12 Year Old Plays Music for Little Sick Friend

I love being inspired by people who do simply extraordinary things to help others. But, some of the best inspiration comes, many times, from someone doing something extraordinarily simple that benefits another.

School was out across America on Monday for Columbus Day. A day to sleep in late, watch tv, play video games or spend some quality time on Twitter, FaceBook or MySpace for thousands of kids. One 12-year-old in Virginia opted to do something totally different with her time off from school and it helped a little 4-year-old girl who has become Abby’s friend.

Abby is a musician and songwriter, and a good one too, who spent her day out of school sitting in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C. on Monday playing her guitar and singing to the passersby. Now, Abby is not trying to solicit tips and handouts from the people bustling by. She has a much loftier reason for being there.

Her 4-year-old friend, Taylor Love, is battling neuroblastoma, a  cancer that affects the central nervous system and that has a very high recurrence rate. Taylor currently is in remission but the future is uncertain.

Abby does these mini-concerts in several towns and locations to raise awareness for the disease that has not been researched as much as other common cancers. She plays and sings on the street to raise money for the support of Taylor and her family as well.

What does a 12-year-old girl and a 4-year-old cancer patient have in common? An afwul lot according to Taylor’s mother who says the two are best friends and spend time together inspiring each other.

Abby asks people who stop by her street performances, that have raised reportedly thousands of dollars for cancer research and for Taylor’s family, to write the little girl a note of encouragement. The notes, appropriately known as Love Notes, are taken to Taylor’s mom who reads them to her daughter each night before bed.

The notes are something Taylor looks forward to and Abby says she has people do the notes because you can better encourage a person more wholly if their mind is uplifted as well.

Obviously gifted and wise beyond her 12 years, Abby is a good songwriter as well. Her original composition, inspired by and written for Taylor, has a theme, lyrics and feeling far advanced from what you would expect coming from someone that is not even a teenager yet.

Funny thing about inspiration….when you read about someone that is inspiring or that has done something inspiring it inspires you as well, or at least it does me.

We have all questioned our lot in life if we will be honest with ourselves. We have all wondered just what our purpose on this earth could be as we strive to fulfill that purpose. Abby Miller has found the secret to fulfillment long before most people do in their lives. She has learned that to be fulfilled and to live a  life one only has to use the gifts they have been given to inspire, encourage, uplift and help others.

That’s the simple truth most of us have tried to complicate with complex philosophical contemplating and searching. Be who and what you are and use what you have to benefit others. Gee, that’s really simple.

You can read all about Taylor and Abby, see a lot of pictures, make a donation to the cause and even hear Abby’s great song for Taylor at www.taylorlove.org.  I have to warn you though….you just might get inspired.

One Thing I Hate the Most

In this “politically correct” society we live in there are many opinions on any topic you can bring up. Democrats hate the Republicans, one religious group hates another, one ball team’s fans has a high disdain for the opposing team’s fans and so on and so on.

There are no deep philosophical messages in this post, like there ever is for that matter. No arguments against or for anything will be found here. But just a statement I was recently compelled to make to myself upon seeing a photograph online.

During my lifetime, as many of you, I have lived through a number of wars, skirmishes, police actions, etc. that my country has been involved in. I have personal boyhood friends that fought in Vietnam and other conflicts. I lost some schoolmates to that dastardly war.

Just last year while standing at a replica of the famed Viet Nam wall that toured through Jackson I was struck with such an intense feeling of guilt as I looked up the names of my fallen friends on that ominous monument. A guilt that ran through me from head to toe for a few days. A guilt that expressed itself in contemplation as to why these friends were not allowed to grow older, have careers, families, children and lives like I have.

I never came up with an answer to the question but walked away changed somewhat by the experience. Though I have never taken lightly the sacrifice countless numbers of American soldiers have made for my freedom, after this experience I certainly could not be anything but deeply humbled by the way things have turned out.

A similar experience took place today upon finding a photograph online at a news site. It says it all to me. It shows a young girl holding on to her daddy’s hand moments before he was deployed to Iraq over a year ago. The story went on to say her dad is still in Iraq for about another year.

You can say what you will about why we are in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world defending freedom, etc.. But, four-year-olds were never intended to have to understand the sacrifice that war brings to families and countries.

