COLUMN: Only foolish to wish for others' failure

Some folks want someone they dislike to fail at all costs and at all things. That's just downright hateful, but I disappointingly find there is a lot of that level of hate going on in the world today. At least, it's often on full display on social media and via other means.

But even though I don't like President Donald Trump -- and just typing that full title makes me ill -- I don't want him to fail. I want him to succeed in many ways, for the country in many ways falls or soars depending on him.

This is illustrated well this week in the talk of a trade war between the U.S. and China. The stock market isn't liking that hullabaloo, and when Wall Street sends stock a'tumbling, we all lose.

If you have any stock -- 401(k) anyone? -- you just lost, at least in theory.

I agree that trade imbalances should be leveled out. But I don't think imposing tariffs and getting into a spitting match with China, for example, is the way to do it.

Trump is too much bluster. He's like a bull in a china shop -- which, now that I think about it, if located in that country, he might be like a bull in a China china shop.

But I digress.

The biggest thing he's done for society thus far is make Big Mouth Syndrome (let's shorten that to "BMs") the "in" thing. Because Trump outright lies and publicly berates others, people think it's OK to do the same.

Sigh.

I don't feel like going on about this poor excuse for a leader, and I'll let our letter writers debate the king of BMs.

I've got some more interesting and fun things in mind, and The Associated Press is a lot of help.

Graceland opens vault for Elvis documentary to air on HBO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A new television documentary about Elvis Presley takes advantage of the vast collection of footage, pictures, documents and music from his estate to give a behind-the-scenes look at the king of rock 'n' roll.

"Elvis Presley: The Searcher," a two-part, three-hour documentary, will premiere April 14 on HBO. Director Thom Zimny, who worked on several Bruce Springsteen documentaries, had full access to Graceland's vault and made ample use of it to unearth little-seen footage.

"That was one of the exciting parts because every day I was discovering new gems of Elvis Presley's archives," Zimny said.

"He came up with pieces of footage that Priscilla and I had never seen before, and we grew up with Elvis," said Jerry Schilling, one of Elvis' longtime friends and an executive producer on the documentary along with Priscilla Presley, his ex-wife.

Along with his family and friends, Zimny interviewed studio musicians, producers, engineers and directors, as well as artists like Springsteen, Tom Petty and Emmylou Harris. Zimny uses only voiceovers for the narration instead of seeing the interviewees' faces to keep the focus on the music and footage of Elvis over his career.

"Most documentaries, you see people talking, and I think that takes you out of the film," Priscilla Presley said. "So you do get distracted, where here, you take on the flow, you can see what's going on visually and you're not taken out of that moment, and I think that's brilliant."

Zimny makes heavy use of footage from Elvis' 1968 television special, considered his comeback to music after a long period of movie acting.

"He had been out of performing for years, almost 10 years," Presley said. "This to him was the make or break of his career."

Zimny said he had no limitations on addressing any aspect of Elvis' career, and the film does touch on the controlling influence of his manager Colonel Tom Parker as well as Elvis' prescription drug abuse.

Priscilla said Presley began using prescription drugs when he was given them during his Army stint. Even after years of using medications, she said Elvis never realized his addiction.

"He didn't think he was addicted," Presley said. "It was a part of his life, really. There was no Betty Ford. There were no rehab centers. But he didn't think he had to go to a rehab center. There were prescribed to him. The doctors knew what they were giving to him. So that was pretty much a part of his life."

Presley said there's still a lot for music fans to learn about the star, who died in 1977.

"He was in uncharted territories," Presley said. "There was no other that reached the heights that he did as far as changing style, changing music."

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Here's a rare declaration and revelation: I love Elvis. One of my sisters and her kids and I are going on vacation this summer, and Memphis is our first destination, with Graceland the main attraction.

What was it about him? He just had something almost magical. He made people feel good through his raw talent and knack for entertaining. There has never been, and never will be, anyone quite like Elvis.

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Finally, a bit of a chuckle, or maybe just a quizzical look-inspiring ditty:

Lawsuit over denial of 'IM GOD' license plate can proceed

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An Ohio man had a personalized license plate saying "IM GOD," but when he moved to Kentucky, his request for the same one was denied.

In 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit on his behalf challenging Kentucky regulations.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports a ruling released Friday from U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove allows Bennie Hart's lawsuit to go forward.

The state's lawyer J. Todd Shipp says the plate was rejected because it was "not in good taste," and could distract drivers and create confrontations. Ship says Kentucky would have taken the same position had Hart requested plates reading "IM ALLAH," ''IM BUDDAH" or "IM SATAN."

ACLU-Kentucky attorney Heather Gatnarek says Hart's request was denied for reasons that violate the First Amendment.

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All I can say is, don't tell Trump -- he's the one whose license plates should read "I'M GOD."