Close Encounters
Posted at 5:00 AM on February 20, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(17 Comments)
We started this week on president's day, talking about seeing sitting presidents. Many Radio Heartland listeners had good stories about their rendezvous with the commander-in-chief, but only one provided photographic evidence.
Jim Coleman is a former Minnesotan now living in San Diego.
He sent this snapshot with a brief explanation.
The photo is a Navy photo. It was lost and suffered damage.
Marine recruits are in the background.
JFK visited San Diego Naval Base in early June 1963.
I was the recruit in charge of my company.
The company had won every award.
See the stars on the guidon.
JFK asked about the stars and shook my hand.
What struck me instantly was how much older he looked than in pictures I had seen. The job had already taken a lot out of him.
I cannot recall ever before or after being at such a loss for words.
Thanks, Jim. That's a great photo, made more real somehow by the creases and tape that have marked it through the years.
I'm impressed by how thin JFK looks. Obama-esque, almost.
The other photo we received at RH World HQ this week was of Barb's goats, Alba and Dream. Many have already explored this link, but I thought it would be nice to put them here so all can notice how charming they are.
There seems to be some interest in putting goats in the Trial Balloon basket, or on a t-shirt, or somewhere prominent so people will know which animal is most attuned to our programming style.
While I'm not ready to go aloft with Alba and Dream quite yet, I am curious to see how they'd look on a mug. Here's a photo of our ceramic logo-bearer.
If you have the technology and would like to take the time to paste goat heads on this cup, or have goat heads popping out of this cup, or portray goats carrying this cup, I will happily enjoy the result.
Comments (17)
Morning Heartlanders. I don't have the technology at my house for goat graphics but can't wait to see what this group comes up with. What I was really wondering was if the sudden fame has gone to Alba or Dream's head? Barb, any inflated egos this morning in the goat barn?
"Quiet" group this Friday morning.
I'm not currently at a computer with an installation of Photoshop, but I'll see what I can do this weekend where the goats and mug are concerned. ;-)
Lovin' the Édith Piaf.
I heard that The Pretenders are playing at First Avenue tonight. I am wondering if you have Chrissie Hynde with Emmylou Harris singing "She" from the Gram Parsons tribute album. They both have such beautiful voices.
Good Morning!
Did Molly and the Hey Makers had a goat in their song? Radio Heartland is simply goat-tastic! I wonder how many goat songs there are in the Radio Goatland library?
I don't have Photoshop installed at this point either but it would be fun to play with it.
Happy Friday everyone!
Dream and Alba are very calm, shy, level-headed goats. (as opposed to Dodger - a beautiful and very spirited girl - her head is big enough) All of the goats approach this fame cautiously but are eager to do whatever they can to help RH. i don't have the creativity to design a mug, but here's a challenge for you clever folks.
i see the membership drive met the goal yesterday - great!
love the Carnival music - i will samba out to the barn...
Good Morning Heartlanders!
I have neither the software nor the ability to use it to try such a feat -- but it would be fun to see the results. Perhaps Barb and Cynthia (and other goat experts) could tell us some of the finer points of goats and why they would make a good mascot for RH -- besides being so adorable.
Have a great day! Your friend,
Joanne J
How Goats are like Radio Heartland, part I
1. Not easy to herd, but enjoys the company of others.
2. Varied but refined taste
3. Intelligent and down-to-earth
4. Come in a variety of colors and patterns
5. Enjoy the company of a kind leader
To be continued...
You know Cynthia, I never saw myself as a goat but according to your description - I guess I am! I KNOW I have refined taste. I listen to Radio Heartland!
Elinor - I got so excited to see the Pretenders are in town. I immediately checked to see if I could get tickets but the show is sold out. If you go - have fun for me. I adore Chrissie Hynde's voice.
additions to Cynthia's great list why goats should be RH mascot:
they are curious
they won't knuckle under (like when their favorite radio show is canceled)
they are ruminants - therefore contemplative?
they are trusting and respectful to those who earn such
and optimistic (but in a realistic way :-)
they are quick but cautious
they smell everything before they eat
but for those of you who suspect those intelligent, beautiful animals are really plotting against you - a website for you:
http://www.goat-trauma.org/
elinor and others, there is a very cool site called cafepress.com where everyday folks can create bumper stickers and t-shirts and coffeecups and so forth---
maybe we could start making our OWN cool RH stuff and then donate the proceeds to MPR.
i agree that the goats would be just obscure enough to make people tilt their heads in wonder and then go check out the station!
sounds like they really ARE like RH listeners...ha ha
happy friday, all
Goat qualities Part III
Adding to the list:
12. Playful -- and (forgive me) "capricious"
Gosh, all these years I thought I was a dog person. Now I realize that maybe I'm a goat person! Anybody know the rules about having a goat in the city? Do they get along with Irish Setters and Samoyeds?
late, but wanted to say how i enjoyed seeing Jim Coleman's photo of JFK shaking hand with him.. yes, looks thin. and only had less than five months to live.
thanks for sharing, Jim
Isn't that picture with Jim and JFK amazing? It left me verklempt this morning, temporarily.
I relate well to goats, Barb. Like Dream and Alba, I wear my hair short, but stylish, I accessorize to express myself, and I tend to bleat before I think. I'll keep working on that last one!
Sherrilee...do goats get along with Irish Setters and/or Samoyeds? Well, probably. I have a friend who had goats and Samoyeds for many years. And as long as the goats don't look or act like birds, Setters should be okay. My Schapendoes (Dutch Sheep Dog) as successful herding my goats as long as he didn't get caught between a wall and a butt (goat head, that is).
Trouble is potty training....or, perhaps you meant to keep the goats outside? Check your zoning office.
Barb, don't you just love that goat trauma web site???? It is such a kick (or "butt").
My favorite goat trauma story is the man who was petting a buck goat at the county fair and later seen smelling his hand with confusion and dismay.
Buck goats are no longer allowed at the county fair.
Probably shouldn't be allowed on Radio Heartland/goat comparison list either...only the lovely and polite girl goats!
Barb and Cynthia: I enjoyed the Goat Trauma site -- although it took me a while to "get it." :~)
I'm afraid you'll have to explain why petting a buck goat would cause confusion, dismay and being banned from a county fair, however. The whole RH/Goat comparison sounds very apt so far -- I can certainly relate.
Thanks for the animal education!
Sorry about being evasive about the buck goat...they smell musky, "bucky" -- really strong and rather unpleasant to anyone but a girl goat....especially during mating season which happens to begin in late summer, the same time as the county fair.
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