Memo to Dennis Prager: When you're in a hole, stop digging!

First, right-wing talk-show host Dennis Prager defended a man who shot a graffiti artist. Then Andrew Sullivan quoted Prager without comment, by way of letting the man hang himself with his own words. Now Prager is trying to defend his defense.

"I have only ever prayed one prayer to God. It is a very brief one: 'Make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it." —Voltaire

In Memoriam: Jerry Reed Hubbard, 1937-2008

With thanks to ladybrigid of callahanians for the heads-up: One of Atlanta's own, singer, songwriter and sometime actor Jerry Reed, has died at 71 of complications from emphysema in Nashville. CNN reports his death here.

Growing up where I did, in the family I did, considerable exposure to country and western music was unavoidable. As a result, I developed a taste for at least some of the stuff; and when you add in the penchant I've always had for story-singers, becoming a fan of the ol' Bandit was pretty much just as inevitable. "The Bird," "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)," "Lord, Mr. Ford"  and "When You're Hot, You're Hot" were his best-known songs (and my favorites), but he also penned hits for bigger stars across genres, from Elvis Presley to Tom Jones, and from Nat King Cole to the Oak Ridge Boys. And his long partnership with another legendary guitarist, Chet Atkins, was the stuff of even more legend.

Jerry was beloved by good ol' boys and girls everywhere, including comedian Tim Wilson, who paid his tribute by writing and recording a song called "I Married A Woman Who Talks Like Jerry Reed" that featured an uncanny impression of Reed's distinctive fast-talking, drawl-dripping voice. Jerry had the grace to acknowledge his flaws and never took himself too seriously; speaking of his acting career in films like Smokey and the Bandit and Gator, he said, "When people ask me what my motivation is, I have a simple answer: Money." He even had a hit on Dr. Demento's radio show, with a funny song about smoking, "Another Puff," that usually gets included when the Doc plays songs about tobacco and other legal drugs.

Smooth blacktop and clear skies to you, Jer, and thanks for all the laughs. You will be dearly missed.