Facebook Friends?

I suppose I’m not unique in receiving friend requests from people I don’t recognize by name. I also find it a bit odd when a member of the opposite sex who I only know from passing in the hall wants to befriend me.

Requests from people at church make more sense. There we are a community of believers. Facebook can provide a way to get to know each other better.

Some of the strangest requests are from high school classmates that I really didn’t associate with back in the day. Why should I become pals with a guy who thought I was too square growing up because I didn’t drink and do drugs all the time as he did? Or a woman who really didn’t have time for me because I wasn’t in the same social circle of friends? I knew her in high school, junior high and grade school. Now she wants to get friendly, 34 years after I last saw her?

I imagine the requests are part of a desire for validation. If someone has 1,000 “friends” they must be more popular than someone with 100 contacts. I certainly don't look anything like I did in high school, as the photo can attest. In any regard, I think I probably have enough closer relationships online that I don’t need to go courting pseudo ones.

Missed Manners

Lately my office has reminded me of a kindergarten classroom. Suddenly work has become a list of rules I thought I learned before I knew how to tie my shoes. Apparently some others missed the memo.

I’m talking about the “refrigerator do’s and don’ts” someone has posted on the fridge in the conference room down the hall. The etiquette maven has advised me that I’m to clean up spills immediately. But the no-no list is longer. It includes, “Do not eat or drink foods that do not belong to you” and “do not leave food to rot and smell.” Thanks, Mom.

There also has been a swine flu-inspired sign erected in our office admonishing employees to “cover your cough” and “clean your hands.” More sage advice that I never heard before.

Another favorite is a plaque on a one-stall toilet a couple of floors down: “Please lock the door to ensure privacy.” There’s a concept for you.

Why did all this paternalistic politically correct advice invade my workplace, which is after all a conservative Christian environment? Are some people just upset that they don’t have more influence?

Passing on the Movies

I had planned on being part of the record-setting moviegoer crowd that packed theaters during the long Christmas weekend to the tune of $278 million. Avatar took in a whopping $75.6 million followed by Sherlock Holmes at $62.4 million.

Alas, I didn’t find the time. Freelance work and spending time with my 6-month-old granddaughter took precedence. I really wanted to go see The Blind Side after reading much about the movie. I checked out the times it played at the local cineplexes and quickly figured out why the box office set a record the last week of the year: it costs a lot to get into the theater.

I don’t go to many movies. In fact, I think the last time I paid to see a motion picture was three years ago (Rocky Balboa). The newspaper listed the price to go see a movie as $9.25. Even the matinee special ran $7.25. That seems to be a steep price, especially if my wife accompanies me. I’d rather spend the money on a nice meal in a restaurant.

Maybe I’ll catch The Blind Side when it comes to the “cheap” ($3 a seat) theater in a couple of months. Meanwhile, I’ll keep watching the old-time movies on Turner Classic Movies (no extra charge to my cable package). When the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movie debuted last month, I sat at home and watched the 1939 Basil Rathbone classic The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on TCM instead. By watching movies on TV I miss out on a lot of sex, gore and violence — and I save some bucks.

Good Reading

About a year ago, my son Josh got me to sign up for Good Reads, a free online service where I can write book reviews of what I’ve read and see comments from friends about what they are reading.

I like the concept a lot. I can leave an electronic trail of what I read and what I thought about it. Even if I’m the only one who cares, at least it gives a sense of accomplishment and an outlet for my thoughts (sort of like a blog). It also provides a goal of what books I have waiting in the wings.

I make a practice of trying to read a little bit every week in between the busyness of life. Reading can be relaxing. And learning new information is good. Reading keeps me away from television, which also is usually good.

Many of my books are free review copies that I’ve requested as a journalist. Some of the authors become sources for me to interview on a particular topic.
Most of the rest of the books I read I buy at bargain prices at the Springfield Library biannual sale. Thus, I tend not to waste time on subjects I really don’t care about.

There have been years when I’ve read only a couple of books, other than the Bible — which I read through every year for more than a quarter century. But in 2009, I managed to finish 32 books. There’s a definite pattern. A dozen books dealt with spirituality, faith or church. Eight were biographies — sometimes about people I covered (Jerry Falwell), other times just for the fun of it (Cary Grant). Another eight books dealt with marriage or sexuality, topics which took a serious hit last year. Three focused on media. Only one involved health.

Despite the popularity of electronic media, print is not dead. I hope to read more than 32 books this year.

Media Overexposure

As 2009 draws to a close, I’m looking forward to hearing a lot less about certain Americans in 2010. Some have become paparazzi targets because of their bad behavior; others are people who are just a little bit odd. A few are commendable, but are milking their moment of fame beyond the allotted 15 minutes.

