Lessons learned from a 7-year-old’s karate lesson. Stephen Colbert chats with Maurice Sendak. And a teacher who changed a life.

A little slice of life story from my life this week. Due to circumstances involving my sister’s cat, I ended up taking my 7-year-old nephew to his tae kwan do lesson on Tuesday.
It was a 30-minute lesson for him and eight other kids. But it was I who learned a lot.
Master Joe was the instructor, and at first glance he seemed like a typical karate teacher. Which is to say, he yelled a lot. But then I started listening to what he was telling the tykes.
He went on about respect for family, respect for teachers, respect for classmates. And one by one the kids repeated it, and as I saw a few of their faces when they turned around, it seemed like they really got it.
We talk about all the bad influences around kids these days, and how teachers are powerless to change  behavior, etc.
But this simple class, with 7-year-old kids getting discipline and respect instilled into them by a stranger who they have grown to respect, was nice to see.
When my nephew and I left class, he said “Goodbye sir!” to Master Joe. And Joe nodded and smiled.
Shaping lives, along with kicks and punches, is his mission.

**And now, a few minutes with Stephen Colbert and beloved children’s author Maurice Sendak, who is also your crotchety Grandpa. When Colbert meets his match in a guest, it’s brilliant television. Cracked me up. Here’s part 1 below; part 2 can be seen here.

**Finally, a very uplifting story  from Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times about one teacher, and how she made a difference in the life of a human being in such an important way.  Olly Neal had no interest in school as a kid; in fact, you could say he was on his way to a life of crime. Instead, a woman named Mrs. Mildred Grady decided to try to stoke Olly’s interest in reading in a most unusual way.

Teachers make so much difference in the life of a child. I wish more politicians would remember that. I salute you, Mrs. Grady.

The historic Mass. inn that gives new meaning to Paul Revere’s “ride.” A violinist turns a cellphone ring into music. And the Facebook app that lets you update from the grave.

My posts have been rather lengthy this week, and I know you people have busy lives (well, at least I figure you’re busier than Brad Pitt in “True Romance.”)  So a couple of quick-hitting thoughts as I savor Duke’s win over the hated Maryland Terps last night…

First, yet another news story brought to my attention by my good friend (and loyal blog reader) Will Springstead, esteemed sportswriter for the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star. It seems that a famous inn in Lee, Massachusetts called The Inn at Laurel Lake has been charged with running a prostitution ring. (Insert your own “Paul Revere’s ride” joke here).

You know, I can guarantee you this kind of stuff never went on under Dick and Joanna’s noses on “Newhart.”

**Next up we have a beautiful small clip of Slovakian violinist Lukas Kmit, who, in the middle of a performance, was interrupted by a cell phone ringing. After pausing for a moment, he did this. Awesome.

**Finally, I know we’re all afraid of death. But we’re even more afraid of dying and having no one update our Facebook status letting the world know we’ve stopped breathing.
But stepping in and solving this HUGE problem are the makers of the IF I DIE app. It works like this: You create a final video or “last words” file, and you appoint three “trustees” among your Facebook friends. When each of them has verified that you have kicked the bucket, your last words are posted to your Facebook page.

Because you know, being dead and all, you’ll really be concerned at keeping people up to date.