Heroes 26/05/2005 I admit that most of my time these days is spent on the computer, writing, communicating with others, tinkering with the blog and plotting the expansion of blog readership. As a result, I am slowly beginning to forget what a television is. Or I would be, were it not for breakfast. The early morning meal is my last link with the outdated, non-interactive source of cultural indoctrination that is the television. Let me explain.Breakfast in our house is the one meal that you can count on. Otherwise we eat when we're hungry or when it's convenient. But breakfast is a ritual that happens every day at the same time and in the same way. It also has one constituent that never varies but that's another story (okay, so I like bacon - it's not illegal yet, is it?). The point here is that this is the only time when I watch television. You might catch me at other times in front of the machine but I can guarantee that I'll be asleep in that case. At breakfast time I actually watch it.What I watch is determined by Kathy because I don't care enough to learn how to operate the remote. If I were to do that, I would then have to find out what is available and, with so many channels beaming down from that satellite, this could be enough work to fill six months or so. It's much easier just to go with whatever happens to be on.And what is on at that time of day is invariably Fox and Friends. For the sake of non-American readers, I should explain that this is a morning news show of the chatty kind, very much dependent upon the engaging personalities of its three presenters, Steve, Edie and Brian. They are a very good team and it's the interaction between them, much more than the news items, that makes the show so easy to watch. The show has also been the occasion of my acquisition of an American hero.I do not accumulate heroes easily. Apart from the fact that I see little to admire in most of the generally accepted idols of the media, I am far too old and cynical to expect any human to be sufficiently worthy of following. Just occasionally I will be moved from this attitude by someone who has a different approach and a disarming honesty.It's that honesty thing that is the real key. Looking back over my life, I can see that the one common denominator in my closest friends has been that they are not afraid to speak truth. Which is not necessarily to say that they are always right; I just enjoy people who are prepared to announce their beliefs and thoughts without considering any possible consequences. Apart from anything else, you can have a really good argument with a person like that.But to return to my first American hero; he has a very brief guest spot on Fox and Friends and I find myself looking forward to it every morning. The person I am referring to is, of course, Mancow.Now there is a man who is unafraid to say what he thinks. He is at times loud, abrasive, outspoken, cruel and hard. But he is also very, very funny. I don't always agree with his viewpoint but it doesn't seem to matter - he makes me laugh. It's his passion above all that makes him so likable. Whatever he speaks about (and it is usually some item of the news that has caught his eye), Mancow is passionate about. No wishy washy maybe this or maybe that from him. This guy believes what he says and says what he believes. And that is something to be admired.So Mancow is the closest thing to a hero that I've had in years, so much so that I thought I should write about him in this blog. And that was when I discovered something really interesting. To begin with, I listened to a recording of an interview he did with William Shatner for Mancow's Chicago radio show. It was great fun, with Mancow doing most of the talking and "Captain Kirk" rumbling the occasional reply.Then I found a site with some archived articles written by Mancow and, amongst them, I saw one about William Shatner again. There seemed to be a theme developing, so I read that, too. Suddenly everything fell into place. It seems that my hero, Mancow, has a hero of his own, namely, The Shatner (as Mancow calls him). Listening to and reading about The Shatner has given me new insight into the man we usually think of as a somewhat portly and slightly ridiculous Captain Kirk. As a private individual, he has qualities that his on-screen performance never hints at. More than anything else, I appreciated the story about The Shatner's complete incomprehension of why anyone would want his autograph.It is no great surprise to find that a hero can have his own heroes; we should expect that anyone will see in others qualities to be admired and imitated. But, if we look at why The Shatner is Mancow's hero, we find that it has nothing to do with the fictional Captain Kirk. Mancow admires William Shatner for who he is and not because he once played a character that became famous through a television series.So I am forced to re-examine my respect for Mancow himself. Would I want his autograph? He is, after all, a well known figure in America. There would be some kudos in being able to say that he signed a piece of paper for me. It might even have some value on Ebay for all I know.Fortunately, my answer turns out to be that I couldn't care less about his autograph. I admire the guy for his honesty and sense of humor, that's all. He's so entertaining. But really I shouldn't say that he's a hero - that is implying far too much. I just like him, that's all.Who needs heroes anyway?