Support the war, or wars, or not, agree with anyone else’s political standing or not….we all can agree on one thing.  I hate war.

Daddy leaves for war

Read the entire story here.

Reason to be Scared?

Lou Pritchett, a former vice president of Proctor & Gamble who retired in 1989, wrote the following letter to President Obama. Now, he didn’t send it to the president. Instead, he mailed it to the New York Times who basically ignored it totally.

However, at last report over half million people have seen the letter that made it somehow to the Internet. I am sure this number is growing daily but the half mil is the only figures I have seen.

Now, before posting the letter, some of you may have seen by now, on this blog I want to preface my doing so with a few remarks of my own.

First of all, growing up in the South I know full well racism has been an issue and a tragedy in generations past. I will be the first to admit it is still around today, unfortunately. And, with the national media recently proclaiming racism as the main reason some Americans don’t like Barack Obama more and more people, in my opinion, will latch on to that kind of reasoning when anyone opposes the president on any matter.

I am not a predjudiced person nor am I a racist. I don’t even feel the need to defend my personal standing on the issue as I feel my past speaks strongly enough for itself. I only say this for the benefit of anyone who may revert to such an opinion of me for posting this letter here.

Why am I posting it then? As much as anything, I am posting it because of the character and standing behind the man who wrote it. Lou Pritchett. In today’s world you can find as many different opinions almost as they are people to express them. But, considering Mr. Pritchett’s background, experience and level of respect in national and international business circles I think it is of value to consider what he has to say.

Afterall, any lunatic-fringe nutcase out there can be heard today (usually by national media news outlets)  regardless of their background good bad or otherwise.  So, I think it only fair Lou Pritchett has his say.

Is he right on? Is he crazy? You make up your own mind. It is just my function here to present his viewpoint. And, for the record….personally, I can’t bring myself to think he is nothing other than spot on in light of what is going on in our country today. You be your own judge. To we have a reason to be scared?

Here, in it’s entirety, is Lou Pritchett’s letter that was mailed to the New York Times who chose to ignore it without an acknowledgement of any kind.

AN OPEN LETTER TO

PRESIDENT OBAMA

By Lou Pritchett

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don’t understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and ‘class’, always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the ‘blame America’ crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer ‘wind mills’ to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use ‘extortion’ tactics against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O’Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett

Note: Lou Pritchett is a former vice president of Procter & Gamble whose career at that company spanned 36 years before his retirement in 1989, and he is the author of the 1995 business book, Stop Paddling & Start Rocking the Boat.

(Mr. Pritchett confirmed that he was indeed the author of the much-circulated “open letter.” “I did write the ‘you scare me’ letter. I sent it to the NY Times but they never acknowledged or published it. However, it hit the internet and according to the ‘experts’ has had over 500,000 hits.)

A Teenager With $3 Million Dollars?

It made news six years ago in England when then 16-year-old Callie Rogers won $3 million in a British lottery. Wow, what ever could a 16-year-old do with that kind of money? Now, let’s fast forward to 2009 and see. Today Callie is 22-years-old, a mother of two and all that’s left of her winnings is about $32,000.

Where did the dough go? For starters, she bought her parents and grandparents new homes. A nice gesture for sure. She also purchased a new home for herself, another good investment. Then things got crazy.

Callie reports that after the houses and new cars she spent over $700,000 on partying, shopping sprees and breast augmentation. Sure, something all 16-year-girls are in dire need of (sarcasm).

There were the usual loans to relatives (funny how these moochers always immediately decide they really do love you and come out of the woodwork when they smell money), and other lavish gifts, etc. But the saddest expenditure Callie says she made was blowing (pardon the pun) $400,000 on cocaine. Most of this was given to, by her own admission, her boyfriend. Some “boyfriend”, huh!

We’ve all heard stories about how big lottery winners end up dead broke and worse off than they were before they won. It has been said that the odds are against anyone winning a large sum of money truly finding happiness as a result.

Though some of these people, including Callie Rogers, eventually say they wish they had never won the lottery I don’t think it is fair to group everyone who wins big in this same category. After all, there have been lottery winners that have handled their new found fortune with positive results, haven’t there?

Anyway, as most people who read Callie’s story, I put myself in her place and asked myself what I would do with such an unexpected financial windfall. Though I don’t consider myself a money management guru, by any definition, I honestly think I would do things differently than most of the reported ultimately “unhappy” winners. I believe I would be able to parlay my winnings into something that would support my family and me for the rest of our lives.

