No matter what time I go to bed … 10:30 p.m. or midnight,I wake-up when it is just beginning to get light (somewhere between 4 and 5 a.m.). That’s when my blogger’s mind kicks in and the GLOB of potential topics, themes, and ideas bounce around like a ping-pong ball. Quite often, this mental gymnastics starts before I have had a chance to put on my bunny-rabbit slippers and stop off at “you know where.”
This morning, I didn’t even waddle out to pick up the newspapers (the Press Democrat and the San Francisco Chronicle) because it isn’t Wednesday when my favorite paper our beloved Argus-Courier is delivered. (Guess I’ll have to read the online edition, later.) So, I pick up my pen and tablet (only real journalist use a pad and pencil, like Bill Soberanes did for so many years.) What to blog about today? There are plenty of “hot button” topics to talk about; but what difference will it make if you just talk the talk? Is there something else one could do that might make a difference and cause some group or more individual citizens to “step up to the plate” and walk the walk? Hmmm, let’s think about that for a while.
Hey… Mr. Publisher… Mr. Managing Editor… how about the Argus-Courier sponsoring a “Meet the Press” series of Internet TV shows for the greater Petaluma area? (It isn’t 6 a.m. yet and the sun hasn’t risen over our “little hills”, so these thoughts might still be jumbled.) The purpose of this “Meet the Press” program would be an opportunity for the public to meet, to see, and to hear those reporters who cover the various news beats for our community ask questions of community leaders. Let’s take a triple-play from JJ’s play book, and produce these MTP programs via radio, TV, and over the Internet – both wireless and wired. You know what? I believe I’ll get that character in town who calls himself the “Volunteer Cybernaut” (he’s really spaced-out on this ICT stuff) to bring this idea up at the next get together of the Petaluma CyberCity Roundtable. (See On Our Radar Screen, below).
It’s getting lighter and my mind is slowing down. As we get closer to our upcoming local elections, I can see this A-C MTP forum and its news staff gathering sufficient data from readers and viewers so that a “Citizens Top 10” list of municipal needs and concerns could be produced and published. You know, kind of like the old musical Hit Parade, from yesteryears. (Oh, oh, is that a clue as to my age?) Before I really get carried away, its light enough to go outside and pick up the papers (read the comics, first, of course) and then check the headlines. I need more topics to talk about next week. Stay tuned.
On Our Radar Screen
The next meeting of the PCCR has been scheduled for the 4th Tuesday of the month, July 25th, from 10:30 a.m. until noon, at the Petaluma Senior Center, 211 Novak. (No, you don’t have to be a Senior Citizen to attend.) It’s on the other side of the pond from the Community Center in Luchessi Park. E-mail whammer@petalumanet.org for more info.