Clive
Ken I didn't think there were any more heroes, Gone Away? As for breakfast television, the mind revolts at the thought! In our house, also, breakfast is a ritual occasion, although we listen to Radio 4 on the BBC, the "Today" programme. I'm sure you remember it from days of yore and, although it doesn't quite have the teeth it used to have, it still attempts, sometimes successfully, to shred politicians, which is no bad thing. But as for William Shatner and Mancow (where did that name come from?), we'll have to beg to differ for reasons of cultural incompatibility! I know what you mean, though, about the day disappearing as you sit facing the keyboard, fingers poised. As I said once before, I think Ned had it right when she wrote about the addictiveness of blogging. I've given some thought to referring to myself, not as a blogger, but as an internet poet. Might this ease the strain of assembly-line productivity? Date Added: 26/05/2005
Gone Away It's all part of my cultural assimilation, Ken - the early morning TV. I have no idea where the name Mancow came from but the man himself is very funny. If you like the shredding of politicians, I think you'd like this guy. But as for the enslavement to the blog, I started the whole thing with a goal in mind but sometimes wonder whether the blog has become the whole point. One day, when I get time, I must sit down and have a think about all this... ;) Date Added: 26/05/2005
Way Whoa...now that's a hell of an admission, but maybe a wise move with the ree-mote. And pass me some bacon, you knave! I have caught a bit of the Mancow before, and the man's a definate loon. But hey, I like loons, and Shatner is certainly another! And now I must readjust my shed-jule and go watch a bit of Fox tomorrow morning. Ta for the heads-up, old boy. Date Added: 26/05/2005
Jodie I think too much is made of heroes, and too many people are put forward as heroes who really shouldn't be. So many people who deserve the title are those who are struggling through difficult times, unnoticed. And so many who don't are those who have achieved fame and/or notoriety or who even are famous for being famous. Me, I think I'll stay with my hero, Big Bird. :D Date Added: 26/05/2005
Gone Away Come to think of it, his radio show is in Chicago so you could be neighbors! Loon he is but a likable one. ;) Date Added: 26/05/2005
Gone Away LOL Jodie, I think you have the right attitude there. ;) Date Added: 26/05/2005
Way As long as I have bacon, the bird is safe. Date Added: 26/05/2005
Gone Away Anything to keep Jodie happy - the bacon is on its way! Date Added: 26/05/2005
Mad Mmmmmm bacon Date Added: 26/05/2005
Gone Away .oO(That does it - I'm going to do a post on bacon...) Date Added: 26/05/2005
Ned I admittedly didn't know very much about Mancow, we have our own metro area radio talk show hosts . And having given up television about a year ago, I don't see Fox & Friends anymore. The last time I watched morning news shows it was the incredibly entertaining saga of Baghdad Bob ( I still miss that guy!). But I was curious and went to see what I could find out about him. I found a few articles by him and I liked what I read. Yes, he says what he thinks, he doesn't pull punches and most importantly he is completely politically incorrect when necessary. I do like that. Jodie, strangely enough, Mancow brought up the same point you did about heroes and who our heroes ought to be. I would suggest anyone who wants to know more about Mancow should go read this article called Hero Worship Date Added: 26/05/2005
Ned And Ken, I am not ashamed to stand up at my 12 Step meeting and proudly announce "My name is Ned, and I am addicted to blogging". It ain't easy blogging Ned, but someone has to do it. Date Added: 26/05/2005
keeefer mmmmm Bacon *winks conspiratorily to those in the 'know' * Now. Im tempted to sue. Not you Gone but Mancow. It is blatant false advertising, I was expecting some bizarre cloning experiment with the head of a man and the body of a cow, stood in a field screaming (well mooing) its torment to the world and bitching at celebrities.....as well as protetsting against burger king in its spare time. This is blatantly not the case and so i feel compelled to drop Mancow from my potential list of heroes. Mancow! load of Bull more like. Date Added: 27/05/2005
Josh I like Shatner a lot. Mancow. . . Well, I try to never take radio personalities seriously, most of them would stab you in the eye for a ratings point or two. I really really really dislike Fox. All the hosts appear to be poorly disguised aliens of the galactic variety, the amount of spelling errors in their on-screen text is appalling, and the politics — well, I will save that for my own blog. :) But I love Shatner, and I actually have his autograph. :> Date Added: 27/05/2005
josh The best bacon I ever had was in Egypt. It was delivered to our house in old school butcher paper, by the Coptic butcher, at around 11pm every thursday night. Apparently the cover of darkness would stave off any vociferous objections by the Gama'a Islamia apparatchiks that cared about such things. Damned good bacon. Thick and well smoked. Add in the distinct hint of danger, which only made it that much more delicious. Date Added: 27/05/2005
Jodie Long ago, I saw Shatner on a game show, the "$20,000 Pyramid", in which one person gives clues and a second person tries to guess what the category is. Shatner and his various partners never won, so on the last few minutes of the last show of that week, he was allowed to both give clues and then "guess" the categories...and he flung himself back and forth between the seats, giving clues and then "guessing", sometimes wrongly, and STILL didn't win. It was absolutely hilarious. Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away I agree with you Ned - I was quite surprised to find out how well Mancow writes. It seems he's not just a radio talk show host. And Shatner, of course, everyone loves... Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away You gotta see and hear the man to understand, Keef... ;) Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away Well, at least we can agree on The Shatner, Josh. ;) Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away A wonderful story, Jodie. I only wish I'd seen it! Date Added: 27/05/2005