The primary reason I think this is different from the perspective Callie was coming from. First of all, I wouldn’t be interested in lavish shopping sprees because, at this point in my life, there’s not that much junk I want in the line of designer clothes and bling.  Secondly, not having that many relatives left (another characteristic that comes from being older) I wouldn’t spend money on new homes for anyone but perhaps my own immediate family. And, those would be modestly priced at best because I know enough to realize that huge expensive homes require ongoing huge expensive upkeep, repair and maintenance.

Thirdly, cars (notice the plural form) would not get a lot of my winnings because to collect a bunch of expensive or exotic cars to collect dust in a secure garage (another expense) doesn’t turn me on either.

Now, regarding those mooching friends and relatives. I would not have a problem with saying “NO” to any of these that show up on my doorstep with their hat in their hand and a sad story. Call me cynical if you like, but I think I would see through the thinly veiled veneer of such tales to the point I would quickly give them the brush.

Callie’s largest single expense was her cocaine habit (or “boyfriend” habit whatever the case may be). Neither of these would be a problem since I don’t do drugs. Heck, I don’t even like to take an aspirin. I’ve always been a coward when it comes to swallowing anything pharmaceutical or sticking anything in my arm. I’m just funny that way. And, I think the “boyfriend” thing goes without saying (more sarcasm) as does the breast augmentation issue.

Therefore, I think should I win the lottery anytime soon I will be financially fixed for life outside of a few minor luxuries I would allow my family and myself.  I am sorry Callie wishes she had never won the lottery and am sorry for all those other winners that are yet unhappy people even after winning big money.

There may be a lot of human psychology at play here but more than I have time to explore today. I will close with two statements, however. First of all, money won’t buy happiness (though it may buy a reasonable facsimile, according to some folks), but if used properly it can be a great catalyst to reducing many of life’s problems.

And secondly, there is one reason I will never win the lottery. That reason is because, as I understand, you must actually buy a lottery ticket to even have a chance to win. Personally, I can think of hundreds of other places to spend my money that have a much higher chance of bringing a good return on it.

Just a thought……

Cash For Clunkers….I don’t think so.

Seems everyone is getting caught up in the government’s Cash for Clunkers program where certain “gas guzzling” vehicles are being taken on a trade-in for a new, more gasoline efficient ride. Uncle Sam will even foot part of the bill for you depending on the “clunker” you trade in, etc. up to $4,500.

The program ran its course in the first few days of existence and just this morning the U.S. Government announced it is trying to come up with an additional $2 Billion to extend the program.

As has happened on occasion in the past I fall into somewhat of a different position on all this. While I am all for us Americans lowering our dependence on foreign oil and am all for people driving nice new shiny cars (something I personally have  never really had a desire to do for many reasons) I am not a fan of “Cash for Clunkers” for the following reasons.

First of all, I like driving my old clunker (a ‘96 model). It runs well, is comfortable, gets us from point A to point B and most of all is paid for. I have not had a car payment in a number of years now and have grown quite accustomed to being in this group of consumers.

I purchased (or more accurately am purchasing) my home many years ago and have refinanced a couple of times over the years to save interest. My monthly mortgage payment is lower than most people pay to rent a modest apartment. So, I don’t really take to the idea of having a large monthly vehicle payment/interest that would be more than my house payment. Just doesn’t set well with me for some reason.

Secondly, I like my car. It has everything I need in a vehicle (and more). It has a great air conditioner, radio, CD player (that includes a MP3 player), cargo space for my guitars, amps and accessories and still looks great though it is 13 years old.

It rides well and except for usually needing a major cleaning inside and out (something I am not real disciplined at doing or having done often enough) it serves me well.

Yes, it is not the most fuel efficient vehicle on the road and gets only about 15-16 miles per gallon but (did I mention) it is paid for.

Having a vehicle that gets 24 miles per gallon could save me somewhere around $700 dollars a year, or more. I could be riding around in a newer, more aesthetically appealing car but at the end of every month would be forking out a large car payment I don’t have to pay now. That is much more aesthetically appealing to me personally.

