Two police officers were shot outside an apartment complex they were patrolling here in metro Atlanta last month. The story about how they were ambushed has been all over the news both locally and nationally.

We got a e-mail at work that one of the officers was the brother of a guy I work and chat with often. This guy is 6'3" but looks even taller, and I'm 6'2". He weighs 280 lbs, has a goatee, and dreadlocks that literally reach his butt. Despite looking like a bouncer he's a really soft-spoken guy, and always jolly. Funny he's a guy who could break your ribs with one swing of his arm but is so gentle, while little scrawny punks ambush people with guns.

Today he was back at work for the first time in a month. We were in a training class, but I think his mind was far away. Even a month later, he had this very dazed look, like he had only just gotten the news. I couldn't get over how sad his eyes were. Even when acknowledging someone speaking to him you could see his eyes were really focused a thousand miles away, his mind working every second to come to terms with it. The shape of his face was altered by this expression. I had to wonder if he'll be permanently changed by it. Probably so.

I wonder if people like those shooters would do what they did if they could see the faces of the families they impact? I'd like to think not, but they probably would.

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Beyonce and Alicia at the Grammys

In happier news, did you see Beyonce on the Grammys last night? Oh, my GOD! That was the hottest thing I've seen on broadcast television since Salma Hayek's breasties on Ugly Betty. I can hardly wait until that hits You Tube. Alicia Keys had her best front forward, too.

I figured out why I've had chocolate on the brain lately. Beyonce Knowles came out in just a pajama shirt and some shiny panties, showing off her amazing legs and ass, and Alicia Keys' little puppies were about to bust out of her top, too. Now here's Amy Winehouse looking like a washed-out, anorexic crack whore. Some other girl came out playing some Dead Milkmen-type song on a pawn shop acoustic, all emaciated and pale and dourly dressed. Being sexy has been outlawed in contemporary white music, for some reason. So if you wanna see some hot, womanly curves, where else are you going to look?