Johnny Rockstar

Do you know who Helen Thomas is? I must confess, until recently I couldn’t have told you much about her either, which is a shame considering she’s really one of the few remaining mainstream political journalists with real integrity. Very briefly, according to the all knowing Wiki, she has covered every presiding since JFK and has a number of important firsts, including first female officer of the National Press Club; first female member and female president of the White House Correspondents Association; and first female member of the Gridiron Club. She’s also written a number of books. Her latest is Watchdogs of Democracy?: The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public, which sort of brings me to my point.

Helen recently pushed the White House Press Secretary about some conflicting reports from government officials (including the president) about whether or not the US tortures. Not surprisingly, she got the run around, and when the press secretary asked if anyone else had questions, the topic immediately shifted to something else. Exasperated, Helen exclaimed, “Where is everybody?” presumably calling out the other reporters for not asking the tough questions.

As I learned in one of my Journalism Law classes, historically, the press has sort of been viewed as an unofficial fourth branch of the government, with a sort of checks and balances role working to keep government transparent. Without putting words in her mouth, Helen seems to think, as I do, that in recent times, the press has failed miserably at this.

Anyway, as someone who still views journalism as a potential career path, reading about that incident really annoyed me. So I sent Helen an email thanking her for continuing to ask the tough questions and reminding her that there are a lot of us who really value what she does. I sent it off, figured I may have brightened her a day a bit and immediately let it slip from my mind. An hour later, I found a response in my inbox basically thanking me for the kind words and support. I didn’t really expect a response, let alone a personal one. It kind of touched me. More than that, I just plain think it’s cool that I’ve had real contact with a historically important figure of the press. I’m practically famous. Okay, maybe not so much, but still when was the last time you received an email from somebody who has personally talked with every president since JFK?

It also substantially increased my six degrees of separation web.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Without really planning it, we did an around-the-world food sampling this past weekend. We had Italian (if you count pizza), Scottish meat pies, Chinese, Mexican and homemade German spaetzle noodles. We also got our first sunburns of the season while at Lyon College’s annual Scottish Fest.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I was reading an article today about a proposed law that would ban cell phones on airplanes, and a reader commented that cell phones are the new smoking. It’s funny sad because it’s true. Maybe it’s because I’m a true introvert, or maybe I’m trying to live some modern day Walden lifestyle, or maybe I just like peace and quiet, but I absolutely hate cell phones. Not just because people have a strange tendency to talk annoyingly loudly on them. I hate the very concept of being completely connected to the rest of the world 24 hours a day. I also think cell phone culture is raising a generation of rude and pretentious Bluetooth wearing kids who have no concept of personal space.

If cell phones really are the new smoking, I’d love to see restaurants with cell phone sections, where you have to sit if you’re going to yak loudly through your meal. And, office buildings with designated cell phone areas. I’m also a huge proponent of allowing movie theaters to jam cell phones so I don’t have to listen to that one idiot who has to repeat louder and louder that he’s in a movie and can’t talk right now. I hate that jackass with the passionate intensity of a thousand burning suns. Oh, and if I was a college professor and your cell went off in my classroom, guess what, you just failed the next exam. And another thing, just because it’s set to silent, doesn’t mean everyone in the room doesn’t stare at your vibrating purse when your over-possessive jackass of a boyfriend calls every five minutes. I HATE CELL PHONES. If it wasn’t for the three-hour drive I make to Memphis every other weekend, I would seriously consider throwing mine out and going back to a good old-fashioned landline with an answering machine.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

There’s a cosmic being hovering above the earth’s atmosphere. It holds the key to eternal peace and happiness for humans, but is too shy to reveal itself and deliver the message. After centuries of war, it finally musters up the courage and comes to earth. It comes down to great fanfare and delivers a speech about how it holds the secret of happiness. At the end of the speech it reveals how it had been so shy and wished it would have come down sooner because this was easier than it thought. Upon hearing that this being could have prevented centuries of war, the humans get angry and lynch the being before it can actually reveal its secret.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At six thirty this morning I woke up to the obnoxious sound of a weed wacker being run right under my bedroom window. It’s nice that I don’t have to do anything to my lawn, but come on, who could have possibly thought it was a good idea to have the grounds crew start weed wacking at six thirty in the morning? Between that and the lawn mower, I lost an hour of sleep. Now I’m tired and grumpy. What a way to start the week.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’m so excited Poindexter is coming that I bought two cases of beer and pickled a dozen eggs. I’ve already dipped into both by myself, but only once or twice. I believe that you can’t serve a man a pickled egg if you don’t know how they turned out beforehand. For the record, they turned out damn good. Last night I also made baked a batch of cinnamon-sugar tortilla crisps for a snack. Easy to make and very tasty, though not quite as good as the deep fried kind you find at restaurants.

I was surprised I had the energy to make anything last night. It was a Memphis weekend, and after a restless night of sleep, I still had to wake up at 4:45 am in order to drive back to Batesville and get to work on time. Usually Mondays after Memphis I spend the whole evening on the couch. But last night I made dinner and cataloged a handful more of Don’s CDs. I even did a load of laundry.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There’s not a lot going on right now so I disappeared for a few days, but for those of you keeping track of my comings and goings down here, there are a few things to mention. Poindexter is coming down next weekend and I can’t wait. He’s in the state for some training and will be coming here afterward. I still need to find the membership card to my private club so we can go out and a beer with dinner. Either way, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be good times.

Also in the news, I have some exciting business dealings going on with Casey right now, but I don’t want to jinx it so I’m staying mum for the time being.

Finally, the 16 anniversary of Life Plus is today. That means one thing. Donuts. Unfortunately, I can’t eat donuts. Donuts, fried chicken and corndogs are all on the list of foods I feel so guilty about eating that I avoid them. For one reason or another, these three things have been so ingrained in my head as “bad” that when I eat them, I literally feel bad myself. Though I must admit that while donuts and fried chicken are completely out, the allure of corndogs is so much that I occasionally treat myself to one or three.

Posted by Johnny Rockstar at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)