My dad used to tell me that a person never betters himself financially by attempting to “borrow” himself out of debt. For this reason I can’t see how the government thinks me getting rid of a car I am perfectly happy with and strapping myself into more debt is really all that good for the economy.

I suppose it’s good for someone’s economic situation, i.e. the car dealer’s but certainly not mine…or the government’s for that matter.

No thanks Uncle Sam. I think I will hold on to my old “clunker” for a while as long as it performs at the level it is performing at currently. I don’t hold anything against all those folks who want to buy a new vehicle anyway and have a clunker around the house to trade in. Just not something I want to get into myself.

So, if when I pass you by on the highway in my 13 year old car that’s not as fuel efficient as your new, government subsidized, sleek looking vehicle, it’s OK is you want to laugh at me. Primarily because that is exactly what I will be doing at the end of the month when your shiny, fuel-efficient, sleek car payment is due.    Just a thought……

Before the Music Dies

This year marks my 45th year in music. At the risk of being grouped with people that over use old cliches it only seems like yesterday I picked up a guitar for the first time and decided I wanted to learn how to play the thing. I was 13 years old at the time and the Beatles had just invaded America (1964) that same year.

During my freshman year in high school I started playing in my first band. The first paying gig I worked paid just over $12.00 (my part) and became the pivotal point in my music career. I loved playing music for the sake of playing music, but when I discovered someone would actually give me money for doing it I was hooked.

I was fortunate in that I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. A time I consider the most creative era in American music because of the great music that was being created in all musical fields of the day.

I’m sure each generation looks fondly on their own generation’s musical contributions as the best ever, but even a casual examination of the music of the late 50’s through the early 70’s should be proof enough that something was vastly different in the artists of the day. Technology was changing and providing a more accessible platform from which musicians, songwriters and performers could spread their creative wings and try new and innovative ways of expressing themselves musically.

It was a time of great growth for the music industry when unheard of artists burst onto the scene with fresh new songs that are not only still being played today but are considered worthy enough by many of today’s new aritsts to be included in their performances and on their recordings.

Although the era of the 50’s and 60’s speaks for itself in these matters there is an undercurrent of changes in the music industry that has severly stifled and stunted today’s creativity in a number of ways.

Today’s music industry is vastly different from the one back then in the 50’s and 60’s. Yes, technology has continued to evolve and innovate but it seems there is one gaping hole in what today’s music industry is spewing out and calling good music. The hole that is left in today’s music, though not considered necessarily important to some people, is the very heart and soul of creative expression that so characterized the music from my generation.

I could rant and rave on about this “heartless” music we are being force-fed today, but recently found a documentary that says it much better than I ever could. I’ll let it speak for itself at this point. The video is found here.

Can Michael Jackson Really Be Dead?

“Hey, Michael Jackson just died”.

This remark spoken in the hallway at work  moments after the media broke the story of his death was how I learned the King of Pop had passed away. For some reason, it was a surreal moment for me. I was never a Michael Jackson fan though I appreciate and respect his musical and career achievements for all they were, I was just never a fan of his music.

Upon hearing the news, however,  it was more like in some ways that day in 1977 while employed at a local utility division I walked into our customer service area and was hit with the news, “Elvis is dead”. Another surreal moment in time for me as well.

Though, as a musician/singer/songwriter, I relate to Elvis’ career, music and general place in the American psyche considerably more than I did to Michael Jackson’s place in music history, it still was an unusual shock to hear of his death.

The media frenzy goes on here over a week later. You can’t turn on a TV, radio, or go on line without the latest blaring headlines surrounding the Jackson story. As a member of the media I  somewhat understand how and why we tend to squeeze all the mileage out of such an event we can. Yet, in the case of Michael Jackson and other controversial personalities that suddenly leave us, there is an underlying sense and cloud of sadness even apart from the normal regret that comes when hearing such news.

There’s always the reality, though sometimes buried by media coverage and the public appetite for the sensational, that besides the news story on the surface there’s a myriad of underlying stories surrounding such news.

After all, Michael, Elvis, and any other public figure or celebrity, when the sun went down each evening, was a real living, breathing person like the rest of us with dreams, aspirations, fears and regrets.

Though some of the news accounts and subsequent topics and stories surrounding Jackson’s death have touched upon his less than ideal life (even in spite of his huge, world-wide celebrity) I really don’t feel we have gotten a clear picture of perhaps what he endured during his life.

