Paris Trip Day 14

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Can be hard to wake up in Paris.

Monday. I had a tough time waking and getting up. Walking really takes a lot out of me…but it’s not like I don’t walk at home. It took me forever to get out of the hostel. I didn’t do all that much. But I did work out again. Felt good.

I am really enjoying this book on Elvis by George Klein (which I found in the hostel. Really says something about Elvis’s popularity in Europe, which many Americans forget). George was a friend of Elvis and a member of his entourage, as well as a radio personality in his own right. I’ve learned a lot about Elvis. He wasn’t as weird as I was led to believe. The media slanted stories and made him out to be odd. One example was his interest in karate. He learned karate while he was in the Army and it was merely a form of exercise he enjoyed: the media made it sound like he was obsessed with martial arts – I remember those stories well from when I was growing up. George told his story with class. One reason I studied public relations instead of journalistic reporting when I studied journalism at the University of Maryland is because I don’t have the stomach to go after people and report everything about them; I believe that every person has a right to some privacy. I also believe in the truth. If someone has done 2 wrong things, that is no reason to blame them for a third if they had nothing to do with it.

George Klein was a true friend of Elvis Presley.

Elvis will always be the king of Rock-n-roll.

There’s no class in slanting stories just to ruin someone’s reputation – or for any reason, for that matter. I have more respect for Elvis than I did prior to reading George Klein’s book. But I have even more respect for George Klein. He was a true friend to Elvis.

Salut !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lazy day image by Can Stock Photo. “Elvis knew the score,” by Anonymous9000, taken on October 5, 2008, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0

Paris Trip Day 14

Leave a comment

Can be hard to wake up in Paris.

Monday. I had a tough time waking and getting up. Walking really takes a lot out of me…but it’s not like I don’t walk at home. It took me forever to get out of the hostel. I didn’t do all that much. But I did work out again. Felt good.

I am really enjoying this book on Elvis by George Klein (which I found in the hostel. Really says something about Elvis’s popularity in Europe, which many Americans forget). George was a friend of Elvis and a member of his entourage, as well as a radio personality in his own right. I’ve learned a lot about Elvis. He wasn’t as weird as I was led to believe. The media slanted stories and made him out to be odd. One example was his interest in karate. He learned karate while he was in the Army and it was merely a form of exercise he enjoyed: the media made it sound like he was obsessed with martial arts – I remember those stories well from when I was growing up. George told his story with class. One reason I studied public relations instead of journalistic reporting when I studied journalism at the University of Maryland is because I don’t have the stomach to go after people and report everything about them; I believe that every person has a right to some privacy. I also believe in the truth. If someone has done 2 wrong things, that is no reason to blame them for a third if they had nothing to do with it.

George Klein was a true friend of Elvis Presley.

Elvis will always be the king of Rock-n-roll.

There’s no class in slanting stories just to ruin someone’s reputation – or for any reason, for that matter. I have more respect for Elvis than I did prior to reading George Klein’s book. But I have even more respect for George Klein. He was a true friend to Elvis.

 

Salut.

 

 

 

 

“Elvis knew the score,” by Anonymous9000, taken on October 5, 2008, courtesy of Flickr, CCBY 2.0

French Anger Over NSA Spying Further Strains Europe-U.S. Relations | ThinkProgress

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“France will not tolerate actions that threaten its security and the protection of its interests,” French President François Hollande said.

Source: French Anger Over NSA Spying Further Strains Europe-U.S. Relations | ThinkProgress

NSA has been caught spying on French Presidents, even after U.S. officials made the commitment not to do so when French President Francois Hollande visited the U.S. in early 2014. I share the French people’s outrage. While it is true that governments spy on allies and enemies alike — supposedly only when the situation warrants such action — does the U.S. have to so brazen about it? Particularly after they made the commitment to the French President not to do so?

I only hope that the French people will understand that the sins of the few do not reflect the hearts and minds of all.

I can imagine the French people may not know what to think. On one hand, the White House issued a statement that denies the allegations: if that is the case, that means the U.S. government’s left hand (White House) doesn’t know what its right hand (intelligence gatherers) is doing. Yet, if you read the statement, it isn’t much of of a denial. It says in part:

We do not conduct any foreign intelligence surveillance activities unless there is a specific and validated national security purpose.

So which is it, White House? Did the NSA spy on the French government and the White House wasn’t aware of it, or did the spying occur for ‘a specific and validated national security purpose’ and you’re not owning up to it? How can you even deny the allegations when the French have physical evidence to back up their claim?

Unbelievable.

 

Salut.