John Evans The Americans have a phrase : "Hero to Zero" and that's Shatner for me. We have him over here advertising Kellog's breakfast cereals. No bacon in view, sadly. He's now rather red and bloated ~ a bit like a side of bacon really. The man who once said : "Beam me up Scottie" is now reduced to : "Milk and three sugars, please." Dr Who's got him licked. Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away But that's all media perception, John. Apparently in real life Shatner is quite a guy, having qualities quite unexpected in a "star", present or past. What we see on the screen rarely has anything to do with what's really going on... ;) Date Added: 27/05/2005
Ken ... and you do it especially well, Ned! I really liked the crow haiku. Is it a means and ends argument, Gone Away, or do we simply feel a need to justify the fact that, somewhat belatedly in life (in my case), we're having fun? Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away I certainly agree that blogging is fun, Ken, but beyond that much depends upon our reasons for doing it. As I said, I started with a goal in mind that, at times, seems to recede yet at others appears attainable. Thanks to that goal, the amount of work demanded by the blog expands all the time and, just occasionally, I wonder if it's worth it... ;) Date Added: 27/05/2005
Jaws I can't stand TV period any more. I hate this reality TV stuff. I hate news too. I know thats alot of hate but it would total wreck my mood for the day so I canceled my cable. My kids are no worse for it. We rent movies alot. I would say about 15 to 20 movies a month. We play on our computers alot. I love stories, reading, and interaction. When TV returns to some quality and more then 4 TV shows interest me I will be more then happy to get it again. Heros.. my hero was my pop-pop since he has passed on there aren;t any more true heros in my eyes. Date Added: 27/05/2005
Gone Away Many years ago we decided to get rid of the TV and were none the worse for it. The kids never complained (we had been expecting major protests from them) and in the end we hardly noticed its absence. Later on it did creep back in but by then we had learned how to use it properly - in other words, not to have it turned on all day, every day. And as regards your hero, Lady Jaws, I'd say that was a wise decision. :) Date Added: 27/05/2005
Way Being baconless at the moment (but with one good eye about to focus on a couple of hot Italian sausages hiding in the fridge), let me recommend Rocket Man, done by the inimitable Shatner. Go on; go look for it on the net somewhere; I must go forage. Date Added: 28/05/2005
Gone Away Okay, Way, will do. :) Date Added: 28/05/2005
easywriter Hi, I just wanted to say thanks for your kind words. Gee maybe I should really just write privately and not blog at all as all of my work is experimental at this early stage...lol! but, no the feedback that I get really helps me find my strengths and weaknessess (sp?) Well, I'm going to read your post now and thank you once again. Date Added: 28/05/2005
Gone Away If your writing is experimental as yet, your experiments are extremely effective, Easywriter. What I have read of your blog (and that's quite a lot) shows a talent that will grow through the years and an ability with words that is admirable in one so young. If I can be of assistance in any way, please let me know. Date Added: 28/05/2005
Green-Eyed Lady Hi, Someone named "Gone Away" posted on my blog a few months ago but the link didn't work. If that was you, thank you for your comments. I think you commented on my "Stairway to Heaven" post, but I'd have to check when I'm not about to drop off into sleep. (Maybe it was on one of my poems. That info is backed up on a CD.) I just found you on Liz's poetry site, per chance. You had commented above mine so your blog name rang a bell. BTW, Lewis Carroll came to mind, to me also, when she was talking of Concrete Poetry. Excellent point. I'll be back to read your posts when refreshed. (me not the computer ;). I'm bookmarking you. Date Added: 28/05/2005
Gone Away That was me alright, Green-Eyed Lady (may I call you Green?); there is, after all, only one Gone Away (fortunately)! Good to see you. :) Date Added: 28/05/2005
Josh Rocketman is good. Lucy... In... The Sky with... Diamonds! is better. ;) And she's GONE! Date Added: 28/05/2005
Way Old Shat gets around, eh Josh? Date Added: 28/05/2005
Gone Away .oO(I must be getting old - I have no idea what they're talking about...) Date Added: 28/05/2005
Way Apparently Shatner has done more than one music video, Gone. Rocket Man is the only one I've seen so far, and after I finish playing the little (or big) gambling jag that I'm on at the mo, I'll go look for Lucy in the Sky on Google. (Go check out the newest addictive way to ride the rocket, if you get a chance...I just won 100 credits.) Date Added: 28/05/2005
Gone Away When it comes to video clips, Way, I am handicapped - this machine is too ancient to cope with them. So Rocketman must remain a closed book to me for now at least. As to the new game, I presume you mean the Blog Challenge? Too risky for my taste - I'll keep my hard-earned credits, thanks! ;) Date Added: 28/05/2005
spike I loved driving to work in the morning because of Mancow's Morning Madhouse. Date Added: 01/01/2007
Gone Away Funnily enough, I've never listened to it, Spike - just not a radio person. But, if it's anything like as good as his spot on Fox & Friends, it must be a really good laugh! Date Added: 01/01/2007
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