raised dot language, Louie.
Rutger Hauer in Blind Fury - Some of Hauer's finest work, as Nick Parker, a blind Vietnam vet who comes to America to rescue the son of a fellow soldier. Just for fun, spend five minutes on Rutger's site...it's worth it.
Mr. Magoo - Was he blind, or just functionally retarded? Or both? I must admit this is not a carton I saw much of as a kid...all I know is we have a dead ringer at the office for Senor Magoo, and I could swear this guy intentionally acts like a dummy just so folks will call him Mr. Magoo. To say he is socially stilted (the office guy, not the fictional cartoon character) would be the understatement of the century.
Honorable Mention - Don Denkinger. It's amazing a guy could umpire for 31 big league seasons while being blind. What, he isn't blind? You sure about that?
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