First the not so good.

Whilst I was motivating upon the elliptical this afternoon, I was mashing through more useless television stations than one could ever imagine really does exist until one wants to watch something meaningful.  Being the political season of presidential persuasion, I do check in on the bastions of political polarization that are CNN and Fox News (not in any particular order).  I saw a pathetic presence on Fox News speaking with former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina.  The Fox lady, Maria Bartiromo asked terrible questions, was quick to cut off Ms. Fiorina and really seemed to wish she was somewhere else.  I suppose what startled me more than anything was the newsperson’s casual tone and attitude toward someone whom has faced more music and needed to be a good sport more than the reporter ever will in ten years of television.

The media folks have seemingly taken a turn for the worse.  Respect, reverence, and civility must be passe.  I suppose they have been made to reflect on values with a hard medicinal swallow.  The political jockeys sure have lost it.  I never thought I would live to see the axiom of one step up and two steps back be recalled as one step up and three steps back when it applies to the presidential campaigning going on this year.  How can a candidate talk about values when they can’t display any values that are worth holding on to?

I don’t know.  Call me old fashioned.  I miss John Chancellor.

Yesterday I bought a Commodores CD.  The guys that met at Tuskegee.  What a sound was on that campus in 1968.  I have always had a soft spot for their sound.  It is smooth stuff.  I am a fan of block harmonies and you can hear some great unity and natural ease in their singing together.  When I was a senior in high school they, minus Lionel Richie who was making hit after hit as a solo artist, hit the charts with the Grammy-winning song “Nightshift”  which was a tribute to the late Marvin Gaye and the late Jackie Wilson.  I remember hearing it on WLS The Rock of Chicago.  It was played there much more than the local market.  I thought it was great. I still do.

My Mother and I have had fun singing “Sail On” together too.  She likes that tune.  The song “Three Times a Lady” is great whether they are singing it or Buckwheat is singing it.  Great music.

I suppose it is time for March Madness.  I do enjoy the Tourney.  I hope the Indiana Hoosiers win it.  They are not difficult to root for.

ON A SAD NOTE…

I just heard that noted author Pat Conroy died March 4th.  What a shock.  He had pancreatic cancer.  A few years ago my dear wife, Carrie, and I were face to face and having speaks with Conroy.  Carrie is quite the fan…and I like him too.  “The Prince of Tides” turned into a movie was awesome.  Conroy, who was a teacher for a brief time, held out his hand to me and introduced himself.  He knew we knew who he was.  He was being polite.  When I told him I was an English teacher, he looked at me intently with a bit of a wry smile and said “I wanted to be you.”  He was a genuine article.  I will miss him.

Have a good week and every now and then…Speak the Rights.

Danny Johnson