Internet

I appreciate the mail received from readers of the Tallapoosa Journal. An email from John and Marie was very kind. This couple was raised in Buncombe but moved to Marietta in the 50's so John could be closer to his work at Lockheed. My mail box also had a nice letter from Northern District of Georgia Federal Judge Harold Murphy. Judge Murphy is an outstanding jurist and I am grateful he helped me with an American History term paper when I was at Tallapoosa High School back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Judge Murphy told me he enjoyed "The First Lecture" column written last month and was the actual one I used in my classes. The past few weeks teaching college has opened my eyes to just how little I really know. Kids today can "Google" their way through college. Posing a question in class to when was the last time they went to the library was greeted by inquiries by a few who wanted to know where he library was on campus. When I asked when was the last time they had read a newspaper in the past week, I was amazed that only a few hands went up. The network news on television isn't viewed by most of the students. Many didn't know where CNN's world headquarters was. I have found out that many people are getting the news off the internet or on The Daily Show on Comedy Central. I don't have a Myspace or Facebook account. Most of my students do. I have had a couple of students the past weeks that cut class because they had gone to their grandmother's funerals twice. I have to go to a class learn how to blog. 95% of blogs I have read seem to be mean spirited folks and in many cases sociopaths. It can't be regulated nor should it be. All your political rumors and innuendo seem to come from internet bloggers. I for one do not believe the Governor of Alaska once was a stripper on Fulton Industrial Boulevard. I don't believe that Senator Obama is a third cousin to Osama Bin Laden and that Bin Laden is hiding in Jane Fonda's basement. Other internet blog rumors include General Motors bought a guy's patent for an engine that would run on tap water. It is also rumored that Exxon had the fellow kidnapped and is being held as a hostage at a motel in Bremen. I don't believe the internet blog rumor that Elvis is alive and running an all you can eat catfish restaurant in Heflin. I DO believe the rumor that Lisa Marie Presley can't sing. I saw it for myself one night at Chastain Park Amphitheater. I don't believe that Paris Hilton is engaged to the Elephant Man and that a lavish wedding is planned in front of Holcombe's Foodland and the honeymoon will be at a cottage behind the post office in Fruithurst.

I am rooting for the Haralson County Rebels this year on the 40 year anniversary of the first Rebel team. Scott McClain, Tommy Hazel, Chuck Taylor and Greg Cook were some of my chums that helped give that first Rebel squad a 6-2 and 2 record.

Chuck and Kathy Taylor invited me to speak to the young people at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in the Flatwoods community a couple of weeks ago. It was a wonderful experience because every young person in the congregation came up and thanked me for the words and for coming. My faith in youth has been restored. Why is it the good kids never get mentioned on television but the bad kids do?

Rhubarb Jones serves as a distinguished lecturer in the Department of Communication and is the director of special projects in office of university development at Kennesaw State University. Comments are welcome at Rhubarbjones@aol.com or by writing P.O. Box 1001, Tallapoosa, Georgia, 30176.