Obviously, some of the less than desirable experiences Michael lived were products of his own choosing and without further speculation or comment I’ll, for the most part, leave the discussion of his infamous child molestation court battles to others more willing to take them up than me.

I will, however, state here that personally I feel many of the real problems Michael lived with day by day quite possibly were due to circumstances beyond his initial control. That is not to defend him in anything that would cause an outbreak of negative comments to this post, but simply to bring to the surface (if but for a brief moment) the reality that he was who he was because of his life experiences.

Reports of an abusive and demanding father are common knowledge in Michael’s childhood. He himself repeatedly gave account upon account of such events. I remember reading somewhere (not that I kept up with all he was doing or even cared, quite frankly) that he was a victim of the skin pigment disease many African Americans suffer from that turns their skin white. It’s no secret that people accused Michael of wanting to look “white” during his plastic surgery period. I always thought his appearance, as it relates to skin tone, was perhaps a desperate attempt to battle his skin disease.

For this he was criticized and made fun of. If my speculation is correct, this criticism was cruel.

It is also no secret that he had an affinity for children, though some seemed to “accentuate” his interest in young “boys” more than young girls.  In my recollection, no criminal or moral wrong doing was ever proved or established as the basis of charges against Jackson in this area. Yet he will always be associated with being a child molester. Yes, he reportedly paid off some accusers but was this because at the time he could afford such a legal move and avoid the stress of furthering a court battle?  I don’t honestly know, but it could be so.

Regardless what anyone says this is a real possibility and while not a choice that perhaps turned out to be the most wise one he could make was the one he went with. Again, the public perception and speculation considered it an admission of guilt. But was it really?

Each event in the life of Michael Jackson that brought controversy, court battles and raised eyebrows to the public can be weighed with this same open ended way of assessing them though unfortunately it seems the public, by in large, is more bent on more damning accusations without taking a long look at all the real possibilities.

Did Michael Jackson molest young boys? Did he want to look “white”? Was he a monster of his own creation that used his fortune and celebrity status to go in the face of right and wrong and live as he pleased? Or, was he simply a person of circumstances that were partially out of his control and not necessarily his own fault? Yet again, I don’t know. And, that’s just my point…no one else but Michael and God does either.

Perhaps we will never fully know the answers to these questions. We do know, however, he was a multi-talented entertainer that accomplished career achievements unsurpassed by any other music artist in history.  No doubt, volumes will be written about the life and times of Michael Jackson. Movies and documentaries will be made that delve into his career and mystique.

Like other of his musical counterparts, i.e. Elvis, etc.,  he will quite likely be worth more money dead than alive in the years to come. But the real underlying reality to me, whether you think he was what public speculation claims he was or not, is that he was a person who passed through this life and left some major marks in this world that society will debate the value (positive or negative) of for a long time to come.  And, although he amassed a fortune, broke musical records and garnered enormous achievements in the world of entertainment the prevailing emotion I hold of his life is one of tremendous sadness for some reason. Just a thought……

Who Says No One Cares?

The 4th of July means many things to many people. A day off work, a cookout with family and friends, maybe a day at the lake or the ocean. Though I have no specific plans for this holiday weekend this year I am looking forward to an extra day off work and maybe some other activity that will be fun, relaxing, or just simply enjoyable.

Caught up this morning in going over my list of things to do today at work in order to be ready for that day off tomorrow (since our company is giving us July 3rd off due to the 4th falling on Saturday) one simple email in my inbox has added a dimension to my holiday that makes a significant impact on what will be on my mind over the weekend.

The email was from our company president, Christine Hillard, and follows below. If you are one of those people who are concerned when you hear someone say that Americans don’t really care about our country and its troops anymore read on…and better than that, click on the link and take the time to watch this eleven minute video before you do whatever it is you are planning to do this Independence Day weekend.

Believe me, it will give you a fresh perspective on public sentiment and compassion for our soldiers serving us.  Have a safe, happy, and blessed Independence Day.

The email:
Fallen Soldier’s Welcome Home

Killed in action the week before, the body of Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, just south of Atlanta, on June 11, 2009 .

The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough, Georgia .

A simple notice in local papers indicated the route to be taken and the approximate time.
Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects honor and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military.

Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total self-sacrifice. Georgia remains one of those graceful places.

