I'm sick to death of famous people standing up and using their celebrity to promote a cause. If I see a particular need I do try to help. But there's a lot that can be achieved by putting a check in the right place and shutting up about it.
For centuries the death penalty often accompanied by barbarous refinements has been trying to hold crime in check yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not as the law claims constant forces in a state of equilibrium.
My mom and dad - they were always there. They were always on the set. They focused on our family life. The entertainment business wasn't the end-all. They weren't out to get the next big paycheck or the next big movie. It was about 'What can we do as a family.'
'Keep your head down at school.' Those are sage words from my dad. They kept me in check for years.
My dad was a huge country music fan but he also had a band and he sang. So he'd listen to a lot of music and the songs that he'd learn for the band were more from the male artists. So my earliest country memories were Waylon Jennings Conway Twitty George Jones Johnny Paycheck even.
Paul McCartney had a baby when he was 61 Rod Stewart was 66 Rupert Murdoch was a stunning 72. Not only does that mean they'll have less stamina than the average dad that means they'll well check out a lot sooner too.
I've never heard my dad say a bad word about anybody. He always keeps his emotions in check and is a true gentleman. I was taught that losing it was indulgent a selfish act.
People spend hours constantly checking and tweeting and Facebooking. And it's cool to check up on your friends and see what's going on in the world but it's not cool to spend five hours of your day on the computer looking at the Internet.
I used to skip out of high school and go flying. It was just one of those things I thought it was kind of a cool thing to do. I never thought about doing that as a profession but I started checking things out and I found out there was a flight school down in Daytona Beach called Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
I did find some time to go to a record store and check out 'Headstrong' actually in the racks. It was pretty cool I never thought I'd see my own CD sitting there with everyone else's. I made my Mom take lots of pics!