PREVIOUSLY POSTED, EDITED, WITH ADDITIONAL MATERIAL AND THOUGHTS, AND POSTED AGAIN, JUST FOR THE HELLUVIT:RETIRED JOURNALIST, KARAOKE HOST, DJ TONEY ATKINS (AKA TONEY A) -- SOME TRIVIAL BACKGROUND WITHOUT A FACEBOOK AND LEAVING TWEETING TO THE BIRDS:
Not that many years ago, folks started to jump into the internet superstream. They seemed to be developing a web site or blog for personal or professional reasons on many different subjects, so I decided several years ago, why not me, too? As per my usual semi-psychotic self, I went crazy and started several sites, along with some blogs. It's like having my own newspapers or magazines -- you know, being a legend in my own mind. On this particular blog and on my former but currently demised web site, www.toneyatkins.com/ , I shareg my interests, ideas, personal opinions and favorite links to world, national and local news of importance and interest, along with my original writings. Some of my own news reports, feature stories and commentaries on the web site have been self-published and others have appeared in newspapers, including the Daytona Times in Daytona Beach, FL, and the Florida Courier, a newspaper based in Tampa, and some distributed nationally and internationally by the Associated Press, the NNPA and other news services. . -- Toney Atkins
TONEY ATKINS -- ME:---FAVORITE ENTERTAINERS: Too many to mention, but at the top would be the late Elvis Presley, who came on the scene and impacted rock 'n roll and my love for music during my teen years. In 1972, Elvis staged one of the most dynamic and entertaining concerts in Macon, GA, that I have ever seen (and as a former entertainment writer and editor, I've seen many excellent entertainers). Even without flashy lighting and special effects, he was "awesome," as those young and old who were present in the packed auditorium would testify. I'll never forget the tears rolling down my lady friend's cheeks as he sang "Can't Help Falling in Love with You." An older lady sitting to my right literally glowed with a smile and said, "Isn't he wonderful?" He was, and he left us way too soon. FAVORITE INTERVIEWS AS AN ENTERTAINMENT WRITER FOR THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL: Bertie Higgins, of "Key Largo" fame stays at the top of my memory banks as one of my most inspirational and favorite interviews. It was a casual and informal conversation in his suite before his first show at the Holiday Inn Surfside. He was remarkably candid and genuine and concerned about the quality of the approaching performance. He was fighting a cold and playing with a local band that he wasn't really sure about. I stayed to review that show, and both he and the band were outstanding, displaying a dynamic presence that I wasn't expecting. The showbar was packed to capacity that weekend. He and I had talked about his upcoming marriage, and I was delighted to get a postcard from him and his bride, thanking me for the story I wrote. He was one of the few artists who actually took the time to stay in touch for a while after our meeting. Another favorite was the late Wolfman Jack, a great personality with a good heart. I got more for my story from the two of us riding down an elevator and standing in the lobby for a few minutes than I had from the previous 30 minutes or so with about a dozen or more event promoters sitting around a table. Doug and Peggy, a fine young couple who just happened to be my neighbors, were stunned when they showed up to perform at their gig at the Hilton in Daytona Beach Shores. They hadn't seen the story that they didn't know I had written for the entertainment section, and they, nor the intimate bar, did not anticipate the place being jam-packed. When they arrived home after the show, Doug knocked on my door, covered in perspiration, and smiling broadly as he chastised me and accused me of making him work so hard. He was a fine drummer, and Peggy had the voice of an angel. I loved their sincerity and their talent. I could write about more folks, but they can come later. I only wrote one truly negative review while editing and writing for the entertainment section. I sometimes wish I hadn't, but I probably would do it again because the caustic comedian just wasn't that funny, and I didn't want the people who trusted my columns to spend hard earned money on a show that the crowd in attendance that night didn't seem too thrilled about either. I don't recall the entertainer's name, even though I kept his nasty letter rebuking my review for some time to remind myself that everybody didn't like me and that some comedians couldn't take a joke. ---FAVORITE PASTIMES: Sleeping, writing; karaoke; trying to keep up with the insane political goings-on in the U.S; watching movies I missed when I was working as a newspaper writer/editor and part-time as a DJ-karaoke host at the same time from the early 1990s until a couple of years before retirement. ---FAVORITE TV SHOWS: "Fargo" (FX); "True Detective," "True Blood" and "The Newsroom" (all on HBO); Inside Combat Rescue" (NatGeo Channel); "Sons of Anarchy" (FX); "Eureka" (Sci-Fi Channel); the now-concluded "Lost" (from start to finish on ABC); reruns of most of the "Law and Order" and "CSI" franchises on numerous cable channels; "American Horror Story" (FX); "House" reruns on various channels; "Frasier" and "Cheers" reruns on Hallmark Channel; "The Walking Dead" (AMC); "Hell on Wheels" (AMC); news on MSNBC and CNN; and documentaries and docu-dramas on the National Geographic and History channels.
-- GUILTY PEASURES: Listening and dancing (usually by myself) to music, reliving some good times in the '70s and early '80s.
---FAVORITE MOVIES AND TV MINI-SERIES (most on DVD or often on cable TV): "Avatar"; "It's a Wonderful Life"; "Forrest Gump"; "What's Up, Doc?"; "Hair"; "Independence Day"; "Star Wars"; "The Help"; the first three quarters of "2012"; Ken Burns' "The War" (excellent PBS documentary series about World War II, with archival footage and interviews with veterans; also available on DVD); "Band of Brothers" (HBO miniseries, currently reruns on the Spike channel, also on DVD); "Airplane!", "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "As Good As It Gets," "Hairspray" (the John Travolta version); "Into The West" (TNT original series); "Mamma Mia"; "Happy Feet"; "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Crash" (2005, Academy Award best picture); "All the President's Men"; "United 93," "The Polar Express," "11:14"; "Joshua"; "Armageddon"; and the 1976 chiller, the original "Carrie."