The link above is a short travelogue of that day’s remarkable and painful journey.

Here’s the video link

http://e.blip.tv/scripts/flash/showplayer.swf?file=http%3A%2F%2Fblip.tv%2Frss%2Fflash%2F2257594%3Freferrer%3Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fus.mc551.mail.yahoo.com%25252Fmc%25252Fwelcome%25253F.gx%25253D0%252526.tm%25253D1246309462%252526.rand%25253D2ac

Now That is Compelling Radio

Over my 30+ years in the radio business there have been many times I have been especially proud to be a broadcaster. Though I have always had an affinity for this kind of work there have been  times when being involved in this vocation carries a real sense of pride and accomplishment.

Since being a part of the Forever Communications, Inc. family since 2006 one event that comes to mind readily is our annual Country Cares St. Jude Radiothon. As some of you know my wife and I have a special place in our hearts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital because of our personal experience with our daughter being a patient there in the mid-80’s. Today, at 27, she is healthy and considered a “long term survivor” due to God’s providence and the great work and research done at St. Jude.

But almost as much, I am proud of the monetary pledges our radio stations have been able to generate each year during the radiothon. I am proud to be a part of an industry that uses its resources to reach out and help others who can’t help themselves.  I am proud that each year we devote two whole days of broadcasting to this effort on five  of our stations here in the Jackson market and that each year far exceeds money raised in each previous year.

I am proud of the level of committment I see around here in the days and weeks leading up to the radiothon as well. I am blessed to work with a great bunch of broadcast, sales, and administrative professionals that care for their fellowmen and step up to the plate whenever there is a need we can help alleviate in our community.

Another event that took place yesterday (June 24) that once again raised the pride level in my own heart as it relates to broadcasting and public service took place during the Mike Slater Show.

Mike approached me last week in the hallway about doing his show “live” from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport during the time when 140 Tennessee National Guardsmen from our area were leaving on deployment what would ultimately take them to Iraq.

Mike and John Scofield pose with members of the 194th Engineer Brigade

Some of the members of the 194th Engineering Brigade were going for their second tour of duty in Iraq and a huge crowd of family members, friends, and TJ Network listeners showed up to see them off. Now, troops get deployed most every week from somewhere here in the states, but this particular deployment was special to our listeners and certainly those families that were there.  This was “our” Tennessee National Guard from our home area that provided an excellent opportunity for us as citizens benefitting from their sacrifice to tell them we support what they are doing. We were able to make it more of a community event by carrying it “live” over the air that allowed countless people that couldn’t be there to participate.

Mike Slater did a fabulous job of bringing the excitement and raw emotion of the whole experience to us that were listening to the three-hour broadcast via the TJ Network stations. On numerous occasions Mike had to pause to compose himself and even wipe away the tears from his eyes and voice as he became overwhelmed by and a part of the whole experience.

This kind of passion in broadcasting you don’t see as often these days. Mike was genuinely moved by what was happening with these guys and their families. Yes, American pride and patriotism was high on the agenda, but even more meaningful and touching to me personally was the way Mike was able to communicate the event from a more uniqe perspective.

As we all listened we got the sense that these were soldiers departing to serve their country, but more than that, we were able to more personally experience the reality that these were families that were being impacted on a deep personal level.  It beautifully brought home the realization that not only a community was being affected here but that individual flesh and blood close-knit families were too. And, we all got to share in the beauty, sadness, patriotic pride and sense of community in it all.

In our area there have been a number of troop deployments since this war started. There have been deployments over the years during other times of war and even peace times when soldiers simply had to leave home to do their duty. But, the deployment of the 194th Engineering Brigade of the Tennessee National Guard yesterday from McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport is one that will live in my memory for many, many years to come. (SIDENOTE: You can hear the entire broadcast at www.wtjs.com)

Mike Slater and our TJ Network was able to make this an intimately personal experience for all of us listening in. Many people called in to the show and expressed regrets because they couldn’t be there in person to see the troops off. But, because of the existence of the TJ Network and passionate broadcasters like Mike Slater, and even John Scofield who joined Mike after finishing his news reporting duties here at the station, West Tennessee at large was able to say farewell to these real American heroes.

We helped send them off in great fashion knowing we love, support and hold them in our thoughts and prayers. Just another way radio is able to shine in our community and I, for one, am very proud to be a small, small part of it all.  Just a thought……

Just Who is Tweeting?

