"...Should Have Just Called For The Chief...That Hot Air Would Have Kept The Old Guy Warm and Toasty..."

Ordinarily, this kind of stuff would rate eleven on the one to ten scale of things that should be laughed at and then ignored.

But the writer in me can't resist the opportunity to offer up a pungent punchline.

Back with that shortly.

A number of offenses can get you in trouble at work: slacking off, not being a team player, tardiness, and so on. It's understandable if you're reprimanded for committing one of these. But a Detroit paramedic is in hot water for what seems to have been an act of kindness -- giving a blanket to a man who was cold.

Two weeks ago, a house caught fire, and the elderly man who lived there was brought outside wearing only his underwear. Paramedic Jeff Gaglio gave him a blanket. Then on Tuesday, Gaglio was informed that the department was bringing him up on charges for his action. Jerald James, chief of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS), who is responsible for Gaglio's punishment, said in defense of the charges, "We can't have an employee who feels that they have a right to give away state property without getting prior approval." In fact, his department and the city of Detroit are strapped for cash. However, it has also been revealed that the department did not pay for the blanket. The one that Gaglio gave away had been donated.

Gaglio explained his frustration to his local Fox station. "I'm being punished for giving a man a blanket. Something that would seem like a common everyday courtesy. Something that any man or woman would do in the city of Detroit."

The city's EMS is battling several problems in relation to its lack of cash, including being understaffed and using out-of-date ambulances. According to the Detroit News, the department brings in $8 million less than its operating budget, due to the number of uninsured Detroit residents who are unable to pay for services rendered.

So far, there's no word on what Gaglio's punishment might be, but with increasing media attention, whatever the department decides will be scrutinized. Looks as if the old adage "No good deed goes unpunished" might ring true in this case.

The only thing more ridiculous than a story like this is that this ridiculous story is actually true.

And, as mentioned earlier, ordinarily it wouldn't be worthy of even the breath it takes to comment on it, let alone the comment itself.

Never one to let a chance to wax witty wander past me, though, I can't resist the opportunity to share this thought.

Throughout pop culture history, the word "beyond" has been oft used as a means of keeping an idea alive, whether the idea was worthy of life or not.

The classic trash novel turned trash movie "Valley Of The Dolls" begat "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls".

The cult favorite "Mad Max-Thunderdome" begat "Mad Max-Beyond Thunderdome."

In almost every case of usage, the intent was to not only milk the original for whatever milk was still bucketable, but, in theory, to imply that the "beyond" version would exceed not only the original's intensity, but, ideally, intensify the intensity.

As a rule, no, not so much.

In the case of Mr Gaglio and his predicament, though, I'm here to tell ya, kids, the B word doesn't even begin to do it justice.

Because we're not talking just stupid here.

We're talking beyond stupid.