---FAVORITE SONGS (AMONG MANY): "I Will Survive" and "I Am What I Am," both by Gloria Gaynor; "Live Like You Were Dying," by Tim McGraw; "Angels Among Us" by Alabama; "You Raise Me Up" (artist unknown); "We Are Family" (Sister Sledge); "How Can I Kiss the Lips at Night (That Chew My Ass Out All Day Long) (artist unknown); "Where Am I Gonna Live (When I Get Home)" and "I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Almost Like You're Here" (Billy Ray Cyrus); "If My Nose Was Running Money (I'd Blow It All on You)" (unknown artist); "Down To Love Town," by the Originals; "Right Back To Where We Started From" (Maxine Nightingale); "Rumors" (Timex Social Club); ALSO: "Chasing Cars," "I Can Only Imagine," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Shake Your Groove Thing" (Peaches and Herb).
---FAVORITE BOOKS: The New Testament of the Holy Bible; fiction by John Saul, Dean Koonz, Stephen King.
---FAVORITE SPORTS TEAMS: Atlanta Braves, the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs (my alma mater, where I achieved a B.S.degree in junior high education), Gordon Lee High School Trojans in Chickamauga, GA.
---FAVORITE FOODS: Everything at Golden Corral's buffet (especially the one in Fort Oglethorpe, GA); Thickburgers and chili dogs at Hardees in Rossville, GA; any burgers at Steak 'n Shake in Fort Oglethorpe; and any subs at the Subway north of Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Battlefield in Ft. Oglethorpe and at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Cloud Springs Road. I like salads, many soups (a lot of my own homemade recipes), hamburgers (all the way), meat lovers pizza from Pizza Hut, most seafood, meat loaf, beans and taters (Southern style)
--- FAVORITE SCREEN BEAUTIES: Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Helen Hunt, Holly Hunt, Queen Latifah
---FAVORITE MUSIC GENRES: Dance music from the 1940s to the present, especially good classic disco; Carolina Shag, aka East Coast beach music; country; Southern gospel; classic rock; pop and rhythm and blues from the '50s, '60s and '70s (some songs fit into the beach music-"Shag" category).
--- POLITICS: Independent. I am cynical about most politicians, most of whom spend time campaigning for the next election when they should be working to benefit the common man.
--- RELIGION: Non-denominational. I trust churches that preach the love of God and refrain from politics and discrimination. I believe God is inside all of us, not just "out there" somewhere, and that His spirit flows throughout the universe He created. I believe we just have to seek that spiritual part of us instead of relegating it to the dark reaches of our brain. Every person has the ability to tune in to the Spirit through prayer and meditation, and a belief -- in Jesus as the Son of God, for example -- can work to enrich our lives and the lives of those with whom we come into contact. Ignoring the spirit within us can bring nothing short of darkness and anti-human deeds. Love can bring miracles. Christianity is New Testament, not the Old. My favorite churches whose programs include helping the needy, especially in crisis situations.
SOME HOBBIES: My love for reading and writing led me into a career in journalism. My love for singing and music led me into a separate volunteer career as a karaoke singer and show host-DJ. My experience as an editor and reporter gave me an ultimate incentive to create web sites to share my ideas, along with links to favorite interests and information that I believe to be worth the attention of many. After learning that I have glaucoma and will likely be blind within a few years, I'm slowly working toward completion of a book, and I enjoy catching up on all the movies I missed during my multiple careers. = Before suffering a back injury and a slowly deteriorating condition that followed, I loved participating in soccer, tennis, bowling and dancing.
MOST ADMIRED PEOPLE: Members of the National Guard, fire fighters, policemen EMTs, doctors and nurses who genuinely care, men and women who put the well-being of others before themselves and, of course, the U.S. armed forces who served in Iraq, those who are still fighting in Afghanistan and those who are stationed around the world. I admire and respect honest journalists (especially TV news anchors, reporters, commentators, and newspaper and magazine writers who emphasize facts and speak their minds). Hats off to the team of very special reporters and editorial writers with whom I began my newspaper career and worked for 15 years at the News-Journal in Daytona Beach. Also, thanks to the fine staff and management of the Daytona Times who believed in me.
OTHERS GREATLY ADMIRED: Genuinely good friends (of which I have too few, which is probably my own fault). I definitely admire true Christians who truly practice what they preach, trying to live the teachings of the New Testament and who don't leave their religion at the church doors; and everyone who spreads love and peace instead of discrimination and hate. I also admire those of any or no faith who put their energies into making this a better world, helping others and spreading love and peace.
MY HEROES: No particular individual is my greatest hero or heroine. Many fit into this category. My main heroes are members of all branches of the U.S. military; firefighters; most police officers; and school teachers, of which I was one in the late '60s and early '70s. As far as a single individual is concerned, I got to know and realize the impact of the late Charles W. Cherry Sr., a black civil rights leader in Daytona Beach, FL, who achieved much for many people throughout Florida and elsewhere. He was also the publisher for whom I was privileged to work for nearly 15 years total before my retirement at the Daytona Times, the Daytona Beach minority community's newspaper. I was able to see first-hand the serious challenges to acceptance of diversity.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE: To live on this side of the ground for as long as possible and pray that somewhere, somehow I have influenced and helped someone in a positive way. I haven't always been perfect, and I pray that all whose paths I've crossed will avoid my mistakes and be better people than I ever will be. |
WEATHER
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
TRIVIAL STUFF ABOUT YOUR BLOG HOST, TONEY ATKINS
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