Because of the business I am in (broadcasting) I try to at least make an effort to keep up with trends in communication. I was a late “bloomer” when it comes to computers as I didn’t even own one until 1996. However, once I had one on my desk at home I quickly became a “digital freak” and remain one to this day. I love my computers (notice the plurality of that statement).

I own three (just had one to crap out on me) and really could use another one if I could get a real good deal on one to use exclusively as a recording studio.

The latest trend, or at least as I see it, to come along for us computer addicts is in the form of all the online social networking opportunities such as MySpace, FaceBook and now Twitter. With the onslaught of each one (MySpace came along first, I believe) it has become easier and quicker to blast out a message to friends, family or anyone on the other end so inclined to keep up with what you are doing.

I am not a very good citizen of the social networking community because I don’t regularly log on and communicate with others that are my “friends” or “followers” (in the case of Twitter).  When I get an automatic notice in my personal email inbox that someone has either requested my friendship or has left me a message I will login and check it out. But, that’s about it.

I have used FaceBook to announce or promote a concert or broadcast event I am involved in from time to time but still am not a disciplined user by any stretch.

Depending on where you look and what article you read you can find an equal number of “experts” that either extol or demean the benefit of participating in social networking. Some say it’s the best thing to happen to business since the Internet first showed up. Others say it is a total waste of time especially when those communicating with you are dropping “world shaking” messages like, “Getting ready to wash my hair”, “Cooking lasagna for dinner tonight”, or other trivial bits of inane info on you.

I’ve noticed a condition that comes with social networking that I wonder if anyone else has experienced out there. If I don’t check my FaceBook page for a few days in a row I find myself wondering what I have missed. Sometimes the suspense gets the best of me and I will just “drop in” to see what has happened since my last visit. Usually, though, it’s pretty much the same old useless info that ultimately makes me wonder where everyone there (including me) finds the time to post or comment on someone else’s remarks.

Whatever the benefits there may be, or lack thereof, it seems a lot of people are online “tweeting”, posting and commenting these days. So much so that you would think if you don’t participate you are missing out on something and are being left behind somehow.

I came across an online article yesterday that had some very interesting stats regarding social networking. In spite of all we have been told, read about, and dreamed up for ourselves it seems social networking may not be all it’s cracked up to be after all. You decide for yourself:

According to the research data from the article 48% of Americans have a MySpace, FaceBook, or Twitter account.  OK, they have an account but are not necessarily using it on a daily basis because just 16% of those having accounts actually use them on a daily basis.

Only 5% of Americans are using Twitter, according to a recent Harris Poll and there are significant differences between those of us that are. Read on…

Another finding of the research says:

“74% of those aged 18-34 years old have a Facebook or MySpace account but this quickly drops off the older one gets. Only 24% of those 55 and older have an account”

So, is social networking just for young people?  Not necessarily, but it is new so that means, in my estimation, that it will take a bit longer for us “older” folks to get with the program and perhaps find value in using the services.

To hear people talking about Twitter it would seem everyone under the age of 30 is involved. Not so says the research…..

“8% of 18-34 year olds use Twitter, 7% of those 35-44 use it, 4% of those aged 45-54 and just 1% of those 55 and older” .

Just 8% of 18-34 year olds?  This is kinda surprising to me but I suppose that’s the way it is. Another bit of info that is not really surprising is the percentage of male vs. female users at social networking sites. The heaviest users are female (52%) as opposed to a 48% male usage. No real shock here.

And finally, the research revealed the correlation between how people with various degrees of education participate in social networking online. The data says….

“Two in five people with a high school degree or less have a Facebook or MySpace account compared to 55% of those with some college and 52% of those with at least a college degree”

Like most research projects the numbers can be made to “sing and dance” depending on your spin on the object of the research and ultimately what you want the research to reveal. The bottom line, however, is that love it or not social networking is probably here to stay in one form or another. And, if history is any indication more and more people will find, or invent, ways to utilize it in their lives.

You have to admit though it is kinda neat to have a steady update on what people are doing at any given moment in time. It’s just part of our nature to be curious and as long as we are there will be ways for us to satisfy the urge to peer inside the lives of other people….even if it is to just find out what someone is having for dinner later.  Just a thought…..