At the top of my list of most annoying and overexposed people are Jon and Kate Gosselin. Every time Jon stepped out with a new adulterous it made news. Every time Kate had a screaming fit it made news. I can’t understand why newspapers, magazines and Web sites ran stories about every squabble the reality show couple had with each other. The eight kids won’t know how to live without cameras in their face. Unfortunately, Kate will get her own talk show in the spring (why should a single mother stay home with her eight young children?) so we’ll be seeing plenty of her.

Speaking of single moms with plenty of young children, here’s hoping octomom Nadia Suleman fades from view. Thankfully she didn’t get her own reality series, but I’m afraid we haven’t seen the last of the cosmetically altered craver of attention.

Sarah Palin, You betcha! Every outrageous blunder gets media attention. I haven’t quite figured out why a governor who quits her job in mid term to write a book enthralls so many people.

Chesley Sullenberger. Certainly the pilot is a hero for the way he handled the jet crashing into the Hudson River. But why is he still popping up on talk shows nearly a year later? To peddle the 340-page book (list price $25.99) he’s written about the experience.

Michael Jackson. The coronation the media bestowed upon him before, during and after his funeral made me think a saint had died. Jackson is dead. Just like Elvis. Look for more uncritical stories of how wonderful Jackson was in 2010.

Adam Lambert. We know he’s gay and is outlandish. Let’s stop giving him so much attention.

Al Gore. Why do news magazines keep running cover stories about what a global warming genius he is? They told us that years ago.

Mark Sanford. The South Carolina governor disappeared for days while sneaking off to see his adulterous partner in Argentina, then returned to hold a press conference explaining he had found his “soul mate.” Instead of resigning from office in an effort to salvage his marriage (as New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer did last year), Sanford ignored wife Jenny’s reconciliation attempts. He also narrowly survived impeachment efforts by his own political party. At least his presidential political aspirations for 2012 are kaput. So is his marriage (Jenny just filed for divorce). Gratefully his gubernatorial term is up this year. Maybe he should take some time figuring out how he forgot to be a role model to his four sons.

Miley Cyrus. She just turned 17, but I think she’ll be headed for an early divorce and drug rehab if she doesn’t engage in normal childhood activities.

Glenn Beck. Rush Limbaugh is rich enough. How can a Mormon right-winger prove to be an even more popular purveyor of divisive politics?

Tiger Woods. I wouldn’t mind seeing him on the golf course, but he seems destined for a year in the tabloids instead.

The Joys of Winter

Winter always has been my least favorite season. Yet I may be mellowing with age. It certainly helps to live in southern Missouri where the harsh, snowy winters of my childhood and youth in Iowa are a distant memory (I didn’t care much for the six winters I spent in suburban Chicago in the 1990s either).

Maybe I’m more mature, or less of a wimp, or just more appreciative, but I’ve come to not dread winter as much as in the past. In fact, the season has unique benefits.

Food has a lot to do with the upside of winter. There’s the stuff that really tastes good on those crisp days: chili, oatmeal, hot chocolate, hot tea. There’s the holiday baking, the homemade fruitcake that’s inappropriate any other time.

There’s also the homey atmosphere unlike the rest of the year: a blazing fire in the fireplace; scented candles throughout the house; sweaters that keep you warm.

Of course winter provides an escape from the drudgery of summer: oppressive heat that makes it uncomfortable to be outside; mowing the yard and pulling weeds every week; avoiding skunks on my morning walk; dealing with the threat of mosquitoes, ticks and poison ivy; suffering through allergies that make it difficult to breathe.

Perhaps the best part of winter is Christmas and all that it means: family coming home to visit; my wife knocking herself out making fabulous meals; playing the favorite Christmas music that hibernates the rest of the year; a long vacation from work; and, of course, remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Driven to Distraction

On a recent three-day trip to Northern California I had the pleasure of navigating amidst millions of cars in and around San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. Sure, bottlenecks appeared every once in awhile, but overall the experience proved satisfying. Golden State drivers know how to drive.

California motorists are aggressive, but not rude. They drive the speed limit (or slightly above), merge in a timely manner and signal their intentions.

Then I had to come back to Springfield, Mo., which I believe must have the worst drivers in the United States. Seemingly every day on the way to work, a driver will sit at a stop sign for a few seconds, then pull out of front of me and drive 20 miles an hour. Drivers fail to get into the intersection when turning left, leaving me stranded for another round at a red light. They stop while on an interstate ramp. On a one-way street they turn left from the middle lane. They drive on frosty mornings without even scraping a peep hole in their windshield.

The list goes on and on, but I’ll quit whining. Maybe all the street and highway improvements in and around Springfield will make for a better motoring experience. I am grateful not to live in the one place with even worse drivers: Branson.